Music Theory: Does It Still Matter?

Last year, Rihanna’s "Work" sent us into a spiral of discussions for days about where the tonal center was in that song, and what key it was in. People on the internet still can’t agree. Regardless of that, we examine the ways that music theory (in the European classical sense)…

What Does AT&T, Time Warner Deal Mean For Music? A Lot.

A Federal Judge yesterday ruled that AT&T could complete its $85 billion takeover of Time Warner, including HBO, CNN, DC Entertainment and all of its popular media properties. With no major music companies in either company’s portfolio, the impact of the mega-deal on the music industry would seem to be…

Facebook Marketing Update: Watch For Fan Badges

Facebook recently rolled out a new feature which awards users for high levels of interaction (likes, shares, comments) with a page by bestowing "fan badges" to them. Here Michael Brandvold outlines how these badges can be utilized, and what to watch for. ______________________ Guest post by Michael Brandvold of Michael…

SoundExchange Adds Tools To Get Songwriters Paid For 70M Address Unknown NOI Filings

SoundExchange subsidiary SXWorks has added two new tools developed to expand on its NOI LOOKUP service to help music publishers and songwriters search the more than 70 million address unknown Notice of Intention to Use (NOI) filings made with the U.S. Copyright Office. The new tools include NOI Premium Services,…

Spotify Misstep: Direct Licenses With Managers For Rights They Don’t Control

There have been rumblings over at Spotify HQ of a plan for the streaming platform to pay advances for direct deals with artists and artist managers. Chris Castle explains why this shift is a wrong turn for the music streamer ___________________________ Guest post by Chris Castle of Music Tech Policy…

Spotify Misstep: Direct Licenses With Managers For Rights They Don’t Control

There have been rumblings over at Spotify HQ of a plan for the streaming platform to pay advances for direct deals with artists and artist managers. Chris Castle explains why this shift is a wrong turn for the music streamer ___________________________ Guest post by Chris Castle of Music Tech Policy…

How A DIY Artist Lance Allen Is Earning Consistent Revenue From Streaming

Instrumental guitarist Lance Allen has been consistently able to make his mortgage payments every month with the money he’s earning off Spotify streaming revenue. Here Chris Robley of CD Baby looks at what this DIY artist is doing right, and the five ways in which he’s been able to drive…

SiriusXM To Pay SoundExchange $150 Million Settlement

SoundExchange and SiriusXM have settled their years-long litigation surrounding outstanding claims for unpaid and underpaid royalties from January 2007 through December 2017 in exchange for a lump sum payment of $150 million. The preforming rights organization will distribute the settlement funds to the rights holders and artists whose sound recordings…

Senator Ron Wyden Falsely Claims To Be ‘Pro Artist’

Here David Lowery thoroughly debunks Oregon Senator Ron Wyden’s claim that he is somehow pro artist, both by a thorough look at his voting history, as well as numerous writing by the Senator. __________________________ Guest post by David C. Lowery of The Trichordist Sen Rony Wyden has just posted a…

New ACCESS Bill Could Stall Passage Of Music Modernization Act

While it appeared for a while that the Music Modernization Act was headed toward an easy passage, a new bill called the Accessibility for Curators, Creators, Educators, Scholars, and Society to Recordings Act (or ACCESS) was recently introduced in the senate, and may bog down and reduce the likelihood of…