The Music Industry Is Built on Artists, but Shuns Creators

"Currently, more time is spent watching others play video games on YouTube and Twitch than total viewing hours of Netflix, ESPN, HBO, and Hulu combined."

https://future.a16z.com/music-copyright-ugc/?curator=MusicREDEF

Merck Mercuriadis on Kanye West: 'I'll help him whenever he needs my help'

Plus some bold predictions about the likes of Shape Of You by Ed Sheeran, Beyonce, Bieber etc.

https://www.musicweek.com/publishing/read/merck-mercuriadis-on-kanye-west-i-ll-help-him-whenever-he-needs-my-help/084087

Are We at the Dawn of A&R Data Wars?

https://music-tomorrow.com/2021/07/are-we-at-the-dawn-of-ar-data-wars/

TikTok Royalties : How are they calculated?

https://www.horusmusic.global/tiktok-royalties-how-are-they-calculated/

How YouTube Serves 2B Monthly Music Users Without Human-Curated Playlists

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/streaming/9588627/youtube-music-algorithm-curation-explained/

What is Spotify popularity index?

https://help.chartmetric.com/en/articles/1560578-what-is-spotify-popularity-index

How a 22-year-old CEO built a TikTok empire with Gen Z media brand Flighthouse

https://www.businessinsider.com.au/flighthouse-ceo-tiktok-empire-create-music-group-2021-5

How TikTok Chooses Which Songs Go Viral

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-22/how-to-go-viral-on-tiktok-like-megan-thee-stallion-play-the-app-s-game

Glass Animals: How Heat Waves became the ultimate sleeper hit

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-56667366

Anonymous Songwriters Group Calls for Artists to Stop Demanding Royalties for Songs They Didn’t Write

https://variety.com/2021/music/news/songwriters-group-artists-stop-taking-royalties-pact-1234939379/

24kGoldn Became a Pandemic Pop Star. Now Comes the Real-World Test.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/23/arts/music/24kgoldn-el-dorado.html

Nate Sloan and Charlie Harding on the move away from traditional verse chorus structure in songwriting

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/03/14/opinion/pop-music-songwriting.html

HOW MANY ARTISTS ARE GENERATING $50K+ A YEAR ON SPOTIFY? OVER 13,000. Loud & Clear.

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/how-many-artists-are-generating-more-than-50k-a-year-on-spotify-over-13000/

Which Artists Have Earned the Most From Spotify?

 https://www.accrediteddebtrelief.com/blog/which-artists-have-earned-the-most-from-spotify/

how TikTok turned into a viral pop star factory

https://www.vice.com/en/article/akdpb5/tiktok-viral-musicians

How much do I earn per stream on Spotify?

https://www.igroovemusic.com/blog/wie-viel-erhalte-ich-pro-stream-auf-spotify.html?lang=en

WTF is an NFT? Allow Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda to explain

https://www.inputmag.com/culture/linkin-park-mike-shinoda-happy-endings-nft-interview

How much TikTok influencers can earn from song promotions, according to 2 music marketers

https://www.businessinsider.com/tiktok-music-marketers-explain-pay-rates-for-influencer-campaigns-2020-12

Wolfgang Boss interview

https://variety.com/2021/music/news/hvme-goosebumps-travis-scott-flip-wolfgang-boss-1234908312/

MERCK MERCURIADIS FACES THE FUTURE… AND STARES DOWN HIS CRITICS

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/merck-mercuriadis-faces-the-future-and-stares-down-his-critics/

What You Can Learn From Russ Sharing His Income Statements

https://www.rootnote.co/what-you-can-learn-from-russ-sharing-his-income-statements/

The Dark Side Of Spotify

https://youtu.be/whQ8UBoz-To

Equitable streaming payments and unintended consequences on artist income

https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2021/02/equitable-streaming-payments-and-unintended-consequences-on-artist-income-mark-mulligan.html

The Weeknd on the Crew That Boosted Him From 'Basically Homeless' to the Super Bowl

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9516909/the-weeknd-xo-records-billboard-cover-story-interview-2021/

music industry terms by Kindness

https://www.notion.so/MUSIC-INDUSTRY-TERMS-by-Kindness-8b7a605239b44067ba371531aeff34a8

good stuff on the economics of streaming from Bob Lefsetz and one of the Presidents of the United States of America

https://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2021/01/14/streaming-2/

https://lefsetz.com/wordpress/2021/01/19/mailbag-21/

'We've Never Seen Anything Like This': Spotify Reacts to Olivia Rodrigo's Record-Breaking 'Drivers License'

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop/9511182/olivia-rodrigo-spotify-hit-success/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Daily&utm_term=daily_digest


https://www.lofficielusa.com/music/olivia-rodrigo-drivers-license-song-drama-sabrina-carpenter-joshua-bassett?fbclid=IwAR2Aq0ceWH2_N3Zv5EkXE2JudOczu2p2y9rQu3kt6H0UO908VDsvAyU5uAs

The 2021 State Of Pop Address by Chris DeVille

https://www.stereogum.com/2112006/the-2021-state-of-pop-address/columns/the-week-in-pop/

Spotify Wrapped Was Developed By An Intern In 3 Months

https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2020/12/spotify-wrapped-was-developed-by-an-intern-in-3-months.html

Variety's list of 2020 hitmakers

https://variety.com/lists/hitmakers-2020-full-list/ben-mawson-and-ed-millett/

MEET RICKY DESKTOP, THE MOST VIRAL BEATMAKER ON TIKTOK

https://www.theverge.com/21504619/ricky-desktop-tiktok-beat-creator-interview-musician-viral-hits

More Than 18,000 Musicians Are Demanding a Penny Per Stream from Spotify

https://www.vice.com/en/article/k7awev/union-of-musicians-want-penny-per-stream-from-spotify?utm_source=sendinblue&utm_campaign=17_November_2020_-_Full__Trial&utm_medium=email

The intersectional style guide

https://medium.com/@yasminlajoie/the-intersectional-style-guide-679b2bf02fc1

SPOTIFY IS LETTING RECORD LABELS INFLUENCE PERSONALIZED RECOMMENDATIONS… SO LONG AS THEY PAY FOR IT IN ROYALTIES

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-is-letting-record-labels-influence-personalized-recommendations-so-long-as-they-pay-for-it-in-royalties/

