Month: August 2020

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Industry News News

Verizon Is Finally Killing Ringback Tones Later This Year [video]

rinback tones

After bringing Ringback Tones to the masses at the turn of the century, Verizon is now killing the one profitable (and always frequently annoying) tech.

Capitalism tells us that every idea is only as good as it is profitable. A great example of this comes from custom ringtones. Once companies knew people would pay for a new ringtone, an entire marketplace of sound came into existence. It was so popular that Verizon decided to take a chance with ringback tones, and until this October, it was also a success.

Ringback tones were the opposite of ringtones. Consumers could change the sound (ring) that played whenever someone called them, which meant musicians and labels could sell short clips of popular songs to replace the traditional ring-a-ling that previously dominated the market. The game-changing tech hit the market in 2004, and by 2006 it was unavoidable. You would call your friend to tell them exciting news, but first, you’d sit through a short Kanye West clip. It was…Frankly, it was weird.

The clips were popular for a brief moment. In 2008, ringback sales began to decline. AT&T stopped offering a ringback service in 2011, and Sprint ceased ringback operations a few years later. The functionality for a brief second wind overseas, but the worldwide sales continued to drop as fewer and fewer people used their phones to make calls.

This week, on August 31, Verizon put what we can assume is the final nail in the ringback coffin with the news the company told customers that it too would cease ringback offerings. An announcement on the Verizon website reads:

Effective October 31, 2020, Verizon will be discontinuing Ringback Tones and Playlists. Your existing subscription(s) and any Ringback Tone(s) you purchased from the Media Store will be automatically removed from all lines on your account, and you will no longer be charged a subscription fee for this feature.

Considering its role in popularizing ringback tones, Verizon’s decision to stop offering them to customers seems telling.

In this Music Biz News update, host James Shotwell shares the history of ringback tones, why they’re going away, and what history will remember about these well-intentioned, but frequently annoying existence.

Two additional carriers, T-Mobile and MetroPCS, continue to offer ringback tone subscriptions through third-party apps. They future outlook for these services is bleak to say the least.

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Industry News News

How To Avoid To Spot and Avoid 4 Notorious Music Con Artists [Video]

In a new video, author and producer Jesse Cannon shares the easiest way to spot modern music business con artists.

Spend enough time in music, and you’re bound to hear someone tell you that the fastest way to make money is by exploiting the dreams of others. That way of thinking actually applies to most industries, but it’s particularly true in entertainment. Music is a business built on dreamers, and each one is searching for the next thing that will propel them forward. Many are so desperate that they will do anything, including giving money to self-proclaimed experts (aka con artists), for the chance of becoming a star.

But here’s the thing. The vast majority of those claiming to be masters of the music business have no legitimate knowledge to share. They may have worked in the industry for years, attended conferences, and even read several books on success, but when pressed to show an understanding of what makes someone successful, they have nothing to share. They promote themselves as false thought leaders because they know there are enough artists desperate for success that will give them money without researching their claims. It’s a trick as old as time, and it’s sadly not going anywhere in the foreseeable future.

Thankfully, people like Jesse Cannon exist. Jesse is an internationally recognized music marketing master and record producer who can back up his claims of success. He’s worked with artists big and small to further their career through practical advice and hard work, most of which he now dispenses for free through YouTube. He also has two great books.

Jesse recently posted an in-depth video on music con artists, how to spot them, and the reasons why their scams are successful. We could go on and on about why it’s a must-see clip, but you might as well watch and see for yourself.

From the description:

In this video, I discuss the con artists, scammers, grifters, and other crooks in the music business. I break down:

►How to spot people trying to rip you off in music

►How music business roadmap and blueprint pyramid scheme type people who try to sell you subscriptions con you for your money.

►How Facebook & Instagram ad gurus rip you off

►How Spotify playlist placement salesman steal from musicians

►How people sell fake A&R connections

If you want even more Music Industry news and information, follow our YouTube channel as well.

