President Trump's executive order against Bytedance-owned TikTok goes into effect this Sunday, September 20.
In an incredible new documentary short, VOX and The Pudding deliver an in-depth look at the wild and miraculous ways TikTok is upending the music business.
Big Machine Label Group’s Scott Borchetta sharply criticized the rush to ink TikTokers to lucrative label deals earlier this year by pointing to the lackluster results. “Not any of those [Tiktok stars] that got signed to big deals have worked,” Borchetta bluntly assessed while urging others to consider the difference between “a moment” and longer-term success potential.
But many in the industry believe Borchetta’s comments may miss the bigger picture. While many artists who experience past viral success on TikTok do not have the talent or community-building skills to leverage that moment into bigger opportunities, others do, and an increasing number of musicians are choosing to forgo the allure of major label deals in preference of the DIY lifestyle.
After all, what can a label offer someone whose already garnered more success and attention than artists on that label’s roster?
The answer, it seems, depends on your understanding of business. As a new documentary short from VOX and The Pudding explores, TikTok has forced labels and artists to reconsider how they interact with one another. As one talking head puts it, “It turns out the app is completely revolutionizing the way record labels work and giving artists more leverage than ever.”
VOX and The Pudding spent months pouring over datasets related to TikTok success, industry signings, and revenue to uncover the truth. They also spoke to a dozen or so experts on the topic, including former TikTok executives and music industry experts.
Playlists are the key to discovery and growth for many musicians, but very few know how to pitch tastemakers successfully. We can help
Every artist has a story to tell, but alarmingly few seem to realize how many artists are telling similar stories. Every life is unique, but there are only so many relatable experiences that can be mass-marketed through song. That’s why there are so many love songs and an equally large amount of heartbreak anthems. The same goes for songs about realizing life is short, mourning the dead, aspiring to better oneself, and of course, the timeless desire to flee one’s hometown and chase big-city dreams.
Your story is unique, but you have to know how to sell your story for tastemakers to understand that.
Each day, in offices and remote workspaces around the globe, playlist curators and industry gatekeepers sift through countless songs from artists hoping they’ll give them one of the very limited spaces available on editorial playlists. Certain tastemakers specializing in mood-themed playlists may hear upwards of one hundred or more tracks with a similar theme or story in a single day.
If you want to be the ONE song that stands out from the competition, there are two factors you have to nail:
The song needs to be GOOD. Obviously.
You need to sell the heck out of that song.
Part one is up to you. As for part two:
The only thing separating your story of wanting to leave home and every other dreamer is how you sell it to someone else.
Start by breaking your song down to the simplest description possible.
“My song is about growing up in a small town and waiting to escape.”
Great! We have a relatable perspective that millions, even billions, can easily recognize.
The only problem is—everyone has a song about wanting to leave their hometown.
If you want to attract playlist curators, tastemakers, or anyone, you need to be more specific.
Let’s start with the “why” of it all. WHY do you want to leave your hometown?
“My song is about growing up in a small town and waiting to escape because I have big dreams.”
That’s better. You’ve narrowed the target audience slightly, but you’ve also gotten closer to your true market.
Let’s add another detail, perhaps explore WHAT made us want to leave our hometown. Was it our family, the community, or something more existential? Maybe it’s all three!
“My song is about growing up in a conservative small town and how nobody, not even my family members, can relate to your ambitions of a life outside the village limits.”
The significance of your song and your perspective on life increases exponentially with each detail we add to our story. Those same details attract entertainment gatekeepers and inspire countless passive listeners to seek out more of your music.
With a little effort, our song about growing up in a small town and waiting to escape can be sold as an epic tale of wanderlust and misadventure inspired by unfortunate yet relatable circumstances.
“My song is about growing up in a conservative small town and how nobody, not even my family members, can relate to your ambitions of a life outside the village limits. It’s about taking advantage of the opportunities presented to you and exploring them. Sometimes we will fail, but that’s okay because failure is part of the journey. What’s more important, to me, is that we try in the first place.”
A few things to keep in mind as you develop your selling power:
You are already a storyteller. Your music proves that. Don’t let the lack of music cause you to lose confidence in yourself. The story you are telling is yours (or one you made up). Nobody can sell it better than you.
Storytelling is a skill you never stop developing. It will take time to build great pitches, but it’s worth the effort.
As you refine your story, always look for new angles to promote your single. Maybe the song elicits a very specific feeling or reaction from the listener. If so, there’s probably a playlist for that.
