This Week In Music Commentary

From our commentary section this week, we hear why EDM still has room to grow despite contrary predictions, what happens when rappers are affected by white fragility, and how embracing VR tech could allow streaming services to finally move forward. EDM Still Has Room For Growth, Contrary To Predictions Embracing…

Google’s Project Magenta Used Machine Learning To Write A Song [LISTEN]

Can a machine really write a good song? Sound scary? Perhaps, a more interesting question is, how might a musician collaborate with a machine to write a song or make art? Google is funding projects that explore these questions and they want artists to get involved. _____________________________________________ Google has launched…

As on-demand streaming loses its novelty, music needs personality

[UPDATED] With the exception of the occasional flashy exclusive, its harder for the average streaming music users to tell the services apart. So, to combat user fatigue and spur growth, Slacker Radio has added both curation and personality; and CEO Duncan Orrell-Jones makes a strong case that most users want…

Understanding Streaming Music Income

In this piece we look at the details of streaming music royalties, how they’re determined, and why the initial parameters which we once used even as recently as in the time of downloading, no longer apply in the streaming era. _______________________________ Guest Post by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0 In…

Spotify Reportedly Prepping July Launch In Japan

After months of speculation, Spotify finally appears to be gearing up for a July launch in Japan. Apple Music and several local companies have already launched there, but found the country’s usually tech savvy consumers slow to adopt paid streaming. __________________________________________ According to ITU News, record label sources have indicated…

UPDATED: WMG Acquires Pioneer Playlister, Repackager X5 Music For A Reported $25 Million

UPDATED: Wringing new profits from old catalog is one of the real positives of digital music’s long tail, and studies have shown that streaming, in particular, can generate income from deep catalog. That’s the motivation behind today’s WMG acquisition of X5 Music. ___________________________________________ Warner Music Group has acquired pioneer music…

CHANGES @ Bandcamp • Spotify • Songkick • Chrysalis • Valory Music • FaderPro + Beatport

Former Bandzoogle chief David Dufresne has exited Bandcamp after a year as the d2f platform’s Head of Strategy and Growth. "I plan to re-immerse myself in the Montreal startup and VC investor community, check in with my contacts across the music industry and music tech scenes," writes the popular music…

3 Groups That Your Band Website Needs To Impress

As a musician, your website is one of the most important tools you have at your disposal, as it allows you to showcase yourself to your audience in an environment over which you have complete control. Here we look at the three different groups to which your website must appeal….

Vendini Raises $20M For Ticketing, Event Management Solutions

Ticketing and event management solutions provider Vendini today announced that it had received $20 million in Series A funding from New York City-based private investment firm Level Equity. Vendini targets mid-range live event organizations that have been historically underserved, because they are they are either too small for big-name ticketing…

Embracing Virtual Reality Could Enable Streaming Services To Finally Move Forward [Cortney Harding]

Rhapsody’s recent announcement that it plans to launch a VR app is raising some interesting questions about how VR tech will influence the future of streaming services, and if they’ll be able to successfully bring it to a more mainstream audience. ________________________ Guest post by Cortney Harding A few days…