Category archives: Featured Story

Thousand of genres and millions of songs can all be analyzed by just three attributes, according to research from several leading universities. The finding comes from a major research effort conducted by McGill University, the University of Cambridge, Rutgers University, City University of New York, and the Stanford Graduate School of Business.  The academic group, led by music […]

The post All Music Can Be Categorized by Just Three Attributes appeared first on Digital Music News.

Maria Schneider is a five-time Grammy winning performer, composer, director, and creator of one of the first fan-funded classical albums.  These are her thoughts on how YouTube, Google, and Alphabet are treating musicians. Open Letter to YouTube, “Pushers” of Piracy by Maria Schneider Hank Green’s recent open letter in support of YouTube (that was in response […]

The post A Five-Time Grammy Winner Explains Why YouTube are Total Scumbags appeared first on Digital Music News.

Read enough articles, and you’ll think songwriting is in the throes of decline and decay.  In Nashville, the number of songwriters has been decimated since 2000, according to one tally, and even hit songs are producing paltry payouts (according to another).  Composition licenses are also at the root of a major legal actions involving Spotify, Rhapsody, Xbox […]

The post Does Life Really Have to Suck for Songwriters? appeared first on Digital Music News.

You might be missing the real story on iTunes Music Downloads, indie labels. The following comes from an established label executive that wishes to remain anonymous, but has offered a statement to Digital Music News to help clarify some aspects of the story we may have missed.  The statement was issued over the phone and […]

The post I’m a Label Executive. And This Is My Fair Warning on iTunes Music Downloads… appeared first on Digital Music News.

Yes, this is actually a check mailed by the Harry Fox Agency for mechanical publishing royalties.  No, it’s not on behalf of Spotify (yet…). When will songwriters and publishers start to receive back-payments for unpaid mechanical publishing licenses on Spotify?  That’s now anyone’s guess, with the wheels just starting to turn on a structured settlement […]

The post Looks Like Spotify Settlement Checks Are Already Rolling In! appeared first on Digital Music News.

How many streams does it take to get into the Spotify top 200?  Every country has its number. Charting on Spotify can change things for an artist, and potentially alter an entire career.  But most artists (and even labels) have no idea what it takes to climb into the coveted top 200 ranking.  Now, there […]

The post What It Takes to Become a Spotify Top 200 Artist appeared first on Digital Music News.

How low will the price of a CD go? Two years ago, Digital Music News discovered $5 albums being sold in a Walmart outside of Austin, TX.  Now, those prices are plunging further, with a 99 Cents Only Store in Venice Beach, California found selling a wide range of CDs from popular artists. In a sizable […]

The post Weezer, Roots, Aretha Franklin CDs Now Being Sold at 99 Cent Stores appeared first on Digital Music News.

At the risk of fueling the fire, Apple has now responded to our Wednesday report relating to a near-term shutdown of its iTunes music download offering. The denial represents a rare move for a company that almost never responds to media inquiries.  Instead, Apple prefers to deliver media information via carefully-worded press releases, statements, and […]

The post Apple Offers Rare Response to iTunes Download Shutdown Report appeared first on Digital Music News.