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U.S. Recorded Music Industry Revenue Hit a Record $8.35 Billion During H1 2023, Report Shows — Despite a Vinyl Sales-Volume Decline
The U.S. recorded music industry achieved over 9% year-over-year (YoY) growth during 2023’s initial half, generating a cool $8.35 billion at estimated retail value, according to newly released data.  These and other noteworthy consumption figures came to light in an H1 2023 performance breakdown from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Worth clarifying at the outset is that the aforementioned retail value refers to “the value of shipments at recommended or estimated list price” – not necessarily the price that physical products like vinyl and CDs actually fetched.

Streaming’s problems will not be fixed by royalties alone
After Universal and Deezer’s royalty proposal made headlines, Mark Mulligan of consultancy MIDiA explained that much more needs to be considered to fix the over-arching problems troubling music streaming.  UMG and Deezer’s artist-centric royalty proposal got the amount of attention both parties probably wanted, if not necessarily the type of attention they were after. However, the intent was to kick start an industry debate, and that objective was clearly achieved. Yet, while the discussion has understandably focused on royalties (as, after all, it is a royalty system), these are more symptom than cause. Streaming royalties are not adding up because streaming is not adding up. Fixing royalties is only part of the solution.

Federal Lawmaker Introduces Revamped ‘Protect Working Musicians Act,’ Proposing Indie Collective-Negotiation Rights for Streaming and Generative AI
Back in October of 2021, the Protect Working Musicians Act, which would have ostensibly allowed artists “to negotiate fairer rates and terms for the use of their music online,” debuted in the House. Now, a federal lawmaker has introduced a retooled version of the bill – complete with provisions related to protected media’s role in generative AI.  Several individuals and organizations emailed Digital Music News with word of the revamped Protect Working Musicians Act, which Representative Deborah Ross (D-NC) introduced. (The lawmaker behind the 2021 bill resigned from Congress in September of 2022.) Digging into the seven-page bill itself – which begins by declaring music “a cultural treasure and a unique source of spiritual inspiration, emotional comfort, community connection, and joy” – the text accuses leading digital platforms of compelling “music creators into licensing agreements that do not reflect market value. These platforms game the system created by the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which allows dominant online platforms to ignore and profit from unlicensed use of music and places the responsibility for finding each and every instance of unlicensed use of music on music creators,” continues the legislation, also pointing to the “millions of dollars” that the RIAA spends “engaged in this effort.” 

SoundExchange royalties rose 17% to $269M in Q2, $498M YTD
SoundExchange paid out $269 million in 2023’s Q2 royalties, the digital PRO reported. That’s a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2022.  In the first half of the year, SoundExchange distributed a total of $498 million.  SoundExchange collects and distributes non-interactive digital performance royalties to musicians and rights owners. Since 2003, SoundExchange has distributed more than $10 billion directly to more than 650,000 music creators globally.

How to protect your online accounts as an Independent Musician
Hackers are coming up with new diabolical scams every day, so it’s important to know how to keep all your personal information secure and safe. Here are some basic cyber security tips to help every musician and music industry professional stay protected.  As an independent musician and master of DIY, having your personal information online is just a part of the gig. Logins on tons of websites, payments on various accounts, everything you do online remains behind only so many walls of protection. People get hacked all the time, and it typically happens to those who skipped out on some basic safety measures. Don’t leave your accounts up for grabs! Here’s how to protect yourself…

Live music will drive ‘Funflation’ as consumer spending slows says BoA analysis
There’s good news for musicians and the live music sector in a new report from Bank of America analyst Jessica Reif Ehrlich.  According to the analysis, funflation – the post-pandemic surge in consumer spending on live experiences – will continue to be driven by live music even as other consumer spending slows.  Some economists are concerned that discretionary spending will nosedive as consumers spend down their pandemic savings and delayed student loan repayments for core concertgoers resume.  Not so for live music, says Ehrlich, offering several “sustainable and longer-term key drivers” that she says will fuel solid growth for a number of years.

Well needed letter from ASCAP

Dear ASCAP Music Creators,
Emerging technologies – like artificial intelligence – have always presented the music industry with both opportunities and challenges, and songwriters and composers are often the first to feel the effects when technology is used in a way that takes aim at human creators, ignores their rights or devalues their work. That’s not innovation.  We need your help making sure Congress protects your rights and the value of music in the age of AI.  As generative AI tools are making it easier than ever to produce new AI-generated music using creators’ works, now is the moment we must ensure that these technologies are properly licensed to protect the rights of creators. ASCAP has helped music creators navigate a rapidly changing music landscape for over a century. From piracy to streaming, ASCAP has navigated and embraced technological advances while ensuring they do NOT displace human creativity in music creation.  “Humans first. That is our position.”
-ASCAP CEO Beth Matthews at the 2023 ASCAP AI Symposium

Understanding the Art of Mastering
The crucial last step in the record-making process, mastering involves the use of specific tools and techniques designed to give a mix its professional sheen when delivering to music platforms, radio and the like—and why it’s often a job best left to those in the know We all strive to achieve a good-sounding finished product on our own, however there are times when a competent third party could take the work to a much better place. A good mastering provider is often that logical next step—someone with the ears and tools to imbue your track with a professional sheen when presenting to radio, streaming platforms, or other key situations. While it’s entirely possible to make a competent master from home, enlisting the services of an expert may be well worth the investment.

