A guide to Apple Music for the independent musician

Apple music streamingApple Music is live and streaming, and our partners at CD Baby have provided a lot of information to help you navigate the newest – and potentially biggest – kid on the block.
Apple Music is now live and streaming, and is in week three of its three-month free trial period. Taylor Swift had something to say about Apple’s original plans not to pay artists for this three-month span (which made Apple change its policy and pay up!); and Spotify, it’s clearest competitor, has also been critical (to no one’s surprise). In fact, a story on Tech Times suggests that “Spotify and its hired lobbyists have been making the rounds in Washington, questioning Apple’s tactics and rising antitrust concerns among politicians.”

For independent musicians who want in on the service, CD Baby has been identified by Apple as the go-to source to make music available on the platform (the “Sign Up” link on Apple Music’s “How Do I Get Started” page goes right to CD Baby’s “Members” page). In addition to being an Apple approved aggregator, the editors at CD Baby’s The DIY Musician blog have embarked on a series of blog posts covering Apple Music from a variety of angles.

In “Apple announces Apple Music, the new music streaming service,” Chris Robley introduces the Apple Music model, highlighting some of its differences from other services in the market, including the absence of a free subscription plan. And by asking “Are you excited about Apple Music?” he opened up a thought-provoking conversation in the comments section that articulates the roiling sentiments of some independent artists who are not exactly enamored with the streaming model of music. It’s worth a read.

How to claim your Apple Music artist profile through ‘Connect’” provides a step-by-step guide through the process of customizing your artist account through Connect. Apple Connect is Apple Music’s interface that gives access and control over your artist profile, including the ability to add photos, videos, songs, and other promotional content your fans can comment on, like, and share via Messenger, Facebook, Twitter, or email. “How to post an update on Apple Connect (Apple Music’s new social network)” is a follow-up on how to post an update.

What effect will Apple Music have on the music industry?” has Robley postulating that Apple’s size and financial position makes it uniquely qualified to influence a change in the streaming industry in regard to royalty payouts to the artists (in the long run). With its paid subscription-only model, Apple Music’s potential for generating revenue is unquestioned. Whether that will make its way to artists in the form of higher royalty payments is something only time will tell.

In “How do I get my music on Apple Music?” Robley reiterates that you must go through a distributor in order to get your music on Apple Music. If you have your music on CD Baby available for streaming, it is already available on Apple Music (which launched on June 30th).

4 kinds of royalties you can earn from Apple Music,” outlines the following royalty possibilities:
1. Interactive streaming royalties for your sound recording – paid to you via CD Baby (your aggregator)
2. Mechanical royalties for interactive streaming – paid to you via CD Baby Pro (your publishing administrator)
3. Performance royalties for internet radio plays – paid to you via ASCAP, BMI, SESAC, and your publishing rights administrator (CD Baby Pro)
4. Digital performance royalties for streams of sound recordings on Beats 1 and iTunes Radio – paid to you via CD Baby (your aggregator)

In “How much of Apple Music’s subscription revenue is being paid to rights owners?” Robley offers a brief explanation of sound recording royalties vs. performing rights royalties.

Finally, Tracy Maddux, CEO of CD Baby, had an op-ed piece run on Billboard.com titled “Wait, Apple Music Could Be Great for Indie Musicians?” that expands on Robley’s notions concerning the effect Apple Music could have on the industry. Maddux also proposes that Apple Music is uniquely positioned to have a positive impact in the long run as it relates to independent artists and the potential for a new standard in streaming royalties for music artists.

 

Read more: A Guide To Apple Music For The Independent Musician http://blog.discmakers.com/2015/07/a-guide-to-apple-music-for-the-independent-musician/#ixzz3gSQqcGfd

by ANDRE CALILHANNA on JULY 16, 2015 in BUSINESS FORUM,EVENTS & REVIEWS,FAST FORWARD

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