AI vs. the Music Industry: With the Internet Full of Fake Drakes and Eminems, Who Gets Paid?

Geoff Mayfield & Jem Aswad

An industry that saw its value cut literally in half by the rise of illegal downloads two decades ago is determined not to let the same thing happen again. It wants to harness the upside that AI can deliver while protecting the business from costly consequences.

Addded May 3, 2023

music tech

Variety

Midyear Music Report: U.S. Streams Rise a Solid 10.6%, Per Luminate; Latin and Country Heat Up, While Vinyl Growth Cools

Geoff Mayfield

Continued growth in streaming is delivering another upbeat year for the music business, both in the U.S. and globally, according to Luminate's 2022 Midyear Report. The study also shows Latin and country continuing to gain ground in streaming, with Bad Bunny proving a catalyst for the former.

Addded Jul 14, 2022

music

Billboard

Billboard’s 2022 Women In Music Top Executives

Darlene Aderoju, Trevor Anderson, Rania Aniftos, Cathy Applefeld Olson, Megan Armstrong, Chuck Arnold, Katie Bain, Alexei Barrionuevo, Starr Bowenbank, Dave Brooks, Keith Caulfield, Anna Chan, Ed Christman, Leila Cobo, Mariel Concepcion, Stephen Daw, Bill Donahue, Thom Duffy, Chris Eggertsen, Nolan Feeney, Griselda Flores, Eric Frankenberg, Adrienne Gaffney, Josh Glicksman, Gary Graff, Paul Grein, Lyndsey Havens, Gil Kaufman, Steve Knopper, Carl Lamarre, Jason Lipshutz, Joe Lynch, Heran Mamo, Geoff Mayfield, Taylor Mims, Gail Mitchell, Melinda Newman, Jessica Nicholson, Glenn Peoples, Kristin Robinson, Jessica Roiz, Neena Rouhani, Dan Rys, Micah Singleton, Richard Smirke, Gary Trust, Andrew Unterberger, Christine Werthman, Natelegé Whaley, Jewel Wicker, Deborah Wilker, Nick Williams & Xander Zellner

Reservoir Media CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi leads this year's list of high-achieving women from every sector of the industry — including 12 Hall of Fame honorees.

Addded Feb 24, 2022

music

Variety

10 Years After Whitney Houston’s Death, the Singer’s Estate Sees Quadruple Growth in Earnings

Geoff Mayfield

Ten years ago today, the world lost Whitney Houston. She was 48 years old and on the precipice of a long-awaited comeback that was tragically cut short the night before the 2012 Grammy Awards.

Addded Feb 11, 2022

music

Billboard

Billboard's 2021 Latin Power Players

Noah Assad, Bad Bunny's longtime manager, has helped the Puerto Rican superstar conquer the world without compromising - or losing his independent streak - which puts him atop Billboard 's annual list of executives leading the charge within the genre.

Addded Oct 7, 2021

music

Variety

What Can We Expect From Universal Music Group’s $40-Billion-Plus IPO Next Week?

Geoff Mayfield

With Universal Music Group on the brink of launching one of the biggest initial public offerings to date, it's worth noting how much the music industry has changed -- and hasn't -- since analysts placed the business on the critical list 20 years ago.

Addded Sep 17, 2021

music

Variety

Studies Show TikTok’s Music Clout: Two-Thirds of Users Go to Streaming Services to Play Songs They’ve Found

Geoff Mayfield

It won't surprise most music marketers to learn that 75% of TikTok visitors discover artists there, while 63% say it's a source for music they've not heard before and 72% indicating they associate certain songs with TikTok.

Addded Jul 21, 2021

media music tech

Variety

MDRCs: the ‘Archaic’ Contract Clause That’s Harmed Many Songwriters

Geoff Mayfield

It might seem reasonable to expect a professional songwriter to have two songs officially released over the course of a year, and certainly within five or 10 years. But as many have found out, it's not that simple.

