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03 March 2012

Warner Music launches YouTube channel

Warner Music Group is initiating an original YouTube channel, “The Warner Sound“, that will feature exclusive new content from the major. WMG’s endeavor will launch with live webcasts from the SXSW Music Conference and Festival March 13-15 by acts like T.I., B.o.B., Dr. John, Ed Sheeran, Theophilus London, Kimbra and Gary Clark, Jr. The Warner Sound’s content will include “ManTazia,” an experimental film series by Cee-Lo Green. Also airing will be “The Live Room,” a series of intimate performances with scheduled appearances by B.o.B. and Regina Spektor. The Warner Sound’s production partners include new media production company Mighty Fresh, which will be responsible for day-to-day editorial and production of original content.

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02 March 2012

Music rights agency Merlin wins illegal file sharing battle with LimeWire

Merlin, the rights agency for independent record labels representing acts including Adele and Arctic Monkeys, has reached a landmark deal with LimeWire worth millions of dollars to artists to end a long-running legal battle over illegal file sharing. The out-of-court settlement, which is thought to be worth between $5m and $10m, is the largest the independent music sector has won in its battle against digital music piracy.

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02 March 2012

BMG acquires R2M assets

BMG Rights Management has acquired the assets of R2M Music. R2M (publisher) was founded in 2006 by ex-Sony ATV management execs Paul Russell, Richard Rowe and Phil May. The deal includes 12,000 copyrights, with 35 Top Ten hits. As part of the transaction BMG has picked up the LeFrak catalogue, home to hits by 2Pac and Neil Sedaka. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

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24 February 2012

French Three Strikes Act seems to be successful

Several studies show that the appeal of piracy has reduced in France, due to the Three Strikes Act. Also the sales of digital entertainment products are growing in France. The French Three Strikes Act makes it possible to disconnect internet users if they engage in illegal file sharing, after they have received three notifications of violating copyrights by illegally downloading pirated content. By the end of 2011, Hadopi, the agency that administers the three-strikes system, had sent 822.000 email warnings as First Strike to suspected offenders. These were followed by up to 68.000 second warnings. Of those 68.000 second warnings 165 received a third warning, whereby the French Courts are authorized to disconnect the internet users of the internet, and may impose fines of €1500,- up to or nearly €2000,-.

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17 February 2012

U.S. Performing Rights Firm SESAC Is For Sale

SESAC, the alternative to non-profit performing rights collection organizations ASCAP & BMI, is for sale. A number of marquee artists including Bob Dylan and Lady Antebellum use the company to negotiate licenses with radio stations, TV networks, film studios and performance venues. Goldman Sachs has been hitred by media investment bank Allen & Co. and hedge fund Och-Ziff to try to fetch $500 million for the Nashville-based company.

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10 March 2012

ASCAP Reports Increased Revenues in 2011

ASCAP, he U.S. collecting society for performance rights royalty collections and advocacy on behalf of songwriters, composers and copyright owners, announced strong revenues of $985 million for calendar year 2011. With an increase of 5,4% over 2010 these revenues are the second highest in the organization’s history. Especially foreign income did very well. Collections from foreign countries totaled $347 million, an increase of approximately $50 million over 2010. Representing more than 425,000 music creators from every genre, the member-owned organization distributed over $824 million to its songwriters, composers and music publishers. ASCAP offers members a very good career development, education and professional recognition through their highly successful and innovative programs, from the annual ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO to the Sundance/ASCAP Music Café to TV and film composing workshops to multi-genre songwriting workshops and songwriting camps, bringing together emerging and hit writers, to their annual award shows. Also in 2011, ASCAP introduced several enhancements to its online Member Access interface, providing members with the most advanced online tools in performing rights for managing their catalogs, royalty statements and more. ASCAP created a new organizational structure in 2011: EVP, Membership Randy Grimmett was promoted to take on added leadership of a multi-functional membership department which consolidates member services, creative services, business affairs, estates and claims, and marketing and communications into a fully integrated department that is serving the evolving career needs of members and providing the strongest advocacy for their work. Vincent Candilora, formerly SVP, was promoted to Executive Vice President, Licensing, taking leadership of all licensing-related areas including broadcast, cable, online, wireless and general licensing as well as infringements. Roger Greenaway, formerly SVP, International, and based in London, is now named EVP, with all international operations reporting to him, including relationships with foreign societies, collection of foreign revenues and distributions.

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