Indie Music

TuneCore Partners With Universal Music

Tunecore  Universal Tunecore

(UPDATED) An upstart digital distributor that made a name for itself by criticizing the major labels has now joined hands with one. TuneCore has entered into a strategic alliance with Universal Music Distribution, the sales and marketing arm of the Universal Music Group.

TuneCore will host distribution portals for UMG's labels as well as
partner labels and artists. As an artist develops, they'll have access 
to a number of artist discovery, marketing and upstreaming
opportunities within the UMGD system.

Last year Universal made a major investment in digital distributor INgrooves in part to be able to use its technology. These moves appear designed to give the major label group greater involvement
with  a larger piece of the growing long tail of artists in their early
stages. Whether Universal made an investment here is unclear, but according to Tunecore neither party will be taking rights or revenues from participating artists.

UMGD will also provide TuneCore's customers with a menu of artist services, including licensing opportunities and professional audio mastering. Additionally, Guitar Center, also a TuneCore investor and strategic partner, will provide to UMGD access to its entire chain of over 200 nationwide as a non-traditional retail channel for the sale of physical product which includes select TuneCore Artist titles.

The usually fiercely independent CEO of Tunecore Jeff Price has nothing but praise for Universal.

"Honestly, Universal is one of the most forward thinking record labels
on the planet," commented  Price. "With this deal UMGD has truly
changed the rules and the major label model by providing true choice
for a musician. If an artist is doing well, there is a direct line
through which UMGD can extend its hand or, via the existing TuneCore
model, the artist can choose to continue to succeed on their own.  It
is the continuation of the shift to serve the musician."

Tunecore's deal also follows close on the heels of IODA's pact last week with Sony RED, and leaves The Orchard as the only signifigant digital distribution company without any ties to a major label gorup.

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10 Comments

  1. It’s a partnership, Manpikin, and UMGD will take NO PART of any TuneCore artists’ rights or masters or trademarks, there will be no exclusivity, anything like that. The deal remains as we’ve always promised it to our users.
    In fact, it’ll be up to the majors to decide what they bring to the table–no TuneCore user has to use any portal they don’t want.
    That’s the thing, we just want to offer access, choices, opportunities to people who want them.
    –Peter
    peter@tunecore.com

  2. Tunecore = UMG = Guitar Center = The Man
    Seriously, who thinks that Jeff Price is an honest broker? Come on. This is the biggest contradiction I’ve ever seen. They started as the revolution- against the very fabric of UMG. Now, they partnered. I heard him speak in 2007 and he railed against the major labels.
    You can hate TuneCore b/c they betrayed you, but you SHOULD hate Tunecore b/c they lied to you.
    They have been about $$$ since they sold out to Guitar Center 3 years ago. Jeff has done a good job covering that, but Peter seems to make most of the comments now. Go figure.
    “its all good, friends. Down with the man. Um, unless the man is Universal.”
    What a load of shit. Is UMG good, or bad? Can/should Artists make it on their own, or should they go for UMG?
    Peter will say something like “It depends on the Artist. You see, we think that UMG is a different company than they were 2 years ago, etc.”
    Bullshit. UMG wants to put $$$ into the company , thats all.
    Have you read Jeff Price’s quotes from even last year? He has sold out, just as loud as he sounded in.
    Who is left to speak for the Artists???? When can we get a champion that actually has integrity? Answer: Never
    We’re screwed, and Tunecore is the embodiment of that.
    -Jeffrey

  3. Peter,
    I think your service is excellent…we use it. Thanks for providing it…
    BUT
    There are loads of artists who are currently being ripped off by these companies…Ever seen a list of who is auditing them? And I’m not talking about indies with development deals..No, no, they can’t afford this type of deep surgical oversight…The big recouped acts have to hire a team of lawyers and bean counters to get paid by the likes of the majors and their friends.
    I’m afraid you are going to face a certain degree of guilt by association with this arrangement, unwarranted as it may be for you.
    I have seen you out and about defending your good name today…and I support you. But you have just wed and bed the devil my friend and those of us who make a living at this, however meager, can smell the ripoff coming from the other side of the internet.
    much love and luck,
    brendan b brown
    wheatus.com

  4. First off,
    I’d like to congratulate Peter, Jeff, and the rest of the team at TuneCore to establish a prominent relationship to Universal and I hope that it goes well in hopes to provide opportunities to the independent musicians.
    However, there are a few points that I find interesting. First, TuneCore (since day 1) has always been about changing the model of traditional distribution and democratizing the industry. Because TuneCore has already stigmatized themselves as the distributor to go against the major labels, this deal has labeled TuneCore into a controversial move which is a flaw (as Jeffrey pointed out). Though TuneCore states that Universal doesn’t control or has any rights or masters of the TuneCore catalogue (which I hope is true), the fact that they even alliance themselves with a major label kinda goes against their own model to move away from the aura of the majors.
    Now don’t get me wrong, there are ways in which independent musicians can benefit from the majors without conflict. It’s solely dependent on which artist seeking to secure a major deal. I do believe (in TuneCore’s stance) that this is a step in the right direction. However, it’s not a solution. The real challenge is utilizing marketing methods that cater around the social realm. This is what I think will call upon chains of events to offset the industry.
    @Jeffrey: Though I am biased, I will say Jeff that there is one ray of hope that is working to creating a uprising of the independent sector through a social environment. This company is our social media distribution brand known as WaTunes ( http://www.watunes.com ). I’d advise you to check it out at your personal leisure.
    Kevin Rivers
    CEO, Xeinge

  5. I’m A Tunecore Artist Been Signed To Them Since The Beginning Around 2006
    i Actually Love it. Sold Over 30,000 Copies Of My StreetSmartz Album On iTunes. Without Promoting My Album. So Therefore Any Artist Out There Looking To Do The Same Should Join Now.
    K.R- StreetSmartz Album
    http://www.myspace.com/krtherapper

  6. Its TuneCore’s job (make that obligation) to provide artists choices, education, information and opportunities so they can choose at their discretion what is best for them.
    We are not going to limit those choices based on what one person demands. No one should hold musicians hostages – they deserve choice, knowledge and options.
    If an artist wants to explore the possibility to work with a label, who the hell am I, or anyone else, to state an artist is not allowed.
    So yes, expect TuneCore to continue to strike even more deals with more companies to provide even more access, opportunities, information and choices that any artists can select at their own discretion.

  7. OK. Let me get this straight. Now that the major labels are losing their asses they are going to “Help” the independent artist out by working with TuneCore??(no one said running, remember they are not running TuneCore its just a friendly helper from our very friendly friends at the major label)

    Reeealy?

    My guess is TuneCore is not run by independent musicians, like CDBaby and a few others. (I wonder what their ties were to the major labels before they started this company. Anyone know??) Come on guys, you know they are getting money from Universal or something else to line their pockets. And Universal is getting a piece of the action and will be well on its way to filtering what we independent artists can do in no time. This sounds like sh*t. I’m not paying for it.

    This is f’en joke. Its just another service being bought up by a major, selling the same smoke dreams to a different market. Universal and apparently TuneCore think all independent artists are stupid enough to believe it. NOT THIS TIME BOYS. Your industry is OVER.

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