Music Industry News

MusikPitch Responds to Complaints, Revises Terms

Source: HypeBot
May 6, 2010

MusikPitch, which facilitates custom song commissions for film, TV and individuals, launched last week to a mini-storm of controversy over terms which required the writers of chosen songs to transfer ownership to the startup. One Hypebot reader called the terms and conditions, “blatantly predatory, preying on emerging artists".

To their credit, MusikPitch responded quickly and has fundamentally changed the way they are doing business providing more transparency and options that protect the songwriter. “In direct response to ...

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Quick Interview with We7 CEO Steve Purdham

Source: HypeBot
May 6, 2010

On The Future Of we7 & Ad Supported Music

Last week UK music streaming service we7 announced the first month where its on demand music was paid for in full by advertising. It was a milestone for BOTH We7 and for ad supported music which has struggled to find ad funded modes that are both profitable and return measurable payments to rights holders. So we asked we7 CEO Steve Purdham what's next for the company.

MySpace Lost $150m in Last 3 Months

Source: HypeBot
May 6, 2010

MySpace lost parent News Corp. $150 million for the quarter that ended March 31st compared with an $88 million loss a year earlier. The fall of MySpace was just one of the stories behind a mixed report to investors from the media giant.

News Corp. earned $839 million in the fiscal third quarter. That's a 69% drop in net income from a year earlier. The bright spot is that operating income grew 55& to $1.25 billion up from $810 million ...

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MusikPitch Offers Lame Explanation of Terms That Grab Ownership from Songwriters

Source: HypeBot
May 5, 2010

Last week MusikPitch launched an online marketplace for custom songwriting. Clients post their needs for songs along with a budget and songwriters submit tracks. But as some astute Hypebot readers discovered, the terms (see terms after the jump below) require songwriters to give up all ownership of the chosen songs to MusikPitch.

So if your dream is to hear your song in a movie or commercial and then release it on your own...pretty much forget it. In response to the ...

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May 4th - A Day to Fight DRM

Source: HypeBot
May 5, 2010

Support of today's

Day Against DRM is more important than ever.

It's an attractive notion to think that DRM is dead in music. In so many senses music is more portable than ever. But it's also important to remember that labels are still asking download retailers to tag each song with an identifier when sold or that those same labels don't believe the portability should extend to an online music locker. And that's just the start...

Apple is famous for ...

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Even Tom Petty Gives His Music Away Free

Source: HypeBot
May 4, 2010

Tom Petty will hedging his bets when he heads out on tour this summer. Not only will a rotating all-star cast of opening acts including Joe Cocker, Crosby, Stills and Nash, ZZ Top, Buddy Guy and others join him for the concerts, but he's giving every fan who buys a ticket to one of the shows on their summer tour a free digital copy of “Mojo", their first new album in five years.

Two songs from the new ...

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A New Artist Checklist from SoundExchange

Source: HypeBot
May 4, 2010

In response to questions about what new artists should do to launch their careers and protect their creative output SoundExchange has put together a strong New Artist Checklist. No matter how long a band has been around, there's probably at least one thing on this list that they've forgotten to do.

Read SoundExchange's New Artist Checklist and get started:

Award Winning Artist Halie Loren Signs Distribution/License Deal with JVC/Victor Entertainment for the Japanese Market

Source: Michael Ricci
May 4, 2010

Award-winning jazz singer/songwriter Halie Loren recently signed a licensing and distribution deal with JVC/Victor Entertainment. The agreement will increase her music's exposure in Japan and the surrounding Asian markets, starting with the release of a deluxe edition of “They Oughta Write A Song" on May 19th.

“Halie is truly a gifted singer and songwriter," JVC/Victor Entertainment's A&R Jazz Manager Sumio Jono said, “and we at JVC/Victor look forward to introducing her in Japan. Her previous award-winning album 'They Oughta Write ...

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