In a new edition of the Business Of Indie, Independents join global climate protests, Kobalt makes some key hires, Music Row launches the N.B.T. directory. a look at the punk band Pup and much more. Like Hypebot’s More News section, The Business Of Indie is nestled under its own Indie…
Category archives: Indie Labels
What Exactly Is An EP?
The awkward middle child between the reliable LP and the flashy single, the EP is often overlooked and misunderstood, particularly as the digital age reshapes our music consumption habits. Here we give the EP some much deserved attention, looking at the format’s history and how EPs are used by artists…
95% Of U.S. Latin Music Revenue Comes From Streaming, says RIAA Report
A new RIAA report shows that in the first half of 2019, the U.S. Latin music business continued to grow at a double-digit pace. By mid-year 2019, Latin music revenues grew 13.5% to $232 million at estimated retail value versus the prior year. That builds on three consecutive years of…
Haviah Mighty Wins Polaris Music Prize 2019
Haviah Mighty has won the Polaris Music Prize 2019 for her album "13th Floor." The Prize, which was presented in Toronto by CBC Music, goes to the best Canadian album of the year based on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation. It was determined by…
5 Big Takeaways From Americanafest 2019
Americanafest 2019 is a wrap. Thousands of musicians, music industry professionals and fans descended on Nashville for a four-day conference, an awards show filled with great music and short speeches alongside more than 500 official and countless unofficial showcases. The Americana Music Association (AMA) defines Americana music as "contemporary music…
Public Enemy’s Technique For Cracking “Second Album Syndrome”
SAS or ‘Second Album Syndrome’ has become something of a phenomenon in the music business, with many artists struggling break new ground or successfully follow up a debut with an equally compelling sophomore release. Not so with famed hip hop group Public Enemy, however, who successfully broke SAS. ________________________________ Guest…
Warner Records Partners With Masked Gorilla’s Roger Gengo For New Hip Hop Label
Warner Records has formed a joint venture with Masked Records, the new label formed by hip-hop entrepreneur Roger Gengo, founder of the influential Masked Gorilla website and UNMASKED concert series. Gengo, who is credited with founding and incubating “Soundcloud Rap,” established Masked Gorilla when he was just 17 years old….
Americana Music Awards Full List Of Winners 2019
The Americana Music Association kicked off its annual conference Wednesday night with the 18th annual Honors & Awards ceremony at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The Milk Carton Kids-hosted evening that showcased the best of what this inclusive genre has to offer. Without taking anything away from the veterans, this year’s stellar…
New California Law Might Give Musicians Precisely What They’re Trying To Avoid
Calfornia Bill AB 5 has now passed both houses of the Legislature and is headed to the Governor to be signed. The bill, aimed primarily at helping ride-share drivers, could also reak havoc in the indie music industry, re-classifying those who were once known as independent contractors as full employees….
Deezer To Tests User-Centric Muisc Streaming Payouts and It Could Be A Game Changer
Music streamer Deezer is soliciting rights holders to test a major change in how streaming royalties are calculated. So-called "user-centric payments" would more fairly compensate low and mid-tier artists, according to its supporters. While not a top tier player, Deezer’s 14 million users would provide an adequate test of the…