50 short video content ideas for musicians on Reels, TikTok, YouTubeAre you feeling stuck and looking for content ideas? For this week’s Flashback Friday, we resurface a post by our friend and music marketer extraordinaire Michael Brandvold with content ideas. Continue reading
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SoundExchange Joins Human Artistry Campaign to Protect Royalty Payments for CreatorsSoundExchange, the premier music-tech organization, powering the future of music, announced during SXSW 2023 in Austin, Texas, the founding of the Human Artistry CampAIgn along with more than 40 organizations, including the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), The Recording Academy, AFL-CIO, and SAG-AFTRA. 

The coalition brings together organizations from music and other industries potentially impacted by artificial intelligence (AI) and outlines foundational principles for supporting human creativity while embracing opportunities presented by AI. 

“Artificial intelligence is a powerful, still-emerging technology that presents unique challenges as it matures in the creative arts space,” said Michael Huppe, President and CEO of SoundExchange. “We embrace the responsible use of AI as a tool that spurs the continuing evolution of human-created works. At the same time, recent advancements in AI have underscored the need to develop consensus on responsible use and to address important intellectual property concerns. Our culture and our technology must respect the foundational role that all creators play in AI’s ultimate output.”

Organizations interested in signing the petition can do so at www.humanartistrycampaign.com. 

France is ‘struggling’ to reach the paid subscription levels of other major music markets. Is TikTok partly to blame?SNEP report highlights slowdown in subscription streaming growth in key global territory
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RIAA and over 30 other groups launch AI campaign to support human creativitySignatories include the RIAA, the Recording Academy, SAG-AFTRA, SoundExchange and more
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Bandcamp workers launch bid to form unionBandcamp workers across multiple departments want to unionize and are calling on the company and owner Epic Games to allow a “timely and fair election.” The effort has affiliated with. Continue reading
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Recorded music market 2022 | Reality bitesFollowing a spectacular year of growth in 2021, global recorded music revenue growth slowed significantly in 2022 due to the combined impact of global economic headwinds and growth slowdown in mature streaming markets. Context, though, is everything – not many industries can deliver solid growth while the global economy is in turmoil, ad markets are falling and many emerging tech sectors are in crisis.

Global recorded music growth has oscillated in recent years, slowing in the pandemic, booming in 2021, and then returning to more modest growth in 2022.

2022 was a year of realignment for much of the global economy, and the music business had to contend not only with the wider trend of the cost-of-living-crisis, but also rising interest rates softening music catalogue M+A demand and the long expected streaming slowdown kicking in. It is testament to the solidity of the recorded music market that, despite these multiple headwinds, global revenues grew by 6.7% to reach $31.2 billion in 2022. While this was significantly down on the 24.8% registered in 2021, it illustrates the strong role music plays in consumers’ lives, especially in uncertain times when escapism and identity are more important than ever. The persistent value of music was even more strongly illustrated by music publishing, which grew by 16.6% in 2022.

Streaming was again the main driver of industry growth, with revenues up by $1.5 billion in 2022 (8.3% growth), though this was less than half the $4.2 billion added in 2021.  The slowdown was underpinned by a) slowing subscriptions growth in mature markets; b) a slowdown in ad-supported revenues, reflecting wider advertising market dynamics. Music subscriber growth was markedly stronger, up by 13.7% to 652 million, however, the more mature North America and Europe regions accounted for just a third of the growth. Emerging markets will become a progressively larger part of global streaming growth, but due to lower ARPU and low shares of Anglo repertoire, the divergence between growth revenue and subscriber growth rates seen in 2022 will become a long-term market characteristic.

Independent labels and artists direct both strongly out-performed the wider streaming market, growing streaming revenues by 13.9% and 17.9% respectively. In terms of total recorded music revenues, 

UMG added more recorded music revenue in 2022 than the other two majors, adding $0.5 billion to reach $9.2 billion, giving it a 29.5% share of the global recorded music market. UMG’s percentage growth (6.2%), though, was slower than SMG’s (8.7%), with SMG gaining 0.4 points of market share.

Artists direct (i.e., artists who release without labels, directly via a distributor) were the big success story once again, growing by 16.6% in 2022 to generate $1.7 billion of recorded music revenue, giving it a 5.7% market share, up from 5.2% in 2021. 

Independent labels also outgrew the wider market (up by 7.1%), and the combined market share of artists direct and independent labels reached 34.6% in 2022, up from 34.0% in 2021. Though it is worth noting that this does not include the additional revenue from independent labels distributed by major labels.

Combined, independent labels and artists direct, were the largest single market segment with $10.8 billion.

Though overall market growth was down in 2022 compared to 2021, 2021 was in many respects a year of artificially accentuated, post-Covid growth, while 2022 was at the opposite end of the scale, with a host of economic headwinds. In this context, 6.7% growth for 2022 could be considered even more of an achievement than the 24.8% achieved in 2021.

