INDUSTRY
How UMEK’s Viberate Platform Is Putting the Artists First
Right now there are over 60,000 tracks uploaded to Spotify each day, and every artist’s new release competes with nearly 100 million others for attention. In other words: good luck getting discovered. To help artists increase their chances of standing out and to enable labels to find and sign them faster, legendary DJ and techno producer UMEK and his team at Viberate have created a comprehensive tool. Viberate is a research and analytics platform that monitors all major social, streaming and music channels (radio, Spotify, Beatport, Instagram, YouTube, etc.) in one place. “We wanted to turn data into useful insights,” UMEK told EDM.com. “We as artists need this kind of info to grow our streaming and radio numbers, engage our fans, find potential gigs and markets, and also...
Controversial Twitch Leak Highlights Gap In Compensation Between Streamers and Musicians
A massive leak in confidential data from Twitch is highlighting the disparity between the take-home pay of the platform’s top gamers versus artists. The breach, which was confirmed by Twitch on October 6th, reportedly amounted to over 100GB of crucial data stolen, according to BBC News. At the time of writing, Twitch’s analysis of how it all happened is still ongoing. In the meantime, the internet has been feverishly dissecting the documents, some of which contain sensitive information related to compensation. For the music industry, there’s at least one key takeaway: there is a wide gulf between the earnings of top gaming personalities versus the platform’s top musicians. The top earning musician on Twitch from August 2019 to October 2021 is prolif...
Oh Annie Oh Tackles Representation, Allyship and the Music Industry In New Podcast
If you’re searching for candid, no-holds-barred conversations about race in the music industry, look no further than new weekly podcast Don’t Call Me “Exotic.” The project was created and is hosted by South Korean DJ and promoter Oh Annie Oh, who lives in London. According to a press release, it is meant to spark discourse between creatives of color about “what it is like to work as a creative, whilst also living within societal systemic racism,” according to Oh Annie Oh. “(It’s) a dialogue that I wish I had access to during the rise in anti-Asian hate, but that didn’t exist. So I decided to start it,” she added. Recommended Articles Joining Oh Annie Oh for the podcast’s most recent episode was Jordss, a British ...
UK Ticketing Platform DICE Acquires Boiler Room to Expand Streaming Operations
Boiler Room has a new home. Just one week after announcing a $122 million capital raise, UK-based ticketing company DICE have announced their acquisition of Boiler Room for an undisclosed amount. Founded in 2014, DICE has gone on to support over 6,400 artists and distributed concert tickets in 147 different countries, according to Music Business Worldwide. According to DICE CEO Phil Hutcheon, he and Boiler Room CEO Blaise Bellville have had candid discussions for over a year, allowing a shared vision to emerge. “I believe deeply that the best way for Boiler Room to evolve is by partnering with a company that values what we are today, and provides the tools we need to grow into the future – we play to our strengths and they to theirs,” Belville said in ...
UMG and MedRhythms Partner to Treat Neurological Disorders With “Prescription Music”
Digital therapeutics company MedRhythms has been building state-of-the-art technology that uses sensors, software, and music to help restore brain function to patients who have lost it through neurological disease and illnesses. The cutting-edge company has now partnered with Universal Music Group (UMG), giving it access to perhaps the richest and most diverse musical catalog in existence to further this treatment. MedRhythms believes that music can profoundly impact and heal the brain by targeting specific neural pathways that help boost the brain’s plasticity, or ability to adapt. With UMG in the fold, the company will now have access to a plethora of music across many genres and cultures, from Bob Marley to Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande to Andrea Bocelli, and beyond. By way of th...
New Study Reveals Fewer Than 800 U.K. Musicians Make Livable Wage From Music Streaming
A new study has revealed that only approximately 720 of musicians in the U.K. earn enough money from music streaming to sustain a living. Analyzing data from 2014-2020—along with focus groups and interviews with musicians—the Intellectual Property Office released the “Music Creators’ Earnings In The Digital Era” study, which revealed that only the top 0.4% of UK artists make a livable wage from streaming on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music. 1,723 artists in total fell into the top 0.4% bracket, but the majority of those artists were not native to the U.K. U.S.-based artists accounted for 43.2% of the top streams in the U.K. Haithem Ferdi Recommended Articles “We estimate that this 1,723 UK figure may translate into around 720 UK artists achieving this ...