BTS’s Loyal Army of Fans Is the Secret Weapon Behind a $4 Billion Valuation

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/14/business/bts-ipo.html

Daniel Ek interview about his leadership style

https://www.theobservereffect.org/daniel.html

Pay-for-Play Was Banned From Radio -- But Texts Reveal It May Still Be Thriving

https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/pay-for-play-radio-texts-1067691/?curator=MusicREDEF

What "Record Deal Simulator" is really telling us

https://www.patreon.com/posts/what-record-deal-42247525

How BTS and Its ARMY Could Change the Music Industry

https://variety.com/2020/music/asia/bts-fans-army-music-industry-1234786977/

includes Lyrah's per-stream rate for Spotify, Apple Music, Tidal and others

https://www.patreon.com/posts/42108049

Pete Ganbarg interview

https://celebrityaccess.com/2020/09/25/interview-atlantic-atcos-pete-ganbarg/

Anthony Hamer-Hodges summarises and estimates royalties for Kanye's record deals

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1BjKbaQqzWv5eFmA4kvdw2dH9j3IJwyMJ4qJmaqxEYvk/edit#gid=1193077322

Record deal simulator

https://dealsim.createos.app/

TikTok has been saved. But for music, is that a good thing?

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/music/story/2020-09-23/tiktok-streaming-video-trump-ritt-momney?curator=MusicREDEF

Kanye West’s War Against Record Contracts Could Actually Work — for Kanye, Anyway

https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/kanye-west-universal-masters-war-1064225/

Secrets of K-Pop and the Korean Music Industry With Bernie Cho, Part 1

https://blog.chartmetric.com/k-pop-korean-music-industry-bernie-cho-part-1/

is it a good (Spotify) playlist?

https://www.isitagoodplaylist.com/

Will Hipgnosis actually work?

https://mailchi.mp/cheriehu/hipgnosis?e=c236e1e965&curator=MusicREDEF

Is Spotify killing the top 40?

https://qz.com/1899097/is-spotify-killing-the-top-40/

5 GOLDEN RULES OF SONGWRITING – FROM STEVE MAC

 https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/5-golden-rules-of-songwriting-from-steve-mac/

Inside TikTok’s Hidden Hit Machine

 https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/tiktok-music-industry-hits-1043154/

BTS’S DYNAMITE TOPPED 12.6M STREAMS ON SPOTIFY ON DAY ONE – BUT 4.9M OF THEM WERE DISCOUNTED FROM ITS CHART

 https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/btss-dynamite-topped-12-6m-streams-on-spotify-on-day-one-but-4-9m-of-them-were-erased-from-its-chart/

What will Trump’s TikTok ban mean for music?

 https://thefortyfive.com/opinion/what-will-trumps-tiktok-ban-mean-for-music/

Spotify's Pollen playlist gets 20,000 submissions a week!

 https://www.complex.com/music/2020/08/spotify-successful-playlist-made-pollen?curator=MusicREDEF

You Have a TikTok Hit! Now, Quick — Change the Title

 https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/tik-tok-hits-changing-titles-983383/

Richard Russell has done so many interviews recently, but they're all worth reading, and they all say something different

 https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/richard-russell-its-alright-to-feel-fear-so-long-as-you-ignore-it/

DITTO MANAGEMENT ON GOING TOP 5 IN THE UK: ‘WE’RE NOT IN THE OLD SCHOOL MUSIC INDUSTRY CLUB – WE’VE GOT DATA INSTEAD!’

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ditto-management-on-going-top-5-in-the-uk-were-not-in-the-old-school-music-industry-club-weve-got-data-instead/

Spotify's provider directory of preferred distributors

https://artists.spotify.com/directory/distribution

When Roy LaManna founded Vydia in 2013, he had a simple elevator pitch: like TuneCore, but for video.

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/vydia-roy-lamanna-this-new-generation-of-managers-dont-know-the-rules-and-therefore-dont-abide-by-the-rules/

TikTok turned his song into a creepy meme — until fans took it back

https://www.theverge.com/2020/7/18/21329534/absofacto-daddy-daughter-pov-meme-csa-abuse-response

Curtis Waters, TikTok king: 'There are no gatekeepers to the industry anymore'

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jul/19/curtis-waters-is-the-next-big-thing-in-pop-thanks-to-a-music-clip-on-tiktok

TikTok Breaks Big Hits, But It’s Still Struggling to Break Big Stars

https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/tiktok-one-hit-wonders-1028449/?curator=MusicREDEF

The TikTok War

https://stratechery.com/2020/the-tiktok-war/

A comprehensive guide to TikTok’s biggest hits

https://thefortyfive.com/opinion/tiktoks-biggest-hits/

Moe Shalazi interview

https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/moe-shalizi-marshmello-music-business-profile-1025357/?curator=MusicREDEF

Brian Lee interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/when-it-comes-to-songwriting-im-like-you-dont-know-my-pain-so-get-the-hell-out-of-here/

Head of Songwriter and Publishing Relations Jules Parker Explains How Spotify Is Bringing Behind-the-Scenes Creators Into the Spotlight

https://newsroom.spotify.com/2020-07-08/head-of-songwriter-and-publishing-relations-jules-parker-explains-how-spotify-is-bringing-behind-the-scenes-creators-into-the-spotlight/

pop music is getting faster and happier

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-53167325

Songwriters Are Already Fighting For Better Pay. But in 2021, They Face an Even Bigger Battle against Spotify and Amazon

https://www.rollingstone.com/pro/features/songwriters-spotify-amazon-crb-royalties-war-1015116/?fbclid=IwAR18CHEUjc9s4_CRJx69Va4KNtCU7dK5Kc1s2uSLmWQq99gh0JeW1CklztU

Artists are Learning How it Feels to be a Songwriter

https://www.midiaresearch.com/blog/artists-are-learning-how-it-feels-to-be-a-songwriter/

One Month Anniversary of Buying Plays

https://alecbowman.com/2020/06/04/one-month-anniversary-of-buying-plays/

Why Apple's Platoon Is Offering African Artists Advances — and Healthcare

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/9387691/apple-platoon-denzyl-feigelson-interview 