Not all stories are created equal, and the same goes for the recipient. You may need to develop multiple pitches for a single song to maximize its reach.
Playlisting is the way of the future. Taking time out of your schedule now to develop and refine your pitching skills will expedite the promotional process down the line. Best of luck, and if you have any questions, email james@haulix.com for advice.
Riding high on a successful string of releases, Unique Leader Records CEO Jamie Graham chats with Haulix about how his label continues to thrive amid an ongoing global pandemic.
When Jamie Graham took over Unique Leader Records following the untimely death of founder Erik Linmarkin in 2019, nobody knew what would come next. Graham was suddenly leading a global music company with a thriving roster of hardworking young talent and an inbox flooded with the dreams of aspiring musicians. The young industry mind had to work fast to get on his feet, but another unpredictable event happened almost as soon as he found his footing.
“We probably had nine to eleven releases in various stages of rollout when March (2020) happened,” Jamie explains while speaking from his home office. “I was actually on the road at the time, and I remember we got a message that everything was canceled. It was a crazy time.”
Metal, much like rock and roll, will never die. However, that doesn’t mean the genre pioneered by legendary bands Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Deep Purple hasn’t found itself on life support once or twice in its nearly 100-year existence. One decade rock and metal define our culture, but the next, they take a backseat. That ebb and flow will continue throughout time, and it’s the duty of the labels and bands in the genre to weather the storm.
Even before the pandemic hit, rock was already suffering. A years-long stretch of falling behind the streaming numbers of pop and hip-hop has left the genre struggling to break new talent on a massive level, and the pandemic only made matters worse. As artists hunkered down at home, the label had to step back and reevaluate every aspect of its business. Were releases still going to come out, or would they be shelved until reopening? When would vinyl be available? For artists who were writing, how could they record? Where would the money come from to cover the bills and keep everyone paid?
The answers labels and music professionals came up with in response to these concerns are countless. For Jamie Graham and Unique Leader, their choice was to double down on digital marketing efforts while continuing to search for and nurture the next generation of genre-defining talent. Many chose a safer path, but two years on, Graham and the Unique Leader team are experiencing one of their biggest growth periods yet.
In the latest Music Biz ‘Fast Five’ interview, Jamie Graham chats with host James Shotwell about the pandemic’s effect on his business, the talent he supports, and his views on the industry overall. The conversation inevitably runs long, so the pair also discuss the secret to landing a deal with Unique Leader. Check it out:
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After being left stranded with a canceled tour and blown transmission, Saving Vice looked to the industry for help. To their surprise, they got a response.
Saving Vice left their home state of Vermont in late May, thinking they were embarking on the opportunity of a lifetime. After cutting their teeth in the tough New England music scene, the band was graduating to national tours with global talent. They were to support rapper Lil Xan alongside other up-and-coming rock bands, and the tour kickoff was set for the So What Music Festival in Dallas, TX. Touring is a notoriously unpredictable business, but Saving Vice saw the worst of it after leaving home.
The band’s transmission blew before the first show, leaving them stranded in Dallas. Then, as they were working with mechanics to find a solution, they received word through social media that Lil Xan would not appear on tour. The headliner they drove across the country to support was a no-show, and the bands were left with little to no recourse.
As word of the band’s predicament spread online, something amazing started happening. Artists, fans, and strangers began reaching out to support the artists, asking what they could to help. Some gave money, while others offered gigs, which helped alleviate some short-term stresses. But it wasn’t enough. Saving Vice and the others would need to do more to salvage their career, which meant taking action themselves.
Music Biz host James Shotwell chats with Saving Vice member Tyler Small about his band’s recent tour troubles in our latest fast-five interview. Tyler shares how he and the crew learned of the situation, their initial response, and how the industry’s incredible support gave him renewed energy to chase his dreams.
Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.
From Harry Styles’ record-breaking vinyl sales to Pepsi’s surprising halftime show decision, we’re bringing you the need-to-know music news of the week.
If you’re reading this, congratulate yourself. You are less than four full days from the end of May, which means you’re nearly halfway through 2022. There are probably moments in your life when you doubt yourself, your direction, and your goals, but that time is not today. We are celebrating existence. After two years of a global pandemic, countless gun-related tragedies, and more personal challenges than anyone will understand, you made it to this day, time, and place. You’re still here, kicking ass and taking names. Take pride in that.
