Music Promotion, Marketing and Distribution Newsletter

September 2015

The contacts listed are sorted into FIVE sections:

1. Publications, Review Websites and Music Blogs that will REVIEW your music
2. Radio Stations, Shows and Podcasts that will PLAY your songs
3. Labels, Vendors, Distributors and Promotional Services that will help you to SELL your CD
4. Websites where you can UPLOAD your band's MP3s or videos
5. Helpful Resources for recording artists

SECTION ONE: SITES/PUBLICATIONS WHERE YOU CAN GET YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED

For The Rabbits
fortherabbitsmusic@gmail.com
fortherabbits.wordpress.com
An independent music blog, we review stuff we like and are always disappointed we don't get sent more promos. @ForTheRabbits

Houston Rock TV
PH: 832-454-4310
Nikki Love houstonrocktvbusiness@yahoo.com
www.houstonrocktv.com
We strive to get Houston Rock bands better known and exposed to the public. There are tons of locals that haven't had their chance to shine and with us they are always shining! We think every band deserves to get their name out and to be able to express what they feel about their music! We have an enormous amount of talented bands here and we want to interview all of you! If you are in a local band in a different city PLEASE DO NOT feel left out!! We want to interview your band too! In the future we do hope to start traveling but we do provide phone interviews and if you are interested we want to help. facebook.com/HoustonRockTV

NeuFutur
369 Stephens Rd. Akron, OH 44312
PH: 740-475-8979
James McQuiston editor@neufutur.com
www.neufutur.com
Covers anything from Christian praise to Death Metal. Fight on, little ones. @NeuFutur

SECTION TWO: RADIO STATIONS, SHOWS AND PROMOTERS

2.1 RADIO - STATIONS AND SHOWS

Soul Traveller Radio
Chevron Island, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217 Australia
Shayne Locke radio@soultravellerradio.com
www.soultravellerradio.com
In every show and every song, we are bringing a message of change and personal growth. Our tagline is "You Can Be The Change". The line-up of programmes is exciting as we bring about a new style of radio station. Morning meditations, morning yoga, interviews with artists to find out more about who they are and how they started their journey, Saturday night specials with Globesonic Radio & The Black Swan Theory, Kitzie Stern with New World Kirtan, The Temple of Youth every night at 6pm featuring music with a bit more edge, author profiles showcasing the latest books and live chat shows with healers, mediums and other spiritual guests. If you have music that you wish to have played on Soul Traveller Radio, and you think it fits the Conscious Music category, send us either downloadable Soundcloud tracks, Dropbox links or Bandcamp LINKS so we can check it our. Direct any music to our e-mail address. @Soul_Traveller

Women Of Substance Radio
Bree Noble womenofsubstanceradio@gmail.com
www.wosradio.com
An online radio station garnering fans from all over the world. WOSRadio plays the BEST female artists, both label and indie, in all genres. We take submissions from indies and our review board selects only the best quality artists and songs that can stand up next to female superstars of yesterday and today. Listen at www.rdo.to/wosradio or download our FREE branded Mobile App on Apple & Android Devices. Search for "Women of Substance" in your App Store.

Saturday Night Alternative - WDIY
301 Broadway, Bethlehem, PA 18015
PH: 610-694-8100
Stewart Brodian info@wdiy.org
www.wdiyfm.org
Longtime WDIY programmer and winner of the Lehigh Valley Music Awards' Veterans Award, Stewart Brodian brings you an original mix of Alternative favorites every Saturday night. A strong supporter of local talent, Stewart regularly encourages musicians to submit their material for airplay. @WDIYFM

Now Hear This Entertainment
2825 Pankaw Ln. Valrico, FL 33596
PH: 813-854-8000
Bruce Wawrzyniak bruce@now-hear-this.net
www.NHTE.net
A podcast that features Singer/Songwriter, Pop, Country, Blues, Christian, Rock, Folk, Indie and Americana artists. The podcast also features interviews with guests who have achieved success in the music business, with the content presented in a way that not only entertains fans of that guest and fans of good music interviews in general, but in a manner that educates musicians, singers, songwriters ??? entertainers who want to learn from those who are being interviewed each week by Bruce Wawrzyniak, president of Now Hear This, Inc.

