March 01, 2011
By Ed Christman, New York
MTV will partner with Sony/ATV's "Extreme Music" production library to market the music of unsigned artists and bands to music supervisors for commercials, television shows and movies.
The partnership, which will operate under the name HYPE, will see MTV executives identifying unsigned artists whose music might work well in MTV shows. Initially, the music will be shopped to MTV productions and then through the Extreme relationship be come a secondary offering to other music supervisors at other networks and brands.
What's more, for music that connects with music supervisors, MTV will serve as its digital distributors bringing the music to online digital retailers and other digital music service providers.
"One of the amazing things at MTV is its support for championing emerging artist and its desire to be a part of an artist's career at the beginning," said Joe Cuello, MTV's senior VP of creative music integration. "Our shows can afford to provide emerging artists with opportunities.
"We don't have a prime portal where artist can come and compete for the opportunity, although there is potential for something like that down the line," he continued. "We do have a team of people who go to shows who talk to [musicians], and producers and have dialogues" with people who know about up-and-coming music.
Already, artists like Midi Mafia, Locksley, and National Skyline" have benefited by having their songs placed in the "Jersey Shore" reality show, while 3D Friends has enjoyed placement in "Skins." For example, Midi Mafia was featured in Season 2 of Jersey Shore and has scanned 22,000 track , after selling a little bit short of 2,000 units in 2009.
"It's no secret that the music industry is gasping for air and struggling for ways to break new artists," Extreme Music CEO Russell Emanuel said in a statement. "HYPE's hybrid model as an artist-friendly incubator leveraging its ability to license tracks directly in high profile shows will dramatically boost an act's profile. This is a new breed, second to none career jump-starting opportunity. It's production music on steroids!"
While Extreme has expertise in shopping production music, Cuello said it is the Sony/ATV company's relationships with other networks and brands that will enable it to show the songs of HYPE artist for synch opportunities.
Beyond that, MTV will perform digital distribution for any music that HYPE connects with synchronization opportunities. HYPE and the artist will share revenues 50/50, Cuello says. That split holds for distribution too, and while that is above standard digital distribution fees that can range anywhere from 13% to 20%, the HYPE rate allows it to share in the revenue created by the synchronization opportunities. On the other hand, if HYPE distributes music from the artists that is not used in shows, it would be willing to negotiate more standard fees.
Finally, if HYPE efforts on behalf of artists leads to major label attention, artists "are unencumbered" by their HYPE deal. "We would love to get these artists signed" with labels, Cuello said.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Wow, YouTube Really Thinks We're That Stupid...
Sorry, the gig is up on free music. It isn't making bands rich, or even making ends meet, for that matter. If you need proof of this, check out this discussion thread about Spotify - it contains real numbers and testimonials about how paltry the payouts on free access are (http://digitalmusicnews.com/stories/012511pointzero). It's not just Lady Gaga that's getting the shaft.
The rest is also mostly a work of fiction. Because for the most part, free isn't driving more people to shows, selling more t-shirts, or making real fans buy the album. Just talk to a band trying to make this work. It sounds good on paper or on a conference panel, but most bands are having trouble turning these theories into reality. Still, free is a necessary evil for any artist that wants exposure - you just have to live with it, like crappy weather. Otherwise you're basically putting your music in jail.
Which is why it's hilarious to hear YouTube talking about how free is now even better than paid. Except the only problem is that paid also sucks! "If you were to look at the numbers for Lady Gaga, the number of views she gets on YouTube versus downloads that she gets on iTunes, obviously, a single download on iTunes will pay her more than a single view on YouTube," product manager Phil Farhi told Evolver.fm. "But when you look at the traffic — the number of people that are coming back and watching her videos over and over again, watching her videos before they download the song, or discovering them on YouTube — you can see how that scale can compete with a paid service."
So, the fringe artist with record-setting YouTube views somehow proves the theory? Or, represents something even remotely typical for even well-supported artists? This soggy logic quickly falls apart, though another YouTube executive pointed to big-time earnings by big-label partners. "Our larger music partners on the site are making millions of dollars per month," YouTube director of content partnerships Chris Maxcy offered. There's also a bridge for sale on eBay.
