Now hear this: Sales of recorded music in the U.S. grew for the eighth consecutive year in 2023, with streams accounting for a dominant 84% and vinyl up by double digits again, the RIAA said in its full-year report released Tuesday. The sector overall grew by 8% over 2022 to $17.1 billion.
Streaming continued to drive music sales last year, with paid subscriptions to on-demand services hitting an all-time high of 96.8 million. Revenues from paid subscriptions grew to $11.2 billion in 2023, accounting for 78% of streaming revenue and nearly two-thirds of total revenue, per the trade group’s report (read it here).
Related: Neil Young & Joni Mitchell End Spotify Boycott As Their Music Returns To Streaming Service
But fret not, old-school physical-media fans: Lps and CDs continued their remarkable comeback last year, with total revenue of $1.9 billion jumping 11% versus 2022. As more folks spin the black circle, vinyl posted a 17th consecutive year of growth and outsold...
Streaming continued to drive music sales last year, with paid subscriptions to on-demand services hitting an all-time high of 96.8 million. Revenues from paid subscriptions grew to $11.2 billion in 2023, accounting for 78% of streaming revenue and nearly two-thirds of total revenue, per the trade group’s report (read it here).
Related: Neil Young & Joni Mitchell End Spotify Boycott As Their Music Returns To Streaming Service
But fret not, old-school physical-media fans: Lps and CDs continued their remarkable comeback last year, with total revenue of $1.9 billion jumping 11% versus 2022. As more folks spin the black circle, vinyl posted a 17th consecutive year of growth and outsold...
- 3/27/2024
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
A bipartisan coalition of House lawmakers have introduced a long-awaited bill to prohibit the publication and distribution of unauthorized digital replicas, including deepfakes and voice clones.
The legislation, proposed on Wednesday, is intended to give individuals the exclusive right to greenlight the use of their image, voice and visual likeness by conferring intellectual property rights at the federal level. Under the bill, unauthorized uses would be subject to stiff penalties and lawsuits would be able to be brought by any person or group whose exclusive rights were impacted.
If signed into law, the proposal, called the No AI Fraud Act, could curb a growing trend of individuals and businesses creating AI-recorded tracks using artists’ voices and deceptive ads in which it appears a performer is endorsing a product. In the absence of a federal right of publicity law, unions and trade groups in Hollywood have been lobbying for legislation requiring...
The legislation, proposed on Wednesday, is intended to give individuals the exclusive right to greenlight the use of their image, voice and visual likeness by conferring intellectual property rights at the federal level. Under the bill, unauthorized uses would be subject to stiff penalties and lawsuits would be able to be brought by any person or group whose exclusive rights were impacted.
If signed into law, the proposal, called the No AI Fraud Act, could curb a growing trend of individuals and businesses creating AI-recorded tracks using artists’ voices and deceptive ads in which it appears a performer is endorsing a product. In the absence of a federal right of publicity law, unions and trade groups in Hollywood have been lobbying for legislation requiring...
- 1/10/2024
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Updated, with MPA comment: House lawmakers introduced legislation to try to curb the unauthorized use of deepfakes and voice clones.
The legislation, the No AI Fraud Act, is sponsored by Rep. Maria Salazar (R-fl), Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-pa), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-tx), Rep. Joe Morelle (D-ny) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-va). The legislation would give individuals more control over the use of their identifying characteristics in digital replicas. It affirms that every person has a “property right in their own likeness and voice,” and do not expire upon a person’s death. The rights can be transferred to the heirs or designees for a period of 10 years after the individual’s death. It sets damages at $50,000 for each unauthorized violation by a personalized cloing service, or the actual damages suffered plus profits from the use. Damages are set at $5,000 per violation for unauthorized publication, performance, distribution or transmission of a...
The legislation, the No AI Fraud Act, is sponsored by Rep. Maria Salazar (R-fl), Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-pa), Rep. Nathaniel Moran (R-tx), Rep. Joe Morelle (D-ny) and Rep. Rob Wittman (R-va). The legislation would give individuals more control over the use of their identifying characteristics in digital replicas. It affirms that every person has a “property right in their own likeness and voice,” and do not expire upon a person’s death. The rights can be transferred to the heirs or designees for a period of 10 years after the individual’s death. It sets damages at $50,000 for each unauthorized violation by a personalized cloing service, or the actual damages suffered plus profits from the use. Damages are set at $5,000 per violation for unauthorized publication, performance, distribution or transmission of a...
- 1/10/2024
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
This year has been a melancholic one for collectors of physical media. DVDs and Blu-ray discs, once a source of billions in revenue for Hollywood companies, are at risk of becoming obsolete, or at least irrelevant.
