Cardi B Tops 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards With 10 Nominations

“Please Me” rapper Cardi B led the charge for the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards nominations, with a total of nine nods. Cardi’s extensive list of nominations includes picks for MVP of the Year, Hot Ticket Performer, Hustler of the Year, Best Collabo, Single of the Year, Made-You-Look Award, and…

What Artists Need To Know About Songtrust

In order to get paid from the mechanical royalties generated by your song’s plays, you need to some kind of publishing administrator to collect it for you. In this article, Brian Hazard gives us feedback on his recent experience using Songtrust, one such publishing admin. ______________________________ Guest post by Brian…

Who Wants To Watch Radio?

Broadcast radio consultant Fred Jacobs explores the complex history of radio on television, a phenomenon which, though it may seem pointless and even contradictory, has accrued a significant following, and been the origin of some very popular modern programming. ____________________________________ Guest post by Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media You’re forgiven…

Americana Music Awards Full List Of Winners 2019

The Americana Music Association kicked off its annual conference Wednesday night with the 18th annual Honors & Awards ceremony at Nashville’s Ryman Auditorium. The Milk Carton Kids-hosted evening that showcased the best of what this inclusive genre has to offer. Without taking anything away from the veterans, this year’s stellar…

The Industry’s Best Latin Music Conferences

As in many businesses, music industry conferences are a go-to for meeting like minded folks and growing your network of contacts, and if you feel like you’re falling behind on one of the fastest growing genres in the music industry, these top Latin music conferences could be for you! ____________________________…

Music Marketing Platform Beatchain Adds Distribution

Music promotion and fan building platform Beatchain has added digital distribution powered by FUGA. The full direct to artist platform will launch in early 2020. FUGA’s platform will allow Beatchain to distribute their users’ content to hundreds of digital services for 100% market reach. Artists can upload unlimited tracks for…

New California Law Might Give Musicians Precisely What They’re Trying To Avoid

Calfornia Bill AB 5 has now passed both houses of the Legislature and is headed to the Governor to be signed. The bill, aimed primarily at helping ride-share drivers, could also reak havoc in the indie music industry, re-classifying those who were once known as independent contractors as full employees….

Playlist Streaming: Is It Hurting The Artist?

Leaving downloads and CDs in the dust, streaming (and consequently playlists) is now the new normal for music consumption. But just how much is this style of listening harming artists, and how much value is there getting your song a coveted placement on a popular playlist. ___________________________ In this latest…

Spotify Acquires Audio Talent Marketplace SoundBetter

Spotify has acquired SoundBetter, a global marketplace that helps creators connect and hire producers and other audio professionals. Soundbetter will become part of Spotify For Artists, making it the first artist service that the streamer will charge for. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. SoundBetter enables musicians, DJ’s and…

RIAA Investigating Payola Like Fox Guarding The Henhouse [Op-Ed]

Paying for radio airplay, or payola as it is more commonly known, has been around since the 50s in one form or another, but has recently spiked. This has lead the FCC to request that the RIAA investigate – meaning the industry will, in effect, be policing itself. ____________________________ Guest…