While not the most popular year on record, there are a number of valuable takeaways from 2017, and some evidence that it is once again possible to forage a career as an independent musician. Here we look at a few important lessons from the past year to keep in mind…
Category archives: Publishing & Songwriting
Facebook, Instagram Sign Sony/ATV Licensing Deal
Facebook and Sony/ATV music publishing announced on Monday that they have signed a multi-year, multi-market licensing deal for the social media giant, it’s Instagram photo and video service as well as Oculus, the virtual reality platform. Late last year, Facebook announced a publishing and recorded music deal with Universal Music…
Kobalt Ups Lonny Olnick To CEO of Recorded Music
Kobalt has named Lonny Olnick as CEO of its recordings division, which includes both AWAL and Kobalt Music Recordings. He was previously the company’s Chief Strategy Officer, responsible for business development and strategy. Lonny Olnick “In the last year we optimized our recordings division for the music streaming market and…
Radiohead Sues Lana Del Rey: "Creep" vs. "Lust For Life"
Radiohead is suing Lana Del Rey over the new song ‘Get Free’ from her latest album ‘Lust For Life’ and alleged similarities with Radiohead’s 90’s hit "Creep." On Sunday, Del Rey responded on Twitter, saying that even though her song was not inspired by "Creep," she had offered the band…
When Do You Need A Music Publishing Deal And What You Should Expect From It
Whether or not it’s in a songwriter’s best interest to pursue a music publishing contract is a complicated issue. Here we delve into what each party’s role in a contract is, the different types of contracts out there, and other considerations to take into account. _______________________ Guest post by Jen…
How The Wixen Lawsuit Impacts Spotify’s Upcoming Public Stock Offering
Since Wixen Music Publishing filed its $1.6 billion lawsuit against Spotify, speculation has run rampant as to how this and other court actions would hurt Spotify’s nearing IPO. Spotify isn’t commenting, but industry analyst Mark Mulligan has taken a look at all we know and come to some interesting and…
Bono On Chance The Rapper, Going DIY, Spotify Payouts and How Streaming Made Him A Better Songwriter
In a wide ranging interview with Rolling Stone, Bono shared his perspectives on the modern music industry. For a man that can afford to never sing another note in his life, the U2 frontman showed a surprising grasp of the limitations and opportunities presented to all musicians by streaming and…
Best Practices For Your Getting Songs Into Music Libraries plus a FREE WEBINAR INVITE
Music licensing is one of the income streams always touted for musicians working to build steady income and a career, but it’s also one of the most mysterious. In this piece and a free upcoming webinar, Dave Kusek and Joyce Kettering offer insights to one important point of entry into…
What Music Has In Common With Bookstores And Swiss Watches [Jack Kelly]
Despite their turbulent sales histories and brushes with obsolescence, print on paper books and Swiss watches have both managed to make impressive rebounds and have of late shown steady profitability. Here we look look at some important takeaways that could potentially apply to the music industry. _________________ Guest post by…
How Cuesta Loeb Signed With Indie Fierce Panda Records
In this interview, dream pop artist Cuesta Loeb discusses strategic methods for promoting your music, the value of having ‘a plan’, how it was that she became signed to Fierce Panda, and where she’s headed next. _______________________________ Guest post from the ReverbNation Blog Hailing from NYC, multi-instrumentalist Cuesta Loeb comes…