Copyright Directive: Can We Avoid Rotten Apples Through An Early Harvest? [Neil Turkewitz]

Now that the EU Copyright Directive has (for better of for worse) passed into law, in this Op-Ed Neil Turkewitz takes a long and hard look at what the fallout from this new legislation, and looking ahead to how we can build a more creator-friendly world of fair compensation and…

The Dark, Light Sides Of Digital

While many musicians in the industry (particularly legacy artists) may like to rage against the digital machine, the reality is that this new era of music, while it reduces or closes off many traditional sources of revenue through music sales, creates a number of important new opportunities for those willing…

Concerts From The Closet: Amy Speace’s “Yes” to Motherhood + Music Making

When critically acclaimed singer/songwriter, Amy Speace, live streamed a Concert Window album preview from her walk-in closet to the fans who had just helped fund its release, it wasn’t because she couldn’t book another venue. It was because she is both a new mom, and a musician, and with a one year old asleep down the hallway, it was a way to say yes to both.

Performance Rights Disputes: What They Are, What Causes Them

For as long as recorded music has existed, so too have wrongful claims of ownership. Either as the result of ignorance or confusion, disputed claims continue to crop up in the recording industry again and again. Here we look at what causes the disputes, and what systems exist to resolve…

Pandora Set To Launch Interactive Voice Ads

A fundamental part of the music business, advertising’s latest evolution is arriving at Pandora in the form of interactive voice ads, built in partnership with Instreamatic around AI tech and with an alleged ability to understand listeners’ speech beyond simple "yes" and "no" commands. ________________________________ Guest post by Bobby Owsinski…

Why Music And Tech Can Never Be Separated

In 2019, music and technology have become more linked together than ever, with new tech advancement now part and parcel of every aspect of the music industry. In this piece, Patrick McGuire explores the historical context for this, and what happens technological change is put at odds with artists’ values….

Many Spotify, Apple Music Subscribers Share Passwords Costing Artists, Labels Millions

A survey of 1000 streaming service subscribers showed that many share their passwords with others, breaking terms of service. Apple Music subscribers were the biggest offenders among music services, with 31.4% admitting to sharing their passwords with others. 22.2% of Spotify subscribers and 13,5% of Pandora users shared their passwords,…

Musician’s Guide To Growing A Massive Email List

As old school as it may sound, email is still the most effective and consistent way to communicate with and monetize your fans. Here, Ariel Hyatt and the CyberPR offer a step by step guide to building a massive email list. By Ariel Hyatt of CyberPR You probably have some…

Despite Streaming’s Growth, Music Industry Remains Half The Size It Was In 1999

While paid streaming subscriptions have, in many circles, been billed as the savior of the music industry, the reality is that the business is still operating at a severely reduced capacity since the devastation visited on it in the early days of digital. __________________________ Guest post by James Shotwell of…

Pre-Adds, Pre-Saves Are The New Pre-Orders – Is That A Good Thing?

Much as streaming has replaced traditional album sales, Spotify and Apple music ‘pre-saves’ have replaced pre-orders. While these pre-saves are certainly good news for artists as a metric of gauging listener interest, there is concern that artists are missing out some valuable listener data as a result. ___________________________ Guest post…