The Exploration Podcast

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Exploration is a digital rights administration company assisting copyright owners in compiling the information needed to get paid by the platforms that are obligated to pay them. We work with parties to maximize efficiency and profitability and are proud to enjoy great relationships with all.

Episodes

Friday Sep 17, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - September 17, 2021

Friday Sep 17, 2021

YouTube is now the largest content licensor in the world, according to YouTube’s chief business officer Robert Kyncl in an announcement at the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention. He mentioned that the company’s partner program covers about 2 million creators, paying out $30 billion to them over the past three years.

In the RIAA’s latest mid-year report, recorded music revenues in the US grew 27% in the first half of 2021 over 2020. Paid subscriptions were the strongest contributor to growth, comprising nearly two-thirds of total revenue. Streaming accounted for 84% of all revenues, up 26% year over year, due largely to new licensing deals with companies like Facebook and Peloton.

In a company announcement, Apple Music stated it is streaming DJ mixes on its platform via the use of Shazam technology. Now, all rights holders on a mix can be identified and paid through a system that was developed as a result of Apple Music working with major and independent labels.

Remember to ask any questions you have in the comments below, we're here to help!

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Have any questions? Contact us at:
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https://exploration.io/youtube-largest-content-licensor-in-the-world-recorded-music-revenues-up-27-in-h1-2021-apple-music-adds-dj-mixes-via-shazam/

https://exploration.io/learn/

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Exploration: https://exploration.io/exploration-weekly-bmi.../
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/explorationio
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PodBean: https://explorationgroup.podbean.com/

#YouTube #MusicRevenueUp #AppleMusic #DJmixes #Shazam #MusicIndustryNews #ExplorationWeekly

Saturday Sep 11, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - September 10, 2021

Saturday Sep 11, 2021

This week, BMI announced it has distributed and administered a record $1.335 billion to its songwriters, composers and publishers - its highest distribution ever. The company saw an 8% increase over last year, according to the announcement.

Based on a US Music 360 report by MRC Data survey from July 2021, 28% of Gen Z music listeners use video games to discover new music. A large majority of those survey respondents also choose streaming, with 51% of music listeners saying that they had discovered new artists through audio and video streaming platforms.

A recent study from the National Research Group and Roku stated that 70% of survey respondents are more willing to choose ad-supported streaming if it meant monthly subscription costs would be lower. Additionally, nearly a third of respondents said that they added a new ad-supported free streaming service to their entertainment diets, according to the study.

Remember to ask any questions you have in the comments below, we're here to help!

Please subscribe to get the latest videos! www.youtube.com/c/ExplorationGrou…ub_confirmation=1

Have any questions? Contact us at:
hello@exploration.io

https://exploration.io/exploration-weekly-bmi-distributes-1-335-billion-gen-z-finds-new-music-via-video-games-ad-supported-streaming-more-cost-friendly-option/

https://exploration.io/learn/

https://exploration.io/links/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exploration...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/explorationio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4821...
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC80D...
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SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/helloexploration
PodBean: https://explorationgroup.podbean.com/

#BMI #GenZ #VideoGames #AdsupportedStreaming #MusicIndustryNews #ExplorationWeekly

Friday Sep 03, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - September 3, 2021

Friday Sep 03, 2021

YouTube Music’s free and paying subscribers reached 50 million subscribers recently, according to a blog post written by YouTube’s global head of music Lyor Cohen. This is a 15 million subscriber increase since last October’s announcement made by Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai.

Apple will now allow companies like Spotify and Netflix to include web page links within their iOS apps in the App Store for subscribers to directly sign up to the service. The change was made as a result of an investigation by Japan’s Fair Trade Commission.

Vivendi announced that Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Holdings is acquiring another 2.9% of Universal Music Group for just under $1.15 billion. This follows their 7.1% acquisition for $2.8 billion, totaling the stake to 10% of UMG’s share capital. The music company plans to go public as early as next month.

Remember to ask any questions you have in the comments below, we're here to help!

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Have any questions? Contact us at:
hello@exploration.io

exploration.io/exploration-weekl…other-2-9-in-umg/

exploration.io/learn/

exploration.io/links/

Instagram: www.instagram.com/exploration...
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LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/4821...
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Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exploration.io/
SoundCloud: @helloexploration
PodBean: explorationgroup.podbean.com/

#FacebookReels #Spotify #PershingSquares #SPAC #MusicIndustryNews #ExplorationWeekly

Friday Aug 27, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - August 27, 2020

Friday Aug 27, 2021

Spotify is now allowing US-based podcast creators to download a contact list of their paid listeners along with a number of other podcast subscription options via the Anchor platform. Creators will still be able to keep all of their subscriber revenues until 2023, before a 5% fee kicks in.