About 2 Blow Radio
PH: 718-210-4101
radio@unsignedhype.org
www.unsignedhype.org/radio
Indie and underground Hip Hop, mixes & interviews. @About2BlowRadio

The Real Radio Show
2611 Merrick Rd. #953, Bellmore, NY 11710
PH: 516 306-4188
therealradioshow.com@gmail.com
www.TheRealRadioShow.com
An unscripted high energy show with celebrities and indie acts from around the world. An entertainment show like no other; loosely connected by the Bizarre humor provided by the cast. Metal, Hard Rock and Alternative. @realradioshow

New Driven Radio
Sherry Sabine NewDriven@gmail.com
www.facebook.com/NewDrivenRadio
The NEW DRIVEN shows bring the hottest professional level independent rock to syndicated radio. Our weekly shows feature the best in emerging Soft Rock, Hard Rock, Alt Rock, Pop, Acoustic, Folk Rock, Punk & Melodic Metal. NEW DRIVEN also produces a weekly talk show that focuses on professional independent artists and a live show with call-in interviews and guest co-hosts. Artists on our shows are full-time musicians, (or nearing that step) with a rigorous touring schedule We spin newer release original music. @NewDriven

Fuego Beats Radio
Fuego info@fuegobeats.com
www.fuegobeats.com
Broadcasts a distinctive blend of talk radio interviews with a mix of Hip Hop, Pop and R&B music from emerging musicians. Topics range from celebrity gossip to controversial issues relevant to a modern society, as well as pop culture. Submit your music via our ONLINE FORM. Send us an e-mail if you would like to be considered for an interview. @WFBS981

2.2 RADIO PROMOTERS

My Song On Radio
Shayne Locke info@stmedia.me
www.mysongonradio.com
DISAPPOINTED with your last radio campaign? There Is Now A New Music Service Designed Especially For Indie Artists. GET YOUR MUSIC TO WORLDWIDE MAJOR RADIO STATIONS Using the same radio delivery service major labels use at a fraction of the price. For more information please visit our website or contact us via e-mail.

Cherokee Valley Records
PO Box 16464, Asheville, NC 28816
PH: 828-989-2272
Doug Hudson cherokeevalleyrecords@gmail.com
www.cherokeevalleyrecords.com
Promoting indie artists worldwide! Gospel, Country, Americana, Folk, Bluegrass, Singer/Songwriter. Whatever your needs are, we are here for you. We specialize in promoting indie artists and we strive to promote each song as honestly and as professionally as it can be. We give you three options on how to release your song as well. You can choose from our Compilation Service, Single Song Release or our Digital DJ Download.

CIMG, LLC
119 Bowling Ave. Nashville, TN 37205-2357
Tony Bates contact@cimgllc.com
www.cimgllc.com
Our Radio Promotion work focuses on relevant radio stations (terrestrial and online), especially college radio stations, in the U.S., Canada and the Commonwealth of Independent States. Our staff works daily to build relationships with radio stations, regional promoters, music/entertainment publications and websites, and media outlets throughout North America as well as in eastern and central Europe. We work mostly with Rock, Pop-Rock, Americana and Alt-Country artists. facebook.com/cimgllc

Howard Rosen Promotion
521 W. Channel Islands Blvd. #15, Port Hueneme, CA 93041
PH: 805-382-2200 FX: 805-201-7816
info@howiewood.com
www.howiewood.com
Since 1985 We have been helping artists reach their goals of obtaining radio airplay, expanding their fan base, and creating awareness throughout the industry. @Howiewoodpromo

SECTION THREE: SERVICES/VENDORS/LABELS THAT WILL HELP SELL YOUR MUSIC

3.1 SERVICES - PROMOTION/PUBLICITY

Spinner PR
PH: 323-467-7633
Deborah Brosseau deborah@spinnerpr.com
www.spinnerpr.com
A full-service indie public relations and marketing company based in Los Angeles. Since 1993, Spinner PR has been a creative force in the arts & entertainment, lifestyle and nonprofit fields, securing unique and valuable visibilities and relationships for both up-and-coming and established entities. Whether you are looking to define your image or want to spread the word about your work, Spinner PR can be of help. Big or small budgets, big or small goals, we offer cost-conscious strategic counsel and hands-on assistance. @spinnerpr

FakeMusicMedia
PH: +86 (0) 10-6451-1400
Zhang Jie zhang.jie@fakemusicmedia.com
www.fakemusicmedia.com
Bringing music and people we love to China, Asia & beyond since 2009. FMM strives to become a support team that helps the artist management and label, or the artists themselves go into unfamiliar territory and get native.

