Indie publishers call out YouTube on royalty payments
The Independent Music Publishers Forum (IMPF) -- which represents over 60 companies in the sector – is the latest music industry body to criticise YouTube, calling on the video streaming site to increase its "meagre royalty payments" to composers by changing its business model. Following a meeting in Cannes during MIDEM, the IMPF board expressed its concern that the Google-owned video streaming platform is using safe harbour provisions to shield itself from liability over copyright infringing material. It called on regulators on both side of the Atlantic "to clarify the terms of the provisions, not just to alleviate the value gap, which has grown wider, but also to level the playing field with other platforms". (Music Week)
MIDEM Day 3: Playlists, Blockchain and China
New industry buzzwords and the vast potential of the Chinese market were recurring themes on the penultimate day of the MIDEM conference in Cannes. Human vs Machine: Music Curation & Playlists Are The New Battleground looked at the role of curation in today's music industry. "We have had music curators since we were founded in 2007 and that is something we are very proud of," said Deezer MD Alexis De Gemini. "The future of streaming is about giving the power back to the user because the more he or she can personalise Deezer, the more they will engage and the longer they will stay with us." Several sessions at Midem also tackled the issue of the "value gap". Speaking during the Copyright Summit's session "Building Sustainable Growth for the Music Industry - Addressing the Value Gap," IFPI CEO Frances Moore said the issue came to the fore when the industry started to see growth in digital revenues, especially through the rise of subscription models for streaming music, but the most popular service to access music, YouTube, did not contribute to the same level.
Daniel Glass, Hartwig Masuch scoop International MIDEM Awards
The inaugural International MIDEM Awards honoured several top executives as the conference celebrated its 50th edition in style. At the gala dinner in the Carlton Hotel, Glassnote Entertainment Group founder and president Daniel Glass picked up the first award. In an emotional speech, he talked of the role MIDEM had played in shaping his career since he first attended in 1978. “I grew up here coming to Cannes,” he said. “It’s how I measure my career. You learn a lot at MIDEM.” Glassnote artist Flo Morrissey performed at the ceremony, before Believe Digital founder and CEO Denis Ladegaillerie took the next award. “I don’t think of it as a personal achievement,” said Ladegaillerie as he accepted the gong. “It’s been a collective effort.” (Music Week)
Rock Am Ring cancelled due to storms
Germany's Rock AM Ring festival was shut down by local authorities this weekend after scores of people were injured during severe storms on Friday, with over 70 people hospitalised after lightning struck the site. Organisers issued a statement in German yesterday, saying: "We regret the decision, however, we ask for understanding for this emergency". Artists booked to perform at the 90,000 person event this year included Black Sabbath and Red Hot Chilli Peppers.
MIDEM Day 2: Songwriting, movies & Pandora
Timbaland was a notable no-show on a low-key Day 2 of the MIDEM music business conference in Cannes. The producer and rapper sent a video apologising for his absence, saying he’d been grounded on doctor’s orders. That left Pandora’s Tim Westergren, Warner/Chappell’s Jon Platt and music supervisor Mary Ramos to bring the star quality for the early evening keynotes after yesterday's lively start. Westergren – in conversation with Glassnote’s Daniel Glass and joined on stage by British singer-songwriter Flo Morrissey – was clearly keener to talk music rather than business after the internet radio service’s troubled year, but he did rule out a Pandora sale. “We’re on a path to do something big and something long-term,” he said, “So, no plans for that.” He also revealed plans to launch a multiple-tiered subscription service in the future, with options below the current $10/£10-per month standard. “I think there’s a much bigger audience that will pay less than $120 per year,” he said.
