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Most modern music producers rely on digital technology in their creative practice, but simultaneously want to distance themselves from a distinctly digital sound. In this article for Music Radar, I take a look at some of the characteristics of old music technology that have crept their way back into the production tools and techniques of today.

📣 Press Release: +132 %: Payments to artists more than doubled between 2010 and 2022 // +6.3 %: Market for recorded music will continue to grow in 2023 Berlin, March 6, 2024 – Payments by the music industry to artists have more than doubled in twelve years, increasing by 132 %, according to a study published today by the German Music Industry Association (BVMI). While artists received around 21 % of the companies' revenues in 2010, in 2022 around 43 % of revenues were passed on to them through direct payments such as advances and royalties. These and other figures can be found in the report "Die deutsche Musikindustrie: Investitionen und Zahlungen an ihre Künstler:innen (The German Music Industry – Investment and Payments to their Artists)“ conducted by the research institute Oxford Economics on behalf of the BVMI, based on the figures of the big music companies and the BVMI. The aim was to investigate the extent to which German music labels have reinvested their income, which has increased again in recent years due to music streaming, in the marketing of new music and the development of new talent and passed it on to their artists in the form of payments. 📊Together with the report, the BVMI also published the music industry's 2023 revenue balance sheet, which was once again clearly positive with revenue growth of 6.3 %. The digital business grew by 7.9 %, while the physical market, i.e. vinyl and CDs, hardly changed compared to the previous year (+0.1 %). ➡️ Click here to download the full Press Release with all information on the study and the graphics: https://bit.ly/3V8lTjQ

The UK music industry, with support from the UK Government, is seeking your help to identify resources that raise awareness of the significance of metadata in ensuring creators are fairly paid and credited for their tracks. In music, metadata is information which describes who contributed to a track’s creation, and how – such as who wrote a song, who performed on a recording, and who owns the individual rights in the work or recording. Metadata includes unique identifiers, such as the ISWC, ISRC, IPI and IPN, as well as title and contributor information. Education and awareness of the importance of metadata is vital for all parts of the creative value chain, from those creating songs and recordings, through to those responsible for delivering data to platforms, CMOs and others, including artist managers and A&R departments. Your responses to this survey will inform the work of the Metadata Education Group, one of the expert industry working groups formed to help deliver improvements to metadata practice as part of the UK Metadata Agreement. The Group is working to map out existing resources that educate and raise awareness of the importance of music metadata, maximise access to these resources, and identify gaps in current provision. https://lnkd.in/d2x5qsWt

This is a really important initiative so if you can contribute please do. Poor, corrupt or missing metadata is (still) one of the music industry’s biggest problems and the most likely to mean that creators and performers don’t get paid the royalties that they should. Concerted efforts like these from the Credits Due campaign and the UK metadata code of conduct should go at least some way towards (finally) helping to fix this and get the right money to the right people. Come on, we’ve got work to do…. #musicindustry #musicmetadata #getplayedgetpaid #musiciansroyalties #songwritercredits #producercredits #buildbackbetter

Since its creation in 1963, the "cassette" became a revolutionary object for the world. The invention made #music travel Its reign lasted until the arrival of the CD in the 80s. In 1963, Lou Ottens created a small plastic box, 10 cms by 6, that would change the world forever. As the head of engineers at the Dutch company Hasselt, owned by Philips, he was in charge of developing a prototype to store and play music that, 10 years later, became popular worldwide under the name of cassette. Ottens was obsessed with the idea of creating compact technology to play music. At that time, songs were played on vinyl records, which were too large and fragile to adapt to the growing mobility of people. Music was always a static pleasure, but this prototype promised to bring movement to it. Cassette means "small box" in French and refers to the container that holds two small reels connected by a magnetic tape. Music is recorded on that tape and can be played on both sides, requiring listeners to take the cassette out of the player to flip it over and offer the machine the now-famous Side A and Side B. By 1964, cassettes were already being sold in Europe, and four years later, they landed in the United States. It was a new and still rudimentary object, but it quickly attracted enthusiasts eager to turn it into an indispensable ally for music. In 1971, noise reduction was improved through the use of chromium dioxide tape. The sound quality improved significantly, but true popularity came with a Japanese technology that turned listeners into active participants. The Japanese company Maxell released blank tapes, which unleashed creativity. Users could now record their own music: copy entire albums, create their own compilations, and even record their own voices with home recorders. The cassette opened up a world of #possibilities, where the listener was in control. Throughout the 70s and 80s, cassettes ruled the music world. Unlike vinyl records, they were sturdy and compact. They could be carried in backpacks and pockets, shared easily, and withstood all the challenges of travel. Additionally, they could be customized to the user's taste, creating personalized mixtapes that were the pioneers of today’s playlists. With their proven popularity, various companies worked to improve Ottens' invention. The American company Dolby worked on noise reduction, and in 1978, pure metal particle tapes were created, an advancement that preserved sound quality for decades without alterations. Just one year later, another technological breakthrough linked to the cassette revolutionized the way people listened to music. On July 1, 1979, the Walkman was born: a portable, battery-powered player that introduced a habit still present today—listening to music while walking, in public transportation, or in a waiting room, all individually through the use of headphones. Spotify, say Hello to your grandfather! #nostalgia #greatmoments

