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Artist Advice Industry News News

Instagram will soon allow you to share links to entire Stories

A new Instagram update will empower artists, brands, and everyday consumers to promote their Story content on other platforms.

Instagram is reportedly in the final stages of testing an update that will give users the ability to share links to Stories, thus furthering the potential reach of Story content. The feature, initially spotted last week by Lindsey Gamble, gives users a new “Share Link to Entire Story” option in addition to ones already available to users in the app’s ‘More’ menu below a story.

Instagram’s new Story sharing functionality (as discovered by @LindseyGamble_)

Some readers might remember that Snapchat introduced a similar feature for its Stories in summer 2018. The idea of Instagram offering something similar makes sense, especially considering that 500 million users are interacting with Stories daily, but it’s strange it took so long for the company to plan such an update.

Instagram Stories has gained 100 million Daily Active Users (DAUs) in the last sixth months.

Given their popularity and ease of creation, artists should see the impending update to Stories as an opportunity to grow their audience and further engage with fans. Stories make sharing news updates a breeze, but it also allows artists to offer fans an insider look at their careers one photo or short video update at a time. Artists can even add polls, perhaps to decide their new single or to perfect setlists, with a few quick clicks.

The new update has an added bonus for business accounts. Labels and similar industry businesses also get the option to “Promote” their Stories through the next option on the menu. It allows brands to further the return on their Stories by empowering them to drive traffic to their websites, send people to their profile, or get people to DM them in Direct.

Business accounts will have additional options when promoting Story updates.

A release date for the update has not been revealed, but with testing already underway a launch in the near future is likely.

Want even more industry news and marketing advice? Follow Haulix on Twitter.

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Industry News News

Fortnite to host world’s first in-game concert this weekend

Epic Games has recruited EDM star Marshmello to usher in a new era of music promotion.

Music marketing is both easier and harder than ever before. On the one hand, anyone can upload music and share it online with just a few clicks. On the other hand, anyone can upload music and share it online with just a few clicks.

To stand out in today’s marketplace artists need to find original ways to engage their audience. That can be accomplished on a small-scale by interacting with fans on social media. As the talent’s profile grows, however, there comes a point when meaningful growth can no longer be achieved through one-on-one interaction.

This weekend, EDM superstar Marshmello will do something no other artist has before, and in doing so, he might set a new precedent for large-scale music promotion. This Saturday afternoon, February 2, Marshmello will perform the world’s first in-game concert through a partnership with developer Epic Game. The performance will take place at Pleasant Park, a location in the wildly popular game Fortnite.

Rumors of the performance began making the rounds online months ago, but recent information uncovered by dedicated players forced the game to reveal the concert news earlier this week. Here’s what we know:

  • The event will begin at 2 PM ET on Saturday, though it’s not clear how long it will run for.
  • It takes place in Pleasant Park, though you may see the lights/hear the music from anywhere on the map.
  • It apparently will be its own LTM called “Party at Pleasant Park” with respawns enabled, meaning you will probably be able to kill each other during the party.
  • There’s apparently a cosmetic bundle for the event which will include a Marshmello skin, pickaxe spray. No word on pricing.
  • There are some leaked animations that show “DJ dancing” for lack of a better term which would appear to be how Marshmello himself will act on stage.
  • Object leaks have shown speakers, a stage, lights, all of which should be set up on the football field at Pleasant Park, presumably.

With this being the first event of its kind it is hard to know what the impact the performance will have on Marshmello’s career. If nothing else, the concert will expose Marshmello’s music to a larger than any single festival or show could offer here in the real world.

Fortnite is a battle royale game that is free to play. There are several challenge-related games to choose from, but the primary objective is to skydive into an island and kill one’s opponents until only a single player remains. The game boasts more than 200 million registered players worldwide. In November 2018, Fortnite set a record when 8.6 million users were simultaneously engaged in battle.

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Haulix Industry News News

Yes, music piracy is still a problem in 2019

A decade after the streaming revolution promised change; music piracy continues to worsen.

Ten years ago, music executives began promoting the future of streaming as a solution to the industry’s problems. Access to legal streaming, they claimed, would lower the rate of piracy and increase the return artists saw from their creations. 

