TuneCore continued to grow in 2016, despite increased competition, thanks to overseas expansion. That effort was no doubt made easier by Believe Digital, which acquired TuneCore in 2015 and already has a presence in more than 25 countries. ________________________________ Flat fee indie music distributor TuneCore is ending a year of…
Category archives: Indie Labels
The Most Played Americana Albums of 2016
The Americana Music Association has announced its year-end Top 10 and Top 100 most played Albums of the Year. These are based on the records reported to the Americana Airplay Chart during the period of December 1, 2015 through December 5, 2016. ________________________________ This year’s Top 10 most played Americana…
Vinyl Sales Tops Digital Downloads In UK
For the first time ever, the recording industry made more money from vinyl album sales than downloaded albums in the UK last week. According to figures published by the Entertainment Retailers Association, vinyl accounted for sales of £2.4m ($3m USD), while downloads took in £2.1m ($2.6M). The ERA suggested that…
Spotify Is Favoring Its Own Playlists At The Expense Of Indie Curators and Artists
Although Spotify certainly has many fine features, many artists have found it to be lacking when it comes to the tools it makes available to artists to market themselves on the platform. This seems to be looking up however, particularly in the wake of a couple recent updates, although the…
UPDATE: Criminal Probes Launched As Oakland Ghost Ship Fire Death Toll Climbs To 36
Investigations have been launched into the cause of the deadly fire at Oakland’s Ghost Ship. But even as the death toll climbs to 36, questions are being asked about its affect on ad hoc performance spaces and affordable housing for creatives elsewhere. _______________________________ Inside Ghost Ship Investigators in the deadly…
Music Confidential Releases Unique Music Revenue Report
In special end of year report, we take a unique look at some revenue figures from the year in music business. Rather than sorting revenue by type of right, this report organizes revenue by product category, and as such provides a new perspective on the business of songs. _______________________ Guest…
Grammy Nominees 2017 Named [The Full List]
Beyonce and Adele dominated the nominations for the 2017 Grammy Awards with both receiving coveted album, record and song of the year noms. The 59th Annual Grammys will air live from the Staples Center in LA on Feb. 12th at 8 p.m. ET on CBS. Here is the full list…
Amazon Doubles Down On Vinyl With Launch Of Vinyl Lounge Community, 12 Days Of Giveaways
Amazon has become a key sales outlet for vinyl records, and their music team is promoting the format with two new initiatives. During 12 Days of Giveaways with Amazon Vinyl, now through 12/15, vinyl enthusiasts can enter for their chance to win a turntable from Crosley and Pro-Ject. Two winners…
36 Dead, Two 100% Silk Label Artists Missing After Oakland, CA Warehouse Party Fire
[UPDATED] At least 36 party goers and 2 underground dance artists, Cherushii (Chelsea Faith Dolan) and Nackt (Johnny Igaz), signed to the 100% Silk label, are missing after fire engulfed the Ghost Ship, a two-story, 9,900-square-foot artists’ space in Oakland, CA. A third 100% Silk label artist, Joel Shanahan, who…
Tiny Caribbean Nation Threatens To Allow The Biggest Wave Of Piracy Since Napster and Pirate Bay
For music, video and intellectual property pirates to thrive, they need a safe haven. Fortunately for musicians, labels and other content creators, no nation wants to take on that role and risk being an outcast from the global economy. That could change if a tiny Caribbean nation follows through on…