Spotify announced yesterday that it is closing down its free direct upload system after less than a year, and forcing all artists to find an outside distributors within 30 days if they want their music available on the top streaming service. Here’s what artists need to know to avoid problems…
Category archives: Indie Labels
National Album Day To Return In 2019
Following the success of the inaugural UK based National Album Day last year, the event, focused on celebrating everything LP, will return in 2019. Set to take place on October 12th, National Album day will feature the theme ‘Don’t Skip’ and explore the “benefits of taking time out to listen…
Merlin Pulled Down Almost $900 Million For Indie Labels In 12 Months
Where historically being on an indie label was often a last resort after being rejected by a major, these days an indie signing can actually benefit an artist, thanks in large part due to Merlin, an organization dedicated to collecting global digital royalties for independent labels. _________________________ Guest post by…
Borchetta Bites Back: Taylor, ‘It’s time for some truth’ and Shares Contract Details
Big Machine Label Group founder Scott Borchetta has fired back at Taylor Swift after the singer took to Tumblr with an emotional reaction to the acquisition of BMLG and her hit recordings by Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holding. ‘This is my worst case scenario, wrote Swift. “So, it’s time for some…
Taylor Swift Reacts To Big Machine Sale To Scooter Braun: ‘This is my worst case scenario’
Taylor Swift is calling the sale by Scott Borchetta of her former label Big Machine to Scooter Braun for $300 million her "worst case scenario." Swift recently signed to Universal, but Big Machine and now Braun controls all of Swift’s prior multi-platinum recordings. "This is what happens when you sign…
Scooter Braun Acquires Big Machine Label Group For $300M: ‘We’ve got a seat at the table.’
[UPDATED] Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings has acquired Scott Borchetta’s Big Machine Label Group. The combined companies create a multifaceted independent music powerhouse that includes labels, management, streaming, publishing and media companies. Financial details of the transaction were not released. But the Wall Street Journal puts it at over $300 million,…
Getting It Done: The Week In D.I.Y. and Indie Music
Our wise counsel to the music industry’ scrappy and determined do-it-yourselfers this week dug into mastering your merch sale, how you can capitalize on music festivals even if you’re not the one on stage, how to collect all the revenue you possibly can from your recorded music, and more! Mastering…
Amoeba Music Issues Statement: ‘We Are Not Closing’
Pushing back on reports that Amoeba Music was closing its Hollywood location after a residential development was green-lighted for the site., the iconic record store issued a statement: "We are NOT closing. We are going to be in the current location at 6400 Sunset Blvd for about another year, and…
Collect All The Revenue Your Recorded Music Can Earn: Pt. II
In this second part of a series on how to collect all the revenue you’re owed from your music, we shift gears to look at the income which can be earned from acting as a label, publisher, and producer, three different roles that, as an independent artist, you may very…
7Digital Flirts With Bankruptcy, eMusic Makes $1.6M Bet
B2B digital music services provider 7Digital is flirting with administration, the UK equivalent of bankruptcy, after investors rejected a plan to issue more shares for cash which the company says its needs to survive. 7digital Group Plc is a publicly traded digital music and radio services platform. 7digital offers both…