Apple Invests $50M In UnitedMasters
UnitedMasters says that the investment will fuel its mission to enable artists to maintain full ownership over their work while expanding their economic opportunity and introducing them to millions of new fans. Artists once needed the help of major labels (which typically demand ownership of master recordings) to build a fan base. Today, the power in the music industry is shifting back into the hands of the artists. Because of social media, labels no longer play as significant a gatekeeping role. UnitedMasters has partnerships with the N.B.A., ESPN, TikTok and Twitch, deals that reflect the new ways that people discover music.
What Independent Artists Can Learn from March Madness
This year’s March Madness Sweet 16 has produced its highest viewership in the last 3 decades (12.9 million viewers). Year after year, the NCAA keeps the world interested in college basketball & they increase revenue, and engage fans all over with compelling stories.
So how can independent artists apply the NCAA’s ability to create hype around college basketball each year to their own brand? Swipe to find out.
The Producer's Blueprint w/ Murda Beatz' Manager, Cory Litwin
Producers are a key player in the music industry. Until recently, it seemed like they consistently received the short end of the stick when they produced a song that gains mainstream attention. We spoke with Cory Litwin, the manager behind the rise of multi-platinum producer Murda Beatz about how they built Murda's business and brand. Learn how independent producers can construct a profitable business of their own.
Music business glossary: the Industry defined
Being an independent artist is hard enough without getting lost in the jargon around the music biz. Understanding the language of the industry is key to a viable career as you create and protect your art. In this ongoing series were empowering artists by breaking down some key terms and concepts artists should know.
The Underrated Significance of Syncs
Syncs provide artists an opportunity for visibility on top of the obvious potential for increased social engagement and streaming numbers.
The TikTok Playbook for independent artists
Have you been trying to figure out how to make your song go viral on TikTok? We sat down with TikTok expert Adi Azran from Flighthouse as he shared his secrets on how to build a campaign to help your music go viral.
Flawless Digital Presences: The Saweetie Case Study
Saweetie kept feeding into the college-girl-next-door image until it manifested organically, making her a viral sensation.
TOBE NWIGWE PERFORMS AT BIDEN HARRIS INAUGURAL CELEBRATION
Tobe Nwigwe continued his monumental rise last night with a performance of Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes’ “Wake Up Everybody” at the "We Are One" celebration of the Black community and African diaspora, hosted by Terrence J.
Snapchat Wants You to Post. It’s Willing to Pay Millions.
In November, Snapchat announced the launch of Spotlight and their $1M a day program for top Spotlight Snaps. As $1M a day continues, New York Times tapped in with Taylor Lorenz to speak about the inspiring success and earnings many creators are finding in Spotlight.
What Independent Artists Can Learn From Dave Chappelle’s “Unforgiven”
Dave Chappelle recently asked Netflix and HBO Max to remove Chappelle’s Show from its services. “If you ever liked me, if you ever thought there was anything worthwhile about me, I’m begging you, please don’t watch that show,” Chappelle requested from his attendees during a stand-up act last month.
The recent performance featured little punchlines as the comedy legend shared his pain from his experiences in the comedy world. It’s an instructive lesson for independent artists contemplating signing on a dotted line.
Steve Stoute and Swizz Beatz Discuss Ownership, Entrepreneurship and more at SelectCon 2
During UnitedMasters SelectCon, Steve Stoute and Swizz Beatz sat down to discuss ownership, entrepreneurship, publishing checks, art and the “Launching New Ventures” course at Harvard.
NLE Choppa Earns RIAA Gold Certification for “Cottonwood” Album
NLE Choppa’s independently-released debut album, “Cottonwood” has been certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) with 500,000 units sold.
How You Can Monetize Your Virtual Shows As An Independent Artist
UnitedMasters hosted their second virtual SelectCon conference, featuring a panel with Tariq Cherif (Co-founder, Rolling Loud), Ben Gross (Chief Strategy Officer, Genius), and Brandon Pankey (VP of Business Development, Live Nation Urban) where the discussion behind how independent artists and concert promoters can monetize virtual shows took the forefront.
OUR FAVORITE INDEPENDENT SONGS OF THE YEAR
Our favorite songs of 2020 from UnitedMasters artists.
UNITEDMASTERS ANNOUNCES SELECTCON, A VIRTUAL CONFERENCE SLATED FOR DECEMBER 9-10th
After the huge success of its inaugural event this past July, with over 1 million people tuning in, UnitedMasters announces the second SelectCon of 2020 which will stream live on December 9th and 10th.
UNITEDMASTERS LAUNCHES TIKTOK GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP WITH IN-APP DISTRIBUTION INTEGRATION
UnitedMasters Launches Global partnership with TikTok with an In-App Distribution Integration. Artists & Creators can now share their original sounds directly from the TikTok app to all major streaming platforms including TikTok, Spotify, and Apple Music then start to get paid.
4 THINGS TO INCLUDE IN YOUR NEXT ROLLOUT - INSPIRED BY DJ KHALED’S ‘POPSTAR’
We broke down DJ Khaled’s rollout for "Popstar" and put together 4 things you should include in your next rollout.
UNITEDMASTERS ARTIST MOJI MAYNE FEATURED IN BOSE ‘SPORT EARBUDS’ SPOT
Moji Mayne’s song “Win, Win!” soundtracks Bose’s latest spot, “Sport Earbuds | Engineered For Your Best Workout.”
Beats By Dre and Translation Release “You Love Me” Film Featuring Naomi Osaka, Lil Baby, Bubba Wallace & Janaya Khan
“You love Black culture, but do you love me?” Starring Naomi Osaka, Lil Baby, Bubba Wallace, and Janaya Khan. Narrated by Tobe Nwigwe, Directed by Melina Matsoukas.
WHY VIDEO GAMES ARE VALUABLE MARKETING TOOLS FOR ARTISTS
It’s important to know the inner-workings of this intersection between video games and marketing to maximize your avenues of building a fan base.