WEDNESDAY 21 FEBRUARY 2018 | COMPLETEMUSICUPDATE.COM | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
TODAY'S TOP STORY: It turns out that Spotify is not going to become some sort of utopian democracy when it finally lists of the stock market. Not just because OBVIOUSLY, but also because founders Daniel Ek and Martin Lorentzon have made moves to ensure that they will keep control of the company even once it's publicly listed... [READ MORE] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Spotify founders will retain control after stock market listing According to Bloomberg, inspired by the founders of Google and Facebook the two men who launched the company in 2006 both own a class of share that gives them "super voting power". Shares bought on the open market will have just boring normal voting power. This will mean that new shareholders will have much less influence on the future of the streaming service than the likes of Ek and Lorentzon. Although a stock market floatation by Spotify has been rumoured for several years, it's thought that that it is now actually imminent. It's been known for a while that Spotify plans to go with a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange, rather than the customary IPO which also raises new finance. The jury is still out on whether or not this unusual method of listing will work. It means fewer presentations and less schmoozing ahead of the company's arrival on the stock market. But that also makes it harder to assess interest among the investment community. Some reckon the innovative approach gives the company an advantage. Some reckon it's doomed to failure. So, situation normal for anything Spotify does really. Either way, the stock market listing will put ever more scrutiny on the operations and finances of the market-leading streaming firm. Which is probably why Ek and Lorentzon are keen to retain control of the business once they are properly in the glare of Wall Street. As for where Ek and Lorentzon might take Spotify next, it appears that the firm might be planning to enter the increasingly crowded smart speaker market. This assumption is based on the fact company is currently advertising three jobs based in Stockholm related to "hardware production". "Spotify is on its way to creating its first physical products and setting up an operational organisation for manufacturing, supply chain, sales and marketing", says an ad for an Operations Manager. Once recruited, the new Senior Project Manager and Project Manager "will contribute in the creation of innovative Spotify experiences via connected hardware". It has long been suggested that Spotify might move into hardware at some point. Several years ago, launching a physical speaker was put forward as a possible way for the company to engage more mainstream music listeners. These remain a difficult demographic for streaming services to crack, most people not being particularly turned on by simply having access to tens of millions of tracks on-demand. A physical device that works more like traditional radio could be one way of drawing customers like this in. Elsewhere on the Spotify jobs site, the company is also seeking a Head Of Fraud Prevention. This may be useful, given that Music Business Worldwide has just put the spotlight on an alleged scam that may have occurred on the Spotify platform resulting in a chunk of the streaming firm's monthly royalty pay-out going to the scammer. Although, as MBW points out, the scam doesn't necessarily constitute actual fraud. But some terms and conditions may have been breached. MBW reckons that a Bulgarian company uploaded hundreds of short songs to Spotify's servers, then signed up for 1200 premium accounts from which to play back that music, probably 24/7. With enough plays, the potential royalties from this would be vastly higher than the money spent on the premium accounts. Of course, this scam only works because of the way Spotify income is shared with the music industry. Currently, all monies received by any streaming service is put into one pot each month and then divided up based on consumption share across the entire platform in any one market. Many feel that this system skews in favour of big rights owners and superstar artists. And Bulgarian scammers. Some advocate an alternative 'user-centric' royalty distribution system. In particular Deezer, which is busy trying to persuade the labels to pilot that approach to sharing out the money each month. Under the 'user-centric' system each user's subscription fee is individually divided up between the artists that they have specifically listened to. The per-stream rate would then vary greatly depending on how much music each user streams. Under that system, the Bulgarian scam wouldn't work, because if only the scammers themselves were streaming their music, they would only get their own subscription money back. Minus sales tax and Spotify's cut. User-centric royalty distribution is explained in more detail in this recent CMU Trends article on the streaming business. And you can read all about how exactly streaming services are licensed, and how the money flows through the system, in 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' - available to buy in print form from Amazon here. Of course, however the money is made through music, it seems certain that someone somewhere will always find a way to scam the system. In 2009, twelve people were arrested over a credit card scam, where they fraudulently bought their own music off iTunes with other people's cards. Thus getting nice clean royalties in their bank account. Although, as noted, in the new alleged scam on Spotify, it appears that no actual crime has been committed. Therefore the police probably wouldn't get involved. Instead, Spotify's new Head Of Fraud Prevention might have to take on the scammers alone. