HighNotes: Authenticity is the new black

Authentic is the new black

 

Authentic music is back, and we partially have Lorde to thank for that. Making a name for herself internationally, she's put the New Zealand music scene on the global map. The majors, as we've come to expect, are circling the island country like sharks, looking to reproduce Lorde's success. Thank goodness it's actually good music from good musicians they're after this time, and not just a pretty face that, cross-fingers, can possibly hold a note. Read "Why New Zealand could be the next music hotspot" to learn more of how Lorde's success has had a positive impact on the music industry in her home country.     

 

 

No such thing as 'selling out' in EDM scene

 

Here's an article that opens up plenty of discussion - not just for the EDM industry, but the entire global music scene, from business to artistry. Based on research by Nielsen, it appears the youth are no longer concerned about their favourite artists 'selling out' in fact, they appreciate brand sponsorship to an extent. EDM is no longer the fringe genre it used to be, it's now a billion dollar industry. Read "Shut up and spend: inside the electronic music money machine" to understand the rich relationship between EDM and capitalism. 

 

 

Disruption for music production

 

The Internet isn't done with the music industry just yet; in fact, I don't think it will be for a long time to come. Apart from disrupting consumption and distribution, it now has its eye on the production side of things with new software becoming available on the cloud. It's a scary thought - especially if it’s your job that the new technology is now displacing. Read "Why the music industry's next big disruption is in the recording studio" to find out what's next on the Internet's music hitlist.

 

Google halts video removal plans

 

Could the independent labels have won the battle against Youtube? Well, the Google-owned company has put a halt to its plans to remove videos from record labels that had refused to sign its new licensing terms. They're in the middle of negotiations, but will we see a sweeter deal arise for the indies? Will the European Commission eventually take Google to task over a claimed abuse of dominant market positioning? Read "YouTube does U-turn over blocking indies" to find out more about this turn of events.  

 

 

Nielsen SoundScan music industry report

 

As expected, Nielsen SoundScan’s report on trends in the music industry for the first half of 2014 revealed that while music sales are down, streaming is looking much healthier. Album sales have dropped 15% since last year, during the same period, while on-demand streaming of music and videos showed a combined increase of 42%. Read "Music streaming up, sales down in first half of 2014 - SoundScan" to get the gist of the report.