Soundstr

Author: Brian Penick

Brian is a musician-turned-entrepreneur who has spent most of his life in the music industry. With experiences ranging from artist development to marketing and music tech, his primary focus is in on creating a more sustainable music business. @BrianPenick
25 Apr 2018
Brands, Businesses/Venues, Industry Professionals, Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 0 comment

VNUE Acquires Soundstr

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VNUE, Inc. Closes Deal To Acquire Soundstr

Deal Accelerates Company’s Push Into Creating Fair, Transparent Public Performance Licensing For Both Venues And Bands

NEWS PROVIDED BY

VNUE, Inc. 

Apr 25, 2018, 09:00 ET

 

NEW YORK, April 25, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — VNUE, Inc. (OTCQB: VNUE), the global leader in recording live events and releasing experiential content to fans, has officially closed its deal to acquire Soundstr, a technology that aims to help businesses pay fairer music license fees based on actual music usage.

The merger of VNUE’s patent-pending MiC™ (Music Identification Center) system and Soundstr’s own patent-pending music identification technology and hardware aims to fix the current performing rights system. Currently, venues and other businesses are somewhat discouraged from playing music due to high blanket license fees charged by the Performing Rights Organizations (PROs), in which the PROs have no idea what’s actually being played – meaning that in many cases, the correct rights holders are not properly compensated.

Instead of paying these high blanket royalty rates, music licensees utilizing the Soundstr/MiC technology would only pay for music played in their establishments, and the appropriate rights holders would then be properly and transparently compensated. VNUE will also leverage the licensing infrastructure around its “instant live” recording technology to streamline the process for these types of rights clearances.

“While the introduction of the Music Modernization Act is very encouraging in some areas of licensing reform, it does not begin to address the problems of General Licensing, and since it’s another blanket licensing system, it could merely continue to perpetuate the inequities we see in performance licensing into mechanicals. With Soundstr, we have an incredible opportunity to fix this system that’s been broken for more than 50 years, and there’s a potential for $3 billionor more in royalties for general licensing that could be more fairly allocated to artists and songwriters,” said VNUE CEO Zach Bair. “Since we announced our intent to acquire Soundstr in February, it was exciting to see Spotify (SPOT) follow our lead into music rights with their acquisition of Loudr. It is very clear that this is an important move for the future.”

Soundstr was founded by Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger (previously of platinum-selling rock band Hawthorne Heights).

“Our goal with Soundstr is to make real-world music use as transparent as possible so songwriters can receive what they are properly due, while helping licensees pay the fees that are aligned with their music use,” said Bucciarelli-Tieger. “VNUE is the perfect partner to help Soundstr move forward with those goals, and we are excited to be pushing forward.”

For more information on VNUE, please visit http://www.vnue.com/.

About VNUE, Inc.  (www.vnue.com)
VNUE, Inc., (OTC: VNUE) is dedicated to further monetizing the live music experience for artists, labels, writers, and publishers, with products such as its set.fm platform, exclusive license partner and “instant live” pioneer DiscLive, and Soundstr, which helps businesses pay fairer music license fees based on actual music usage. The veteran entrepreneurs, artists and songwriters behind VNUE are passionate about the future of their industry and ensuring that rights holders’ value is not lost amid always-changing technology. VNUE’s team has produced live content and created experiential products for over 15 years for artists and companies including Father John Misty, The Pixies, Blondie, EMI, Capitol Records, and more.

SOURCE VNUE, Inc.

Related Links

http://www.vnue.com

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11 Mar 2017
General Licensing: Where Are My Royalties?
Brands, Businesses/Venues, Industry Professionals, Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 0 comment

GENERAL LICENSING: WHERE ARE MY ROYALTIES? [INFOGRAPHIC]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]General Licensing: Where Are My Royalties?

General Licensing isn’t a sexy topic in the music industry. What is it and why does it generate almost four times more revenue for songwriters than all digital services combined! Why is nobody talking about it and what is being done to modernize this area of the business? For more information, please check out the SXSW 2017 Panel, “General Licensing: Where Are My Royalties?“[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_custom_heading text=”SHARING:
” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%231674d1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1489189071877{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]We encourage you to share this infographic image or download a printable PDF (with links), along with the hashtag #MusicTransparency on Facebook, Twitter and beyond. We kindly ask that you use it in its entirety and do not edit in any way. Thank you for respecting our work.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”76001″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][thememove_button open_new_tab=”1″ text=”Download Image” url=”http://44.193.39.137/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Soundstr_Where-Are-My-Royalties_Infographic.png” icon=”vc_icon_element-icon fa fa-file-image-o”][thememove_button open_new_tab=”1″ text=”Download the PDF” url=”http://44.193.39.137/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/Soundstr_Where-Are-My-Royalties_Infographic.pdf” icon=”vc_icon_element-icon fa fa-file-pdf-o”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”CREATORS:
” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%231674d1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1489189258538{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]Soundstr uses recognition technology to identify real-world music usage and offers new advertising opportunities for businesses and songwriters. This transparency offers businesses a way to negotiate PRO license fees based on actual music usage, and songwriters a way to earn royalties when their music is used in the real world. Soundstr is a venture-backed startup, founded by songwriters and leverages best-in-class recognition technology by Gracenote (Nielsen). Click here to learn more about Soundstr.[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”SOURCES” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-link” i_size=”sm” add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]

