1. Music Business Journal: The Performance Rights Juncture: Sound Recordings
Prior to 1972, no federal copyright protection existed for sound recordings. Congress rectified that situation by extending copyright to any recordings that were fixed on or after February 15, 1972. The owners of the copyright therefore had the exclusive right to reproduce and distribute phonorecords embodying the sound recording, including by means of digital transmission, and to authorize others to do the same. Pre-1972 recordings remained subject to the protection afforded by state laws.
Approx. time to read: 19 minutes
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2. Noisey: In the Streaming Era, Should Musicians Be Thinking Like Start Ups?
Streaming is the future of music. It’s a controversial subject, but it’s a foregone conclusion. Many people, particularly artists, say that digital streaming promotes a view of music as a cheap commodity, while its advocates see it as a rebirth for an industry that’s often slow to react to change. Still, there’s no doubt that it’s happening. Apple Music’s June arrival was just the latest nail in the coffin for music sales.
Approx. time to read: 18 minutes
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3. Music Business Worldwide: Universal Claims 43% of Major Label Money in First Half of 2015
As explained in the below in-depth MBW analysis, the figure refers to the cash reported in home currencies by the recorded music divisions of UMG, Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and Warner Music Group (WMG) from Jan-June this year.
Approx. time to read: 13 minutes
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4. HoodHype Podcast: What's Beef?
This week we discussed all things beef. From Meek Mill vs. Drake to Ghost vs. Action Bronson, we picked each apart, threw it on the barbecue and sliced it up into delicious edible pieces for you to enjoy.
Listening time: 2 hours
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5. The Guardian: Imogen Heap: Saviour of the Music Industry?
When was the last time you bought a CD or a record? Chances are, you’re listening to more music than ever, but buying less of it. In 2012, for the first time, digital sales of songs – such as iTunes – surpassed physical sales. More likely still is that you were on YouTube or Spotify, which host hundreds of thousands of songs, played billions of times. It’s a golden age for music.
Approx. reading time: 23 minutes
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6. Vulture: Behind the Scenes of Empire - Behind the Scenes as TV's Ruling Hip-Hop Label Prepares for Season 2
Lee Daniels Slouches down into one of the beige sofas in the lobby bar of the Beverly Hilton, warily eyeing the young man arriving for his shift behind the piano — “He better not! Or we gonna have to move” — and waiting for the margarita he is drinking to kick in. Daniels seems to be in several performative moods at once — ebullience, righteous dudgeon, and confessional intimacy — while keeping an eye on how his listener responds to each. But there is a lot distracting him these days.
Approx. reading time: 16 minutes
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7. Forbes: With Black Dollar, Rick Ross Blurs the Line Between Album and Mixtape
Fans of rapper Rick Ross have had lots to be happy about in the past few days. Following a string of consecutive daily song premieres via SoundCloud, his #RozayWeek peaks with Black Dollar, an all-new full-length released today for free via popular online mixtape hub DatPiff. Guests on the record include rappers Future and Gucci Mane, as well as R&B artists August Alsina and The Dream.
Approx. reading time: 6 minutes
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8. Studio Flow: The Weeknd "Beauty Behind the Madness" Review
The Weeknd, Canada's other pop import, releases his drug and sex filled second album. While the Studio Flow crew will probably have to check into rehab after listening find out what they thought about the album.
Approx. listening time: 18 minutes
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9. Complex: The Day Kanye Killed Gangsta Rap
Where were you the day Kanye West killed gangsta rap? Me? I was super duper drunk, propped up on a banquette at Room Service watching Kanye West, standing on a table in front of me, rap along to “Good Life.” Because, you know, life was good. It was Sept. 10, 2007, and HITS Daily Double was projecting based off pre-orders that West would actually outsell the incumbent heartless monster of SoundScan, 50 Cent. And by a substantial margin. The Earth was turning. TBH, though, it wasn’t Kanye’s improbable sales victory that I was celebrating.
Approx. reading time 18 minutes
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10. The Atlantic: When Black Artists Declare Their Autonomy
Kanye West mirrors Nina Simone, Lauryn Hill, and Dave Chappelle, all of whom were derided following audacious, confrontational live performances.
Approx. reading time: 16 minutes
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