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Editorials News Recommendations

Haulix Recommends: Seether – ‘Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum’

Returning with their first new material in three years, Seether delivers one of the year’s most exciting rock albums with Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum.

The history of rock music is littered with bands that exploded onto the music scene with one or two incredible albums before burning out creatively. Those same artists, many of which are active right now, then focus on touring as long as humanly possible with the hopes people never get tired of the songs they wrote years — or even decades — prior. It’s a sad fact of life that is as common as fist pumps at concerts, but thankfully, Seether is not falling victim to that way of life.

Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum, the band’s first album in three years, reminds the world that Seether is a powerful force. Translated to “If you want peace, prepare for war,” the album delivers songs to inspire hope in hard times. Seether has experienced rock bottom first hand, which is a topic they’ve written about at length, and they’re making it clear with this record that they never want anyone else to know those heartbreaking emotional depths. They want to save you or at least encourage you to save yourself.

“Bruised and Bloodied,” an early cut, perfectly exemplifies the sound and message of Si Vis Pacem, Para Bellum. Driving, aggressive production provides a riveting backdrop for Shaun Morgan to sing about the realization that the responsibility of happiness and personal development rests on the should of the beholder. People will come and go in this life, some making more significant impacts on you than others, but they cannot do anything to save you from yourself. The world will eat you up and spit you out without a second thought. The universe does not care whether you thrive or drown in a well of sorrow. Life is what you make it, and Seether urge you to recognize that time is running out.

Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.

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News Podcasts

Rockers Pale Blue Dot Appear on The Latest Inside Music Podcast

Virginia’s Pale Blue Dot is not letting a global pandemic prevent them from becoming your new favorite band.

Last weekend, something I thought impossible happened. After spending months watching musicians I know and love perform online with various degrees of success and production, I found and discovered someone new because of a live stream. A group of musicians I had never heard or met was performing on Facebook, and I not only watched but made an effort to seek out and support their career. It gave me hope for a concert-less world, and I think they’ll give you hope as well.

Virginia rock band Pale Blue Dot knew 2020 was going to be a wild year before it even began. Their new album was nearing completion, people were starting to pay attention, and every week brought new press. Then the pandemic happened, and every plan the band had was ruined in a matter of weeks. That kind of abrupt change can derail anyone, but the members of Pale Blue Dot did not miss a beat. The group pushed their album release, explored new marketing practices, and started work on what would become their first live stream performance.

On this episode of Inside Music, Pale Blue Dot shares the lessons they’ve learned throughout this tumultuous year. The group explains how merely pushing ahead without acknowledging the impact of change is a weak recipe for success, and that taking the time to understand what you’re experiencing matters. The current pandemic is impacting everyone differently, and it’s okay to take the time you need to process the present moment. Others might be able to brush it off and move forward, but others cannot, which is perfectly fine! Pale Blue Dot knows you have to listen to your heart and body above all else, which is what fuels their exciting take on modern alternative music.

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Industry News News

Van Morrison calls out COVID “Pseudoscience,” Demands Live Music Return at Full Capacity

NEW ORLEANS, LA - APRIL 28: Van Morrison perform during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival 2019 50th Anniversary at Fair Grounds Race Course on April 28, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic)

The “Brown Eyed Girl” songwriter is having a hard time convincing other musicians to join his efforts, but he persists.

Van Morrison is claiming COVID-19 “pseudoscience” is holding back the music industry and wants other musicians to join him in demanding an immediate return to concerts with full capacity audience.

The aging rock icon made his beliefs clear with a recently launched campaign on his official website that claims socially-distanced gigs are not economically viable.  “I call on my fellow singers, musicians, writers, producers, promoters, and others in the industry to fight with me on this. Come forward, stand up, fight the pseudo-science and speak up,” he said.

News of Morrison’s position on live music restrictions comes just weeks before he is set to play a series of socially-distanced gigs in France. “This is not a sign of compliance or acceptance of the current state of affairs, this is to get my band up and running and out of the doldrums,” he wrote. “This is also not the answer going forward. We need to be playing to full capacity audiences going forward.”