“THE SITUATION IS EXISTENTIAL”: HOW THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS AFFECTING MUSIC ROYALTIES

https://www.synchtank.com/blog/the-situation-is-existential-music-royalties-in-a-pandemic/

TikTok Statistics – Updated May 2020

https://wallaroomedia.com/blog/social-media/tiktok-statistics/

MoZella interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/mozella-i-got-crumbled-into-little-pieces-and-then-i-rebuilt-and-through-the-rebuilding-i-became-a-lot-more-fearless/

Scooter Braun interview

https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/culture/article/scooter-braun-interview-2020?curator=MusicREDEF

Tha Lights Global interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/podcast/since-2018-theres-been-three-crazy-deals-in-the-record-business-i-did-two-of-them/

This Is How Much YouTube Paid Me for My 1,000,000 Viewed Video

https://onezero.medium.com/this-is-how-much-youtube-paid-me-for-my-1-000-000-viewed-video-1453cad73847

At Work With Justin Lubliner, the Twenty-Something Who Signed Billie Eilish

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/justin-lubliner-billie-eilish-at-work-987311/

GLOBAL SPOTIFY CHART STREAMS ROSE 3% LAST WEEK – BUT FELL AGAIN IN THE UNITED STATES

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/global-spotify-chart-streams-rose-3-last-week-but-fell-again-in-the-united-states/

2019-2020 Streaming Price Bible : YouTube is STILL The #1 Problem To Solve

https://thetrichordist.com/2020/03/05/2019-2020-streaming-price-bible-youtube-is-still-the-1-problem-to-solve/?curator=MusicREDEF

Spotify's head of music explains playlisting

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1/2020/03/02/spotifys-head-of-music-explains-playlisting/#51bbf65823a2

Engineering A Hit: What Makes Songs Viral on TikTok?

https://medium.com/@ogochukwuakamelu/engineering-a-hit-what-makes-songs-viral-on-tiktok-84e57be7aa5

How Do You Get a Hit Song? Spotify Says to Pitch It

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/spotify-artists-playlist-submission-958384/?curator=MusicREDEF

How many users do Spotify, Apple Music and other big music streaming services have?

https://musically.com/2020/02/19/spotify-apple-how-many-users-big-music-streaming-services/

A YEAR AFTER TRYING TO CUT SONGWRITERS’ PAY, SPOTIFY BOOSTS WRITER VISIBILITY WITH LAUNCH OF PAGES FEATURE

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/a-year-after-trying-to-cut-songwriters-pay-spotify-boosts-writer-visibility-with-launch-of-pages-feature/

WHY A TIP JAR ON SPOTIFY IS A BAD IDEA

https://8sided.blog/why-a-tip-jar-on-spotify-is-a-bad-idea/

the marketing genius of Lil Nas X

https://marketingexamples.com/viral/lil-nas-x

Spotify: in tune

https://ftalphaville.ft.com/2020/02/05/1580911793000/Spotify--in-tune/

Voisey is the TikTok for music creation

https://musically.com/2020/01/27/music-ally-startup-files-voisey-is-the-tiktok-for-music-creation/

Make some noise, India! Western bands are looking to Asia to advance their careers

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/make-some-noise-india-western-bands-are-looking-to-asia-to-advance-their-careers-n7kxv2j2m

In 2019, Producer Management Was a Booming Music Business

https://variety.com/2019/music/news/music-producer-songwriter-management-top-companies-1203451660/

Five ways music changed in the 2010s

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-51061099

The Man Who’s Spending $1 Billion to Own Every Pop Song: interview with Merck Mercuriadis

https://marker.medium.com/the-man-whos-spending-1-billion-to-own-every-pop-song-75df0024155b

'Do something weird that works on TikTok': how to write a pop smash in 2020

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/03/do-something-weird-that-works-on-tiktok-how-to-write-a-pop-smash-in-2020

Ellie Goulding and Billie Eilish Are Streaming’s New Normal

https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2020/01/03/ellie-goulding-and-billie-eilish-are-streamings-new-normal/

review of Playlist Push

https://www.edmsauce.com/2019/12/19/is-playlist-push-legit/

Estranged From Mariah Carey, ‘All I Want for Christmas’ Co-Writer Calls No. 1 ‘Bittersweet’

https://variety.com/2019/music/news/mariah-carey-all-i-want-for-christmas-co-writer-walter-afanasieff-interview-1203447527/

Brandon Creed interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/brandon-creed-real-artists-are-breaking-very-big-very-fast-because-theres-a-thirst-for-superstars/

interview with Lorem's Spotify playlist curator

https://www.complex.com/pigeons-and-planes/2019/12/lorem-spotify-playlist?curator=MusicREDEF

Simon Dunmore interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/defected-is-not-a-record-label-anymore-were-much-more-than-that/

Elliot Grainge interview

https://variety.com/2019/music/features/elliot-grainge-10k-projects-tekashi-6ix9ine-trippie-redd-1203423051/

The making of Ariana Grande's Thank U Next with Social House

https://genius.com/videos/The-making-of-ariana-grande-s-thank-u-next-with-social-house-tbhits?curator=MusicREDEF

watch Lizzo make 'Juice'

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/23/arts/music/lizzo-juice.html?curator=MusicREDEF

‘The best way to ensure nobody ever hears your music is to release it’: Warner Music’s Scott Cohen

https://themusicnetwork.com/scott-cohen-keynote/?fbclid=IwAR1nqcMxtIs_62K1YsEs4JJKhMCfU3buva8EEVxSVIex_LBl_3LWqD5DiQo

Why Spotify May Soon Have a Big TikTok Problem

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/spotifys-tiktok-problem-916871/

SPOTIFY EXECS PRAISE TIKTOK OWNER’S NEW SPOTIFY RIVAL… WHILE TRASHING APPLE AND AMAZON MUSIC’S REACH

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-execs-praise-tiktok-owners-new-spotify-rival-while-trashing-apple-and-amazon-musics-reach/

The Anatomy of a Tik Tok hit

https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/the-anatomy-of-a-tiktok-hit/?curator=MusicREDEF

CAN AWAL PROMOTE ARTISTS ON US RADIO AS EFFECTIVELY AS A MAJOR LABEL?