The full report and dataset (with quarterly revenue by segment and format going back to Q1 2015) will be shortly available to MIDiA clients. If you are not a MIDiA client and would like to learn how to get access to our research, data and analysis, email stephen@midiaresearch.com

Redefining independent artist success: Their narrative is not your narrative [Keith Jopling of MIDiA]Keith Jopling from MIDiA Research discusses how important it is for artists to keep control of their own careers apart from industry expectations and demands, along with advice on how. Continue reading
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Stephen Dusenberry & Ricky Ken on how (and when) music changed their lives foreverThe pivotal performances that convinced two renowned artists to build their lives around music are not what you might expect. by Michael Gallant of Disc Makers Blog Some artists may. Continue reading
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Apply to AES Educational Foundation 2023 Scholarships and GrantsThe Audio Engineering Society, celebrating “75 Years of Audio Innovation” in 2023, has announced details on this year’s AES Educational Foundation scholarships and grants. Applications for the annual AESEF Graduate Studies Grants and Mary Lea Simpson Memorial Scholarship for undergraduate studies are open to AES Student Members through May 15, 2023.

Since its establishment in 1984, the Foundation has awarded grants for graduate studies to hundreds of exceptional applicants, many of whom have gone on to prominent and successful careers in the audio engineering industry.

Graduate Studies Scholarships:Grants, including the named Scholarships, are awarded annually for exemplary students dedicated to the art and science of audio engineering. The AESEF Scholarship Committee selects the recipients of the memorial scholarships based on which student best meets the criteria for each named scholarship. Genelec Mike Chafee Audio Pioneering ScholarshipThis scholarship encourages passionate and outstanding women to continue their audio education while paying tribute to noted long-time Genelec manufacturer’s representative, audiophile, sound designer, acoustician, audio evangelist and supporter of women in audio, Michael Chafee. Chafee had been involved with Genelec since 1996 and is credited with being an early pioneer and key influencer in promoting the concept of Active Monitoring technology to the market.Dolby Institute ScholarshipThe Dolby Institute has partnered with AES to award the Dolby Institute Scholarship, open to international graduate students with an interest in content creation and the study of the science of sight and sound.

The John Eargle AwardThis award honors AES Past-President and Fellow, John Eargle, who authored several seminal textbooks on audio, as well as engineering more than 250 albums, and was posthumously awarded a Technical GRAMMY® Award in 2008. The scholarship is given annually to a student who excels in both technology and music.

L-Acoustics Dr. Christian Heil Future of Sound Scholarship This scholarship awards recipients who demonstrate curiosity and dedication to shaping the future of sound, including approaches that may question conventions or call upon bodies of scientific knowledge outside of the realm of audio. Students having pursued an undergraduate course of study in an area other than audio are encouraged to apply in the interest of enriching cross-disciplinary thinking and exchanges to further the state of the art.

Advancing Audio – The Tom Kite ScholarshipThis scholarship honors Kite’s legacy of dedication to engineering excellence in audio and audio measurement, as well as his achievements within the AES and as Vice President of Engineering of Audio Precision, the scholarship’s sponsor. It is offered to students who demonstrate creativity and imagination.

Genelec Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary ScholarshipCoinciding with its 40th anniversary in 2018, Genelec announced the creation of a scholarship honoring its innovative and entrepreneurial founder. The Genelec Dr. Ilpo Martikainen Audio Visionary Scholarship is offered annually to U.S. graduate students in the field of audio engineering who are members of the Audio Engineering Society and have a passion for advancing audio through innovation and technology development.

Garry Margolis ScholarshipAESEF’s latest scholarship has been established in honor of Garry Margolis, who passed in December 2022. Garry was a Life Fellow of the Audio Engineering Society, served as AES President and Treasurer, and was a member of the AES Board of Governors for many years. He was awarded the AES Distinguished Service Medal Award in 2019. Professionally, Garry worked for several leading audio companies in marketing, sales and as a technologist and consultant in the areas of audio, video and digital cinema. 

The Emil Torick Award This scholarship, awarded annually to an outstanding student with exceptional career goals, honors the former long-term AES Foundation President and founding member, Emil Torick. Torick held 16 patents and authored more than 60 technical publications. He served on the National Radio Systems Committee and was a member of the U.S. delegation to the International Radio Consultative Committee in Geneva.

Undergraduate Studies Scholarship:The Mary Lea Simpson Memorial ScholarshipThis scholarship covering full tuition for final year of studies is being offered to an undergraduate student entering senior year at a North American college or university Audio Engineering/Recording Arts Program. The scholarship honors Mary Lea Simpson, who was a graduate of the Audio Production Program at New England Institute of Art.

