Category: Business

Are Streaming Exclusives Ruining Music?

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 →

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 →

a picture of headphones and a post saying music=life

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 →

Will Pop Stars Make Streaming Irrelevant?

In the wee hours of aThursday night, December 12, 2013, Beyoncé did the unthinkable by dropping a full length album on iTunes, without warning nor promotion, save simultaneous Facebook and Instagram posts, signaling her arrival once the music was already available. In addition to scarce marketing, something else was noticeably absent: the album was not available on Spotify or other… Read more →