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/can-awal-promote-artists-on-us-radio-as-effectively-as-a-major-label/

why streaming could really do with a Disney + insurgent

https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2019/11/05/why-music-streaming-could-really-do-with-a-disney/?curator=MusicREDEF

Katie Vinten interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/the-songwriters-we-should-be-fighting-for-are-those-who-barely-make-a-living/

THE MARSHMELLO PLATFORM: GETTING VERTICAL THE SHALIZI WAY

https://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=318320

snarky overview of Billie Eilish's breakthrough vis-a-vis Apple Music

https://www.getrevue.co/profile/pennyfractions/issues/penny-fractions-billie-eilish-the-exception-that-proves-the-rule-205262

How TikTok Holds Our Attention

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/09/30/how-tiktok-holds-our-attention?curator=MediaREDEF

a track's journey through playlists inc. Spotify

https://blog.chartmetric.io/a-tracks-journey-through-playlists-f053a59ba0bf

The Music Business Wants to Blow Up Copyright—and the Trump Administration Is On Board

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-09-18/the-music-industry-and-trump-want-to-blow-up-copyright-protection?curator=MusicREDEF

the story behind David Bowie's Space Oddity

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/david-bowies-space-oddity-turns-50-this-year-heres-the-story-behind-the-iconic-track/

The Hardest Song I Ever Chased - music supervisors

https://www.vulture.com/2019/09/the-hardest-song-i-ever-chased.html?curator=MusicREDEF

interview with Lewis Capaldi's manager Ryan Walter

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/how-lewis-capaldi-became-a-billion-stream-superstar-according-to-his-manager-ryan-walter/

Terry McBride’s (Nettwerk) Bigsound Keynote was so forward-thinking, it will bug you

https://theindustryobserver.thebrag.com/terry-mcbrides-nettwerk-bigsound-keynote/

Songwriters Aren’t Getting Paid Enough and Here’s Why

https://www.midiaresearch.com/blog/songwriters-arent-getting-paid-enough-and-heres-why/

How Data Is Making Hits and Changing the Music Industry

https://www.complex.com/music/2019/09/data-changing-music-industry?curator=MusicREDEF

are any real people reading this blog?

I don't remember ever publicising it anywhere, but it's getting a lot of views.

If you're a real person and you're reading this, it would be great to hear from you!

How Much Does Streaming Actually Pay Musicians?

https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2019/08/how-much-does-streaming-actually-pay-musicians-.html

With Music Publishing’s Gold Rush, an Opportunity for Producers to Cash In

https://variety.com/2019/music/news/music-producers-publishing-jeff-bhasker-deal-investment-banks-equity-1203307302/

4 Ways Artists, Labels Manipulate Spotify, Apple Streams and How It Hurts Everyone

https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2019/08/4-ways-artists-labels-manipulate-streaming-and-how-it-hurts-everyone.html

WHO IS THE BIGGEST HIT SONGWRITER WORKING TODAY?

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/who-is-the-biggest-hit-songwriter-working-today-2/

Memes Are the New Pop Stars: How TikTok Became the Future of the Music Industry

https://www.theringer.com/tech/2019/6/27/18760004/tiktok-old-town-road-memes-music-industry?curator=MusicREDEF

Ian Montone interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ian-montone-music-is-fundamentally-important-to-people-its-not-disposable-nor-are-the-artists-who-create-it/

What is Happening to Streaming’s Superstars?

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/what-is-happening-to-streamings-superstars-845395/?curator=MusicREDEF

‘CREATIVITY IS A MUSCLE. IT MUST BE WORKED OUT. IT MUST BE PUSHED.’ Interview with Neil Jacobson

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/neil-jacobson-creativity-is-a-muscle-it-must-be-worked-out-it-must-be-pushed/

Pharrell Made Only $2,700 In Songwriter Royalties From 43 Million Plays Of 'Happy' On Pandora

https://www.businessinsider.com/pharrell-made-only-2700-in-songwriter-royalties-from-43-million-plays-of-happy-on-pandora-2014-12

Playlist stuffing and SEO. Gaming the system.

http://here.org.uk/2019/05/06/playlist-stuffing-and-seo-gaming-the-system/

Music's Big Players: One-Fifth of Streamers Drive Majority of Profits & Should Be a New Industry Focus (Op-Ed)

https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/8507294/musics-big-players-one-fifth-of-streamers-drive

Zoë Keating: Unrepresented songwriters deserve to be heard

https://medium.com/@zoecello/unrepresented-songwriters-deserve-to-be-heard-610d1f3cb706?curator=MusicREDEF

‘Be urself’: meet the teens creating a generation gap in music (on YouTube)

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/mar/29/be-urself-meet-the-teens-creating-a-generation-gap-in-music

‘Old Town Road’ proves TikTok can launch a hit song. ‘TikTok helped me change my life,’ says Lil Nas X

https://www.theverge.com/2019/4/5/18296815/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-tiktok-artists-spotify-soundcloud-streams-revenue?curator=MusicREDEF

Meet The Man Who Gave The World Justin Bieber - Scooter Braun again

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/amosbarshad/scooter-braun-justin-bieber?curator=MusicREDEF

INTRODUCING JUSTIN LUBLINER

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=315869&title=INTRODUCING-JUSTIN-LUBLINER

‘Blurred Lines’ on Their Minds, Songwriters Create Nervously - article about plagiarism

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/31/business/media/plagiarism-music-songwriters.html?smtyp=cur&smid=tw-nytimes%20

how Billie Eilish and her brother and to a lesser extent her mum made Bury A Friend

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/01/arts/music/billie-eilish-bury-a-friend.html

Billie Eilish: A TEMPLATE FOR THE NEW-SCHOOL POP STAR

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=315807

Bob Lefsetz interviews JO CHARRINGTON & NICK RAPHAEL ON SAM SMITH, WORKING WITH ARTISTS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD MANAGEMENT

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/jo-charrington-nick-raphael-on-sam-smith-working-with-artists-and-the-importance-of-good-management/

interview with the owner of Tileyard Studios

http://futureplacesstudio.co.uk/projects/tileyard-studios-kings-cross-london/

The uncomfortable truth about skip rates

https://haulixdaily.com/2019/03/skip-rates-attention-span

Moe Shalazi interview: MASTERMINDING MARSHMELLO: ‘HOW DO WE TURN THIS INTO THE NEXT DISNEY?’