Addded Jul 7, 2021

music

Billboard

Billboard’s 2021 Indie Power Players

Trevor Anderson, Rania Aniftos, Chuck Arnold, Katie Bain, Alexei Barrionuevo, Tatiana Cirisano, Anna Chan, Ed Christman, Leila Cobo, Mariel Concepcion, Stephen Daw, Frank DiGiacomo, Thom Duffy, Deborah Evans Price, Griselda Flores, Gary Graff, Lyndsey Havens, J'na Jefferson, Gil Kaufman, Steve Knopper, Juliana Koranteng, Carl Lamarre, Joe Levy, Heran Mamo, Geoff Mayfield, Taylor Mims, Gail Mitchell, Melinda Newman, Glenn Peoples, Neena Rouhani, Jessica Roiz, Dan Rys, Christine Werthman, Jewel Wicker, Nick Williams & Stereo Williams

Billboard’s Indie Power Players recognizes industry leaders — nominated by their companies and peers and selected by our editors — at independent labels and distributors. This year’s list particularly reflects the strength of independent R&B and hip-hop labels.

Addded Jun 7, 2021

music

Variety

The Ins-and-Outs of Music Catalog Sales and the Behind-the-Scenes Players Advising Songwriters Who Cash Out

Geoff Mayfield

"We should send a thank you note to the Bob Dylan folks," says Charles "Jeff" Biederman, partner at law firm Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, which has a thriving music practice.

Addded Apr 8, 2021

music

Variety

The Song Manager: Hipgnosis’ Nick Jarjour Sees a Financially Fruitful Future for Hit Rights Holders

Geoff Mayfield

"Think about Michael Jackson's stake in music publishing," says Nick Jarjour, global head of song management for Hipgnosis. "How much would his half of Sony/ATV have been worth if we were using today's valuations?"

Addded Mar 12, 2021

music

Variety

Music Biz on the Rebound: Assessing the State of the Industry for Concerts, Songwriters, Publishing, Music Discovery and the Latin Explosion

Jem Aswad, Cata Balzano, Geoff Mayfield, Ellise Shafer & Chris Willman

Here’s a look at five key trends and questions as the industry looks to rebound from the COVID-19 shock

Addded Mar 11, 2021

music

Variety

As Streaming Dominates the Music World, Is Radio’s Signal Fading?

Geoff Mayfield

From the launch of television in the 1940s through the advent of MTV in 1981 and multiple threats from shiny new technologies, radio has survived many challenges to its business. But can the medium navigate competition from streaming?

Addded Feb 10, 2021

music

Variety

Making the Cut: Variety’s 2020 Hitmakers and Hitbreakers

Eli Countryman, Steven J. Horowitz, Charlie Amter, Jazz Tangcay, Kristin Robinson, Chris Willman, Ellise Shafer, Shirley Halperin, Karen Bliss, Andrew Hampp, Shirley Ju, Leena Tailor, Jem Aswad, Geoff Mayfield, Andrew Barker, Roy Trakin & Michael Schneider

The producers, songwriters, mixers, managers and key executives responsible for delivering the smashes.

Addded Dec 3, 2020

media music

Variety

Taylor Swift’s Masters: What Shamrock Gets for $300 Million, Why It Matters, and What’s Next

Geoff Mayfield

Was it a fair price? Experts have mixed opinions.

Addded Nov 19, 2020

music

Variety

The Orchard CEO Brad Navin Explains Mechanics of New Partnership With Sony/ATV; the Secret of BTS’ Success

Geoff Mayfield

While more transparent artist-friendly terms have become increasingly common among music publisher and indie-distributor offerings - especially since Kobalt Music Group streamlined the admin process when it set up shop in 2000 - the brass at The Orchard and Sony/ATV Music Publishing are confident the partnership they announced earlier this month adds a meaningful new option to the marketplace.

Addded Oct 21, 2020

music

Variety

Are Kanye West’s Ideas About the Music Industry Really That Unthinkable? Label Execs Weigh in

Geoff Mayfield

"You need financial backing to some level," says Warner Records exec Eesean Bolden. "You need resources. You need a partner."

Addded Sep 25, 2020

music

Variety

Kanye West Already Owns Some of His Masters, Universal Contracts Show

Geoff Mayfield

Kanye West has said publicly for years that he deserves to own the rights to his music - the master recordings of his songs, and his publishing - even though he knowingly signed contracts with Universal Music Group and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, with top attorneys present, that adhere to music industry standards whereby the company is the owner.

