Is This THE END For Independent Music Platforms? | Lawyer Reacts

[@TopMusicAttorney]

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[@kevincormack4340]

Hey Kris you forgot to put the word video in description It says ' in this lawyer reacts ' I figured you meant to put video after in this

[@esecallum]

Why dont you them for aniti trust laws

[@obidavekenobe]

Seems like a trend the big businesses have runout of ideas for products and services, they’re coming after individuals ideas and creations and rights to capitalize on for cheap.

[@Nestosix]

I have always thought that AI music sounds horrible on its own but I think it works best for inspiration or samples possibly. These AI companies are in the wrong legally if they are using manmade... or humanmade music to train their AIs and they should have to openly share what audio they are using. also, music sharing and copywrite on platforms don't make any sense, If I release a song, wouldn't it be preferred that if someone like your music, they should be able to share it, which in turn could lead to more plays? KZbin and other platforms already have systems in place to recognize audio don't they? if someone makes a viral post with a small artist's music, wouldn't you rather let the person that posts be able get in on revenue for that platform since KZbin would already know who the audio belongs to and would encourage users to share. But I'm no lawyer. a like on my latest video would be appreciated. Rock on 🤘

[@Homermad81]

This is the reason I will never publish any of the music or books I create. Its not like the world is being deprived of some masterpiece, but at the same time it would be throwing something that took me months to create only to have an AI capture and steal it. A lot of the songs are simple odes to my kids or lullabies, but because of the way record labels and Spotify work with stealing everything to train their AI/LLM models there is no reason to share it with the world.

[@oO5Dynasty]

I have been saying this for a minute now, and this is why I took my music down and only kept one song inside this system. My website will be my main source where people can purchase, stream, or download my music. The best part about being a web developer for years is that you don't need to rely on Spotify, etc. I've built my brand on Google, and now I'm in a great position to do as I please. Most people rely on and wait for the big companies to set up these systems for them. Go create your own way!

[@muyeikasamurabi1602]

@@oO5Dynasty Dude, I want to pick your brain. Is that possible?

[@muyeikasamurabi1602]

Totally serious BTW. That's exactly where I want to go with things but I need to speak ith someone who knows how to navigate that way

[@oO5Dynasty]

@ sure

[@buildupdevelopers3820]

Best way to go.

[@trentb1511]

@@oO5Dynasty Facts 💯

[@SmokeeWhine]

Selling your music on your own website is the best. We gotta stop giving away all of our power.

[@ajat3202]

Desperation is real

[@RekhaKaula]

One definite part of the solution. Now how do we get by Google's generative AI diminishing website traffic? UMG's business practices only benefit a handful of "stars" they deem promotable in any given business cycle. The whole "star system" is what keeps us artists separate, competitive and dancing like puppets. It is time for artists to abandon the "celebrity apparatus" system, to reject and refuse to play their game, to collectivize and figure out a business model of our own (something brand new is needed here...it cannot follow the same business structures or we're back into big business "owning" culture...) and, most of all, to care for ourselves and each other. Good luck out there, fam.

[@Anaki_Rob]

that is how it is done, kudos for your intelligence in regards to these matters

[@Seekdnb]

I agree.

[@Profmorphious123]

@SmokeeWhine yes... but how do artist maintain their rights in this constantly changing landscape.

[@weschilton]

Universal has already been a monopoly for a LONG time... good grief. When I was a session musician in the 70s-to the early 2000s we wend from HUNDREDS of record labels to literally only FOUR.

[@terryhigson434]

commmmuuunnniiiiiiiiiiiiismmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

[@SouthYarraMan]

@@weschilton Absolutely correct.

[@Dead_Posey]

Wish there was a union like SAG-AFTRA to protect artists from the music industry profiting off our hard work while we make pennie’s and collect vanity numbers. We signed a “label deal” with a pub company that owns our masters. A few months later, they switched their distribution to UMG/Virgin without our input-just another example of how current laws fail to protect artists. UMG owning nearly all independent distributors feels like a disaster waiting to happen for anyone trying to build a sustainable career. Can we make a proper union a reality? UMAW is trying, but we need something stronger-something like SAG-AFTRA.

[@ASTROMEGA]

@@Dead_Posey Unions are self serving gangs, that change nothing. History proved that many times. However, we (ind. musicians) do need to get together in some ways. Creating own streaming platforms or new system that bipases the corpo could be an idea.

[@nzlemming]

It's up to artists to create one. Just like actors did, and teamsters did, and.....

[@Dead_Posey]

@ agreed xx

[@kenflo85]

It really is incredible that there isn't even one distribution company willing to conduct ethical business and just provide a great service.

[@joaoleopolt9791]

Once all of these huge corporations buy out the distributors libraries, they will have access to hundreds of millions of our songs by which to feed into their AI machines and not only compete directly against us, but blow everyones doors in by producing the most gorgeous music anyone has ever heard based on our own original work!! It is high time for every independent music creator out there to start distributing yourself, or we are all doomed! Start your own website, start your own publishing co. and label (for yourself only), start your own platform any way you legally can, and get away from every one of these "distributors" that have none of your best interests in mind. Do it NOW and not tomorrow. We hold our future, still, in our hands! I'm all for unionizing and whatever we can do to help and support one another. Don't know why this hasn't been done already!

