WEDNESDAY 3.27.19 Music Business News From Around The Web Updated continuously under the More News tab
Author archives: Bruce Houghton
This Week’s YouTube Music Charts: Sia, Post Malone, Maroon 5, Cardi BCross Billion Views Milestones
This week on YouTube Music CardiB, Sia, Post Malone and Maroon 5 each celebrate reaching a new billion views milestones, Daddy Yankee continues to dominate the Global Charts with “Con Calma,” Iggy Azalea makes her chart return with “Sally Walker.” YouTube Music Charts and Trends – March 26, 2019 Sia…
PledgeMusic Update: Millions Owed, Buyer Interest, Noisetrade Co-Founders Unpaid
At least one potential buyer is taking a serious look at acquiring debt ridden PledgeMusic, according to new reports. Unable to pay funds due artists and labels, PledgeMusic suspended all crowdfunding campaigns in early February, and has been operating with a skeleton staff since. A potential buyer is “very interested”…
Spotify Adds Personalization To Curated Playlists and That’s Great News For Artists, Labels
Some official Spotify playlists will now be personalized based on a listener’s taste. For those playlists, no two will be the same. So while not the same as a permanent playlist placement, all music now has a much better chance of getting heard by the right listeners. What does all…
Ex-Apple Exec To Lead Soundcloud Subscription Push
SoundCloud has hired Anthony Gabriele as SVP, Subscriptions & Marketing. Gabriele was head of subscription marketing at Apple where he helped grow Apple Music to over 50 million paid subscribers. In the newly created role, Gabriele will lead the growth and expansion of SoundCloud’s Listener and Creator businesses, in addition…
ASCAP Elects New Board Of Directors
ASCAP has released the results of its biennial election for the Board of Directors and named the twelve writer and twelve publisher members elected to serve on the Board for a two-year term beginning April 1st, 2019. In addition to ASCAP President and Board Chairman Paul Williams, the writer members…
Has Race To The Bottom Begun? JioSaavn Cut Prices 75% To Battle Spotify, YouTube Music
Leading Indian music streaming platform JioSaavn has cut the cost of its annual ‘Pro’ subscription by 75%. The move comes just weeks after Spotify and YouTube Music launched in India. Previously, JioSaavn charged $14.49 or Rs. 999 for a full year of Pro, now it’s just $4.34 or Rs. 299…
Article 13 Copyright Directive Is Approved Ending Safe Harbor For YouTube
The European Union gave its final approval to the Article 11 and 13 Copyright Directive designed to update copyright law in Europe for the online age. Members of the European Parliament voted 348 in favor and 274 against. Google, YouTube and others in tech say that the rule, which requires…
50+ Music Companies File Copyright Suits Against ISPs Charter, Bright House
More than 50 major music companies have joined to file separate lawsuits against ISP providers Charter and Bright House for not doing enough to stop copyright infringement. Each suit could result in more than $1 billion in damages. Universal, Sony and WMG are joined by dozens of major music publishers…
Spotify Continues Podcast Push With Parcast Acquisition
Spotify continues its major push into podcasting with the acquisition of Parcast, a storytelling-driven podcast studio. The deal comes just weeks after the streamer acquired podcast giants Gimlet and Anchor. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The transaction is expected to close in the second quarter of 2019. Since…