In recent months, artists across the industry at every level have been embroiled in controversy surrounding payment and compensation—including Chance The Rapper and J.U.S.T.I.C.E League, Chicago rapper Lucki, rapper Smokepurpp, and New Jersey producer Ronny J. In an effort to turn these unfortunate events into a teachable moment, we reached out to two entertainment lawyers—Kamal A. Moo and…
‘THERE ARE 365M PEOPLE IN CHINA WILLING TO PAY FOR ENTERTAINMENT. THE MUSIC MARKET IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE.’
The Chinese music business is set to explode. Many executives across the US, UK and Europe look east and rightfully tip the Asian continent as the next great land of opportunity. It’s a perception that is very welcome in Modern Sky’s home territory, especially since China has, until recently, been compared to the wild…
FACEBOOK TAKES ANOTHER BIG STEP TOWARDS THE MUSIC BIZ WITH SOURCE3 BUYOUT
The move is being looked on in many quarters as evidence that Facebook wants to shore up the ability of its Rights Manager platform in order to catch copyright infringing videos on its platform. What does that specifically have to do with the music industry? Sometimes, when you want to find clues about why…
Imagine Dragons Earn First No. 1 on Adult Pop Songs Chart With ‘Believer’
Imagine Dragons score their first No. 1 on Billboard‘s Adult Pop Songs radio airplay chart, as “Believer” bumps 2-1 (on the list dated July 29). The group had hit a No. 2 peak with two prior songs: “Radioactive” and “Demons,” both in 2013. “Believer” is from Imagine Dragons’ new album Evolve, which dropped June 23 and debuted at No….
WHY SPOTIFY’S FAKE ARTISTS PROBLEM IS AN EPIDEMIC. LITERALLY.
MBW’s revelations about Spotify repeatedly adding ‘fake artists’ to its key playlists have been the talk of the global music business this week. Yet one nagging question has been raised time and again in response, both by those up in arms about the news and by those who reckon it’s a lot of fuss about nothing:…
IF SPOTIFY’S GOING TO BECOME PROFITABLE, IT NEEDS TO MAKE SOME CHANGES
On the face of it, it ain’t good news for Daniel Ek. Spotify’s annual results, filed last month in Luxembourg, portray a business whose losses are far outpacing its revenue growth – with 2016’s sales up 52% to $3.3bn but net losses widening 133% to nearly $600m. The first apparent conclusion from this data is one of a faltering…
Imagine Dragons takes number-two spot on “Billboard” 200 with “Evolve”
ABC/Randy HolmesImagine Dragons‘ new album Evolve debuts at number two on this week’s Billboard 200. The third studio effort from the Las Vegas rockers takes the runner-up spot with a total of 147,000 equivalent album units, 109,000 of which were pure album sales. Evolve‘s debut is the biggest week for a rock album in 2017. The last rock…
Metro Boomin Is Partnering With Republic Records and Universal Music Group To Launch His Own Label
Metro Boomin has announced the official launch of his label, Boominati Worldwide. The label, which Metro first announced in February, was formed in partnership with Republic Records and Universal Music Group and will facilitate his own releases, as well as output from future signees. The producer’s solo debut single, “No Complaints,” featuring Drake and Offset, served as his…
SPOTIFY TURNS A PLAYLIST BRAND INTO A CONCERT SERIES WITH RAPCAVIAR LIVE
In tandem with Live Nation, Spotify is launching a six-date US hip-hop concert series called RapCaviar Live ‘featuring the heaviest hitters and hottest emerging artists in rap’. According to official Spotify stats from the end of last year, RapCaviar is the company’s second biggest global playlist behind Today’s Top Hits. The RapCaviar Live series…
This Is Why Apple Wants to Hit the Reset Button on Music
Apple Inc. (AAPL) wants a reset. Apple is negotiating lower licensing fees with the country’s three major labels as part of a wider royalty agreement covering its streaming service, Apple Music, and its download platform, iTunes, according to a person familiar with the talks. Its existing contracts are due to lapse at the end of…