[@mikeamoz]

Start your label sounds great . Where you going to distribute your one artist label though.

[@medea27]

This is the textbook definition of an oligopoly and commercial cartel practices... these companies that UMG have been suing need to get together & file an anti-trust suit, because there's no way UMG or any of the big conglomerates can deny their entire business strategy is monopolistic control of the music industry. I used to do compliance training on unethical & illegal business practices, and funnily enough I often used the music industry as a great way to explain commercial cartels to colleagues. _"A group of firms that have a formal agreement to collude to produce the monopoly output and sell at the monopoly price is called a cartel. Cartels often fix prices, define trading terms, and allocate trade or market share rules to achieve economies of scale. In the US & many other countries, it is illegal for firms to collude since collusion is anti-competitive behavior, which is a violation of antitrust law."_ Tell me that doesn't describe UMG & Co to a tee! And for an example of an oligopoly, think Coca Cola group... they own multiple beverage businesses giving them huge market share, and together with their large competitors like PepsiCo they exert significant control over pricing & market trends in the beverage industry. That acquisition should absolutely be blocked... the problem is that the US govt has always been short-sighted when it comes to commercial monopolies & oligopolies, preferring to waste time & money cleaning up _after_ the damage has been done rather than preventing the inevitable dumpster fire in the first place. It's so damn frustrating.

[@SouthYarraMan]

You are so right. I think there is collusion here in a political sense because laws are made by political will & design. The key motive as you pointed out is 'market share'. This is a web of corruption intrinsically because someone has bent rules by the weight of money or papering over the legal fissures. I did a very in depth report re' payola & the imevitable conclusion simply was that all success is to a very large degree bought & paid for in advance. The merger & acquisition game is no less gainfully motivated & the shark infested waters of the music business are no less predatory than they were when President Records 'acquired' Rock Around The Clock for 250 USD or less circa 1953. 'The music business is first & last a rights business'. And its who owns those rights...

[@psychedelicspiderproductio201]

Making the problem worse is the fact that the vast majority of the public has been completely oblivious to the oligopoly phenomenon. I mean, how many people have any idea who owns what of the many products they routinely consume? And then you factor in the fact that many large companies are publicly traded (another phenomenon that the vast majority of the public seems clueless about) and it's entirely possible for basically all of the most dominant businesses on the planet to be controlled by the same handful of people.

[@iamhunterreece]

Artists are lucky to have you as a resource. Thanks for providing honest clear insight into the shifting industry.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Thank you for the kind words. Please feel free to reach out if you ever need us. Here’s our virtual business card; you can save our info directly into your contacts! smartcards.pro/RfSetG

[@313MJB]

You should report UMG to the the DOJ: Antitrust Division for prosecuting monopolies before they can get a stronghold.

[@swingnd]

The FTC is a month away from being irrelevant.

[@Fastvoice]

Pam Bondi will throw it straight into the bin. Monopolies will prevail in all branches.

[@jefferylakes388]

Trump Administration will deregulate more than regulate so that boat won’t float! Artists simply will need to be purposely independent to avoid the squeeze these moves will ultimately put on them to suppress their sustainability.

[@foto21]

Good luck with that under a Trump administration. ALL the antitrust lawsuits are going to stop dead in the water.

[@thissguy8106]

Her me out.. Luigi's plan could work for us here

[@iTzMisTV]

It’s like I want to sell my music myself on my own website but it’s like I don’t want it to be a hassle for the consumers to play my music daily with everyone else’s music. I don’t want them to have to leave an app to listen to me and then go back to where everyone else is.. this stuff is kinda stressful

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Yes - it can be. Please reach out if you need help making it less stressful. [e-mail]

[@periel]

I boycott all distribution companies and streaming. There’s no money is it anyway so since I am ethically opposed to their business models. I’ll put my music out on my own website. F those vultures.

[@SinewaveSinatra]

The only people complaining about a lack of money are those with nobody listening. Before the internet hobbyists weren’t making money with music either. If you don’t have a dedicated following you won’t make money. I get around 100k streams a day across all my pages. The earnings are just fine.

[@terryhigson434]

commmmuuunnniiisssmmmm dude!

[@Anaki_Rob]

that is how it is done, kudos for your intelligence in regards to these matters

[@nomore6167]

@@SinewaveSinatra "The only people complaining about a lack of money are those with nobody listening" - The issue isn't making money vs not making money. The issue is the power these companies have and how they abuse that power. Nobody with a brain would say that Taylor Swift has "nobody listening" or that she isn't making money, yet even she has taken steps to recover some of the power she gave up earlier in her career.

[@eddiegurley820]

That’s the route that I’ve been considering going too. It’s reaLLy SaaAADD!!! First, the industry / PoWer StruCTurE calibrates the value of our streams to a low-level peaNuTs / BreaD CruMBs format which DOSEN’T PaY us as artists / producers / songwriters (etc). But what really sucks, is this “new thing” based on the MonopoliZinG of the distribution companies via Universal Music Group. It’s not meant for us to win.