And the best part? YouTube and Google are making billions per month! But this gets even worse, because separately, some music executives are wondering whether this freebie bazaar is really better than P2P, BitTorrent, or any number of protocols for illegal content transfer. "The argument that 'at least we have them in a legal place' [with services like Spotify and YouTube] isn't making any sense," one top-ranked major label executive told Digital Music News at Midem. "Because all of that is based on the notion that you can monetize this all somehow, which basically boils down to hope. It's not a business model."
Paul Resnikoff, publisher.
The rest is also mostly a work of fiction. Because for the most part, free isn't driving more people to shows, selling more t-shirts, or making real fans buy the album. Just talk to a band trying to make this work. It sounds good on paper or on a conference panel, but most bands are having trouble turning these theories into reality. Still, free is a necessary evil for any artist that wants exposure - you just have to live with it, like crappy weather. Otherwise you're basically putting your music in jail.
Which is why it's hilarious to hear YouTube talking about how free is now even better than paid. Except the only problem is that paid also sucks! "If you were to look at the numbers for Lady Gaga, the number of views she gets on YouTube versus downloads that she gets on iTunes, obviously, a single download on iTunes will pay her more than a single view on YouTube," product manager Phil Farhi told Evolver.fm. "But when you look at the traffic — the number of people that are coming back and watching her videos over and over again, watching her videos before they download the song, or discovering them on YouTube — you can see how that scale can compete with a paid service."
So, the fringe artist with record-setting YouTube views somehow proves the theory? Or, represents something even remotely typical for even well-supported artists? This soggy logic quickly falls apart, though another YouTube executive pointed to big-time earnings by big-label partners. "Our larger music partners on the site are making millions of dollars per month," YouTube director of content partnerships Chris Maxcy offered. There's also a bridge for sale on eBay.
And the best part? YouTube and Google are making billions per month! But this gets even worse, because separately, some music executives are wondering whether this freebie bazaar is really better than P2P, BitTorrent, or any number of protocols for illegal content transfer. "The argument that 'at least we have them in a legal place' [with services like Spotify and YouTube] isn't making any sense," one top-ranked major label executive told Digital Music News at Midem. "Because all of that is based on the notion that you can monetize this all somehow, which basically boils down to hope. It's not a business model."
Paul Resnikoff, publisher.
Monday, February 7, 2011
32 Different Ways Artists Can Make Money...
But which ones are really producing serious revenues? Here 32 different possible possible revenue streams for artists, as compiled by the Future of Music Coalition (FMC). The group is currently conducting a survey of musicians to figure out which streams are working the best.
A. If you are a composer or songwriter, here are possible revenue streams from your musical compositions...
1. Retail sales: Mechanical royalties from physical sales of recordings of your songs at stores, concerts or via mail order.
2. Digital sales: Mechanical royalties from digital sales via online services (CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody, MySpace Music)
3. Sheet music sales.
4. PRO Royalties: Royalties for the public performance of your work (airplay on radio, TV, movies, jukeboxes, live performance and foreign royalties, and home recording and foreign levy payments) as distributed to you by ASCAP/BMI/SESAC.
5. Advances from publishing companies during a publishing deal.
6. Payments from publishers for litigation settlements.
7. Commissions for works.
B. If you are a performer (think Patsy Cline), possible revenue from sound recordings...
8. Digital performance royalties: Royalties for the digital performance of your recordings — airplay on satellite radio, webcast stations, cable TV stations — distributed to you by SoundExchange.
9. Advances from record labels that are not just reimbursement of recording or touring expenses.
10. Label payments for tour support or recording expenses.
11. Payments from labels for litigation settlements.
12. AARC royalties: collected for digital recording of your songs, foreign private copying levies, and foreign record rental royalties, distributed to US artists by AARC.
13. AFM Payments (TV, Film): Payments from the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund to performers on recordings used in TV and other secondary uses.
