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Music Industry

Indiegogo and Island Records Partner for A&R and Music Crowdfunding at Fan Republic

Source: HypeBot
February 7, 2014

Indiegogo's having a big 2014. They announced $40 million in funding last month and now they're partnering with Island Records for a new music crowdfunding site called Fan Republic. While it's said to be the first it may not be the last given that it's powered by Indiegogo's new Outpost feature that allows crowdfunders to embed Indiegogo campaigns on other sites. But it does offer the unique opportunity to be seen and evaluated by Island Records A&R. Island Records and ...

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Music Industry

Merlin Taps Otto for New Member Dashboard Just in Time for Midem

Source: HypeBot
February 1, 2014

One historical problem facing musicians at all levels of the industry is the lack of transparency in much accounting of sales and royalties. OTTO, by Ottomate, is one solution being taken up by indie labels and distributors for such purposes. Indie label rights agency Merlin just introduced a customized dashboard to make it easier for members to manage their business. This may sound like rather dry news to most but such efforts are really important for making sure everyone gets ...

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Music Industry

So Gracenote and Next Big Sound Are Teaming up to Help Launch Even More Streaming Music Services?

Source: HypeBot
January 31, 2014

Yesterday Gracenote announced a partnership with Next Big Sound to bring additional data and features to Gracenote's new Rhythm platform which launches in February. I spoke earlier in the week with Gracenote President Stephen White who discussed Rhythm and helped me to understand who would want such a thing given how many music services are currently crowding the landscape. As it turns out, having metadata on 180 million songs doesn't just mean they're hoping to support even bigger music catalogs. ...

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Music Industry

Lost Photo: Max and Prez

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 29, 2014

Last week, Lars Westin, a JazzWax reader in Stockholm, sent along an amazing photo that has never seen the light of day—or too much of it. The photo features (from left) drummer Max Roach, drummer Jack Norén (a Swedish-American Chicagoan who played and recorded in Sweden with Stan Getz, Charlie Parker and many others), tenor saxophonist Lester Young and Swedish jazz critic Carl-Erik Lindgren. Here's Lars' story... “The photo was taken by Roy Eldridge in 1952 while Norman Granz's Jazz ...

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Music Industry

8 Mind-Blowing Facts About Music Business in Japan

Source: HypeBot
January 28, 2014

By Lee Parsons, Founder of Ditto Music. As founder of Ditto Music, an online music distribution service. I was recently asked to undertake a learning expedition to Japan and present my company to the Japanese music market. Here are 8 facts that will blow your mind about the Japanese Music Market: It is ILLEGAL to sell a CD for less than $25 in Japan The CD market in Japan is still the biggest making up over 80% of the market, ...

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Music Industry

Harry James: 1958-'61

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers
January 28, 2014

In the late 1950s and early 1960s, right around the time that Count Basie's New Testament Band was hitting its stride, another band was also at the top of its game—the Harry James Orchestra. The albums that James recorded from 1958 until 1961 were exceptional examples of updated swing—thanks to a confluence of events, including the availability of top players and arrangements with punch and swagger. In many respects, the James band wouldn't have been as whip-tight and punchy if ...

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Music Industry

SoundCloud Closes $60 Million Round, in Talks with Major Labels

Source: HypeBot
January 26, 2014

Audio platform SoundCloud has closed a series D funding, raising $60 million ot a total valuation of $700 million. The round was led by led by Institutional Venture Partners along with the Chernin Group. In an statement, SoundCloud said it will use the money “to grow more rapidly in product, personnel and expansion in mobile efforts,” but the company also likely has other plans, as well. In Talks With Major Labels But sources suggest that SoundCloud could to use the cash to close ongoing negotiations ...

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Music Industry

The Lead Sheet: Twin Cities Live Jazz, January 24-30

Source: JazzINK by Andrea Canter
January 25, 2014

You can find jazz in all sorts of venues this week, from classic club settings to hotel lounges to the tiniest gallery space. And you can also find some jazz memorabilia to reinforce your memories of perhaps the most beloved venue of all. Big Gigs This Week Friday, January 24. Whenever Patty Peterson is on stage, it is a “big gig," and tonight, this savvy singer “and friends" take over the Dakota. And it's truly more friends than family this ...

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