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Report: PE Firm Makes $500M Investment Offer In iHeartMedia.

Private equity firm Silver Lake has contacted iHeartMedia and its largest creditor group with a $500 million offer to invest in the radio group, according to a story in the Wall Street Journal. However the creditor group, led by Franklin Mutual Advisers and Pacific Investment Management, reportedly hasn’t accepted the offer.

 

Study Reveals Challenges Facing All Musicians

Making a living as a musician has never been regarded as one of the easier careers out there, and things don't appear to be getting any better in the streaming age, as a new study reveals why it is that so many artists have it so tough.

 

Major Labels Demand More Slots On Spotify Playlists

All three major labels are unhappy with the number of song placement they receive on key Spotify playlists and demanding preferential treatment, according to a new report.  The displeasure with Spotify is directed at two very different kinds of Spotify playlists, that together drive manyt listening hours, according to the report. First, the major labels want more slots on top official hand-curated playlists. Second, the labels are concerned that they are not getting more slots on algorithmically driven playlists like Daily Mix, Release Radar and Discover Weekly.

 

Does Facebook even want youths on its platform? Marketing managers and artists, take note

Late last year, when Facebook announced plans to switch up the algorithm to de-prioritise posts, brands and artists took note. Last October, Facebook announced it was “testing two separate feeds, one as a dedicated space with posts from friends and family and another as a dedicated space for posts from Pages.” Essentially, removing content from any Business Page from its main feed – that’s artists, brands, and even media like us.

 

Finding The Balance Between Creativity And Business

As a musician in today’s industry, you often have to wear multiple hats.

Of course you play the role of the creative - writing, experimenting, playing, practicing, and creating are part of your core being, coming to you almost as easily as breathing.

 

As Clock Ticks, New Hurdles Mount Against the Music Modernization Act

The Senate needs to act on the bill before this Congressional term ends, otherwise lawmakers and music industry lobbyists must start the legislative process again next year.

 

Performance Rights Disputes: What They Are And What Causes Them?

As old as recorded music itself, disputes over ownership have permeated the music industry for decades. Luckily the advancement of technology has made it a little easier to keep performance rights in check. In this article we explore exactly what performance rights disputes are, and where they come from.

 

Merch Cat Adds Fan App For Direct To Fan Sales

Music merch management app Merch Cat has launched the Merch Cat Fan app, a direct-to-fan sales tool centered on the live show. Fans can use it to buy merch at live shows, or anytime, and artists get access to purchase data.

 

As Apple Music 'Passes' Spotify, Remember That Apple's Strength Is Also Its Weakness

The typical headline goes something like this: Apple Music Passes Spotify In The US. Along with ignoring that Spotify still leads in the US when factoring in its tens of millions of ad-supported users, these stories also ignore that Apple's lead is likely temporary and that there is almost no chance that Apple Music will ever become the dominate music streamer globally.

Assert Your Independence: Contact Your Senator To Support Music Modernization Act

The Music Modernization Act (MMA) passed the House unanimously (415-0). Then, on June 28, the Senate Judiciary Committee reported the bill with a unanimous voice vote. Now it gets more difficult because some companies that use music to fuel their businesses are happy paying music creators at discounted rates (or paying nothing at all), and they are mobilizing to keep music licensing in the Dark Ages.

 

Apple Music Has Reportedly Beaten Spotify in the US With the Users That Matter Most

As Tidal continues to struggle, Apple Music has found major success, and if a report leaked to Digital Music News is true, Apple Music may have just become the most popular on-demand streaming music service in the U.S.—at least as far as paying users go.

Fort Worth Songwriters Assn. Song Contest and Computer Training

The FWSA Song Contest for 2018 has moved out of the "dark ages" and in to a new age of technology. All song entries for 2018 will now be submitted "on-line" through a new and easy program. This will streamline the process of collecting entries and provide an accurate tracking program. This Monthly Songwriter Gathering will be dedicated to actual "hands on" training which will allow our members to become thoroughly familiar with the new system. More here.

 

Indie Labels Now Accounting For 14 Billion Streams Monthly

Most artists and bands would prefer to be signed to a major label instead of an indie, but the fact of the matter is that indies are gaining strength, especially where streaming is concerned. Indie label association Merlin (which consists of more than 20,000 indie labels, imprints and small distributors) reported that its member’s streams have now grown to around 14 billion per month, up by 37% over last year at the same time.

