‘Tommy Boy’ Silverman Makes a Case Against DIY…
Can artists truly maximize their careers on their own? Initially, artists experienced the thrill of total freedom and direct fan connectivity, thanks to a raft of do-it-yourself digital tools. But the hangover happened quickly; suddenly, artists found themselves spending disproportionate amounts of time online, and not on their instruments, in studios, or within their creative zones.
eMusic Licenses Warner Music Group Content…
Traditionally indie-focused eMusic has now licensed content from major Warner Music Group, according to details shared by the companies early Tuesday morning. The deal spans recordings from Atlantic Records, Rhino Records and Warner Bros. Records, as well as various independent labels distributed through WMG-owned ADA. “We are pleased to be making our music available to eMusic’s passionate membership,” said Stephen [...]
SXSW Injects a Clean $99 Million Into Austin Economy…
South-by-Southwest transforms Austin every year, and most locals find themselves shifting their patterns accordingly. But most have a healthy attitude towards the festival – despite the massive influx of outsiders, SXSW is a long-running tradition that brings lots of great music and money into the town.
Sick of Boring Drives? Artists Start Riding Shotgun…
In-car navigation systems sometimes make mistakes, and locals usually know the best routes. But for the most part, the days of getting hopelessly lost are waning, and the direction-phobic male is becoming an endangered species.
Resnikoff’s Parting Shot: Pandora’s Dashboard…
Tough to say where Pandora ultimately lands. Tim Westergren says the company is finally profitable, and Pandora is suddenly something your friends are using. But despite a recent royalty resolution, Pandora still pays handsomely for content, and plenty of VCs now run away from that sort of overheard. Others question whether the model is sustainable over the long term.
Same Old Story, But Less Scary: UK Sales Drops Less Severe…
Worldwide album sales kept dropping last year, though the pain was less severe in the UK. According to figures recently released by the BPI, album sales dropped 3.5 percent to 129 million units in 2009, a figure that compares favorably to a 12.7 percent drop in the US. The overall album decline was softened considerably by a strong gain in [...]
FreeAllMusic Seals Universal Music Licenses…
Some content deals are more important and others, and on Monday, the ad-supported FreeAllMusic (freeallmusic.com) scored a big one. The company finalized a licensing agreement with Universal Music Group, a great starting point for a broader licensing sweep. The deal was disclosed by FreeAllMusic chief Richard Nailling and UMG eLabs executive vice president David Ring. Historically, startups have paid handsomely [...]
Rough Decade: US-Based Albums Tanked 60 Percent In the 2000s…
Is the year-over-year album decline getting better, at least in the US? In 2008, the drop was 14 percent, on a unit decline of 72.1 million units. In 2009, the decline was 12.7 percent, on a decline of 54.5 million units.
The Recording Industry In 2009: Albums Down 12.7 Percent, Digital Still Gaining…
Albums suffered another precipitous drop in 2009, according to the latest US-based data from Nielsen Soundscan. The group reported yearly sales of 373.9 million units, down 12.7 percent from a 2008 total of 428.4 million. The tally includes CDs, digital albums, LPs, and the increasingly-marginalized cassettes.