  1. “BMI Annual Review 2016” BMI. Web: https://www.bmi.com/pdfs/publications/2016/BMI_Annual_Review_2016.pdf
  2. “Global Collections Report (2016).” CISAC. N.p., 23 Nov. 2016. Web: http://www.cisac.org/Cisac-University/Library/Royalty-Reports/Global-Collections-Report-2016
  3. “Our ASCAP 2015 Annual Report” ASCAP. Web: https://www.ascap.com/-/media/files/pdf/about/annual-reports/2015-annual-report.pdf?la=en
  4. “BMI Annual Review 2016” BMI. Web: https://www.bmi.com/pdfs/publications/2016/BMI_Annual_Review_2016.pdf
  5. “Nielsen BDS ‐ Stations Monitored” Nielsen. Febuary 2, 2017: https://www.nielsen.com/content/dam/corporate/us/en/docs/solutions/measurement/radio/BDS_StationsMonitored.pdf
  6. Waits, Jennifer. “Number of Radio Stations in the U.S. Grows this Quarter According to FCC.” Radio Survivor. N.p., 14 Oct. 2015. Web: http://www.radiosurvivor.com/2015/10/14/number-of-radio-stations-in-the-u-s-grows-this-quarter-according-to-fcc/
  7. Penick, Brian. “General Licensing Infographic.” Soundstr. N.p., 31 Aug. 2016: https://44.193.39.137/general-licensing-infographic/
  8. “ASCAP OnStage, ASCAP Plus Awards, Performance Notification and our Top 300 Tours Survey.” ASCAP. N.p., n.d. Web: https://www.ascap.com/help/royalties-and-payment/payment/monetaryawards
  9. “Live Concert Royalties” BMI. Web: https://www.bmi.com/creators/royalty/live_concert_royalties
  10. “2016 Year End Top 200 North American Tours” Pollstar. Web: http://www.pollstarpro.com/files/Charts2016/2016YearEndTop200NorthAmericanTours.pdf
  11. “BMI Annual Review 2016” BMI. Web: https://www.bmi.com/pdfs/publications/2016/BMI_Annual_Review_2016.pdf
  12. “BMI Annual Review 2016” BMI. Web: https://www.bmi.com/pdfs/publications/2016/BMI_Annual_Review_2016.pdf
  13. “General Licensing: Where Are My Royalties?” SXSW 2017 Schedule. N.p., 16 Mar. 2017. Web:
    http://schedule.sxsw.com/2017/events/PP63027

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Credits:

• Artwork: Corey Donovan

• Copy: Brian Penick (@BrianPenick) & Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger (@EronBucciarelli)

Check out our SXSW 2017 Panel, General Licensing : Where Are My Royalties? (CLICK IMAGE)

General Licensing: Where Are My Royalties?

General Licensing: Where Are My Royalties?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

01 Dec 2016
Brands, Businesses/Venues, Industry Professionals, Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 0 comment

Soundstr Raises $1.1M Seed Round

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Music Tech Startup Soundstr Closes $1.1M in Seed Financing

Soundstr’s New Music Identification Technology to Benefit Both Venue Owners & Songwriters

(Cincinnati OH – November 29, 2016)

Soundstr, a music technology startup aiming to bring fairness to real-world music usage, has closed a $1.1 million round of seed financing.  CincyTech led the round with participation from entertainment data and technology company Gracenote, Accelerant and angel investors.

Soundstr’s patent-pending technology offers tracking data to the manner in which venues and businesses pay for the use of music, and songwriters receive royalties.  Music is protected by copyright law, and most businesses and venues that play music are required to pay for a license.  Under the established model, many businesses pay performing rights organizations (PROs) for catalogues of music, even if they use only a fraction.   Soundstr’s technology connects to a venue’s audio system, uses Gracenote’s best-in-class Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) to identify every song played, and creates a record of actual music usage.

“Soundstr’s data can lead to more efficient music licenses,” said Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger, CEO of Soundstr.  “Paying for actual music usage could lower license fees a business pays to some Performing Rights Organizations, leading to more businesses paying for licenses. Both scenarios lead to more songwriters receiving compensation for use of their music, which is at the core of our mission.”[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EK7RqdQOaGA&feature=youtu.be” el_width=”70″][vc_column_text]Hundreds of thousands of businesses are subject to the license requirement but some ignore it at the risk of lawsuits and costly fines.

“Disruption is an overused term, but in this case, it truly fits.  We cannot imagine many areas more ready for disruption than this,” said Doug Groh, director at CincyTech.  “We saw that the current methods of determining music licensing fees and royalty payments were both grossly unfair and highly inefficient.  Eron showed a deep understanding of all of the players involved: artists, venues, music publishers, and fans— and their motivations.”

Bucciarelli-Tieger’s knowledge stems from years in the music industry, as a founding member of the platinum-selling band Hawthorne Heights.  He founded Soundstr to help more accurately distribute royalties to songwriters whose music is played in establishments.

Soundstr is currently conducting pilots in several music venues and also with the Canadian Society of Composers, Authors and Music Publishers (SOCAN).

“SOCAN is investing significant resources towards a new world of music consumption and rights management. The identification of the music used in real world businesses, and the related data is crucial to our success,” said Jeff King, COO of SOCAN.  “In our pilot tests, Soundstr’s technology is showing promise and potential.  Between the ease of use and accuracy, we see tremendous opportunity to bring more transparency and clarity to the industry.”