Settlement Possible In Radio’s Royalty Battle.

More than a year of discussions between the National Association of Broadcasters and the music industry have so far failed to resolve the decades-long standoff over whether radio should pay royalties for on-air use of music. But NAB president Gordon Smith remains optimistic some agreement can be hatched, most likely tied to what radio pays for streaming.

 

PE Firm Silver Lake Interested In Buying iHeartMedia.

Private equity firm Silver Lake Partners is reportedly in talks with iHeartMedia’s creditors about buying the company after it emerges from Chapter 11, according to a story in the New York Post. Silver Lake’s interest comes after iHeart’s creditors on June 15 rejected a $1.16 billion offer from John Malone’s Liberty Media because the bid was too low.

 

Report: Apple Music Has More U.S. Subscribers Than Spotify.

Apple Music reportedly has more U.S. subscribers than Spotify. According to information garnered by Digital Music News, Apple is slightly ahead of Spotify in stateside subscriber counts with both streaming music services cresting the 20 million subscriber threshold.

 

Things To Consider When Creating Your Band's Website

These days, it’s impossible to get by as a musician without a great web presence. Of course, one of the most effective ways to manage this will be with your own website where you can quickly send anyone who’s interested in learning more about you, finding merch, streaming your music, or booking you for your next gig. Sure, you can probably get by with a Facebook profile and a Bandcamp page, but an attractive website hosted on a domain that you own will make you appear more professional than most other new bands in your area. 

 

Streaming Changes Everything For Music Catalogs

Most labels and many musicians thrive because of their hits, but survive over time because of their catalog.  But as MIDiA analyst Mak Mulligan points out, streaming , which offers access to 35 million track library and a 'small royalty income forever' business model, changes the value of music catalogs in ways that we're just beginning to understand.

 

Millions of Followers? Yes, But Some Top Spotify Playlists Fall Short on Engagement

Spotify is arguably the reason why music-industry analysts and execs alike have deemed playlists “the new album” and “more powerful than radio.” With access to over 157 million monthly active users, the streaming service regularly catapults artists into the international spotlight, but not all of Spotify’s biggest playlists guarantee success for those who land songs on them. 

 

'They could destroy the album': how Spotify's playlists have changed music for ever

Custom playlists on the streaming site can bring unknown artists to millions. But are they altering how songs get written? The Swedish streaming giant can make the already-big even bigger – see Ed Sheeran’s annexing of the UK Top 20 in March – but it can also give unknowns a huge boost. These playlists are becoming arguably more important than radio in bringing new music to the masses; they hold the hands of a mass-market audience that is moving over to streaming but can find navigating 40m tracks overwhelming.

 

5 Reasons To Record, Release You Own Cover Songs

Given the time and energy which it takes to record new music, along with the challenges facing the format of the conventional album, artists looking to make splash should consider the advantages of a well crafted cover. Here we explore why.

 

Kelly Willis Talks New Record, Collaborating With Her Husband, and Touring Again

On the latest solo project from Kelly Willis, Back Being Blue, the Texas-based artist was produced by her husband – and frequent vocal collaborator – Bruce Robison. It’s a partnership that has worked well over the years

 

Could Article 13 Mean The End Of Music On YouTube?

Even as YouTube launched it's much anticipated music service, its core user-generated video business was being threatened. The EU Parliament is seriously considering overturning basic provisions of the safe harbor framework under which YouTube operates; and the idea is gaining traction in the US. 

 

How To Build A Perfect Musicians One Sheet

The one-sheet, a simple single page overview of you and your music, is a tool used by the many music industry gatekeepers (think radio stations and booking agents) to determine how sellable you are as a band or artist. Here we look at a checklist designed to help you write the most effective one-sheet possible.

 

CD Baby Opens UK Office, Hires Orchard

CD Baby has opened an office in London, headed by Rich Orchard; who joins CD Baby as EU Director of Market Development. Orchard comes via Absolute Label Services, where he was Head of Digital. Prior to that, he spent six years at Activision, where he dealt extensively with publishers on games like Guitar Hero Live.

 

How To Integrate Facebook Music Event Marketing

The over-saturating of the online market has made promoting events challenging for artists, yet certain avenues still remain effective, provided your advertising is targeted correctly. In this piece we look at how Facebook events can be used to reach your ideal audience.