[@AnubisRexAnubtec]

They see the writing on the wall, the music industry as we know it is over. The only thing people can do now is direct to customer, it's the only way you will have any control over your music. The big companies just want to be pimps and you know what that makes the people that actually have talent and make the music

[@SalAvenueNJ]

When I see an artist has sold their catalog to Universal I stop covering their songs.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

That's a safe bet!

[@Protocol_17]

I try to keep politics out of music discussions but let’s face it, politicians are owned by the same monopolies we are complaining about.

[@ASTROMEGA]

You may be not interested in politics, but believe me politics is really interested in you. No escape. Learn who they are, what they really do, how they exploit and manipulate. Knowledge is power.

[@Melissa-yg5uf]

I saw a comment once that politicians should be made to wear patches on their suits like Nascar drivers, showing who their funding supporters (a.k.a. sponsors) are.

[@JoelFelsenstein]

I have had enough of major labels muscling in on hard working indie artists I intend to fight back in every way I can

[@DJsNeverEndingStory]

I’ve been with AWAL since 2015. A couple years ago they were bought out by Sony/The Orchard. The first 3 months of the acquisition I wasn’t paid any royalties. This happened to many of us AWAL artists apparently in late 2022/early 2023, and we got no explanation. I tried to sue but it was too expensive. I finally got all my royalties in one lump sum in January 2023 but that was the last straw for me. They take 15% back end for doing nothing special. I feel like their service got worse after the acquisition for some reason. So now I use another distributor for all my newer releases. I guess I’ll keep using them until they are acquired by a record label and go downhill.

[@VaceOfficial]

What distributor do you use now for your newer releases. Also amazing music btw!

[@DJsNeverEndingStory]

@ Thanks! I’m currently using EmuBands. A small company but they treat me right and get the job done.

[@DJsNeverEndingStory]

@@VaceOfficial It seems like my comment was deleted by accident or maybe my internet signal didn’t permit it, but I’m using EmuBands for my newer releases. Thank you!

[@musiqtee]

Our local band once sold approx 250k (physical media) in a country of (then) 4 million. The indie label was bought by Uni late 90s, so of course our whole catalog is on the platforms today. Despite some contact with Uni, I (as 1/6 band member) have never received a cent - and the statements stopped coming some years ago. As an engineer & musician, I only do local artists now, and they mainly do gigs to make a living. I collect on performers & author rights - the online repertoire just doesn’t pay. It’s a bit like our old “poor” band pre record deal in 1982 - except that all the music we ever made IS available worldwide. Legally. What a different “dream” worldwide distribution became…

[@nielsen145]

if we gonna compare it, Standard Oil was ripped apart for being a monoply, which made rockerfellar even more rich after the breakup of his standard oil, because he had shares in every new company. same happend to dupunt with dynamite, it got split in to 3, hercules, atlas and dupunt. for me the biggest players are already big enough as is

[@jockojohn3294]

As a non musician, I look at the music business through some of my friends who are. In the various school systems, what are the first classes cancelled in hard times? Arts/Music. When times are tough, who gets the chopping block, Music. Look all over the Tube, great musicians playing in public "busking" and scores of people walk by in a trance. People now worried about housing, food, insurance, medical, transportation, survival.......what gets cut - Music, unless you are the musician who plays it yourself. Have no idea why, other than time/effort required, that musicians don't see that they have to become their own best advertising agency, retailer, shipper, etc or they are just going to be used and put away wet by the very people who sign you up.....Just an observation over many years hanging/helping out friends who are independent artists trying to survive/thrive......

[@Red.Christopher]

As a consumer and not a producer I have to say that I am really bothered by all of this. Music companies having complete monopoly of what I can listen to does not sit well with me. I like what I like and the search to find it is where a lot of my joy in listening comes from. I do not want my listening choices being limited by profit margins. That system died out when the internet came along. One way I can see around the monopolies is a re-boot of the P2P file sharing model. But, done legally and sustainably for both the producer and the consumer. I know there are similar systems in place already, so figure out what does and does not work from those models and start there. I know I am not well-versed in the business side of the music industry and am probably being naive. But ultimately, I am the one paying, so I should have at least some say in who gets my money and how much.

[@PhillipsConsultants]

Truth is P2P started all this crap, the streaming platforms, including social media platforms legally? exploited that they never uploaded the music so it's not for them to pay the artist, however to not infringe upon copyright and or to justify not pirating the music, they gave a Pittance fee of .0003 or so to the artist.. put differently per Million plays an advantage of $2000-$3000, depending on country ..subscription vs ADs even less

[@TheMasterOfShadows]

My last comment I made on your last video on this subject was just this. Glad you made a video on it. Awareness is one step in the right direction. They already own the music listings, the music awards, the rights, the streaming methods, now distribution, creations, advertising, the hearts and minds of the public at large. What they don't own is the right for you to speak of their evils. This level of evil is so far beyond what anyone can imagine. They are truly destroying music with control and diminishing the love of being an artist from people and the love people have for new music. It's what happened to Metal in the 2000s, every band needed to sound the same because any new artist were squashed if they didn't sound enough like nu metal. Control only does one thing, stifles innovation and creativity.

