Kanye West’s ‘Donda’ finally came out on Sunday, but if you thought that would finally end the long-drawn out saga that has been the release of this album, well, you were wrong. Despite the 29 Aug release date having been settled on for at least a few days before the album came out, West now says that he did not give final approval for Universal Music to put his new record live.
Month: August 2021
CMU publishes new guide on performer payments from streaming
As the big debate on the economics of streaming continues, today CMU Insights has published a new guide explaining if and how performers get paid whenever their performances are streamed – whether those are musical or audio-visual performances.
Music’s Next Big Challenge: Licensing for the New Wave of Social Platforms
Arguably one the of the biggest challenges facing the music industry is what comes next. Streaming has provided the short term answer but how do fandom and social platforms work together?
Nick Bennett analyses the historic limitations of music licensing and what it might take for the music industry to get the most from the new wave of social platforms.
‘Sample amnesty’ will let artists keep royalties if they declare material lifted from other musicians
Ever since hip-hop became pop’s lingua franca, crafty producers have created new hits using samples from obscure records, often without credit.
A Seismic Ruling Undone: California’s Sound Recording Copyright Statute Does Not Include Public Performance Rights—Flo & Eddie v. Sirius XM (Guest Blog Post)
Last week, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that California Civil Code section 980(a)(2), which grants “exclusive ownership” of a sound recording fixed before February 15, 1972, to its “author,” provides only an exclusive right of reproduction and distribution, and does not provide an exclusive right of public performance. Flo & Eddie, Inc. v. Sirius XM Radio, Inc., No. 17-55844 (9th Cir. Aug. 23, 2021).
Kanye West: Donda released by Universal without my say, artist claims
Kanye West has claimed his label, Universal Music Group, released his much-delayed 10th studio album Donda without his approval.
West made the allegation shortly after the album was finally released on streaming services on Sunday.
He also claimed Universal had “blocked” a song featuring DaBaby and Marilyn Manson from being on the record.
“Universal put my album out without my approval and they blocked Jail 2 from being on the album,” he wrote.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58383576
Ryan Tedder: Classic songs are strangling new music
Ryan Tedder is the man every pop star wants in their contact book.
With writing credits for Adele, Ed Sheeran, Paul McCartney, Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and Lil Nas X – not to mention his own band OneRepublic – he’s one of the most consistent hitmakers of the 21st Century.
A walking musical almanac, he is also a perceptive analyst of pop trends. And lately, he’s become concerned at how streaming is affecting new artists.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58329477
Tech Tent: Can AI write a play?
Is artificial intelligence now so advanced that it could write a play? If so, should we be worried about where it is heading?
Those are two of the questions we ask in the latest Tech Tent podcast, which takes the temperature of AI.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-58356716
Scarlett Johansson suing Disney over Black Widow streaming release
Scarlett Johansson is suing Disney over the recent release of Black Widow.
The actor is claiming that the studio’s decision to launch her first, and last, Marvel standalone film on Disney+ as well as cinemas is a breach of contract.
“Disney intentionally induced Marvel’s breach of the agreement, without justification, in order to prevent Ms Johansson from realizing the full benefit of her bargain with Marvel,” the suit, which was filed on 29 July, read.
BBC, Amazon, Sky, Channel 4 & More Sign Charter To Improve Working Practices For UK TV Freelancers – Edinburgh
Key figures from major broadcasters, streaming services and unions in the British TV industry have joined forces to pledge to improve working practices for freelancers in across the sector in the UK. Dubbed The Freelance Charter, the historic document has been signed by the BBC, Channel 4, Channel 5/ViacomCBS, Sky, UKTV, Amazon Prime Video, Bectu, ScreenSkills and more.
Nirvana sued by the baby from Nevermind’s album cover
Spencer Elden, the man who was photographed as a baby on the album cover for Nirvana’s Nevermind, is suing the band alleging sexual exploitation.
The cover depicts Elden as a four-month-old in a swimming pool, grasping for a dollar bill that’s being dangled in front of him on a fishing line.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58327844
Theater Owners Chief John Fithian Doubles Down on Streaming Debate: ‘Simultaneous Release Does Not Work for Anyone’
John Fithian, the chief of the National Association of Theater Owners, is here to reiterate one thing: Moviegoing is not dead.
Yes, it’s been a bleak 28 months since CinemaCon, the exhibition trade show held annually in Las Vegas, last took place. In that time, the pandemic brought on unprecedented challenges for the industry, including shuttered cinemas, shortened theatrical windows and a growing focus on streaming. They may be down, but they’re not out.
Motion Picture Association is Fighting Back Against Pandemic-Fueled Piracy Surge, CEO Says
CinemaCon 2021: New releases appear on torrent sites faster than ever thanks to rapidly improved technology
Hong Kong to Censor, Retroactively Ban Films Due to National Security Law
The proposed Film Censorship Ordinance gives the city’s censors wider powers and increases the maximum jail sentence to three years for illegal screenings.
