A decade ago, major labels forgoing middlemen to sell direct to fans would have led to a revolt from retailers. Now, with the ranks of retailers diminished and streaming the new normal, ringing every dollar out of fans is so essential that Warner Music has created a division to focus…
Category archives: Music Business
Taylor Swift, U2, 180 Musicians, 19 Orgs Sign Letter Demanding Digital Copyright Reform [FULL TEXT, LIST OF ARTISTS]
Many in the industry agree that digital copyright laws (DMCA), last updated in 1998, are antiquated. An unprecedented group of artists and music organizations has joined together demanding change. Unfortunately, their open letter to Congress is short on solutions. ___________________________________________ 180 songwriters and recording artists have joined together to send…
How To Get Free Tickets From Ticketmaster As Part Of Massive Class Action Court Settlement
Ticketmaster is making good on the settlement of a class action lawsuit that affects more than 50 million ticket buyers. Some have criticized the deal as a "new scam on top of the old one." But with millions of free and discounted tickets available, why be left out? Here is…
The Actual Value Of The Indie Music Sector [INFOGRAPHIC]
General wisdom suggests that indie labels account for about 20% of global revenue, but a recent study has revealed that their share is in fact much greater than previously suspected, something which has broader implications with regard to the independent sector’s ability to compete globally. ____________________________________ Guest Post by Mark…
Return Of Napster Name Signals A Company Running Out Of Options, Says Former Rhapsody Exec Jon Maples
Already known as Napster overseas, Seattle-based streaming service Rhapsody announced its plan to rebrand as Napster in all markets. The expansion of the moniker suggests a company that has nothing left to lose and may do little to boost revenue, says former Rhapsody exec Jon Maples _________________________________________ Guest Post by…
Music Publishing News: Berklee Open Music Initiative • Platt Joins ASCAP Board • SOCAN Revenue Tops $300M
Berklee College of Music’s Institute of Creative Entrepreneurship announced the Open Music Initiative to approach the issue of rights management and organization in the digital era. Rather than creating a centralized database for song and creator identification, OMI intends to create a set of standards that would allow for separate…
Spotify Has 100 Million Active Users [OFFICIAL]
Spotify now has more than 100 million active users, the music streamer has confirmed. At the end of 2015, Spotify confirmed 89 million active users including 30 million paid subscribers. ________________________________________ Spotify has today that it has surpassed 100 million active users, firmly cementing its position as the globe’s most…
Overseas Tour: Investigate The Venue Before Arriving
Attending a show outside of your home country can certainly be an amazing live music experience, but if not planned for correctly, it can just as easily be completely miserable. Here we look at how properly plan for an overseas concert. _________________________________________ In this piece, recently lifted from MusicThinkTank, Rachelle…
MON. BRIEFING: SoundExchange To Pay $860M In 2016 • SFXE Scraps Bankruptcy • Guvera IPO Rejected • More
Monday 6.30.16 Music Business News From Around The Web Don’t despair. Even while SFX and Guvera imploding, streaming music payouts are hitting record highs. Updated continuously under our More News tab.
Guvera Sets Meeting With ASX After $75M IPO Rejected [UPDATE]
[UPDATE 3] international music streaming service Guvera has been hemorrhaging cash; and its best, though risky, hope was to go to the public markets. that plan was dashed, after an rare rejection ASX, the Australian version of the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Now the partied have agreed to meet….