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/masterminding-marshmello-how-do-we-turn-this-into-the-next-disney/

Here’s How Spotify Can Fix Its Songwriter Woes (Hint: It’s All About Pricing)

https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/heres-how-spotify-can-fix-its-songwriter-woes-hint-its-all-about-pricing/

How the Danish Justin Bieber Made It Big in China

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2019-03-12/so-you-want-to-be-a-pop-star-in-china

Kobalt is a major label waiting to happen

https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2019/03/06/kobalt-is-a-major-label-waiting-to-happen/

the world's biggest songs of 2018

https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/camila-cabellos-havana-revealed-as-the-worlds-biggest-song-of-the-past-year__25738/

The TikTok Takeover: How Gen Z’s New Favorite App Is Turning Memes Into Hits

https://genius.com/a/the-tiktok-takeover-how-gen-z-s-new-favorite-app-is-turning-memes-into-hits?curator=MusicREDEF

Teen Musician Rejects $3M Deal: No Need For Label Thanks To Internet

https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2019/02/teen-musician-reject-3-million-record-deal-no-need-for-a-label-curtesy-of-the-internet.html

What Beatles 2018 Success Says About Streaming's Future

https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2019/02/what-beatles-2018-success-says-about-streamings-future.html

Pitch imperfect: ‘This process of trying to get on (Spotify) playlists is becoming borderline farcical’

https://musically.com/2019/02/15/pitch-imperfect-playlists-farcical/

streaming versus radio - with graphs!

http://thedataface.com/2019/01/culture/streaming-vs-radio?curator=MusicREDEF

Clouting Our Judgment: Are Labels Overspending for SoundCloud Hype? (Guest Column)

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/clouting-judgment-labels-overspending-soundcloud-200058409.html?guccounter=1

The Gatekeepers of SoundCloud Rap

https://www.vulture.com/2018/12/the-gatekeepers-of-soundcloud-rap.html

Jonathan Dickins interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/jonathan-dickins-on-adele-working-with-labels-and-what-makes-a-great-manager/

Forbes Marshmello interview

https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2018/11/07/forbes-30-under-30-cover-story-how-marshmello-became-a-44-million-dj/?curator=MusicREDEF

Milk & Honey interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/lucas-keller-lots-of-people-told-me-that-managing-songwriters-and-producers-wasnt-a-real-business/

John Janick interview

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=314109

PROFITS, PAYMENTS AND PODCASTS: 5 TAKEAWAYS FROM SPOTIFY’S Q3 EARNINGS CALL

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/profits-payments-and-podcasts-5-takeaways-from-spotifys-q3-earnings-call/

Ditto Music interview laying into major labels

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/ditto-music-lee-parsons-interview-749510/?curator=MusicREDEF

Chance the Rapper on Apple Music and streaming exclusives

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2018/10/09/chance-the-rapper-apple-music-streaming-exclusive/

Jamie Oborne interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/the-1975-are-the-best-band-in-the-world-like-unquestionably-the-best-band-in-the-world/

Justin Tranter interview

https://www.playboy.com/read/school-of-pop-how-justin-tranter-became-the-man-behind-almost-every-song-you-love

SPOTIFY’S DIRECT DISTRIBUTION DEALS: WHAT DO ARTISTS GET PAID?

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotifys-direct-distribution-deals-what-do-the-artists-get/

Spotify testing tool to allow artists to upload music directly

https://musically.com/2018/09/20/spotify-tool-artists-upload-directly/

Dan Wilson interview

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1/2018/09/05/from-adele-to-halsey-this-hitmaker-sees-no-closing-time/#2e7c79a62024

Valerie Simpson interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/songwriters-should-be-prepared-to-go-through-a-lot-of-stuff-to-get-to-the-real-thing/

Dre London interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/dre-london-my-ambition-to-build-an-empire/

interview with Zach Gurka of Ground Up Mgmt

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1/2018/07/27/from-dua-lipa-to-the-chainsmokers-this-music-manager-creates-new-rules/#2a89c6d472c5

the songwriting camps where pop's biggest hits get crafted

http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/the-songwriting-camps-where-pops-biggest-hits-get-crafted.html

The Evolution of Country Music in Nashville

http://www.vulture.com/2018/08/the-evolution-of-country-music-in-nashville.html

Spotify’s playlist for global domination - Daniel Ek interview

https://www.fastcompany.com/90205519/spotifys-playlist-for-global-domination?curator=MediaREDEF

Jean-Paul Goude's best photograph: an androgynous Grace Jones

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2018/aug/01/jean-paul-goude-best-photograph-grace-jones-nightclubbing

Spotlight: Commission Music Co-Founders on Breaking Lil Dicky & MadeinTYO, Being Bigger Than an Indie Label

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8465783/commission-martini-neumann-lil-dicky-madeintyo-spotlight-interview

MERCK MERCURIADIS WANTS TO RAISE A BILLION DOLLARS. AND THEN HE WANTS TO CHANGE THE FACE OF THE MUSIC BUSINESS.

