Spotify Adds Crowdsourced Artist, Track, Album Data Tool

Spotify has launched Line-In, a tool for gathering information about artists, tracks and albums from its 150 million users. The feature is currently available to desktop users only.

Frontiers' Nick Tieder On Indie Labels, Marketing Music

Here Nick Tieder, the General Manager of long running independent record label Frontiers Music Srl., talks about what the label looks for in the artists they sign, what comprises a successful marketing campaign, and what artists need to do to be successful.

REWIND: The New Music Industry’s Week In Review

In this revisitation of the past week's biggest music industry news, the promoter of the now infamous Fyre Fest faces major jail time, Bon Iver's manager eyes a congressional seat, states flip the bird to the FCC and its repeal of net neutrality, and much more.

Kobalt Invests $150M In AWAL To Help 'Thousands Of Emerging Artists'

[UPDATED] Kobalt announced today that it is investing $150 million in its AWAL independent artist and label services division to better serve its growing roster. Kobalt is also combining all of its recording business under the AWAL brand.

Apple Deleting iTunes LP Format: Beginning Of The End?

Apple is deleting the iTunes LP format. The news was shared with labels and distributors two weeks ago; and now an email to iTunes' music partners has surfaced that states clearly, "Apple will no longer accept new submissions of iTunes LPS after March 2018."

Indies Demand Spotify Stock Profit Share, Sony Responds

While the major labels have promised to pay their artists a share of any proceeds from the sale of their stock in  Spotify,  the  independent music community is demanding that a corresponding share be passed on the many labels the major label owned companies distribute.

WED. BRIEF: Indies Demand Spotify Stock Profits • A2IM Libera Nominees • NME Folds Magazine • More

WEDNESDAY 3.7.1​8​

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Red Ink Beneath Streaming’s “New Dawn” [Marc Ribot]

Legendary guitarist Marc Ribot explores the impact of ECM Records move to Spotify as part of broader shift for the label, the effect it will have on artists, and what the next best course of action is.

Tower Records Founder Russ Solomon Passes

Russ Solomon, founder of the legendary Tower Records chain, died on Sunday night, while drinking whisky and watching The Oscars. Solomon, 92, died from a heart attack, his son, Michael Solomon, told the Sacramento Bee.

50% Of UK Music Consumption 2017 Was Streaming, 4M Vinyl Records Sold

Stats released by UK label association BPI, based on Official Charts Company data, showed a strong year for recorded music, with consumption across all formats in 2017, growing at its fastest rate in decades.

Weekly Music Chart Highlights: Black Panther Still #1

The “Black Panther” soundtrack  is on top of the Top 200 for the second straight week with 131,000 total units, down 15% over last week, reports Niesen Music. The album once again scores the top audio on demand stream total, with over 119 million.

'Jeff Buckley From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye' By Late Singer's Manager Due 5/29

For the first time since Jeff Buckley's passing, his manager. Dave Lory, is sharing what it was like working with the revered and critically celebrated singer-songwriter who died tragically in 1997 at just 30.

Why Vinyl Matters [WATCH]

Here Sunny Stuart Winter sat down to chat with Dr. Jennifer Otter Bickerdike, author of Why Vinyl Matters about the longevity of the format's resurgence, it's subcultural capital, and the strong connects which it has with fans.

The State Of China's Music Industry 2018 Report

Archie Hamilton and Krish Raghav take a hard look at the state of the Chinese music industry. After a mixed 2017, hopes are somewhat high for the coming months, with with the influence of China's music continuing to spread globally.

Martin Mills Named Worldwide Independent Network Chair

Beggars Group founder and chairman Martin Mills has been named non-executive chair of the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), comprising of over 20 independent trade associations in 30 countries.

"Black Panther" Makes Kendrick Lamar A Superstar Producer

In this piece we explore Kendrick Lamar's evolution both as a rapper and producer, with the latter most recently showcased on Black Panther: The Album. A work "inspired by the film", this release signals Lamar's ascent to the top of the music industry.