14. AFM Payments (Recordings): Sound Recording Special Payments Fund to performers for the sales of recorded music
15. AFM/AFTRA Payments: Payments from the AFM/AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund (distributes recording and performance royalties to the non-featured artists)
C. Possible revenue from licensing your musical composition or your sound recording...
16. Ringtone Sales: Mechanical revenue from ringtone sales
17. Synch Licenses: Synchronization royalties based on master rights licensing your song to TV/movies/video games/commercials
18. Sampling Licenses: Licensing fees from other musicians sampling your songs.
D. If you're a performer, possible revenue from live performances...
19. Touring and shows: compensation for playing live shows or performances, including busking.
E. Revenue from a performer's brand...
20. Merchandise sales: t-shirts, posters, etc.
21. Sponsorship: of tour or of a band/artist.
22. Direct financial support from fans/patrons.
23. Ad revenue or other miscellaneous income from your website properties (click-throughs, commissions on Amazon sales, etc.)
24. Acting in television, movies, commercials.
25. Product endorsements.
26. Other licensing of your persona (to video games, comic books, etc.)
F. Revenue from an artist's knowledge of the craft...
27. Work for hire/hired as a studio or live musician or composer
28. Work as a music teacher
29. AFM/AFTRA session payments: Session payments for recording sessions, TV appearances, and performances flowing from synch licenses
30. Producer: income from producing or music direction
G. Other ways a musicians' work can be funded:
31. Government grants.
32. Nonprofit/foundation grants.
A. If you are a composer or songwriter, here are possible revenue streams from your musical compositions...
1. Retail sales: Mechanical royalties from physical sales of recordings of your songs at stores, concerts or via mail order.
2. Digital sales: Mechanical royalties from digital sales via online services (CD Baby, iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, Rhapsody, MySpace Music)
3. Sheet music sales.
4. PRO Royalties: Royalties for the public performance of your work (airplay on radio, TV, movies, jukeboxes, live performance and foreign royalties, and home recording and foreign levy payments) as distributed to you by ASCAP/BMI/SESAC.
5. Advances from publishing companies during a publishing deal.
6. Payments from publishers for litigation settlements.
7. Commissions for works.
B. If you are a performer (think Patsy Cline), possible revenue from sound recordings...
8. Digital performance royalties: Royalties for the digital performance of your recordings — airplay on satellite radio, webcast stations, cable TV stations — distributed to you by SoundExchange.
9. Advances from record labels that are not just reimbursement of recording or touring expenses.
10. Label payments for tour support or recording expenses.
11. Payments from labels for litigation settlements.
12. AARC royalties: collected for digital recording of your songs, foreign private copying levies, and foreign record rental royalties, distributed to US artists by AARC.
13. AFM Payments (TV, Film): Payments from the Film Musicians Secondary Markets Fund to performers on recordings used in TV and other secondary uses.
14. AFM Payments (Recordings): Sound Recording Special Payments Fund to performers for the sales of recorded music
15. AFM/AFTRA Payments: Payments from the AFM/AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund (distributes recording and performance royalties to the non-featured artists)
C. Possible revenue from licensing your musical composition or your sound recording...
16. Ringtone Sales: Mechanical revenue from ringtone sales
17. Synch Licenses: Synchronization royalties based on master rights licensing your song to TV/movies/video games/commercials
18. Sampling Licenses: Licensing fees from other musicians sampling your songs.
D. If you're a performer, possible revenue from live performances...
19. Touring and shows: compensation for playing live shows or performances, including busking.
E. Revenue from a performer's brand...
20. Merchandise sales: t-shirts, posters, etc.
21. Sponsorship: of tour or of a band/artist.
22. Direct financial support from fans/patrons.
23. Ad revenue or other miscellaneous income from your website properties (click-throughs, commissions on Amazon sales, etc.)
