Capitol Hill Panelist Uses Puppets to Explain Music Modernization Act, Licensing

The Music Modernization Act signed into law last October, meant to ensure that songwriters, artists and producers are paid fairly for music licensing, is a game-changer for music stakeholders -- but it's also notoriously difficult to understand. And that's how Kevin Erickson, director of the nonprofit musician advocacy organization Future of Music Coalition, came to own a bunch of puppets.

What Every Songwriter Needs To Know About The Music Licensing Collective

A major component of the recently passed Music Modernization Act is a new entity known as the Music Licensing Collective (or MLC), designed to manage blanket licensing, gather money from streaming platforms, and payout revenue to copyright owner. Here we review some key things songwriters should know before the MLC goes into effect.

Austin Musicians Test DipJar, A Digital Tip Jar

Austin, Texas, is launching a DipJar pilot program that will let fans digitally tip their favorite musicians. The Music and Entertainment Division of the city’s economic development department has provided 10 artists with a DipJar, a device that allows fans to tip artists using a credit or debit card.

Spotify Passes 232M Monthly Users, 108M Subscribers

Spotify has passed 232 million monthly active users, up 29% since this time last year, including 108 million paid subscribers, up 31% YoY.  The new stats were one of many strong new numbers shared by the streamer in a Q2 earnings report on Wednesday.

Why 'Fake It Till You Make It' Is Smart Advice

With a few important exceptions, nobody likes a loser. This is doubly true for those musicians looking to cultivate a following via social media. Here we look at how artists can present a successful-seeming before without also coming across as inauthentic.

In the first quarter of 2019 (Q1 2019), the satellite radio giant reached a new milestone, locking down 34.2 million subscribers.  The company’s pro forma revenue jumped 10% to $1.9 billion, up from $1.7 billion over the same quarter last year.  In addition, adjusted EBITDA grew 27% to $567 million. Overall revenue grew 8% year-over-year to $1.5 billion.  Yet, not everything was good news for the company.

A Look At The Future Of Music Licensing

If you're looking to use someone's music that you don't have the rights to, you'll need to get some form of official license from the copyright holder. These types of licenses are pervasive in every aspect of the music industry, but the ways in which music licensing works is changing across the board. Here we look at how.

Piracy Is Not The Problem, Free YouTube and Spotify Are, says Music Industry Trade Group

With efforts to fight music piracy seen as largely successful, at least one music trade group executive is saying out loud what others in the industry have only dared whisper - the real problem keeping artists and labels from earning more from music isn't stream-ripping, it is the free music offered by Spotify and YouTube.

What the Major Labels Made In 2018: Billboard Estimates Their Individual Revenues

Because the three majors report only their overall recorded-music revenue, there is much speculation about what their owned labels earn individually. These estimates are limited to reliable third-party U.S.-only data sources and do not include synchs, merch or 360-deal revenue. Each label’s total was calculated with the data used to compile Money Makers and with Nielsen Music Connect’s unit counts for each delivery format (CDs, streams, etc.). Video and programmed streams were interpolated using on-demand audio-streaming market share, and a multiplier was used to account for the difference between the RIAA’s and Nielsen’s wholesale sales totals.

Pandora Voice Control Leaves Beta; Now Available to All iOS and Android Users

Pandora’s mobile voice controls are now available to all iOS and Android users after exiting a limited beta.

The new feature allows users to ask for playlists, stations, albums, songs, and even soundtracks for specific activities. Pandora’s voice control mode works similarly to Alexa or Google Assistant. You’ll need to use the “Hey Pandora” phrase to activate the app.

The Difference Between Music Pro And Amateur Musicians

There is one thing that separates music professionals from hobbyists and amateurs: Their willingness to work.

No two words are more frequently uttered by aspiring music professionals than “I’m gonna.” This fact is not based on science, nor is the second word even technically a word, but fifteen years of industry chats have proven it correct nonetheless. Aspiring professionals love to talk about what they’re ‘gonna’ do. The bands they’re gonna work with, the show they’re gonna go to, the story they’re gonna write, etc.