Soundstr is taking pre-orders for an January 2017 launch. Sign-up at the following links:

Soundstr Raises $1.1M Seed Round Soundstr Raises $1.1M Seed Round

Inquiries: info@44.193.39.137[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

15 Nov 2016
5 Things to Know Before Renewing Your Music Licenses
Businesses/Venues, Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 0 comment

5 Things to Know Before Renewing Your Music Licenses

With the New Year just around the corner, it’s likely time to renew your music licensing agreements. But this industry is under some major changes that could impact all businesses.

In June of 2016, the Department of Justice proposed changes to the Consent Decrees. These agreements govern how ASCAP and BMI, the two biggest US rights organizations, operate. (SESAC and GMR are not bound by these agreements. All four companies are known as Performing Rights Organizations, or “PROs”.) These changes would be the biggest update to the music licensing industry in 75 years. (Note: these changes and this post only relate to US-based PROs.)

Music licensing is a dense topic. Some businesses attempt to avoid paying license fees. But the threat of expensive fines is all too real. New technology is helping businesses negotiate fairer fees and more songwriters get paid. It’s time to take a second look at this industry.

 

1. Current Fee Structures (Bad for Businesses)

Before we jump into proposed changes, it’s important to know what you are already paying for. PROs collect money from music users so they can broadcast music and host performers. Real-world businesses, from concert venues to retail shops, are a part of the “general licensing” category. General licenses are “blanket licenses” which allow real-world music users to play any music within a PRO’s catalog (20 million+ songs). These licenses are determined based on capacity and how the music is being consumed (background music, interactive – band/DJ). Each PRO licenses different songs (although there is some overlap). Each PRO also has a different size catalog. The one thing license fees do not take into account is how much music your business plays from each catalog. It doesn’t make much sense to pay the same amount of money for each license when your business may not use as much music from one or more PRO.  

With music tracking technology, a real-world business can now obtain transparency on their music use and negotiate fees based on actual music usage in their business. This is similar to how many households are cutting the cord with cable companies and only paying for the services and movies they want to watch. These blanket licenses are outdated and inefficient.

 

2. Current Royalty Structures (Bad for Songwriters)

What’s even worse about blanket licenses is who collects royalties from your fees. In the absence of data from real-world music use, the PROs use radio as the main proxy to distribute royalties. This means that if a songwriter performs or is broadcast in your business and is not on the radio, they likely do not earn money. Even worse, your fees are likely going to the big names on commercial radio. We at Soundstr did a case study to challenge this proxy. We sampled 3,000 songs in 12 businesses over 2 weeks. The result was that only 19% of songs played in businesses were also on commercial radio. That means roughly 81% of songwriters would not receive royalties from the use of their music. This is not fair.

 

3. Major Changes (More Mouths to Feed)

So now that you have some back story, let’s move onto changes. The biggest proposed change (actually interpretation of the Consent Decree) is the topic of “No Partial Withdraw.” Currently, music publishers use the PROs to issue public performance rights on behalf of their songwriters to all licensing categories (Radio, TV, Digital & General Licensing). Late last year, all three major publishers (Universal Music Group, Sony/ATV and Warner/Chappell), as well as some independent publishers, signed direct public performance licensing deals with Spotify, Pandora and other digital services. By cutting out the middlemen (PROs), these publishers make more money for their songwriters off direct deals. But, the Department of Justice is pushing to prevent cherry picking these direct deals. “No Partial Withdraw” means that the publishers either have to use the PROs for all four categories or none at all. If the publishers decide to go the “All-in” route, you will still only pay the four PROs (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR). If they choose the “All-out” option, your music licensing fees will change drastically. If one of the major publishers withdraw from the PROs, you will have another music license to obtain (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR + Sony, for example). If the tens of thousands of publishers withdraw, you will have many new licenses to pay (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR + Sony, Universal, Warner Chappell, Downtown, Kobalt, & thousands more). The new system could be complex and transparency around music usage would be essential.

 

4. Technology = Fairer Business Fees & More Songwriter Royalties

Licensing accounts for a large percentage of the entire annual music industry revenue. In fact, in 2014 the performing rights sector was ~31.5% of the size of the entire recorded music industry. (Note: performing rights are not calculated as a part of the recorded music industry.) Technology is looking to disrupt this sector, offering solutions for both businesses and songwriters. We at Soundstr also have some unique solutions rolling out this year. Using our services, businesses can now identify both recorded and live music usage. Having this data would allow a business to negotiate fairer license fees based on pro-rated music usage within their establishment. Either would eliminate overpaying for music or paying for music that was not used. Our mission at Soundstr is to help songwriters earn royalties they deserve for commercial use of their music. By identifying the music used in a business, the PROs can ditch the radio proxy altogether. The 81% of songwriters who were not played on commercial radio would receive compensation for their work. Fairer fees and more royalties sounds like a win-win!

5. The Future of Music Licensing (Better for Everyone!)

The basis of the performing rights industry is simple: when you do a job, you should receive compensation. This is the reason the performing rights industry exists in the first place. In 1847, French composer Ernest Bourget heard one of his works performed in a Parisian cafe, but was not compensated for his work. The lawsuit that followed led to the formation of SACEM, the world’s first PRO. The current system, unfortunately, is not that simple. But the future offers a bright outlook. With transparency around music usage data, new industry standards can be set. Any songwriter can receive compensation for commercial use of their music. Businesses will pay transparent fees based on their actual music use. Currently unlicensed businesses will now be able to afford licenses, pumping more money into the system. The current PRO model will need to be flexible, but the outcome will be a much more sustainable industry.