[@taknothing4896]

Well, nu metal kinda sucks anyway. There are plenty of new (not nu) metal bands out there, and some of them are quite good. Be independent, be creative, don't follow the trends, and keep making your own music.

[@TheMasterOfShadows]

@@taknothing4896 Yes, problem is, if they don't sign you, nor distribute you, promote you, won't give you radio time, wont play you on MTV, won't give you any rewards and last but not least won't allow you to stream your music on any sites because they own the distributors. Then if you want to grow on facebook or youtube you have to pay them to promote you so you can get big enough to make any money. So you start out broke and remain broke. It's the wealthy gatekeeping success gains so no new up and coming bands can make it without help, but instead of help you get silenced. Nu metal was just an example, this is reality.

[@TheMasterOfShadows]

@@taknothing4896 Instantly my comment was removed

[@TheMasterOfShadows]

@@taknothing4896 This isn't about nu metal, this is about monopoly of the music industry and gate keeping success. If they own everything how can you gain eyes on your stuff? It's pay to play and whales win every time.

[@RekhaKaula]

Thank you for this.

[@brendankane3546]

Makes me not want to release my music at all.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Don't let it stop you. If you need help with making it less intimidating, please feel free to reach out! [e-mail]

[@edwardgarcia614]

Start a movement getting all independent music makers to band together and hem in the big monopolies !

[@nomandad2000]

The music industry for us regular people has basically returned to the 19th century: before recording methods were invented. We are pretty much left with option: live performance.

[@economicprisoner]

Wait 'til you find out about the Tickemaster monopoly.

[@speckles9251]

Time to set up new distribution structures.

[@djgotitall]

@@speckles9251 that's y we got to unite

[@officialWWM]

Good luck…

[@foto21]

It doesn't have to be that hard, but for some reason, an Irving Azoff, who has set up an independent company for artists he works with, won't set up something for everyone. He's old, I get it, but someone younger needs to set up a bulletproof streaming company that can't be sold that gives indies a fair shake.

[@officialWWM]

@ that will never work because as soon as it starts to make money, greed will take over.

[@aelius_audio]

⁠@@officialWWMtotally understand your lack of faith in humans lol

[@raudiver]

It’s already way to close to a monopoly, how is this merger allowed to go through?

[@stevenhenry5267]

Trump

[@PhillipsConsultants]

It's just old school music business, which was failing after piracy, now buying into and taking back cheaply what they lost and exploiting the artists without paying advances

[@jockojohn3294]

Have you not figured out by now that the politicians/lawyers in the USA and All around the world........don't care about you at all.......at all........at all? An amoeba registers more recognition in a politicians brain than another human being..

[@RekhaKaula]

@@PhillipsConsultants Correct. The recording industry has always screwed the vast majority of artists severely.

[@PhillipsConsultants]

@@RekhaKaula Agreed, we artist have always been screwed, but usually with some kind of record company advance.. the problem with streaming is we have to pay to get screwed 😢

[@Blueberrythegreat]

What you need is Congress to step up the plate and say nobody can take the fruits of your labor your songs your works regardless of contract they belong to you unless you sell them willfully not under durress. Physically or financially.

[@NoraMorgan]

Not much hope of them stopping it since they’re replacing Lina Khan with someone who wants to stop the FTC’s “war on business.”

[@swingnd]

Exactly right. The FTC is about to be defanged.

[@kbuzz123]

Website only...screw the machine

[@RekhaKaula]

Our websites depend on the biggest cogs in the machine. How do we stop indie music from being deemed "low authority" by the major search engines. No one's tapping into a web page they can't find.

[@cmdess]

I realized lately that their word independent is different than our version. I mean, yes there is a fake indie thing within the labels but major indie stuff is actually just another of their schemes, private backers backing "indies" with private agendas....Also APM Music is a "joint venture" between Sony and Universal. They are one of the biggest players in the production music space. Composers can't make a living writing scores because they gobbled up the market in the 90s. Also the idea of BMI and ASCAP forming a joint task force to tackle "fraud"....the jokes don't stop with these people.

[@PhillipsConsultants]

BMI, ASCAP and the big 3, should have taken control 20 years ago after Napster piracy, unfortunately if you look at many of the boards of the social media, and streaming companies, you'll see the same names from the piracy days 👀

[@MattnUska]

10:18 if you are forced to use it, technically it is infrastructure. Look at all the protections that used to be put on utility companies. Most of that is gone now but it used to be important to protect consumers.

[@Melissa-yg5uf]

interesting

[@futurewolf3363]

What do I do about larger artists following my social media pages so hard, they essentially bully me off of them by copying me and my relatives videos. I can't post anything publicly without them taking the idea, potentially. I have examples, lists, and release dates. I keep deleting my social media, but I can't both follow my favorite artist and release my videos because they take the idea and remake it similarly. They will take the whole idea. This is huge artists, with massive followings. They've even taken photos and replicated them off of Instagram. I'm starting to feel defeated about even making art.

