Mid Term Review MDS

Music Distribution

The process of getting music from the artist to the listener. Historically relied on CDs, vinyl, and tapes; now done digitally.

SoundCloud

A platform that helps musicians share and distribute music, promote their work, connect with fans, network with other artists, and enhance discoverability and growth.

Metadata in Music Distribution

Used to identify songs, organize, categorize music, and provide context and information for discovering new music.

Types of Music Metadata

Descriptive, Ownership and Performing Rights, and Recommendation.

Biggest Record Labels

Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group.

RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America)

An organization that protects the property rights of artists, researches the industry, monitors laws, promotes growth, and educates the public about the value of music.

Blanket License

Allows the user access to a collection of copyrighted works for a set period, enabling them to use any work in the collection without separate licenses.

Mechanical License

Collects mechanical royalties from interactive streaming services, originating from the time when songs were mechanically reproduced.

MMA (Music Modernization Act)

Legislation that took effect in October 2018, with three main titles focused on modernizing music copyright.

Titles of the MMA

1) Musical Works Modernization Act; 2) Classics Protection and Access Act; 3) Allocation for Music Producer Act.

3rd Title of the MMA

Ensures producers, engineers, and mixers receive royalties from digital performances and establishes a process for claiming their share through SoundExchange.

MLC (Mechanical Licensing Collective)

Organization that collects mechanical royalties from interactive streaming services and ensures songwriters get paid when their songs are streamed.

Songtrust

A company that collects global publishing royalties and administers music publishing for songwriters, producers, and other rights holders.

DistroKid and Mechanical Royalties

DistroKid does not collect mechanical royalties from streaming platforms.

PRO (Performing Rights Organization)

Collects performance royalties and pays songwriters and publishers when their songs are played publicly.

Difference between SongTrust and SoundCloud

SongTrust collects performance and mechanical royalties globally for rights holders, while SoundCloud focuses on sharing, promoting, and distributing music.