We've covered the music business each day since 21 Jun 2002 Today's email is edition #5049 |  |
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| | | Industry organisations comment on reports of criminal gangs money laundering through streaming fraud | Two global music organisations have commented on the report in Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet about criminal gangs using streaming fraud as part of their money laundering activities, renewing calls for the industry to take action
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Industry orgs comment on streaming fraud gang claim |
| The Rolling Stones, Sampha, Marika Hackman + more | PRS to facilitate faster ISRC/ISWC matching | Delilah Holliday – Liquid Pearl | Apple buys classical music record label BIS Records | MMF to launch new guide to AI at Manager Summit | Pitbull denies that he has 21 children |
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| Industry orgs comment on streaming fraud gang claim | One Liners: The Rolling Stones, Sampha, Marika Hackman + more | PRS to facilitate faster ISRC/ISWC matching | Approved: Delilah Holliday – Liquid Pearl | Apple buys classical music record label BIS Records | MMF to launch new guide to AI at Manager Summit | Pitbull denies that he has 21 children |
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TOP STORY | Industry organisations comment on reports of criminal gangs money laundering through streaming fraud | Music industry organisations have been commenting on the report by Swedish newspaper Svenska Dagbladet earlier this week which claimed that criminal gangs are using music streaming fraud as part of their money laundering operations.
Both the Independent Music Publishers International Forum and digital licensing organisation IMPEL have issued statements about the report, the latter stressing the need for a more coordinated approach across the music industry to tackle stream manipulation and streaming fraud.
Stream manipulation, of course, is where people employ various tactics to artificially inflate the number of streams of specific tracks on the streaming services, so that those tracks look more popular than they really are, and also earn more royalties.
The Svenska Dagbladet report alleged that gangs in Sweden have partnered with certain artists, used the profits from other criminal activities to hire the services of stream manipulation companies, and then shared in the royalty uplift the scam generated for the artists. Their cut of the Spotify money then appears to be legitimate income.
Streaming fraud is a multi-layered problem, in that it involves a number of different groups, each of which has different motivations and objectives. When streaming fraud has been debated within the industry, a lot of the focus has fallen on the stream manipulation activity in which the industry itself is not involved. Even though it seems likely that streaming fraud with industry involvement is much more prevalent.
Commenting on the Svenska Dagbladet report, the IMPF said in a statement yesterday: "Reports that suggest streaming fraud is funnelling significant revenue towards the activities of organised crime are incredibly disturbing and increase pressure on streaming platforms to stamp out the practice as a matter of urgency".
"Fraudulent streams have been a growing problem for some time now", it adds, "with the recent French Study [from the Centre National De Musique] estimating they could make up 3% of all streams - a figure that represents only those streams which the services can actually detect. Not only are independent publishers and legitimate music companies suffering financial damage as a result, but the suggestion that this issue is aiding and abetting violent criminals means it must become a critical priority for streaming services".
Meanwhile, Sarah Williams, the CEO of IMPEL - which coordinates digital licensing for a consortium of independent music publishers - stated: "IMPEL is glad to see Svenska Dagbladet shining a light on the role of organised crime in the business of fraudulent streams. Challenging as it is, we can't turn away from our shared responsibility for tackling this issue".
"Organised crime has many victims and as an organisation dedicated to securing value for the song, we do not want to see songwriters and publishers included in that list. Equally, as an organisation whose mission is also efficient, swift royalty payments for rightholders, we don't want the industry to be blown off this course by the problem caused by these bandits. The quicker the payout, the easier it is for bad actors to take the money out of reach of legitimate stakeholders. So, we need solutions".
"At the moment, various industry players and groupings are looking for suspicious patterns in the data and trying to tackle the problems that they reveal. It's very welcome but we must avoid an a hoc approach. We need comprehensive, integrated initiatives that attack this multi-headed hydra from all angles. We also need transparency from and cooperation between [streaming services]. Whilst streaming has created opportunities for criminals to siphon off huge sums, the wealth of data created by the digital industry is also our friend in this fight, provided we use it collectively".
Several industry organisations are trying to facilitate a more joined-up approach to tackling streaming fraud. And, earlier this year, a group of distributors and streaming services came together to launch the Music Fights Fraud Alliance. | Read Online | | |
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| ONE LINERS | The Rolling Stones, Sampha, Marika Hackman + more | DEALS
London-based independent label Akira Records has marked its tenth anniversary by re-signing its distribution deal with Sony Music’s The Orchard. "We’ve been with The Orchard since day one and we’re delighted to re-sign with them”, says label founder Steve Minn. “The relationships we have built over those ten years are key. Akira started out as a bedroom label, as a one man operation, and there is no way we would still be here today without the investment and the love and support of The Orchard”.
