The prospect of Facebook taking on the likes of Spotify and YouTube in the world of music streaming is no longer a matter of ‘if’ – it’s a matter of ‘when’. Last month, MBW revealed that the social media giant was hiring for a Legal Director of Music Licensing, based at its HQ in Menlo…
Watch what happens when Spotify gives unknown music acts a big push
Spotify is the equivalent of a music store, stacked with more than 30 million singles. If you pay Spotify $10 a month, you can grab any of the singles you want, whenever you want. But that’s a lot of singles. Who’s going to help you pick through them? Spotify has more than than two…
Warner Music Launches Fan-Driven, Vinyl-Only Label Run Out Groove: Exclusive
Warner Music Group is officially unveiling its new fan-driven, vinyl-only record label: Run Out Groove. The label’s forward-thinking format calls upon fans each month to determine which of three records — either previously unreleased, out of print, or an entirely new collection compiled from the Warner Music vault — will become available for purchase in a…
Geffen Records to Relaunch With Neil Jacobson as President: Exclusive
Geffen Records has had several incarnations over the years, and another one begins today: the storied record label is relaunching with veteran A&R exec Neil Jacobson as president. The move was exclusively announced to Billboard by John Janick, chairman of Interscope-Geffen-A&M. “Geffen Records has always represented the true entrepreneurial spirit of the music business,” Janick said in a statement….
ASCAP relaunches royalty admin services arm Songwize
The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) has relaunched its administration services business, Songwize. The business offers rightsholders such as major and independent music publishers a royalty administration service for digital platforms. It processes and matches performance files and pays royalties in accordance with ASCAP distribution policy and rules, and has been in…
How to Fix Spotify’s Business Model and Save the Music Industry
Wall Street doesn’t care that Spotify isn’t profitable. They care that Spotify doesn’t have a realistic plan to become profitable. That’s a big difference. So how can Spotify become wildly profitable, for decades to come? The answer is to change their relationship with the major content owners: Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music…
Imagine Dragons’ ‘Believer’ Makes Fastest Flight to No. 1 on Alternative Songs in Two Years
Imagine Dragons return to the top of Billboard‘s Alternative Songs airplay chart for the first time in four years with “Believer,” which jumps 3-1 on the chart dated April 1. It’s the band’s second Alternative Songs No. 1, following “Radioactive,” which ruled for 13 weeks beginning March 2, 2013. Since then, the Las Vegas-based rockers had reached the…
WMG Launches ‘Streaming First’ Record Label
Warner Music Group has launched a new imprint, Artists To Watch Records, that will identify singles with the potential to become global streaming hits; and the record company already has its first success story. Overseen by Kieron Donoghue, Warner Music VP, Global Playlists Strategy & Curation, the new ‘streaming first’ label Artists To Watch…
Spotify Softens Stance on Windowing New Music In Exchange For Lower Royalty Rates: Report
Spotify may be finally softening its stance on windowing. According to the Financial Times, the music streaming service is nearing new deals with major labels that would allow artists to restrict new music to paid subscribers only for a short window of time. The concession, which Spotify has long resisted, would reportedly be in exchange…
DJs and Producers Will Now Be Able to Make Money Off Their SoundCloud Mixes
SoundCloud just made a decision that’s music to the ears of uploaders. The music platform announced yesterday (March 13) that DJs and producers are now eligible to get paid for their posted mixes. “Beginning today, DJs and producers who create sets, remixes and other forms of creative works will now be invited to join our…