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/merck-mercuriadis-wants-to-raise-a-billion-dollars-and-then-he-wants-to-change-the-face-of-the-music-business/

Millions of Followers? Yes, But Some Top Spotify Playlists Fall Short on Engagement

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8463174/spotify-playlists-engagement-analysis-study?curator=MusicREDEF

Matt Pincus interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/matt-pincus-this-is-probably-the-most-exciting-time-i-can-remember-in-the-music-business/

Tap Mgmt interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/artists-have-the-best-chance-of-success-when-they-get-things-rolling-themselves/

Quality Control interview

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=312319

Jamie Hartman's tips for songwriters

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/people-in-the-music-business-often-do-and-say-cruel-things-in-order-to-elevate-themselves-avoid-these-people/

what to do if a band's name is similar to yours

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2018/06/trademark-101-what-to-do-if-a-bands-name-is-similar-to-yours.html

Twitter thread about Spotify usage and how to get on Discover Weekly

https://twitter.com/cheriehu42/status/1001809657478963200

Daniel Glass interview

https://www.forbes.com/sites/dannyross1/2018/05/23/meet-the-music-exec-taking-bands-from-the-fringes-to-the-grammys/#2deef1475b13

Post Malone's Manager Dre London On Secrets to Success -- And Singer's Plans to Launch Own Label

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8457392/post-malone-manager-dre-london-label-interview-photos?curator=MusicREDEF

songwriting and anxiety

https://somethinghonest.blog/index.php/2018/05/13/songwritingandanxiety/

How American R&B Songwriters Found a New Home in K-Pop

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/american-rb-songwriters-talk-writing-k-pop-hits-w519033?curator=MusicREDEF

SPOTIFY Q1 2018 RESULTS: FULL STREAM AHEAD

http://www.midiaresearch.com/blog/spotify-q1-2018-results-full-stream-ahead/

SWEDEN MIGHT JUST HAVE SHOWN US WHAT THE FUTURE OF MUSIC REVENUES WILL LOOK LIKE

http://www.midiaresearch.com/blog/sweden-might-just-have-shown-us-what-the-future-of-the-music-revenues-will-look-like/

How This Startup Is Finding Millions in Unclaimed YouTube Revenue For Artists and Labels

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8357947/create-music-group-youtube-revenue-recovery-artists-labels?curator=MusicREDEF

‘We’ve got more money swirling around’: how streaming saved the music industry

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/apr/24/weve-got-more-money-swirling-around-how-streaming-saved-the-music-industry?curator=MusicREDEF

how Ed Sheeran's Shape Of You was written

https://www.nytimes.com/video/arts/music/100000005469604/ed-sheeran-shape-of-you.html

how Zedd's The Middle was written

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/22/arts/music/diary-of-a-song-the-middle-zedd-maren-morris-grey.html?curator=MusicREDEF

Platoon interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/platoon-denzyl-feigelson-saul-klein-artists-are-telling-other-artists-about-us/?curator=MusicREDEF

musicologists post-Blurred Lines

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/music-copyright-after-blurred-lines-experts-speak-out-w518206?curator=MusicREDEF

Mark Mulligan on Spotify looking forward

https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2018/04/03/spotify-dpo-day/

Billboard Dance Power Players 2018

https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/8258223/billboard-dance-power-players-2018-the-managers-live-leaders-tastemakers?curator=MusicREDEF

Spotify Saved Music. Can It Save Itself?

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-03-23/spotify-saved-music-can-it-save-itself?curator=MusicREDEF

Inside The Chainsmokers' Plan to Rethink the Album Cycle

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8257719/inside-the-chainsmokers-plan-rethink-album-cycle?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BB%20MASTER%20Record%20Labels%20Update2&utm_term=biz_recordlabel

interview with Carl Hitchborn of High Time (The Hunna, Coasts)

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/carl-hitchborn-i-realised-that-no-one-in-the-music-business-really-knew-what-they-were-doing/

smart speakers

http://musically.com/2018/03/21/smart-speakers-impact-music/

Inside the booming black market for Spotify playlists

https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/spotify-playlist-black-market/?curator=MusicREDEF

explanation of breakage in the streaming era

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=310836

KOBALT INVESTS $150M IN INDEPENDENT ARTISTS TO CHALLENGE ‘STUPIDITY’ OF TRADITIONAL MAJOR LABEL DEALS

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-invests-150m-in-independent-artists-to-challenge-stupid-traditional-major-label-deals/?curator=MusicREDEF

interview with Frazer T Smith

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-43224339

10cc - how we made I'm Not In Love

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/feb/26/10cc-how-we-made-im-not-in-love

interview with Phil Harvey and Dave Holmes (Coldplay)

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/they-played-a-tiny-cafe-there-were-four-people-in-the-audience/

Keith Rosencraft indeed... how soon they forget.

how Stockholm, Sweden became a dominant force in global pop music

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/how-stockholm-became-a-dominant-force-in-global-popmusic/article37541953/

So Much for Conversion: Apple Set to Pass Spotify in Subscribers

https://musictechpolicy.com/2018/02/04/so-much-for-conversion-apple-set-to-pass-spotify-in-subscribers/

Charlie Puth Takes Charge: The 'Attention' Singer on His New Critical Acclaim and Why His First Album Was 'Not Me At All'

https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/magazine-feature/8097384/charlie-puth-voicenotes-interview-billboard-cover-story-2018?curator=MusicREDEF

Here’s Why Migos, Drake, and Rae Sremmurd Are Releasing These Giant, Bloated Records

https://consequenceofsound.net/2018/02/heres-why-migos-drake-and-rae-sremmurd-are-releasing-these-giant-bloated-records/?curator=MusicREDEF

2017 Streaming Price Bible! Spotify per Stream Rates Drop 9%, Apple Music Gains Marketshare of Both Plays and Overall Revenue

https://thetrichordist.com/2018/01/15/2017-streaming-price-bible-spotify-per-stream-rates-drop-9-apple-music-gains-marketshare-of-both-plays-and-overall-revenue/

The Future of the Streaming Economy: 5 Things to Watch

https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8095788/future-streaming-economy-5-things-to-watch-jordan-bromley

Minty Fresh: Spotify Makes a New Home for EDM - Chartmetric data

https://blog.chartmetric.io/minty-fresh-spotify-makes-a-new-home-for-edm-62eccfee2b09

Bruce Allen interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bruce-allen-artists-today-have-more-power-than-they-realize/

How Ed Sheeran and co. wrote Shape of You

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/20/arts/music/ed-sheeran-shape-of-you.html

Electric Feel management

https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8055046/electric-feel-management-interview-post-malone-camila-cabello?curator=MusicREDEF

Jo Charrington interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ar-isnt-something-you-can-just-wake-up-and-do-it-takes-time/

catalogue is king on streaming services

http://here.org.uk/2017/12/07/catalogue-is-king/

DOES THE MUSIC INDUSTRY’S DEFINITION OF ‘CATALOGUE’ NEED AN UPGRADE?