[@Stephan5916]

@futurewolf Dude, I feel your pain this is why I've been very reluctant to release any of my stuff on the Net. Beyonce is the Queen of music theft. I presume you've heard about her antics. If not, research it. You probably could make a vid addressing your fanbase/audiences on your Social media that some people are stealing your ideas and, ask for them to be very mindful on Social media. I guess once you've started to really gain a big following people will take more notice of you and other people copying your ideas. Beyonce pretty much got exposed this way, by copying fairly well known content creators on the Net.

[@futurewolf3363]

@Stephan5916 they also pull your web data, I think when you visit an artist's page. So, let's say they pull your cookies when you show up, that's every song you were going to cover, or whatever your interests are if you googled it with the same browser. I have to use secure browsers and a VPN just to research. But this one company I have always struggled with their social people, but I was astonished to find the data potentially went to artists I wasn't following yet. But a friend of that artist and to other artists represented by the same company and I like some of these artists, but what the social people are capable of is wild.

[@futurewolf3363]

@Stephan5916 the company I am struggling with I believe is WME social media team, they are like stalkers and they are doing work for all of the biggest artists rn. So, heads up. They just scribble off other people's papers rn. I deleted my old account and started a new one. I also have multiple parties informed out of state in case something happens to me. Two of them replicated my relatives video and now a silly one I put up for fun was replicated by them. They move fast and they will complete these things in about a week and they are strategic only doing what they think they can get away with. It's pretty aggressive how they follow my profile.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

I'm sorry! Please reach out if you're needing our help with making the process more clear and less intimidating. [e-mail].

[@ObscurelyTitled]

it is more of the same - zero for artists. i pulled my music off platforms and am in an effort to just do all self hosted at 100% to me

[@Erebus369]

We need to have artist direct to market options for their productions without label involvement. The artist retains the masters and can do their own marketing and distribution.

[@TwstedTV]

This is why I completely stopped making music for the public. I am not signing up to these evil distributor companies. It's sad because people will never hear my music ever again. Because I am not giving up my rights to my own music I own and created.

[@officialWWM]

It’s always been this way. Do you expect distribution companies to work for free?

[@TwstedTV]

@@officialWWM You really are complacent about people stealing your music huh? I don't think you clearly understand what's going on. This should not be normal, and telling someone that this has been this way all along just shows that some people like you don't care if you get reeled over & music stolen by corporations like this.

[@officialWWM]

@ well, at least if someone steals my music, someone may get the opportunity to hear it! Honestly, I gave up on making any serious money from my recordings ages ago.

[@fallenshallrise]

Yes. When a modern distribution company doesn't press any records, dub tapes or manufacture CDs, when they don't ship anything or warehouse anything, when they don't do any press or promotion of any kind, then yes I expect them to work for nearly free and not take a 99.999% cut of any streaming revenue.

[@officialWWM]

@ what distributor are you using that takes 99% of your streaming revenue? Mine takes 50 bucks a year! You could of course, distribute your music yourself. Let me know how that works out for you. Also, distribution companies have never been responsible for any music marketing, that’s always been the record companies role. Assuming you aren’t signed to a label, that makes the marketing YOUR responsibility!

[@sepsissband]

Go get em !! We are with you ❤

[@saintkevinofficial]

Thank you for covering this Miss Krystle. These are extremely worrying times. Extremely!

[@Christopher.Bingham]

It'll never happen, but we should support this: "The Living Wage for Musicians Act The mechanism behind the Living Wage for Musicians Act is simple. The royalty would be funded through an additional subscription fee and a 10% levy on non-subscription revenue. This money would be paid into an Artist Compensation Royalty Fund, which will then be distributed directly to both featured and non-featured artists by a non-profit administrator. " We'relong past the point where ASCAP/BMI et al should be nationalized. When major labels sit on the BOD of these "non-profits" they come up with special plans like popular artists get higher royalties - that come out of the general pool, which meansTaylor Swift gets our pennies. It needs to be done by an agency whose only mission is to get collected royalties to the writers / performers of the music. ASCAP has admitted that all of the coffee house / bar live performance royalties all go the top 200 earning perfoming acts. That meansif you do a set of your own stuff, Taylor gets your nickle. It is not that way in many countries.

[@PhillipsConsultants]

That's Interesting do you have a link, because by law they are supposed to payout to all performers, i have heard if a country like Japan sent $10m royalties then they may distribute to the top tier of artist as it wouldn't be itemised to a particular artist..or if you have proof that the bar only plays Blues then yes, bars etc are supposed send cue sheets?

[@GodsUnrulyFriends]

One day, a rich woman was losing money at the gambling tables of a casino in Monte Carlo. She approached the owner of the casino, a Romanian who'd acquired a massive fortune from corrupt banking deals and weapons brokering wherein he'd use his political influence to exacerbate tensions between warring nations and sell weapons to both sides. She asked him how she could win at the gambling tables. He said there was no way to win, but there is a simple way not to lose: do not play. I bring this up because perhaps we are beating our heads against the wall. We are tryin to win a game that is rigged. Maybe the real solution is to play a game where we write the rules and control our own tables. Perhaps a combination music distribution and PRO could be developed that operates as a non-profit? Just a thought.

