Measuring Music’s Timelessness: A Tricky Business

Whether expressed or not, a latent goal of most musicians is to create music that endures, and hopefully has life beyond its creator. But just how does one measure music’s timelessness? Here Patrick McGuire explore the complexities in defining music’s longevity. _____________________________ Guest post by Patrick McGuire from the TuneCore…

Copyright Office Set To Make Album Registration Easier

The US Copyright Office has been lagging behind the times for awhile now, but is finally beginning to catch up, with some exciting "innovations" such as online copyright registration system, making it much easier for artists to officially register their work. _______________________________ Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0…

Why Physical Promotion, Release Formats Are Still Important

Living in the age we are, many musicians may be tempted to invest their time and money solely in digital promotion, but eschewing more archaic forms of promotion like vinyls, shirts, and stickers in favor of targeted social media ads and playlist promotion can sometimes backfire. Here we look at…

Billboard To Add Top Songwriters, Top Producers Charts

Under pressure from alternative data sources and soon to launch charts from Rolling Stone, Billboard is expanding its own chart offering. Top Songwriters and Top Producers charts will be based on weekly activity on the Billboard Hot 100 and other “Hot” genre song charts that blend data from streaming, airplay…

BUSINESS OF INDIE: Akon Launches Label • AWAL + Proper • Indies Score At Country Radio • More

In this new edition of Business Of Indie, Akon and Motown Veteran Kedar Massenburg launch the Akonik Label Group, AWAL expands its deal for physical distribution with Proper, indie labels are giving majors a run for their money at country radio and more. Like Hypebot’s More News section, The Business…

Justice Dept. Opens Review of ASCAP, BMI Consent Decrees

The U.S. Justice Department will review two consent decrees originally reached in 1941 with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) to establish how the organizations, which license approximately 90% of music in the United States, must operate. Under the consent decrees, the…

A Look Inside 5 Ads Where Music Was Critical To Storytelling

Music has been used alongside advertisements for centuries, and the right song placement can make or break a commercial’s effectiveness. Here Energy BBDO’s Daniel Kuypers discusses some of his big hits, and the art of curating the perfect advertisement soundtrack. _________________________________ Guest post by David Gianatasio from Muse by Clio…

Musicians: Getting The Most Out Of A Podcast Interview

As journalists seek out new ways to introduce music to the listening public, many have turned to podcasting. A less formal and often more in depth way of interviewing artists than traditional radio. While certainly a good promotional opportunity for artists, there are some things you should keep in mind…

Know Your Rights: Musician’s Simple Guide To Digital Royalties

Far too many artists who release brilliant music are ultimately unaware of how the system works when it comes to collecting royalties on said music, and consequently run the risk of getting ripped off. Here we offer a straightforward guide to understanding how digital royalties work. ___________________________________ Guest post by…

Industry Bomb Thrower Merck Mercuriadis On Disrupting The Music Business [INTERVIEW]

In this edition of ‘In the Hot Seat’ with Larry LeBlanc, he speaks with music industry heavy-hitter and publishing pariah Merck Mercuriadis about how he’s shaking up the music business with his publicly traded intellectual propery acquisition vehicle Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited. __________________________________ Guest post by Larry LeBlanc from Celebrity…