The Art of Practice Performing: Bringing Performance into the Practice Room

I don’t really know where I got the idea to start making practice performing a part of my regular routine but it’s now something I rely upon all the time and that I attribute to my comfort on the stage. So what is it, exactly?

Well, let’s start with what practice performing is to me.

Can Major Labels Survive The Indie Music Revolution?

Major record labels have always been at the heart of the recorded music business, having the marketing and distribution muscle to make a marginal song or album a hit, or turn a hit into a global phenomena. That’s all changing though, as even though the majors have survived the latest assault on their industry leadership in music streaming, a new revolution in the business is coming. This one they may not survive so easily.

US-Based Streaming Music Revenues Slated to Reach $8.4 Billion This Year

On-demand music services including Apple Music, Pandora and Spotify will top $8 billion in revenue in the U.S. this year, up 33% as increased adoption of products like wireless earbuds and smart speakers help drive more music subscriptions, according to a new Consumer Technology Association survey.

Who Are Winners And Losers In The New Music Industry?

Regardless of who's getting the money, it is undeniable that streaming has made the music industry lucrative again. Now, as the business works to reinvent itself, are historically downtrodden artists finally coming out on top, or are record labels and management siphoning off all of the profits?

Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights and Radio Broadcasters Continue Their Efforts to Rip Each Others’ Heads Off

For years, both organizations have sparred in a series of ugly legal battles. To make a very long story short, Azoff and GMR accuse the RMLC of paying too little in royalties.  The RMLC, in turn, accuses Azoff and GMR of bullying major radio broadcasters into paying higher performance fees.  Global Music Rights, argues the licensing committee, has leveraged its catalog of high-powered hits to force the higher radio rates. The radio group negotiates licensing fees for around 10,000 radio stations across the U.S. – 90% of the market. GMR has accused the RMLC of operating an “illegal cartel.”  The RMLC alleges GMR has engaged in “deliberate witness intimidation.”

Are You Creating A Record No One Will Hear?

After pouring your sweat, tears, and of course money into an album, you're likely going to want someone to actually listen - unfortunately, there are a number of all too common blunders artists often making leading up to the release process which can limit your audience to just a handful of listeners.

What Is A Trademark, What Are Trademark Rights?

While copyright tends to get the most coverage when it comes to music industry law, trademarks and trademark rights are also incredibly consequential to any artist, band, or DJ. Here we look at the importance of choosing a unique trademark and ensuring you register it through the proper channels.

Amazon Music Reportedly Hits 32M Subscribers, Up 70% Since Last Year

Amazon Music is the fastest-growing music streaming service globally, according to a new report published in the Financial Times. Sources with knowledge of the metrics told FT the company's premium streaming service, Amazon Music Unlimited, grew 70% over the past year, a faster rate than that of rivals like Spotify and Apple Music. By comparison, Spotify’s premium worldwide paid subscriber base grew to 100 million through the end of March 2019 (representing growth of 32% year-over-year), while Apple Music’s grew from 40 million to 60 million between April 2018 and June 2019 (representing 50% growth).

Revenue For Unsigned Artists Grew 35% Last Year

US Streaming Growth Is Slowing, But That's Not A Bad Thing

The winner — perhaps unsurprisingly — was the ‘industry consensus’ coalition led by major music publishers like Universal Music Publishing Group and Sony/ATV.  That group was the favored pick, though the heavyweight coalition was assailed by rival American Mechanical Licensing Collective (AMLC) as harboring numerous conflicts of interest.

According to the AMLC, major publishers are planning to exploit their MLC stewardship to claim billions in streaming royalties that belonged to smaller songwriters and publishers.  That would be facilitated by aspects of the recently-signed Music Modernization Act (MMA), which allows for the rapid payment of unclaimed royalties to the largest publishers based on market share — even if the money was accrued on catalogs they don’t own.

U.S. Copyright Office Approves Mechanical Licensing Collective Sponsored by NMPA

There’s a new federally appointed team in charge of licensing music to digital services -- and getting songwriters paid.