[@maggyai]

More like this please. We all need to talk.

[@GordonRunklePhoto]

It’s not just music where this is happening. I don’t want to live on this planet anymore. :(

[@ozzy9218]

Just make your own website and send people to your website and focus on merch

[@heisthee]

Yep. Use KZbin as an advertising site at most. Chuck up teasers etc to lead to a website. But that takes effort and time, and most people are too lazy, they want someone else to do it for them. Hence, the hole that people have dug for themselves.

[@john-vv1ln]

it's like all others, big food, big pharma, big oil, big fintech, big gov, big AI/tech, no surprise

[@Amaranthine1000]

I'm really getting tired of large companies buying up smaller independent ones and then pushing up prices and control. This is s huge issue for independent artists that just want to get their music out there; but will soon be stepped on by the megacorp that is UMG that just loves to sue or copyright claim anything, even if they don't actually have a claim, because no one can afford to fight them.

[@AlwaysHopeful87]

Before you sign any contract, make sure assignments are not allowed, and that if your contract is sold, assigned or transferred it is void.

[@GreatMotorcyleridesWashington]

Glad I found this video. Looking forward to checking out more of your content soon. Let’s kick the little guy!! That’s how it always works. Good thing I am a tough little guy. Happy holidays!

[@redfernguitar]

The long tail needs to break from these people. We need our own co-op like REI Sporting Goods. As a group the long tail of indie is so huge when the resources are properly managed we can all work together to build a business owned by the artists it serves.

[@foto21]

I don't understand why an independent streaming platform run with a flat rate that has no associations with any major labels whatsoever does not already exist. No AI music cloning, no in house bands or labels. Flat rate out of royalties that are pay per play. Structures set up so fans can do DTC or subscription model that needs to be refilled instead of infinite all you want to listen to (top tier sub maybe). WTF is wrong with people?

[@aelius_audio]

@@foto21let’s make one..got any skills???

[@Ariel-l3v]

When they said you’ll own nothing and be happy they meant you will own nothing. Those in the highest seats of authority in every industry are working towards the same goal. It will be a constant battle of diligence to not only own property, but to earn wages from it.

[@boxingontheedge11]

@@Ariel-l3v WEF really meant that

[@jasonbuttens]

Thank you for covering this! My homie I write music with works for cd baby and we were just talking about this over burritos this weekend. It’s a really really big deal!

[@TopMusicAttorney]

So thankful you're finding the information helpful! Please feel free to reach out if you're needing help! [e-mail]

[@Ratarue]

I don’t want A.I. and my Music intertwined, in any capacity. Period. This is insane.

[@MikelChandler]

This happened with at&t the steel industry & now the record industry. This also happened after they realized how people like Oliver North didn't need record labels.

[@inyourworldofmusic8545]

I am so concern because i have a contract with SongTrust, i never wanted anything to do with any major labels, 😠😠😠😠

[@officialWWM]

Turns out you can’t trust Songtrust.

[@PhillipsConsultants]

Your contract with SongTrust should be fine, It was only a matter of time because businesses like SongTrust are just another organisation that saw a niche which the major publishers didn't exploit but can now buy into, truth is they could have stayed independent but i guess if the price was right they'd sellout. The major labels are taking back control, we have a deal with Umusic, and also independent, truth is i know many families of Artists out of contract who have passed, RIP, the family's have know idea who owns the catalog or how where to collect (75 year rule)

[@TheCatalogbyDonMac]

I was also concerned about songtrust. I just signed with them. Seems like everywhere I move a major comes in right behind me. Everyone's selling out!

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Please reach out if you're needing help - [e-mail].

[@claytondenton2385]

Now. It's past livable for artists and corporations are making record profits But it's going to take us artists standing together to figure this out and stand up for what's ours

[@TheGARCK]

Good times are over. Sad sad sad. CD Baby was the only dib I had any faith in

[@shorerocks]

I am on CD Baby for over 20 years. I am very proud on owning all my right to my music. I will stop releasing music through a distributor (CD Baby or another) that in any form wants me to sign over right to use my music for whatever.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Please feel free to reach out if you need help with this! [e-mail].

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

ever try registering a copyright with their crazy website. A few months later they tell you your password doesn't work anymore… The US is resisting. You should be able to upload your song in two minutes type in your search and be on every platform in the world. Recommendation algorithms should do the rest. But they don't, they won't even recommend you. SoundCloud says they'll recommend you for seven days (yawn).. what the bleep are they doing the rest of the time?

[@JohnProctor-i4s]

Their greed and money will burn with them. They condemn themselves. Mark 8 [NIV] [ 36] What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? [ 37] Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?

[@yourfavoritecouzin]

@@JohnProctor-i4s literally read a quote yesterday.."Once you sell your soul there is no buying it back."