The first blow came at the end of September, when Netflix mailed its last DVD (a copy of the 2010 film True Grit, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen). As of Nov. 1, the DVD Netflix website functions as an interactive in memoriam page.
Netflix’s DVD business had dwindled in recent years (falling from over $1 billion in revenue in 2012 to $146 million by 2022), but it was a safe space for film fanatics who loved its immense library of new releases and classic films and shows that aren’t available to stream. The shutdown was in many ways the end of an era, and while some, like Redbox, try to fill that gap, it is a service that appears unlikely to return.
The first blow came at the end of September, when Netflix mailed its last DVD (a copy of the 2010 film True Grit, directed by Joel and Ethan Coen). As of Nov. 1, the DVD Netflix website functions as an interactive in memoriam page.
Netflix’s DVD business had dwindled in recent years (falling from over $1 billion in revenue in 2012 to $146 million by 2022), but it was a safe space for film fanatics who loved its immense library of new releases and classic films and shows that aren’t available to stream. The shutdown was in many ways the end of an era, and while some, like Redbox, try to fill that gap, it is a service that appears unlikely to return.
- 11/10/2023
- by Alex Weprin
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Fake Drake and the Faknd won’t be winning real Grammys anytime soon, now that the CEO of the Recording Academy has disallowed “Heart on My Sleeve” — a song that uses AI to mimic the voices of the Weeknd and Drake — from awards eligibility.
A TikTok user called Ghostwriter977 composed the song and used software to approximate the singers’ voices; Apple, Spotify, and TikTok have removed the track. Nevertheless, Ghostwriter977 submitted the track for Grammys consideration in the categories of Best Rap Song and Song of the Year. Mason told...
A TikTok user called Ghostwriter977 composed the song and used software to approximate the singers’ voices; Apple, Spotify, and TikTok have removed the track. Nevertheless, Ghostwriter977 submitted the track for Grammys consideration in the categories of Best Rap Song and Song of the Year. Mason told...
- 9/8/2023
- by Kory Grow
- Rollingstone.com
Universal Music Group — the world’s largest record company — has entered into a partnership with artificial intelligence music company Endel, establishing a new deal which Umg says will help its artists create AI-assisted music.
Listeners likely shouldn’t be expecting tracks from this collaboration to become typical mainstream pop hits, though; Endel specializes in what’s called “functional music” — soundscapes intended for more passive listening experiences (sleeping, white noise, meditation). Endel makes these tracks by taking stems that artists provide and morphing them into perpetually-changing songs that fit to a...
Listeners likely shouldn’t be expecting tracks from this collaboration to become typical mainstream pop hits, though; Endel specializes in what’s called “functional music” — soundscapes intended for more passive listening experiences (sleeping, white noise, meditation). Endel makes these tracks by taking stems that artists provide and morphing them into perpetually-changing songs that fit to a...
- 5/23/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
In a case with potential implications on a wide range of creative industries, the Supreme Court ruled on Thursday, May 18, that Andy Warhol infringed on a photographer’s copyrights for his portraits of Prince.
The court ruled 7-2 in favor of Lynn Goldsmith, whose photos of The Purple One were the original works, which Warhol then used for his own artwork. The court went against the Warhol Foundation’s argument that Warhol’s work was “transformative” enough that they were substantially different and constituted fair use.
The case dates back to the 1980s,...
The court ruled 7-2 in favor of Lynn Goldsmith, whose photos of The Purple One were the original works, which Warhol then used for his own artwork. The court went against the Warhol Foundation’s argument that Warhol’s work was “transformative” enough that they were substantially different and constituted fair use.
The case dates back to the 1980s,...
- 5/18/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
The Supreme Court sided with a photographer in a dispute with the Andy Warhol Foundation over the late artist’s use of her photos as the basis for his own series of portraits of Prince.
The court’s ruling was closely watched by content creators, some of whom feared that it would widen the scope of copyrighted material that could be used for further derivative works. In fact, during oral arguments last fall, attorneys raised the issue of what the case would mean for sequels to Star Wars and spinoffs from shows like All in the Family.
In a 1984 issue, Vanity Fair used a Warhol work that was based on a Lynn Goldsmith photo, having obtained a license from the photographer. The problems came about after Prince died in 2016 and Conde Nast, in its tribute to the singer, used a different Warhol work that was part of a series of...
The court’s ruling was closely watched by content creators, some of whom feared that it would widen the scope of copyrighted material that could be used for further derivative works. In fact, during oral arguments last fall, attorneys raised the issue of what the case would mean for sequels to Star Wars and spinoffs from shows like All in the Family.
