BUSINESS
Digital tools offering a credible alternative to traditional labels Midem’s mission to offer insights into the global music industry’s future continues this year at its first-ever Artist & Label Services-dedicated forum. Juliana Koranteng reports
Spotify’s Jennifer Masset
Horus’ Matt Newton
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RTIST & Label Services (A&L Services) are a new generation of businesses offering digital tools that empower DIY music-content creators to self-release recordings while retaining financial and creative independence. In contrast to the exclusive — some would say “restrictive” — contracts signed by artists with traditional record labels, A&L Services enable creators to retain and control their music’s copyright. But as each artist cannot do everything required in the complex business, A&L Services provide artists-first expertise. This includes helping to market their releases, reach fans directly, analyse data, organise tours, administer publishing rights and even offer financial advances. All this is possible for independent artists thanks to developments in high-speed internet, social media, streaming platforms, smartphones and related digital tools. It is a flexible model that allows each creator to pick and mix what he or she needs. “We recognise that every project is unique and SoundCloud seeks to provide a solution that is customised, at scale, to match the unique needs of the artists we work with across the globe,” says Midem 2021 keynoter Eliah Seton, president of SoundCloud, the world’s largest open audio platform. SoundCloud is famous for being home to 330 million-plus tracks MIDEM DIGITAL EDITION NEWS
SoundCloud’s Eliah Seton
by self-release artists, including those by global hitmakers — including Billie Eilish. It has now added to its core offering A&L Services to bedroom artists, hobbyists and other aspiring independent creators who want to take their potential careers a step further. “The immediate benefit is that it allows us to strengthen our relationship with artists and prove to them that, by making SoundCloud their home, they have access to services and tools that are driving more meaningful commercial opportunities,” Seton adds. Reports by MIDiA Research indicate direct-release artists contributed $1.2bn to the 2020 global recorded-music revenues, a 34.1% increase from 2019. During Midem Digital 2020, Fred Davis, a partner at Raine Group, a US merchant bank and music-industry investor, said his company forecasts that DIY acts and ventures will generate more than $2bn in the near future. The legacy major labels, including Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment, are investing in A&L Services. Spotify For Artists, the service provided by the world’s largest paid-for streaming-music platform to give DIY creators more control over the marketing of their releases, aims to roll out localised versions in 25 languages this year, says Jennifer Masset, Spotify’s global head of indies, commercial partnerships. 12
NOVEMBER 2021