The Music Modernization Act’s New Burdens for Labels Identifying Unmatched Songs

The Music Modernization Act is definitely the gift that keeps on giving. The latest is a new burden the MMA places on all sound recording owners, large and small, to help the digital services comply with their obligation to locate song copyright owners in order for the services to keep the new “reachback” safe harbor also referred to as the “Limitation on Liability”.  This is the retroactive safe harbor given effect on January 1, 2018 regardless of when the bill actually is passed by both houses of Congress and signed by the President. Here’s the relevant clause (at pages 100-101 of the House bill):

 

How To Guide For Cover Art On Spotify, Streaming Services

While cover art no longer carries quite the same weight as it once did (with music less often purchased as a physical product) it remains an essential part of the marketing puzzle. Here we look at the guidelines for when it comes to putting your music on streaming services.

 

How To Get An Endorsement As A Musician

We have come a long way in the last nearly forty years from when endorsements were easy to come by for musicians everywhere who simply had an awesome look and a cool sound. Nowadays, the industry has changed dramatically, so I thought I would offer some pointers for the best way to get an endorsement from the company you love.

 

Instagram Targets YouTube With 10 - 60 Minute Videos, Passes 1 Billion Users

Instagram now has 1billion users globally, up an impressive 200 million from September of last year. Anchoring its next chapter is an aggressive move into longer form video, including expanding the allowed video length for all users.

 

How To Guide To Get Music On Spotify Playlists

With Spotify now one of the most popular platforms for music consumption, figuring out how to get your music placed on one of the streaming services coveted playlists has become the Holy Grail for up-and-coming musicians. Here we look at some advice on cracking the playlist code.

 

Spotify Launches 'The Game Plan' Video Series For Artists

After noticing that many of its artists weren't utilizing the streaming platform's full potential, Spotify has a launched a new series of helpful videos intended to direct artists on how to take full advantage of their artist specific site.

 

Thought Streaming Royalties Were Bad? Radio Airplay Royalties Even Worse

Artists and songwriters have a tendency to rip on streaming for its low payouts, sometimes without understanding the scale and metrics of how it really works. While it’s true that streaming royalties can seem absurdly low sometimes, it turns out that U.S. radio airplay is way worse.

 

The Legalities Of Touring

You’ve read these tour articles a thousand times. By this point it’s no surprise that touring is hard. It’s no surprise that touring is expensive. And it’s no surprise that making your money back doesn’t often happen for DIY bands on their first couple of trips. That said however, there are legalities to consider. A band is a business, whether you want it to be or not. A tour is a venture. And musicians are people who bring their own lives and difficulties to the table. So when you’re looking to tour, consider some of the legal problems that could stop you from being able to fully experience or continue to tour in the future!

 

YouTube Music rolls out

YouTube Music Premium, the new subscription tier for Google’s video service, is launching fully in 17 countries today, including 12 additional markets to the five that were announced in May.

Sony Predicts Growth Slowdown For Music Industry

The recorded music industry has been on the up and up for the past few years, seeing double digit growth thanks to the magic of streaming. As with so many good things, however, doomsayers at Sony are predicting this precipitous growth will soon come to an end.

 

Tech companies are the new record labels?

[PIAS] co-founder Michel Lambot looks at how the economic structure of media consumption has shifted over time to one of renting vs. owning; and how tech companies bypassing record labels to make direct deals with artists is the next logical step in this progression.

 

D.I.Y. Spotify Playlist Promotion with Crosshair Music

Garrison Snell CEO of Crosshair Music and Gyrosity Projects joins Michael Brandvold and Jay Gilbert on the Music Biz Weekly podcast to discuss the self-service platform, Crosshair Music, for submitting music to playlists. Their mission is to affordably connect musicians directly to the playlist curators and social influencers who can help grow their audiences. But does it work?

 

Sony Music Entertainment to Start Paying Indie Artists & Labels Spotify Sale Proceeds as Early as August

Following Sony Corp.’s April sale of half of its stake in Spotify, Sony Music Entertainment (SME) sent an email to indie labels on Thursday (June 14) declaring its intent to share a portion of the profits with “eligible artists and participants as soon as possible,” with a target of August.

