Some Music Should Remain Free

We've discussed music royalty fees ad nausea here.

My official stance: At some point in any musician's career they reach a stage where popularity says the artist's songs are worthy of payment. But we also have that point where an artist is building a base. There are far more musicians in the latter group.
To those few who draw crowds and are selected for use in audio programs, because you are a draw, congratulations. Your worth is compensated via BMI, SEESAC, ASCAP, GMR, and Soundexchange. To everyone else scrambling for an audience, your key is in finding a reason why people should give their time to listen.
There's a rather serious countdown occurring today in broadcast radio, as it's pressed to meet an end-of-month deadline for using GMR artists' songs. GMR's artist list is extensive, and its proposed "fee" is not publicly known. How much a station or audio platform pays is a blind figure that needs to be digested before January 31.

It seems that nobody on the distribution side wants to stop playing GMR artists' songs, even though it is that "playing" which brings value to the artists.

One moment audio sources are squeamish about paying performing/performer fees. The next, artists scramble trying to become/stay relevant in a world filled with consumers' endless choice.

Combining artist and audio source objectives seems reasonable. And the stiffer this conflict with GMR gets the more stations, podcasts, audio platforms and programs will gain from using "Airplay for Exposure" music.

A4E (Airplay for Expsure) music are quality songs by artist who sign a waiver that gives audio sources free use of their music. This is in exchange for the exposure that play brings. The system is designed for musicians trying to break out. It is not for big name bands or acts.

RRadio Music is a simple concept used by thousands of stations and artists since 2003.

I wish it could be said that every artist should make money every time their song is played, but with some that's not the case. For them, the only way to be heard is making their music available, free, to people who are producing the audio distribution platforms. (The Influencers)

Our "Intro to Indie Artists" series breaks the mold on the "playlist" approach to music discovery.

Tens-of-thousands of smaller groups can be serious competitors for those few big name bands, if indie artists and audio producers join forces and give them some competition.

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Thursday, January 19, 2017      eMail to a Friend



Today's artist introduction is to Pop from Chaz Robinson

Chaz Robinson
  Give "Trash It All" a listen.

  Stations: Add it to your playlist, free.