More Music Industry News: Google Sues Indie, NME, Spotify, Canadian DMCA, BandCentral & More
Google sues indie label Blue Destiny Records and RapidShare over copyright claims. (Hollywood Reporter)- Internet Killed the MTV Star – A new breed of director is taking the music video in audacious directions. (New York Magazine)
- NME taps Webjam to expand its online community connecting fans with bands. (press release)
- Wired's Epicenter crowdsources creation of a song using Indaba. (Epicenter) Very cool and shows the potential of Indaba.
- Spotify will launch in the Netherlands on May 18th according to reports. (TechCrunch EU)
- Ad-funded music battle intensifies – Online music streaming services are strengthening their position in the market to prove they’re a viable platform for advertising, after gaining momentum in user numbers and revenue this year. (Marketing Week)
- Canadian DMCA bill expected next month. (Techdirt)
- UK-based direct-to-fan platform BandCentral has launched with an ad-supported service at no cost, and a premium service for $9 per month. The online service is designed to provide artists a “BandHub” to manage tours, fan lists, merchandise, finances, and more.
- HOW TO: Cultivate Your Brand’s Super Users (Mashable) It's not about music per se, but there are some real lessons here.
Blue Destiny has a solid argument to have this suit by Google dismissed.(too long to go into) If Google has it’s way and the case moves forward with pleadings and pre-trail motions, it could be a perfect time for a larger label and copyright interest with deeper pockets… to jump on board with a suit against Google. That is a risk and cost I would not want to take.
Google wants to beat-up on the small guy in hope of winning a suit and using that case as ‘Law’ for future cases. I say fat chance to that scheme in this day and age.