@thetrichordist: Will the Copyright Royalty Board Leave Songwriters In the Deep Freeze?
Shenanigans at the CRB may leave songwriters in the deep freeze.
Category: Songwriter News
RIP Bill Withers
Bill Withers was one of the great American songwriters and we will miss him. It’s been a rough week for music.
COUNTDOWN TO MODERNITY (11/5/18)–The Progress to Production Chart for the Mechanical Licensing Collective
As best we can tell from the outside looking in, this chart has the dates for key events in the critical path to launch for the Mechancial Licesing Collective as required by the Music Modernization Act–the “Countdown to Modernity.”
Hey Alexa, Regift Yourself: Google Overtakes Amazon in Biometric Data Acquisition Tools — Artist Rights Watch
According to the Canalys research outfit, Google has taken the lead over Amazon for the first time in the acquisition of biometric identifying data–aka “smart speakers”. It should come as no surprise that Google is vastly more interested in acquiring voiceprints by which to identify users and track them through a variety of means.
Must Read: @AnneMarieSteele: An insightful interview with Jody Gerson about songwriting and breaking artists
[This interview is one of the best statements of what signing and breaking a songwriter or an artist is all about. When I was reading Jody Gerson’s interview I remember when I asked David Anderle once why we didn’t do bidding wars at A&M. He said quite simply that A&M helped compelling artists make […]
Operation Song
“In a world in which everything is subject to the passing of time, art alone is both subject to time and yet victorious over it.” ― André Malraux I wanted to call your attention to Operation Song, a nonprofit run by our friend Bob Regan the songwriter. It’s a wonderful organization that describes itself: Operation […]
How to Fix The Music Modernization Act’s Flawed “Audit” Clause — Music Tech Solutions
Unfortunately, the controversial Music Modernization Act creates a quasi-governmental organization with no oversight, and that has weak and punitive audit clauses for songwriters. We are told that songwriters should appreciate what they’re given because they never had audit rights under the current statutory license. Of course, if you run the risk of being financially punished if you exercise a right, that’s not much of a right at all. So let’s not do the usual two steps forward, three steps back.
Guest Post by @sarahickman: Streaming Royalties Are Ending Opportunities for Working Musicians — Artist Rights Watch
Sara Hickman on how the economics of streaming is hollowing out the “middle class musician” and devouring the music business from the ground up.
Spotify Class Action Take 2: @stuartdredge: HFA/Rumblefish to handle Facebook’s indie publishers
[Editor Charlie sez: Remember what Bluewater Music Publishing’s counsel Richard Busch had to say about Spotify? At the time that Spotify hired HFA, HFA had a database with less than the number of recordings and compositions available in the Spotify library. Between this insufficient database, Spotify’s piecemeal system, and HFA’s own lack of a system capable […]
@luluyilun: Tencent Music Seeks Pre-IPO Funds at $10 Billion Value [for Music Streaming App]
Tencent Music Entertainment Group, controlled by China’s biggest social network operator, is seeking new funding at a $10 billion valuation ahead of an initial public offering, people familiar with the matter said.
Music Technology Policy 
You must be logged in to post a comment.