In a 1984 issue, Vanity Fair used a Warhol work that was based on a Lynn Goldsmith photo, having obtained a license from the photographer. The problems came about after Prince died in 2016 and Conde Nast, in its tribute to the singer, used a different Warhol work that was part of a series of...
- 5/18/2023
- by Ted Johnson
- Deadline Film + TV
Metro Boomin‘s producer tag puts his signature stamp on “Heart on My Sleeve,” the viral song featuring what sounds like vocals from Drake and The Weeknd. But he didn’t have anything to do with creating it — and neither did they.
The record, which features line after line of lyrics fated to become Instagram captions, was created from scratch by the anonymous TikTok user Ghostwriter977 using artificial intelligence. Since being uploaded to the short-form video app on Saturday, April 15, “Heart on My Sleeve” has amassed over 11 million views across seven promotional videos.
The record, which features line after line of lyrics fated to become Instagram captions, was created from scratch by the anonymous TikTok user Ghostwriter977 using artificial intelligence. Since being uploaded to the short-form video app on Saturday, April 15, “Heart on My Sleeve” has amassed over 11 million views across seven promotional videos.
- 4/17/2023
- by Larisha Paul
- Rollingstone.com
Artificial intelligence is shaping up to be the largest disruptor to the music industry since digital downloads, and it poses one of the most important existential questions to music creation the art form itself has ever faced. As much-covered chatbots like ChatGPT and a growing list of AI songwriting software show, the AI music revolution is closer than anyone previously thought. Now, some of the largest advocacy groups in music are looking to get in front of the tech and ensure a future in which AI doesn’t replace human music creators.
- 3/16/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
For the first time since 1987, vinyl sold more units than CDs in the US, according to a new report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Music fans bought more than 41 million vinyl units last year compared to 33 million CDs — up 3% from 40 million units in 2021. Meanwhile, CD sales were down 28% from 47 million.
Per Luminate, Taylor Swift moved the most vinyl units in 2022 by selling a whopping 945,000 copies of Midnights, followed by Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
However, streaming brought in the great bulk of revenue in 2022, making up 84% of the all-time high of $15.9 billion overall. According to the report, the average number of paid subscribers grew to 92 million, up from 84 million in 2021. Meanwhile, ad-supported streaming revenue from platforms like YouTube and the free version of Spotify grew 6% to $1.8 billion.
“2022 was...
Per Luminate, Taylor Swift moved the most vinyl units in 2022 by selling a whopping 945,000 copies of Midnights, followed by Harry Styles’ Harry’s House, Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour, Kendrick Lamar’s good kid, m.A.A.d city, and Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours.
However, streaming brought in the great bulk of revenue in 2022, making up 84% of the all-time high of $15.9 billion overall. According to the report, the average number of paid subscribers grew to 92 million, up from 84 million in 2021. Meanwhile, ad-supported streaming revenue from platforms like YouTube and the free version of Spotify grew 6% to $1.8 billion.
“2022 was...
- 3/9/2023
- by Eddie Fu
- Consequence - Music
It took 35 years and an industry-altering digital music revolution, but for the first time since 1987, vinyl sold more units than CDs in the U.S. last year. The figure solidified vinyl’s dominance over an otherwise increasingly irrelevant physical music landscape.
The feat is among the most noteworthy stats from the Recording Industry Association of America’s 2022 year-end report released on Thursday, with consumers buying 41 million vinyl units last year compared to 33 million CDs. For decades, the thought that an ancient format like vinyl could outsell CDs was absurd, but...
The feat is among the most noteworthy stats from the Recording Industry Association of America’s 2022 year-end report released on Thursday, with consumers buying 41 million vinyl units last year compared to 33 million CDs. For decades, the thought that an ancient format like vinyl could outsell CDs was absurd, but...
- 3/9/2023
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
Click here to read the full article.
A Texas jury has awarded Universal Music Group and several other recording companies more than 46.7 million in their lawsuit against Astound Broadband for failing to stop its users from pirating music.
The company formerly known as Grande Communications must pay roughly 33,000 in damages for each of 1,403 works that were infringed upon, the jury found on Thursday. The verdict marks another loss for internet providers being held vicariously liable for copyright infringement for turning a blind eye to users illegally downloading music and movies.
Umg and other record companies, including Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Bros. Records and Roc-a-Fella Records, sued Grande in 2017 in Texas federal court. They accused the company of neglecting more than one million infringements of copyrighted works by its users on peer-to-peer file sharing systems.