It’s All About the Stock: Tone deaf Spotify Insiders Vote for Stock Buyback to Juice Their Share Price While Congress Questions Streaming Payola — @ArtistRights Watch
Spotify announced a second billion dollar stock buy back last week which means they have $1 billion in free cash that they will spend, not for paying artists, not for paying songwriters, but to juice their stock price and make Spotify insiders and senior employees richer still. Remember that Spotify already did this once before in the pre-pandemic–less than two years ago. That means that the Spotify stock price is already juiced.
Musicians And Actors Love California’s FAIR Act – But Companies Eye Exit If It Passes
California has some of the most artist-friendly law in the land, and it may get friendlier if Sacramento passes a bill allowing musicians and episodic TV actors to exit exclusive contracts earlier and easier.
It’s All About the Stock: Tone deaf Spotify Insiders Vote for Stock Buyback to Juice Their Share Price While Congress Questions Streaming Payola
Spotify announced a second billion dollar stock buy back last week which means they have $1 billion in free cash that they will spend, not for paying artists, not for paying songwriters, but to juice their stock price and make Spotify insiders and senior employees richer still. Remember that Spotify already did this once before in the pre-pandemic. Just like they lavish the artists’ money on their fancy World Trade Center offices and buying the Arsenal Football Club, a second billion dollar stock buy back means more of the same while they pay artists a pittance, songwriters even less and session performers not at all.
‘Black Widow’ streaming numbers fire up the ScarJo vs Disney lawsuit
New York (CNN Business)Disney is releasing more details about the financial performance of “Black Widow” as the company pushes to have a lawsuit brought by Scarlett Johansson — the film’s star — go to arbitration.
Read More: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/23/media/black-widow-earnings-lawsuit-update/index.html
John Lydon loses court battle to stop Sex Pistols songs being used in a new TV series
John Lydon has lost a High Court battle to stop the Sex Pistols music from being used in a new TV drama.
Former drummer Paul Cook and guitarist Steve Jones had sued Lydon, aka Johnny Rotten, after he tried to veto the use of the punk group’s songs in a show directed by Danny Boyle.
The pair argued that the group had an agreement that such decisions could be taken on a “majority rule basis”.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58303879
It’s All About the Stock: Tone deaf Spotify Insiders Vote for Stock Buyback to Juice Their Share Price While Congress Questions Streaming Payola
Spotify announced a second billion dollar stock buy back last week which means they have $1 billion in free cash that they will spend, not for paying artists, not for paying songwriters, but to juice their stock price and make Spotify insiders and senior employees richer still. Remember that Spotify already did this once before in the pre-pandemic. Just like they lavish the artists’ money on their fancy World Trade Center offices and buying the Arsenal Football Club, a second billion dollar stock buy back means more of the same while they pay artists a pittance, songwriters even less and session performers not at all.
China is banning music that ‘insults or defames others’ in its 50,000 karaoke venues
China has never had a more powerful presence in the global music industry.
In 2020, according to IFPI data, China was the seventh biggest recorded music market in the world, with its annual trade revenues leaping up by over a third to top $790 million.
Just last week, Universal Music Group (UMG) – the world’s biggest music rightsholder – expanded its label operations in China, launching a division of Republic Records in the territory.
There Are Now 2 Million Creators In YouTube’s Partner Program
There are now more than two million creators monetizing their content through YouTube’s Partner Program.
In a blog post this morning, the platform’s chief product officer Neal Mohan revealed the figure and laid out what YouTube’s doing to protect its “vibrant community” of creators.
Read More: https://www.tubefilter.com/2021/08/23/youtube-two-million-creators-youtube-partner-program/
#FrozenMechanicals Crisis: Unfiled Supplemental Comments of @helienne Lindvall, @davidclowery, @theblakemorgan and @sealeinthedeal
As it turns out, the CRB extended the filing deadline for comments due to what they said was a technical difficulty, although we have yet to meet anyone who couldn’t file their comment on time. This extension seems contrary to the CRB’s February revised rules for filings by participants. The CRB procedures presciently have an email filing procedure in the case of technical problems arising out of their “eCRB” document filing system. It will not surprise you to know that the NMPA, NSAI, and major labels filed what is essentially a reply comment after the close of business on the last day of the extension, after at least our if not all commenter accounts were disabled, the practical effect of which was that no one could respond to their comments through the eCRB, i.e., on the record.
SESAC acquires royalty collection platform Audiam from SOCAN
SESAC, the US-headquartered Performing Rights Organization, has majority-acquired streaming royalties collection agency Audiam.
A controlling stake in Audiam has been sold to SESAC for an undisclosed fee by Canadian licensing society SOCAN.
SOCAN itself acquired Audiam in 2016 from the company’s founder, Jeff Price. Price continued to work at Audiam following that sale, but exited the company last year.
Read More: https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sesac-acquires-royalty-collection-platform-audiam-from-socan/
Black box disorder: Ivors Academy research reveals £500m streaming data gap
The Ivors Academy has published a new report estimating the size of the global song streaming data gap – streaming royalties for songs that are unallocated or misallocated due to missing or incomplete data.
