An increasing number of old school label executives are jumping ship as they move to new digital platforms. But the question is being raised as to how smooth the transition will be and to whether established artists and their relationships with these execs will survive the move. __________________________________ By digital…
Category archives: Major Labels
RIAA Names Top Music Pirates, Notorious Markets 2016
Each year the RIAA submits a list of "notorious markets" to the U.S. Government, and this year’s list includes torrent trackers, download sites and stream rippers. In addition, the RIAA called out CloudFlare for making it harder to track illegal activity. The full RIAA list of Top Music Pirates &…
SFX Continues To Move Against Ex-CEO Bob Sillerman
As Robert Sillerman attempts to claim millions from his former company in an attempt to cover his legal costs, as well as obtain some form of reimbursement for purchases made while at SFX, the company’s lawyers are working hard to keep him in check. _________________________ Guest Post by Dave Brooks…
Why Music Will Never Be A Top Priority At Sony Corp [CHART]
Record labels and other music companies are, by necessity, businesses. But in an age when each of the three major label groups is part of a larger conglomerate (WMG/Access Industries, UMG/Vivendi and Sony/Sony Corp.), how much clout does a music division have within its respective corporation? As this charts shows,…
Will Someone Explain To The RIAA That SOPA Didn’t Pass?
A recent lawsuit filed against YouTube-mp3.org, one of many easy-come easy-go sites which allow users to get audio download via YouTube video, suggests that major labels and the RIAA are perhaps unaware that SOPA did not in fact become law in 2012, and are behaving accordingly. _____________________________________ Guest Post by…
Warner Warner Music Group Launches $630 Million Senior Secured Notes Offering
Warner Music Group has filed an offering for $630 million in senior secured notes. The funds will be used to pay of older debt that that the company is carrying at a higher rate. The full press release: Press Release: Warner Music Group Corp. Announces Launch of Senior Secured Notes…
Irving Azoff Claims YouTube "Pirates" Are "Really Evil"
The CEO and Chairman of Azoff MSG Entertainment, Irving Azoff, is leveling some heavy criticism at YouTube in very public war as he attempts to get the popular video sharing site to properly compensate artists for their music. ______________________________ Guest Post by Dave Brooks on Amplify When you work in…
Apple Music: Inside The Music Industry’s First Artist-Backed Startup
This piece takes an in-depth look at the creation and history behind The Beatles’ Apple Music, a company which was in many ways the industry’s first artist backed startup. _______________________________ Guest post by Barry Miles, excerpted from The Zapple Diaries: The Rise and Fall of the Last Beatles Label The…
YouTube Misses Point With Lyor Cohen Hire [Bobby Owsinski]
In the wake of it’s failure to pay what many executives and artists consider sufficient royalties, YouTube is attempting to appease labels with its hire of music business insider Lyor Cohen which, according to Bobby Owsinski, may do more harm than good. _________________________ Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of Music…
Music Industry Uncharacteristically Silent On Lyor Cohen’s YouTube Hire
Lyor Cohen ran Def Jam and then all of Warner Music Group. He’s mentored several generations of hip hop stars. So when he was named as YouTube’s Global Head of Music, I expected a collective industry high five. Instead, there’s been almost total silence. _________________________________________ Last week when Lyor Cohen…