RPM Music Distribution Shuts Down Without Warning

RPM music distribution has shut down without warning. The Concord, Ontario based company whose distribution and one-stop clients include independent labels Concord, eOne, Drag City and Rough Trade. A letter sent to clients by RPM president Paul Herzog reads: "To all accounts, I regret to inform you that RPM Distribution…

Top Analysts Cut Spotify [NYSE: SPOT] Stock Price Target, See Rough Ride Ahead

Four top stock analysts have shifted to a bearish outlook for Spotify (NYSE: SPOT). Monday, Guggenheim, Deutsche Bank, Stifel and Nomura reset their target prices to $120, $135, $170 and $188 respectively. All are above Spotify’s current $119.36 price at close of market Monday. Spotify made its market debut last…

So You’re Considering Advertising On Spotify?

With such a vast free user base, advertising on Spotify can be tempting prospect for bands and artists looking to promote their music. In this piece we look at the different types of Spotify ads available, and how to go about successfully launching one on the platform. __________________ Guest post…

2018s Most Memorable LGBTQ Album Covers

While album sales certainly aren’t what they used to be, many artists still utilize these long form collections of music as a valuable format for telling personal stories, something which the album artwork is a huge part of. In this piece, David Deal looks at some of the cover highlights…

Email Service Providers For Musicians: An Overview

Given the value of email marketing for artists, being able to send mass emails to more than 100 of your fans at a time is essential. For such tasks, we enlist the help of Email Service Providers. Here we look at some of the most popular ESPs and what they…

2018 On-Demand Music Streams +42%, Paid Streams +50% In Q4 [BuzzAngle Music]

[UPDATED] On-demand audio streams set a record high of 534.6 billion in the US in 2018, up 42% over the previous year, according to the BuzzAngle Music Industry Year End Report. But the best news for artists and labels came thanks to 50% growth in streams by paid subscribers. Those…

YouTube’s Streaming Domination Clips the Market’s Wings [Mark Mulligan]

For all the media attention given to Spotify and Apple Music, YouTube is still the world’s most popular music streaming service. But its unique licensing position and massive free offering often has a negative effect on the entire music streaming market. _________________________________ By Mark Mulligan of MIDiA and the Music…

Indie Soul, Funk Artist Jodie Abacus Talks MJ, Tour Tips and American Oddities

In this installment of the #nofilter interview series, AWAL talks with soul/R&B/funk artist Jodie Abacus about his thoughts and opinions on the his career and musical preferences. __________________________ Guest post from AWAL from #nofilter, a recurring Q&A series that gives standout artists room to breathe. He’s drawn inspiration from the…

5 Music Industry Predictions 2019: Fan Clubs, Apple Music, Chart Decline and More

With the music business in a constant state of tumultuous evolution, 2019 is shaping up to be a wild year for the industry. Here we look at five major developments we’re likely to see unfolding in the coming months. ___________________________ Guest post from Haulix Daily Everyone knows the saying, “new…

Naxos Acquires Indie Label ARC Music

After 42 years as an independent World Music label, ARC Music Productions International is now part of Naxos Music Group, following its acquisition by Naxos Rights Europe. Under the terms of the new agreement, Naxos Music Group, which has been distributing the ARC label digitally worldwide and physically in several…