24. Acting in television, movies, commercials.
25. Product endorsements.
26. Other licensing of your persona (to video games, comic books, etc.)
F. Revenue from an artist's knowledge of the craft...
27. Work for hire/hired as a studio or live musician or composer
28. Work as a music teacher
29. AFM/AFTRA session payments: Session payments for recording sessions, TV appearances, and performances flowing from synch licenses
30. Producer: income from producing or music direction
G. Other ways a musicians' work can be funded:
31. Government grants.
32. Nonprofit/foundation grants.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Streets Is Watching: WMG Shares Boom 27%...
Streets Is Watching: WMG Shares Boom 27%...
Guess the Street loves a juicy 'for sale' sign, especially when Goldman is pulling the strings. In early morning trading on Friday, shares of Warner Music Group (WMG) boomed past 25 percent, and ultimately finished up 27.33 percent to $6.01.
Late Thursday, word leaked on a possible purchase by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), though apparently other suitors are knocking. Either way, the potential buy screams 'buy' to traders, who all want an easy, overnight payout.
Separately, something else is happening in France, where WMG chairman Edgar Bronfman has been handed a hefty fine for illegal insider trading. This goes back to a 'past life' involving Vivendi, and a Paris court has now saddled Bronfman with a 5 million euro ($6.7 million) bill. Of course, Bronfman is planning to appeal, though this seems like a separate stage of drama.
More ahead.
Guess the Street loves a juicy 'for sale' sign, especially when Goldman is pulling the strings. In early morning trading on Friday, shares of Warner Music Group (WMG) boomed past 25 percent, and ultimately finished up 27.33 percent to $6.01.
Late Thursday, word leaked on a possible purchase by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), though apparently other suitors are knocking. Either way, the potential buy screams 'buy' to traders, who all want an easy, overnight payout.
Separately, something else is happening in France, where WMG chairman Edgar Bronfman has been handed a hefty fine for illegal insider trading. This goes back to a 'past life' involving Vivendi, and a Paris court has now saddled Bronfman with a 5 million euro ($6.7 million) bill. Of course, Bronfman is planning to appeal, though this seems like a separate stage of drama.
More ahead.
Major Layoffs at Universal Music Group; As Much as 50%...
Universal Music Group has just completed massive layoff round, according to information from roughly a dozen sources. A spokesperson for the label has also confirmed the round, though specific numbers were not revealed.
So who's saying what? One source pointed to a chop as deep as 50 percent 'across the board,' which seems a bit high, though another pointed to a similar percentage reduction at Interscope. Another high-ranking partner pointed to something "big, very big," and a distribution partner pointed to sales executive Mike Davis as "the first casualty". According to information shared, Davis was most recently Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Universal Music & Video Distribution (UMVD).
The list of sources saying "huge" and "massive" goes on and on. Separately, both Variety and the New York Times are pointing to a chop of 60 in North America, though that seems only relevant to staff-level employees. Ongoing, Digital Music News is getting emailed with unconfirmed dribs-and-drabs, with most pointing to a rather extreme downsizing.
So who's saying what? One source pointed to a chop as deep as 50 percent 'across the board,' which seems a bit high, though another pointed to a similar percentage reduction at Interscope. Another high-ranking partner pointed to something "big, very big," and a distribution partner pointed to sales executive Mike Davis as "the first casualty". According to information shared, Davis was most recently Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Universal Music & Video Distribution (UMVD).