Any artist reading this now can tell you the latter-half of that promise has proven to be an outright lie. While the most popular artists in the world are seeing big returns for their music online, the vast majority of talent sees next to nothing. Worse yet, the sales of physical media have largely bottomed out, which has only further hurt smaller artists.

What you might not realize is that the first half of that promise was a lie as well. Piracy hasn’t gotten better over the last decade. In fact, it’s more popular than ever. The amount of digital media pirated in 2016 was double the amount pirated in 2008. That figure has grown larger still over the last two years, and it shows no signs of slowing anytime soon.

So, what can an artist or group do?

It’s time the industry accepts the fact that piracy will always exist. As long as people are expected to pay for music, there will be others who seek to access that same content for free. Before the internet made piracy accessible in a matter of clicks people were sneaking tape recorders into concerts and pressing the audio captured from the hidden devices to vinyl.

If we accept that piracy will happen as soon as an album is released, which it will, then the best anyone can hope to accomplish regarding keeping music under wraps until its street date is through secure promotional distribution. Haulix, and companies like it, work tirelessly to ensure that artists at every label can safely and discreetly share pre-release music with influencers without risking a leak. Here’s how it works:

An artist or group registers for Haulix. The first month of service is free, so artists should pick a subscription tier that offers ample storage and bandwidth, as well as watermarking services. Watermarks, for those who don’t know, as essentially digital fingerprints baked into audio files. They do not change the audio at all, but when leaks occur they can be extracted to discover the source of the leak, including the IP address where the file was initially accessed.

Once your account is activated, artists can upload their music and create a fully customized promo page. Here is a recent example, courtesy of the band Emarosa:

With the promo creation complete, can now upload their contacts and create groups to help organize who will receive their record and when.

Once the contacts have been added, it’s time to create custom email invitations. The artist’s contacts will use the unique access links found in these invitations to access the album promo. Each link is unique to each recipient.

You can try Haulix free for one month. To access this offer, visit the Haulix website and select a plan that fits your needs. Have questions? Email james@haulix.com for answers.

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Industry News News

Cassette sales continue to the rise

Think cassettes are dead? Think again.

Not long ago, many industry movers and shakers believed all physical media to be either dying or dead. Streaming, they claimed, would soon replace the need for media in any other form. They were wrong.

According to Nielsen’s recently released report on the music business, cassette sales in 2018 rose 23% over the previous year. That’s more than 4x the total number of cassettes sold in 2014 (roughly 25,000). In total, more than 215,000 tapes were sold during the calendar year, with many of the biggest totals coming from catalog releases more than a decade old.

That figure is a far cry from 1994 when total sales for cassettes topped 246 million, but it’s a healthy number nonetheless. The market for cassettes has grown consistently in recent years and is likely to grow further still in 2019.

The top-selling tape of 2018 was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Guardians of the Galaxy: Awesome Mix Vol 1. The release, which is one of three soundtracks from the Marvel comics film series to land on the best-sellers list, features packaging that is similar to a mixtape made and used by the lead character in the movie.

Awesome Mix Vol. 1 as seen in Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy (2014)

Other artists that made the top 10 list for 2018 include Twenty One Pilots, Wu-Tang Clan, and Elvis Presley, among others. You can view the full list of best-sellers below:

RArtist, TitleSales
1Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy: 
Awesome Mix Vol. 1
24,000
2Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2: 
Awesome Mix Vol. 2
19,000
3Twenty One Pilots, Trench7,000
4Soundtrack, Stranger Things: 
Music From the Netflix Original Series
5,000
5Britney Spears, …Baby One More Time4,000
6Soundtrack, Guardians of the Galaxy: 
Cosmic Mix, Vol. 1
3,000
7Guns N’ Roses, Appetite for Destruction3,000
8Metallica, The $5.98 EP: Garage Days Re-Revisited3,000
9Elvis Presley, Where No One Stands Alone2,000
10Wu-Tang Clan, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)2,000

Cassettes may never be as big as they were in the late 80s and early 90s, but the numbers revealed by Nielsen show the market for such media is thriving more than it has in recent years. Smaller artists may not move as many units as the acts above, but considering the low cost of uplication, the cassette tape remains a viable merch option for anyone trying to give their fans something they can hold that isn’t a t-shirt or beanie.

