What Is It That Makes A Song Catchy?

Sleuthing out what it is that makes a song "catchy" has been a goal of songwriters since time immemorial. Here Hunter Farris meshes the worlds of music theory and psychology to determine just what it is that gives some music the ability to grab at our brains and not let…

‘Ties That Bind’ Celebrates A Year Of Telling Rock & Roll Recovery Stories

Sponsored by the drug and alcohol treatment center Cornerstones of Recovery, The Ties That Bind Us launched as a weekly interview series designed to shed light on some of the more negative byproducts that can result from a rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle. We look back on one year of the…

Merlin Paid Indie Labels $1 Billion In Last 18 Months

Global independent digital rights agency Merlin announced the findings of its 2019 Membership Report & Survey at A2IM Indie Week on Tuesday, The report revealed 63% year-on-year increase in member payments to $845 million. The total includes over $130 million in revenues generated from one time settlements and other non-royalty…

Breaking Into The Music Industry: Tips For College Grads

While graduating from college can feel like a major milestone, the prospect of finding a job (particularly in an industry as tumultuous as the music business) can be intimidating. Here we look at some key pointers for how fresh-faced graduates can get their foot in the door. ________________________ In this…

Merlin CEO Charles Caldas To Step Down

One of independent music’s most vocal advocates, Charles Caldas will step down as CEO of Merlin at the end of 2019 after more than 12 years leading the global digital rights agency. Continuing his current duties until then, Charles will work with the Merlin board to ensure a smooth transition…

NPR Launches Curated Music Playlists

National Public Radio’s NPR Music has launch a new series of curated playlists featuring music from the broadcaster’s radio programs such as Morning Edition or All Things Considered. The playlists, which will also feature ‘curated’ selections from NPR personalities, will include music from across a variety of genres, such as…

Spotify Dubbed Digital Predator By Top Radio Consultant

The potential disruptive impact of Spotify’s new "Your Daily Drive " playlist which mixes music, news and short podcasts, is starting to sink in at radio. Respected radio consultant Fred Jacobs of Jacobs Media has now dubbed "Your Daily Drive" and short daily podcasts like the New York Times produced…

5 Reasons You Don’t Actually Want The Record Deal Of Your Dreams

The record industry, and consequently the record deal, have seen countless transformations over the decades, and while many artists may still be eager to sign the "contract of their dreams," the reality is that these agreements can often leave the artist in a less than ideal situation ______________________________ Guest post…

Universal Music Vault Fire Story Could Alter Company’s Valuation

Recently a new story from the New York Times revealed that a major fire in one of Universal Studios vaults had caused the company to lose more than 100,000 of its master tapes, and as a large share of the company may be headed for the auction block, questions are…

Music Video Promotion: 5 Things To Know Before Marketing A New Music Video

Although the music business is changing constantly, the music video is – and will likely remain – a staple of music industry marketing. But while a powerful tool though they may be, it’s important to plan ahead as to just how to execute their distribution. ________________________________ Guest post by Andy…