Social distancing helps limit opportunities to come in contact with contaminated surfaces and infected people outside the home. Although the risk of severe illness may be different for everyone, anyone can get and spread COVID-19.

The music industry has spent the last six months trying to adjust to the new normal, with many claiming that socially-distant events are not a sustainable business plan. However, since posting his thoughts last Friday, Morrison has not received outspoken support from virtually anyone in the industry.

Even Morrison’s fans are on the fence. After sharing his comments on Facebook, supporters of Morrison were quick to reply. “The science is real,” one wrote. “We love you, Van, but calling pandemic management protocols ‘pseudo-science’ is probably the dumbest and certainly the most dangerous idea you’ve ever put your name to,” wrote another.

Meanwhile, at least one venue in the UK is adapting to the new normal. The Virgin Money Unity Arena opened in August with elevated platforms that allow for fans to enjoy live music while maintaining a safe distance from other concert goers.

Analysts believe live music won’t return in a traditional sense until summer 2021 at the earliest. Live Nation, one of the world’s largest promoters of concerts and entertainment, has canceled the rest of its 2020 performance schedule in the United States. Experts predict Q1 of next year may be canceled as well.

If you hate this news as much as the Van Morrison and everyone else, there are actions to take. You can wear a mask, practice social distancing, and urge others to do the same. You can refrain from gathering in large groups and risking exposure until a vaccine exists. You can protect yourself and others. If that happens, then maybe the music will return sooner than expected.

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Industry News News

Instagram Reels Is An Underwhelming TikTok Knockoff [Video]

The latest feature from one of the world’s biggest social media platforms is a complete waste of time and design. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Instagram seized a golden opportunity when it released Reels, its direct competitor to TikTok, in early August. Arriving just as President Trump was unveiling plans to ban TikTok (a decision that may never happen), Reels offers content creators a new place to make and share looping videos set to music or original audio recordings. It’s the latest example in a long line of Insta-updates that borrow proven ideas from other platforms, but unlike Stories and Filters, Reels is DOA.

Reels may have the look and feel of TikTok and a large potential user base, but it suffers from being a small part of a much larger platform. To find Reels, users must first open Instagram, navigate to their explore page, and click on the Reels option at the top of the page. That is two more steps than TikTok, and the problems continue from there.

TikTok users have two feeds of content two choose from; one that they curate themselves through follows, and another that is generated by the platform’s algorithm. Reels only offers one feed, and it combines algorithmic predictions with what users want with the people they follow. You cannot follow someone in Reels alone, so any Reels creators someone follows will have photos and videos from those creators appear in the user’s main Instagram feed.

Then there is an issue with the length of Reels clips. TikTok allows users to make their content up to one-minute long, but Reels limits clips to fifteen seconds. That may be enough time to do a quick dance or lip-sync, but it places a seemingly unnecessary cap on creative expression.

Many of Reels’ most significant flaws stem from a core misunderstanding of why people use Instagram as opposed to TikTok. Instagram is a social network people use to give friends, family, and followers a glimpse into their lives. It is, in many ways, a carefully-curated glimpse into someone’s private life (or the life they want you to believe they lead). TikTok, on the other hand, is made with entertainment in mind. Most users don’t share personal content, just memes. It’s about making people laugh or smile or momentarily forget about whatever is bothering them. As the kids say, “it’s not that deep.”

However, all hope is not lost. Reels could become a go-to platform for creatives, but to do so, Instagram and its parent company, Facebook, need to reconsider their goals. What are you trying to accomplish? Do you want to entertain, and if so, how do you make that clear? Give users the ability to curate a Reels-specific following and make it easier to find the app’s feature. Facebook could even take things one step further and make Reels a standalone app for content creation that allows for cross-posting to Facebook and Instagram.

