Artists often overlook the fact that they are running a small business and they do it old school–if you don’t make, you don’t make. Cash basis taxpayers. And speaking of taxpayers, the time of year you realize that you are running a small business is right about now at tax time. So in the current […]
It may come as a surprise but until a couple years ago, Facebook never licensed music or paid royalties. To my knowledge, Facebook paid huge payments to major labels and publishers and also made some deals with a handful of indie labels. These payments probably totaled around $500 million, or that’s the rumor. Rather than […]
[This is an informative post from Rachel Rascoe at the Austin Chronicle about independent contractors filing for unemployment insurance. Although it focuses on Texas, it’s probably pretty much replicated process across all states. h/t Nikki Rowling for spotting it, big thanks to Rachel for her post and as always to the Chronicle for being the […]
US GDP is 70% consumer driven. Demand collapse is what causes depressions, real depressions. Goldman Sachs estimates that the U.S. economy could contract by 24% in the second quarter (which starts next week). Say what you want about Goldman, money is something they’re fairly good at. That is a Great Depression level of contraction. If […]
To my sisters and brothers in NYC music, and beyond… The Irish tell the story of a man who arrives at the gates of heaven asking to be let in, and Saint Peter says, “Of course! Just show us your scars.” The man says, “But…I have no scars,” and Saint Peter answers, “What a pity. […]
You may not have noticed, but many music services have a clause in their direct licenses that allows them to delay royalty payments if your accrued royalties are less than a certain amount, often $50. This is on top of paying quarterly in many cases (as opposed to the monthly payments required by the statutory […]
[This post first appeared on MusicTech.Solutions] After the cancellation of SXSW, we need to think about those “force majeure” clauses that everyone skips over in contractual boilerplate. “Force majeure” or the less secular “Act of God” clause is a species of the “impossibility of performance” defense to a breach of contract claim that excuses the […]
Don't forget to stop buying records from Amazon and start buying from your local record store either in-store or online–but not Amazon. Assuming you want the store to still be there when this is over. We do. Ours is the resilient @WaterlooRecords https://t.co/EVF1OAQdwc — Editor Baker (@MusicTechPolicy) March 14, 2020
In order to break through the lobbyist mumble tank, the Congress needs to hear clear and persuasive facts from creators like Jonathan Yunger.
[This is a version of a letter I sent to the Senate Subcommittee on Intellectual Property today to call attention to various discrepancies in the proposed witness list, especially the presence of the Pirate Party at a hearing at the world’s greatest deliberative body. And typically, Julia Reda never disclosed her affiliation. Why so secretive?) […]
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