fair music weblog

The MCPS-PRS Alliance, an alliance of two not-for-profit UK collecting societies, and the video-platform YouTube announced an agreement to license more than 10 million pieces of music to YouTube, that will recognise the contribution of the creators of that music to the service.
Chad Hurley, CEO and Co-Founder of YouTube said: “This agreement is another great example of how we are working with the music industry to explore new and creative ways to compensate music creators.”
Steve Porter, Chief Executive of the MCPS-PRS Alliance said: “Whether it is music videos, user uploads or other audio visual content, our agreement will allow our 50,000 songwriter, composer and music publisher members to be paid when their creative talents are being enjoyed on YouTube’s service across the UK.”
MCPS-PRS Alliance & YouTube sign ground-breaking agreement - MCPS-PRS press release

YouTube zahlt für Musik - ORF Futurezone

As the lyricist and main vocalist of the group Public Enemy, Chuck D, who’s actual name is Carlton Douglas Ridenhour, helped further political rap music in the 1980s. In 1999, he launched Rapstation.com, a website for rap and a home for the vast global hip hop community. The site has it’s own TV and radio station with prominent DJs, interviews, events, free MP3 downloads and downloadable ringtones. The station wants to empower rap artists so they can turn their craft into a viable living.
Since 2000 he has been one of the most vocal supporters of Internet music file sharing, including a testify before Congress.

Peer-to-peer technology, he says, allows artists easily to reach a worldwide online audience. And to many musicians, the benefits of this technology strongly outweigh the risks of copyright infringement.

(weiterlesen…)

In the past fourteen years, Putumayo World Music has become known for its compilations of great international music characterized by the company’s motto: “guaranteed to make you feel good!” The colorful, folkloric style of Putumayo’s CD covers, drawn by British artist Nicola Heindl, represent one of Putumayo’s goals: to connect the traditional to the contemporary. By combining appealing music and visuals with creative retail marketing, Putumayo has developed a unique brand identity.

(weiterlesen…)

One may not know Harald Quendler. But one has to know his independent music label, distribution company and small shop Extraplatte in Vienna, Austria. The label is the pioneer of the independent music movement in Austria and is owned by Harald Quendler for 28 years now. Quendler’s focus has always been on the creativity and the artistic work, not the business. Walter Gröbchen, CEO of music communications- and consulting firm monkey. called him the figure-head of cultural policy, for he exports extraordinary music from Austria to the world. (weiterlesen…)

Writing, performing or producing music, for some artists it’s not enough. They want their music to serve as a political instrument and ask what they can do for others with the aid of their work. Underground Resistance (commonly UR), a musical collective from Detroit, Michigan, USA, is one of them. They are the most militantly political example of modern Detroit Techno and have a strictly anti-mainstream business strategy. UR is a pool of independent producers and at the same time a social political project. The assets of the highly successful music production have been invested in their own building that serves as studio, for distribution and has a shop, and in projects like kindergartens, district projects, health insurance for artists or an employed social worker who gets in contact with talented young people that hang out in the streets.

(weiterlesen…)

eMusic is the second-largest digital music service behind iTunes and the world’s largest retailer of independent music. In mid-August, it announced that it has crossed the 150 million downloads milestone. The Hollywood Reporter’s business editor Georg Szalai recently talked to eMusic president and CEO David Pakman about eMusic’s strategy and audience. In the interview Pakman says “DRM in downloaded music will be gone. Its days are numbered.”

(weiterlesen…)