Backup Singer Who Sang "Yeah" In Chorus Of Hit Song Sues Sony, RCA For Royalties

A disgruntled background singer claims Sony and RCA Records owe her royalties from a 2012 song by Travis Porter featuring Tyga, that hit No. 16 on the Billboard charts. Jasmine Usher sued Sony, RCA, Porter House Music Group and three band members. Usher says she sang “Yeah” throughout the choruses…

UNBUNDLED: Democratizing Music’s Future

In this final entry in the Unbundled series on music dynamics, Adam Marx explores the "new unbundled" which removes fractures the power that was once held by the major labels, splintering it among a plethora of new artists and exciting emerging startups. _________________________________ By Adam Marx This is a continuation…

Ashley Gorley Named Songwriter Of The Year At ASCAP Country Music Awards 2017

Country music’s best gathered at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium on Monday night for the 55th annual ASCAP Country Music Awards, with songwriter Ashley Gorley taking top honors as the ASCAP Country Music Songwriter of the Year for the fifth time in his career. Gorley was recognized for his nine-chart topping hits…

CMA Awards 2017 – Full List Of Winners and Nominees

[UPDATED] Last night’s CMA Awards predictably stayed away from politics, but there were still many emotional moments. “This has been a year marked by tragedies impacting countless lives, including so many in our country music family. So tonight, we’re going to do what families do,” co-host Carrie Underwood declared as…

Is Taylor Swift’s New Streaming Strategy Smart Or Hypocritical?

As we’ve reported, Taylor Swift intends to keep her new album off streaming services for at least week after its release this Friday November 10th. But despite the lack of streams, "Reputation" is on track to become the biggest debut of 2017. Is Swift’s new twist on her long standing…

Taylor Swift To Keep New Album Off Streaming For At Least A Week, Still On Track For Biggest Debut Of Year

Taylor Swift will keep her new album off streaming services like Spotify and Apple Music for at least the first week of release, according to multiple sources. But even without a streaming boost, she is still on track to deliver the biggest debut of the year. ____________________________________ Taylor Swift’s team…

38% Of The Music Business Now Indie Labels

While it may be a commonly held belief that a choice few major labels dominate the music industry, new data reveals that this simply isn’t the case, with indie labels having generated over $6 billion in the past year, and making up roughly 38% of overall music business. ___________________________________ Guest…

Unbundled: Shifting the Paradigm

[UPDATED] The unbundling, whether as single album tracks on iTunes or the distribution and marketing that once only a record label could do, has affected every corner of the music and the music industry. But a new music paradigm is rising out of the wreckage of unbundling, writes Adam Marx….

Shania Twain’s "Come On Over" And Why It Sold Over 20 Million Copies

An icon release of mainstream pop country, Twain’s 1997 release was full of crossover potential, loaded with hook-filled songwriting and produced by a rock legend, the album’s impact on country music is clearly evident, even 20 years later. ____________________________ Guest post by Glenn Peoples, Music Insights and Analytics at Pandora,…

Alex Awards Honor Best In Vinyl – Full List Of Winners 2017

After a 12 year hiatus, the Alex Awards returned this week to honor the best in vinyl record packaging at a ceremony at the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel in Detroit. The Alex Awards was last presented in 2006 when it had been primarily a competition honoring the best in DVD,…