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New research provides insights into what UK consumers think about music

Mar 20, 2015

From CMU:

Media Insight Consulting, the consultancy business set up last year by former Universal Music Global Insight Director Chris Carey, has released some top-line data from a consumer research initiative titled ‘What Music Means To Me’, based on a survey of 2650 consumers.

Among the findings in the first batch of results to be released (more will follow focused on live and merch) are…

• Over half of consumers place a high value on music, with 30% of those surveyed, and 44% of 16-24s, saying that “music is my number one passion”.

• 43% of the 16-24s surveyed had used a free streaming service in the last year, though the 25-34 age group was most inclined to pay to access streaming music.

• 60% of consumers overall said they were still interested in purchasing physical product, and while that figure declines as people get younger, 44% of 16-24s still expressed an interest in non-digital releases.

• And when it comes to ownership of music – physical or digital – unsurprisingly under 25s are less obsessed with owning copies of their favourite tunes, with 48% saying it’s not necessary because music is so readily available online. Though that still means half are attracted in some way to permanent copies.

– See more at: http://www.completemusicupdate.com/article/new-research-provides-insights-into-what-uk-consumers-think-about-music/#sthash.fUMghFCt.dpuf

Blissdom Canada is coming to British Columbia

Mar 20, 2015

BlissDom Canada is one of my favourite conferences, drawing more than 400 of Canada’s top social media influencers for a weekend of professional development, networking, opportunity and FUN. This is THE premiere event to engage and build relationships with the women’s market in Canada. This year’s event run October 15-18th somewhere in Ontario (yes, the suspense is killing me, too, but you’ll just have to wait for the location a little while longer, say the organizers.

Quite apart from the usual conferences, the team at BlissDom Canada is cutting edge. They think and plan and work hard to bring delegates inspiring experiences that will change their lives – and they have. Ask anyone who has attended, and they’re evangelical about the weekend.

Over the last months, they have been working hard to bring a taste of BlissDom Canada to Western Canada – a mix of all the amazing experiences and learning they provide at BlissDom Canada, but in a whole new way.

Called The ROAM Experience , Blissdom will be in Kelowna, BC to the Delta Okanagan Grand Resort, May 31-June 2, 2015. You can get your tickets here.

British Columbia? Blissom? Twice as nice.

Luminaries from the Canadian music industry reflect on the state of the industry

Mar 20, 2015

Alan Cross; Murray Foster, Paul Morris from HTZ FM, Noah Mintz and I gathered at Brock University last night to reflect on the state of the industry. We could have talked for hours, and might have, if we weren’t stopped about 2 hours in.

Producers, Mixers and Engineers to Get Digital Royalties in New House Bill

Mar 20, 2015

From Music Times:

A new bill in the U.S. House of Representatives is being introduced in Congress this week that would give producers, engineers and mixers — often times the unsung and forgotten heroes in the whole song-making process — a piece of the digital royalty pie. The Allocation for Music Producer Act, or AMP Act (H.R. 1457), is being formally introduced by congressmen from both sides of the aisle: Reps. Joe Crowley (D-New York) and Tom Rooney (R-Florida).

In the past it has been up to the producers, engineers and mixers to negotiate their own splits on royalty payments. The AMP Act would create a statutory right for producers to receive royalties that would be managed through SoundExchange. This would give the producers, engineers and mixers the right to a piece of the digital royalties pie when this is becoming an increasingly important revenue stream with streaming.

This new framework will also give studio warriors the ability to negotiate with artists on works older than 1995, when the 45 percent digital royalty rate for artists was established. If the request was for more than four months, a collective will weigh in on the request and, if approved, give 2 percent of the 45 percent to the mixer, engineer or producer. The 2 percent would be split evenly if there are multiple requesters.

Music Industry Leaders Offer Hot Topics Workshops For Musicians, April 10-12 In Toronto

Mar 20, 2015

I’ll be the Workshop for Musicians on April 11th – hope you can make it!

The workshops are the initiative of the International Resource Centre for Performing Artists. In the March 2015 issue of The WholeNote, editor David Perlman wrote, “Ann Summers Dossena, driving force behind IRCPA, has been preaching in the arts wilderness for as long as I can remember about the unmet needs of artists on the edge of performing careers who have nowhere to turn for support, resources and expertise when they are in the process of making the transi¬tion from a sheltered academic environment to the realities of life as working musicians.” Summers Dossena says, “We are pleased to welcome JAZZ.FM91, The Canadian Music Centre, Paintbox Bistro and all the other partners in the Hot Topics workshops, to expand our mission in assisting the wider music community.”

The March and April programs of the IRCPA are made possible, in part, by contributions from and/or the participation of the Ontario Arts Council, Toronto Arts Council, The Daniels Corporation, WholeNote Media Inc., the Canadian Music Centre, Canadian Opera Company, JAZZ.FM91, Mirvish Productions, Paganelli’s Risotteria, Paintbox Bistro, SOCAN Foundation and private donations.