[@nomore6167]

Don't expect any antitrust, anti-monopoly, or pro-artist legislation/action for at least the next four years.

[@ceodaveofficial]

Thankful for this break down !

[@TheSynthwaveElectroclashClub]

Force tu use???!!! The distributors as well as the streaming services to which only they have access are all going to fall. ALL OF THEM.

[@crazyalcayne]

WTF!! That is insane!!! I hate when all these businesses that sell out to these major labels!

[@Obsidianconcubine]

It's the greed for me

[@cory5495]

Exactly, this is what happens when the gvt doesn't intervene and let corruption in the music industry run amok.

[@plentygocrazy8056]

This is for sure a Monopoly moves I was hoping the FTC would step in but with Lina Khan being fired these corporation moves like this will continue

[@mschreib.TheGet]

I understand now that there are businesses that are ripping melody segments from original artists music, creating AI versions - then suing for copyright infringement - stealing musician’s ideas… The world is fast becoming a place of monopolistic, liars, thieves - & untethered Corporate criminals Now if you post your original music on IG or even your own website your music is subject to being ripped, recorded and AI’d & you’ve lost your song Unfortunately we’re in a time of deconstruction of ethics, morals & values - & government is leading the way - quickly dismantling & loosening restrictions on corrupt corporations to take full advantage of the working class There’s a dangerous fire being stoked When enough people are taken advantage of & stolen from - things change…

[@Yhoda.PsyTrakked]

I have already accepted i wont make money selling or streaming and only want to gig! We dont do 360 deals in our little eco sphere so all gig and merch money is mine! My label just licenses my music and for me its just a way to get exposure and to be fair getting signed hasnt done anything and ive been put on a top 100 album. Im hoping when the gigs come the followers will come too! For me its a passion and the only good thing aboot getting signed is that i dont have to pay for distribution! Plus its a standard test labels wont sign shit music! My second single took me 3 attemps to mix and it has made me a better mixer overall and if i didnt get signed i wouldnt off improved so there are pros and cons to labels. I wouldnt sign up to mainstrean labels they can F right off they dont care about the music like the trance guys! All the label owners are artists themselfs

[@Quick.Track.Demo.Service]

It's no mystery that popular music has influenced and shaped the American culture; proof of this phenomenon can easily been substantiated by researching the music of the 50's & early 60's (Doo Whop), the music of the 60's & early 70's (Classic Rock), the music of the 70's & 80's (Disco) and the music that's been popular since the 80's (Rap - Hip Hop - R&B). The past 60 plus years of musical and lyrical influence on our nation has not gone unnoticed by our overlords and though you will never see their signatures on any contracts, they have commandeered the music and entertainment industry from the back office with their check books and voting power. The TikTok dilemma is a prime example of how our overlords are trying to cover our eyes & ears and mute our senses so we will conform to their perception of America, all in the name of “National Security.”

[@slartibartfast1268]

Modern country music has been co-opted by the right wing and now pumps out propaganda 24/7

[@filosofism]

Nowadays making music is a hobby, there’s no money in it

[@AlwaysHopeful87]

I'm listening to a book on Bing Crosby. Even back then, 1920s on, this kind of garbage went on. He ended up forming his own company. If an artist wants to go big, they'll have to sell their soul. Otherwise, keep it live and local, sell your own merchandise. Recording, distribution? Only when these Swamp companies start knocking on your door, then use your leverage.

[@tsho08]

If you click to agree then you aren't allowed to do anything with them. I wish I could click disagree or send back edited agreement. It's unfortunate that you cannot argue the terms with a company like this. If every company runs the same terms then you really have no choice. I think you are spot on with this working into 1 or 2 companies owning it all and sitting behind multiple tiers of company names in order to cover it up from the average consumer.

[@Blueberrythegreat]

What you need to do is break up with the monopoly with a class action lawsuit from all of these Rockstars and people that have been in contract with them And their testimonies as to how much money their music has generated versus what they’ve gotten paid and how they do not own their the fruits of their own labor Should be enough to convince anyone

[@sydstarck]

So much respect for @topmusicattorney for speaking out on this. Im an indie artist/producer just getting started, so this topic is highly relevant to me. Im also very anti-monopoly and these big fish eating the little ones is hard to watch, but also very motivating as someone who is setting a course, but hasn't launched the ship yet, so to speak.

[@drewstephenson]

Weren't UMG the big driver behind Spotify not paying for less than 1000 streams? Same thing for Songtrust next maybe? Or CDBaby deprioritising independent releases unless you go through one of their approved publishers? It's a worrying development.

[@MichaelHendersonmusic]

Our website debuts in Feb with a new song and video locked in the website with a paywall. All the platforms will Be used to promtore this event including radio etc. Its ideal to be creative now days.

[@robertbrooks5888]

If you could only have these corporations tell the artists up front that they (the corps) will have their work distributed worldwide, and they will be famous, but they will only get pennies in return.