Instagram has built a large part of its business by stealing ideas that other services made famous. Its popular stories feature, which is the most used part of the app, is a variation of a similar tool that Snapchat brought to the public years prior. Similarly, though with less exciting results, IGTV is a variation of YouTube. These features both had their fair share of growing pains, but the longterm value is worth the effort needed to make them right. Reels could be the next ‘borrowed’ idea that hits big, but it’s not there-at least, not yet.

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News

A Compelling Argument For Making Creative Mistakes [Video]

We don’t learn if we never try, but we often give up before seeing the fruit of our labor. Why?

Today was a good day until it wasn’t. The morning started as many do, with a shower and a hot cup of coffee consumed while scrolling through social media posts shared in the six hours I was able to sleep. My daily to-do list came next, including numerous high-priority emails that took up my morning. Then came the time to create fresh content, which is the best part of any day, but then things went awry.

I thought I did everything right. The videos I shot for our company YouTube page looked good and covered hard-hitting topics. We were inspiring young musicians and music professionals to rethink their priorities and focus their talents where they would make the largest impact. The only problem was, the videos had no sound. Not a beep or boop, and certainly not a single syllablemof the many words I spoke. The mic wasn’t working, and we didn’t know until it was too late.

Upset and determined, I returned to my studio with plans of repeating my actions. I did it once, so doing it all over again should be easy enough, right?

Wrong. The words didn’t come out right, the lighting was off, and my cadence was lost. My anxiety over getting the video done was interfering with my ability to make the video. Classic creative irony.

At that point, my body felt one step away from implosion. I was ready to be done with everything. I wanted to sell my stuff, cancel my accounts, quit my job, and throw a fit. I was being childish, maybe worse. I wanted what I already made to be good enough, but it wasn’t, and I couldn’t deal with that.

But then something happened.

I spoke to my partner, who happens to work in mindfulness, and she listened to my story. The more I said the more foolish I felt for every word that came out. She didn’t offer a word of criticism, but did apologize for things not going my way. She suggested I take a break. That I eat lunch, catch my breath, and step outside. “Get some fresh air. The dog needs to go outside, so do that and see how you feel.”

Never one to argue with a sane person listening to my insane ramblings, I heeded her advice. I took the dog out, drank some water, and allowed myself to let go of the frustrations I felt toward the videos. What happened was done, and no amount of whining to the heavens with my fists clenched would change that. If content was going to happen today, then I was going to have to pull myself together and get on with it.

But then it hit me. I was mad that the thing I wanted to make didn’t come out the way I wanted. My anger had nothing to do with my career or my passion for the craft, but rather a false idea of what I needed to accomplish to be satisfied with myself. Making a video today wasn’t going to change my life forever, and it wasn’t even a requirement from my job. I had placed the pressure to perform a certain way on myself, so the anger I felt was my fault. My craft didn’t do this to me, nor did the technology. I did it.

As creatives, we often set goals for ourselves that have nothing to do with our competency or the pursuit of our dreams. We fool ourselves into believing the next video or song or album will change everything, but what are we trying to change? Is the pursuit of creativity not exactly what we seek? Are we not trying to make things because creating is our calling?

I create. I’ve been working full-time as someone who creates stuff for over a decade. Today’s video would not have changed that in any way, shape, or form. It was just another thing I made out of millions I have made or aspire to make in the years ahead. Not being able to share it with you hurts, but it doesn’t mean I’m a failure. As long as I keep creating, then I’m doing exactly what I want, and that is what matters most.

Making mistakes doesn’t mean we’ve failed. Making mistakes means we are continuing to learn, to try, and to grow. That’s a great thing.

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Industry News News

Stream Our Epic PR panel with Jesea Lee, Rey Roldan, and Jon Asher

Three of music’s most exciting publicists recently came together for a panel on the state of the industry that cannot be missed.

If there is anything to learn from the age of COVID-19, aside from the need for personal hygiene, it is the importance of connection. Human beings are not meant to live in isolation. We need relationships as much as we need air in our lungs and water in our cups. Friendships are the key to everything, including happiness and success, which explains why these long periods without human interaction are so tricky.