Depending on funding, the IRCPA also provides year-round services to artists on request, including round-table discussions, research, feedback auditions, mentoring sessions and consultations. Founded and led by award-winning artist manager Ann Summers Dossena, the IRCPA aims to “turn potential into accomplishment”. Charitable donations to these programs can be made through Canada Helps by clicking on the website www.ircpa.net.

Adam Levine To Produce NBC Songwriting Competition Show

Mar 20, 2015

From Billboard:

NBC’s next big music show could come from those who’ve helped make The Voice a hit.

The latter’s executive producer Audrey Morrissey and coach Adam Levine are teaming with Grammy Award-winning songwriter Dave Stewart on a pilot called Songland. As its title suggests, the project is predicated on the simple premise that the songwriter is king in the music business.

While artists make money on songs that they record, songwriters have multiple avenues and points at which they can generate hefty revenue from their works. If ultimately ordered to series, Songland will pull back the curtain on the song marketplace and the power brokers within it. The project is expected to feature everyday people with compelling stories who get the opportunity to pitch original compositions to the music industry’s biggest producers and artists all hunting for the next global smash.

Songland is being produced by Live Animals in association with Dave Stewart Entertainment and Levine’s 222 Productions. The three-time Grammy winner will be an executive producer on the project alongside Morrissey, Stewart, Live Animals’ Ivan Dudynsky and Levine’s manager-turned-producing partner Jordan Feldstein.

The infamous Troggs Tapes

Mar 19, 2015

An in-studio tape of Reg Presley’s running commentary on a recording session, filled with in-fighting and swearing (known as “The Troggs Tapes”), was widely circulated in the music underground, and was included in the Archaeology box set, as well as the compilation album, The Rhino Brothers Present the World’s Worst Records. The in-group infighting is believed to be the inspiration for a scene in the comedy film, This is Spinal Tap, where the band members are arguing. Some of this dialogue was sampled by the California punk band The Dwarves on their recording of a cover version of the Troggs song “Strange Movies”.

These Are Some of The Most Beautiful Album Covers Found – And Here’s What You Can Learn From Them

Mar 19, 2015

From Canva:

They say you should never judge a book by its cover, and the same rule should probably apply for music.

We all know that we should probably pay more attention to what’s inside the box rather than outside, but it’s just a matter of fact that a beautiful exterior design can make the interior just that little bit better.

01. Colour Me Cohesive

This sleek album cover was actually designed by the musician himself, Tycho, also known as Scott Hansen. The design is built on a strong colour scheme, showcased in sharp geometric shapes, and each colour has been made to correspond to a track. Creating a strong palette that can be used cohesively with the content can make for a pretty effective design.

02. Explore Die Cutting

Die cutting is used to create cut-out areas in your design, and when used correctly it can create a unique depth to your design. Check out the geometric die cutting done in this album sleeve from David Marsh, that allows for the two-tone cover to peek through, adding a sophisticated extra layer to the design.

03. Why Not Pop-Up?

Who said pop-up pictures were just for childrens’ books? This example fromTyler Stout pairs fully illustrated cover art with a pop-up picture of the artists, just quirky enough to capture the comedic tone and genre of the music.

04. Use The Whole Canvas

When it comes to album cover design, it is easy to consider the design from the standpoint of each panel being separate. But another option is to embrace the entire length of the case, just as Kamil Borowski has done in the example. Instead of limiting your artwork to just the front panel, consider extending it to expand over the width of the case, and perhaps even across the disc, just as has been done in this example, to create a larger image.

05. Get Creative With Packaging

Why is it that round albums have to come in perfectly square boxes? Being a bit creative with the shape of your packaging can really help highlight your design and give it a unique physical presence on the CD rack. Check out this angular album cover packaging by inCentea, that goes against almost everything you thought you knew about album cases.

06. Get Interactive

Consider how your audience will interact with your design, and how this interaction can be enhanced upon. Bonus points if this interactive element ties directly into the album title, as this heat-sensitive cover designed by Modo ties into the title “The Second Law”, referencing the second law of thermodynamics.

Check out lots more here.

Kevin Drew gets it right. Again.

Mar 19, 2015

As a founder of the indie collective Broken Social Scene, Kevin Drew nails it when talking about his new solo album, Darlings:

“I’m not doing this to see what my value is, though everyone’s questioning my value. I did this to make this music. You’re never alone when you have an amazing record that you love, and that’s why I’m here now, paying my band and trying to get tours. I’m very much hoping it works. But I think the courage lies in whoever wants to listen.”

Star Wars Cups (1977) – Majik Market Commercial

Mar 19, 2015

Filmed on October 18, 1977, this ad for the first series of Star Wars plastic cups from a convenience store chain called Majik Market is among the earliest promotional tie-ins to be televised following Star Wars’ release in May.