Monday, October 5, 2020
So many new features and tools to try, including Soundtrack from Twitch, TikTok's new duet formats, and Record Deal Simulator
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⬆️ The Psychology Behind TikTok's Addictive Feed --- I love a case study that uses design to quite literally illustrate its point.
Final TikTok deal could be delayed until after November election --- The TikTok/US saga continues as all companies involved in the deal prepare for a formal approval process that could have them coming dangerously close to the November 12 deadline imposed by Trump.
TikTok competitor Triller found allegedly inflating its user numbers --- The company said last October that it had 13 million active users and 60 million app downloads, but an internal screenshot raises questions about the authenticity of that statement.
TikTok Adds More Duet Formats to Facilitate New Collaboration Opportunities --- The duet feature has long been a crowdpleaser in the video-sharing app, and now there are three new creative versions to try out.
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"We think that Soundtrack offers a great chance not only for streamers to be able to find some great music for their streams but also for artists and their music to be discovered and recognized."
- Dig Dis, Twitch, Still Unlicensed by Majors, Launches Rights-Cleared Music via Deals with Indie Distributors and Labels
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🔝 Blackpink (and Their New Music Video) to Kick Off Weekly YouTube Series 'Released' --- YouTube premiered a new originals series focused on artists the night before they drop new projects. Episodes will go live each Thursday before midnight EST. Blackpink kicked off the series right before releasing new single "Lovesick Girls."
Apple is (temporarily) waiving its App Store fee for Facebook's online events --- Facebook has announced that online event payments will now be processed through Facebook Pay, butting out Apple and its 30% App Store purchase fee. However, this agreement is only in place until December 31.
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👆🏻 What "Record Deal Simulator" Is Really Telling Us --- Launched on September 24, Record Deal Simulator (nicknamed "Deal Sim") allows users to determine how many streams an artist would need to recoup on costs outlined in a record deal, considering factors like royalty deals, advances, and other revenue splits that can be customized.
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🔺 New Spotify Patent Reveals Company's 3D Audio Ambitions --- In information leaked to the press, Spotify has just been granted a US patent for a "media playback system...[where] the media content sounds like it is coming from a direction of an identified geolocation of a sound source." Yeah, I didn't get it either when I read that for the first time.
The Cheater's Guide to Spotify --- This has been blowing up the email thread I have with my fellow music marketers. Be on the lookout for all these "black hat" strategies.
The anti-Spotify: How online music company Bandcamp became the toast of the COVID age --- This article can be summed up in this one question: "How did Bandcamp become the only music platform that everyone likes?"
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🎧 Listen:
👀 Watch:
- I can't stop talking about Rihanna's Savage X Fenty Show Vol. 2. I sobbed like an adult baby during the gorgeous garden dance sequence set to Frank Ocean's "Self Control."
- I just started the Netflix adaptation of Song Exploder with the Hamilton episode and I'm loving it so far.
🆒 News from me:
- I want to thank Andres Sosa for joining the Musician Mastery Summit Insiders community to talk about the history of Latinx music. Andres is an instrumentalist, producer, and touring playback and sound engineer for Kali Uchis, but despite his many jobs, he's always been so willing to show up and share knowledge. The replay is available in the Facebook group for members.
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Thank you @poptextbook for bringing these back to my consciousness
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Released on September 28, 2000, HitClips were memory cards loaded with one-minute clips of songs, sold for $5 (dig these Vanessa Carlton earrings, won't you?). I remember this commercial for them but I'm sad to say I never had one. Reportedly 30 million of these things were sold by 2004 when they were discontinued.
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View past B-SIDES issues here
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