Sony Music will roll out two new features for royalty payments on its artist portal this autumn. First is Real-Time Royalties, which will provide immediate updates about a performer’s global earnings and account balances. The second feature is Cash Out. Continue Reading
Sony Music Entertainment is making a new move into podcasting. The major label has entered a joint venture with two podcast veterans — Laura Mayer and Adam Davidson — to find and develop original programming and talent. The as-yet-unnamed company will create and distribute original podcasts. Continue Reading
Sony Music Entertainment and Rhapsody International have partnered to launch a streaming service in Japan. The platform, called mora qualitas, will offer high-resolution lossless FLAC audio at CD quality. It is built on Rhapsody’s Powered By Napster platform. Continue Reading
Sony has released its latest quarterly earnings. In its fiscal Q1 (calendar Q2), Sony’s revenue from recorded music and music publishing reached 121.3 billion yen ($1.11 billion), with operating income of 32.1 billion yen ($294.3 million). Continue Reading
Sony has made yet another move toward transparency in how it is distributing the proceeds from its sale of Spotify stock. Sony Music Entertainment has informed indie labels by email that it intends to make payments to eligible artists and participants as soon as possible. There is one interesting and revealing point. Continue Reading
Spotify’s direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange marked a new chapter for the streaming music service, and the action has continued to make waves in the industry. The latest developments are that two of the major labels that were early investors in Spotify during its startup days have sold portions of their shares. Continue Reading
As the latest research will confirm, streaming is the dominating force for music industry revenue. That shift has led to changes in how labels and music companies dedicate their resources. Sony’s Legacy label is the latest to embark on its own digital transition. Legacy focuses on the catalog business, which includes digital remastering old recordings and producing other reissues. Continue Reading
Spotify’s latest strides toward a direct public offering has led to some speculation around how the labels that own stakes in the streaming company will distribute their windfall. But independent artists and labels are looking for more assurance that they won’t be shortchanged. Continue Reading
YouTube has signed a new licensing deal with Universal Music Group. UMG did say that the deal would lead to “growing compensation” for its artists, but neither company has disclosed details. “We’re thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Universal Music Group,” YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki said. Continue Reading
Music Business Worldwide is reporting that two of the major labels have started legal proceedings against TuneIn UK around possible breach of copyright. Sources told the publication that the suit alleges the UK branch of the online audio company had at least 800 unlicensed music streams in that market. Continue Reading
Sony Music posted recorded music revenue of 303.65 billion yen ($2.7 billion) in the first nine months of 2017. Streaming was responsible for 43% of that nine-month total, or 129.23 billion yen ($1.1 billion). Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web: PRX CEO talks Podcast Garage plans. Sony Nashville wants to lead in streaming. Pay the performers. Continue Reading