Despite leaving BMLG, Taylor Swift still doesn’t have ownership of her masters from her previous label. Taylor Swift has signed a major deal with Universal Music Group (UMG). The move comes less than a month after her contract with Big Machine Label Gr…
Category archives: Feature Story
Defending Article 13, IMPALA’s Helen Smith Calls Out YouTube’s Lopsided Business Model
Despite YouTube’s opposition, IMPALA’s Helen Smith says the Copyright Directive – and Article 13 – would guarantee a balanced online ecosystem for artists, producers, songwriters, and labels. Last week, in a lengthy op-ed in the Financial Times, Susan …
Glassnote Officially Leaves the Major Label Farm With a Kobalt/AWAL Deal
Glassnote Music, one of largest and most celebrated indie labels, has just inked a distribution partnership with Kobalt’s AWAL. For years, Glassnote Music has enjoyed a fruitful partnership with mega-label Universal Music Group. Now, that deal is over…
Crosley Is Now Releasing Retro Cassette Players Starting at $60
With the rise in retro vinyl and record players, Crosley is hoping it can spark the same comeback with cassette players. You’ve probably seen the company’s record players littering the shelves at Target and Urban Outfitters. Now, Crosley is launching …
RCA Records Unveils District 18, a Joint Venture Label with Brooklyn Johnny
Brooklyn Johnny, the man responsible for bringing Cardi B to Atlantic, has just unveiled a new joint venture with RCA Records. Entering into an exclusive partnership with Brooklyn Johnny, RCA Records has launched a new label. Johnny will serve as the …
Sony Has Officially Acquired EMI Music Publishing. Officially.
Officially, Sony has completed its acquisition of EMI Music Publishing. Unofficially, expect the Japanese conglomerate to dwarf the competition – including indies – in the music publishing space. You probably know the story by now. In 2012, alongside …
Liberty Media ‘Absolutely’ Interested in UMG Stake
If and when Vivendi offers up a part of UMG, Liberty Media ‘absolutely’ wants in. Several months ago, Liberty Media finally achieved what owner John Malone had long aimed for. After years of negotiations and purchasing a minority stake, SiriusXM acquir…
Beyonce Takes 100% Control Over Ivy Park After Allegations of Worker Abuse, Sexual Impropriety, and Racial Discrimination
The Ivy Park fashion brand is now wholly-controlled by Beyoncé amidst numerous allegations of impropriety involving partner Topshop. Last year, we pointed to a raft of accusations that Beyoncé’s Ivy Park clothing line was effectively running sweatshops…
Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Music Are Now Available on Xbox One Consoles
As part of a big update for the Xbox One console, Microsoft has enabled support for Amazon Music streaming. The update also includes support for using the mouse and keyboard and a range of Xbox Skill updates. Amazon wasted little time launching a brand…
‘YouTube Burnout’ Claims Another Victim: Lilly Singh. Sadly, the Music Industry Can Relate.
Burnout has claimed another victim. Lilly Singh, aka IISuperwomanII, has announced that she will step away from YouTube as a creator. Better known as known as IISuperwomanII, Singh has amassed more than 14 million subscribers. In her final video, enti…