Music Publishing Roundup 6.27.2014: YouTube, ASCAP Film & TV Awards, ROK Mobile & More
YouTube’s contract with Indie’s has been leaked via Digital Music News. As the world’s largest video streaming service gears up to launch their new subscription based music service, indie labels and publishers are angered by the unfair terms presented in their contract. Under YouTube’s new service, only 65.5% of revenue will go to the labels and publishers. This rate is lower than the roughly 70% revenue of competing services Spotify, Rdio, and Beats Music. In addition, YouTube will only pay royalties on ad supported content; they will not pay per each play like competitors Spotify and Beats Music.
MORE:
The 29th Annual ASCAP Film and TV Music Awards were held Wednesday June 25th, 2014 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in LA. The 100 year old Performing Rights Organization celebrated the top songwriters behind music of TV, film, and video games in 2013. Highlights included the Shirley Walker Award presented to writing duo Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman as well as Steven Price winning the Best ASCAP Film Score of 2013 for his score in Gravity. Performances included Ed Robertson of The Barenaked Ladies performing his theme song to The Big Bang Theory and a string quartet performing the Top Video Game Score from the game BioShock Infinite.
A new on – demand music streaming service will launch July 4th called ROK Mobile. John Paul Dejoria (previously behind Patron Tequila) and Paul Mitchell hair products as well as Jonathan Kendrick will lead the company. They will attempt to set themselves apart from competitors with their Mood Grid feature that specifically personalizes the listeners music based on their mood. They will launch with mobile services Sprint and T-Mobile. The rates at which they will pay publishers and labels have yet to be announced.