 

There are a lot of things business owners need to know when it comes to music licensing. This industry is in the midst of some big changes. Staying informed and knowing your options can make a big difference in your fee structure. Why pay for music you aren’t using? And don’t you want to know that your fees are making their way back to the correct songwriters? It’s easy to see the value that music provides to your business. But what about the value that business owners like you provide to the music industry? Technology may finally level the playing field.

 

Click below to learn more about how your business can use Soundstr to identify music usage and negotiate a fairer license. #MusicTransparency

https://44.193.39.137/renewing-music-licenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Written by: Brian Penick

Copyediting: Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger, Claire Muenchen

Artwork: Lauren Osinksi

Image: Paul Green Photography

 

31 Aug 2016
Soundstr General Licensing Infographic
Brands, Businesses/Venues, Industry Professionals, Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 0 comment

GENERAL LICENSING INFOGRAPHIC

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Editor’s Note: This infographic is intended to visualize the world of General Licensing and how proposed changes could affect songwriters and music licensees. For more information, please check out the proposed SXSW 2017 Panel, “General Licensing: Where Are My Royalties?”  (Votes are also encouraged; voting ends 9/2/16.)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_custom_heading text=”SHARING:
” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%231674d1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1473699143412{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]We encourage you to share this infographic image or download a printable PDF (with links), along with the hashtag #MusicTransparency on Facebook, Twitter and beyond. We kindly ask that you use it in its entirety and do not edit in any way. Thank you for respecting our work.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”75918″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][thememove_button open_new_tab=”1″ text=”Download Image” url=”http://44.193.39.137/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Soundstr-General-Licensing-Infographic.png” icon=”vc_icon_element-icon fa fa-file-image-o”][thememove_button open_new_tab=”1″ text=”Download the PDF” url=”http://44.193.39.137/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Soundstr-General-Licensing-Infographic.pdf” icon=”vc_icon_element-icon fa fa-file-pdf-o”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”CREATORS:
” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%231674d1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1469753639445{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]Soundstr uses recognition technology to identify real world music usage and offers new advertising opportunities for businesses and songwriters. This transparency offers businesses a way to negotiate PRO license fees based on actual music usage, and songwriters a way to earn royalties when their music is used in the real world. Soundstr is a venture-backed startup, founded by songwriters and leverages best-in-class recognition technology by Gracenote (Tribune). Click here to learn more about Soundstr.[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”SOURCES” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-link” i_size=”sm” add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]

  • #9: Some of these songwriters had songs on the radio during this time period and within the market. Those songs were not ones identified in the study’s test sites and therefore these songwriters would not receive compensation for the use of those specific songs.

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Credits:

• Artwork: Corey Donovan & Joey Brennan

• Copy: Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger (@EronBucciarelli)  & Brian Penick (@BrianPenick)

Vote for the SXSW 2017 General Licensing Panel (CLICK IMAGE)

Soundstr General Licensing Infographic

Consent Decree Impact Infographic[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

02 Aug 2016
Consent Decree Impact Infographic
Brands, Businesses/Venues, Industry Professionals, Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 3 Comments

CONSENT DECREE IMPACT INFOGRAPHIC

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Editor’s Note: This infographic is intended to visualize the recent decisions made by the Department of Justice for the Consent Decrees. For more information on these decisions and how they could impact songwriters, please check out our post, “5 Things Songwriters Need to Know About the Consent Decree.” This post originally appears on the Soundstr Blog. 

[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_custom_heading text=”SHARING:
” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%231674d1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1470153276596{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]We encourage you to share this infographic image or download a printable PDF (with links), along with the hashtag #MusicTransparency on Facebook, Twitter and beyond. We kindly ask that you use it in its entirety and do not edit in any way. Thank you for respecting our work.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”75905″ img_size=”full”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][thememove_button open_new_tab=”1″ text=”Download Image” url=”http://44.193.39.137/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Soundstr_Consent_Decree_Infographic.png” icon=”vc_icon_element-icon fa fa-file-image-o”][thememove_button open_new_tab=”1″ text=”Download the PDF” url=”http://44.193.39.137/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/Soundstr_Consent_Decree_Infographic.pdf” icon=”vc_icon_element-icon fa fa-file-pdf-o”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”CREATORS:
” font_container=”tag:h4|text_align:left|color:%231674d1″ use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text css=”.vc_custom_1469753639445{padding-top: 10px !important;}”]Soundstr uses recognition technology to identify real world music usage and offers new advertising opportunities for businesses and songwriters. This transparency offers businesses a way to negotiate PRO license fees based on actual music usage, and songwriters a way to earn royalties when their music is used in the real world. Soundstr is a venture-backed startup, founded by songwriters and leverages best-in-class recognition technology by Gracenote (Tribune). Click here to learn more about Soundstr.[/vc_column_text][vc_text_separator title=”SOURCES” i_icon_fontawesome=”fa fa-link” i_size=”sm” add_icon=”true”][vc_column_text]

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Credits:

• Artwork: Corey Donovan

• Copy: Eron Bucciarelli-Tieger (@EronBucciarelli)  & Brian Penick (@BrianPenick)

• Layout Assistant: Claire Muenchen

Consent Decree Impact Infographic[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

13 Jul 2016
5 Things Songwriters Need to Know About the Consent Decree
Brands, Businesses/Venues, Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 12 Comments

5 Things Songwriters Need to Know About the Consent Decree

What is the Consent Decree, and why are people talking (and so upset!) about it?

