Novara had spent years using YouTube to attract more than 170,000 subscribers for its left-leaning coverage of issues like climate change, capitalism and social policy. Suddenly, and without warning, that powerful distribution tool was zapped — leaving people in the newsroom wondering how the organization could survive.
October, 2021
Merlin strikes strategic partnership with free music streaming app TREBEL
Merlin, the global digital rights agency for the world’s independent label sector, has struck a deal with TREBEL, a free, licensed, music streaming app. The service, which offers on-demand and offline play at no cost to its users, sponsored by brand advertisers, recently filed for an IPO in the United States.
Source: Merlin strikes strategic partnership with free music streaming app TREBEL
US Copyright Office Expands Jailbreaking Exemption to Roku and Apple TV
The US Copyright Office has published a list of new exemptions to the DMCA’s anti-circumvention rules. Several new freedoms were granted this round, including broader right to repair permissions. The right to jailbreak also expanded to include streaming TV devices such as Roku and Apple TV boxes, despite Hollywood fears that this will boost piracy.
Source: US Copyright Office Expands Jailbreaking Exemption to Roku and Apple TV * TorrentFreak
Facebook changes its corporate branding to Meta
Well, it’s official. After 17 years of being called Facebook, the social networking parent company behind Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Oculus has a new name. Facebook’s corporate entity is now Meta. Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg announced the change at the company’s AR/VR-focused Connect event, sharing that the new title captured more of the company’s core ambition: to build the metaverse.
Universal Music Group Reports Double-Digit Revenue Growth In Q3 2021
Universal Music Group reported double-digit revenue growth in Q3 2021, enjoying major boosts in publishing, streaming, and physical sales. Predictably, and in keeping with UMG’s Q1 and Q2 2021 income breakdowns – as well as those of Warner Music, Sony Music, and the broader music industry – “subscription and streaming” accounted for the lion’s share of revenue, at €1.13 billion ($1.32 billion at the present exchange rate).
Source: Universal Music Group Reports Double-Digit Revenue Growth In Q3 2021
UnitedMasters valued at $550m, after raising $50m in new funding round
The valuation explosion we’ve seen in music rights is happening in another segment too, it seems: DIY distribution. In August, US-based DIY distribution platform DistroKid accepted an investment from Insight Partners, valuing it at $1.3 billion. Now, a rival to DistroKid, Steve Stoute’s UnitedMasters – has locked in its own princely valuation.
Source: UnitedMasters valued at $550m, after raising $50m in new funding round
Sony Music and Games Q2 Growth Helped Offset Declines in Movies and TV
Revenues for Sony’s music and games division saw growth in the second quarter of 2021, but the company is still struggling with pandemic-related troubles for its pictures division, company executives said in an earnings call Thursday morning.
Source: Sony Music and Games Q2 Growth Helped Offset Declines in Movies and TV
Comcast Takes $520M Loss on Peacock, Doesn’t Disclose New Sign-Ups
For the first time since the launch of Peacock last year, management didn’t provide an update on the number of sign-ups in either the earnings release or call. NBCUniversal CEO Jeff Shell said only that the company has “added a few million more subs” and more monthly active accounts.
Source: Comcast Takes $520M Loss on Peacock, Doesn’t Disclose New Sign-Ups
CISAC Reports 10.7% Drop in 2020 Global Music Royalty Collections Due to Pandemic
Global royalties collections for music creators dropped 10.7% during 2020 due to the pandemic, declining by nearly €1 billion (approximately $1.16 billion) to a pre-2017 level of €8.12 billion (approximately $9.3 billion), according to the 2020 Global Collections Report published Wednesday by CISAC, the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers.
Source: CISAC Reports 10.7% Drop in 2020 Global Music Royalty Collections Due to Pandemic
ABBA’s Bjorn Ulvaeus On the ‘Immoral’ Treatment of Songwriters by the Music Industry
As one of the two songwriters for one of the most successful and influential musical artists in the history of the world — that would be ABBA — one might wonder why Ulvaeus, as president of CISAC, the global non-profit trade organization for creators, is essentially taking on the entire music industry.