Music Industry

Monday, July 20, 2020

Verzuz Officially Names Apple Music as a Broadcast Partner: What’s Next?

Verzuz co-founders Timbaland and Swizz Beatz. (Source: Getty Images)

Verzuz, the quarantine-borne Instagram Live streaming producer and artist competition series started by Swizz Beatz and Timbaland, will now be available on Apple Music and Beats 1. The forthcoming July 22, 8 PM EST “Battle of the Dogs” between Snoop Dogg and DMX will be the first official Verzuz battle broadcast via the partnership. Previously, Apple Music and Beats 1 live-streamed a dueling piano Juneteenth episode of Verzuz, featuring Alicia Keys and John Legend.

The move is likely aimed at creating greater structure and longevity for the series. Past battles have featured significant technical difficulties, as well as connection issues posed by solely using Instagram Live. As well, the ability to maintain the series as an episodic-style catalog has not been possible. As quarantine moves into its fourth month with no definitive end in sight, Verzuz gaining sustainability as a breakout music industry leader for compelling content feels necessary. Concerns about paying artists and developing live music options are an industry concern. Ideas like simulcasting Verzuz, for free, via Instagram Live, but making it available via paywalled, subscription-only services like Apple Music and Beats 1 begin to solve this issue.

Peak musical content engagement goals during quarantine spiked 400 percent in the 50 days between D-Nice‘s 150,000 peak viewer March 21 DJ stream to Jill Scott and Erykah Badu‘s 750,000+ peak viewer May 9 Verzuz battle. However, top producers like Pharrell Williams and musical acts with Verzuz-ready catalogs like Jay-Z and Beyoncé have yet to be tabbed to “compete.” It is entirely likely that their involvement could potentially raise those numbers well over one million-plus peak viewers. If this were to occur, having multiple live arms for engagement, as well as the ability to both monetize and archive Verzuz, would be valuable.

For more Verzuz information, visit them via Instagram.

Related Post: Music Industry Adapts to Increasing Power of Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch

| Music Industry
Apple Music, Beats 1, Instagram Live, Swizz Beatz, Timbaland, Verzuz,
Wednesday, July 15, 2020

DJ E-Rock Talks Power of Twitch, Diversifying Your Income: The 20 Podcast

DJ E-Rock

DJ E-Rock, a veteran party rocker and host on REAL 92.3, sits down with DJ Spider on this week’s episode of The 20 Podcast. The San Francisco native discusses the power of Twitch, the importance of diversifying your income, among other topics.

Watch the interview above. An audio version of the podcast is also available on all major platforms.

Hosted by DJ Spider, The 20 Podcast features conversations with influential DJs, producers, and other music industry professionals.

Related Post: Ka5 Talks Miami DJ Scene, Making Most of Lockdown: The 20 Podcast

| DJ Culture, Music Industry, Videos
Beatsource, DJ E-Rock, DJ Spider, Interview, The 20 Podcast,
Wednesday, July 1, 2020

Aluna Talks Appropriation in Dance Music Industry, Going Solo: The 20 Podcast

Aluna

Following her open letter on Billboard, UK singer/producer/DJ Aluna meets with DJ Spider on this week’s episode of The 20 Podcast. Aluna, who gained fame as part of the duo AlunaGeorge, discusses appropriation and segregation in the dance music industry, why she went solo, plus more.

Watch the interview above or listen to it all major platforms. Also, check out Aluna’s “Dance Renaissance” playlist on Beatsource, which is referenced in the interview.

Hosted by DJ Spider, The 20 Podcast features conversations with influential DJs, producers, and other music industry professionals.

Related Post: Eddie Mac Talks Reopening Clubs Amid COVID-19, How Venues Are Adapting: The 20 Podcast

| DJ Culture, Music Industry, Videos
Aluna, Beatsource, DJ Spider, Interview, The 20 Podcast,
Friday, May 29, 2020

Instagram To Pay Content Creators Via ‘Badges’ Program and Ad Revenue


DJ Mel. (Credit: Daniel Boczarski)

As of June 2020, Instagram will begin financially rewarding content creators who use Instagram Live. Through both the rollout of short advertisements and the new “badges” program, creatives will be rewarded for live fan engagement. Instagram’s updates were announced on their website on May 27 .