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Editorials News Writing Tips

Join the 2019 Music Writer Exercise (#MWE) this February!

The month-long event started by music journalist Gary Suarez returns next month.

Have you ever thought of writing about music?

Did you watch Almost Famous and feel like you might like to pursue a career in music journalism?

Do you ever wish you were a better writer?

If the answer to any of the questions above is yes, then we have the perfect exercise for you. The Music Writing Exercise is a month-long event created by journalist Gary Suarez in 2015. Participants attempt to listen to one new album every day throughout February and crafting a tweet that summarizes their thoughts on the record.

https://twitter.com/noyokono/status/561269689603862529

We at Haulix participate in the Music Writing Exercise every year. It’s hard to know how many other writers will join in the fun, but you can follow along and engage with the global writing community by using the hashtag #MWE on Twitter.

As for the albums you cover, that decision is ultimately up to you. Some people plan out their entire month of listening in advance, while others choose to pick a record at random each morning. Others develop one or more themes for the month, such as live records or third albums.

You won’t win anything for completing #MWE, but like any other exercise, you will develop your skill set. As writers, we all fall prey to repetitive phrasing and tired wordplay. The Music Writing Exercise challenges us to create bright new ways to discuss music. It also encourages community. There is no cost to participate, so what do you have to lose?

…And if you need listening recommendations, here is what I’ll be spinning next month:

Categories
News Podcasts

Inside Music Podcast #144: Shortly (Alexandria Maniak)

Michigan has a long history of leading people toward the arts. Maybe its the slow decay of the rust belt or the cracks in the pavement of the state that brought cars to the world, but something about the Mitten state has a way of inspiring people. Shortly, one of many creative outlets for Alexandria is the latest example of that inspiration. It’s a profoundly moving, hope lined melancholy set to song, and it’s changing lives around the world.

On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell calls Alexandria Maniak to discuss her work as Triple Crown Records artist Shortly. It’s always hard to know what you’re going to get from Alexandria’s music, as well as her live shows, but it’s always guaranteed to make you feel something. Alexandria talks to James about her creativity, the restraint needed to write a good song, and how she found inspiration through collaboration with artists from other walks of life.

We’ve never heard a talent quite like Shortly, and during our time together we grew to appreciate the art Alexandria is making even more. She has heart to spare, and with just a little luck Shortly will soon be an artist nobody can ignore.

https://soundcloud.com/inside-music-podcast/144-shortly

Prefer video? We’ve got you covered:

You can subscribe to Inside Music on iTunes, as well as all major podcast platforms.

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Industry News News

Your Spotify account may be supporting fake artists

A new report from the BBC finds fake artists accumulating plays from real accounts, but who’s listening?

Multiple Spotify users, including one dedicated BBC reporter, made a surprising discovery when reviewing their 2018 listening habits on Spotify: They were supporting artists they’d never heard of whose legitimacy is up for debate.

As first reported by the BBC on January 25,  plays of ‘mystery’ tracks from artists such as Bergenulo Five, Bratte Night, DJ Bruej and Night were being credited within individual Spotify user accounts –  despite these same users knowing nothing about this music. Here are just a few examples:

https://twitter.com/robbiegirl/status/1070830250425110528

The artists in question, whose sound has been dubbed ‘,’ are suspiciously similar. Every act has multiple instrumental releases featuring up to forty tracks on each album, with the average song lasting between one and two minutes. Many of the songs racked up thousands of plays in 2018 without any of the artists garnering press or being featured on prominent Spotify playlists. Their success makes no sense, but the BBC does have a theory that might explain their existence.

In September 2018, Facebook reported that up to 50-million accounts were compromised in a large-scale security breach. That cyber attack may have enabled hackers to get ahold of ‘Access Tokens,’ which allow users to log into Spotify using their Facebook accounts. Hackers may have then created fake artists and uploaded their fake albums to Spotify directly using a tool the streaming giant introduced in September. From there, hackers could use the pirated account information to rack up streams that would later turn into revenue.

That theory is further substantiated with the revelation that all plays for the mystery artists were accrued in October 2018 and after.

