The traditional role of A&R was crucial to an artist’s success. Before the internet, A&R reps were the gatekeepers. You didn’t find success in music unless an A&R rep found you. What’s happening today is A&R people will wait to see what artists are succeeding, then sign them to the label. They no longer focus on developing artists, but rather invest in artists whom they know can make the label money.
Source: What Is A&R (and Do You Need It)? – Digital Music News
Spotify now says that 52,600 artists generated over $10,000 on its platform in 2021. Spotify also notes that 15,140 of these 52,600 artists – around 28% – uploaded their own music via the likes of TuneCore, CD Baby and DistroKid. The 52,600 figure (for $10k+ artists) is up by 10,100 versus the equivalent stat from 2020.
Spotify has played a key role in the fragmentation of fandom by giving consumers choice over what they listen to, as well as personalized recommendations. Both factors drive listeners further into niches. This is an asset, not a challenge, since niche audiences typically deliver much higher engagement than passive, mass audiences.
Source: Spotify’s Loud and Clear is about fandom, not royalties
On March 9, TikTok brought SoundOn out of beta. The platform has captured the pop culture zeitgeist — and, in doing so, has become an essential tool for both rising creators and the music business, with labels and managers using it to discover talent, promote and market songs, and stay on top of trends.
Source: TikTok’s Distribution Play Could Cause Tension With the Music Biz
Filling a gap in the current market, ATO provides solutions to something that has plagued the art world since the 1650s when intermediaries – art dealers – came on the art scene: it is the near total lack of lack of accessible sales data from which to rely on as a basis for an honest sale and purchase.
The powers of technology giants like Facebook owner Meta, Google, Amazon and Apple could be severely curbed as the European Union Council and European Parliament have reached a provisional political agreement on the landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Source: Facebook, Google, Amazon, Apple to Be Regulated as Europe Agrees to Landmark Digital Markets Act
Ad-funded streaming platforms (including video services) generated $4.6 billion in 2021, according to IFPI numbers. That was up 31% year-on-year (versus $3.5bn in 2020), representing an annual increase of $1.1 billion. Not bad for a section of the market many still refer to as ‘free’ streaming, which includes the freemium tier of Spotify, plus YouTube‘s video ads business.
Warner Music Group has partnered with Styngr to offer game developers access to pre-licensed tracks from the WMG music catalog. Now game developers will have the ability to integrate these WMG recordings into their games. That includes customized radio stations in games like Grand Theft Auto.
Source: Warner Music Group Partners with STYNGR to License Music for Gaming
Listening Library, the children’s imprint of Penguin Random House Audio, and American Girl, a key subsidiary under the Mattel corporate umbrella, have teamed up to publish audiobook editions of more than 50 classic and new American Girl books. Listening Library will release an initial batch of more than 40 American Girl recordings on June 7.
Autograph, a Web3 brand co-founded by Tom Brady, today announced a partnership with AEG Presents, a leader in live entertainment and events. The multi-year alliance will officially kick off on March 25 at BUKU Music + Art Project in New Orleans. BUKU continues its successful run with this year’s line-up featuring Alison Wonderland, Porter Robinson, Tame Impala and others.
Source: Concert Giant AEG and Web3 Leader Autograph Partner for Live Event NFTs (EXCLUSIVE)