Olivia Rodrigo retroactively added two Paramore members, Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, as co-writers on her hit single “Good 4 U”. She previously added Taylor Swift and co-writers to the credits of her song “Déjà vu” and “1 Step Forward, 3 Steps Back” during the time of its release. The names are now listed in ASCAP’s Repertory database.

Three TikTok creators - Alyssa McKay, Katie Feeney, and Hannah Montoya - saw huge success on YouTube Shorts after posting a few of their videos on the platform and seeing noticeable gains in subscriber growth. Feeney, popular on TikTok with 6.3 million followers, gained 750,000-plus subscribers in three months.

Remember to ask any questions you have in the comments below, we're here to help!

Please subscribe to get the latest videos! www.youtube.com/c/ExplorationGrou…ub_confirmation=1

Have any questions? Contact us at:
hello@exploration.io

https://exploration.io/exploration-weekly-spotify-drops-podcast-listener-contact-list-olivia-rodrigo-adds-paramore-as-co-writers-tiktok-creators-turn-to-youtube-shorts/

https://exploration.io/learn/

https://exploration.io/links/

#FacebookReels #Spotify #PershingSquares #SPAC #MusicIndustryNews #ExplorationWeekly

Friday Aug 20, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - August 20, 2021

Friday Aug 20, 2021

Facebook Reels is now being rolled out in the US, a new short-form video feature launched earlier this year in India, Mexico, and Canada. Facebook users can choose songs from the platform's music library, record their own original audio, or even use someone else’s audio if their Reels are set to public.

Spotify has recently hired Copyright Office exec Regan Smith to fill their head of public policy and government affairs role. Smith had worked at the Copyright Office for several years as former general counsel and associate register of copyrights, handling regulation, litigation, and other legal affairs.

On August 17, Pershing Square Tontine Holdings (PSTH) was hit with a lawsuit pertaining to its failed attempt to invest in Universal Music Group (UMG). The suit alleges that PSTH is not a proper special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), but rather an investment firm, and requests damages reflecting PSTH’s "breach of fiduciary obligations" under the Investment Company Act of 1940.

If you are interested in the music industry, you've probably heard about music publishers and record labels. Ever wonder what exactly happens behind the scenes?

In this 8th episode of our series, Aaron Davis talks about Exploration's business operations, "sprints", business review, and a whole lot more!

Remember to ask any questions you have in the comments below, we're here to help!

Please subscribe to get the latest videos! www.youtube.com/c/ExplorationGrou…ub_confirmation=1

Have any questions? Contact us at:
hello@exploration.io

exploration.io/learn/

exploration.io/links/

#MusicIndustryExplained #musicpublishing #musicbusiness

Friday Aug 13, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - August 13, 2021

Friday Aug 13, 2021

US Senators Richard Blumenthal, Marsha Blackburn and Amy Klobuchar have proposed the Open App Markets Act to regulate the Apple and Google app stores. If passed, the new laws would ban Apple from obliging app-makers to use its proprietary payment system and App Store.

Vivendi recently sold 7.1% of its company Universal Music Group (UMG) to Bill Ackman’s investment firm, Pershing Square Holdings, for $2.8 billion. The deal values UMG at 35 billion Euros, or around $41 billion.

Major labels Sony Music, Universal Music, and Warner Music have filed a second lawsuit against Charter Communications, alleging that the company has allowed thousands of its subscribers to infringe copyright during the period July 26, 2018 to present. The first lawsuit was filed against Charter in March 2019.

Ever been curious about what exactly happens behind the scenes of the music industry? Our latest episode featuring Aaron Davis, CEO & co-founder of Exploration, takes a deep dive into key operations that go into running a music company. Watch below and feel free to reach out anytime if you have any questions!

Have any questions? Contact us at:
hello@exploration.io

https://exploration.io/links/

#Apple #GoogleApp #Vivendi #PershingSquare #Majors #CharterCommunications #MusicIndustryNews #ExplorationWeekly

Friday Aug 06, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - August 6, 2020

Friday Aug 06, 2021

A second version of The MLC’s Educator Toolkit has been released this week. The free resource provides college educators a guide to teach their students about the Music Modernization Act of 2018 and the landscape of US digital audio mechanical rights.

A new ad-supported subscription tier is being tested by Spotify. Called Spotify Plus, the potential offering will allow users to play songs of their choice, with unlimited skips, for $0.99 a month. Right now, it is being tested with a “limited number of users,” says a Spotify spokesperson.

Songwriters and artists rights campaigners Helienne Lindvall, David Lowery and Blake Morgan recently submitted comments to the Copyright Royalty Board, protesting the 9.1¢ mechanical rate that has remained static since 2006. In an artist campaign called #FrozenMechanicals, advocates are calling for an un-freezing and gradual increase in the rate.