However, as Music Business Worldwide reports, that explanation cannot be correct because Facebook and Spotify claim Access Tokens were not accessed in the attack. The site also reports receiving tips from industry insiders about similar unrecognized plays appearing in user history as far back as March 2018, months before the Facebook hack took place.

Spotify has removed many of the artist accounts in question since the BBC story went live last week, but found at least two of the accounts from their investigation were still active of as of today, January 29. The team at Spotify has declined repeated requests for additional information about the artists and has yet to reveal whether or not the artists received payouts for their streams.

The question remains as to who could be behind these accounts, as well as who has the capability to generate streams through legitimate accounts without the user knowing their profile has been accessed. Rumors abound, with many suggesting Spotify themselves could be responsible, but no hard evidence to support these claims has been made public.

If you have any additional information or insight on this topic, email us! Send your tips to james@haulix.com and help us uncover the truth.

Categories
Job Board News

Music Industry Job Board (January 28, 2019)

New openings:

Special Events Coordinator (LA Philharmonic – Los Angeles, CA)

The Special Events Coordinator, reporting to the Associate Manager, Special Events, is responsible for day-to-day administrative and clerical tasks to support the Special Events team in the implementation of 30+ cultivation and fundraising events. The coordinator will also assist the Special Events team in the production of the winter and summer galas at the Walt Disney Concert Hall and Hollywood Bowl respectively.

Promotions & Marketing Director (Townsquare Media – Boise, ID)

Townsquare Media Boise is looking for our next Promotions & Marketing Director. We’re looking for someone who brings creativity, energy, passion, and organization to this essential position with our six-station cluster in one of the most desirable areas in the country.

If you’ve heard Townsquare isn’t just about radio, you’ve heard right. We believe in having the most robust digital presence and dominant events in the region on top of our radio brands. If you love building events, promotions, and catching the attention of an audience, and can work with our Brand Managers and manage a great Promo Team, we need to talk. 

Marketing Manager (Nonesuch Records – NYC)

We are looking for a candidate with a knowledge and passion for the eclectic nature of our music which eschews the current trends towards pop and rap and holds true to our core history of artists and releases that range from Contemporary Classical to Jazz to Alternative and Americana and everything in between. Our candidate will be looking to join a unique label environment which is a small team of people who work very closely to present the artistic vision of our roster. This person will have knowledge of the current state of the music business and its evolution and will be able to balance the goals of moving our artists and label into the next phase of the business while being certain to honor our label’s rich legacy.

Assistant Editor (Kylegotcamera – San Diego, CA)

We are accepting applications for a qualified Editor to join our growing team so we can continue to help more business owners from around the world with our proven emotional story telling process. 

Director, Creative Writing (Interlochen Center for the Arts – Interlochen, MI)

Interlochen Center for the Arts seeks a dynamic leader of the Creative Writing Program as Director, Creative Writing. The creative writing programs at Interlochen help young writers cultivate their talents and broaden their command of the writer’s craft at all levels, preparing them for the increasing variety of writing experiences and opportunities presented by the digital world of the 21st century. The programs provide guidance, support and an extraordinary series of experiences and opportunities for young writers.

Executive Assistant to the Chief Advancement Officer (La Philharmonic – Los Angeles, CA)

The Executive Assistant, reporting directly to the Board Liaison/Senior Gift Officer, supports the activities of the Development Department and provides administrative assistance to the Chief Advancement Officer.

Coordinator, TV Music Licensing (Sony – Culver City, CA)

An exciting opportunity to join a dynamic team in the Music Affairs department at Sony Pictures Entertainment as the Coordinator of Music Licensing. As part of the Music Licensing team within Music Affairs, the Coordinator, Music Licensing works collaboratively with and supports Sony Pictures Television’s music and audio needs across their various television productions. This position will work closely with television licensing music executives on productions tracking license status, entering deals into a shared database system, processing payment requests in a timely manner, mailing out checks for synch and master uses, and other tasks as needed to ensure all deals are properly completed, logged and paid. The Coordinator, Music Licensing must be detail oriented and organized, with the ability to stay on top of tracking payments and other tasks as laid out above. They will also work very closely in assisting the music executives in their day to day needs as they work on various Sony Pictures Television productions. Just a few of Sony’s television productions include The Goldbergs, Atypical, Better Call Saul, Cobra Kai, and The Blacklist.