Streamers Still Upset With Twitch After Landmark NMPA Deal
A new deal has been struck in the ongoing battle between Twitch and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA)—but streamers still aren’t happy. Over a year after the initial debate began, Twitch finally came to an agreement with the NMPA. But even after the deal, streamers will not be allowed to play licensed music while streaming. Thousands of DMCA copyright strikes have been issued to streamers in the last year, resulting in the removal of any videos containing copyrighted songs. Despite a long-awaited agreement between Twitch and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA), streamers are still vexed. Caspar Camille Rubin “As part of this agreement, we want to let you know about a new process that we are creating that participating music rights holders can op...
Twitch Nearing Licensing Deal With RIAA and NMPA After Prolonged Conflict
For over a year, Twitch has been engrossed in a well-documented war with the music industry over its approach to licensing—or perhaps a lack thereof—on its platform. Now, according to sources close to the US National Music Publishers Association, the Amazon-owned video streaming service is finally close to reaching an amicable deal with licensing stakeholders. Last year, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and the National Music Publishers Association (NMPA) flooded the platform with DMCA takedown notices, sparking fears of potentially sweeping permabans among Twitch streamers. In response, Twitch acted quickly to roll out “Soundtrack By Twitch,” a tool designed to provide users with a pre-cleared catalogue of music for the...
Study Reveals Music Workers With Disabilities Don’t Disclose Them to Employers Due to Fear of Discrimination
A new study conducted by Harbourside Artist Management and funded by the Arts Council found that many music professionals don’t disclose their non-visible disabilities to employers or colleagues. The study, which surveyed nearly 150 people in the music industry who have a disability or long-term health condition, found that 71% of the participants stated their disability was non-visible. Of those 71%, 88% mentioned they “sometimes” or “never” disclose their condition to those they work with. 69% admitted they believe this non-disclosure put their health and safety at risk. The participants also stated they don’t disclose the information out of fear it would make them seem less capable, receive less work, or precipitate discrimination. According to a prev...
Musicians’ Union Issues Call for Government Action to Strengthen Protections Against Sexual Abuse
In light of recently published data and testimonials which continue to illuminate the pervasive sexual abuse occurring throughout the music industry, the UK-based Musicians’ Union (MU) is calling on their government to implement stronger workplace protections for industry professionals. A new internal MU poll conducted prior to the pandemic revealed that nearly half of all members (48%) report having experienced some form of sexual harassment at work. The numbers are backed by some heartbreaking anonymous testimonials, which detail patterns of abuse due to imbalanced power dynamics and a normalization of sexually explicit behaviors. “It’s unacceptable that so many artists, musicians, employees, and freelancers have suffered abuse at work and that many have left the ...
From Fan to Family: How Discord Gave Artists a Platform to Connect With Purpose
The social media landscape has changed over the past few years. Myspace took the world by storm when it launched in 2003. Then came Facebook a year later, revolutionizing the way that we connect with friends, family, and loved ones. But now Facebook’s imminent doom lingers like a roadkill stench, and other platforms are swooping in to pick up the slack. Twitter created a platform that allows people to share bite-sized pieces of information and join conversations from all around the world. YouTube has provided creators with a podium to share their stories and build their brands. TikTok has replaced Vine and filled the void of video memes millennials and Gen Z’ers yearned for during a global pandemic. While every social media platform has a unique position within the online social community,...
How Desert Hearts Co-Founder Marbs Used Cannabis to Cope With COVID-19
Blessings are tough enough to count in the age of COVID-19, but if you’re a Desert Hearts fan in Denver last weekend, that’s probably why you went to Church. In their first Denver show in almost two years, the Church Nightclub hosted Mikey Lion, Marbs, Lee Reynolds, and Porky for a triumphant collaborative performance. Through the stained glass portraits and glittering lights beneath the steeple, a five-hour barrage of house music bliss enraptured the sold-out crowd. A true blessing to music fans—especially given the impact of the pandemic—the event almost didn’t happen because despite being vaccinated in the weeks approaching the show, one of the crew, Marbs, contracted the virus. That meant everyone to get tested—and fast. Mikey Lion and Lee Reynolds throwing down behind the decks a...
