From Universal Music’s cost-saving ‘redesign’ to Warner’s superfan app… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe five biggest stories to hit our headlines over the past seven days…
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UMG Publishing and TikTok send dueling messages to Songwriters [Full Text]With thousands of songs by major and independent artists who are not signed to Universal for recording or publishing now muted in the battle between the music giant and TikTok, both sides stepped up to the bully pulpit with dueling messages to songwriters and the music industry this week.....
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Social Media as an extension of artistry, not a disconnected facadeA strong social media presence is essential for every musician, writes veteran music marketer Melissa d'Engelbronner of FUGA, but its music be an extension of the musician’s artistry, not a disconnected facade.....
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A brief History of Hit Songwriters you’ve probably never heard ofRecent Hypebot stories about how songwriters ar mocking low streaming roaylty rates and Tiffany Red shining a light on unfair song splits, serve as reminders of how much songwriters are the unsung hero's of the music business....
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As D-Day arrives for TikTok’s Universal feud, UMPG tells songwriters: ‘They simply do not value your music’Universal Music Publishing Group has in the past 24 hours written a new missive to its songwriters
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Over 38% of music on TikTok is ‘modified’, says study that analyzed 100 million audio tracks on the platformEither pitch or speed of these tracks were altered, according to Pex data
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Recap: ASCAP 2024 Membership MeetingOn Wednesday, February 28th, ASCAP, The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, held its 2024 ASCAP Membership Meeting at Jazz at Lincoln Center Frederick P. Rose Hall in Manhattan.The event kicked off with a performance from Grammy-nominated progressive jazz duo DOMi & JD BECK. Next up, ASCAP Chairman of the Board and President Paul Williams and ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews delivered an ASCAP “State of the Union,” celebrating the PRO’s 110 years of serving music creators, recognizing ASCAP members’ remarkable achievements in 2023, and detailing its record-breaking financial success of the past year. Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stacey Ryan closed out the session with a performance of her own.In his remarks, Williams explained the many advantages of ASCAP, the only creator-led US PRO: “The ASCAP Board of Directors are elected by you, and they make decisions and set policy with your best interests at heart. As a Board, we are incredibly focused on maximizing the value of your music, getting you paid fast and fairly and doing everything we can to support your livelihood as music creators. That is democracy in action, folks! That is ASCAP.”

Beth Matthews, ASCAP CEO (Credit: Ryan Lash for ASCAP)

Jermaine Dupri (Credit: Ryan Lash for ASCAP)

The session was followed by “The Confessions of Jermaine Dupri,” a keynote conversation with Songwriters Hall of Famer and forefather of the Atlanta music scene Jermaine Dupri and George-Middleton. He talked about coaching Mariah Carey: “For this song, you gotta hit the note. The song is great but you gotta end the song with a Mariah Carey ending to take it to the next level.” And offered his thoughts on songwriting: “To me, people don’t pay attention to the actual art of making music and writing songs. There’s a real art to it. Find the hook people can sing. Find the right melody for the verse. These are things you should say in the studio. It’s not to duplicate what you did, but remember how you got to that place.”

 Learn more at www.ascap.com

The UK music industry’s next milestone and how we get thereMBW Views is a series of op/eds from eminent music industry people… with something to say.  The following comes from Kim Bayley, CEO of the UK's digital entertainment and retail association ERA.
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Where do A&R and Music Execs go to discover new artists and music?The chorus of voices telling artists how to "get discovered" would have you believe that A&R and other music execs spend countless hours scouring social media and digging through data to discover new music.....
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Independent artists are getting caught in UMG TikTok takedownsWhile some independent artists view UMG's battle with TikTok as an opportunity, others struggle as their music is banned from the platform....
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Could YouTube be the music-first social platform the industry needs?There are music streaming platforms and social media platforms, but none have been good at mixing the two popular pastimes. YouTube could be the answer, writes Tatiana Cirisano of MIDiA.....
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So… maybe don’t bet your house on Universal Music Group and TikTok reaching a deal anytime soonUMG and Sir Lucian Grainge today doubled down on their borderline disgust with the licensing offer/s they've received from TikTok in recent months
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Universal Music Group generated over $1 billion per month on average in 2023MBW crunches the numbers from UMG's latest quarterly earnings announcement
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LOS ANGELES COLLEGE OF MUSIC OFFERS FREE ACCESS FOR MUSIC ENTHUSIASTS EVERYWHEREThe Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) is proud to announce it is offering FREE access to industry insider sessions for music enthusiasts wanting to break into the increasingly competitive industry. Previously only available to attendees of the recent NAMM Show in Anaheim January 25 – 28th , the LACM @ NAMM: Continuing the Conversation series, a virtual panel extension of the NAMM GenNext Panels, represents a significant step forward in LACM’s commitment to providing cutting-edge music education and empowering the next generation of music industry professionals.These three upcoming free Zoom sessions bridge the gap between the NAMM discussions and real-world application. By registering for the series, participants will get access to all 3 sessions lead by leading industry members including who have worked with artists like Ariana Grande, Miley Cyrus and Usher. Panelists also include Grammy and Emmy award-winning LACM faculty, and insiders with companies like Universal Music, Disney, and DISCO.

Free Sessions include:

2/29/2024 | 3:30-4:30 Songwriters, Composers, Producers: Level-up Your Business

3/7/2024 | 3:30-4:30 Artist Development

3/21/2024 | 3:30-4:30 College to Career: LACM Grads Transition to the Music Industry

Don't miss this opportunity to deepen your understanding, apply practical knowledge, and continue the conversation. Participants can secure their spot now for a series that propels their music industry journey forward!

Register here!

Songwriters mock low streaming royalty rates in new videoOne of the tragedies of the streaming age is that even hit songwriters are finding it hard to earn a living in the age of streaming.....
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