@ddayan is the Only Journalist Who Gets the Deep Implications of Scarlett Johansson’s Streaming Lawsuit Against the Happiest Place on Earth
Remember record clubs? 20 CDs by hit artists for 1¢? These were the absurd organizations run by some of the smarmiest of the smarmy in our business that could not wait to get their greedy paws on your records by your artist who you busted your hump to help find an audience, often at the peak of their popularity. Front line labels were under tremendous pressure to hand over our precious cargo to them at the earliest opportunity so the clubs, too, could snarf up the hit gravy train while giving the artists and especially the songwriter a truly raw deal.
The Implications of Scarlett Johansson’s Marvel Lawsuit
When Scarlett Johansson unleashed a lawsuit last week against the Walt Disney Company over her compensation for the movie Black Widow, opinion-havers on the internet immediately dismissed it as millionaires fighting billionaires. But virtually everyone who works to create the TV shows and movies you watch could have a stake in the case’s outcome.
Read More: https://prospect.org/culture/the-implications-of-scarlett-johansson-marvel-lawsuit/
Amazon Studios In Talks About Covid Vaccine Mandate For Cast & Rest Of Zone A On All Upcoming U.S. Series
EXCLUSIVE: Discussions are underway between Amazon Studios executives and all of the studio’s upcoming U.S.-based series productions about making Covid vaccinations for actors as well as those who come into contact with them on set mandatory. I hear the talks have been going on for awhile, and the goal is to implement the policy across the board.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2021/08/amazon-studios-covid-vaccine-mandate-cast-zone-us-series-1234810161/
US songwriter groups at loggerheads with government and major labels over “frozen mechanicals”
We’ve seen in the UK how effective a grassroots artist campaign can be with #BrokenRecord, and now another to keep an eye on is the #FrozenMechanicals campaign, which appears to be slowly picking up steam. It’s a little complex, but it relates to the mechanical royalty rate in the US, where every time a disc or download is sold, a 9.1¢ royalty is paid to songwriters and/or their rightsholders.
How to Add Music to an Instagram Story
Instagram Stories are easy to make, but they can require a lot of thought if you want to make them truly entertaining. Thankfully, Instagram offers a number of tools to help make your stories as fun as possible.
Read More: https://au.pcmag.com/streaming-music-services/88611/how-to-add-music-to-an-instagram-story
Netflix to Require Vaccinations for Office Workers
Netflix is expanding its vaccination mandate.
The streamer will require that workers at its offices be vaccinated for COVID-19,The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed. That includes its Los Gatos, California, headquarters, where visitors also have to show proof of vaccination, as well as the Sunset Blvd. location in Los Angeles. Variety first reported the news.
Congress members hit out at Twitter over rights management systems and lack of music licences
More than 20 members of US Congress have signed a letter to Twitter boss Jack Dorsey calling on him to implement robust content protection technology across his company’s platform, so that it is easier for the music industry to monitor and control the use of its songs and recordings on the social media service. And while he’s at it, he should really look into getting some music licensing deals in place too.
Sharon Stone says her calls for a fully vaccinated set have put her job in jeopardy
(CNN)Sharon Stone wants a fully vaccinated set on her next gig, and says she’s being threatened she’ll lose the job because of it.
The actress claims in a campaign video for her run as a member of SAG-AFTRA national board of directors that she will not go to work on the project in Atlanta until the whole set is vaccinated.
Read More: https://edition.cnn.com/2021/08/02/entertainment/sharon-stone-trnd/index.html
Bob Dylan wins in legal battle with former collaborator’s estate over his $300 million catalogue sale
A judge in New York has sided with Bob Dylan in his legal dispute with the estate of a former collaborator which sought a cut of the $300 million the musician reportedly secured by selling his songs catalogue to Universal Music last year.
Twitter Is Turning a Blind Eye to Music Copyright Infringement, Group of U.S. Reps Says
A bipartisan group of 22 members of the House of Representatives sent a letter Monday to Twitter chief Jack Dorsey, demanding the social network address “the ongoing problem of copyright infringement on Twitter and the platform’s apparent refusal to address it.” They requested a response to their inquiry by Aug. 27.
Dionne Warwick Tells Radio Stations: If You Play My Music, Pay Me for My Music
About six weeks after publicly backing the American Music Fairness Act (AMFA), New Jersey-born singer Dionne Warwick has called on Congress to pass the legislation – and taken aim at the lack of recorded royalties paid by traditional radio stations.
Estimating the Size of the Global Song Streaming Data Gap
The Ivors Academny, the UK’s professional association for songwriters and composers, is raising awareness of the need for music industry reform to meet the challenges and opportunities of the streaming era.
Missing song credit information is a significant issue facing the industry and streaming is the area in which this problem is most visible and growing. Here the lack of accurate and complete data is resulting in the royalties due to songwriters and rightsholders being delayed, unallocated and/or mis-allocated to songs that have already received payment. Too often royalties are pooled into a “black box” to be distributed according to analogy0based policies.
Download the full document below