“Despite their knowledge of repeat infringements, Defendants have permitted repeat infringers to use the Grande service...
A Texas jury has awarded Universal Music Group and several other recording companies more than 46.7 million in their lawsuit against Astound Broadband for failing to stop its users from pirating music.
The company formerly known as Grande Communications must pay roughly 33,000 in damages for each of 1,403 works that were infringed upon, the jury found on Thursday. The verdict marks another loss for internet providers being held vicariously liable for copyright infringement for turning a blind eye to users illegally downloading music and movies.
Umg and other record companies, including Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Bros. Records and Roc-a-Fella Records, sued Grande in 2017 in Texas federal court. They accused the company of neglecting more than one million infringements of copyrighted works by its users on peer-to-peer file sharing systems.
“Despite their knowledge of repeat infringements, Defendants have permitted repeat infringers to use the Grande service...
- 11/4/2022
- by Winston Cho
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Hot off his performance in the Super Bowl Halftime Show, Eminem has lost himself in heavy metal. No, the Detroit rapper hasn’t changed genres — he’s the new King of Gold and Platinum Singles.
The RIAA said today that the Shady/Aftermath/Interscope artist has become the No. 1 awarded act for singles in the 64-year history of the Gold & Platinum program. With Tuesday’s reveal of 73.5 million new award units, the Oscar winner’s career haul now sits at 227.5 million: 166 million single certifications and 61.5 million album certifications.
The erstwhile Marshall Mathers also becomes one of only seven artists with three or more Diamond-certified albums for sales of at least 10 million units in the U.S.
“These awards recognize Eminem’s unflinching commitment to his craft and the enduring connection he has forged with fans over the last 20 years,” RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier said in a statement. “Congratulations...
The RIAA said today that the Shady/Aftermath/Interscope artist has become the No. 1 awarded act for singles in the 64-year history of the Gold & Platinum program. With Tuesday’s reveal of 73.5 million new award units, the Oscar winner’s career haul now sits at 227.5 million: 166 million single certifications and 61.5 million album certifications.
The erstwhile Marshall Mathers also becomes one of only seven artists with three or more Diamond-certified albums for sales of at least 10 million units in the U.S.
“These awards recognize Eminem’s unflinching commitment to his craft and the enduring connection he has forged with fans over the last 20 years,” RIAA Chairman and CEO Mitch Glazier said in a statement. “Congratulations...
- 3/8/2022
- by Erik Pedersen
- Deadline Film + TV
The Recording Industry Association of America and a coalition of more than 20 record labels have released three new studies that claim a bill pending in the California state legislature would “upend the existing creative ecosystem that is producing the largest advances and royalty payments in music business history.”
Assembly Bill 1385, known as the Free Artists from Industry Restrictions (Fair) Act, was introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) in March with the support of SAG-AFTRA and a coalition representing musical artists, including the Music Artists Coalition, the Black Music Action Coalition and Songwriters of North America. Supporters of the Fair Act say it would modernize the law to reflect how film, TV and music are made and distributed by limiting the length of time that production studios and record labels are able to unilaterally hold actors and recording artists.
The RIAA and its coalition, however, say that the bill, if enacted into law,...
Assembly Bill 1385, known as the Free Artists from Industry Restrictions (Fair) Act, was introduced by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) in March with the support of SAG-AFTRA and a coalition representing musical artists, including the Music Artists Coalition, the Black Music Action Coalition and Songwriters of North America. Supporters of the Fair Act say it would modernize the law to reflect how film, TV and music are made and distributed by limiting the length of time that production studios and record labels are able to unilaterally hold actors and recording artists.
The RIAA and its coalition, however, say that the bill, if enacted into law,...
- 5/3/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
It’s time for “Music’s biggest night,” and the arrival of the 63rd Grammys comes at a crossroads created by the worldwide pandemic.
The usual drama surrounds the event. The Weeknd and Beyonce are both involved in snubs of the show, diminishing the star power of the broadcast, and other artists no doubt are making life difficult for show producers working under difficult constraints in the pandemic age.
The good news of the moment is that In 2020, the Recording Industry Assn. of America said United States recorded music revenues grew 8.9% to $8.0 billion. Worldwide, those figures are more than doubled, hitting an estimated $20.2 billion, per the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry,
But RIAA Chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier acknowledged the pain amid the growth.
“In 2020 we grieved epochal losses of giants from every corner of our industry — from Charley Pride to Chynna, Eddie Van Halen to John Prine, Bonnie Pointer to Little Richard,...