We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. Below you’ll find the biggest stories of the week, all covered by the best outlets in tech and entertainment. Click around, learn what’s happening, and use the weekend to prepare for the end of the month.
But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.
The pop star’s third solo album, the eponymously-titled “Harry’s House,” has set a record for the largest sales week for a vinyl album in the U.S. The LP sold more than 146,000 copies within three days of its May 20 release. Styles takes the crown from Taylor Swift, whose vinyl version of “Red” (Taylor’s Version)” had broken previous single-week sales records when it debuted last year.
Styles’ vinyl success doesn’t come as a huge surprise. The 28 year-old singer’s 2019 album “Fine Line” was a No. 1 seller on vinyl in 2020 and continued through 2021 as the No. 4-selling vinyl album. His self-titled debut record also found success on the old-school format, selling 236,000 copies on vinyl when it debuted in 2017.
After a decade as the presenting sponsor of the Big Game’s star-studded entertainment break, Pepsi has decided this year’s performance featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will be its last.
The soft drink giant plans to concentrate more of its media spend in digital as traditional broadcast TV audiences continue to dwindle. While the Super Bowl may be one of the last vestiges of appointment television, its halftime show faces myriad challenges from social media, streaming and other mediums.
In a statement, Pepsi said ending the partnership reflects a “larger strategic shift to bring unprecedented music and entertainment experiences” to consumers “where they are now, and where they will be in the future.”
Hipgnosis Song Management has acquired the song catalogue of Justin Timberlake.
Financial details of the deal weren’t disclosed. Hipgnosis, the Notting Hill, London-based company founded in 2018 by former music manager Merck Mercuriadis, called Timberlake “the iconic American singer, songwriter, record producer and actor who is one of the most influential artists of the last 20 years and named by Billboard as the best performing male solo artist in Top 40/Contemporary Hit Radio history.”
Hipgnosis said Friday that it has bought 100 percent “of all of Justin Timberlake’s copyright, ownership and financial interests of the writer and publisher’s share of public performance income, and the catalog of musical compositions written by Justin Timberlake.” Also included in the sale are “the worldwide administration rights to the compositions, subject to the remaining term of Universal Music’s administration rights, which expire in 2025.”
Oologah country music artist Zach Bryan’s Warner Records debut album, “American Heartbreak,” smashed the 2022 record for most streams by a country album in one day on Spotify and Apple Music.
The album was released Friday, May 20. “American Heartbreak” is available here via Warner Records.
A news release said the record-setting album has garnered critical applause. “Part of the reason why the Oklahoma native has become one of the genre’s most visible rising stars of the year is his ability to tackle different themes and moods with aplomb,” Billboard said. “Another reason is his voice — sturdy but with an approachable lightness.”
Bryan, who has surpassed one billion global streams, shared the music video for the single “Whiskey Fever” on the day the album was released. Watch it here.
From beauty tutorials to watching your favorite recipes being prepared, learning new gaming tips and everything in between, TikTok LIVE allows creators to inspire, entertain and connect with engaged communities in real-time. And as we continue to connect creators with a global community, we’re always exploring new ways to reward creators for their creativity.
Today we’re introducing LIVE Subscription, a monthly subscription on TikTok for people to show their appreciation for their favorite LIVE creators. LIVE Subscription will initially be available to invite-only creators this month and will then become available globally over the coming months.
Bringing creators and viewers closer together with LIVE
LIVE Subscription is an extension of our efforts to build diversified creator monetization opportunities that suit a range of creator needs. LIVE Subscription gives creators the opportunity to increase their earnings while continuing to grow their community and also provides engaged communities an opportunity to thank their favorite creators on a regular basis.
At launch, subscriber perks will include:
Subscriber Badges: Subscribers receive badges that are displayed next to their name on their profile and upgraded over time.
Custom Emotes: Subscribers get access to exclusive emotes custom-designed by the creators to use during LIVE sessions to bring the community together and make your sessions more spirited.
Subscriber-Only Chat: When the subscriber-only chat is turned on, creators and their subscribers have exclusive access to one another, enhancing an even more personal connection between creator and viewer.
SONG OF THE WEEK: The Wonder Years – “Summer Clothes”
The old saying goes that artists only need one-thousand dedicated fans to lead successful careers, but does that hold true in 2022?
