Category archives: streaming

Spotify Now Lets Artists Upload Music FREE

Spotify has announced a beta program that allows artists to upload music directly to the streaming platform from their Spotify For Artists platform at no cost. Free distribution puts the streamer more directly in competition with SoundCloud, low cost distributors like TuneCore and even record labels. It’s an option, however,…

Spotify Sued For Gender Discrimination As Female Exec Exits

Spotify has been sued over allegations of defamation and gender discrimination. Former sales exec Hong Perez filed suit in N.Y. Supreme Court Tuesday, accusing the streamer of systemically discriminating against female employees. The suit alleges that Hong’s boss, Brian Berner, selected an all-male group to attend Sundance in 2016 and…

Pandora AMP Adds Eventbrite Listings

Eventbrite events will now be integrated into the free Pandora AMP artist marketing platform, making it easier to use AMP’s Promote Show feature and for Pandora to promote the live shows. We don’t usually give full throated endorsements, but of you an artist, label or music marketing and not using…

Amazon Music Making More Of Its Own Exclusive Recordings

Of late Amazon has been following in the steps of Spotify and dropping a series of exclusive recordings by noted artists like John Prine and Margo Price under the title "Produced By…", and although these recordings fall under the Amazon Originals banner, Amazon doesn’t actually own the rights to them….

Court Rules Against SoundExchange In CRB Rate Dispute

On Tuesday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit upheld the Copyright Royalty Board rate determination for non-interactive web streams for the period of 2016-2020. In 2015, the CRB established rates of $0.0017 per song play from ad-supported services, up from $0.0014 in the prior period. The CRB…

Tencent Music Cuts IPO In Half [REPORT]

Tencent Music Entertainment Group, China’s most popular music streamer, now hopes to raise about $2 billion in a U.S. IPO, down from an original ask of $4 billion. The music subsidiary of Chinese tech giant Tencent Holdings filed confidentially with the U.S. SEC earlier this month, three people with knowledge…

The Biggest Challenge Facing Music Right Now [Hisham Dahud]

"When was the last time you sat down and just… listened?" That’s the question asked by Hypebot contributor Hisham Dahud. The answer for most of us could have significant implications for artists and the entire music industry in the streaming era. ________________________ By independent music professional, educator and Hypebot contributor…

The Biggest Challenge Facing Music Right Now [Hisham Dahud]

"When was the last time you sat down and just… listened?" That’s the question asked by Hypebot contributor Hisham Dahud. The answer for most of us could have significant implications for artists and the entire music industry in the streaming era. ________________________ By independent music professional, educator and Hypebot contributor…

YouTube Opens Paid Fan Memberships To Smaller Creators

YouTube is opening membership benefits and profits to smaller creators. Now creators with 50,000 subscribers will be able to offer their viewers a $4.99 monthly membership fee in exchange for exclusives and perks. Previously, the cap was 100,000 subscribers. YouTube’s membership program borrows from Patreon and Twitch, and is part…