Brand Director (Live Nation – NYC)

One of Live Nation joint ventures is seeking a pro-active and intuitive Director, Client Services to help brands create cultural relevance through the power of music + entertainment + culture at large. The Director, Client Services is tasked with building the client service department, leading an AOR relationship with brands, and helping with new business. The ideal candidate will be able to multi-task and help with on-boarding new client projects and work streams. You will report to theStrategic Business Development Director with support from the Creative Department. Successful candidates will understand that no task is too small and have an independent-mind but team focused mindset. The ability to communicate is critical in this role, and this individual must have amazing follow up and follow through skills. This is a fabulous opportunity for someone looking to join a fast growing, innovative, and proactive organization.

E-Commerce Manager (Soundboks – Los Angeles, CA)

At SOUNDBOKS we believe eComm-first is absolutely the best way to tackle the market. As our Digital Media Lead, you will make your home in PPC. Researching, analyzing, and executing in different channels (FB, Google Network, Amazon, etc) will be your bread and butter. You will gather and decipher huge amounts of business intelligence and you’ll work elbow-to-elbow with our marketing team to act on the information. As the first person to sit in this seat in the US, you will also play an integral role in growing the eComm team in the next few years. We plan to keep growing and the first step is adding you to our team!

Manager, International Marketing (Disney – Burbank, CA)

The International Marketing Manager at Disney Music Group, manages the development and execution of marketing strategies for artists and soundtracks across international markets. Partnering closely with local offices and international license partners, this position is key to the development of opportunities and the strategic growth of DMG and its projects around the world.

Pop/Rock Membership Coordinator (ASCAP – Burbank, CA)

As a Membership Coordinator for ASCAP’s Pop/Rock team, you will serve an important role as a representative to writers and professionals in the music community. After being trained on ASCAP’s internal systems and software, you’ll be responsible for supporting the Pop/Rock executives in the L.A. office and resolving member issues that may arise. 

This role is also event-heavy, so you’ll be expected to attend and work at Pop/Rock events (sometimes in the evening) while assisting in the planning and execution of each event. Active participation in the L.A. music scene is key, so an eagerness to attend these concerts and industry events is expected. 

Marketing Manager, Digital Music (Amazon – Seattle, WA)

The Amazon Music team is looking for a motivated, customer-obsessed, analytical marketer to lead cross-site efforts to drive engagement with music. Cross-site Marketing will own the strategy and execution to drive engagement with Amazon Music (Amazon Music Unlimited and Prime Music) from across the Amazon ecosystem (i.e. Amazon retail website and apps, subsidiaries, etc.). This role will be responsible for identifying, negotiating and optimizing cross-site desktop and mobile advertising programs. To do so, the successful candidate will partner closely with key Amazon teams, including Amazon Homepage team, Amazon Traffic & Events teams, and marketing managers across Amazon retail and digital categories

s ideal candidate will deliver a set of high-priority strategic initiatives that bring Amazon Music visibility and/or integrate music itself into the Amazon shopping and browsing experience. You will execute programs to deliver these and quantify business results with data-driven analyses. You will need to be entrepreneurial and roll up your sleeves. Overall, you will be challenged to push boundaries, propose and execute new ideas, and establish best practices for our global organization. 

Project Manager, Creative Management (OMD Entertainment – Burbank, CA)

OMDe is looking for a driven and detail-oriented Project Manager to join the team. This position oversees creative production and deliveries to ensure that each component of our digital campaign launches on-schedule. Strong communication skills are required since he/she will collaborate with and manage expectations across many internal and external groups, including our clients at Disney.

Digital Producer (Live Nation – Hollywood, CA)

We’re seeking a self-motivated, tech oriented Digital Producer to join our dynamic Promotions team. He/she will be responsible for launching sponsor brand promotional platforms such as sweepstakes, instant wins and contests; and custom websites such as code and ticket redemption sites, hashtag galleries, and event RSVPs. The role requires someone who operates at a fast pace, has a high standard for quality, and is comfortable managing several projects concurrently.

