Spotify confidentially filed its IPO documents with the U.S. Security and Exchange Commission at the end of December. "All indications are that Spotify wants to list in Q1, and timing of the confidential F-1 filing would support such a calendar," reports news site Axios, citing multiple sources. So far, Spotify…
Category archives: Startups & Funding
Unblocking Music’s Blockchain: Berklee’s Panos Panay On CNBC
Berklee College of Music’s Panos Panay recently explained to a CNBC panel how “blockchain,” the system behind Bitcoin, has vast revenue potential in the world of music.“The vision behind it is to create an open protocol that dramatically simplifies the way that rights owners are identified across the supply chain…
DIY Booking Apps Pare and Special Guest Merge
North American D.I.Y. booking apps Pare Booking and special Special Guest have merged. The two will also combine the venues they are working with and add more in the coming months. "With complimentary talent buying networks and similar cultures, focused on helping talent find and book great opportunities, the joining…
Splice Raises $35 Million To Expand Digital Hub For Musicians, $5 Million Paid To Creators
Four years after launching, online music creators hub Splice announced that it has paid out $5 million to artists, as well as, completed a new $35 million funding round to expand the service. One of the samples available from Splice even anchored “Sorry Not Sorry,” the #1 hit for Demi…
Sound Diplomacy: Improving Music Cities Worldwide
For a music community to develop and thrive, it needs a city to grow in. So what is about iconic cities like London, Chicago, and Nashville that allow a local music culture to thrive, and how is this culture affected by governments and business? Sound Diplomacy seeks to answer these…
Wu Tang’s RZA Opposes Trademark App For Dog-Walking Company "Woof-Tang Clan"
After recently making headlines for their one-off million dollar album, the Wu-Tang Clan is back in the news after member of the group Robert Diggs (better known by his stage name RZA) came out in opposition against a dog-walking company attempting to file a copyright for the name "Woof-Tang Clan"….
Crunch Digital “Sandbox” Offers Music-Tech Startups Customized Licensing, Reporting Solution
For music tech startups, not having a proper licensing strategy roadmap can expedite things, but also cause significant legal trouble down the road. A new service from Crunch Digital aims to make licensing and reporting a little easier for companies getting off the ground. __________________________ Guest post by Chris Castle…
Beatroot Shuts Down, Declared Insolvent
Manchester based Beatroot has entered administration, the UK equivalent of bankruptcy protection. Founded in 2015, the online platform helped record labels, production companies and publishers prepare music for digital distribution, collecting tracks, metadata and legal rights in a single place. _______________________________ B2B music tech company Beatroot has laid off all…
Jay-Z’s TIDAL Is Running Out Of Cash, Bleeding Users [REPORT]
Jay-Z fronted music streamer TIDAL has just 6 months of operating capital left, according to a new report, and is losing users as well. In January of this year, Sprint poured $200 million into the streamer based on a $600 million valuation. __________________________ TIDAL has just six months of cash…
Shazam Is To Apple As The Echo Nest Is To Spotify [Mark Mulligan]
From Mark Mulligan of MIDiA: Shazam finally found a buyer: Apple. Ever since its affiliate sales revenue model crumbled with the onset of streaming (there’s no business in an affiliate fee on a $0.01 stream), Shazam has been trying to find a new business model. It doubled down on providing…