IRS Issues Rules for Americans Receiving a Second Stimulus Check

It now appears that a small percentage of the nearly 160 million Americans receiving a federal stimulus check have been issued a second stimulus check.  Here’s the guidance on the extra distributions from the Internal Revenue Service. After distr…

12 Million Stimulus Checks Remain Unclaimed by Americans Because They Don’t Know the Rules

An estimated 12 million stimulus checks haven’t been claimed by Americans owed the money, according to an estimate released this week. Here’s why. Most Americans have already received a stimulus check from U.S. Government, often for the amo…

AFM & SAG-AFTRA Owes Session Musicians and Background Vocalists $46 Million — Here’s How Eligible Performers Can Get Paid

As part of a proposed settlement with the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) & SAG-AFTRA, certain session musicians and background vocalists will receive a total of nearly $46 million in owed, previously unpaid royalties. Each year, AFM & S…

Latest $1,200 Stimulus Checks Look Exactly Like Junk Mail — Don’t Throw Them Out

The latest batch of $1,200 stimulus checks look a lot like junk mail (hint: they aren’t). Already, several incidents of Americans tossing out their $1,200 stimulus checks have been reported. That includes one Atlanta-based musician who almost thr…

Still Haven’t Received Your Stimulus Check? Here’s How to Track It Through the USPS

The United States Postal Service (USPS) is officially allowing those who are still awaiting their stimulus checks to track their progress through the mail, via the Informed Delivery service. Free to sign up for and to utilize, Informed Delivery enables…

Spotify Plucks 36 Artists for Its Global Emerging Artist Program, ‘Radar’

Spotify announced today that its updated global emerging-artist program, now called RADAR, has signed 36 new artists. As with Spotify’s previous efforts to promote up-and-coming acts, RADAR will center on a playlist (entitled “On Our RADAR&…

Bad Bunny Scores Spotify’s Biggest Debut of 2020 — After a Paid Promotional Campaign

Bad Bunny’s new album is killing it on Spotify — partially due to the platform’s paid advertising options. Puerto Rican singer Bad Bunny is taking full advantage of Spotify’s soon-to-be expanded advertising tools to promote his newest…

Spotify Is Expanding Its Pay-for-Promotion Program — Not Everyone Thinks That’s Such a Good Idea

Following the success of ‘Marquee,’ Spotify has greenlit the expansion of its artist advertising program.  But ‘paying for promotion’ is getting dangerously closely to ‘paying for play’ for many. Having experienced s…

SAG-AFTRA Doubles Down on Efforts to Secure Union Contracts for Spanish Broadcasting System Employees

SAG-AFTRA is upping the ante in its multiyear quest for a contract with the Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS), a large owner and operator of Hispanic radio stations (namely La Raza and Mega) in the United States and Puerto Rico. Yesterday, about 200 me…

Music Benefactors Wants to Solve the Crowdfunding Riddle for Musicians — Introducing the ‘Artist Public Offering’

On November 14th, 2019, Taylor Swift wrote an open letter to the public, the music industry, and, most importantly of all, her many millions of fans. In it, Swift — who has sold over 50 million records and became a global sensation long before her 30th…