With that in mind, Haulix LIVE! is here to fill a void in the entertainment business. Twice a month, Haulix brings together the greatest minds in music publicity and promotion to share their knowledge with anyone hoping to hear it. These events are 100% free, and they are open to everyone.

On Thursday, August 20, at 2PM EST, we held a free PR roundtable with special guests Jesea Lee (High Road Publicity), Jon Asher (Asher Media Relations), and Rey Roldan (Reybee Inc). The event covered the state of music PR today, emerging trends in music publicity, and advice for people hoping to work in the field. Viewers also had an opportunity to ask our guests questions.

About the panelists:

Jesea Lee, a man who hails from the birthplace of Rock n’ Roll where the river was hot, but the beer is cold, is the co-owner and Head Publicist at High Road Publicity. Lee fell in love with music at a young age, starting his first band before he could even play an instrument. Applying that “dive headfirst” attitude to the business side of music, Lee was hired as a PR intern at Tragic Hero Records which quickly led to him becoming the director of publicity at Tragic Hero, Sun Pedal Recordings, and Revival Recordings. At the beginning of 2015, the newly-formed company High Road Publicity launched with Lee at the helm. Since then, he’s worked with many talented and burgeoning artists, making meaningful impacts to their careers.

Jon Asher, known for being a regular fixture on the Montreal music scene, founded ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS in September 2007 to aid bands and labels in celebrating their headbanging tunes to the world. A musician himself, and a McGill University graduate in public relations, Jon had his epiphany – to help out the struggling artists and help them gain the attention they need to support their music. He has worked with a number of independent and established artists such as Annihilator, Gene Hoglan (Testament, Death, SYL, Fear Factory), Quo Vadis, Fuck The Facts, Striker, Psychostick, Necronomicon, Helion Prime, Hibria, Mutank, Anonymus, Sons of Butcher, Kill Devil Hill ft. Rex Brown (Pantera) + Vinny Appice (DIO, Black Sabbath)), Drum Wars (Vinny Appice vs. Carmine Appice), Nephelium, Ninjaspy, Scythia, All Else Fails, Auroch, Planet Eater, Vesperia, Rockshots Records, Wacken Metal Battle Canada/USA, Armstrong Metal Fest, Loud As Hell MetalFest, Calgary Metalfest, Metalocalypstick Fest, Decimate Metal Fest, Le FestEvil, Obscene Extreme America Fest and many more. He has also guest lectured at McGill University on Music Publicity for the public relations program plus has spoken on panels for Alberta Music (Calgary), Indie Week (Toronto), Noctis Fest (Calgary), Halifax Pop Explosion, and mentoring sessions at SXSW (Austin, TX).  

Rey Roldan is a veteran of the music industry, both as a publicist and journalist at I.R.S. Records, Mammoth Records, Grass / Wind-up Records, Jive /Silvertone/Zomba Recordings, KSA Public Relations and Island Def Jam, for over two decades. He’s also the founder of Reybee, Inc. (est. 2004).  Throughout his career, he has been involved with musicians and artists from practically every facet of the entertainment business including music, film, books, television and plays. He has spearheaded campaigns for artists including Britney Spears, Brooks & Dunn, Duran Duran, director Baz Luhrmann, Backstreet Boys, Sting, Hootie & the Blowfish, Hanson, Dresden Dolls, A Tribe Called Quest, as well as the films Bridget Jones’ Diary, Grammy winner Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, O Brother Where Art Thou? He has also helped launch record labels including Lost Highway, Jive Electro, and Planet Dog. If that’s not enough, he’s also currently a staff writer at American Songwriter Magazine.

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Editorials Industry News News Recommendations

Haulix Recommends: Kill The Lights – ‘The Sinner’

Combining classic metalcore with a modern edge, Kill The Lights make a bold statement on hard rock’s future with their full-length debut, The Sinner.