Historically, grants have been made possible by contributions from AES, Audio Precision, Dolby, Genelec, Harman International, JBL, L-Acoustics, the estate of John K. Hilliard, and the Mix Foundation for Excellence in Audio; the families of John Eargle, Mary Lea Simpson, David Smith, Emil Torick; and the family and friends of Larry Estrin, Don and Fran Pearson, and Bruce Swedien. The AES Educational Foundation also receives support from other benefactors such as in-memoriam donors and individuals and companies that support education in audio. 

Application forms and additional information online in the AES Educational Foundation web pages.

Avex Inc. CEO Katsumi Kuroiwa on Japan, the modern music business, and global expansionIn this feature, we speak to Katsumi Kuroiwa, President and CEO of Japan's Avex Group
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26% of Musicians skip meals due to cost of living, new survey findsOne in four professional musicians is skipping some meals because of the overall cost of living, according to a new survey. This recent survey of 301 professional UK musicians by. Continue reading
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2 days left to apply for Women Empowerment++ music industry mentorship programAs part of Women’s History Month, indie music distributor Symphonic is launching its second edition of Women Empowerment++, a mentorship program aimed at furthering the progress of women throughout the. Continue reading
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How the Punk Ethos can (and should) drive every music career [Ben Weinman]The music industry and punk music veteran Ben Weinman has taken all he’s learned from his impressive career and boiled it down to some life-changing lessons. by Ben Weinman on. Continue reading
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Saxon's Biff Byford Discusses New LP and Punk's Influence on the New Wave of British Heavy MetalSaxon's Biff Byford spoke with AllMusic in the middle of a European tour to discuss their latest release, the recent announcement of a band member's impending departure from touring, and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.

Metallica Acquires Majority Interest in Furnace Record PressingMetallica and Furnace Record Pressing ("Furnace”) today announced that Metallica has acquired the majority interest in Furnace, a leading provider of high-quality vinyl records and related services. The acquisition formalizes a long-standing relationship between the band and Furnace that has produced more than five million pieces of Metallica vinyl since 2014.

Having worked together on such landmark projects as the highly acclaimed definitive deluxe box set editions of Metallica’s Kill ‘Em All, Ride The Lightning, Master Of Puppets, …And Justice For All, Metallica (a/k/a The Black Album) and S&M2, Metallica and Furnace have long enjoyed a prolific and productive relationship — one rooted in a shared fiercely independent ethos and passionate dedication to quality. This partnership between Metallica and Furnace represents yet another example of the band’s unflagging commitment to artistic control of all aspects of its career, as well as its devotion to its fans: The capacity to meet the massive demand for Metallica vinyl via trusted partner and industry leader Furnace will enable the band and its Blackened Recordings label to better serve the needs of any and all vinyl lovers in the Metallica family—as well as those of the various artists and record labels who will continue to utilize Furnace’s services.

Founded by Eric Astor in 1996, Furnace is known for making extremely high-quality records at its 70,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility in Alexandria, Virginia. With it’s 12 Pheenix Alpha presses and two Finebilt presses, Furnace is one of the largest record pressing companies in the U.S. Furnace offers standard and heavyweight pressings, color vinyl, special effect color vinyl, and custom vinyl etching to meet the creative needs of any music artist. Furnace also oversees other services related to the creation and packaging of records. In addition to Metallica, Furnace counts many major artists, global music companies, record labels and indie/punk acts as clients. Eric Astor (Founder and CEO), Ali Miller (COO) and Mark Reiter (VP - Operations) will continue in their respective roles leading Furnace. Each remains an equity owner of the company and each will be a member of the company’s Board of Directors.  

“Building Furnace into the dedicated and experienced family of experts that it is today has been a huge effort, but immensely gratifying” said Eric Astor, founder of Furnace. “Knowing our long-term future is secured while also being better able to take advantage of growth opportunities is really exciting for every member of the Furnace staff.” Ali Miller, Chief Operating Officer of Furnace, added, “We have found ideal partners in Metallica. They want us to continue our customer driven focus. To that end we look forward to providing even greater capacity and service to each of our customers in the future.”

“We couldn’t be more happy to take our partnership with Furnace — and Eric, Ali and Mark specifically — to the next level,” said Lars Ulrich, co-founder of Metallica. “Their indie spirit, the passion they have for their craft… culturally we’re kindred souls.” James Hetfield, co-founder of Metallica, added, “Furnace has been great to Metallica and more importantly to our fans. This deepened relationship between Metallica and Furnace ensures that fans of vinyl everywhere, particularly our Fifth Members, will have continued access to high quality records in the future."

Metallica was represented by its affiliated growth equity and content investing platform known as Black Squirrel Partners ("Black Squirrel”), with Kirkland & Ellis acting as counsel and Citrin Cooperman assisting with financial due diligence and tax advisory. Dunlap, Bennett & Ludwig acted as counsel to Furnace.