Kill Nerve Management
PO Box 687, North Hollywood, CA 91603
Jesse Ramirez info@killnervemgmt.com
www.killnervemgmt.com
A music management firm based in Los Angeles. We provide the following services to our clients: digital marketing, online merchandise management, social media management, concert promotion, street team marketing & promotion. Genres don't matter. Music matters. Please send us LINKS to your music via e-mail. Please do not attach any files. We look forward to listening to your music! @KillNerveMGMT

CIMG, LLC
119 Bowling Ave. Nashville, TN 37205-2357
Tony Bates contact@cimgllc.com
www.cimgllc.com
We provide Social Media Marketing and Social Commerce Solutions for our clients, in addition to Artist Management and Record Label Services. We work with artists, record labels, agencies, events, and brands of all kinds that want to effectively engage their supporters and fans via social media. Considering the global marketplace and international appeal, we offer our services in several languages as well, when appropriate to meet your goals. We work mostly with Rock, Pop-Rock, Americana and Alt-Country artists. facebook.com/cimgllc

IndiePower.com
PH: 818-505-1836
info@indiepower.com
www.indiepower.com
Started by industry veterans to further the goal of helping develop the cutting edge of new artists and labels with innovative marketing and talent. Combining 25+ years of valuable experience with an arsenal of talents and a passion for breaking albums and artists, Indie Power is about to add a few new pages to the history books! @indie_power

3.2 SERVICES - LABELS, DISTRIBUTORS AND ONLINE VENDORS

Hard Headed Entertainment
www.hardheadedent.com
We are trying to change the format of how people make music and deliver it to the fans. We mainly produce Detroit-based Hip Hop but are not afraid to push the limit on our creative content. We make music that will make you think, laugh, dance and hopefully motivate you as well. The main goal for us when we are making music is to create a feeling inside of people from the music and have that feeling make a lasting impression on them. Here at Hard Headed Entertainment we are striving to make good music!! facebook.com/hardheadedent1 @HardHeadedEnt1

El Chapo Records
elchaporecords@gmail.com
www.elchaporecords.com
An exciting independent outlet for emerging Hip Hop, R&B and Pop artists. Send demos to our e-mail address. facebook.com/OfficialElChapoRecords @ElChapoRecords

iMusician Digital
Binzstrasse 23 (West Entrance). 8045 Zurich, Switzerland
ch@iMusicianDigital.com
www.imusiciandigital.com
We deliver music from indie bands & musicians to hundreds of online stores like iTunes, Amazon & Napster. We also have offices in Germany and Australia.

OAG Management Digital Distribution
PH: 412-444-8624
Scott Brigger and Aaron Beatty info@oagmanagement.com
www.oagmanagement.com
A full-service music & multimedia distribution company, and works with the top music publishing companies in the world. We ensure that your content will be delivered, registered, formatted, monetized, and protected throughout the world; all with leading industry experience and personalized customer care. Our products are currently delivered to over 120 countries and we service all major online sites and mobile carriers. Our company was founded in 2011 by artists, entrepreneurs, and a savvy business entertainment team???and was built from the ground up. To this day, we still study the ever-changing music landscape, still research the newest trends, and deeply care for our partners??? assets. We do not accept all submissions. Yes, we are selective, which means that the music will be heard by real people??? with real ears, hands, minds, hearts and the utmost integrity. The amount of money we need to properly break through to this industry is minimal. OAG Management offers a complete distribution portfolio, the best in publishing options, video monetization, and so much more. This puts us ahead of the leaders in this already booming business. @oagmanagement

Divebomb Records
Matthew Rudzinski tribunalRecords@aol.com
www.divebombrecords.com
A division of Tribunal Records that was started in 2008 to help reissue long out of print Hard Rock and Heavy Metal albums. Divebomb Records has since expanded its horizons and also works with up and coming artists who play classic styles of Metal. Our releases are only of the highest caliber both sonically and in their aesthetics. If you have demos, unreleased material or gained the rights back to your music please drop us a line! Current bands, unless you are playing a classic style of Metal or Hard Rock DO NOT BOTHER sending us anything. Divebomb Records specializes in the classic eras. @TribunalRecords

