Music Business Blog by Jason Feinberg

Interesting report published on TechDirt (with great analysis over at Hypebot):

• Entertainment spending as a function of income went up by 15% from 2000 to 2008
• Employment in the entertainment sector grew by 20% — with indie artists seeing 43% growth.
• The overall entertainment industry grew 66% from 1998 to 2010.
• The amount of content being produced in music, movies, books and video games is growing at an incredible pace.

More info here: http://www.techdirt.com/articles/20120129/17272817580/sky-is-rising-entertainment-industry-is-large-growing-not-shrinking.shtml

http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/digital-and-mobile/exclusive-island-def-jam-echonest-launch-1005046572.story

…It breaks down like this: developers signing up to use the Echo Nest platform will have the option to access the IDJ catalog without having to contact the label in advance for permission. Developers simply agree to the terms of service agreement and then are free to create any app they like using the label’s catalog with no upfront cost to license the music.

Under the terms of service, IDJ becomes the publisher of any app created as a result (meaning they still control the distribution) and will split the revenue of any commercialized app with the developer and the EchoNest. IDJ will also market the app and administer payments to music publishers when applicable. At least initially, apps will be limited to U.S. distribution only.

This is a groundbreaking deal for several reasons. First, it addresses the primary complaint music app developers have, which is that securing meetings with labels to obtain licensing right is far too difficult, not to mention expensive. For smaller, independent developers, it’s damn near impossible…

Read More

Yes, I haven’t posted here in ages. That’s one part due to a job (or three) that are insanely demanding. But it’s also in part due to all the other places I write for. Including this one – PBS Mediashift, where I just posted 10 Truths About the Modern Music Business.

Full article at that link, but here’s the start…



I’ve been covering the digital music business for MediaShift for more than 18 months, and in that time I’ve chronicled new services and examined key trends and news. Below is a look at 10 things that I’ve come to believe are true about the modern music business.


1. The “DIY Revolution” has Been Relatively Ineffective

Although going it on your own was all the rage in 2009, reality has shown that the majority of artists still need a team around them to reach any substantial level of awareness, sales, and revenue. However, this team doesn’t necessarily need to resemble the traditional record label department structure. For many artists, surrounding themselves with a few tech-savvy friends and some seed money can generate the momentum necessary to fuel a moderate indie career. To reach far and wide enough to live off of one’s art, the task list is simply too long to tackle alone. In reality, DIY can work just fine if you modernize the traditional definition of the term.

2. Tech Can Replace/Enhance Some Functions

Technology has removed many barriers and allowed almost anyone to play the game. It has also removed the need for some of the team members that have always been needed. Recording, mixing and mastering music can be done faster and cheaper than ever before. Distributing the output digitally is near instant and inexpensive. Anyone can create digital tools that collect email addresses, stream music, sell tickets, and engage with fans. Just remember that with technology, “build it and they will come” is pure fantasy.


Read the rest here…

From Mashable.com

- There are 1.73 billion Internet users worldwide as of September 2009.
- There are 1.4 billion e-mail users worldwide, and on average we collectively send 247 billion e-mails per day. Unfortunately 200 billion of those are spam e-mails.
- As of December 2009, there are 234 million websites.
- Facebook (Facebook) gets 260 billion pageviews per month, which equals 6 million page views per minute and 37.4 trillion pageviews in a year.

Learn more by watching this video right here:

JESS3 / The State of The Internet from Jesse Thomas on Vimeo.

Some of the most powerful resources you have in the music industry have nothing to do with music.

I read plenty of music biz news sites and blogs, and it helps keep me aware of what’s on most of my colleague’s minds. But if it’s in those blogs, people are already talking about it and you can’t do it first.

What I care about is figuring out what’s next. Finding more efficiency. Creating something that hasn’t been done before. Taking an old concept and applying it a new way.

The best wisdom often comes from sources far from obvious. Find the tools you need, combine them with the wisdom you can find, and create something bigger than you thought.

Read Seth’s Blog to get perspective.

Use Evernote to boost productivity.

Fire up Chat Roulette for creative purposes instead of just showing people your junk.

RSVP for every single SXSW party, but don’t get there before me and take my spot.

A good mix of productivity, outreach, and social media management links…

What Sort of Checklist Should You Be Using?