While the music industry can seem glamorous, it does have its “unsexy” parts just like any other business sector. For songwriters, one of the least discussed (yet most important topics) is music licensing. But major changes to the consent decree – the federal agreement that governs how ASCAP and BMI operate – is bringing this topic to the surface.

The truth is, these changes could be the biggest in the music industry in 75 years and greatly impact your career.

So while this might seem like a complex topic now, we’re here to break it down for you. First off, if you are not familiar with Performing Rights Organizations (ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR, “PROs”), read this now. If you are familiar with the PROs and what they do, keep reading. The Consent Decree decisions will impact songwriters, licensors and more. Pretty much everyone in our industry, to a certain degree.

 

1. Consent Decree History

ASCAP and BMI, both of who are non-profit companies, (voluntarily) entered into Consent Decrees with the Department of Justice in 1941. The goal of the agreements was to prevent these two companies from acting monopolistic and regulate how they operate. SESAC and GMR, which are for-profit, are not bound by this agreement. (For a full history of the PROs, click here.) The Department of Justice reviews (and sometimes amends) the Consent Decree every few years to adapt to a changing industry and technology. The proposed updates would be one of the biggest changes to the consent decrees since it was first filed over 75 years ago. (The last changes to the consent decrees were in 1994 for BMI and 2001 for ASCAP.)

 

2. Decision #1: No Partial Withdraw

There are two major decisions proposed by the Department of Justice for the Consent Decree. The first is no partial withdraw. This means that publishers either have to be “all-in” or “all-out” with PROs. Music publishers, with the assistance of the PROs have been asking the DOJ to update the Consent Decrees to allow for partial withdraw. Publishers want the ability to do direct license deals with music licensors for performing rights. In this case, they want to do direct license deals with Digital Services Providers (DSPs) such as Spotify, Pandora, etc. On December 18, 2013, a federal judge ruled that this was not allowed in a case with Pandora and BMI. (A different judge had a similar ruling with Pandora and ASCAP on September 17, 2013.) Yet, shortly thereafter, the publishers went direct to the (digital) source to negotiate better rates, cutting out the PROs as the middleman. This left the PROs to collect on behalf of radio, TV and broadcast/live performances – not digital. The DOJ chose not to update the Consent Decrees to allow for partial withdraw. This means publishers either have to use the PROs to collect on behalf of all mediums, including digital or none at all. If publishers want better rates with Spotify and Pandora, they will also need direct deals in all other mediums. This includes every radio station, TV network, retail store, and live music venue. Publishers would have more work on the admin/collection side, but it might lead to a higher payout for them and their associated songwriters.

 

3. Decision #2: 100% Licensing

The second major decision is called, “100% licensing.” This gives a songwriter with any ownership on a song, even as little as 1%, the right to license the entire song on behalf of all other songwriters. Further, that same song can only be licensed once to a given music licensor. Anyone from the lead songwriter down to the producer that gets a few songwriting credits could license the song. Considering that many co-writers do not share the same PRO, this could lead to several messy scenarios. This is a stark departure from the “fractional” licensing model that the industry currently uses. Fractional licensing means PROs only license their share of a song. In a fractional licensing world, the songwriter (or PRO) with 1% ownership is only able to license their portion. In a 100% Licensing world, when ASCAP licenses a music venue, but only controls 1% of a song, that venue no longer needs to also obtain a license from BMI for that same song. ASCAP must license the full 100% of the song and account back to BMI.

 

4. Short Term Impact

The immediate responses to these proposed changes have not been positive. The CEOs of both ASCAP and BMI have responded, stating their “disappointment” in the DoJ. Other music industry execs have shared this sentiment. The consensus around the short-term impact focuses on the negativity of these rulings. With rate shopping, 100% licensing could devalue the price of music. Licensors will likely be on the hunt for the lowest rate, which could drive down revenues. No partial withdrawal could lead to publishers opting out of the PRO system. Instead of a business needing four PRO licenses, they may now need those four, plus licenses from each of the many publishers.

 

5. Long Term Implications

There are a few implications to consider from these major changes. For better or worse, 100% licensing could lead to a “fixed rate” for music within our industry. This is a long shot, but a fixed rate could help build value (or further devalue) the price of music depending on your perspective. 100% licensing could also place heavy restrictions on the co-writing market. Songwriters may only be able to work with co-writers within their PRO or publisher’s roster. This could lead to a lack of hit songs or more diversity, depending on where you (subjectively) stand. If you’re not already aware, most pop songs have several co-writers, as showcased by popular memes.

 

The biggest potential change could be from the “No Partial Withdraw” ruling. The most contributions against this ruling have come from the PROs, as they should fear this shift. If the DSPs are willing to offer publishers better rates through direct deals or publishers think they can license these services more efficiently by eliminating PRO services fees, this might lead to the end of the current PRO model. With ASCAP and BMI‘s expenses totaling $260M+ in 2015, this money could flow back into the system. This would require the publishers to have direct deals with all radio, TV, background and live music users. It might sound like a stretch, but consider how it could work. Music users would utilize recognition technology to identify all commercial music. A global marketplace could work as an exchange to license and distribute royalties. One organization offering transparency behind rate structures could solve many problems. Businesses would pay fees based on actual music usage. Songwriters could receive compensation for the commercial use of their music. Transparency would allow the industry to fully “Follow The Dollar.”

