Blueprint Music Goes Live: A New Era for Artists and FansThe wait is over. Blueprint Music is officially live, ushering in a revolution for the music industry. Designed to give artists and fans direct control over music creation, revenue, and experiences, Blueprint challenges the exploitative status quo and puts power back where it belongs—with the artists and their fans.Unlike traditional streaming services and record labels, Blueprint ensures artists receive 50% of all revenue generated from their music—a stark contrast to current industry payouts that leave musicians with mere fractions of a cent per stream. Fans, meanwhile, gain unprecedented access, from exclusive content and early music releases to VIP experiences and voting rights on upcoming projects, all powered by Blueprint Tokens.“Musicians deserve better than the outdated industry model,” said Phil Ryan, Co-Founder of Blueprint Music. “Blueprint isn't just another platform—it’s a movement. We’re here to ensure artists are fairly compensated while giving fans a deeper, more meaningful way to connect with the music they love.”Blueprint Music is live, and fans and musicians can claim early access now early adopters are already signing up, and many are using this time to join now ahead of any exclusivity.  Artists and fans who sign up now can claim exclusive perks, VIP access, and the chance to help shape the platform before the full-scale launch in June 2025.  For artists who sign up now, they will secure their spot and start earning 50% of all revenue from their music. For fans who sign up now, they will gain voting rights, early access to unreleased music, and behind-the-scenes content from top artists.Blueprint Music is what the music industry needs and it is already attracting major artists and thousands of fans who are tired of an industry that underpays creators and limits fan interaction. The platform’s blockchain-powered ecosystem ensures:Fair artist payouts – 50% revenue share, no middlemen.

Direct fan engagement – Exclusive content, VIP access, and artist-fan voting.

True ownership – Secure transactions, transparent rights, and artist-first policies."Blueprint Music is a platform that finally puts the power back where it belongs—with artists and fans. As an artist myself, I know this is the change the music industry has needed," said Simon Webbe, Co-founder of Blueprint Music.Since its pre-launch announcement, Blueprint Music has seen a surge in signups from both artists and fans eager to take control of their music experience. The platform is already in talks with top-tier global artists preparing to launch exclusive content and interactive fan experiences.“The music industry is overdue for disruption,” said Oliver Moorhouse, Co-Founder of Blueprint Music. “Blueprint is built to empower artists and give fans a seat at the table. This is the future of music, and it’s happening now.”The post Blueprint Music Goes Live: A New Era for Artists and Fans first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Henry Naldjian promoted to Chief Technology Officer at Sony Music PublishingExec to oversee company’s ongoing "technological transformation efforts"
Source

Charli XCX, Noah Kahan donate $25K as Chappell Roan challenges critics to help artistsWhen the "Pink Pony Club" singer won the 2025 Grammy for Best New Artist, she delivered a powerful speech calling on the industry to do more to help artists. Now, Chappell Roan challenges critics to match her donations to help artists dropped by their record labels.
The post Charli XCX, Noah Kahan donate $25K as Chappell Roan challenges critics to help artists appeared first on Hypebot.

DIY and Independent Musician News Last WeekLast week, our tips, advice, and independent musician news covered how to find an entertainment lawyer, to writing viral hits, and more...
The post DIY and Independent Musician News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

Top Music Business News Last WeekA busy week by any definition, music industry news was no exception, with indies at the Grammy Awards, big music instrument sales, and more...
The post Top Music Business News Last Week appeared first on Hypebot.

