A blog. About music and the music industry. Sometimes idealistic. Sometimes realistic, but always with passion. This blog can help you to set up a musical career and will keep you in touch with the most relevant developments in the dynamic world that music is. It is intended to give an insight into the prejudices and misunderstandings which exist in and over the music industry and to support, advise and motivate composers, authors, publishers and other professionals.
moreQuestion of Monday 17 June: What does it cost to join Buma/Stemra?
“The registration fee is €45 for writers and composers, and €90 for publishers. The annual fee is €62.50 for writers and composers (including VAT), and this fee is charged per calendar year. Publishers pay €125, including VAT. It does not matter if you only join Buma, or just Stemra, or both.”
Do you have a question? Ask it here!
More questions? Check the Buma/Stemra website
Question of Monday 10 June: How can I change work that has been registered before?
“You can register the work again, or send the changes per letter or e-mail to us. If you want to register the work again, please fill in the information of the piece of music again, with any changes. In the field More Information, please mention that this regards a change. You can use the registration form for this. Don’t forget to sign it.”
Do you have a question? Ask it here!
More questions? Check the Buma/Stemra website
Question of Monday 3 June: How much does Buma/Stemra spend on sponsoring and promotion of Dutch music?
“Stemra does not spend money on sponsoring and promotion, Buma does. Before Buma distributes the collected money among members, and after deduction of the expenses and income, 8% is separated and added to the Fonds voor Culturele & Sociale doeleinden (Fund for Cultural & Social purposes). Of that percentage, Buma spends a part on subsidizing Dutch music via Buma Cultuur. This concerns both light pop and contemporary music. Another part is set aside as a pension for music authors and for the Sociaal Fonds Buma.
Do you have a question? Ask it here!
More questions? Check the Buma/Stemra website
Yesterday BMI, Broadcast Music Inc., filed suit at the U.S. Southern District Federal Court in New York, seeking a determination of rates for a blanket license for all music played on Pandora. The suit was filed on the heels of Pandora buying a small terrestrial radio station in what publishers are referring to as a back-door attempt to pay publishers a lower rate. The BMI lawsuit says that “Pandora’s stunt makes a mockery of the performing rights licenses and the rate court process.” Prior to the Pandora maneuver, BMI’s suit noted that Pandora commenced a rate proceeding against ASCAP to actually lower its current fees and said it expects Pandora to claim that is no different than commercial broadcast radio, which BMI contends is a wrong assertion.
The National Music Publishers Association shared the results of it’s biannual board election during its annual meeting. All board members will serve a two-year term, effective immediately. Among them are: Willard Ahdritz (Kobalt Music Group), Martin Bandier (Sony/ATV), Laurent Hubert (BMG/Chrysalis), Zach Horowitz (Universal Music Publishing Group) and Ralph Peer II (Peermusic).
According to several indie label sources Apple is now sending non-negotiable iTunes Radio contracts to indie labels. They say that indies are being handed “significantly less favorable terms than what the majors are reportedly receiving,” with little wiggle-room for negotiation. All the sources of Digital Music News are essentially confirming this: Apple is now sending pre-filled, inferior contract terms to independent labels for iTunes Radio inclusion. The ‘sign here’ situation raises some questions about the absence of Merlin in these negotiations. The indie consortium, often an important rabble-rouser for the little guy, doesn’t appear to be conducting any negotiations with Apple. The terms have been judged “substantially inferior” to deals forged with major labels Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, and Universal Music Group.
The Toronto-based company Mood Media announced a five-year deal to collaborate with Universal Music Group. Mood Music uses audio, visual and other sensory services that appeal to customers at hundreds of businesses, such as clothing stores and restaurants. Universal is one of the world’s biggest music companies, operating through major labels such as Capitol Records, Virgin Records, Decca and Motown Records.
Apple has cleared another big hurdle in advance of its iRadio launch by signing a deal with music publisher Sony/ATV. Sony/ATV CEO Marty Bandier said his company has signed “a two-year introductory deal,” which will give his company 10 percent of any ad revenue Apple generates from his music. Bandier believes his deal is the highest paying of any digital music publishing pact. The majors publishers had looked like they were going to be the holdout because Apple initially offered to pay them a rate of 4.1% of its advertising revenue, while the publishers had been withdrawing digital rights from the U.S. performance rights organizations BMI and ASCAP because they wanted higher rates. BMG, Sony/ATV, UMPG and Warner/Chappell executives had privately said they were seeking rates of 10%-15% of iRadio’s advertising revenue. But when Apple agreed to a 10% rate, Warner/Chappell last week signed the deal and now so has Sony/ATV.
Songs can not always be forced out, sometimes you just come up with them. Therefore, the well-known brand Moleskine has launched a series of notebooks with empty staves. That way, you can compose anywhere, and it is also looking good. You will never forget another song!
Limptinc Hits June 2013 – wlimp
This is a link to the Spotify Application. If you do not have a Spotify Application? Go to Spotify.com!
This is a real festival weekend. My personal top three:
Van Velzen in Leusden
For everyone who missed his ‘The Rush of Life’ tour through theatres, there is another chance to see Van Velzen, at Puddingpop this weekend. Van Velzen makes great pop songs which invite you to sing along.
Saturday 15 June, Puddingpop in Leusden, costs 35 Euros.
Splendid in Schipluiden
The band Splendid, with 10 members, guarantees a party. The pop music with a hint of reggae, rock, and soul, make sure you move to the beat. Dance!
Saturday 15 June, Schippop in Schipluiden, free of charge
Blaudzun in Landgraaf
The man with the large glasses and huge beard, also known as Blaudzun. This weekend, this singer-songwriter, who has one multiple music prizes in the past few years, will perform at Pinkpop.
Sunday 16 June, Pinkpop in Landgraaf, costs 85 Euros.
In the first week of July you should definitely see these 3:
Guus Meeuwis in Eindhoven
Enjoy Groots met een zachte G 2013 during the entire weekend. This 8th edition promises to be larger than ever, with over a million visitors. Like any other year, Guus Meeuwis will do his best to turn it into one great party.
Friday 7, Saturday 8 en Sunday 9 June, Philips Stadion in Eindhoven, costs 44.50-57.50 Euros.
De Staat in Zierikzee
This band from Nijmegen, which rose to fame partly thanks to De Wereld Draait Door, is performing at the Anywave Festival in Zierikzee this weekend. Go see De Staat!
Friday 7 June, Anywave Festival in Zierikzee, costs 20 Euros.
Baskerville in Alkmaar
In 2010, this producing duo, which combines rock and funk hip hop with a bit of electro, became 3FM Serious Talent. This weekend, Baskerville can be seen in Alkmaar.
Saturday 8 June, Poppodium Victorie in Alkmaar, costs 15 Euros.
This weekend, it will be hard to choose between many great performances. My personal top three:
Spinvis in Middelburg
The sound poet from Nieuwegein performs with Zapp 4 tonight. That promises to be a sound play in the broadest sense of the word. Spinvis is certainly worth your while!
Friday 31 May, Zeeuwse Concertzaal in Middelburg, costs 15 Euros.
Kane in Valkenburg
Does a band like Kane require any introduction? They can be seen live in Valkenburg this weekend. Enjoy!
Saturday 1 June, Kuurpark in Valkenburg, costs 29 Euros.
Wolter Kroes in Hilversum
Wolter Kroes will get Hilversum excited on Saturday, during Hollandse Avond (Dutch Night). Enjoy Wolter and the many other artists. Are you ready to do the polonaise?
Saturday 2 June, Havenstraat Live in Hilversum, costs 7.50 Euros.