For an industry existing in the internet age, finding a way to create excitement about a release requires a lot of effort. In addition to surprise releases, as in the case of Beyoncé, automatic uploads (U2), or special countdowns and cryptic messages (Rihanna), artists and their management teams are constantly developing ways to create interest, drive sells and get people… Read more →
Why Streaming is the Most Popular Way to Listen to Music
At the turn of the century, the music industry faced a cataclysmic downfall at the hands of the World Wide Web. Once an impenetrable vanguard of American innovation and the largest representation of the country’s culture and continued artistic endeavors worldwide, the industry of empires like Motown and Capitol Records was blindsided by the growth of internet downloads via file… Read more →
Inspiration or Imitation: The Intellectual Property Conundrum
Ed Sheeran is facing a lawsuit alleging that his smash hit “We Found Love” is a rip off Marvin Gaye’s iconic single, “Let’s Get It On”. This isn’t first time a popular artist has been accused of borrowing from the past. Fans noted the striking similarities between “Some Nights” by the indie rock band, Fun, and Simon and Garfunkel’s, “Cecilia”.… Read more →
Artists Don’t Get Paid To Do The Superbowl, So Why Do They Perform?
The NFL Championship Game, better known as the Super Bowl, is an American institution. The event has garnered the highest ratings in TV history multiple times, taking 18 of the top 20 spots for a single program, according to Nielsen. In many ways, its popularity has been bolstered by the appearance of high profile celebrities during the halftime show as… Read more →
3 Reasons Why Podcasting is a Great Idea for Indie Artists
The advent of mobile phones has increased our ability to access many things without much effort, such as cameras, news, music, and our friends. Likewise, podcasting has benefited greatly from the near ubiquitous use of mobile devices. The word podcast is said to be a portmanteau of iPod and Broadcast, and is defined as a program made available in digital… Read more →
Payola Has Made A Comeback, And Here’s the Problem
America of the 1950s is one of the most nostalgic eras in the history of our young country. The decade is defined by sock hops, diners, drive-ins, and rock and roll music that defined a generation and inspired others. Television had only just become a thing, and services of today like YouTube certainly hadn’t been conceptualized, let alone The Internet.… Read more →
Music Artists Still Need Managers, Here’s Why
Today more than ever it’s easy to reach masses of people, using online tools to publish and distribute music. Without the need for traditional recording contracts, a number of singers, musicians or both, are choosing to go it alone, saving time and money, and maintaining more control over their product and brand. This has resulted in a stronger presence of… Read more →
The Uncertain Future of Music
Centuries ago, music was used as an expression of cultural customs or commissioned by the wealthy for the purpose of entertainment. That is still true today, however, at the turn of the last century, thanks to inventions like the phonograph and radio, music became much more than personal art, it became business–a largely successful one, to be sure. By the… Read more →
Would Soundcloud’s Subscription Service Harm or Hurt Indie Artists
Last week it was revealed that the online music streaming service Soundcloud resolved its issues with Sony Music Entertainment, and would again have access to content from the latter’s artists and musicians through a recent licensing deal. The two powerful entities sparred over a reported lack of proper compensation, similar to the issue many have cited with YouTube (to which… Read more →
Who Cares About Sound Quality?
In the last month of 2015, Digital Music News released a study showing that most music listeners consume content through streaming sites, like Pandora, Spotify and the like. That is no surprise, given the popularity of such services in recent years, which some have attributed to a decline in piracy. One of the most attractive things about these services, despite… Read more →