Music Downloads Had A Short And Unhappy Life

Data shows that interactive streaming has become the dominant form of music consumption, largely replacing previous means of listening, and causing us to look back at the less than lucrative (albeit brief) fourish year period of music downloads. ________________________ Guest post by media and tech consultant Bill Rosenblatt from Forbes…

SoundExchange, RIAA, ASCAP, BMI, Others Voice Strong Support Of Senate’s Music Modernization Act

The bipartisan Music Modernization Act was introduced in the US Senate today. It closely mimics the House version which passed recently on a unanimous vote. As with the previous bill, music industry trade groups lined up in strong support. Michael Huppe, SoundExchange President and CEO “On behalf of the 150,000+…

How New Streaming Methodology Will Impact Billboard Charts

Billboard recently greenlit some promised changes to how music streams would be weighted when assembling their Hot 100, with the new methodology lending more weight to hybrid paid/ad supported services than those supported by ads alone. ___________________________ Guest post by Sammy Pisano, Manager, National Accounts at The Orchard from The…

Full Music Modernization Act Introduced In U.S. Senate

A bipartisan group of U.S. led by US Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have introduced The Music Modernization Act, a major music reform package similar to legislation which recently passed recently on a the U.S. House 415 -0 vote. While a few had lobbied for changes in the Senate version, The…

What Sweden Has To Tell Us About Streaming’s Future

Although none of it is shocking new data from the most recent IFPI study has given us a glimpse of what a later stage streaming economy might look like, thanks to the numbers coming from Spotify’s home country of Sweden. _______________________ Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of Music 3.0 The…

7 Tips For Turning Playlist Placement Into Long Term Streaming Activity

With streaming the dominant form of music consumption, landing a good playlist placement has become a Holy Grail for artists. In order to avoid flash in the pan popularity, however, it’s important to spin that placement out and position yourself for long terms success. Here Chris Robley of CD Baby…

Spotify Updates Hate Content Policy, Pulls R. Kelly From Playlists

Spotify has announced a new "Hate Content and Hateful Conduct" policy, and among the first artists is effected is R. Kelly. Multiple women have come forward in recent weeks accusing the rapper of sexual abuse and running a "sex cult." ______________________________________ Spotify has instituted a new "Hate Content and Hateful…

TIDAL Calls Inflated Streams Report ‘Smear Campaign’

Earlier today, we reported that TIDAL had been accused of inflating streaming stats for Beyonce and Kanye West. Hundreds of millions of false plays for superstars were reported to the trades, according to a study of leaked Tidal data by a Norwegian newspaper. Now Tidal is responding to the charges:…

TIDAL Inflated ‘Hundreds Of Millions’ Beyoncé, Kanye Streams [Report]

TIDAL is being accused of inflating streaming stats for two of its most visible artists/partners, Beyonce and Kanye West. The millions of false plays resulted in overpayments to the two superstars at the expense of other artists, according to a study of leaked documents by a Norwegian newspaper. _____________________________________ Beyoncé…

Another Look At Spotify Promotion Service Playlist Push [Brian Hazard]

Brian Hazard of Color Theory revisits Playlist Push, a service designed to help independent artists with playlist placement and monetizing their music. Here he recounts his second experience using the platform and what sort of results he saw. ________________________ Guest post by Brian Hazard of Passive Promotion Playlist Push promises…