The list of sources saying "huge" and "massive" goes on and on. Separately, both Variety and the New York Times are pointing to a chop of 60 in North America, though that seems only relevant to staff-level employees. Ongoing, Digital Music News is getting emailed with unconfirmed dribs-and-drabs, with most pointing to a rather extreme downsizing.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Full List of Stuff White People Like
found this and got a chuckle out of it
#134 The TED Conference
#133 The World Cup
#132 Picking Their Own Fruit
#131 Conan O’Brien
#130 Ray-Ban Wayfarers
#129 Banksy
#128 Camping
#127 Where the Wild Things Are
#126 Vespa Scooters
#125 Bob Marley
#124 Hating People Who Wear Ed Hardy
#123 Mad Men
#122 Moleskine Notebooks
#121 Funny or Ironic Tattoos
#120 Taking a Year Off
#119 Sea Salt
#118 Ugly Sweater Parties
#117 Political Prisoners
#116 Black Music that Black People Don’t Listen to Anymore
#115 Promising to Learn a New Language
#114 America
#113 Halloween
#112 Hummus
#111 Pea Coats
#110 Frisbee Sports
#109 The Onion
#108 Appearing to Enjoy Classical Music
#107 Self Aware Hip Hop References
#106 Facebook
#105 Unpaid Internships
#104 Girls with Bangs
#103 Sweaters
#102 Children’s Games as Adults
#101 Being Offended
#100 Bumper Stickers
#99 Grammar
#98 The Ivy League
#97 Scarves
#96 New Balance Shoes
#95 Rugby
#94 Free Healthcare
#93 Music Piracy
#92 Book Deals
#91 San Francisco
#90 Dinner Parties
#89 St. Patrick’s Day
#88 Having Gay Friends
#87 Outdoor Performance Clothes
#86 Shorts
#85 The Wire
#84 T-Shirts
#83 Bad Memories of High School
#82 Hating Corporations
#81 Graduate School
#80 The Idea of Soccer
#79 Modern Furniture
#78 Multilingual Children
#77 Musical Comedy
#76 Bottles of Water
#75 Threatening to Move to Canada
#74 Oscar Parties
#73 Gentrification
#72 Study Abroad
#71 Being the only white person around
#70 Difficult Breakups
#69 Mos Def
#68 Michel Gondry
#67 Standing Still at Concerts
#66 Divorce
#65 Co-Ed Sports
#64 Recycling
#63 Expensive Sandwiches
#62 Knowing What’s Best for Poor People
#61 Bicycles
#60 Toyota Prius
#59 Natural Medicine
#58 Japan
#57 Juno
#56 Lawyers
#55 Apologies
#54 Kitchen Gadgets
#53 Dogs
#52 Sarah Silverman
#51 Living by the Water
#50 Irony
#49 Vintage
#48 Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops
#47 Arts Degrees
#46 The Sunday New York Times
#45 Asian Fusion Food
#44 Public Radio
#43 Plays
#42 Sushi
#41 Indie Music
#40 Apple Products
#39 Netflix
#38 Arrested Development
#37 Renovations
#36 Breakfast Places
#35 The Daily Show/Colbert Report
#34 Architecture
#33 Marijuana
#32 Vegan/Vegetarianism
#31 Snowboarding
#30 Wrigley Field
#29 80s Night
#28 Not having a TV
#27 Marathons
#26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!)
#25 David Sedaris
#24 Wine
#23 Microbreweries
#22 Having Two Last Names
#21 Writers Workshops
#20 Being an expert on YOUR culture
#19 Traveling
#18 Awareness
#17 Hating their Parents
#16 Gifted Children
#15 Yoga
#14 Having Black Friends
#13 Tea
#12 Non-Profit Organizations
#11 Asian Girls
#10 Wes Anderson Movies
#9 Making you feel bad about not going outside
#8 Barack Obama
#7 Diversity
#6 Organic Food
#5 Farmer’s Markets
#4 Assists
#3 Film Festivals
#2 Religions their parents don’t belong to
#1 Coffee
#134 The TED Conference
#133 The World Cup
#132 Picking Their Own Fruit
#131 Conan O’Brien
#130 Ray-Ban Wayfarers
#129 Banksy
#128 Camping
#127 Where the Wild Things Are
#126 Vespa Scooters