 

It might sound like a stretch, and again it’s all speculation for now. So much more is likely to happen in the coming months. The PROs and Publishers must respond to the DOJ by the end of July. Lawsuits will likely ensue. Decisions will be delayed as everyone lawyers up and weighs their options. Extremes like ASCAP and BMI merging may actually be considered, despite antitrust lawsuits. The Consent Decrees may even be done away with. Publishers may withdraw from PROs. No one ultimately knows.

 

Regardless of the final ruling on the Consent Decree, we now live in a world where music data is essential. Data impacts everything from songwriting/publishing splits to PRO registration and real world music usage. More overall transparency will be necessary to follow the dollar and understand the true value of music. Songwriters need to pay close attention to this case, as the outcome could have a great affect on their career.

Songwriters – click below to sign up for FREE music recognition services.

5 Things Songwriters Need to Know About the Consent Decree

06 Jul 2016
5 Reasons Why Songwriters Need to Know About Metadata
Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 0 comment

5 REASONS WHY SONGWRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT METADATA

Why do songwriters need to know about metadata? Isn’t that just for the business-side of the industry?

Metadata is becoming a common word these days. It was the hot topic at South by Southwest 2016 and has made its way around the blogosphere in recent months. But what does it mean, and why should songwriters care?

Metadata is a collection of information surrounding your music. There are a lot of great articles on music metadata, such as Hypebot’s review. There is no need to reinvent the wheel with this blog post, so we suggest you check out their post. A brief summary is that metadata contains all significant information about your song. This includes names of songwriters, composers, publishers, performing rights organizations (“PROs”) and more. The list goes on, so go check out that article.

What you might not consider is the impact it can have on your career and the future of the music industry. Below are 5 reasons why songwriters need to know about metadata:

 

1. Importance

When you release music into the world, it’s out there permanently. Whether it’s available legally or illegally, for download or stream, it can make it across the globe in an instant. Many countries (like the US) have laws in place to regulate commercial music use. But without song identification and verification, which uses metadata, this is not always an accurate process. Ever notice how your release information automatically populates in iTunes after a sale? Or how streams from Spotify and sales through Amazon both show on your Tunecore account? Or how all registered songwriters receive compensation from a PRO when their music is licensed? Metadata is the driving force for all these scenarios. Without metadata, none of this is possible and means you may not be receiving the royalty payments you have earned from commercial use of your music.

 

2. Impact

Releasing music without accurate metadata is like writing a book report and not signing your name. You could’ve written the best essay the teacher has ever seen, but since your name isn’t on it, you don’t get credit. Without accurate metadata, you don’t just miss out on royalties, sales, play counts and more. You also miss out on credit for your hard work. You can’t track your growth as an artist, which can be essential to an artist’s success. Think about the effort you put into marketing, touring and social growth. This work focuses on increasing your visibility, including streams and sale counts. These numbers are especially important to record labels and sponsors seeking new talent. A lack of metadata surrounding your music could prevent the summing of these numbers. This may even hinder your chances with some professionals, at least in the earlier stages in your career. Imagine missing out on an opportunity just because a similar artist had slightly more sales? It’s amazing how much the impact a small set of data can have.

 

3. The Current System

There are several issues with the industry currently surrounding metadata. In order for someone to put this information to proper use, they would need access to several different sets of data. At the forefront of metadata are two similar sounding but unique codes: ISRC and ISWC. ISRC is the international standard recording code surrounding the sound recording of song. The ISWC is the international standard work code that represents the composition itself. Identification of real world use and royalty distribution requires both data sets. Unfortunately, several organizations control different segments of this data, resulting in limited access. This is part of a larger issue, which relates to the lack of standards around metadata. These standards include the exchange of data through and across the digital supply chain. This is also used to automate communication and management of messages and assist companies in their implementations of metadata. Companies like DDEX are working to build these standards. Combined with the push for transparency in the music industry, data like IRSCs and ISWCs could become more accessible. Bottom line: it’s currently a mess, but things are starting to change for the better.

 

4. Identification & Verification

Two main components surround the use of metadata: identification and verification. What good is data if you cannot identify all information contained and verify its accuracy? Consider this when it comes to performing rights. Music users, like radio stations, TV networks, businesses and venues pay to use music. PROs collect these fees and distribute them to songwriters and publishers. Without proper metadata, music users cannot identify all music they use. This limits the way PROs verify music use and what songwriters receive performance royalties. In the case of live music performances, this forces the PROs to use proxies like radio to determine what artists are touring. Less than 2,000 radio stations use digital monitoring technology. There are over 10,000 radio stations in the United States. A recent study uncovered only 20% of the music used in those businesses was also broadcast on the radio. This means 80% of the songs heard in businesses were not receiving general performance royalties. Even worse, royalties were distributed to the wrong songwriters! Registering with music recognitions services (it’s FREE!) can help songwriters learn where their music is used in the real world. Recognizing the music businesses and venues use can help songwriters receive compensation for music performances. Additionally, songwriters can use this information to identify where fans are located to book tours, market new releases and route tours down to the specific venues their fans prefer. This is the power of unlocking data, and something that could play a major role in the music industry moving forward.