RELEASES
The Rolling Stones have announced that they will release their first album for eighteen years, ‘Hackney Diamonds’, on 20 Oct. Late drummer Charlie Watts will appear on two tracks, and Lady Gaga also guests on a song. Here’s first single ‘Angry’.
Sampha has announced that he will release new album ‘Lahai’ on 20 Oct. Out now is new single ‘Only’. He will also play three nights at London’s St John At Hackney Church on 12-14 Oct.
Marika Hackman has released ‘No Caffeine’, her first single in four years.
CMAT has released new single ‘Stay For Something’, taken from her upcoming album ‘Crazymad, For Me’, which is out on 13 Oct. “It's basically just about questioning why I stayed/suffered in a bad relationship for as long as I did”, she says of the song. “Trying to desperately find some kind of meaning in the mess and then being embarrassed when I remember the good parts”.
Tkay Maidza has released new single ‘WUACV’. “I wanted to write a song where I could express my bubbling anger toward people who had manipulated me during the last phase of my life”, she says. Her new album ‘Sweet Justice’ is out on 3 Nov.
Evian Christ is back with new track ‘On Embers’. He has also announced that he will release new album ‘Revanchist’ on 20 Oct. UK tour dates are set for December.
MS MR have returned after a seven year hiatus. But only to release one final song, ‘Saturn Return’. “When we realised we were coming up on the ten-year anniversary of our first album, ‘Secondhand Rapture’, we knew we wanted to do something”, say the duo. “It felt like the right time to finally bring the band to a formal end while also celebrating and thanking our fans and each other for such an exciting and meaningful time in our lives”.
Sen Morimoto has released new single ‘Bad State’, taken from his new album ‘Diagnosis’, which is out on 3 Nov. "’Bad State’ is about learning to ask for help and using real human connection to escape the shame and numbness that comes from constant forward momentum and our self-worth being so deeply tied to productivity under the logic of capitalism”, he says. | Read Online | | | LABELS & PUBLISHING | PRS expands Nexus data programme to facilitate faster ISRC/ISWC matching | UK collecting society PRS yesterday announced an expansion of its rights data programme, which it likes to refer to as Nexus.
The new phase of the programme, originally announced last September, aims to "ensure that songwriter and composer information is linked to recordings prior to release", basically by making it easier to access the unique code that is used to identify each song, ie the good old ISWC.
Given the negative impact missing data has on songwriter royalties, there have been increased calls from the songwriter community in recent years for the labels and distributors to provide ISWCs with every track they upload. And in the UK, the music industry recently signed up to a new code of best practice for metadata - facilitated by the government - which includes a commitment to try to start delivering ISWCs with recordings.
However, achieving that requires making it much easier for labels to source ISWCs. And with new music, publishers and songwriters need to make sure ISWCs are issued before a track is released, which often doesn't happen.
TO READ THIS STORY IN FULL VISIT COMPLETEMUSICUPDATE.COM | | | APPROVED | Having released her latest EP ‘Invaluable Vol 1’ in July, Delilah Holliday has revealed that she will put out volume two in November. Out now is the first single from it, ‘Liquid Pearl’.
Best known as frontwoman of punk band Skinny Girl Diet, Holliday’s solo work uses a decidedly different sonic pallet, with dark electronic textures allowing her to explore a different side of her creativity.
“The first part of the EP is very downtempo”, she says. “It's got a couple of little uppers in it, but it's sort of introducing you to the quest you're gonna go on. The second part is like the wild ride and then you start going downhill. And it screeches to a stop when you remember who you are again”.
Both parts of the EP were co-written and co-produced with Raphael Ninot. Of the new single, she says: “’Liquid Pearl’ references fossil fuels and global warming. When the chorus goes ‘Your mother’s gone / She wouldn’t want to see you like this’ and then ‘She’s reclaiming love / Taking back what’s hers’, I’m talking about Mother Earth. I was reading about the melting of permafrost and it freaked me out! So that made it into the song’s wider discussion”.
‘Invaluable Vol 2’ is set for release on 3 Nov through One Little Independent Records. You can catch her live headlining Hackney Social in London on 9 Nov, before heading out on tour supporting Georgia later the same month.