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/music-industrys-definition-catalogue-need-upgrade/

How YouTube Is Leveling the Playing Field for Indie Artists

https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/record-labels/8055090/how-youtube-is-leveling-the-playing-field-for-indie-artists

the most streamed music of 2017

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42225469

How Not To Be A Chart Chump in the race for Xmas no. 1

https://medium.com/@ChartUpdate/how-not-to-be-a-chart-chump-97d4e4a5ffa3

interview with BEN COOK & ED HOWARD

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=309505

SPOTIFY TALKS PLAYLISTS, SKIP RATES AND NF’S NORDIC-FUELLED SUCCESS (#SLUSHMUSIC)

http://musically.com/2017/11/29/spotify-playlists-skip-rates-nf/?curator=MusicREDEF

how Michael Jackson and Quincy Jones made Thriller

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/thriller-how-michael-jackson-quincy-jones-made-bestselling-album-w512987?curator=MusicREDEF

POLYDOR SAYS IT’S ‘AT THE FOREFRONT OF BREAKING UK ACTS’ AFTER BRITS CRITICS’ CHOICE RESULT

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/polydor-says-its-at-the-forefront-of-breaking-uk-acts-after-brits-critics-choice-result/

Despacito - and incredible stats about how much music is added to Spotify

http://musically.com/2017/11/28/umg-jonathan-dworkin-despacito/

Who We Be: Austin Daboh Interviewed

http://clashmusic.com/features/who-we-be-austin-darbo-interviewed

EPIDEMIC SOUND GIVES ITS SIDE OF THE SPOTIFY ‘FAKE ARTISTS’ CONTROVERSY

http://musically.com/2017/11/20/epidemic-sound-spotify-fake-artists/

This Is What Post-IPO Life Will Look Like For Spotify

https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2017/11/17/this-is-what-post-ipo-life-will-look-like-for-spotify/?curator=MusicREDEF

How Scooter Braun Went From Promoting Parties to Building An Entertainment Empire | Blueprint

Return of the Top 40 Troubadour: How Singer-Songwriters Reclaimed Pop Radio

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/8015081/top-40-singer-songwriter-radio  

WISDOM: A PORTRAIT SERIES B R I A N M E S S A G E

http://themanifesto.co/brian-message/

From El Paso To Platinum: How Khalid Moved One Million Copies Of ‘American Teen’

https://genius.com/a/from-el-paso-to-platinum-how-khalid-moved-one-million-copies-of-american-teen

Latin Power Players 2017

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/latin/8022282/latin-music-power-players-2017-list

What's Behind YouTube's Struggle to Place Ads On Music Videos?

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/legal-and-management/8022326/whats-behind-youtubes-struggle-to-place-ads-on-music

Spotify Reveals the Nominees for the 2017 Secret Genius Awards

https://news.spotify.com/sg-en/2017/09/28/spotify-reveals-the-nominees-for-the-2017-secret-genius-awards/

interview with Kobalt's Willard Ahdritz

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-willard-ahdritz-building-company-future-music-business/

good article about digital ideas

https://blog.usejournal.com/why-the-music-industry-gets-digital-so-wrong-dd15cfeca5c1

Benny Blanco interview

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=309066

WHY THE RELEASE RADAR PLAYLIST IS SPOTIFY’S SECRET WEAPON

http://musically.com/2017/10/26/release-radar-playlist-spotify/?curator=MusicREDEF

Louis Bell on Co-Producing Post Malone's No. 1 Hit 'rockstar': 'We Weren't Thinking of the Hot 100 At All'

http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8006781/louis-bell-rockstar-post-malone-interview

great interview with Poo Bear

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ive-never-felt-like-ive-really-made-it-in-the-music-business-and-i-never-want-to/

the 20 best pop songwriters in 2017

http://www.laweekly.com/music/the-20-best-pop-songwriters-in-2017-8763662?curator=MusicREDEF

what Spotify can learn from the Roman slave trade

https://musicindustryblog.wordpress.com/2017/10/13/what-spotify-can-learn-from-the-roman-slave-trade/

great interview with Chance The Rapper's manager

http://www.complex.com/music/2017/10/blueprint-with-pat-corcoran?curator=MusicREDEF

I Wrote a Hit Song With Justin Bieber. Want to See My Royalties?

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2017/10/03/hit-song-justin-bieber-royalties/

Five times Clive Davis changed the course of music, including sending Springsteen back to write more singles

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-41482660

the most followed Spotify curators

https://www.edmsauce.com/2017/09/26/most-followed-spotify-curators/

Uncovering How Streaming Is Changing the Sound of Pop

https://pitchfork.com/features/article/uncovering-how-streaming-is-changing-the-sound-of-pop/?curator=MusicREDEF

Bloody Slippers: The Fairy-Tale Come-up of Cardi B

https://www.theringer.com/2017/9/21/16345124/cardi-b-bodak-yellow-career-rap-rise-nicki-minaj?curator=MusicREDEF

how reggaeton became a global phenomenon on Spotify

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/09/how-reggaeton-became-a-global-phenomenon-on-spotify.html

interview with Stuart Camp about Ed Sheeran

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/stuart-camp-ed-sheeran-weve-never-disagreed-over-anything-major-99-of-the-time-we-think-the-same-way/

fake Instagram followers

http://mediakix.com/2017/08/fake-instagram-influencers-followers-bots-study/#gs.yxWXccQ

A load of articles about songwriters compiled by MusicREDEF

https://redef.com/set/music-set-1497381154674

Lana Del Rey's Instagram and visuals

http://www.thefader.com/2017/07/13/lana-del-rey-social-media-instagram-essay-lust-for-life

http://www.musicweek.com/labels/read/she-does-everything-on-her-own-terms-polydor-co-presidents-tom-march-and-ben-mortimer-dissect-lana-del-rey-s-no-1/069296

Randall Wixen interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/randall-wixen-there-are-an-immense-number-of-songwriters-not-making-enough-money-to-live-on/

The Big Bet - streaming and majors labels in the US - from Hits

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=307537
http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=307543

FORGET ABOUT FAKE ARTISTS – IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT FAKE STREAMS.

