Dylan Smith

AI Music Platform DAACI Acquires WiSL and Triller’s MXX, Aims to Build ‘The Ultimate Creative AI Ecosystem’

May 24, 2023

(l to r) MXX CEO of client services/Triller VP of product and engineering Ben Reid, DAACI head Rachel Lyske, and WiSL CEO Julian Goodkind. Photo Credit: DAACI Another day, another AI music play – or two plays... Read More...

Despite Vinyl’s Resurgence, CD Baby Is Exiting the Physical Distribution Game and Closing Its Warehouse

Dylan Smith

May 24, 2023

Following an October layoff round and an April reorganization within its Downtown parent, CD Baby is getting out of the physical distribution game. The Portland-headquartered distributor just recently detai... Read More...

SoundCloud Lays Off 8% of Its Workforce As Execs Look To Achieve Profitability by 2023’s End

Dylan Smith

May 23, 2023

Eliah Seton, who's announced another round of SoundCloud layoffs, which are expected to impact about eight percent of the company. Photo Credit: SoundCloud About 10 months after axing roughly one-fifth of its... Read More...

If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em: Universal Music Group Partners With ‘Sound Wellness’ App Endel to Create Songs Using ‘Ethical AI’

Dylan Smith

May 23, 2023

Photo Credit: Tony Webster / CC by 3.0 Even as a growing number of unauthorized artificial intelligence tracks are debuting – while non-infringing AI releases also continue to pour onto streaming services in ... Read More...

BandLab Parent Raises Another $25 Million — This Time At a $425 Million Post-Capital Valuation

Dylan Smith

May 23, 2023

Photo Credit: BandLab The parent company of cloud-based music-creation platform BandLab has announced a $25 million Series B1 that brought with it a $425 million post-cash valuation. Singapore-headquartered... Read More...

Bad Bunny and Apple Music Kick Off Massive Pepsi Promotional Campaign — $2.11 Million Worth of Prizes

Dylan Smith

May 22, 2023

Photo Credit: Glenn Francis / CC by 4.0 Pepsi has officially kicked off a major ad campaign (“Press Play On Summer”) with Apple Music and the streaming service’s 2022 artist of the year, Bad Bunny. Pepsi, A... Read More...

Meta Slapped With ‘Unprecedented’ $1.3 Billion EU Fine Over Data Transfers: ‘Serious Infringements Have Far-Reaching Consequences’

Dylan Smith

May 22, 2023

Following a lengthy investigation, Ireland's Data Protection Commission has announced a $1.3 billion Meta EU fine over allegedly unlawful data transfers. Photo Credit: Dima Solomin Ireland’s Data Protection C... Read More...

NetEase Cloud Music Announces Dolby Atmos Support, Touts Itself As the Leading Music Platform ‘Among China’s Vibrant Generation Z Community’

Dylan Smith

May 22, 2023

A nighttime shot of Hangzhou, where NetEase is based. Photo Credit: Kana Toyama As competition between China’s foremost streaming players continues to heat up, NetEase Cloud Music has announced support for Do... Read More...

Latest Music Industry Hires: BMG, Chrysalis Records, LiveCo, Ineffable Records, More

Dylan Smith

May 19, 2023

In one of May's music industry hires and promotions, Ineffable Records named Pandora vet Diego Herrera (pictured) director of business development. Photo Credit: Ineffable Records Here’s a recap of recent mus... Read More...

WMG’s Rhino Announces ‘Quarterly Premium Vinyl Series’ — Hi-Fi Reissues from The Cars, John Coltrane, and More

Dylan Smith

May 19, 2023

The Rhino High Fidelity limited-edition reissue of The Cars (1978). Photo Credit: Warner Music Group Warner Music Group’s Rhino Records has announced a high-fidelity “quarterly premium vinyl series” that’s ki... Read More...

ASCAP and BMI Form Joint Task Force Targeting ‘Suspicious Registrations’ Amid An ‘Explosion of Music Being Uploaded to Digital Platforms’

Dylan Smith

May 19, 2023

With AI tracks debuting in droves, performance rights organizations (PROs) ASCAP and BMI have established “a joint task force” designed “to address suspicious registrations associated with musical works acros... Read More...

Music Industry Applauds Supreme Court Ruling in Prince Artwork Case — Emphasizing the Potential Implications for AI

Dylan Smith

May 18, 2023

The Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. Photo Credit: Joe Ravi In a ruling that may have major implications for the music industry – especially amid the advent of artificial intelligence – the Supreme ... Read More...

Author Dylan Smith