A decade ago, major labels forgoing middlemen to sell direct to fans would have led to a revolt from retailers. Now, with the ranks of retailers diminished and streaming the new normal, ringing every dollar out of fans is so essential that Warner Music has created a division to focus…
Category archives: Indie Labels
The Actual Value Of The Indie Music Sector [INFOGRAPHIC]
General wisdom suggests that indie labels account for about 20% of global revenue, but a recent study has revealed that their share is in fact much greater than previously suspected, something which has broader implications with regard to the independent sector’s ability to compete globally. ____________________________________ Guest Post by Mark…
Payments To Indie Labels Grew 73% Last Year Driven By Streaming, Says Merlin
The annual survey of members of Merlin, the indie music licencing agency led by Charles Caldas, was announced earlier this week during A2IM’s Indie Week in New York City. The biggest takeaway was not that streaming revenue had become an essential revenue source, but rather how quickly it is growing….
10 Years of BalconyTV, 10 Celebratory Facts
In recognition of indie favorite BalconyTV’s ten year anniversary, its founder Stephen O’Regan offers us ten facts about how the daily online music show works and where it stands today. ______________________________ By Stephen O’Regan, Co-Founder, BalconyTV on The Orchard’s The Daily Rind It’s BalconyTV‘s 10th anniversary. As the one who…
Music Came First At A2IM #IndieWeek 2016
New York City’s Indie Week wound down last night. The annual series of events sponsored by A2IM (American Association Of Independent Music) brings together indie labels and the independent music community. By music marketer Matt Voyno A2IM is probably the most important music organization you’ve never/vaguely heard of. They work…
Tax Break State Of Mind: New York Set To Offer Recording Companies Big Tax Credits
In a bit of good news for New York artists looking to save money, it seems the Empire State will soon be joining numerous others by offering companies which create music projects a sizable tax credit. __________________________ Guest Post by Bobby Owsinski on Music 3.0 Everybody likes to save money…
Indie Music Label Seeks Artists Engagement Through Co-operation
This piece takes us inside the inner-workings of Odradek, an artistically co-operative non-profit record label built with the goal of giving classical and jazz musicians an opportunity for greater control over their music. _____________________________________ Guest Post by Anca Voinea on the Co-operative News A record label based in Kansas, USA,…
Distributor Allegro Closes, Leaving 100s Of Indie Labels In Limbo
The latest victim of the rapid decline in music sales is indie distributor Allegro Media. It’s sudden closure has left hundreds of independent labels with their product locked in a warehouse and no distribution. _________________________________________ Music and video distributor Allegro has shut down unexpectedly, laying off employees and leaving dozens…
Indie Empresario Graham Stairs On The Music Industry, Great Songs And Staring A New Record Label
Here Odario Williams speaks with Graham Stairs about his new digital label imprint known as the Confidence Emperors, what its place is in the industry, and what he looks for in a song. __________________________________________________ By Odario Williams of Canadian hip hop band Grand Analog Graham Stairs got his start in…
A2IM Elects Four Indie Label Execs To Board Of Directors
U.S. indie label trade group A2IM has added four indie label execs to its board of directors. Stephanie Alexa (ATO), Glenn Dicker (Yep Roc Music Group), Andrew Kautz (Big Machine), and Louis Posen (Hopeless Records) are joining A2IM board for the 2016-2017 year. _____________________________________________ A2IM, the American Association of Independent…