 

5. Future Changes

The future looks bright for metadata. With an improved DDEX standard and the rise of topics like Blockchain in the music industry, people like Benji Roberts have a vision that could benefit us all. Blockchain provides a way to wrap all metadata into a single new file format, which has been dubbed “.bc.” Imagine a zip folder that contained all metadata around a release. This could include songwriters, publishers, album art, writing splits and more. The “.bc” zip-style file would require a new medium to decode, verify and play music contained within the file. As virtual reality quickly comes to the commercial market, a major opportunity for blockchain could be presented. If VR accepts the .bc file format, metadata could have much more of a presence in the open market. There is still a ways to go, but the vision is there. The concept has been the focus of many discussions (and debates), and we’re excited to see where it goes. Companies like Songspace are also fighting to cleanup the mess that is the current state of metadata. They offer songwriters and publishers a way to organize ownership splits, PRO information and more. We suggest checking them out and learning more about how they can help with your metadata.

 

Metadata is crucial to the music industry, and the impact it can have on a songwriter’s career is substantial. Inaccurate metadata can hurt songwriter’s careers. This can range from royalty collections to sales, play counts and more. There are several problems with the current system, especially with identification and verification. But new mediums like VR utilizing formats like .bc could make things much less complicated. Staying informed is the first step. Registering with song recognition services can also help songwriters receive compensation for music performances. This is an area that’s changing in our industry, and we’re excited for the future.

Interested in getting the most out of your metadata? Sign up for Soundstr’s recognition services for FREE at the link below. Discover where your music is used in the real world and start collecting the royalties you’ve earned.

5 Reasons Songwriters Need to Know About Metadata

06 Jul 2016
5 Futuristic Ways Your Brand Can Sponsor Events
Brands, Businesses/Venues Brian Penick 0 comment

5 FUTURISTIC WAYS YOUR BRAND CAN SPONSOR EVENTS

In today’s digital age, you may have to do more than hang a banner to captivate audiences at an event.

Smartphones and social media are killing our attention spans. In a study conducted by Microsoft between 2000 and 2015, our ability to focus has dropped from 15 seconds down to a pitiful 8 seconds. Eight seconds is one less than that of a goldfish. So your carnival pet might be able to win at a staring contest.

There is a simple equation that needs mentioning. When it comes to conversion rates, engagement > visibility.

Consumers are smart and don’t want a brand selling to them. Visibility and name recognition only go so far. Banners, backdrops and signage aren’t stimulating. Advertising should include a call to action from the consumer, but only if the cause of action is enticing enough for them to want or need.

Creating demand with an offer or experience is the name of the game. But the presentation and effort required plays an important role in the user uptake. A great offer with an uninteresting method of connecting the user with the experience can leave a campaign dead in the water. Technology also replaces yesterday’s human touch through efficiency. No more filling out registrations or sign-up sheets required, which minimizes time and effort.

Below are 5 unique ways to advertise at live music events. Each example is efficient, user-friendly and often drive high levels of engagement.

 

1. Text Campaigns

Short-code text campaigns are great. Texting a unique word to a short number (often 5-6 digits) will return a confirmation code or discount to the user. Text campaigns gained popularity in the late 2000’s on the television show “American Idol.” They have become a familiar tool to consumers of all demographics. For advertisers, this medium collects a list of phone numbers that you can add to auto text campaigns. Having this direct pipeline to the consumer is invaluable as social media evolves and audiences shift to the newest, coolest platform.

 

2. In-Venue Broadcast Ads

Broadcasting advertisements in venues is a new way to drive engagement. Fans hear radio-style ads over the sound system during set changeovers, and before/after concerts. This time is often dedicated to playing house music, so it’s a great time to present an event sponsor. In-venue ads are cheaper than radio or cinema advertising. They also focus on engagement over visibility, which often leads to a higher conversion rate. These ads require a device for playback and verification, but more venues are utilizing this technology.

 

3. Beacon Technology

This is the fine line in the sand where the costs and opportunity increase. Beacon technology, known as Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), interacts with consumers’ smartphones. If someone has an app on their phone and walks within range of a Beacon, they could receive an automatic push notification. (Note: The phone’s Bluetooth needs to be active and the audience needs to have the app using the Beacon.) In other words, there is no action required by the user to get the notification. Businesses that have apps can easily incorporate beacons into ad campaigns. No worries if your business does not have an app, as you have options. App building software and developers have become cheaper and more accessible in recent years. Advertisers also have the option of using popular third-party apps for beacon-enable campaigns. These include artist, venue, or reward apps, among others. After you have identified your destination app, align with a medium that offers beacon marketing and the rest is easy.

 

4. RFID Chips

RFID (radio frequency identification) has become more popular at events, especially music festivals. Through the use of RFID chips and readers, attendees can have a seamless concert experience. RFID allows for checking in and out of access points, push notifications (via app), and even make purchases. PromoWest Productions just introduced RFID technology the Bunbury Music Festival music festival in Cincinnati in June 2016. This led to several improvements from past festivals. By using RFID over cash/credit, all point-of-sale transactions happened via wristband scan. Attendees could load cards at pre-designated “Top Off” stations or through the festival’s app. Fast-paced lines and meant less time missing performances and happy attendees. With this tech making its way into more spaces like marathons, RFID may become cheaper and more accessible over time.