Created in part due to an increase in Instagram Live usage at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program, similar to incentivization programs used by online broadcaster Twitch, ultimately allows for creatives to earn revenue via their fanbase “tipping” during creators’ live videos. Also, the platform will utilize advertisements that play at the start of each user’s active engagement. The revenue from these ads will be paid at 55% to the creator, and 45% to Instagram.

Recently, DJs broadcasting live on Instagram had their sets flagged for copyright violations. As of May 28, DJs have been advised to play 90-second clips of music. Furthermore, they have reminded users that “people also have access to a library of custom music and sound effects at no cost using [parent company] Facebook’s Sound Collection.”

Instagram’s badge program will begin testing next month with a small group of creators and businesses. Over the coming months, it will expand across the US, Brazil, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Turkey, Spain, and Mexico. The badge icons can be purchased by fans during live performances and appear next to that fan’s name in the chat. Instagram has asked content creators wanting to be considered for badge access to fill out a short application form.

Stay tuned for more updates on live streaming as the practice continues to show promise within the DJ community.

Related Post: D-Nice’s Instagram Live Set Goes Viral

| DJ Culture, DJcity News, Music Industry
Instagram Live,
Thursday, May 21, 2020

inMusic Acquires Stanton From Gibson Brands

inMusic Stanton

inMusic Stanton
inMusic and Stanton Logos

Earlier today, inMusic announced the acquisition of Stanton from Gibson Brands, Inc., which adds the brand to their roster that includes Numark, RANE, and Denon DJ. Stanton has been an industry leader in the design and manufacturing of professional audio products for DJs and turntablists for over 70 years.

Stanton has a reputation for creating ground-breaking solutions for the DJ market, including Final Scratch (the industry’s first DVS solution), stereo cartridges designed for the working and performance DJ, and one of the first innovative standalone smart controllers.

Jack O’Donnell, CEO of inMusic, says:

“inMusic continually redefines the landscape for expressive DJ performance through unparalleled innovation and a dynamic response to the demands of its customers. With Stanton joining the home of the world’s premier music and audio technology brands, inMusic’s ground-breaking advancements in engineering, design and technology guarantees Stanton’s place at the forefront of this performance-driven industry, in the world’s true home of DJ.”

For more information about the acquisition, visit here.

Related Post: Beatsource Launches Beta of Beatsource LINK DJ Streaming Service

| Music Industry, Music Tech
Denon DJ, Gibson Brands, inMusic, Numark, Rane, Stanton,
Tuesday, May 19, 2020

Beatsource LINK Launches Integrations With Algoriddim’s djay and djay Pro Apps

Algoriddim Beatsource LINK

Algoriddim Beatsource LINK
Source: Beatsource

Beatsource LINK, the joint venture between DJcity and Beatport, has launched new integrations with Algoriddim‘s djay and djay Pro apps. The announcement follows the beta launch of Beatsource LINK in Pioneer DJ‘s rekordbox software in early May.

With a subscription to Beatsource LINK, open-format DJs can access millions of curated tracks and hundreds of playlists within their performance software. Premium subscriptions offer Beatsource LINK’s patented offline mode, which enables DJs to play their tracks without an internet connection.

Algoriddim, which has millions of customers, offers their djay app on iOS and Android devices, and their djay Pro app on Mac and Windows.

Beatport LINK, which is built on the same technology as Beatsource LINK, has also been integrated into djay and djay Pro.

Algoriddim Beatsource LINK
Beatsource LINK in Algoriddim’s djay and djay Pro app. (Source: Beatsource)

Karim Morsy, co-founder and CEO of Algoriddim, said in the press release:

“We’re excited to partner with Beatport and Beatsource to bring the best in electronic and open-format music to millions of djay users. Having the entire Beatport and Beatsource catalogues right at your fingertips, including the top tracks played by the world’s top DJs, opens up a new gateway into the art form.”

DJs can sign up for a free 30-day trial of Beatsource LINK here.

Related Post: First Look: Beatsource LINK Public Beta for Pioneer DJ’s rekordbox 6.0.1.

| Music Industry, Music Tech
Algoriddim, Beatsource, Beatsource LINK,

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