The problem with so-called timeless business lessons is that they rarely work in the 21st-century. Most of the basic tips and tricks for successfully building and sustaining a career in any field no longer apply in the internet age. Employers can hire people from anywhere, and employees can work for anyone. Similarly, everyone can be a fan of any artist without spending a dime. Meanwhile, artists are expected to engage with fans of all sizes, despite the growing number of platforms and time-consuming content creation efforts needed to appease each follower.
Still, without fail, we hear old advice regurgitated as a timeless fact regularly. One of the most prominent beliefs is that the only thing an artist needs to sustain their career is 1000 dedicated fans.
The “1,000 True Fans Theory” was proposed by Wired magazine’s “senior maverick” Kevin Kelly back in 2008 and states that all an artist needs is 1,000 true fans to maintain a fruitful, if unspectacular, career, thereby relieving the artist of the need for some of the nastier things in life as a regular job.
Kelly’s idea is that if an artist can find 1,000 fans who spend an average of $100 per year supporting them, then they’re more or less living the dream. That amounts to $100,000 gross income per year, which would leave a livable wage even after taxes and expenses.
Kelly’s theory predates the launch of Spotify by nearly three full years and barely arrives in time to catch the launch of Twitter. How we define a fan has drastically changed in the fourteen years since the original observation was made, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s untrue.
The trick, or one of them at least, is finding how to accrue that many fans willing to spend money to support your career.
There are a few issues with Kelly’s theory that we should address.
Your 1,000 fans need to spend an “average” of $100 per year.
Some fans will spend $500 to support you in a calendar year. Others may only pay $20. Generating enough income to make a $100,000 gross will require you first spend money. You have to print merch, record music, and promote your content, all of which costs money that you have no guarantee of recouping.
The theory doesn’t work as well for duos or groups.
$100,000 gross may be enough to give one artist a comfortable living, but the idea falls apart when you add more people to the equation. A four-member band, for example, likely needs far more fans to create a livable wage.
Expenses can really add up.
Let’s say you earn a gross of $100,000 as a solo artist. The expenses you need to subtract from those earnings can include a manager (on average, 10% of the gross), booking agent, publicist, recording costs, “hired gun” musicians for studio and tour work, promotional fees, merch costs, and upkeep for your tour van/bus. All that, plus taxes, will take a substantial bite out of the initial gross.
People are spending less per artist than ever.
Kelly’s theory came about before the streaming age, back when people paid $10 or more for albums. Artists make a decent amount from physical media sales, but that marketplace has cratered since Spotify and similar streaming services became the most popular way to consume music. Today’s listener gives an average of $10 per month to the streaming platform of their choice, which pays fractions of a penny per stream to artists. A fan can listen to their favorite artist thousands of times in a year, and that musician will not earn anywhere near $100 from their consumption.
That is why, as many of us know, artists rely heavily on live performances and merch sales to make ends meet. It’s not enough to have a fan attend a show. It would be best if you had fans buy a ticket, convince their friends to come along, and (ideally) buy merch at the gig.
Attrition is a problem.
The fans that support you in 2022 may not help you in 2023. Some listeners won’t discover your music until your second or third album, and they may only pay to see you or pickup merch on one occasion. You cannot rely on a single set of 1,000 fans to support your career over time. Instead, your goal should be to make new, financially supportive fans faster than you lose them. Do that, and your job has a fighting chance of thriving.
Kelly’s theory is much easier to achieve with fan clubs.
Services such as Patreon, which give fans access to exclusive content from an artist in exchange for a monthly fee, can create reliable revenue streams. It’s easier to ask someone for $10 per month than it is to request a single payment of $120.
So, can Kelly’s theory work?
Yes, it is possible to survive with 1,000 fans supporting your music beyond merely streaming it online. However, finding and retaining those fans is a tricky proposition that Kelly’s idea ignores in favor of simplicity.
Spotify is currently testing a new feature that will promote user-generated playlists to the homepage of the world’s most popular streaming app.
Playlists make the world go around. What was once thought to be merely another evolution in a long line of mixtapes and mix CDs, playlists are a form of communication unto themselves. The right songs can tell stories that break your heart, lift your spirits, and make you believe in yourself. More importantly, at least from a business standpoint, playlists drive discovery in a manner no other format has since radio. That’s big business, and Spotify may soon want to share your playlist with others.
Beginning in April, Spotify started a pilot program where it promotes user-generated playlists on the homepage. If you are included in the program, your playlist will appear with those of other selected users in the Featured Curator carousel.
