RightsTech Project

U.S. Recorded-Music Revenue Grows Almost 10% But Streaming Subscriptions Level Off

September 19, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

The U.S. music industry continued its robust growth in the first half of 2023, according to the RIAA’s latest mid-year report. Total revenues grew 9.3% at estimated retail value, reaching an all-time first-half high of $8.4 billion; at wholesale value, revenues grew 8.3% to $5.3 billion. Paid streaming subscriptions continued to be the strongest driver of revenue growth, according to the report, increasing by more than $550 million and growing to around 96 million subscriptions during the period.

Source: U.S. Recorded-Music Revenue Grows Almost 10% But Vinyl Sales, Streaming Subscriptions Level Off

Bill That Would Enable Indie Artists to Negotiate Better Streaming Rates Takes Aim at AI

September 19, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

Independent musicians will have more power to negotiate with artificial intelligence developers over “fairer rates and terms for the use of their music” if a newly introduced version of the Protect Working Musicians Act passes the U.S. House, according to Rep. Deborah Ross (D-N.C.). The revised act would allow artists to behave like plaintiffs in a class-action suit, she adds, “fighting for their rights” with a central attorney.

Source: Congressional Bill That Would Enable Indie Artists to Negotiate Better Streaming Rates Takes Aim at AI

Digimarc adds copyright information to digital data

September 19, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

Software company Digimarc will now let copyright owners add more information to their work, which the company said will improve how AI models treat copyright in training data. In a statement, Digimarc said its new Digimarc Validate service lets users include ownership identification in the metadata. The company said this means that when copyrighted material becomes part of a generative AI training dataset, users can point to the digital watermark with intellectual property information.

Source: Digimarc adds copyright information to digital data

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Will Limit Daily Number of New Titles

September 19, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

Amazon continues to modify how authors and other creators can use its Kindle Direct Publishing self-publishing platform as the use of generative AI spreads throughout publishing. In an update posted in the KDP Community Forum on Monday, the company announced that it is “lowering the volume limits we have in place on new title creations.”

Source: Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Will Limit Daily Number of New Titles

$200m-backed Multimedia Music acquires film music library of Millennium Media

September 19, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

Multimedia Music has closed a deal to acquire the music publishing rights from the film music library of Millennium Media. MMM will co-publish the catalog with current co-owner and administrator Kobalt Music. The catalog deal follows a recent intensive round of acquisition activity by MMM. In addition to the purchases of a 50% stake in Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Partners catalog and the acquisition of the STX Entertainment music library, MMM purchased the Atlantic Screen Music library.

Source: $200m-backed Multimedia Music acquires music library of Hollywood film company Millennium Media

SoundExchange paid out $498m to artists and labels in the first half of 2023

September 19, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

US performance rights organization SoundExchange distributed USD $269 million in digital royalties to creators in the second quarter of 2023. The distribution marked a17% YoY increase from the same period last year, SoundExchange said in a press release. This resulted in H1 2023 distributions reaching $498 million, up 7.1% from $464.9 million in the first half of 2022.

Source: SoundExchange paid out $498m to artists and labels in the first half of 2023

Concord acquires Mojo Music & Media’s catalog of more than 30,000 songs

September 19, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

The catalog includes works of the bands REO Speedwagon, KISS, and Cheap Trick. The Mojo catalog spans nine decades and comprises more than 30,000songs including 89 Billboard No.1 hits, adding what Concord says is “a remarkable selection of music” to its publishing portfolio of 800,000 songs. The company says that the deal “further highlights Concord’s continued strategic growth”.

Source: Concord acquires Mojo Music & Media’s catalog of more than 30,000 songs

Hollywood is paying a steep price for never really figuring out the streaming model

September 18, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

The subscription-based streaming model proves vastly different than the ad-revenue-fueled traditional TV bundle. High licensing costs and low revenues per subscriber quickly caught up with studios, which had previously placated shareholders with massive subscription growth. Yet streaming remains the focus for all of these companies as consumers rapidly cut the cord and opt for streaming.

Source: Hollywood is paying a steep price for never really figuring out the streaming model

Katy Perry Sells Catalog Rights to Litmus Music for $225 Million

September 18, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

After months of rumors, Katy Perry has sold her music rights to Litmus Music, the Carlyle-backed company co-founded by former Capitol Records president Dan McCarroll, for $225 million, the company announced Monday. The deal includes Perry’s stakes in master recordings and publishing rights for the five albums she released between 2008 and 2020.

Source: Katy Perry Sells Catalog Rights to Litmus Music for $225 Million

MMF gives managers a template letter on AI-training rights

September 15, 2023By rightstech0 Comments

UK management body the MMF’s series of ‘Dissecting the Digital Dollar’ reports have gone down well with managers looking for accessible industry explainers. The guide explains AI technologies relevant to music; looks at the rights and legal issues around them; and the industry campaigns and policy positions. However, we’re most interested in the inclusion of a template letter, provided by the Council of Music Makers, for managers to send to labels, distributors and publishers.

Source: MMF gives managers a template letter on AI-training rights – Music Ally