PledgeMusic issued an update late on Friday, but it failed to address the core issues for artists affected by late payments and a week long suspension of crowdfunding campaigns on the platform.

This week commentators in the music industry look at what what Billboard's Power 100 list got right and wrong, streaming's significant problem with math, why Ariana Grande's fans are the fans every artist needs, and more.

We've got tips, tricks, and helpful advice this week on how to make the most out of your next music premier, how to make Instagram stories work for you as a marketing tool in 2019, what really matters when it comes to being a successful musician, and more!

Contributors on MusicThinkTank this week shared pieces on how to build and use and email list, the best way to roll out your music, the problematic cliche of the starving artist, and more!

As we furiously backpedal through a crowded seven days in the music biz, we revisit RPM's bankruptcy and debts, Cardi B's deletion of her Instagram account, how identity theft is becoming a new trend in music piracy, and more.

This week on Hypebot, some of our most popular articles explored PledgeMusic's shutdown and alarming silence, SoundCloud's outstripping of Spotify in the content department, how artists can use affordable Spotify ads to promote their music, and more!

Over the past couple of decades, changes to the music ecosystem in relation to the fall and rise of major labels is frequently rehashed at music industry events, but the fate of the indies is often neglected. Here Neil Turkewitz his experience at a recent panel discussing precisely this issue.

It's a cutthroat industry out there, and when time comes for you to throw your hat in the ring and release new music, it's up to you to do everything you can to maximize its impact. Here several industry experts weigh in on what artists must do to capitalize on 'premiere culture' as it functions today.

An oldie but a goodie, email marketing is one of the best ways to turn fans who like your music into fans who buy your music, but building a robust, profitable email list can feel like a daunting task, from getting subscribers to choosing a platform, to actually producing good content. Here we look at how to make it all happen.

Having music is all well and good, but when it comes to getting a relevant party interested, your ephemeral window of opportunity can't be wasted. Here we Chris Robley details five critical elements you must be able to call upon if you want to cultivate interest in your work.

Universal Music Group revenue grew 10% to $6.8 billion USD in 2018 when compared to 2017. The “A Star Is Born” soundtrack, Drake, Post Malone, The Beatles and XXXTentacion were the yer's best sellers for the world's largest music group.

EU negotiators have agreed on the final text of the new sweeping Copyright Directive in the Digital Single Market, including language on the contentious Article 13 clause.

Following the sudden closure of Canada’s largest independent vinyl distributor RPM last month, details surrounding the company’s bankruptcy have begun to emerge. A sworn statement filed by RPM president Paul Herzog in Ontario court reveals the company owes $8.9 million CND / $6.7M USD in liabilities.

FRIDAY 2.15.19

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As such 'best ofs' are want to do, Billboard's recent Power 100 list of the music industry's most important people was met with some controversy by the industry as a whole, with many feeling the company's ranking missed the mark a bit. In this piece David Philp explores where Billboard went wrong, as well as some of things they were a little more accurate about.

Most people are familiar with Shazam as the go-to music identification app, but in addition to it's powers of clarification,  Shazam also has the ability to show the user top tracks being Shazam'd the world over.

Here Christian Castle details issues regarding streaming rates, and the problem in the formula which prevents the creation of long-term shareholder value, and instead gives an immediate short-term rush to the beneficiaries. 

Already a hugely successful artist, Ariana Grande's release of Thank U, Next has proven that her army of fans are willing to go above and beyond, and are the sort of devoted supporters which every artist needs in their life.

 Qobuz is launching its hi-res streaming music service in the U.S. today. Unlike other music streamers, Qobuz offers download sales alongside streaming.

New integrated talent management and digital marketing agency Sweetshop has launched with offices in Los Angeles, London, Shanghai, Bangkok, Auckland, Sydney, and Melbourne.

THURSDAY 2.14.19

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While the idea of performing to thousands may be dream for many artists, DJ Marshmello took things to an even higher level, with a recent in-game Fortnite concert which drew in millions of viewers. Virtual concerts may not be a new thing, but technology and gaming culture have developed to a point where such performances offer a whole host of exciting opportunities for fans and artists alike.

Record Store Day has named Pearl Jam its 2019 ambassador. The band follows last year’s hip-hop duo Run The Jewels, as well as, previous acts like St. Vincent, Metallica, and Jack White. Record Store Day is scheduled to take place on Saturday, April 13, 2019.

YouTube's content ID system has long been maligned by the music industry for its multifaceted failings. The minimal staffing YouTube provides regarding copyright claims has left the system vulnerable to misuse and, most recently, outright extortion.

While the value of Instagram as a promotional tool among artists has, by now, long been established, the story feature of this social media platform is often overlooked. Here Hugh McIntyre offers four ways artists can get the most out of this aspect of Instagram in the coming year.

Cardi B has quit Instagram after receiving abuse when album “Invasion of Privacy” won the best rap album Grammy on Sunday. The rapper posted a video before deleting the account punching back at those who said she didn’t deserve the award.

Universal Music Group is acquiring independent music distributor Ingrooves Music Group.  Ingrooves will continue to operate as a standalone company led by CEO Bob Roback.

Royalty advances are typically an unpredictable shot in the dark about what an artist is worth, with publishers seeking to keep it as low as possible, while artists work to squeeze as much money out as possible. In hopes to remove some of the polarizing ambiguity from this process, Swedish AI platform Amuse with soon begin calculating these payments using machine learning.

WEDNESDAY 2.13.19

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In an age where playlist culture reigns supreme in our consumption of music, one curious music blogger from NYC took some time to investigate  what today's music consumers are listening to, on what platform, and most of all how they're discovering it.