Addded Sep 17, 2020

media music

Variety

Despite the Noise, 6ix9ine’s ‘TattleTales’ Album Headed for Underwhelming Chart Debut

Geoff Mayfield

Experts predict Big Sean will clobber the controversial rapper.

Addded Sep 9, 2020

music

Variety

Power of Law: Top Music Attorneys of 2020

Geoff Mayfield & Jem Aswad

These legal eagles made massive deals, litigated thorny disputes and helped their clients navigate fine deal points, all during a pandemic.

Addded Jul 15, 2020

music

Variety

Proposed Wording in Music Modernization Act Worries Songwriting Advocates

Geoff Mayfield

The phrase "server fixation date and termination" might sound boring or gibberish to anyone other than an attorney or a tech reporter, but that term, from the U.S. Copyright Office's April update on the Music Modernization Act, has become a potentially thorny issue among those hammering out rules for the new law, which takes effect in January.

Addded Jun 18, 2020

music

Variety

Analysts Are Bullish on Warner Music IPO

Geoff Mayfield

If at first a pandemic trips up your initial public offering, try, try again - even during a week of social unrest - especially when investors seem eager to test audio streaming waters in a reinvigorated stock market. That's the incentive for Warner Music Group to revive the IPO that got scotched earlier this year when the pandemic chilled Wall Street.

Addded Jun 3, 2020

music

Variety

Jaxsta Aims to Bring Back Liner Notes, and Create an IMDB for Music

Geoff Mayfield

An IMDB for music, crossed with LinkedIn: That's basically the elevator pitch for Jaxsta, a Sydney, Australia-based tech company that aims to be the go-to source for music credits, serving both the curiosity of fans and the needs of musicians and industry professionals.

Addded May 19, 2020

music

Billboard

Billboard’s 2020 Top Business Managers: ‘Stay The Course’

Megan Armstrong, Steve Baltin, Dave Brooks, Dean Budnick, Judy Cantor-Navas, Ed Christman, Jonathan Cohen, Thom Duffy, Suzette Fernandez, Adrienne Gaffney, Gil Kaufman, Steve Knopper, Geoff Mayfield, Taylor Mims, Cathy Applefeld Olson, Bryan Reesman, Jewel Wicker, Deborah Wilker & Nick Williams

The executives who watch over the finances of rising acts and superstars play an even more essential role at a time of industry uncertainty and turmoil.

Addded Mar 30, 2020

music

Variety

Why Are Music Streams Down If Everyone’s Stuck at Home? Experts Weigh in

Geoff Mayfield

While it might seem counterintuitive that music streams would decline at a time when so many Americans were ordered to stay home, data-savvy label executives were neither startled nor concerned by the 7.6% drop in plays that happened in the March 13-19 tracking week.

Addded Mar 27, 2020

music

Variety

A2IM, Sound Royalties Exploring Relief for Labels, Creators Impacted by Coronavirus

Geoff Mayfield

The American Association of Independent Music ( A2IM), the trade group that represents more than 600 indie labels, is exploring federal relief for smaller labels that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, while music finance firm Sound Royalties has announced a $20 million fund to assist musicians, producers and songwriters.

Addded Mar 17, 2020

music

Variety

Warner Music Group's IPO Confirms Industry's Sexiness to Wall Street

Geoff Mayfield

With Universal Music Group recently valued at $33 billion -- as part of its agreement to sell 10% of itself to a consortium led by Chinese tech giant Tencent -- it's really no surprise that its competitors would test the waters.

Addded Feb 11, 2020

music

Variety

What's a Grammy Moment Worth? Brandi Carlile, John Legend, Label Execs Weigh In

Geoff Mayfield

In simpler times, an artist could see album sales spike to over 500,000 in the days after a Grammy Awards broadcast appearance. That was Santana's experience in 2000. Following a performance on the show and eight Grammy wins, "Supernatural" flew off the shelves -- a gold certification from one key look.

Addded Jan 24, 2020

music

Billboard

Earl Paige, Veteran Billboard Reporter, Dies at 86

Ed Christman & Geoff Mayfield

Earl Paige, a beat reporter at Billboard for 27 years from 1966-to-1991, died on Sunday, May 8, of heart failure in Fillmore, Calif. He was 86.

Addded May 10, 2016

music