#125 Bob Marley
#124 Hating People Who Wear Ed Hardy
#123 Mad Men
#122 Moleskine Notebooks
#121 Funny or Ironic Tattoos
#120 Taking a Year Off
#119 Sea Salt
#118 Ugly Sweater Parties
#117 Political Prisoners
#116 Black Music that Black People Don’t Listen to Anymore
#115 Promising to Learn a New Language
#114 America
#113 Halloween
#112 Hummus
#111 Pea Coats
#110 Frisbee Sports
#109 The Onion
#108 Appearing to Enjoy Classical Music
#107 Self Aware Hip Hop References
#106 Facebook
#105 Unpaid Internships
#104 Girls with Bangs
#103 Sweaters
#102 Children’s Games as Adults
#101 Being Offended
#100 Bumper Stickers
#99 Grammar
#98 The Ivy League
#97 Scarves
#96 New Balance Shoes
#95 Rugby
#94 Free Healthcare
#93 Music Piracy
#92 Book Deals
#91 San Francisco
#90 Dinner Parties
#89 St. Patrick’s Day
#88 Having Gay Friends
#87 Outdoor Performance Clothes
#86 Shorts
#85 The Wire
#84 T-Shirts
#83 Bad Memories of High School
#82 Hating Corporations
#81 Graduate School
#80 The Idea of Soccer
#79 Modern Furniture
#78 Multilingual Children
#77 Musical Comedy
#76 Bottles of Water
#75 Threatening to Move to Canada
#74 Oscar Parties
#73 Gentrification
#72 Study Abroad
#71 Being the only white person around
#70 Difficult Breakups
#69 Mos Def
#68 Michel Gondry
#67 Standing Still at Concerts
#66 Divorce
#65 Co-Ed Sports
#64 Recycling
#63 Expensive Sandwiches
#62 Knowing What’s Best for Poor People
#61 Bicycles
#60 Toyota Prius
#59 Natural Medicine
#58 Japan
#57 Juno
#56 Lawyers
#55 Apologies
#54 Kitchen Gadgets
#53 Dogs
#52 Sarah Silverman
#51 Living by the Water
#50 Irony
#49 Vintage
#48 Whole Foods and Grocery Co-ops
#47 Arts Degrees
#46 The Sunday New York Times
#45 Asian Fusion Food
#44 Public Radio
#43 Plays
#42 Sushi
#41 Indie Music
#40 Apple Products
#39 Netflix
#38 Arrested Development
#37 Renovations
#36 Breakfast Places
#35 The Daily Show/Colbert Report
#34 Architecture
#33 Marijuana
#32 Vegan/Vegetarianism
#31 Snowboarding
#30 Wrigley Field
#29 80s Night
#28 Not having a TV
#27 Marathons
#26 Manhattan (now Brooklyn too!)
#25 David Sedaris
#24 Wine
#23 Microbreweries
#22 Having Two Last Names
#21 Writers Workshops
#20 Being an expert on YOUR culture
#19 Traveling
#18 Awareness
#17 Hating their Parents
#16 Gifted Children
#15 Yoga
#14 Having Black Friends
#13 Tea
#12 Non-Profit Organizations
#11 Asian Girls
#10 Wes Anderson Movies
#9 Making you feel bad about not going outside
#8 Barack Obama
#7 Diversity
#6 Organic Food
#5 Farmer’s Markets
#4 Assists
#3 Film Festivals
#2 Religions their parents don’t belong to
#1 Coffee
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
NIELSEN BDS TOP 10
Urban
Friday, May 14 2010
POSITION ARTIST TITLE
1 Trey Songz Neighbors Know My Na...
2 Usher Feat. Plies Hey Daddy (Daddy's H...
3 Monica Everything To Me
4 Timbaland Feat. Drak... Say Something
5 Rihanna Rude Boy
6 Ludacris Feat. Nicki... My Chick Bad
7 Gucci Mane Lemonade
8 B.O.B. Feat. Bruno M... Nothin' On You
9 Usher Feat. Nicki Mi... Lil Freak
10 Jay-Z Feat. Swizz Be... On To The Next One
Friday, May 14 2010
POSITION ARTIST TITLE
1 Trey Songz Neighbors Know My Na...
2 Usher Feat. Plies Hey Daddy (Daddy's H...
3 Monica Everything To Me
4 Timbaland Feat. Drak... Say Something
5 Rihanna Rude Boy
6 Ludacris Feat. Nicki... My Chick Bad
7 Gucci Mane Lemonade
8 B.O.B. Feat. Bruno M... Nothin' On You
9 Usher Feat. Nicki Mi... Lil Freak
10 Jay-Z Feat. Swizz Be... On To The Next One
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