After discovering the world of music production 5 years ago. I started scouring the clubs as a player on the Swiss underground scene. Year after year, I felt that this role was no longer as satisfying as it had been at the start, and so I felt the need to put my experience at the service of others and help them with their artistic projects. So I set up my own label, Black Pattern Records. The aim of the project is to unearth new artists and help them with the production, post-production, distribution and legal protection of their musical projects. What's more ? Black Pattern Records is a label that fights for the continued existence of physical supports. As a result, Black Pattern Records has already pressed 3 projects on vinyl and will press 2 more by the end of 2024. The vinyls are pressed by Prime Direct Distribution in London and distributed worldwide (France, Germany, India, Japan, Mexico). This collaboration with a industry leader as Prime Direct Distribution enables Black Pattern Records to bring worldwide visibility to its artists. It's obviously important to keep up with the times. The label's digital presence is therefore optimized as much as possible. With hard work, perseverance and a well-thought-out distribution and promotion strategy, we have several times entered the charts of Beatport and Traxsource, the world's two biggest DJ music download platforms. In April 2024, for example, the track "Ten Fingerz - 2 The F (Dexter Troy Remix)" climbed to number 8 on the Traxsource worldwide trends list in the "House music" category. These results prove that it is possible for independent labels to survive in a music industry that is increasingly hostile, saturated and often economically unviable for small independent artists.

More from Market.us on artificial intelligence in the music industry. The North America Region is Dominant in Global Generative AI in the Music Market North America dominates the global generative AI in the music market, with the largest market share of 35%. The growth of the region is attributed to technological advancements in the music industry. The music industry is a multibillion-dollar industry in the United States. The United States is also home to some of the world’s popular music festivals, including Bonnaroo, Coachella, and Lollapalooza. Thus the music industry plays an important role in the regional growth of the market. With technological advancements and artificial intelligence, the music industry is expected to show lucrative growth through 2032. The music industry in North America accounted for 28.8 billion in 2021. This is due to the emergence of music companies such as Spotify. The Asia Pacific region is also expected to grow at the fastest CAGR during the forecast period due to the revolution in the music industry because of generative AI.

Sony's recent purchase of half of Michael Jackson's music catalog for $600 million is a massive deal in the music world. This is the most significant amount ever paid for a musician's songs, even more than what Bruce Springsteen got in 2021. Michael Jackson, who died in 2009, still makes about $75 million yearly from his music and other things like merchandise and royalties. This move by Sony brings up many thoughts about how music is more than just tunes we enjoy; it's a legacy that lasts long after an artist has gone. It's essential to think about how these legacies are handled. Will Sony keep the true spirit of Jackson's music alive, or will the drive for profits change how his songs are used? Also, this big purchase shows the gap between famous artists and new musicians trying hard to get noticed. The music industry is more about making money from significant names than finding fresh talent. This could discourage new artists from trying to make it in the industry. Furthermore, owning music rights is becoming more valuable as music moves online. But this also means big companies are getting more control over music. This could make it harder for artists to get a fair share of the money their music makes. In thinking about how this relates to the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), a way businesses can run more effectively, the deal highlights the importance of managing assets wisely. Just as EOS teaches companies to focus on their core values and make intelligent choices to grow, the music industry must also balance making money with preserving artists' legacies. For EOS, it's about making sure every part of the business is working well together, and for the music industry, it could mean finding a way to support legendary artists and new talent.

These are 2 major music industry trends for artists that I think will continue to grow exponentially the next few years: 1. Artists will continue to gain more revenue in the creator economy to supplement streaming and touring income. Platforms like Patreon, Bandcamp, and YouTube are good examples of musicians being able to go direct to consumer and sustain substantial income without the middle man. Touring/live shows is more oversaturated than ever with the increasing amount of independent artists from the new short form video era, but the number of venues, clubs and promoters has not increased proportionally to meet this demand. Live shows and streaming can operate at roughly a 50% or less profit margin, while creator digital business can operate at 90% profit margins. The direct to fan experience will be of the utmost importance and more artists will rely on creator tools, communities, and technology for creative ways to monetize. 2. Short form social video skills are more important than ever, and artists will have to continually adapt new skills fast as technology evolves. The baseline in video editing and content creation skills artists need to have will keep going up as the barrier to entry gets higher. Technology and AI will make this easier for those that can adapt new platforms and learn these tools quickly. Music industry peeps let me know your thoughts below! 👇

#8 “What is ISRC, ISWC, UPC? How do I get them for my music and is it important?” What is ISRC? The International Standard Recording Code (ISRC) is a unique identifier for individual recordings. Each version of a song—whether it's a studio recording, live performance, or remix—gets its own ISRC. This code tracks sales and plays for specific recordings, ensuring artists and record labels receive appropriate royalties. How to Get an ISRC? ISRCs are typically assigned by record labels or music distributors. Independent artists can obtain ISRCs through their distribution platform (e.g. Madverse, CD Baby, TuneCore) or by applying directly to their national ISRC agency. What is ISWC? The International Standard Musical Work Code (ISWC) identifies musical compositions and works. Unlike the ISRC, which tracks recordings, the ISWC tracks the composition itself, regardless of how many recordings exist. How to Get an ISWC? Songwriters and publishers obtain ISWCs through their local performing rights organization (PRO) when they register a new composition. This code helps in tracking the usage of the composition across different recordings and performances. What is UPC? The Universal Product Code (UPC) is a barcode used to track sales of physical and digital music products like albums or singles. Each unique release, such as a vinyl, CD, or digital album, receives its own UPC to accurately monitor sales and distribution. How to Obtain a UPC? Music labels often provide UPCs for EPs, albums and singles. For independent artists, music distribution platforms usually generate a UPC when you distribute your music through their services. The Importance of These Codes: - Royalty Tracking and Payment: These identifiers are crucial for accurately tracking the use of music and ensuring that royalties are correctly paid to artists, composers, publishers, and record labels. - Global Recognition: With these codes, your music becomes part of the global music marketplace, accessible and identifiable worldwide. - Metadata Accuracy: They enhance the accuracy of music metadata, improving searchability and discoverability across music platforms and services. #TheBareMinimum #musicbusiness