25th Jan 2012
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The following story is not for the faint hearted: It involves guns, illegal downloading, police raids and, perhaps worst of all a terrifying man who changed his surname to ‘Dotcom’. Read on for ‘Megaupload: the takedown’.Last week, the US Government moved in on Megaupload, one of the most notorious and dominant forces in file sharing. The founders now stand accused of cheating rights holders out of $500m alongside racketeering and money laundering.
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The Live Music Bill has been passed through the Commons and is now almost certain to become law, slashing the licensing red tape for small live music venues.
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The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has published a new report revealing an 8% growth in digital music revenues, with subscriptions to legal streaming sites increasing by 65% in 2011.The IFPI, who are essentially the global trade body for the music industry published their ‘Digital Music Report 2012’ this week, stating that worldwide digital revenues from music hit an estimated $5.2bn, climbing year on year by an encouraging 3% from 5% growth in 2010.
24th Jan 2012
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Sound City, the hugely respected 3-day international music, media and technology conference spreads its wings this March for New York Sound City.
20th Jan 2012
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Unless you’ve been on another planet for the last year (in which case, welcome back to economic meltdown, impending apocalypse and, even worse: Ed Sheeran), it should come as no surprise to hear that sales of pop albums have overtaken rock for the first time in seven years.
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The Association of independent Music (AIM) has launched a campaign appealing to the Government to seriously review the break-up and sale of EMI, saying that it would “undoubtedly concentrate the global music market still further into the hands of two dominant major companies – Universal and Sony”.
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The Wikipedia blackout seems to have worked its magic this week, not only sending students and journalists worldwide into a blind panic but also reportedly causing US officials to reconsider the controversial ‘Stop Online Piracy Act’ (SOPA).
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Independent Music Companies Association Impala and the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) have joined forces to host a discussion at Midem next week that will aim to carve out a shared manifesto for independent music organisations and entrepreneurs.
17th Jan 2012
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The 2012 BRIT awards nominations have been announced, with Jessie J, Ed Sheeran and Adele unsurprisingly leading the pack alongside nominations for PJ Harvey, Coldplay and Kate Bush.Sheeran is nominated in four categories including British male solo artist, whilst Jessie J and Adele have three nominations each, going head to head for best single and British female solo artist.
11th Jan 2012
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The controversies of Form 696 seem to be rearing their ugly head once again, as music industry figures speak out against what they claim is discrimination in relation to the way that police handle urban music events.Organisers of a recent major urban event held in a well established live venue are claiming that police, on the basis of intelligence received about one of the artists, insisted on searching 18 performers for weapons before they went on stage, alongside a group of young people on work experience organised by a charity.
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