The usual drama surrounds the event. The Weeknd and Beyonce are both involved in snubs of the show, diminishing the star power of the broadcast, and other artists no doubt are making life difficult for show producers working under difficult constraints in the pandemic age.
The good news of the moment is that In 2020, the Recording Industry Assn. of America said United States recorded music revenues grew 8.9% to $8.0 billion. Worldwide, those figures are more than doubled, hitting an estimated $20.2 billion, per the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry,
But RIAA Chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier acknowledged the pain amid the growth.
“In 2020 we grieved epochal losses of giants from every corner of our industry — from Charley Pride to Chynna, Eddie Van Halen to John Prine, Bonnie Pointer to Little Richard,...
- 3/13/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Even as live music massively struggled, the recorded music industry saw another booming year out of 2020, according to a year-end report from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) released on Friday.
In line with video-streaming services’ boom during the year of quarantine, the RIAA found that paid music-streaming subscriptions in the U.S. saw their biggest ever year-to-year leap in 2020, with 15 million new people buying a music streaming subscription last year from services like Apple Music and Spotify. That brings the total number of paying U.S. music subscribers to 75.5 million.
In line with video-streaming services’ boom during the year of quarantine, the RIAA found that paid music-streaming subscriptions in the U.S. saw their biggest ever year-to-year leap in 2020, with 15 million new people buying a music streaming subscription last year from services like Apple Music and Spotify. That brings the total number of paying U.S. music subscribers to 75.5 million.
- 2/26/2021
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
It was Valentine’s Day of 2018 in Washington, D.C., and Mary Wilson was on a mission. Then 74 years old, the Supremes singer, outfitted in a glamorous red dress and very high heels, needed to convince the nation’s representatives and senators to vote yes on the Classics Act, a proposed piece of legislation to support legacy artists. She wouldn’t take no for an answer.
“We walked the back halls of the Rayburn Building, we stopped members of Congress,” Mitch Glazier, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America,...
“We walked the back halls of the Rayburn Building, we stopped members of Congress,” Mitch Glazier, chairman and CEO of the Recording Industry Association of America,...
- 2/12/2021
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
At Work is a weekly Rolling Stone series exploring how decision-makers in the fast-changing music business spend their hectic days — as well as what burgeoning ideas they’re keen to explore, what advice they’d give to industry newcomers, and more. Read earlier interviews here.
One year ago, Mitch Glazier was stepping into the role of chairman and CEO at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) amid a boom time for music companies. Now, Glazier — whose organization oversees the public policy interests of 1,600 member labels, in addition to protecting...
One year ago, Mitch Glazier was stepping into the role of chairman and CEO at the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) amid a boom time for music companies. Now, Glazier — whose organization oversees the public policy interests of 1,600 member labels, in addition to protecting...
- 4/2/2020
- by Amy X. Wang
- Rollingstone.com
From songwriters to producers to roadies, individuals in the various corners of the music business will be eligible for federal relief under the coronavirus stimulus package passed by the U.S. Senate on Wednesday evening, thanks to music advocates in Washington in the last few days.
Under the final $2 trillion relief package, self-employed musicians, songwriters, and music support crew who make under $100,000 annually are eligible to apply for relief grants and loans such as emergency economic injury disaster loan (Eidl) grants. (The Senate approved its bill late Wednesday and the...
Under the final $2 trillion relief package, self-employed musicians, songwriters, and music support crew who make under $100,000 annually are eligible to apply for relief grants and loans such as emergency economic injury disaster loan (Eidl) grants. (The Senate approved its bill late Wednesday and the...
- 3/26/2020
- by Amy X. Wang
- Rollingstone.com
Backed by continually strong streaming growth, the recorded music business saw double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive year in 2019, according to data from the Recording Industry Association of America’s annual revenue report released on Tuesday. Streaming making up an entire 80% of the U.S. industry’s revenue.
Recorded music revenue as a whole jumped 13% from 2018, totaling $11.1 billion. Paid subscription services made up the bulk of streaming revenue, with ad-supported streaming and royalties from SoundExchange also contributing to streaming’s dominance. Paid streaming subscriptions jumped to 60.4 million in 2019, up from 46.9 million the year before,...
Recorded music revenue as a whole jumped 13% from 2018, totaling $11.1 billion. Paid subscription services made up the bulk of streaming revenue, with ad-supported streaming and royalties from SoundExchange also contributing to streaming’s dominance. Paid streaming subscriptions jumped to 60.4 million in 2019, up from 46.9 million the year before,...
- 2/25/2020
- by Ethan Millman
- Rollingstone.com
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