Aaron's Vlog:youtu.be/o3KbEMveVXs

Exploration Weekly: exploration.io/exploration-weekl…-artist-campaign/

Exploration: exploration.io/links/

#FrozenMechanicals #MLCeducatorToolKit #SpotifyPlus #MusicIndustryNews #ExplorationWeekly

Friday Jul 30, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - July 30, 2021

Friday Jul 30, 2021

YouTube generated $7 billion from advertising alone in Q2 2021, equivalent to approximately $77 million a day, or $3.2 million every hour, according to an announcement made by parent company Alphabet. That’s up by 83.7% on the equivalent figure from 2020 ($3.812 billion).

Spotify's user base grew to 165 million paid subscribers and 210 million free users during the second quarter of 2021, the company announced in its latest earnings report. That's a net increase of 7 million paid users and 2 million free users compared to the first quarter. The metrics were on target with guidance, though Spotify conceded monthly active user growth was slightly underwhelming due to a softer first half of the quarter.

Several songwriter organizations have called on the US Copyright Royalty Board to reject the NMPA/NSAI mechanical royalty rate proposal. The groups, which include the Songwriters Guild of America, are asking for the current rates to be amended to take into account inflation since 2006.

A few announcements from us...

Exploration is hosting an upcoming webinar on Wed August 4th at 1 PM PST / 4 PM EST, with our Director of Business Development, Jacob Wunderlich, discussing how the music industry works, providing resources, and helping answer FAQs along the way. Please join us via Zoom next Wednesday!

We also want to mention a couple videos from both of Exploration’s co-founders Aaron Davis and Rene Merideth this week. To learn more about what happens “Behind the Scenes of the Music Business,” click here to watch Aaron’s fifth episode of the series!

Steven Tyler's Janie's Fund: https://janiesfund.org/
Eighteen | Rene Merideth | What Would You Tell Your 18-Year-Old Self?: https://youtu.be/WlzkTDe_dvE
Aaron Davis' Vlog - Behind the Scenes in the Music Business: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wOs65_xCAk
Exploration: https://exploration.io/exploration-weekly-youtube-ad.../
Instagram: www.instagram.com/exploration...
Twitter: twitter.com/explorationio
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/expl...
YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UC80DStgkJmdD...
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Exploration.io/
SoundCloud:https://soundcloud.com/helloexploration
PodBean:explorationgroup.podbean.com/
#YouTubeAdRevenue #Spotify #SongwriterGroups #CRB #ExplorationWeekly #MusicIndustryNews

Friday Jul 23, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - July 23, 2021

Friday Jul 23, 2021

Bill Ackman’s special purpose acquisition company (SPAC) Pershing Square Tontine Holdings announced this week that it will no longer be acquiring a 10 percent stake in Vivendi’s Universal Music Group. The deal was previously finalized earlier this summer, valuing the music major at $41.6 billion.

YouTube recently launched Super Thanks - a way for fans to “express their gratitude and show support” for individual videos by allowing viewers to buy at four price points, ranging from $2 to $50. The company additionally has three other ways to support creators by paying: Super Chat, Super Stickers, and channel subscriptions.

TikTok unveiled in a blog post that, according to two online surveys conducted separately by MRC Data and Flamingo Group, 75% of TikTok visitors discover artists there, while 63% say it’s a source for the music they’ve not heard before, and additionally, 67% state that they are more likely to seek out songs on music-streaming services.

Exploration: exploration.io/exploration-weekl…-discovery-stats/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/exploration...
Twitter: twitter.com/explorationio
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/expl...
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SoundCloud:@helloexploration
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#BillAckman #SPAC #UMG #YouTube #SuperThanks #TikTok #musicdiscoverystats #ExplorationWeekly #MusicIndustryNews

Friday Jul 16, 2021

Exploration Audio Newsletter - July 16, 2021

Friday Jul 16, 2021

In 2020, media and entertainment revenue globally dropped 3.8% as the pandemic led to an overall $81 billion drop, says a new report published by PricewaterhouseCoopers. On the other hand, the company predicts that the overall industry is projected to bounce back this year and continue growing, with a 3.5% compound annual growth rate from 2019-2025.

According to MRC Data‘s new mid-year report, H1 2021 saw catalog music’s share of total album consumption in the US rise to 66.4%, up from 63.9% in H1 2020. Conversely, the percentage of total album consumption claimed by new releases was just 33.6%, down from 36.1% in H1 2020.

YouTube Shorts is now expanding to all the regions where YouTube main is currently available. That will put it live in more than 100 countries worldwide. The TikTok competitor will be in beta as it plans to add more convenient features and increased monetization for creators.

Exploration: https://exploration.io/exploration-we...
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exploration...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/explorationio
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/expl...
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Exploration.io/
SoundCloud:https://soundcloud.com/helloexploration
PodBean:https://explorationgroup.podbean.com/

#EntertainmentandMedia #MusicIndustryNews #ExplorationWeekly #USmusic #YouTubeShorts