How To Create the Perfect Facebook Fan Page

Marketing to Mommy Bloggers: When Bad Outreach Goes Good

HOW TO: Deal With Negative Feedback in Social Media

Can One Bad Tweet Taint Your Brand Forever?

Branding 101: How to Write a Positioning Statement

I’ve posted my newest article for PBS Mediashift, titled Rent vs. Own: The Streaming Music Debate Continues

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2010/02/rent-vs-own-the-streaming-music-debate-continues036.html

I basically sum up the current state of the debate, the players, and what it will take for mass adoption. A quick and hopefully informative read to catch you up on where things are at in the streaming/subscription world.

http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2010/02/rent-vs-own-the-streaming-music-debate-continues036.html

A quick note to let you all know I’ll be in Phoenix, AZ Wednesday January 27th, speaking on the NARIP panel “How To Create A Grand Slam Music Marketing Plan”

Get a music marketing plan started in one session. Boost the effectiveness of the plan you already have. A great marketing plan doesn’t have to be complicated. A good one can be just one page long. Spreadsheets, graphs and numbers are not necessary.

Three music marketing experts give you the facts you need to take your artist to the top in this special NARIP session.

More Info: http://narip.com/index.php?page_id=5&task=form&id=95

I’m not a Celine Dion fan.

As a devoted punk/metal/hardcore/decent music fan, what she does simply falls at the exact opposite end of the spectrum of what I look for in music. To say it’s “not my thing” is putting it lightly (and diplomatically). To say that I wrote an essay in college detailing her evil ways would not be a lie.

Having said that, I must give major props to the reigning queen of music revenue. In the past decade, Ms. Dion is the top grossing artist, generating an astounding $747.9 million! Dion pulled in $522.2 million in concert-ticket sales and $225.7 million in album sales in the ten years spanning 2000 – 2009. YIKES.

Read more about this travesty (and see the next 9 highest revenue generating performers) at this link.

P.S. – to my friends/clients at Celine Dion’s label Sony – uhhh… Celine Dion rules!!

I think it’s technically sold out, but come on down, we’ll find a seat for you!

How To Create A Grand Slam Music Marketing Plan
http://narip.com/index.php?page_id=5&task=form&id=94

Get a music marketing plan started in one session. Boost the effectiveness of the plan you already have. A great marketing plan doesn’t have to be complicated. A good one can be just one page long. Spreadsheets, graphs and numbers are not necessary.

But you NEED a plan. Lack of a good plan destroys more careers than lack of talent. Good marketing is simply getting your work to the largest number of people at the lowest possible cost.

Three music marketing experts give you the facts you need to take your artist to the top in this special NARIP session.

BONUS #1
Pre-register for NARIP’s event and submit your artist’s marketing plan. Our experts will select one plan and provide an in-depth review of it at our program.

BONUS #2
One NARIP member will be selected from our session to win one (1) free hour consultation with one of our guest speakers.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Jason Feinberg, President & Founder, On Target Media Group (from Los Angeles)
Steffen Franz, Founder, Independent Distribution Collective
Bryn Boughton, Chief Marketing Officer, IRIS Distribution & BlinkerActive
Tamra Engle, Senior Director, NARIP San Francisco (moderator)

YOU WILL LEARN

* Most important parts of music marketing strategy
* An easy way to begin your marketing campaign
* Your complete digital toolbox: what you need… and what you don’t
* Branding made simple… and effective
* How to use social networks, blog, MySpace & YouTube
* 5 ways to boost your presence on the Internet
* How to get press features
* Sites seeking content – excellent marketing opportunities for you
* How to build a brand and get more fans

WHEN

Wednesday, January 13, 2010
6:00 p.m. – Registration and networking
7:00 p.m. – Program begins
8:15 p.m. – Break
9:30 p.m. – Program ends

WHO SHOULD ATTEND

Artist Managers, Producers & Artist Reps
Record & Music Publishing Executives
Concert Promoters, Agents, Tour Managers
Anyone seeking to create or enhance a music marketing plan or campaign.

WHERE

SAE Institute of Technology
450 Bryant St.
San Francisco, CA 94107-1303

http://narip.com/index.php?page_id=5&task=form&id=94