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Frank Ocean sues producer over Blonde songwriting credits It seems that the producer, who also worked with Ocean on his debut album 'Channel Orange', has claimed co-writing credits on various songs that appeared on 'Blonde'. This has mainly been done via the database of US collecting society ASCAP. He didn't get any credits on the liner notes that accompanied the record. In his legal filing, Ocean states that Keith was paid a set fee for his work on 'Blonde' and is not due any future royalties from his involvement in the record. Moreover, says the lawsuit, the producer did not "contribute any lyrics, melodies, or music that would give rise to any claim of authorship". The litigation aims to have Keith's 'Blonde' songwriting credits removed from the ASCAP database and to secure an injunction preventing the producer from making any claim to co-ownership of the works in the future. In terms of money, Ocean seems to only want his legal costs covered. A spokesperson for Ocean confirmed the litigation to Pitchfork, saying: "A complaint has been filed against Om'Mas Keith who has falsely stated to have written certain songs which appear on the album 'Blonde'. These claims are untrue and this issue is being dealt with by litigators". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ICE announces Facebook deal Facebook has been busy negotiating music licences for sometime as its shift into video made the need for deals with the music industry more pressing. Although the first big deal was with Universal Music, covering the mega-major's record labels as well as some of its publishing catalogues, most of the subsequent deals have focused on song rights rather than recording rights. This isn't to say that Facebook doesn't want the labels on board - it does - but the social media giant does seem to be prioritising the publishers and collecting societies. Which is the opposite to most digital music services, which usually do the label deals first. However, given that Facebook mainly needs licences for music contained in user-uploaded videos, it isn't relying on its music industry partners to pump music directly into its servers. It's that requirement that makes label deals the top priority for more conventional music streaming services. Also, while the labels want to share in all that Facebook advertising money, they also recognise the promotional value of having their music popping up in people's news feeds. So it's more the publishers who have been employing Facebook's Rights Manager technology to block unlicensed music, causing content to be taken down. Confirming that it had agreed a deal with ICE, the copyright hub that was co-founded by UK collecting society PRS, Facebook's Anjali Southward said: "We are delighted to continue deepening our relationship with music by partnering with ICE in a first-of-its-kind licensing deal. Facebook's journey with music is just beginning and we look forward to working with ICE and songwriters to build a community together around music". Meanwhile the Commercial Director of ICE Services, Ben McEwen, added: "We are excited to work with Facebook to ensure we are delivering value back to creators for the use of their works on Facebook platforms. The future of music depends on our industries working together to enable the development of new models for music consumption in the digital age, to ensure a healthy future for songwriters and composers". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Turner and Boateng promoted at Atlantic Records The wider Atlantic A&R team will now report into Turner and Boateng, although Ed Howard - who leads A&R for the Asylum Records imprint - and Paul Samuels, the label's VP A&R, will continue to report into the division's President Ben Cook. Confirming everything I just said, Cook said: "Briony and Alec are two of the most exciting players in A&R, their dynamism as individuals and potency as a pair means they deliver with our brilliant artists time and again. This credibility makes Atlantic UK a landmark destination for the new generation of smart talent". Meanwhile Turner added that "I love working with Alec and I'm very excited about continuing to build on the momentum we've collectively gathered over the past few years", and Boateng chipped in: "Briony is a complete G, together we're going to focus on developing the unique culture and artist roster at Atlantic". -------------------------------------------------- BRIT Trust-supported charity highlights how music can be used to rehabilitate young offenders The charity is called Key4Life, which runs a programme seeking to help young offenders to channel their energies into more positive pursuits, the aim being to reduce re-offending. Music is a key part of that programme, and the charity has been supported by the likes of George The Poet, Al, the Native and KSI. The charity's founder and CEO, Eva Hamilton, says: "Music therapy is vital part of Key4Life's engagement strategy to build confidence, emotional resilience and unlock young men's creative potential and we are hugely grateful to The BRIT Trust and BPI for their invaluable support over the last three years". Speaking for the BRIT Trust, its Chair John Craig adds: "At the Trust we recognise how important it is to provide opportunities for young people to express their creativity, often through music. It is the first time we have supported an organisation working with young offenders, allowing them to express themselves, and it fits in perfectly with the Trust's ethos and mission in giving young people life skills that can help them and then hopefully convert into jobs. On behalf of all my fellow trustees I wish Key4Life much success". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Andrew WK named Person Of The Year by American Association Of Suicidology "Andrew's message resonates with the field of suicide prevention in that he encourages people to use their capabilities to create a life worth living", says AAS president Julie Cerel. Executive Director Colleen Creighton adds: "Andrew WK has brought so much hope and joy to so many people through the power of his music, lectures, and writings. He has empowered individuals to find a positive path forward. Therefore, we are pleased to name him our inaugural Person Of The Year for the incredible impact he has had in transforming lives throughout the world". Accepting the award, Andrew WK say: "Words cannot adequately convey my astonishment at having been selected for this unique recognition. I'm grateful to the American Association Of Suicidology for the incredibly valuable work they've done for so long, and continue to do now, when it's needed more than ever". He continues: "My story is a familiar one. From a young age, I felt consistently uneasy in the world, and thus began an ongoing search for something to quell the sense of wrongness inside of me. I was lucky enough to discover a life's work, which not only transmuted my darker tendencies into something brighter and more deserving of my energy, but also allowed me to amplify and