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/forget-about-fake-artists-its-time-to-talk-about-fake-streams/

interview with Athena Koumis, Spotify editor of Fresh Finds playlist

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2017/07/her-job-is-to-curate-official-spotify-playlists-of-emerging-artists-video.html

Spotify's Tuma Basa On Curating RapCaviar, What Not to Do When Pitching and Why He's No 'Gatekeeper'

http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/digital-and-mobile/7866036/spotifys-tuma-basa-on-curating-rapcaviar-what-not-to-do?utm_source=twitter

Desmond Child interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/i-joined-a-cult-for-4-years-and-lost-1m-but-maybe-in-the-end-i-won/

The Streaming Problem: How Spammers, Superstars, and Tech Giants Gamed the Music Industry

http://www.vulture.com/2017/07/streaming-music-cheat-codes.html?curator=MusicREDEF

Fake Hits, and why the chart should only count elective plays on streaming services

http://www.de-online.co.uk/2017/07/02/fake-hits

Jonathan Dickins interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/jonathan-dickins-september-its-important-not-to-take-anything-for-granted-in-this-business/

A Conversation with Matt Pincus and Ron Perry of SONGS/RECORDS

http://hitsdailydouble.com/news&id=307176

YouTube's Unofficial Dance Music Curators Take Their Brands Offline

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/dance/7841133/youtube-unofficial-dance-music-curators-labels?curator=MusicREDEF

Spotify Sponsored Songs

https://techcrunch.com/2017/06/19/spotify-sponsored-content/?curator=MusicREDEF

How to Have a Number One Song on Spotify, the Easy Way

https://thump.vice.com/en_us/article/how-to-have-a-number-one-song-on-spotify-the-easy-way

great Justin Tranter interview

http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/pride/7825801/justin-tranter-homophobia-music-industry-interview?curator=MusicREDEF

new Spotify initiatives

https://www.fastcompany.com/3068915/spotify-artists-streaming-playlists-data?curator=MusicREDEF

Julia Michaels interview

http://clashmusic.com/features/sorry-not-sorry-julia-michaels-interviewed

how a Danish Warner artist broke China

http://musically.com/2017/06/07/wmg-christopher-charts-china-midem/

Richard Russell of XL interview by The New Yorker

http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/05/15/richard-russells-xl-recordings-empire

The Secret Hit-Making Power of the Spotify Playlist

https://www.wired.com/2017/05/secret-hit-making-power-spotify-playlist/

Who Decides What Gets Played On The Radio? More And More, It's Listeners

https://www.buzzfeed.com/reggieugwu/who-decides-what-gets-played-on-the-radio-more-and-more-its?curator=MusicREDEF&utm_term=.iiXYvV9q5#.fi9VBP7Jj

Alan McGee interview - quite funny in places

http://www.pias.com/blog/to-this-day-im-still-not-allowed-in-the-sony-building/

Jason Flom interview

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/unless-youre-100-sure-your-artist-is-wrong-go-with-their-vision/

Inside the Podcast That's Giving Pop Songwriters Their Due. 'And the Writer Is ...' host Ross Golan on why penning hits won't necessarily make you rich.

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/features/inside-ross-golans-and-the-writer-is-podcast-w478768?curator=MusicREDEF

Why Can We Still Buy Music?

https://medium.com/attention-econome/why-can-we-still-buy-music-d1019361d994?curator=MusicREDEF

Distrokid on "free" internet distribution

https://news.distrokid.com/how-to-tell-if-your-music-distributor-is-ripping-you-off-d8c8e9e69fa1

Patreon on how to build a company culture that lasts

https://patreonhq.com/how-to-build-culture-that-lasts-dc25b086cefd

Taylor Swift on Ed Sheeran

http://time.com/collection/2017-time-100/4736211/ed-sheeran/?curator=MusicREDEF

interview with Philip Ginthör, CEO of Sony Music Entertainment GSA (Germany, Switzerland and Austria)

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/why-do-major-artists-keep-on-breaking-in-germany/

UNIVERSAL AND SPOTIFY’S DEAL IS AN EVEN BIGGER DEAL THAN IT LOOKS

https://www.midiaresearch.com/blog/universal-and-spotifys-deal-is-an-even-bigger-deal-than-it-looks/

Conor Maynard's guide to YouTube and Facebook

http://www.standard.co.uk/showbiz/celebrity-news/conor-maynard-interview-i-am-recognised-more-now-than-when-i-had-top-10-singles-every-month-a3494951.html

Savan Kotecha interview

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/music-is-about-emotions-and-connecting-people-not-about-money-or-ego/

Max Martin interview

http://storytelling.di.se/max-martin-english/

DISSECTING THE DIGITAL DOLLAR – EXTRACT 2 – SHARING VALUE

https://themmf.net/2017/02/10/dissecting-the-digital-dollar-extract-2-sharing-value/#.WJ5UPVWLRPZ

Jeff Bezos and Steve Boom interview

http://www.billboard.com/articles/business/7684981/jeff-bezos-steve-boom-amazon-power-100-cover

how Spotify balances employee autonomy and accountability

https://hbr.org/2017/02/how-spotify-balances-employee-autonomy-and-accountability

DISSECTING THE DIGITAL DOLLAR PART 2 – EXTRACT 1 – DIVISION OF REVENUE

https://themmf.net/2017/02/01/dissecting-the-digital-dollar-part-2-extract-1-division-of-revenue/

Projecting Trends: The Music Streaming Playlist Economy

http://blog.synchtank.com/projecting-trends-the-music-streaming-playlist-economy

Justin Tranter interview - every session should have a woman, black or gay in

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/being-an-artist-sucks-im-just-going-to-be-honest/

interview with Twenty One Pilots' manager

http://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/a-breakthrough-artist-is-a-much-more-complex-idea-than-a-breakthrough-song/?curator=MusicREDEF

Spotify financial numbers

https://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2017-01-03/is-daniel-ek-of-spotify-ready-to-save-the-music-business

lots of recent hit songs have ambiguous key centres

http://www.vox.com/culture/2016/12/26/13956220/top-40-ambiguous-key-centers-bieber-chainsmokers-adele