TOM PETTY ESTATE TO DONATE $100,000 FOR WILDFIRE RELIEFThe Tom Petty Estate has partnered with GoFundMe to provide relief for those affected by the Los Angeles Wildfires, with individual donations of $15,000 going to a number of vetted residents who desperately need help rebuilding their lives. The family estate continues to amplify fundraising efforts across social media, encouraging fans to participate.  “Our hearts are with LA and all those who have been affected by the recent wildfires,” the Estate shares. “It is hard to begin to know where to help. We have strong ties to and love this community. And Tom and his family had the experience of losing everything in a fire.”To join the Estate in supporting those affected and to read more about their stories, the Tom Petty Estate set up a GoFundMe profile page, see here. Jonathan Franklin and family evacuated with very few items in hopes they would be able to return. Unfortunately Jonathan and his family lost their home and all of their possessions, with little to return to—more information/donate here. Jose Trinidad Rincon and Maria Rincon lost everything when a wildfire broke out in Eaton Canyon. Jose’s GoFundMe is organized by his daughter, Cristina, who was raised in the family home that no longer stands—more information/donate here. GT, Vikki and Tyler lost their house in the Eaton Fire. Their GoFundMe is organized by the family’s long-time neighbor and friend—more information/donate here. Jeanina Quezada lost her home and piano studio to the devastating Eaton fires. A single mom and pillar of the community, Jeanina’s passion for music brings joy to children and their families across LA—more information/donate here. The Schoettler Evtuhov Family home was destroyed by the Palisades Fire while they were out of town and unable to retrieve any important documents or their beloved cat—more information/donate here. “At GoFundMe, our mission is to help people help each other,” Margaret Richardson, GoFundMes Chief Corporate Affairs Officer says. “We are inspired by and grateful to the Tom Petty Estate for its commitment to helping Los Angeles families who lost everything in the wildfires and are seeking help on GoFundMe. During moments of crisis, GoFundMe is a lifeline to so many, and we remain committed to ensuring those affected receive help quickly and safely.”Additionally, the Petty Estate shared a number of relief efforts that will aid further organizations and causes dear to the late musician—who cherished his adopted home of Los Angeles and experienced the devastation of a fire himself. The Estate has donated $12,500 to MusiCares—a charity founded by the Recording Academy to safeguard the well-being of the music community—and their short-term disaster relief to music professionals impacted by the wildfires. An additional 10% of last week’s sales in the Tom Petty Store will also contribute to the cause—join their efforts here.In the spirit of protecting the animals and wildlife affected, the Tom Petty Estate has donated another $12,500 to Healthcare for Homeless Animals, a non-profit funding vital veterinary care for at-risk animals at Agoura Animal Care Center. Further proceeds from a limited-edition “Last Dance with Mary Jane” print signed by artist Blaze Brooks—which sold out imminently— will also benefit the mission—learn how you can get involved here. The post TOM PETTY ESTATE TO DONATE $100,000 FOR WILDFIRE RELIEF first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Aespa Brings the Drama to the Kia ForumFor one night only, aespa returned to Los Angeles for a show-stopping performance at the Kia Forum. The K-pop quartet – composed of Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning – had the entire venue roaring with cheers and howls for two and a half hours. In just a few years, aespa has become one of the most in-demand girl groups in South Korea. Last year the group was on a roll and released a lot of new music that garnered critical acclaim, including their first studio Armageddon, Whiplash (EP) and their first solo songs in Synk: Parallel Line. As a result of their success, the group earned the MAMA Award for Best Female Group at the end of 2024. The group's innovative visuals and bombastic music have made them stand out above the rest. The group is known for popularizing the metaverse concept. The group's name, aespa, combines the English initials "avatar," "experience" and "aspect" to symbolize the idea of "meeting another self and experiencing the new world." The group has been pushing the envelope of creativity by creating their own AI avatars called the æs and helping introduce Naevis – a virtual idol created by their entertainment company SM Entertainment as part of the company's SM Culture Universe. As the group’s popularity grows, so do their demands as their North American tour SYNK: PARALLEL LINE tour sold out instantly in a few cities. Lights went down at exactly 8 pm at the Kia Forum to the sounds of “Welcome To MY World” – the perfect song to hype up the crowd. Bringing the “Drama,” the group made their grand entrance appearing behind some screens wearing frilly white dresses. Their group of dancers joined next and seamlessly glided through the theatrical beats of the music. Aespa started the night strong performing some of their most popular songs right off the gate from “Black Mamba” to the bombastic hit “Supernova.” The group delighted fans with 24 songs, opting to chat less with the fans and more on delivering an entertaining show filled with all their hits. Choreography for each song was elaborate and elevated each performance - the dramatic leg drops from “Black Mamba” and the elbow raises from “Whiplash” got the biggest cheers. 

Throughout the night, Karina, Winter, Giselle and Ningning each took turns sharing the spotlight and showcasing their talents. The girls aren’t confined to specific roles, each being good at singing and dancing. Together the group is an unstoppable force. Yes, most K-pop groups use backtracks during live performances, especially on choreography-heavy songs but aespa used it sparingly that night. Their powerhouse vocals were easy to identify and they sounded great. Winter and Ningning have the strongest vocals, they effortlessly belted out high notes that earned loud howls from their fans. Towards the middle of their set, each member performed a solo song. Giselle started off the segment with the sultry R&B track “Dopamine,” Karina showed off her impressive dance moves with “UP,” Ningning melodic vocals for “Bored” caught everyone’s attention and Winter ended on a high note by performing “Spark” with euphoric visuals and choreography.During one of the group’s breaks Naevis made a surprise appearance and performed “Done.” It was interesting to see how they brought the AI to life through the screens, it almost felt like we were witnessing a real person perform on stage. Keeping the night interesting, the group had a few costume changes. The most memorable one being their baggy jeans and pink hoodies - an homage to their song “Pink Hoodie.” Aespa’s music is filled with witty lyrics and catchy choruses that work well in live performances. Songs like “Spicy” and “Next Level” felt like a singalong as everyone in the venue loudly sang along to each and every word. The night concluded with an encore performance of “ænergy,” “Just Another Girl” and “Life’s Too Short.”For more on aespa, visit aespa.com.Photo Credit: Andy Keilen/Kia Forum photosThe post Aespa Brings the Drama to the Kia Forum first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

