Beyond The Video: Fan Engagement On YouTube

While many artist’s focus on YouTube’s ability to deliver music and videos to their fans, the video sharing platform has a plethora of other offerings beyond this that can be invaluable resources for keeping your fanbase up to date on your activity, as well as gaining the attention of channels…

4 Steps Songwriters Should Take Now To Prepare For The Music Modernization Act

In 2018, the Music Modernization Act was passed into law. Hailed as a harbinger of justice, songwriters hoped the law would help restructure the digital music economy in such a way as to make things more equitable for artists. The reality is a bit more complicated, but change is coming,…

Digital Music Marketing Pioneer Jay Franks Dies, Age 47, Leaving "An Immense Legacy" says Lucian Grainge

Digital music marketing pioneer and Universal Music Group SVP of Global Streaming Marketing Jay Frank, age 47, has died after a battle with cancer. “Jay leaves an immense legacy." Sir Lucian Grainge, the chairman and CEO of UMG, said in a statement. "He was a creative and tireless leader who…

Apple Music Has Team Of People Writing Down Song Lyrics

Apple is known for its attention to detail, but this revelation takes that to a whole new level. Instead of using less-than-perfect lyric services to provide lyrics alongside its music streams, Apple Music has "a team of people listening to music and transcribing the lyrics." The full quote from a…

CD Baby, Tunecore Add China For DIY Music Distribution

Tunecore and CD Baby have each just added China’s largest streaming music service – Tencent Music, its subsidiaries and partners – to their indie and d.i.y. music distribution networks. When users deliver their music to Tencent, they will be available on: QQ Music – A leading online music service with…

Tencent Puts Select Music Behind Paywall, Promises More

Chinese music streaming giant Tencent Music Entertainment is experimenting with driving revenue by making some content exclusive and unavailable to its ad-supported users. It’s a practice once popular in label circles but vehemently opposed by streaming leader Spotify. According to Music Business Worldwide’s Tim Ingham, Tencent Music Entertainment has introduced…

Shazam Added 78 Million Users Last Year

Shazam finished 2018 with 478 million users, up 78 million from the previous year. The stat came as part of a UK financial filing that also showed that revenue fell 23% to just $38 million USD last year. But the drop didn’t really matter since Shazam was acquired by Apple…

Musicians Union Demands Major Increase In Streaming Residuals with SAG-AFTRA Support

Musicians held rallies across the country calling for streaming residuals for music in television and film even as the American Federation of Musicians and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers resumed negotiations this week. "In made-for streaming productions, we get about 25% of what we get from traditional…

Apple Music To Emphasize Live Music Programming say Execs Zane Lowe, Oliver Schusser

Live radio-like shows have always been the cornerstone of Apple Beats 1 programming, including artist-driven shows from the likes of Nicki Minaj. But that’s jist the beginning of Apple Music’s growing emphasis on live appointment-worthy music programming. Apple won’t share how many people actually listen to Beats 1, but Lowe…

Apple Says Goodbye To iTunes In Latest Mac Update

Apple has officially killed iTunes with its latest Mac software update dubbed Catalina. Apple has moved each iTunes service into separate apps – Apple Music, Apple TV and Podcasts – replacing the once-revolutionary iTunes, which launched in 2003, two years after the debut of Apple’s iPod. Highlights Apple’s new Music…