SECTION FOUR: SITES WHERE YOU CAN UPLOAD YOUR BAND'S MP3s OR VIDEOS

Illustrated Sound
13909 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230
PH: 503-595-3000 FX: 503-296-2370
support@illustratedsound.com
www.illustratedsound.com
CD Baby's YouTube network that applies the "power in numbers" principle to YouTube monetization??? combining the volume of multiple artists' channels in order to help you. Make more money from your YouTube channel. Build your YouTube audience Drive more video engagement. Develop a smarter content strategy. Optimize your channel and videos. Earn higher ad revenue from your music on YouTube. In order to be eligible for the Illustrated Sound Network??? your YouTube channel must: Have more than 500 subscribers. Be older than 30 days. Have at least one video. Have at least 3000 views in the last 30 days (across all videos). Be in good standing (in terms of copyright strikes). If your channel meets those requirements??? we'd love to help you take your YouTube presence to the next level with Illustrated Sound. @illustratedsnd

BREAL.TV
network@breal.tv
www.breal.tv
The first Online Hip Hop TV Network of its kind bringing together DJ???s, musicians, news, and culture. The network currently offers a variety of shows each catering to their own unique audience. Created by B-Real, the front man of the legendary group Cypress Hill, Breal.TV is your fresh daily dose of news music and culture. We offer both live and recorded interactive programming and simultaneous broadcasts. Submit your video using our ONLINE FORM. facebook.com/brealtv @brealtv

Muzooka
www.muzooka.com
Discover opportunities right for you from the trendiest music venues, to the hottest festivals and top radio stations. We've built a community of artists, partners and fans to ensure that the right talent is matched to the right opportunities. Each one of our members are Muzooka Tastemakers because they decide what???s hot and what they like just by liking, listening and sharing songs they find on Muzooka. facebook.com/Muzooka @Muzooka

JukeBoxAlive
311 Montford Ave. Asheville, NC 28801
PH: 828-232-0016
Will Cumberland cumberland@jukeboxalive.com
jukeboxalive.com
Our Advanced Jukebox Player protects your music from being digitally downloaded, yet allows fans to hear your music online. This creates exciting possibilities for you to present yourself to new audiences without being ripped off.

SECTION FIVE: SOCIAL NETWORKS AND ONLINE COMMUNITIES

Periscope
contact@periscope.tv
www.periscope.tv
Explore the world in real time through someone else's eyes. While there are many ways to discover events and places, we realized there is no better way to experience a place right now than through live video. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but live video can take you someplace and show you around. @periscopeco

SECTION SIX: HELPFUL TOOLS AND RESOURCES FOR YOUR BAND

6.1 RESOURCES - GENERAL

musiccopywriter.com
Jonathan Cisneros jonathan@musiccopywriter.com
www.musiccopywriter.com
I help entrepreneurs and businesses in the music industry make more money by crafting powerful sales copy and marketing strategies.

Rewardlink
contact@reward-Link.com
www.reward-link.com
Social networks are the place where fans share & enjoy music, videos & photos. Sync your streaming channels (YouTube, SoundCloud...) with reward-link.com and share your reward links with your fans on social networks. It's the best way for you to spread your Reward links and be Rewarded. A reward is a monetary gratification given by the Internet user to the artist or its rights holder without counterpart (donation). The Internet user is the one who decides the amount of his gesture. Minimum reward of 30 cents is set. For each content, reward-link creates a direct ???Reward link??? that leads to an artist page. This link can be shared as it is, or inserted in the YouTube video description field so the "Reward link" appears next to the video when shared by fans on Facebook, Twitter and any social networking site or streaming website. The artist always get at least 90% of the Reward. The ones who use the artist's "Reward link" embedded as a Button gets 10%. facebook.com/rewardlinkcom @rewardlink

Festival Network Online
PO Box 18839, Asheville, NC 28814
PH: 828-658-2779 FX: 828-645-3374
Julie Cochrane julie@festivalnet.com
www.festivalnet.com
Lists more than 10,000 events throughout the U.S. and Canada seeking performers, from local & regional to national & international. @_festivalnet

6.2 RESOURCES - EDUCATIONAL

CD Baby DIY Musician Conference (October 23 - October 25, Chicago)
diymusiciancon.com
The DIY Musician Conference will address the actual needs of you, the independent musician. Come by and hang out with CD Baby and likeminded DIY artists and get practical advice that will help you move your career forward. Leave with a plan-of-action for your music career. Meet musicians from around the world. Connect with industry experts. REGISTER NOW. Only $99! Grab your tickets fast. This will sell out soon! @cdbaby

China Music Radar
chinamusicradar@spli-t.com
www.chinamusicradar.com
A website about the music industry in China. Especially the emerging popular music scene and related trends, from independent to mainstream artists. Maintained by Beijing and Shanghai-based promotion company Split Works, the Radar is a first-hand resource for the latest news and updates about the country???s burgeoning music industry.