Sony's Morris To Launch Indie Label, But NOT With Apple

The long planned exit of Sony Music Entertainment non-executive chairmen Doug Morris will happen at the end of March, according to mulitple sources. But the 79 year old music execitive is not going quietly, but rather launching a new, well funded independent label. 

Getting It Done: The Week In D.I.Y. and Indie Music

This week, our wealth of wisdom for those independent musicians looking to make it in the music industry covered how to organize your music industry team, what it takes to cultivate a successful relationship in the music industry, why play counts don't always translate to success, and much more.

Ravyn Lenae: Anatomy Of An Artist

In this piece, on the rise R&B singer out of Chicago Ravyn Lenae chats about the sounds and influencing factors behind her music in anticipation of her upcoming new release Crush, set to drop soon.

Talib Kweli Cancels Concert After Venue Books White Nationalist Band Taake

Rapper Talib Kweli has canceled a performance at a Kansas City music venue after the booked a Scandinavian accused of being Nazi sympathizers. According to the Kansas City Star, Kweli on Feb 20th told the management of the Riot Room that he would not be performing the following day after he learned that the venue had also booked the band Taake for a March 31st show.

Stormzy, Dua Lipa Take Top Honors At Brit Awards 2018 [Full List Of Winners]

New artists beat the old guard at the 2018  Brit Awards which saw grime artist Stormzy and pop music singer-songwriter Dua Lipa take top honors at the annual awards show, winning British Male and Female solo artist, respectively.

Playlist Culture And Our Shrinking Attention Spans

Besides getting the industry back on its feet as a whole, playlist have been a huge asset in bringing unknown groups and artists out of obscurity. While this all seems like a good thing, playlist culture has it's own potential downsides.

Metal Blade Records CEO Brian Slagel On Social Media, How To Get Signed

This week Michael Brandvold and Jay  Gilbert are joined on the Music Biz Weekly podcast by Brian Slagel, CEO of Metal Blade Records. He shares his thoughts on the importance of social media and how important it is  when considering a band for a record deal. We talk about bands having to pay their dues.

Recording Academy 'Math' Implies Gender Gap Not So Wide

Like President Trump, Neil Portnow and too many other men refuse to admit without equivocation that they are part of the gender problem. Until that changes, not much else can. Is 12%, for example, or even 17% representation for women in music so much better than 9% that it deserves an announcement? The Recording Academy thought so, issuing a letter with its own analysis of women musical creators and performers.

Music Manager, Marketer Timothy Collins Talks Strategy

In this interview Swedish twenty-two year old manager and digital strategist Timothy Collins discusses his company UNLTD, the importance of innovation, and the challenge of breaking through the social media landscape.

Producer Matt Squire On SoundExchange Letters Of Direction

Here producer and SoundExchange member Matt Squire talks about the important role the company plays in the producer's careers via their Letters of Direction.

Radio Holds Key To Streaming Growth [Mark Mulligan]

Streaming use is growing and broadcast radio's audience is shrinking. No surprise there.  But what is of interest is the slow pace of the shift, which presents opportunities for streaming to reach a much broader audience and the time for radio to reinvent itself.

How Free Music Giveaways Make Money Over Time

Given everything that the music industry's been through, it's understandable that the word "free" can often evoke a negative reaction when dropped in music business circles. That said, however, judiciously applied giveaways can yield decidedly positive results in the long run.

Musical Tastes Solidify In Early Teens, says Study

The songs we listen to in our early teens form our musical taste as adults, according to a New York Times analysis of data from Spotify. The study also found that these influences were stronger for women than men; and were tied to the end of puberty for both.

Pandora Data Journalist Emily Blake On Artist Development Trends [INTERVIEW]

Here data journalist and music curator Emily Blake of Next Big Sound shares her thoughts and insights on finding trends in music, as well as how artists can and should use data for leveraging success.