Supergroups are held to higher standards than most and Kill The Lights is no exception. Uniting original Bullet For My Valentine co-founder Michael “Moose” Thomas [drums] with Throw The Fight frontman James Clark [vocals], Jordan Whelan of Still Remains [guitar], and Travis Montgomery of Threat Signal [guitar], the band is the creation of people known for consistently raising the bar in the world of metal. Giving the world a mediocre release, or even one that is considered “just okay,” is not an option. If Kill The Lights is going to release something, it has to be great.

“We all loved the idea of having some of those throwback elements with a fresh sound,” exclaims James. “We aimed for something classic either a 15-year-old or 50-year-old could enjoy. It came out naturally by virtue of us working together. It’s not contrived. We give reverence to our influences, but Kill The Lights is its own entity.”

He’s not wrong. While many artists stretch themselves too thin by attempting to appeal to a wide demographic, Kill The Lights overcome generational gaps with ease. Critics will say that is because rock and metal haven’t evolved as much as other music areas in recent decades, but that isn’t true. Today’s young metal acts are more aggressive, brash, and far more reliant on digital trickery than yesteryear artists. The goals remain the same, but the approach has changed, and The Sinner finds a way to bring that evolution full circle in a manner that is equal parts heavy and cathartic. It’s undeniably intense, yes, but there is a lot of heart as well. 

But it’s unclear if their work in other groups is responsible for Kill The Lights sound as much as the experiences the members’ previous bands made possible. Their musical precision is never up for debate, but that would be true whether or not the record or group existed. The album’s real magic is in the way it channels the human condition into rallying cries for people from multiple walks of life and generations without submitting to genre tropes or delivering a scattershot release. The album builds from the opening soundbite that calls for the burial of demons and reclaiming life, to the rapturous cry for strength to persevere the throes of existence on “Unmoved,” The Sinner is the medicine we need to survive the hell that is 2020.

Kill The Lights did what they set out to accomplish with The Sinner. Across eleven tracks, the rock veterans display a firm grasp on their genre while sharing songs of hope and retaliation that are easily accessible for metal fans of all ages. It’s the kind of album that the community needs right now, and it points to a bright future for the group in the years to come.

Haulix Recommends is a recurring feature where the Haulix staff chooses one or more recent releases from their clients. Click here to discover more great music being promoted through Haulix.

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News

Brian McTernan appears on the latest Inside Music Podcast

Ahead of his band Be Well’s new album, scene staple Brian McTernan stops by Inside Music to speak on creativity and aging.

Brian McTernan needs no introduction, but we’ll give him one anyway. Brian is a producer and musician whose work in the alternative scene has influenced some of the most notable records of the last twenty years. Everyone from Texas Is The Reason to Darkest Hour, Circa Survive, Sharptooth, and more owe a few thanks to Brian for his work behind the boards. But like all great creatives, Brian has stories he wants to share, and that’s what people get on the new album from his incredible hardcore band, Be Well.

The heavier side of alternative music is sometimes written off as being reserved for young people. When teenage angst meets the struggle to survive adulthood, creativity blossoms in a unique way that often expresses itself through heavy music. Many of the greatest hardcore albums are written by people in their late teens and early twenties who are speaking to experiences recognized by their peers. Those same listeners age, just like the musicians, but the embrace of heavy music often fades along the way.

Be Well is an exception. While their music can and will inspire young listeners, the band’s work speaks directly to the lives of those deep into adulthood. The group’s latest record, The Weight And The Cost, tackles the frustrations of parenting alongside the constant struggle to understand ourselves. It’s in McTernan’s ability to speak on both topics that magic is found, and the resulting recordings are sure to provide comfort to many during these uncertain times.

On this episode of INSIDE MUSIC, Brian chats with host James Shotwell about his history in production and how the challenges of creative expression change with age. The pair also discuss the influence of Brian’s former band, Battery, as well as the way his work will be remembered in the years to come.

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