 

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

Spotify has offered advances to a number of managers and indie acts in exchange for licensing their music directly to the streaming service, sources tell Billboard. Under the terms of some of the deals, management firms can receive several hundred thousand dollars as an advance fee for agreeing to license a certain number of tracks by their independent acts directly to Spotify.

 

What one DIY artist is doing to earn consistent streaming revenue from Spotify.

Lance Allen, the instrumental guitarist who’s paying off his mortgage every month with the money he earns from Spotify, is obviously doing something right. He’s doing quite a few things right, in fact.

 

Sirius XM Strikes $150 Million Settlement With SoundExchange.

Sirius XM Radio has agreed to make a one-time $150 million payment to settle a lawsuit brought by SoundExchange nearly five years ago, alleging the satellite radio service underpaid royalties. The agreement also resolves “all outstanding claims” including all of SoundExchange’s ongoing audits of Sirius XM’s web radio service.

 

24,000 Tracks Uploaded To Music Streamers Every 24 Hours

20,000 to 24,000 tracks are uploaded to Spotify, Apple Music, Napster and other streaming music service every 24 hours. That's 1 million tracks every 6 weeks.  Let's that number sink in for a moment and imagine how hard it is to break through that much clutter.

 

What Rights Does A Copyright Owner Have? [Music Law 101]

Once  a song is written and recorded, the owner of the song gains certain exclusive rights over the work relating the reproduction, adaptation, distribution and performance of the song. Here we look at what exactly those rights are.

 

6 Reasons To Create Playlists, Share Them With Fans

As streaming continues to dominate music consumption, (with an eye towards replacing the album altogether) artists have a lot to gain by assembling their own playlists and promoting them to fans. Here we look at six benefits in particular.

 

5 Best Live Streaming Tools in the E-Market You Should Know

Live streaming is taking the world by storm. And how. Companies of all sizes are clamoring to add live streaming tools to their interfaces, allowing users to connect more deeply and to experience products up close. Live advertising encourages digital entrepreneurs to sell and advertise in real-time, and companies centred on this new brand of marketing are quickly sprouting up, thanks to the tremendous demand that the medium holds. The potential in live streaming, and more so, live advertising is enormous. If you’ve been chasing the entrepreneurial dream, there’s no better sector than this.

 

New Ways to Enjoy Music on Facebook

We’ve been partnering with music companies around the world to bring music to more experiences on Facebook. Today we’re announcing new ways for people to express themselves with music in their posts, including a new feature, Lip Sync Live.

 

How Spotify’s Gatekeepers Are Turning Listeners Into Fans (Or Not)

It’s accepted wisdom that the impact of music media has greatly diminished over the past decade. Intuitively, it makes sense. When there are millions of people shouting, the voices of a few are drowned out, regardless of how influential or learned those voices may be.

 

4 Editing Tricks To Make Your Songs More Playlist Friendly

Playlist curators are the tastemakers of the modern age, and when they're putting their playlists together, they have a specific set of requirements in mind. Here Michael Warner explains how artists can game with a few editing tricks to make their songs more playlist-friendly.

The RMLC And BMI Are Headed For Court.

More than a year of out-of-court negotiations failed to produce an agreement between the Radio Music License Committee and Broadcast Music Inc. Now the process will move into federal court. Judge Louis Stanton has ordered the RMLC and BMI to appear in a New York courtroom on June 22 to begin hashing out the issues involved in their 18-month stand-off.

 

The 3 Reasons Why New Music Is Released On Friday

You might have noticed that all new music released by record labels always comes on a Friday and wondered why. After all, Friday generally isn’t a great day for communication online (especially via email) as people are especially frantic before the weekend. And if you remember back to before 2015, Tuesday used to be release day in the U.S.

There are actually 3 reasons why Friday was chosen as the global release day for new music.

 

4 Ways To Make Your Next Album Release Successful

While all the excitement and buildup preceding an album release can make you eager to get it out the world as soon as possible, an album release should be carefully planned and orchestrated in order to avoid  a disappointing flop.

 

Bankrupt Gibson Guitars Gets A $135 Million Lifeline

A U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware yesterday entered an order granting Gibson Brands Inc. the authority to access the full amount of its $135 million in debtor-in-possession (DIP) financing and use of cash collateral.

  

 

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