As Spotify notes, the Featured Curators section doesn’t include playlists from just any users; the platform selects curators based on their followings and playlist popularity and whether they tell “unique stories through playlists” or create “authentic connections” with listeners.
How to Become a Featured Curator
At the moment, Spotify is doing outreach to playlist curators individually to be added to the Featured Curators program. In other words, they’ll call you.
You will now see Featured Curators playlists in the Spotify iPhone or Android app next to Spotify Editorial Playlists in certain markets.
As with anything, Featured Curators is a new feature that will likely undergo many changes before it reaches the general public, if it even gets to that point.
What this means for the future of discovery
Empowering fans has been at the heart of countless digital campaigns over the last two decades. What separates Featured Creators from previous mistakes is that Spotify knows their idea will work. They have the data to understand which users are creating playlists that generate genuine engagement and—hopefully—lead listeners to become lifelong fans.
What this means for users
The power is back in your hands! As long as you can organically build an influential playlist, there is a chance Spotify will promote your curations to the masses. What remains to be seen is whether or not creators will be compensated for their work. After all, what is the value of your influence if Spotify deems it worthy of the front page?
TikTok has revolutionized the way artists promote themselves and engage with fans, but not every change has made marketing easier.
With over one billion downloads worldwide and an average monthly use time of well over an hour, TikTok is a remarkable global cultural force. Every day, millions of people upload countless videos covering all areas of creativity imaginable, and hundreds of millions more log on to see what has been made. It’s the greatest marketplace for ideas since Twitter, and anyone discussing music marketing in 2022 has not gone a day without thinking about TikTok for longer than they can remember.
Over the last several weeks a number of high-profile artists have begun publicly complaining about demands from their labels to create TikTok content. The controversy reached a boiling point when Halsey shared a clip of an as-of-yet untitled new track with a message alleging her label was essentially holding her music hostage until she could create a viral moment on the platform. The pop musician then doubled down on her allegations by sharing a second video where a man can be heard explaining that the best way to begin teasing the single would be to share it on TikTok. Both clips remain online as of this posting.
TikTok’s influence on music is undeniable. Since Lil Nas X and “Old Town Road” took off in the early months of the app’s stateside debut virtually every label on the planet has held meetings on help embracing the video-sharing platform may help their roster. In 2021, more than 75 musicians who charted on Billboard for the first time got their start by being discovered on TikTok, and many more artists credit the platform for helping them achieve their first song with over one-million streams.
But there is a dark side to TikTok and its influence on the industry. Namely, the platform has made it easier than ever to play with objective reality. Viewers no longer know whether the artist complaining about their label is doing so organically or because someone in a marketing department thinks people love artists that hate their labels. Is the girl you see performing a demo in her bedroom actually an unknown talent, or is she already signed to a manager and publisher? Does authenticity even matter, and if so, how do you convey it?
These are just a few questions marketers and artists alike are now asking themselves. In the latest Music Biz update, host James Shotwell examines how we reached this point and what actions artists should take in response. Through numerous examples, James explains how misdirection and deception have fueled an age of discovery where every success story has another, often far less surprising, truth behind it.
Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.
From YouTube’s surprising podcast domination to The Judds’ final tour, we’re bringing you all the music news you need to know as we head into the weekend.
Three weeks into May, and life has yet to disappoint. As the temperatures continue to rise and more artists hit the road with summer sunsets on their minds, something about the season feels shockingly normal. As long as you don’t look at the news or spend too much time on social media, there is plenty to love about life at the moment. We have great music, new opportunities, and another day to chase our dreams. What more could you want?
We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. Below you’ll find the biggest stories of the week, all covered by the best outlets in tech and entertainment. Click around, learn what’s happening, and use the weekend to prepare for the end of the month.
But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.
US radio group Cumulus Media and research firm Signal Hill Insights have published a report suggesting that Google’s video service is the most popular podcasting platform in the US now.
That’s based on a survey of listeners, with 24.2% saying YouTube is the platform they use the most for podcasts, ahead of Spotify (23.8%) and Apple Podcasts (16%).
Meanwhile, the report claims that these three platforms now account for 64% of podcast listening in the US, up from 55% in 2019. The suggestion is that video podcasts are a big part of YouTube’s rise, with six in ten weekly podcast listeners claiming to prefer podcasts with video. You can download the full report here.
