Universal Music, Deezer partner to test new streaming revenue modelsDuring an investment call Thursday, Universal Music announced that it had partnered with EU-based streaming music service Deezer to develop a “new model” where “artists are rewarded for the fans. Continue reading
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HYBE says it ‘has been considering the acquisition of SM Entertainment for a long time’ as it launches campaign to win support from SM shareholdersHYBE says campaign was developed "to protect shareholder value from inappropriate actions by the current management at SM".
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Lunacy Audio’s CUBE Mini Is FREE With Any Purchase At Plugin Boutique
Plugin Boutique offers the CUBE Mini creative sound design plugin by Lunacy Audio as a free add-on with any purchase in March. It is that time of the month, and Plugin Boutique’s monthly freebie has rolled over. We bid Guitar Rig 6 LE and Timeshaper 3 adieu and say hello to CUBE Mini from Lunacy [...]
View post: Lunacy Audio’s CUBE Mini Is FREE With Any Purchase At Plugin Boutique

Sound Productions 50th Anniversary SoundPro are planning to host an event for their team members, customers and vendor partners in Fall 2023 to celebrate the company's 50th anniversary. 

NIVA names 300+ indie performers as ‘Live List’ favoritesThe National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) has partnered with Hollywood’s The Black List to produce The Live List, to shine the spotlight on performing musicians, performers, and comedians. Kicking off with a TIDAL-sponsored event at SXSW, the. Continue reading
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Sound Dust SPONGE PIANO2 Cramer upright piano+ human thumb x bathroom sponge = SPONGE PIANO2 A beautifully recorded character piano with the warm thump of strings deadened by a well sponged thumb. Sponge... Read More

Minimal Audio release Cluster Delay Minimal Audio's latest plug-in creates delay sequences which can be shaped over time and processed with a range of built in effects and modulation functions. 

New GLX-D+ wireless systems from Shure The latest version of Shure's digital wireless systems offer improved performance and battery time, and come with a wide range of transmitter options. 

Australian central bank to launch 'live pilot' of CBDC in coming monthsThe use cases for the CBDC ranged from offline payments to "trusted Web3 commerce" and financial industry participants were invited to undertake a live pilot.

Salesforce strikes backIt would be an understatement to say that Salesforce has been having a rough ride of late — from activist pressure to executive departures and layoffs — it seems like everyone was piling onto a company that was already struggling as profits declined.
It needed a strong quarter, and all indications were they wouldn’t get it. Against all odds, though, the CRM leader defied the street with a strong report.
Today after the bell, Salesforce reported its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings, including revenue that topped expectations and guidance that came in ahead of street estimates.
The street had expected Salesforce to report revenues of $7.99 billion in its most recent quarter; it reported top line of $8.38 billion, up 14% compared to the year-ago period, and three points better in constant currency terms.
In terms of the future, investors had forecast that Salesforce would generate revenues of $8.05 billion in its present quarter (Q1F24), and $34.03 billion for its new fiscal year; instead, Salesforce expects revenue between $8.16 billion and $8.18 billion in its current quarter, and revenues of $34.5 billion to $34.7 billion for the full fiscal year.
TechCrunch noted earlier this week that the way for Salesforce to get out of its jam would be to beat growth estimates and improve profitability. The company certainly managed the former. The company is forecasting stronger profits as well. Salesforce reported GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins of 3.3% and 22.5%, respectively. In its newly started fiscal year, the company expects GAAP and non-GAAP operating margins of around 10.8% and 27.0%, respectively.
Salesforce crushed expectations and doubts concerning its recent growth, forecast better-than-anticipated growth for the year, and told investors to expect an overall stronger operating profit result for its new fiscal year.
This could take some wind out of the sails of Salesforce’s critics. The company’s many detractors of late were lining up to find fault with its spending, especially compared to others in the industry, and these operating numbers in particular could help Salesforce executives as they continue to negotiate with a legion of activist firms.
It’s worth noting that just this morning, Elliott Management, one of the five activists working inside Salesforce at the moment, announced a slate of candidates for the board of directors, a move that usually means it wants to force its agenda onto a company. A bad report would have made that job a lot easier.
Investing critics of the company might also have wanted to see, say, a greater level of anticipated shareholder return. That can come in various forms, including dividends, share buybacks and other efforts. Salesforce has historically opted for share buybacks, given its strong cash generation. After noting in its report that it returned 57.5% of the $4 billion it spent on buybacks last fiscal year in its trailing quarter, the company also announced that it is increasing the size of its buyback to $20 billion in total.
Naturally you could argue that Salesforce is amping up its share repurchases to dampen external criticism and appease the activists who are looking for a better return; true, but even if so it has a similar effect. It will repurchase the shares and has the cashflow to do so. It’s hard to argue about intent when the expected result is likely in line with what external investors wanted.
Salesforce will retain critics concerning its cost structure and the fact that its expected growth in its current fiscal year is just 10%. But compared to where the company was earlier this week, its earnings report has proven a good sheaf of its critics wrong, and perhaps bought it more time to make the case that it really does know what it is doing.
Salesforce strikes back by Ron Miller originally published on TechCrunch

SoundExchange royalty distribution rose to $255.6M in Q4SoundExchange distributed $255.6 million in digital royalties to creators in Q4 2022, an increase of 2.5% over Q4 2021. SoundExchange collects and distributes non-interactive digital performance royalties (Pandora, SiriusXM, online. Continue reading
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House panel approves bill that could lead to total TikTok ban in the USTikTok has around 100 million users in the US
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Shinedown Partners with the American Foundation for Suicide PreventionMulti-platinum, chart-topping band Shinedown has announced that they are partnering with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). Shinedown will donate $1 for every ticket sold to their upcoming 21-date The Revolutions Live U.S. headline tour to the AFSP, the nation’s largest suicide prevention organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. Shinedown, who have been speaking out about mental health for two decades through their music and by sharing their personal experiences along the way, have long been active supporters of AFSP including participating in the organization’s annual Out of The Darkness Walk in Washington, DC to fundraise for the cause. Now, the band has expanded its support of AFSP with the $1-per-ticket donation.

'The Revolutions Live Tour' (co-produced by FPC Live and Live Nation and with support from Three Days Grace and From Ashes to New) begins April 3rd, kicking off a run of spring shows that will see the record-breaking band bring their hit album Planet Zero to life live from coast to coast, alongside their biggest hits and fan favorites. Tickets are on sale now at LiveNation.com. For all show/ticketing details visit www.shinedown.com.

The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention is dedicated to saving lives and bringing hope to those affected by suicide, including those who have experienced a loss. AFSP creates a culture that’s smart about mental health through public education and community programs, develops suicide prevention through research and advocacy, and provides support for those affected by suicide. Learn more about AFSP in its latest Annual Report, and join the conversation on suicide prevention by following AFSP on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

FOLLOW SHINEDOWNFacebook | Instagram | TikTok | Twitter | Website | Atlantic Records

Antares Audio Technologies Auto-Tune Vocal Compressor Dual-Stage Vocal Compression With Machine Learning Auto-Tune Vocal Compressor combines the most popular vocal compression styles and controls into one powerful plug-in. ... Read More

Shirin Foroutan appointed SVP and GM, Europe at Universal Music Publishing GroupForoutan previously served as Vice President, Creative, at BMI
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