From Warner’s Spotify and Amazon deals to Sir Lucian Grainge’s 2025 memo… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-UpThe biggest stories from the past week – all in one place…
Source

Indie Artist Playbook: Tips for a Sustainable Music CareerWant to make a living from your music while staying independent? The Indie Artist Playbook shares 25 years of insider knowledge, giving you the tools to build a sustainable career, market your music, and thrive in today’s music industry.
The post Indie Artist Playbook: Tips for a Sustainable Music Career appeared first on Hypebot.

Top 10 Trending Posts on HypebotDid you miss anything? Here are the 10 trending posts on Hypebot that resonated with readers over the last 30 days.
The post Top 10 Trending Posts on Hypebot appeared first on Hypebot.

CCC Webinar: 'Spotify, Why Do You Keep Hurting Songwriters?'“Spotify, Why Do You Keep Hurting Songwriters?”Tuesday, February 18, 2025 ZOOM WEBINAR2:30 PM PST - 4:00 PM PSTREGISTER HEREJoin as the CCC discusses the tensions between the music publishing community  and Spotify, in connection with Spotify’s reduction in payment of streaming mechanical royalties  to songwriters and music publishers, due to Spotify claiming it qualifies to pay a discounted “bundle” rate for premium subscriptions it characterizes as “Bundled Subscription Offerings.”Topics of discussion will include the following:History of the CRB Phonorecords IV settlement proceeding, as well as the Phonorecords IV’s determination of rates and terms;

Spotify’s position on reclassifying its premium subscription as a bundled service and why Spotify thinks it’s entitled to a discounted bundle rate, pursuant to Phonorecords IV;

The Mechanical Licensing Collective v. Spotify USA Inc. complaint;

NMPA’s outreach to Congress to overhaul the compulsory license in the Copyright Act to “permanently fix the power imbalance” to songwriters;

NMPA legal complaint against Spotify with the FTC;

Letter to the US Register of Copyrights from lawmakers, questioning Spotify’s bundling in light of the Music Modernization Act; and

Other DSPs’ position on bundling (e.g., Amazon Music and YouTube Music).Moderator:

Charley Londoño | Counsel Plus, Co.; and Of Counsel at The Peter Law Group

Ashley Joyce | Senior Vice President, Legal & Business Affairs, NMPAMichelle Lewis | CEO, Songwriters Of North America (SONA)Adam Parness | Adam Parness Music Consulting (Former Global Head of Music Publishing at Spotify, Amazon, Pandora)

Register for this webinar by1:30pm PST on Tuesday, February 18, 2025CCC MEMBER & NON-MEMBER REGISTRATIONThe post CCC Webinar: 'Spotify, Why Do You Keep Hurting Songwriters?' first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Cindy Mabe exits as CEO of Universal Music Group NashvilleExec was appointed Chair and CEO of UMGN in April, 2023
Source

Best Free and Affordable Apps For MusiciansIndie musicians need the right tools to stay ahead, and these apps make everything from songwriting to promotion easier. Whether you're producing tracks, managing gigs, or engaging fans, here are the best free apps for musicians.
The post Best Free and Affordable Apps For Musicians appeared first on Hypebot.

Does claiming a Spotify for Artists account need to be this hard?Claiming a Spotify For Artists account is an essential pillar for every music marketing plan. But does claiming a Spotify For Artists account need to be this hard?
The post Does claiming a Spotify for Artists account need to be this hard? appeared first on Hypebot.

Drop Nineteens' Greg Ackell Discusses Returning to Music and Their New Old AlbumBoston-based shoegaze pioneers Drop Nineteens have released their long-shelved demo album 1991. Greg Ackell spoke with AllMusic to discuss revisiting the original recordings, the band's return, and his thoughts on the music scene today.