UPDATE: Spotify has refreshed it's official list of preferred distributors and renamed its "Other Preferred" designation. In October, Hypebot broke the news that Spotify was publically ranking distributors based primarily on the quality of the metadata that they delivered with tracks.

As the realities of content and distribution continue to transform in the contemporary media economy, many artists and distributors have been forced to rethink their marketing strategy entirely. Here we look at memes have and could potentially be tapped as an effective marketing platform.

Email lists are an essential marketing resource for artists but keeping them in tip top organizational shape can be next to impossible. That said, segmenting your email list based on geolocation is still something you can make happen, and doing so can do wonders for your open rates.

In this meta-curated piece, Glenn Peoples selects from the top "Best Of" lists which began rolling out after Thanksgiving to bring us some of the highlights from other writers' top 2018 music highlights.

Tinder is testing the ability to share Spotify songs in chat with potential hookups. Tinder and Spotify first hooked up in 2016 with the ability to share favorite songs in user profile pages. This data also became part of the algorithm used to surface potential partners.

After rapper Travis Scott was announced as a guest performer with Maroon 5 during the halftime show for the Super Bowl month, he revealed that as a condition of his performance, the NFL had agreed to join him in making a $500,000 donation to a social justice organization.

SXSW is just weeks away and the organizers have announced a slate of additions to the Keynote and Featured Speaker lineup for the 2019 event. The updated list of Keynote speakers announced for the event includes Endeavor Chief Marketing Officer Bozoma Saint John, director, actress, producer and activist Olivia Wilde, and the addition of Instagram co-founder Mike Krieger to a conversation with Kevin Systrom and Josh Constine.

Recent news that Sirius XM has gained around 1.3 million subscribers, along with the reality that almost every new car manufactured has it as a built-in option all seems like good news for the satellite radio company, at least for now, but what happens when autonomous cars begin to encroach on their market?

Spotify is rolling out 'Car View,' a simplified larger print view designed to make it easier for users to control basic functions while driving. The feature is rolling out slowly Android devices. No word yet on when it will be added to the iOS app.

THURSDAY 1.17.19

Music Business News From Around The Web

Updated continuously under the More News tab

EXCLUSIVE ADVANCE LOOK: Emily White has deep first hand knowledge of how to build a sustainable music career from her years an an artist manager, consultant and more. She's shared some of that knowledge from the stages of countless conferences including MIDEM and SXSW and in a Billboard cover story. Her new book, How to Build a Sustainable Music Career and Collect All Revenue Streams, brings all of that knowledge together in a single volume.

Fresh off yesterday's staff announcements, A2IM is adding a another member to the team. Music industry veteran Chase Varga has been named A2IM Marketing Manager.

ASCAP has named Nicole Carbone-Rogers as Senior Vice President of Events. She will be responsible for ASCAP’s awards shows and other events. Previously, Carbon-Rogers was Head of Experiential Marketing & Live Production at Pandora, where she managed 75 events.

UCLA's  Music Industry Clinic (MIC) is offering free legal services for qualifying musicians and other members of the music industry. MIC provides UCLA Law students with the opportunity to represent clients in real-life music transactional matters under the supervision of experienced music attorneys.