Why play by Spotify’s rules, when you can make your own? Thanks in large part to Korean boy band group BTS, Big Hit Entertainment unveiled a major milestone last month. The Korean entertainment agency representing the K-Pop group, among many others, n…
Author archives: Daniel Sanchez
YouTube Reportedly Blocks Access to Stream-Ripping Websites
For years, the music industry has waged a lengthy whack-a-mole style war on music pirate sites and YouTube stream-rippers. When one major site would go down, dozens of clones would immediately pop up. Major piracy hub KickAssTorrents, for example, went…
Apple Music Now Offers College Students a 6-Month Trial — But Only Until September
Apple Music is helping out students – and hoping to perk its subscription numbers along the way. Having recently reached 60 million subscribers, the music streaming service has drastically expanded its discount plan. As part of its Back-to-School speci…
Jaxsta Signs Commercial Data Access Agreement With Merlin
Merlin Network has enjoyed a successful 2019 so far. Last month, the indie label collective posted its financials for the 12 months ending March 31st, 2019. The company paid out $845 million to its label and distributor members, up 63% year-over-year. …
In a Closely Watched $6.2 Million Lawsuit, The BBC Accuses Sony of Failing to Protect a Warehouse Burned In the London Riots
The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has started its lawsuit against Sony. Filed in the Technology and Construction Court (QBD) of the High Court of England and Wales, the BBC blames Sony of properly failing to protect a warehouse. The burned do…
Russell Simmons’ All Def Digital President Spins Massive Layoffs Rumor as Part of a ‘Strategic Deal’
Several months ago, and to avoid prosecution over multiple sexual assaults, hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons fled to Indonesia. The country doesn’t have an existing extradition treaty with the U.S. This means if found guilty, he can continue to hide in t…
Spotify Lite Officially Rolls Out to 36 Countries
Last summer, and to beat the competition in emerging markets, Spotify quietly unveiled an alternative version of its app. Dubbed Spotify Lite, the company first tested the 15 MB app in Brazil. Visually, both apps look similar. Yet, under the hood, the…
To Combat Rampant Piracy, a U.N. Organization Launches a Global Anti-Piracy Database
So far this year, multiple piracy websites have gone down as part of a large-scale crackdown from the music industry. Thanks to aggressive subpoenas from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), YouTubNow, a self-described “powerful” YouTu…
Eventbrite Steps In to Issue Refunds After Roxodus Festival’s Shady Cancellation
The Roxodus Festival was originally scheduled to take place at Edenvale Airport north of Toronto in three days. Music legends Aerosmith, Alice Cooper, and Lynyrd Skynyrd would’ve performed at the Canadian music festival set to take place on July 11th. …
Apple Music Selects Gay Times as an Official Playlist Curator
Apple Music has been busy as of late. Last month, the music streaming service applied for a trademark filing in Canada. Apple Music was busy resurrecting its forgotten mini-documentary series focusing on up-and-coming artists – Up Next. Then, just day…