Music Marketing Manifesto Blog
John Oszajca john@musicmarketingmanifesto.com
www.MusicMarketingManifesto.com
Advanced strategies, secrets, tactics and tips on selling your music online. @JohnOszajca

6.3 RESOURCES - TOOLS

Kik
420 Weber St. N. Ste. I, Waterloo, ON N2L 4E7
help@kik.com
www.kik.com
Looking for a new and engaging way to interact with your audience? Have amazing content or a cool experience you'd love to get discovered? Kik offers brands and content providers unique ways to talk with their fans, and find new followers too! @Kik

ooVoo
44 E. 30th St. 12th Fl. New York, NY 10016
www.oovoo.com
The world???s largest, independent video chat and messaging app. ooVoo lets you video chat and text with up to 12 friends for free. @ooVoo

MyNewsletterBuilder
comments@mynewsletterbuilder.com
www.mynewsletterbuilder.com
A user-friendly, feature-rich, online newsletter management program for novices and professionals alike. facebook.com/MyNewsletterBuilder1

6.4 RESOURCES - AUDIO

Peerless Mastering
1085 Commonwealth Ave. #322, Boston, MA 02215
PH: 617-527-2200
info@peerlessmastering.com
www.peerlessmastering.com
Dedicated to providing the highest quality restoration. We offer the highest quality stereo and 5.1 pre-mastering, CD, CD Enhanced, and DVD-A authoring and full audio restoration. Our staff is exceptional at giving our clients the best quality and service, guiding them through the final phase of their sonic process with ease and expertise. We are uniquely equipped to provide the highest quality mastering available anywhere. We have the expertise, equipment, and skills to achieve the full sound potential of your album. As more and more artists are choosing to record in project and home studios, high-quality professional mastering in an acoustically accurate room has never been more important. Working at Peerless' state-of-the-art studios with our highly trained engineers, you can realize your sonic vision and make your recording sound as full, warm, punchy, and clear as possible. We will guide you through every step of this final phase of your project, and you will be truly amazed when you hear how incredible your music can sound. @PeerlessMaster

6.5 RESOURCES - ORGANIZATIONS

CONNECT Music Licensing
85 Mowat Ave. Toronto, ON M6K 3E3
PH: 416-922-8727
/www.connectmusic.ca
Administers licences in Canada for the reproduction of sound recordings, and the reproduction and broadcast of music videos on behalf of the copyright owners (usually the record companies). A licence from CONNECT music licensing ensures that owners receive compensation for the use of their sound recordings and/or music videos. In Canada, our members consist of all the major record companies, many of the independent labels, as well as artists and producers. Our members own or control the vast majority of the copyright of all the sound recordings and music videos produced and/or distributed in Canada. Any group or individual making copies of sound recordings, music videos, exhibiting or broadcasting a music video(s) will require authorization from the copyright holder, or from CONNECT music licensing (as their appointed agent). Without this permission, the group or individual is subject to legal prosecution for copyright infringement. CONNECT music licensing also distributes royalties to its members for the communication, public performance or private copying of their eligible sound recordings. @CONNECTml

SECTION SEVEN: THIS MONTH'S ARTICLE

1. "What Effect Will Apple Music Have On the Music Industry?" 2. "4 Kinds of Royalties You Can Earn From Apple Music" 3. "Wait, Apple Music Could Be Great for Indie Musicians?"
by Chris Robley, The DIY Musician blog and Tracy Maddux, CEO of CD Baby
© 2017 All Rights Reserved. Used By Permission

"WHAT EFFECT WILL APPLE MUSIC HAVE ON THE MUSIC INDUSTRY?" BY CHRIS ROBLEY, THE DIY MUSICIAN BLOG

Apple has announced the launch of Apple Music, a new on-demand streaming service that is set to compete with Spotify, Rdio, Google Play, etc.

Over the past few months, as rumors of the launch spread, many people in the industry met the news with skepticism or indifference: Big deal, another streaming service! Why would I pay for Apple Music when I get Spotify for free? Spotify already has millions of customers; Apple Music has zero! And so forth.

