Monday August 18th,
Thoughts from the CEO:
What summertime sadness?! With more money flowing into the first half of this year than it has since 2001, it will be incredible to see how the influx of available capital will start affecting growth within Music Tech and also, telling of where the industry is going. From new startup music services like Muzooka to artists like Porter Robinson launching ventures, we are seeing huge strides in entrepreneurship as the summer winds down.
Although things are generally pretty quiet right now, I look at this as a great time to pick up yards. And we, usual suspects, are here to chronicle the hustlers, hipsters & hackers of the future doing just that. Moving their needles forward because we know, right now, its all about the future, this fall & the major releases that come with.
September is looking stacked with product launches, new releases, announcements, shows, events and conferences. Many thought leaders in the field will give us some insight of what to expect next, on
Sept 9th
at the Digital Music Forum in NYC. We'll be there and we've got discount codes below! Yes, same day as the next big Apple Announcement. Can’t wait for that Six.
STREAMING & SUBSCRIPTION
Vadio syncs streamed music w/ video, raises $2M via Hypebot
Intended to boost user engagement with video content
Announces partnership with Vevo
Also seeking partnership with Pandora, Spotify, etc.
MUSIC
Digital Music Forum comes to New York
Execs from Sony, Spotify, YouTube, Vevo and many others will share insight
Held Sept. 9th
Use code SOUNDCTRL15 to save 15% when registering
TECH
Porter Robinson launches Twitch channel w/ new album via Music Week
Gave in depth analysis of new "Worlds" album
States album was inspired by video games played growing up
Twitch is growing in the music sphere after launching Steve Aoki concert recently
twicc pairs Spotify with Twitter via iTunes
twicc won award from Spotify
Analyzes music discussed on users' Twitter timelines
Available on US and UK app stores
DJ Mustard releases "10 Summers" for free via Billboard
Available for free streaming on Google Play
Will hit iTunes & others after 2 week exclusive on Play
Mustard: "I want to hit 100k in the first day"
Music social media Muzooka raises $3M via Tech Crunch
Aims to connect artists with industry professionals & producers
Users can rank each artist's music
Funding will help further data integration
Grooveshark returns to Google Chromecast via Hypebot
Had previously been on Google search blacklist
Grooveshark has made numerous recent deals with labels
Can play content through TVs w/ Chromecast
Bob Lefsetz: Artists need to be on Spotify via Lefsetz Letter
Breaks down the mass benefits of Spotify
Users are the "active new music consumers"
"ASCAP and BMI keep artists [financially] alive"
Radio Disney to sell majority of stations via Billboard
Will only retain one station in LA
Expected to make big shift to digital
Will continue expanding ventures, as seen with Radio Disney Music Awards