Former Apple Music employee Sean Glass offers a rare look inside the secretive world of Apple, and weighs in on the industry realities behind streaming exclusives and why they can be good for artists, but are generally not especially beneficial to major labels. ___________________________ Guest post by former Apple Music…
Category archives: Major Labels
TIDAL Co-Owner Jason Aldean Will Keep New Release Off ALL Streaming Services For 1 Month
Country hitmaker Jason Aldean may be one of the 17 founding artist co-owners of TIDAL, but he will still keep his new album off ALL streaming music services for at least a month, Hypebot has learned. Aldean’s "They Don’t Know" will be released on Broken Bow on September 9th.
Frank Ocean Just Proved: Direct To Fan Works, Labels Mean Less Than They Think, Exclusives Suck But Still Matter
Frank Ocean has just shaken up the music industry, probably forever. His dual exclusive releases via Apple on Friday and Saturday ignited a long overdue debate about exclusive streaming releases; and hidden in the details are lessons that should be sending shockwaves through the executive suites at Universal, Sony and…
In Japan, Music Business Changes Very Slowly
A recent look at some overseas music industry numbers in Japan has revealed streaming’s continued growth, and that physical sales, while still dropping, are slower to decline there. Additionally, and unlike the US, ringtones continue to take up an appreciable share of the market there as well. _______________________________ Guest post…
WED. BRIEF: Frank Ocean Ignites ‘Exclusives’ Debate • STX Buys Surreal • Lisn, Alively Launch • Live 365 • More
WEDNESDAY 8.24.16 Music Business News From Around The Web Frank Ocean has triggered an overdue debate over release exclusives while also affirming the growing power of the direct to fan connection and diminishing value of record labels. Updated continuously under our More News tab
Recording Industry Claims Keeping Copyright Terms At Life Plus 50, Instead Of Life Plus 70 Too Expensive
Although one would expect record labels to be happy that the TPP includes a provision extending the life of minimum copyright at the expense of the listening public, it seems they still not content, complaining that making alterations will be too costly to rights holders, says Mike Masnick. ___________________________ Guest…
Universal, Sony, Warner Music To Sign 9 Acts From "The Stream" Spotify Competition
It was only a matter of time before TV talent competitions joined forces with streaming music. That’s the premise behind the open talent competition "The Stream," and Spotify along with all 3 major labels have signed on. ___________________________________ Billed as a next-generation music talent competition, The Stream will use plays…
Disgraced Boy Band Hit Maker Lou Pearlman Dies In Prison
Former boy band manager Lou Pearlman has died in price at the age of 62. The svengali behind *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys has been serving a 25 year federal prison sentence for swindling investors out of more than $300 million. _________________________________ Lou Pearlman, the disgraced star-maker behind 1990s boy…
Frank Ocean Releases "Blonde" As Apple Music, iTunes Exclusive And Free At Pop-Up Shops
Frank Ocean has debuted his much anticipated album "Blonde" exclusively on Apple Music and iTunes. The unconventional release is the latest in a growing list of major artists who are breaking all the rules of how to release an album and even what an album is. ______________________________________ Two days after…
Pandora Nears Launch Of On Demand Streaming Service, Overseas Expansion
Pandora could launch their promised on demand streaming music service as early as next month, according to multiple sources. But with Apple, Spotify, Tidal, Rhapsody, Slacker, Soundcloud, Deezer and others fighting for market share; and Rdio, Guvera and CUR dead or very close to it, Pandora will join a glut…