Businesses don’t just rely on health insurance to lure potential workers into their fold. Gym memberships, free snacks or meals, even free fitness trackers — there’s no shortage of perks that modern companies can use to win over future employees. Spotify is sick of being on the outside of those benefits, so it’s introducing a new program to help businesses entice workers through the promise of free jam sessions.
Spotify for Work is the company’s new perk for employers, and it’s kicking off with Accenture, a “global professional services firm.” Members in Sweden, Latvia, and Lithuania are getting a free Spotify Premium account meant to be used both during and outside of work hours. For now, this program is just a partnership with Accenture, though the streamer is teasing potential collaborations with other companies down the road with today’s announcement.
As Wynonna Judd has promised, the show will go on for the Judds’ previously announced Final Tour after the death of her mother and duo partner, Naomi Judd. A press release Thursday morning (May 19) reveals that a slate of all-star female guests will join Wynonna Judd to complete the tour in tribute to the Judds’ enduring legacy, calling it the “ultimate girls night out.”
“I am humbled, once again, by the loyalty of the fans who have been with us for 38-plus years, who continue to show up for me when I need them the most,” Wynonna Judd states. “I am grateful that we will continue to honor the Judds legacy, together.”
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is now the “fastest growing music region in the world,” according to the IFPI, which is preparing to roll out its “first ever regional chart” for the nations at hand and their approximately 400 million residents.
The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) today detailed its view of MENA’s growth (as well as its plans for the aforementioned regional chart) via a formal release that was emailed to DMN. Back in March, the organization reported that the Middle East and North Africa had achieved 35 percent music-industry growth in 2021, against 31.2 percent for Latin America and 18.5 percent globally.
Building upon these findings, the IFPI last month commissioned a survey of 1,560 United Arab Emirates residents between the ages of 16 and 44. This study found that the country’s roughly 10 million citizens enjoy an average of 22.5 hours’ worth of music per week (22 percent above the international average), with 54 percent of individuals having stated that they “typically listen to at least one Middle Eastern genre.”
Serenade, a music NFT marketplace launched in 2021, has raised AUD $6 million (approx USD $4.2m).
The company, founded by Australian tech entrepreneur Max Shand, says the funds will be used to “help grow its artist and partner roster” across the UK and Australia, as well as in the US, where the company plans to enter the market and open a dedicated office.
Today’s (May 18) news follows the announcement in March, that Iain Watt, the former Managing Director of YMU Music in the UK, joined the platform’s Advisory Board as Chairman.
According to a media statement, Serenade has been supported by several high-profile music industry investors, including senior management figures from Atlantic Records UK, Secret Sounds, Future Classic, UNIFIED Music Group and Warner Music Group, as well as Hollywood actor Hugh Jackman.
The statement adds that “the group has also been joined by Matt Gudinski and Johann Poniah of Mushroom Group and former Powderfinger frontman Bernard Fanning.”
If you’ve ever received a DM from an individual promising something that felt too good to be true, this video on scam artists is for you.
When I was beginning my career, my grandfather offered me advice that I carry to this day. “Wherever there are dreamers,” he told me, “there will be people looking to make a quick buck by exploiting that dream.” He knew scam artists were everywhere, but I’m not sure even my grandfather understood how prevalent such tricksters would be in 2022.
Every artist with an online presence has encountered a scammer. Maybe they posed as a fan to get friendly before trying to sell them special services, or perhaps they’re pretending to be a major record label exec. Either way, scammers are everywhere, and they target the hungriest artists because they know desperate people rarely think things through.
Ever since our first article on scam artists, musicians worldwide have contacted us regarding direct messages, emails, phone calls, and even business cards they’ve received from people they felt were trying to scam them. More often than not, those concerns were later validated when we uncovered the truth behind the false goods these individuals were promising.
We are still receiving messages from concerned artists. One musician, Jamal, even sent us screenshots and an in-depth description of their interactions with a scammer. We asked for permission to share their experiences with you, and thankfully, they agreed.
Music Biz host James Shotwell shares a step-by-step guide to understanding how scammers operate on social media in the video below. He shares Jamal’s experiences, including screenshots of his conversations, and even places a call to Warner Music Group. Check it out:
Music Biz is brought to you by Haulix, the music industry’s leading promotional distribution platform. Start your one-month free trial today and gain instant access to the same promotional tools used by BMG, Concord, Rise Records, Pure Noise Records, and hundreds more. Visit http://haulix.com/signup for details.
