January, 2022

WMG determined not to make another Napster mistake as it plots A-list concerts in the metaverse

January 28, 2022By rightstech

Around two decades ago, Warner was one of the major labels that fought hard against the rise of file sharing, largely in the form of Napster, a disruptive technology not unlike the metaverse that ultimately led to a catastrophic collapse in recorded-music sales. Major-label adaptation to streaming saw music revenue start growing again around 2015 after 15 years of huge declines.

Source: Warner Music is determined not to make another Napster mistake as it plots A-list concerts in the metaverse

300 Entertainment Launches Content and Film Division, 300 Studios

January 28, 2022By rightstech

New York based 300 Entertainment announced the launch of its latest venture: content and film division 300 Studios. The new arm will develop multi-format, feature and episodic content — and already has a debut project under its belt. RACE: Bubba Wallace — a six-episode series that follows the NASCAR driver — will arrive on Netflix in February, during Black History Month and just ahead of Daytona 500.

Source: 300 Entertainment Launches Content and Film Division, 300 Studios

Family clarifies no ‘Picasso NFT’ is set to be sold online

January 28, 2022By rightstech

Pablo Picasso’s family is not selling a digital asset linked to one of his works after all. “Maybe we should have been a bit more clear from the beginning,” said Cyril Noterman, the longtime business manager for Florian Picasso, who is a DJ and music producer. Noterman said more than 1,000 NFTs going on sale starting on Friday were in fact linked to Florian’s work, not that of his great-grandfather.

Source: Family clarifies no ‘Picasso NFT’ is set to be sold online

HITCO-backed fan funding firm Corite raises $6.2m ahead of blockchain platform launch

January 27, 2022By rightstech

Sweden-born fan funding platform Corite has raised $6.2 million in a private $CO token sale for its blockchain-based sister project, Corite CO. The new platform will allow $CO token holders to participate in blockchain fan funding and promotion, get early access to invest in music projects, in addition to earning rewards for “contributing and participating in the governance of the Corite ecosystem”, according to a media release.

Source: HITCO-backed fan funding firm Corite raises $6.2m in private token sale ahead of blockchain platform launch

Warner Music Plots Metaverse Concerts in Ethereum Game The Sandbox

January 27, 2022By rightstech

Warner Music Group is planning a future of virtual concerts within the metaverse, announcing today that it has partnered with upcoming Ethereum game The Sandbox to open a music-themed area within the shared online game world. The major label will use its virtual LAND plots in the game to create a space that serves as both a music-centric amusement park and a venue for concerts from its artists.

Source: Warner Music Plots Metaverse Concerts in Ethereum Game The Sandbox – Decrypt

Universal Music Expands Relationship With Twitch and Amazon Music

January 27, 2022By rightstech

Universal Music Group, Twitch and Amazon Music have announced an expansion of the companies’ agreements. According to the announcement, the agreements will provide customers with enhanced access to some of the world’s most popular music content on Amazon, including live streams, high quality and spatial audio, artist merchandise, and exclusive experiences with UMG’s industry leading roster of artists from around the world.

Source: Universal Music Expands Relationship With Twitch and Amazon Music

Blockchain and NFT-Backed Film Funding Platform MContent Secures $5M in Seed Round

January 27, 2022By rightstech

Launched in July 2021, MContent is an eco-system that enables crowd funding of film production and capital-intensive content creators using Cryptocurrency and NFTs. Since July, the platform has now funded 11 prominent film projects across four continents of the World. The company has recently completed its Seed funding round at a valuation of over $10M raising almost $5M from prominent institutional investors in the UAE.

Source: The World’s 1st Blockchain & NFT Backed Film Crowd Funding Platform MContent Secures $5 Mn in Seed Round Led by Gargash Group & Other Investors

UK Competition Regulator Launches Probe of Streaming Business

January 27, 2022By rightstech

The U.K. competition regulator has formally launched a review of the music streaming business, looking at any possible competition concerns related to the major labels’ dominance of the industry, as well as the integral role that streaming services like Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube play in the booming digital music economy – and how those spoils are shared with creators.

Source: UK Competition Regulator Launches Probe of Streaming Business

Stephen G. Breyer may shape tech’s copyright battles for years to come

January 27, 2022By rightstech

With the looming retirement of Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, tech policy wonks say the high court is losing one of the nation’s preeminent thought leaders on intellectual property and copyright. Corynne McSherry, legal director at the Electronic Frontier Foundation, called Breyer “a very strong voice for a balanced intellectual property system” that ensured that copyright and patents are “encouraging innovation… as opposed to thwarting it.”

Source: Analysis | Stephen G. Breyer may shape tech’s copyright battles for years to come

Neil Young Removes Music From Spotify in Protest of Joe Rogan’s Podcast

January 27, 2022By rightstech

Spotify will remove Neil Young’s music from its platform, per his request, following his objections to Joe Rogan’s statements about the Covid-19 vaccine on his Spotify-hosted show. The music is expected to be removed later Wednesday. A rep for Spotify said in a statement: “ We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify, but hope to welcome him back soon.”

Source: Neil Young Removes Music From Spotify in Protest of Joe Rogan’s Podcast