 

5. Augmented & Virtual Reality

Augmented and virtual reality may sound like the future, but in some cases are already available. These sponsorships and activations need third-party technology for broadcasting and viewing. But there are some cost effective workarounds, like 3D technology. Using a 3D projector, audiences can view imagery broadcast with basic 3D glasses. This can be an inexpensive way to display unique visuals at any live event. On the reverse, there are also scenarios that might cost a pretty penny. If you plan on projecting an image of Tupac, you will pay for everything from equipment to license fees. As more advertisers and marketers enter the space, the supply and demand will make this area less expensive.

 

It’s hard to believe that these advertising methods are already available. A brand’s ability to interact with the consumer is better than ever, and who knows what the future will hold. As with any new technology, brands that adopt early have the opportunity to capitalize and set trends. The only question is, will you be ahead of the curve?

Interested in learning more about how your brand can explore these advertising opportunities? Click below for a FREE consultation.

5 Futuristic Ways Your Brand Can Sponsor Events

30 Jun 2016
Performing Rights, Simplified P3: The Problem & Solution
Performing Rights, Songwriters Brian Penick 2 Comments

PERFORMING RIGHTS, SIMPLIFIED P3: THE PROBLEM & SOLUTION

For the final part of our series, “Performing Rights, Simplified,” we’re going to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty.

This series has focused on what performing rights are, methods of royalty collection and distribution, and the current climate of the industry. To be clear, we support performing rights. We believe that songwriters should be compensated when their music is used commercially. We also believe that businesses should only pay for the music they use. Our mission is to modernize the system by highlighting areas where transparency is needed. Creative thinking and technology solutions can make this a much fairer industry for everyone.

 

1. Old Industry

Consider how old this industry is. The performing rights industry is over 100 years old. ASCAP, the first US performing rights organization (“PRO”) opened in 1914, with SESAC in 1930, and BMI in 1939. The last major update to this industry was the Revised Copyright Act of 1976. The US Department of Justice has also weighed-in. ASCAP and BMI are governed by “Consent Decrees” via the US government which state additional rules by which these groups operate. These Consent Decrees are reviewed and updated every few years to make sure the PROs are keeping up with advancements in the industry (like technology).

 

2. Fast Action is Needed

Changes to the operation standards have been helpful, but are not happening quick enough to keep up with a modern world. 10-20 years is an eternity in technology terms. Think about how much the music industry has changed over the last 10 years: We’ve gone from CDs to file-sharing, to digital downloads to digital streaming and soon to Virtual Reality. More frequent updates to these Consent Decrees are needed to keep pace with technology and needed to increase transparency. Venues are still overpaying for general blanket licenses. The PROs are filing a growing number of lawsuits with businesses if they will not comply. (ASCAP fined a Cincinnati bar $90k for not paying fees). Artists are still not receiving fair compensation for their work within licensed businesses. Part 2 of this article shows that the more popular songwriters receive the majority of compensation from all performing rights fees. This is based on song weight/value, as it doesn’t take into account a song’s popularity within a specific medium (radio, TV, broadcast or live venue) of performing rights. This is a broken system, and we’ve reached critical mass.

 

3. Transparency & Accountability

If the main issue is transparency, how do we add a layer of accountability?

Look at the way music licensees collect and report data. Radio & TV submit data via several different ways, everything from manually written cue sheets to digital playlist submissions. The problem is verification. Playlist data only accounts for basic music performance. Manual cue sheets for TV is a different beast, as with any time there is room for human error. Yes, this allows for radio and TV businesses to pay “per segment” licenses for music they consume, as opposed to general blanket licenses. However, this still leaves room for verification. Technology could identify and confirm music performances for proper payment and royalty distribution. This could also simplify the process of determining how a performance is “weighed” and who to pay for a performance. (Hint: it’s not always who should be getting paid.)

The need for transparency and verification hits home even harder with businesses and venues. Without the reliable ways of tracking performances (see below), PROs charge music users a general blanket license for the ability to play all music in a catalog as opposed to pro-rated fees for only the music they use.

 

4. Technology is the Answer

How can we fix a broken system? The most immediate answer is technology.

Imagine a device that scans all live and recorded music. Businesses connect this device to soundboards, audio sources, and set top boxes. This device would generate usage reports that could verify music performances in all commercial settings. All businesses could shift from general blanket licenses to per segment payments for their actual music consumption. No more basic playlist submissions from radio stations. Handwritten cue sheets from TV stations would be a thing of the past. Businesses and venues would only pay for the music performed in their establishments. This leads to lower fees for music users and more compensation to songwriters and publishers. Yet, this means more money in the system. PROs would have a more accurate path to distribute funds to the appropriate songwriters and publishers. This would establish transparency, and the performing rights ecosystem would become more sustainable.

 

5. Soundstr Solution

Full disclaimer: this is exactly what Soundstr is doing. Our technology provides music use data, and we are currently working to both raise awareness of our efforts and get devices in the field. We are trying to offer a solution that helps songwriters, venues, businesses and ultimately the future of the music industry. Please join us in our movement.

Sign up for Soundstr’s recognition services for FREE at the link below. Discover where your music is used in the real world and start collecting the royalties you’ve earned.

Performing Rights, Simplified P3: The Problem & Solution

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