Project Manager-Digital Marketing / Concerts West (AEG – Los Angeles, CA)

The Digital Marketing Project Manager // Concerts West will oversee all digital marketing campaigns for Concerts West’s tour. This person will be in constant communication with tour marketers, talent buyers and local leadership in order to oversee execution of best practices across content strategy, email, social, website properties, app, media buying, CRM, and reporting for multiple tours at once. The Digital Project Manager is responsible for overseeing content strategy, managing multiple budgets at once, and placing media that optimizes for right message, right time, right consumer, to drive ticket sales. The Digital Project Manager is responsible for reporting on return on on advertising spending, understanding success metrics, and leveraging centralized tools where appropriate.

Director, Entertainment Programming (Golden State Warriors – San Francisco, CA)

The Golden State Warriors are looking for a passionate and dynamic Director of Entertainment Programming who will play a critical role in the creation, innovation exploration of new content and entertainment strategy for game experience at games and Chase Center Events. We will provide you with the opportunity to collaborate with Studio and Event Presentation teams to develop, schedule and program entertainment and content in a strategic method to ensure fan satisfaction. To be successful in this role, you will possess strong skills in producing, a creative eye for talent, master of idea generation and have a good fan engagement. You will keep up with the latest trends, have extensive knowledge and appreciation for music and the art of performance with a sports mindset. We believe that collaboration, passion, and dedication is what makes the team successful.

West Coast Regional, Promotion (Caroline International – Hollywood, CA)

Caroline is looking for a Director, Promotion West Coast Regional to build and develop relationships with determined radio outlets throughout the US West Coast in order to seek and secure airplay, promotional, & marketing opportunities. Explore and exploit all avenues in the market region via radio and its related media to enhance the exposure of our artists, and increase revenues for the company.

Assistant II, Music Touring (CAA – Los Angeles, CA)

The assistant will provide administrative support to a senior agent in our music touring department. The ideal candidate should be motivated, interested in the urban music space, quick-thinking and open to working in an environment where he/she is capable of performing administrative tasks in a fast-paced environment. Growth opportunities exist for top performers.

Assistant Programmer, Music Programming (SiriusXM – NYC)

The Assistant Music Programmer works to ensure that music channels provide target audiences with a quality listening experience that appeals to them. By performing key job responsibilities (as listed below) in collaboration with Music Programmers and Directors, Assistant Music Programmers play an integral part in all aspects of creating and maintaining superior radio content.

Executive Assistant (Deluxe Entertainment Services – Santa Monica, CA)

The Executive Assistant will provide high level support to the Chief Sales and Marketing Officer based in Santa Monica. Ability to work in a collaborative, integrated, fast paced sales driven environment is needed.

Music Director (WNRN – Charlottesville, VA)

WNRN Charlottesville is looking for a Music Director for its growing AAA/Americana/Indie/good music station. An understanding of WNRN’s music mix and an ability to guide it is required. The ideal candidate immerses themselves in live and recorded music with an insatiable hunger to hear more. Knowledge of the music industry, music scheduling software, professional sound editing skills and non-commercial progressive music mixes is necessary. Minimum three years on-air experience at a music station is required. Strong interpersonal relationship skills and ability to plan and execute station promotions and manage volunteers, interns and street team members are also a must.

Assistant Manager, Catalog Research and Rights Administration (WMG – Burbank, CA)

The candidate hired to fill this position will be responsible for performing various legal and rights research assignments involving questions about WMG’s rights in and to its catalog recordings and accurately communicating his or her findings to the appropriate department.

Assistant, Digital Products (WMG – Burbank, CA)

In this role you’ll have the chance to learn the ins and outs of getting a digital release to market on a major label. You will work closely with the rest of digital production team to make sure that everything piece of the puzzle is in place for releases in order to get music into the market, ensuring that nothing is missed along the way.

Audio Editor / Podcast Producer (Creative Media Group – Bellevue, WA)

We are looking for a part-time audio wizard to lead in producing client podcasts and other audio production and editing. The individual we hire will be talented, self-sufficient, productive and able to communicate effectively in a fun, community atmosphere.

