PSY, the hitmaker behind “Gangnam Style,” has announced the launch his own entertainment company, P NATION. PSY left YG Entertainment in May of 2018 following eight years with the label, rumors that the 41-year-old might branch out on his own began to surface. Thursday, PSY confirmed the rumors were true…
Author archives: Bruce Houghton
FRI. BRIEF: Spotify Mystery Tracks • PledgeMusic Fallout • YouTube Impersonators • Sonos Headphones • More
FRIDAY 1.25.19
Music Business News From Around The Web
Updated continuously under the More News tab
PledgeMusic Co-Founder Benji Rogers Offers Help As Late Payment Problems Widen
Artist after artist is coming forward to share their stories of late payments and non-payments after their campaign with PledgeMusic had finished. From Jesus Jones to Fastball and beyond, indie and major label artists at all levels and of all types are affected by the payment problems. PledgeMusic issued a…
PledgeMusic Issues Statement On Late Payments To Artists With Vague Promise To Do Better In 90 Days
PledgeMusic has issued a statement attempting to calm the fears of the growing number of artists who are experiencing late payment or non-payment after their crowdfunding campaigns were completed. “It is our expectation that payments will be brought current within the next 90 days’” the company said in a statement….
Indie Label Tru Thoughts Celebrates 20 Years of Innovative Vinyl Releases
Brighton label Tru Thoughts is celebrating two decades of innovative vinyl releases this year. From downtempo instrumentals to heavy club tracks, through reggae, dub and hip hop to folk, jazz and soul-influenced singers and songwriters, the label really has done it all. “As we celebrate 20 years of the label…
Jay-Z, Meek Mill Launch Criminal Justice Reform Alliance
Jay-Z and Meek Mill have partnered with some notable sports team owners to launch The Reform Alliance, a new organization committed to criminal justice reform in the United States. REFORM is backed by a bi-partisan and diverse group of sports, entertainment and business leaders, including Mill and Shawn Jay-Z Carter,…
Patreon Says 3M Patrons Are Paying Creators $500M A Year On The Platform
Patreon has announced that there are now more than 3 million patrons supporting more than 100,000 musicians and other creators. The fan patronage platform is on track to pay creators half a billion in 2019 alone. In the last year, the number of patrons around the globe increased from 2…
THU. BRIEF: Soundcloud Founder Exits • Pitchfork Paywall • Dubset Direct MIx Distro • Songtrust + Audiomack • More
THURSDAY 1.24.19
Music Business News From Around The Web
Updated continuously under the More News tab
Leon Bridges Turns Trump’s Tweets Into Songs [VIDEO]
Donald Trump is known for his outrageous tweets, and newly Grammy nominated singer Leon Bridges turned them into short songs this week on Jimmy Kimmel Live! It’s hard to know if one should laugh or cry… photo: Michael Vadon [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)]
RealNetworks Takes Control Of Napster Music Streaming Service For Just $1M Up Front
RealNetworks has doubled its stake in Rhapsody International, which operates the Napster music streaming service. RealNetworks now owns 84% of Napster and will operate it as an independent subsidiary. The transaction values Napster at less than $140 million. Bill Patrizio will continue to be Napster’s CEO, and Rob Glaser will…