SoundCloud Named Merrit Farren As New General Counsel

Streaming music service SoundCloud has named Merritt Farren as its new General Counsel. Farren’s bailiwick includes oversight of SoundCloud’s legal affairs and public policy strategy, as well as data protection, privacy, contracts, music rights and copyright issues. Based in Berlin, Farren reports to co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Alex Ljung….

Soundcloud, Netflix, Vimeo And Other Streamers Sued Over Offline Playback Patent

It seems someone has once again been trip-trapping over the patent trolls’ bridge, with the recent news that Blackbrid Technologies (a bonafide patent troll company) is sueing multiple streaming companies for making their content available for offline consumption. ___________________________________ Guest post by Mike Masnick of Techdirt Joe Mullin over at…

Passion Pit Frontman Raises $250 Million To Support Legal, Educational and Healthcare Services For Musicians

Michael Angelakos, the frontman of Passion Pit, is reportedly launching a company to provide musicians with legal, educational and healthcare services. Details are scarce, but the well funded efforts could be announced as early as this week. ____________________________________ Michael Angelakos, the frontman of Passion Pit, has reportedly raised $250 million…

SXSW Expands Music, Film, AR / VR Hackathon

[UPDATE] The SXSW Hackathon is returning for its fourth year with an expansion into VR/AR, film, and music. In a marathon 24-hour coding experience, hackers will work to solve real problems and create new tools across entertainment media. _____________________________________ Music Hackathon at SXSW 2016. Photo by Randy and Jackie Smith…

Amazon Music Just Hired A "Global Head of Programming & Content Strategy"

UPDATED: Does a new hire signal that Amazon Music is about to follow in the footsteps of its streaming competitors and produce more exclusive music content? It’s certainly a strategy that Amazon has used effectively within its video service. _______________________________________ Former EMI and Apple exec Alex Luke has joined Amazon…

TUE. BRIEF: Apple Tips • Grammy Gains • Prince Is Played • Facebook Soundtracks • Musical.ly • More

TUESDAY 2.14.16 Music Business News From Around The Web Apple Music has passed 20 million subscribers in 15 months. I’m supposed to be impressed, but I’m not. This is Apple, after all. Updated under our More News tab

Will Google Play Music + YouTube = Spotify Destruction?

Google Play Music and YouTube Music will soon become one app. Will that be a crushing blow to Spotify? Google Play is an online music storage service that lets users save 50,000 tracks from their own libraries.  It also offers subscribers on demand streaming to any song within the Google Play Music Catalog.  YouTube Music, […]

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The Music Business Is More Innovative Than You Think

While some may believe that the music industry has lost it’s ability to innovate, the reality is something very different, and as music and tech continue to grow and develop together, new concepts and ideas continue to propel the industry forward. __________________________ The music business should be prouder of its…

SoundCloud Accuses Financial Times Of Fake News That It’s "Begging For Money" As 2 Top Execs Exit

Soundcloud was playing defense today, after weekend reports that two top SoundCloud executives had exited the company and that it is now "begging for money"; calling much of the account "inaccurate," "disappointing" and not up to the usual journalistic standards. _________________________________________________ SoundCloud’s response: "The Financial Times relies on one anonymous…

MON. BRIEF: Grammys News Roundup • Quarterly Reports Hint At Music’s Future • Streamers Add Prince • More

Monday 2.13.16 Music Business News From Around The Web I found it hopeful that many (though not all) major artists used the Grammys to take artistic chances and make statements. BIG CONGRATS to all indie, all streaming Chance The Rapper. Updated continuously under our More News tab