Sound Designer (Psyonix – San Diego, CA)

Psyonix, an independent video game developer located in downtown San Diego, is looking for a passionate and creative Sound Designer. As a Sound Designer at Psyonix you are an integral part of the audio pipeline, helping the team create compelling experiences. You will bring your creative aptitude to each situation and help heighten the fun and immersive experience for games like Rocket League. Working within a small audio team dedicated to crafting innovative and high quality audio experiences your impact will be paramount.

Talent Acquisition Receptionist (Sony – NYC)

The Talent Acquisition Receptionist is responsible for meeting and greeting employees and guests to the HR department (HR, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development and Global Compensation teams). A key ambassadorial role for the function which has visibility and interacts with every functional area of the Sony Music business.

Audio Visual Live Event Production (Marx Productions – Chandler, AZ)

The Project Manager takes the vision and concept of the client and the Marx Productions sales team and turns it into the actual event. The Project Manager interacts with the client, the , venue representatives, specialized suppliers and executes the events under their management.

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Industry News News

Instagram, owned by Facebook, denies hiding posts

A series of viral posts claiming Instagram limits posts to 7% of a person’s following has prompted the company to respond.

There is too much content. That is not an opinion, so much as it is a statement of fact. Unless an individual commits to following a small number of accounts online the chances that they see everything posted by everyone and every brand they love are incredibly low. The leading social media platforms know this to be true, which is why most rely on algorithms to determine what content users see and in what order that content appears in their feed.

Recently, Instagram came under fire from public outcry after a post went viral on the photo-sharing site claiming that just 7% of a person’s following will see their latest post. The claim was then amplified as accounts of all sizes began regurgitating the baseless accusation and encouraging people to engage more with posts they like to ensure that content is seen.

Instagram broke its silence on the matter earlier this week via Twitter. In a series of tweets, the company stated, “What shows up first in your feed is determined by what posts and accounts you engage with the most, as well as other contributing factors such as the timeliness of posts, how often you use Instagram, how many people you follow, etc.”

Their explanation continued in a second tweet, adding “We have not made any recent changes to feed ranking, and we never hide posts from people you’re following – if you keep scrolling, you will see them all. Again, your feed is personalized to you and evolves over time based on how you use Instagram.”

Essentially, Instagram fine tunes users’ feeds based on the content they interact with the most. The company places an emphasis on user engagement over when an item was posted. Facebook, which owns Instagram, does something similar with its users news feed.

Twitter faced scrutiny after it made similar changes to how tweets appear on users’ timelines. However, chronological order has returned to Twitter as of September 2018.

Facebook has made no plans to reintroduce a chronological timeline to its platform, so it is unlikely that Instagram will change their approach to content curation anytime soon.

For now, users hoping to see specific content should make it a point to like posts from the accounts they most enjoy. Keep in mind, however, that engaging with highly active accounts, such as those who post multiple times a day, will drown out less active accounts over time.

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News Podcasts

Inside Music Podcast #143: INCITE (Richie Cavalera)

The INCITE frontman and founding member opens up about his band’s forward-thinking new .

On this episode of Inside Music, host James Shotwell calls Richie Cavalera of INCITE to discuss his band’s new album, Built To Destroy. Richie details life in Vegas, his decision to leave Los Angeles, and how Incite’s latest release brings to life the vision he has had for the group since day one. James also asks Richie about the state of metal today, the differences between UK and US audiences, and where fans can expect to see Incite in the months to come.

We worked many metal bands and labels through Haulix, but something about INCITE’s latest release has stuck with us in recent weeks. Built To Destroy is a fast-paced, hard-hitting release that does not care about your opinions. As Richie Cavalera said when recording the podcast, this album finds INCITE doing precisely what they set out to do on day one. It is the culmination of a decade spent touring and recording, as well as a lifetime of experiences. INCITE want you to love it, but regardless of its performance in the marketplace the band is proud of what they have accomplished.

Built To Destroy takes a look at the world around us and demands that we consider why we live the lives we lead. Do you have a purpose, or do you merely follow orders? Do you aspire to greatness, or do you settle for the path of least resistance? INCITE recognizes how short our existence is, and they want their listeners not to let life pass by without doing whatever matters most to their heart.

https://soundcloud.com/inside-music-podcast/143-incite-richie-cavalera

Prefer video? We’ve got you covered:

You can subscribe to Inside Music on iTunes, as well as all major podcast platforms.

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