share that quest with others". "In my mission to find joyful meaning in life, I never imagined my rock and roll destiny would become a source of inspiration for those who also dwelled in the shadows. To reach into the abyss and somehow make contact with the unknown is both terrifying and miraculous, but even more terrifying and miraculous, is to reach into yourself and somehow make contact with your fellow man. It's in this quintessential form of contact - this primal physical and emotional connection - that the truth about life must surely be found. This is our challenge - to see if we can find the other person inside of us, and us in them, and to let this process of enlightened discovery open our hearts, and purify our minds". "I'd like to humbly accept this award on behalf of all the people who work every day at forging this sacred human bond. I'd like to accept this award on behalf of music itself, and on behalf of the mysterious life-force feeling I simply call 'partying'. I'd like to accept this award on behalf of every person who has struggled and overcome, and struggled and fallen - for I have been both". "I'd also like to accept this honour on behalf of every person who's lost someone - or lost themselves - to seemingly insurmountable darkness", he concludes. "In a world of confusion, distress, and extraordinary challenges, there are few efforts more worthwhile than devoting oneself to the raising of the collective human spirit. If any of our work can contribute to this vast emergency - this crisis of joy - then may the Party Gods grant us ever more strength, so we may all help make the world a partier place". The award will be officially presented at the AAS Annual Conference in Washington, DC in April. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Confidence Man announce confident debut album "We wrote this song for people who think they're really cool just because they're in a band", says the band's Janet Planet of the single. "People like us". Her co-frontperson Sugar Bones adds: "Don't you know? Didn't you know? Well if you didn't know by now you should do your homework. Being in a band is the coolest and it ain't ever gonna change". You should really see Confidence Man live. Luckily, you'll be able to at various UK festivals this summer. They'll also be playing a headline show at London's Village Underground on 30 May. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Father John Misty, PJ Harvey, Alexis Taylor, more Other notable announcements and developments today... Â Naomi Belshaw has been appointed PR Executive & Manager at Wildkat PR. She will take up the position in May, leaving her current job as Grants & Programmes Manager at the PRS Foundation. "I am delighted", says Belshaw. "We are THRILLED", says Wildkat boss Kathleen Alder. Â Josh Tillman, aka Father John Misty, has released a new song, 'Mr Tillman'. Â PJ Harvey and Harry Escott's 'An Acre Of Land' has a video now. Â Alexis Taylor is releasing a new solo album, 'Beautiful Thing', on 20 Apr. This is the title track. Â Cabbage have released new single, 'Arms Of Pleonexia', all about the international arms trade. Here's the video. Â Superorganism have released new single, 'Reflections On A Screen'. They're touring next month, and releasing their debut album too. What fun. Â CupcakKe has released the video for 'Fullest' from her 'Ephorize' album. Â RM Hubbert and Aidan Moffat have recorded an album together, titled 'Here Lies The Body'. Here's first single 'Cockcrow'. Â Dena and JFDR have recorded a song together. Â Fifi Rong has released another new track from her upcoming 'Awake' EP. This is 'Horizon'. Â Rival Consoles will release a new album, 'Persona', on 13 Apr. He'll play XOYO in London on 12 Apr too. Here's new single, 'Unfolding'. Â Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Blossoms launch helpline for fans fearing split Fans (or curious journalists) who ring 0808 281 2482 are met with a recorded message from guitarist Josh Dewhurst, informing them: "To be honest, I've been kept out of the loop on this one. Last to know, as per. C'est la vie. I'm probably not the best person to advise on this TBH. Not with my bloody nerves. Anyway, rest assured we have paid therapeutic professionals dealing with this fall out. One of them has been on 'This Morning' twice, and was booked on the Matthew Wright show but had to pull out cos of a dodgy belly". He adds: "I wanted to reassure you that it's not over yet and I'm 50% sure it'll be fine. All proceeds from this £10 a minute call will go to the relevant people. Hang on in there". There then follows a blast of what might be new music from the band, but just sounds like all music does when played over a phoneline. After which, another voice informs you that no professionals are available to speak to you, but that "it's important to us that someone cool like you wants to get in touch". So that's fine. In the run up to the launch of the helpline, frontman Tom Ogden drummer Joe Donovan have been squabbling on Twitter. On one occasion, Ogden referred to Donovan as "my backstabbing former bandmate", which some people took as a sign of a split. Donovan responded by accusing Ogden of asking "his mum to buy him a special leather glove to eat pasties with after he burnt his thumb on a Greggs steak bake". Both appeared on the NME Awards red carpet together two days later though, with Ogden explaining: "It's just one of them, isn't it? When you spend hours and hours with someone on tour and every time someone has a drink, he fucking goes 'ahhh', every single fucking time. Do you know what I mean? When someone does that all the time, and they don't stop doing it, it's going to grind on you, isn't it? Especially when you've known someone twelve years. He makes a clicking noise when he speaks as well, but I had to tell the manager to get him to stop doing that". Donovan added: "It is one of them, isn't it? When your best mate from Stockport starts saying he's from Cheshire, it just kind of changes things a little bit. He's got these little nicknames as well. There was one of the other day, he called me 'Wingo'. I think he was referring to Ringo Starr and how when I play drums my arms flap about a bit. Just little stuff like that, does my head in a little bit". Anyway, Blossoms have been working on their second album, so I think that's what this is all about. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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