Streaming & the Indie Labels; Spotify Acquires Mediachain Labs

What does the streaming age mean for independent labels? — musically.com 
 With yesterday’s IFPI Global Music Report and press conference, we know that major labels are happy with the evolution of streaming. But what about indies?

Spotify and Apple Music Are Booming. Why Hasn’t SoundCloud? — www.wired.com 
 The music platform incubates talent wonderfully, but can’t hold onto it. What’s next?

Ticking Timebomb: Country Music Now Has 12 Months to Formulate a Post-Radio Plan — www.savingcountrymusic.com 
 American music radio as it is currently constructed will implode, and likely in the next 12 to 18 months. No amount of headlines and recent news should be

Spotify, Apple Music: Streaming Subscriptions Help Music Industry — fortune.com 
 Massive growth in online streaming of artists saw music industry revenues grow in 2016 at their fastest rate since records began.

Spotify Acquires Mediachain Labs — platformandstream.com

Mediachain Labs, designed to explore how the next generation of blockchains and open, peer-to-peer protocols would empower creators to better reach their audiences and earn a living, has been acquired by Spotify.

Kickstarter backers have funded 25k music projects with $175m — musically.com 
 Kickstarter music boss Molly Neuman revealed a new milestone for the crowdfunding service on Friday: 25k funded music projects so far.

Merlin has paid out $300m to independent labels in past 12 months — www.musicbusinessworldwide.com

Independent music digital rights agency Merlin has announced that it has paid out $300m to its independent label members over the past 12 months — an eightfold increase on the $36m paid out in the calendar year of 2012.

YouTube Announces ‘Best.Cover.Ever’ Show With Ludacris, Demi Lovato, Jason Derulo — www.billboard.com 
 The singing competition co-produced by Ryan Secrest is coming to the digital video platform later this year.

[Case Study] Streaming Live Music with the Pickathon Festival — livestream.com 
 Learn how the Portland, Oregon-based festival Pickathon has been streaming live music with Livestream, staying independent while growing revenue.

Social platforms like Instagram and Spotify are changing the way musical artists promote themselves — www.pghcitypaper.com 
 “Everyone’s on social media right now. We’re linked in.”