YouTube’s 1B Plays Club is Changing Global Music Culture [Mark Mulligan]

Despite the headlines, YouTube is still the top music destination in most of the world. That massive reach, particularly within the global Latin community, is changing the face of what it means to be a superstar. ___________________ By Mark Mulligan of MIDiA and the Music Industry blog "139 music videos…

Soundcloud Adds Curated Playlists, Community Pages, More Music Discovery Options

Since playlists are the new radio, Soundcloud is making sure they have a place on the dial. Beginning today, alongside the personalized “SoundCloud Weekly” and playlists like “Fresh Pressed,” the steamer is adding more handcrafted playlists, including some curated by leading music journalists and artists. Soundcloud has also added community…

PosterMyWall Offers Low Cost Graphic Design Tool with 80,000 Templates

PosterMyWall offers a low cost d.i.y. graphic design tool to create everything from gig poster and flyers to custom images for social media, album covers and even video teasers. Its secret sauce is ease of use along with 80,000+ customization templates. Payment is based on use – usually just $2-$5…

A Wholistic Perspective On The Article 13 Solution To The Value Gap

Sweeping Article 13 copyright reform passed the European Parliament yesterday, effectively ending Safe Harbor protections for YouTube and shifting the paradigm for all sites based on user generated content. In this detailed article, Jason Peterson looks at the progression of Article 13 through European Parliament and what it means for…

What Maren Morris’ History-Making First-Week Numbers Say About Country In The Streaming Era

A country music superstar, Maren Morris’ sophomore release recently debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200, but its performance on streaming services, while good for a country album, is revealing just how far the genre has to go to catch up with others. ______________________________ Guest post by Hugh McIntyre….

PledgeMusic Update: Millions Owed, Buyer Interest, Noisetrade Co-Founders Unpaid

At least one potential buyer is taking a serious look at acquiring debt ridden PledgeMusic, according to new reports. Unable to pay funds due artists and labels, PledgeMusic suspended all crowdfunding campaigns in early February, and has been operating with a skeleton staff since. A potential buyer is “very interested”…

Music Management Commissions – What’s Fair?

While managers in the music business have always has a lot to do with an artists’ success, never have they made or broken an artist more than in the current music economy, and never have they had to work harder – so what is a sustainable business model for managers…

Spotify Adds Personalization To Curated Playlists and That’s Great News For Artists, Labels

Some official Spotify playlists will now be personalized based on a listener’s taste. For those playlists, no two will be the same. So while not the same as a permanent playlist placement, all music now has a much better chance of getting heard by the right listeners. What does all…

Ex-Apple Exec To Lead Soundcloud Subscription Push

SoundCloud has hired Anthony Gabriele as SVP, Subscriptions & Marketing. Gabriele was head of subscription marketing at Apple where he helped grow Apple Music to over 50 million paid subscribers. In the newly created role, Gabriele will lead the growth and expansion of SoundCloud’s Listener and Creator businesses, in addition…

ASCAP Elects New Board Of Directors

ASCAP has released the results of its biennial election for the Board of Directors and named the twelve writer and twelve publisher members elected to serve on the Board for a two-year term beginning April 1st, 2019. In addition to ASCAP President and Board Chairman Paul Williams, the writer members…