Now comes the harder part: getting the streaming companies to fund the team’s efforts.

As expected, the U.S. Copyright Office designated the group led by the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) and the Songwriters of North America (SONA) to build and operate a new organization known as the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).

Albums Still Have Some Value According To Nielsen Music Mid-Year Stats

Even a casual industry observers know that album sales haven't been what they used to be, although some new numbers out from a Nielsen Report reveal that, even in the height of the streaming age, there is still some value in album sales, particularly if you belong to the music industry 1%.

Tips For Pitching Your Music To Blogs, Writers

With music blogs easier than ever to create, the internet has been flooded with a number of exciting pitching opportunities for artists and their promoters. So how can you reach out to these industry writers in a way that will actually yield results?

What’s In a Name? 4 Tips For Choosing Your Artist Name

Being an independent musician can feel pretty daunting. Not only do you need to write and record the actual music, but more and more independent artists are finding themselves playing the roles of tour manager, publicist, and more.

Your artist name is often somebody’s first impression of you, even before they hear your music. Picking the right name is important but it can be tricky, and there are some common pitfalls to avoid. Luckily, we’re here to help you make sure your artist name is the best it can be.

Country Group Confederate Railroad Removed From Illinois Fair Lineup for Use of Confederate Flag (Political Correctness Gone Over the Cliff)

Illinois has canceled a state fair appearance by the Southern rock group Confederate Railroad because of its use of the Confederate flag. Emily Bittner, a spokeswoman for Gov. J.B. Pritzker, said Tuesday (July 9) that the administration prohibits using state resources “to promote symbols of racism.” The group was scheduled to play the DuQuoin State Fair on Aug. 27. The band’s logo features a steam locomotive flying Confederate flags. The flag has been criticized as a racist emblem of slavery and segregation, but supporters say it represents history.

Understanding, Controlling Your Finances As An Artist

As an artist, understanding and effectively managing your finances isn't always something that comes naturally, and is often acquired through a risky trial and error process. It doesn't have to be that way however, and in this piece we look at how to craft a budget based on an understanding of yourself and your values.

Streaming Takes Fans Beyond The Hits. Empowers Music Discovery

As artists continue to one-up each other across all metrics, it seems the music industry one percent are giving way to a broader swathe of artists, making for an at least somewhat more egalitarian music industry.

Apple Rolls Out 100,000 Radio Stations With Siri On iPhone, HomePod.

As it touted at the annual Apple Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, Apple is making it easier for Siri users to play live radio stations via iPhones, iPads and HomePods. The company will source iHeartRadio, TuneIn and Radio.com to bring users access to more than 100,000 stations. Until now, Apple Music has offered Beats 1 radio, and only a limited number of AM/FM radio stations streamed from select countries. In the fall, the HomePod will receive software improvements, including easier music handoff by bringing an iPhone closer to the smart speaker.

Metadata For Musicians: What It Is, Why It’s So Vital

Given its critical role in providing info that impacts how your music is stored, sorted, and identified, if your metadata isn't in order, your music simply isn't ready for public release. Here we break down exactly what metadata is, and why need to get it in order before dropping new music.

Strategy Analytics: With Vehicle Streaming Ubiquity, Time For Radio To Take Heed.

The in-car infotainment experience is in the midst of a tidal shift, says a new study from Strategy Analytics. According to the 2019 “In-Car Audio and Radio Report,” listeners are exploring online streaming platforms. So far, the vehicle remains a prime destination for AM/FM radio listening—and Edward Sanchez, Senior Analyst, Automotive for Strategy Analytics, believes that broadcasters, who have long enjoyed dominance in the car, have the opportunity to maintain the upper hand behind the wheel.

Spotify Is Shutting Down Direct Distribution: What Artists Need To Know Now

Spotify announced yesterday that it is closing down its free direct upload system after less than a year, and forcing all artists to find an outside distributors within 30 days if they want their music available on the top streaming service. Here's what artists need to know to avoid problems during the transition.