Monday Nov. 24th,
Thoughts from the CEO:
"Nothing drives fresh thinking & new ideas like an industry in the grip of ongoing disruption."
A week to give thanks & our industry has a lot to be thankful for! Music is more ubiquitous and relevant than ever, consumed more than ever, and distributed and discovered easier than ever. Now couple that with technology, which is leading the charge on social, innovation and disruption. Music Tech has placed power and creativity back in the artists hands, while forcing industry players to move with more transparency and accountability. It's a short week but the end of the year is still a ways away. Music Tech ends strong and inspirational, entering 2015 with a foundation to create potentially the most defining and impactful year yet.Is it time to break bread & eat? Happy Thanksgiving!
STREAMING & SUBSCRIPTION
YouTube Music Key Hands On: Streaming Music Has Never Been Easier
via Gizmodo
- Beta is only rolling out to select users; Google says mostly people who listen to a lot of music on YouTube- After free 6 month trial, you'll have to pay $8/month to keep going- "That's what makes Music Key so great to use: you already have the app, you already know how to use it; all you have to do is turn it on the extra features (and eventually pay for them)"
MUSIC
Eminem Releases Massive Free Mixtape Online
via The Verge
- 66-track mixtape put together by DJ Whoo Kid- 10 songs from Eminem and more than a dozen 50 Cent tracks- "A compendium of the material released that we didn’t have room for on the greatest hits."
POWER PLAYS
Ryan Leslie x Ben Horowitz: We Reinvent Record Labels
via Pando
- Built an app that reveals far more sophisticated insights than even Spotify or Pandora, on consumer data- Future entrepreneurial ambitions include launching "the first direct-to-consumer record label"- “When Ben Horowitz offers to give you money, you take it.” - Ryan Leslie
Spotify Loses to a Girl — and Cries About It
via Forbes
- Women leaders alarmed about Taylor's Spotify fuss- Had it been a male artist, would he have been hailed with affection for "going against the grain"?- How is the 'boys vs. girls' playground setup affecting the new music business?
YouTube Announces 2015 YouTube Music Awards
via Stupid Dope
- Partnering with Kia Motors and Vice Media, the second Music Awards will be in March 2015- Will not be live streamed, instead YouTube will have full day takeover with original video content - Awards recognize artists YouTube users judge to be among 2015's top and emerging talent
Next Big Sound + FRUKT Join Brands & Bands
via Hypebot
- Have partnered to offer the best chance of a successful pairing between artists and brands
- Research illustrates progressive shift among artists & brands alike, illuminating path of possibility for exponential growth - if the partnership is executed correctly.
- "First and foremost, we have to state quite categorically that we firmly believe in artists getting paid."
1,500 Streams = One Album Sale
- Effective Dec 3rd, streaming will count in Billboard’s Top 200 album ranking.
- Plays from a range of streaming services will count, including Spotify, Beats, Google Play, and Xbox Music.- Premiering the "biggest upgrade in [23 years], transforming from a pure sales-based ranking to one measuring multi-metric consumption”
Red Bull Is Changing What It Means To Be An Indie Artist
via The Fader
- Emilie Friedlander questions a multibillion-dollar corporation on deciding to become a patron of indie music.- "Red Bull seemed willing to actually spend money to get people to show up."- Artists are understanding that there is no harm in having support from a company with resources.
EVR Comeback: East Villager Radio (Good Looks DJ Skee!)
via Brooklyn Vegan
- Comeback happens via the recently-launched Dash Radio network
- EVR to be on air before 2015
- Will launch Brooklyn Radio soon after, a sister station also on Dash