Neighboring Rights Is Broken. Can the Independent Alliance for Artist Rights Fix It?

Discussions about ‘neighboring rights’ are rarely uplifting ones in the music industry. A number of performance rights organizations have earned some nasty reputations, particularly in Europe.  But once royalties are being remunerated between countries…

Kobalt-Owned AMRA Is Aggressively Expanding In Europe. Old School PROs Should Be Taking Notice.

Kobalt-owned AMRA is making some serious expansion moves in Europe, with the transparency flag waving high. PROs have always had a mixed reputation in the music business — to put it mildly.  But 2018 has plunged things to new lows. Just recently, Spain…

Following Its EMI Music Publishing Acquisition, Sony/ATV Extends Its Deal With SOLAR

Following its EMI acquisition, Sony/ATV has made a key play in the pan-European digital marketplace. Last Friday, European regulators confirmed indie music organizations’ worst nightmare. The European Commission approved Sony’s $2.4 billion acquisition…

Your Music Publishing Questions Answered

At SoundExchange, they are often asked by recording artists and rights owners alike about who is responsible for whose royalties, how they get distributed, and which royalties SoundExchange doesn’t administer. Here they share the answers to some of the most frequent questions. __________________________ Guest post by William Glanz of SoundExchange…

European Union Approves Sony’s EMI Music Publishing Acquisition

Meet the world’s largest music publisher – Sony ATV/EMI Music Publishing. European Union regulators have approved Sony’s takeover of EMI Music Publishing. Several months ago, Sony revealed it had signed a deal to purchase Mudabala’s 60% equity in EMI f…

Philadelphia Songwriter Daniel Marino Awarded $44 Million for Being Left Off of an Usher Publishing Credit

Songwriter Daniel Marino has received more than $44 million in damages from a lawsuit targeting his co-writers. The Philadelphia-based writer alleged that he was cut out of profits and credit from a song written and recorded by Usher. A jury decided on…

Kpop Phenoms BTS Extend Their Deal With Big Hit Entertainment

K-pop group BTS has re-negotiated a deal to remain with label Big Hit Entertainment through 2026. All seven members of the group have renewed their contracts with Big Hit, extending contracts set to expire next year. The new extended seven-year contrac…

Shamrock Capital Purchases Stargate’s Music Publishing Catalog

Shamrock Capital has made a long-term play for acquiring valuable music IP rights. Shamrock Capital, an investment firm based in Los Angeles, has acquired the music publishing from Tor Hermansen and Mikkel Eriksen, a songwriting and production duo bett…

IMPALA Claims Sony + EMI Would Control 70% of the Song Charts in Europe

Is IMPALA exaggerating Sony’s EMI Music Publishing reach — or is it really that lopsided? It’s no secret European music organizations are staunchly opposed to Sony’s proposed acquisition of EMI Music Publishing. According to Helen Smith, chief executiv…

Who Says Songwriters Aren’t Getting Paid? Here’s Jeff Bhasker’s Multi-Million Dollar Venice Beach Pad

Superstar songwriter/producer — and five time Grammy winner — Jeff Bhasker has just put his Venice Beach pad on the market. Of course, life for songwriters and producers isn’t easy — at any level, honestly.  But it’s nice to know that the superstar tie…