But I've been quietly excited for this launch for a while now. Why? Well, Doug Morris, Sony Music's CEO, summed it up pretty well during an interview at Midem: "(Apple has) $178 billion dollars in the bank. And they have 800 million credit cards in iTunes. Spotify has never really advertised because it's never been profitable. My guess is that Apple will promote this like crazy and I think that will have a halo effect on the streaming business."

In other words, Apple is perhaps the ONE player with the power, reach, bank account, and brand loyalty to shift consumer habits en masse towards PAID music streaming (since Apple Music has no free tier).

A smooth transition to streaming?

No way in hell was your great aunt Wilma going to start a Spotify account. But Apple? Why not! They've already got her payment info, and the next time she goes into Verizon to trade in her phone, Apple Music will come pre-loaded on her next device.

Plus, there'll be Apple Music commercials on TV and radio. Apple Music branding all over the internet. Apple Music in the press and magazines. This could be the tipping point where music consumers adopt subscription-based music streaming, driving up per-play streaming payouts to artists and labels, and bringing more attention to the important issues of artist and songwriter remuneration that will help secure a lively independent music economy in the digital present and future.

That's my hope, at least.

Sure, audiophiles will still want their hi-res downloads, and plenty of people still want CDs and vinyl (myself included), but it hardly makes sense anymore for the average consumer to store music files on their own devices.

That's just reality, and there's no going back (unless the earth is hit by devastating solar flares, in which case I hope you've stored up a lifetime supply of acoustic guitar strings!)

Once we're all consuming music in the way that makes the most sense for today's technology, then everyone ??? the artists, the subscribers, the streaming services, the legislators, and (of course) the lobbyists ??? can get down to the business of figuring out what's equitable for all.

And when labels and distributors can negotiate a certain payment structure for streams with Apple Music (because, again, all Apple Music users will be paid subscribers), they'll be in a position to pressure Spotify and other streaming services to abandon their free tiers. The world will pay for music again. Then it's just a matter of making sure those per-stream payouts rise accordingly.

"4 KINDS OF ROYALTIES YOU CAN EARN FROM APPLE MUSIC" BY CHRIS ROBLEY, THE DIY MUSICIAN BLOG

Apple has finally unveiled its interactive music streaming service, and it will launch June 30th.

Here are 4 ways you can earn revenue from Apple Music:

1. The interactive streaming royalty for your sound recording, paid to you through your aggregator (CD Baby)

This is the money you are paid (through your label or distributor) whenever someone streams your music on Apple Music.

2. Mechanical royalties for interactive streaming, paid to you through your publisher or publishing administrator (CD Baby Pro)

Interactive streaming means that the listener chose exactly what they wanted to hear (as opposed to non-interactive streaming radio, where the listener cannot control the playlist).

Whenever someone dials up one of your songs, Apple Music is essentially creating a virtual mechanical reproduction of that composition. If you are the songwriter or publisher, you are owed a mechanical royalty for each interactive stream.

This publishing royalty will be paid to you through your publisher or publishing administrator (such as CD Baby Pro).

3. Performance royalties for internet radio plays, paid to you via ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and your publishing rights administrator (CD Baby Pro)

The launch of Apple Music focused a lot on curation. One of the pillars of the new service is Beats 1 ??? a 24/7 radio station streaming worldwide. In addition to Beats 1, iTunes Radio stations will play a big role in Apple Music's music discovery efforts.

Every time your composition is performed on internet radio, you (as the songwriter or publisher) are owed a public performance royalty.

4. Digital performance royalties for streams of sound recordings on Beats 1 and iTunes Radio, paid to you through your label or aggregator (CD Baby)

As mentioned above, non-interactive streaming occurs when a listener cannot choose precisely what they want to hear (think Internet radio, Pandora, etc.).

These plays generate a digital performance royalty for the usage of the sound recording. This is NOT a publishing royalty. It pertains to the recorded track, not the underlying composition.

For streams on Beats 1 and iTunes Radio, these royalties for performances of your sound recordings are paid directly to your CD Baby account.

"WAIT, APPLE MUSIC COULD BE GREAT FOR INDIE MUSICIANS?" BY TRACY MADDUX, CEO OF CD BABY

How much more music would you listen to if you could say to your phone, "Play me song X by artist Y," and have your phone start playing that very song? Any song ever released. Or what if you could say, "Play some chill out music to work to." You don't have to walk over to a radio or laptop. You don't have to pick a station or log in. Would you listen to more music? What if you could hold your phone while sitting in a restaurant and it started building you a playlist instantly? Would you listen to more music?