Country singer-songwriter Charlie Robison dies in Texas at age 59 from cardiac arrest
Charlie Robison, the Texas singer-songwriter whose rootsy anthems made the country charts until he was forced to retire after complications from a medical procedure left him unable to sing, died Sunday. He was 59.  Robison died at a hospital in San Antonio after suffering cardiac arrest and other complications, according to a family representative.  Robison launched his music career in the late 1980s, playing in local Austin bands like Two Hoots and a Holler before forming his own Millionaire Playboys. In 1996, he released his solo debut, "Bandera," named for the Texas Hill Country town where his family has had a ranch for generations.  Memorial services are pending.

Are 10% of Spotify Streams Really ‘Fake’? — New Report Prompts Fresh Industry Conjecture
Although few would argue against the simplicity introduced by Spotify’s initial financial model upon its 2011 debut in the US — $10 a month to listen to music online — the distribution of that money back to the artists has long been a hotly debated topic. But the other side of the coin of a system based on simplicity can lead to bad actors utilizing the financial incentives to game that system, which has become increasingly common in the era of content streaming.  According to the Financial Times, JP Morgan analysts found that if someone uploaded their own 30-second track to Spotify and programmed their phone to listen to it on repeat for 24 hours a day, they would receive $1,200 in monthly royalties. Executives estimate that as much as 10% of all music streams are “fake” — artificially inflated from streaming farms where devices run services like Spotify on loop specifically to boost the listening count of these tracks.

Believe, TuneCore decry UMG, Deezer ‘reverse Robin Hood’ artist payouts
Global digital music company Believe has taken aim at plans by Deezer and UMG to change how streaming payments are calculated to what they call a “value sharing artist-centric” model.  Many of the independent and D.I.Y. artists distributed by Believe-owned TuneCore are likely to negatively impacted by the new plan.  Believe is applauding portions of the plan that will remove white noise and other non-music tracks from payment calculations and increase efforts to police fake streams, but calls two major changes a “reverse Robin Hood” scheme that will hurt many artists: 

5 Top Merch Items every Musician should sell
Merch is something you don’t have to get too complicated with. This guide takes musicians through the basics of selling merch and what products are guaranteed to sell.  Merch is a big potential income stream for musicians. It’s also a great way to give your fans something they can hold on to – your products remind them of your shows, and super fans love to support their favorite artist by making a purchase.  Truly the best way to determine what merch will sell best is to get to know your fanbase. Your genre of music or your fan demographics will probably dictate what your fans would use, and what they can afford.   If you’re just getting started with selling merch as a musician, these are five popular and timely items that are easy to customize and sell.

Finish 2023 strong with a smart Fall and Holiday Music Marketing Plan
As we head into the eventful fall season, holidays and award ceremonies are right around the corner. This guide will help you get ahead of your work to create a successful music marketing plan to finish 2023 high note.  If you’re in Florida like I am, you know it’s still blazing hot outside. Wherever you are, even if it doesn’t quite feel like it yet, fall is right around the corner! For musicians big and small, this means it’s time to start planning your marketing efforts for your fall and holiday releases, prepping for awards season and more. To make this process as easy as possible, our friends at Found.ee have some tips to help you get started.

Artist-Centric streaming royalties are here: What that means for You
Deezer and UMG have launched a new streaming royalty model designed to bring balance to an outdated and boken system. Here’s what to expect…For the last few years we’ve heard a lot about an alternative streaming royalty model called user-centric, where the artist gets paid according to the number of times that a user listens. The current standard pro-rata way of determining royalty payouts which uses market share. This was all talk until Deezer and Universal Music Group announced its upcoming “artist-centric” royalties, using the user-centric model but with a twist.

Are Your Songs “WOW”—or Just “Good?”: A Checklist (Jason Blume)
Each Monday morning, I send an email with inspiring tips and encouragement to those who subscribe to my email list. Last week, that email included contact information for a new publishing company that was seeking songs.  Quite a few people sent their songs to me, in addition to the publisher I had referenced. A few of the songs were amateurish and simply not up to the industry standard. Some had predictable melodies, or melodies that were impossible for me to remember. Others had fatal flaws in their lyric. But most of the songs were perfectly—or almost—perfectly crafted. However, they lacked the elements needed to propel them above the competition. Some of these songs lacked a fresh, original angle—a new way to express something to which millions could potentially relate to. Many of the songs had melodies that were perfectly fine, but not “wow,” not exceptional. In short, they were “good,” but not special. It made me sad to hear the thousands of dollars these writers spent on recordings of songs, that in my professional experience, did not have what it takes for success. Tuck your ego into your back pocket, and hone and polish your work until you have given music publishers, recording artists, record label executives, and other industry pros compelling reasons to choose your song over anything the writers they already have on staff—and the current go-to superstar writers—can deliver. Record a demo that demo-nstrates your song’s potential, only after you have done these things.  Don’t settle until your “good” songs are “great” ones!