Listen to ‘Liquid Pearl’ here. | | | LABELS & PUBLISHING | Apple buys classical music record label BIS Records | Apple has acquired Swedish classical music label BIS Records, which will now operate alongside the tech giant's artist services business Platoon and the standalone Apple Music Classical app that it launched earlier this year.
The label's founder Robert Von Bahr announced the Apple deal in a statement on the company's website. Noting that the label has just passed its 50th birthday, he states: "BIS's specialty, while paying our dues to the core repertoire, has been to nurture young classical artists and interesting living composers and to safeguard the musical treasure that we all represent long into the future”.
“It is to that end that, after much careful consideration, and having just turned 80, I am excited to announce the rather momentous news that we have made the decision to become part of the Apple family".
"We thought long and hard on how to maintain and build upon our prestigious history", he goes on, "and looked for a partner who would further our mission, as well as an increased global platform to bring classical music to new audiences all over the world”.
“Apple, with its own storied history of innovation and love of music, is the ideal home to usher in the next era of classical and has shown true commitment towards building a future in which classical music and technology work in harmony. It is my vision and my sincerest dream that we are all a part of this future".
In addition to Apple's decision to launch a standalone app for classical music, Von Bahr also bigs up his new business partner's moves in the high quality audio domain.
"Apple and BIS also share a fundamental belief in the importance of preserving audio quality", he writes. "As you are all aware, BIS has always been about exceptional sound quality, and Apple's dedication to sound, as well as to Spatial Audio, is something I have followed with interest".
Apple launched its standalone classical music app in March, having previously acquired classical streaming service Primephonic back in 2021. Artist services firm Platoon, founded by original AWAL founder and long-time Apple consultant Denzyl Feigelson, was acquired by the tech giant in 2018. | Read Online | | | MANAGEMENT | MMF to launch new guide to AI at Manager Summit | The UK's Music Managers Forum will next week host a Manager Summit in London which will explore the challenges and opportunities posed by AI in music. It will also see the launch of a new guide for managers on AI produced by CMU as part of the ongoing Digital Dollar programme.
Across the day, managers will hear from a range of experts, including representatives from TikTok, Redburn Atlantic, Simkins, TwoShot, Legitary, Deviate Digital and the Centre For Digital Music.
Meanwhile, the new AI guide provides "a succinct, easy-to-read breakdown of the main talking points surrounding these new and emerging technologies, as well as the key legal and commercial implications that all managers should be aware of".
Says MMF CEO Annabella Coldrick: "The ramifications of existing AI technologies are enormous, and especially so for music managers, who, on behalf of their clients, need to be across all commercial, legal and practical implications of machine-based innovation".
"It's a hugely exciting space, and we're delighted to have attracted such a stellar list of speakers and experts who can cover these bases in a single day - and at an affordable price", she goes on. "We will also use the event to launch the MMF's all-new ‘Guide To AI’, which will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the key understandings and talking points that every manager should know when negotiating with their clients and business partners".
There is more information about the Manager Summit here. | Read Online | | |
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| AND FINALLY... | Pitbull denies that he has 21 children | How many children does Pitbull have? That’s the question you’ve all been asking, isn’t it? Unless you’ve been on TikTok lately, in which case you already know that the answer is 21. Or is it? No. No, it isn’t.
That claim stems from a video posted last month by comedian Pat Williams, in which he ranked celebrity men by their supposed number of children.
Mr Worldwide came out top, with Williams claiming that the rapper is a “Hawaiian island volcano - he’s got 21 kids with eighteen different women in thirteen different countries. He sees them all twice a year and he’s never missed a child support payment”.
The claim went viral and was repeated elsewhere as fact. It’s certainly believable and seems on brand for the star. However, it’s apparently not the most rigorously researched piece of information. So says a spokesperson for Pitbull, anyway.
“That is completely inaccurate and obviously comedic humour”, a spokesperson tells Rolling Stone. Ah, good old comedic humour.
Anyway, that returns us to the question we posed at the start of this article. How many children does Pitbull have?
The answer, in fact, is that he has 27 children with nineteen different women in sixteen countries. He sees them all three times a year and has missed seven child support payments due to administrative errors.
That’s not the actual answer, of course. No, that’s just more of that comedic humour. Apparently. Saying random numbers is fun though. Try it today! | Read Online |
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