Over 800 million people have given their credit cards to Apple. Most of these people have never used Spotify or Pandora. If you think Apple Music, coming June 30, is just another entrant into the streaming market, think again. I believe the music industry is about to see an unprecedented, huge infusion of music engagement that will have a major financial impact on the music market in less than a year's time. This will be a huge win for independent artists. Here's why: Artist connection and listener experiences. Both factors promise to bolster a lively, multifaceted musical ecology unlike any that existed under the previous system.

With over $10 billion in sales in 2014, iTunes is one of the largest e-commerce stores on earth.

We estimate that iTunes sales of downloads in 2014 were over $2 billion. Beyond the store, however, are more than 500 million iPhones and 300 million iPods already in service. Few companies in the history of commerce have been able to build out so large a client base. In fact, if you survey the landscape of music subscription companies, Spotify is reported to have 60 million users, 20 million of whom are paying subscribers. Pandora is a little bigger with 81 million active listeners, fewer than 5 million who pay for the subscription service. iTunes is a lot bigger, in terms of users and installed base, than Spotify and Pandora combined, by a factor of three or four.

Artists, as well as Apple Music, will indeed need to defer some revenue during the 90-day per-user trial period, during which labels and artists will not receive royalties, although we presume artists will continue to earn performance royalties, and composition rights holders will continue to earn the statutory rate or some other consideration from Apple. But this is the price of building a service at scale, and no company is better poised to do this than one with a huge existing client base.

The key to Apple Music and its success with and for independent artists will be Apple Connect. If artists engage with the platform, and have a decent user experience in creating and launching content from the platform, consumers will also buy in. When the tools of promotion are compelling, reach a large number of fans, and are easy to use, artists will use them to engage their fan base and build their brand. I believe the user experience will be good and artists will come. But will subscribers follow?

Apple and more importantly artists don't need all 500 million iPhone users or 800 million iTunes users to buy to make this a huge success. If only 5 percent of iTunes users tune in, subscribe to a trial period and sustain their $10 per month, the results will be industry changing. Apple Music will have attracted 40 million paying subscribers paying $4.8 billion dollars per year. That's double what we estimate iTunes sold in downloads last year. Astounding. It's also double Pandora and Spotify's gross 2014 sales... combined.

Loyalists of the Pandora, Spotify, rdio, Rhapsody, Tidal, et al services will tell you that the user experience on their platform is superior. Amazon.com still sells a bunch of music downloads, as do Indie retail platforms like CD Baby.com and Bandcamp. An overfocus on competition is wrong thinking when considering the opportunities for artists and fans participating at monetizing art worldwide. In a big world, there will be room for many winners. This is the indie ethos. Remember, there are 6 billion humans on planet earth, most outside the largest music market in the world who don't have a credit card on file with iTunes. Apple Music is being launched worldwide, and in places where some of these services haven't yet launched.

If Apple is thinking about music in a way that focuses on the artist and the fan, not the competition, it can create a larger marketplace encompassing exponentially more buyers of music. If it isn't concentrating on converting Spotify clients or convincing Pandora users that Beats 1 is better, it will succeed.

So: Why is Apple Music good for the Independent artist? The economics are fair relative to the other services on the market. The trial period is limited to three months, no longer. This eliminates conditioning listeners to perpetually take advantage of creators' largesse. These are good reasons why this service might succeed. But why it's good for all artists is simply this: it isn't solely reliant on tastemakers. Sure, the DJs of Beats 1 will serve up a fair dose of major content and pop hits. But in this ecosystem, there is a place for both artist promotion and fan curation. That is good for the emerging artist and the long tail of tastes. And it's good for music.

Tracy Maddux is the CEO of CD Baby, a digital distributor that works closely with (truly) independent musicians to get their work on platforms like iTunes and Spotify??? and soon, Apple Music. Here, the exec explains optimism around the new platform, despite the many criticisms being lobbed at the tech giant's new streaming play. This article originally appeared in Billboard Magazine, June 19, 2017.

Chris Robley is the editor of DIY Musician Blog. As a songwriter, Chris has released 6 albums of original material. As a producer and/or session-player, he's appeared on over 50 records, mostly by pop, rock, folk, and jazz artists from the Pacific Northwest. His articles originally appeared in the DIY Musician Blog. diymusician.cdbaby.com

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