[@RedCupReggieTv]

Scary Times we are in as Music Creators

[@tenlittleindians]

It's past time to do what the software community has done when big bullies of industry got greedy and that is to develop an open source platform that cannot be sold. Drawing and annimation software got greedy and now we have open source Blender. Mechanical drawing software got greedy and now we have open source FreeCAD. Microsoft got greedy and invasive and slowly people are switching over to open source Linux. Microsoft Office got greedy and now we have Open Office which has been downloaded 380,000,000 plus times. Hopefully we have enough music leaning software developers to start an open source music distrubution platform. If we wait too long these Ai engines will have enough data stolen to crank out music for generations.

[@HenrikFlyman]

Whatever the solution may be, it definitely won't be "government".

[@ChrisCorleyMusic]

How do we (independent Musicians) file an anti-trust monopoly suit or do we have to contact our government reps for them to do this? Thank you, just subscribed.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Hey let me know if you'd like to discuss your question in a consultation; please reach out if that's of interest: [e-mail].

[@anthonymdavis]

Great Points Krystle. I wonder how anybody in the govt will pay attention (or care) about us. It sure sounds like a monopoly being formed.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Thanks for the kind words.

[@ModernOddity728]

Posted on BlueSky🙏 Government really should block them from further monopolizing the music industry..

[@mikemehsikomer7954]

Great channel, glad I found this

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Welcome aboard!

[@TheGreatTimSheridan]

Wow this is just like SoundCloud. My comment from one minute ago was put down below some guy from five hours ago.

[@tsho08]

You should get copies of all of the contracts from those companies before they get changed. I'm guessing if you use this service already and they update the policy you have agreed already to this new policy because they wrote that the contract could be changed at any point when you signed it earlier.

[@LEVRAN]

Heyyy by any chance will you ever go through "too lost" terms of service? In depth?

[@80sJayOfficial]

As an artist who could and should be world known, i, like other deserving artists, will have no choice but to remain unknown due to the politics & greed beyond our control. I am a guy who's been signed 3 times and witnessed the darkside first hand. It's sad that there are no real and fair independent avenues to explore. A handshake deal like the one Depeche Mode made in 1981 is extinct. Development is extinct. I'd say Mute Records did quite well when signing Depeche Mode. Labels do not take chances. Its more about giving a deal to a tik tok content creator who has millions of followers. I do appreciate your channel , honesty and knowledge but lately the bad news you bring crushes my creative soul. I still hold out hope for the independent artist with major label appeal.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Thanks for the kind words; wish you the best!

[@mcmentalmusicmakers3219]

Halls Tickets T shirts Cd sales stream sales streaming distribution publishing enforcement The musician has been disrespected for so long now they want your Lemonade stand also Cartels will be the future musicians working in concert / Thank you Miss Krystle brightest blessing

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Thanks for the kind words and for being here.

[@korniceman3000]

This has been happening in every other industry for decades. I'm surprised it took this long in the music industry. Maybe they didn't want to spend the capital or needed a large enough collection to make it worth the money.

[@DRnova-Ai]

They’ve already done that it’s just going to be official underneath one name to make it easier to know who’s boss ! Just like Black rock board members are also board members on Vanguard ect there’s no law for preventing people from working multiple jobs and getting paid

[@nealwright5630]

An entire genre (Christian Alternative) died in the 2010s when Air1 changed its format. I am absolutely convinced it was a move by the bullies of the music industry attempting to force indie labels out of the market.

[@officialWWM]

😂😂 could it be that no one wanted to listen to it?

[@nealwright5630]

@@officialWWM Not at all. The genre is still alive and well on Spotify, but disappeared from the airwaves. It's popular enough that Air1's sister station, KLOVE, has a digital station called "KLOVE 2000s" which plays a lot of the CA music you wouldn't have ever heard on KLOVE. Bands like Switchfoot, Relient K, Thousand Foot Krutch, Barlow Girl, Skillet and more were and are still wildly popular, and they almost all were (and are still ) on indie labels.

[@nealwright5630]

@@officialWWM And before you go there, I am a 60s/70s/80s person. I had no skin in the CA game at the time.

[@officialWWM]

@ I’m Australian. I don’t know any of those radio stations or bands that you mentioned :/

[@vinnybell5075]

80 percent of my catalog is with Universal. Like I said before all my Gold and Platinum plaques are from majors. My music attorney is older now maybe 75,76. Not sure if he's still practicing anymore. But I love your channel n even if I hire your firm for my new projects. That should be ready the summer of 25!!! Not sure what kind of deal I wanna make. I've had people who wanna invest in our music. I love your insights, you have really good edgey pop bangers. Between R.Nation and bands being able to play smaller venues. It seems like the Big Fish is trying to take over on every level of the game. I appreciate your content.

[@vinnybell5075]

PS ... I use to be able to read a Production _ Artist contract. Meet up with my lawyer n get answers from him. Publishing too.. now things have changed so much. Keep up your good work.

[@brandnewyou5254]

Exactly when I realized I couldn't just upload my stuff to Spotify I had to go through distro kid it just rubbed me the wrong way and I knew that AI could make a thousand songs just like my very first one that didn't have any promotion and it wasn't going anywhere until I got a hold of it and gave it to Justin Bieber

[@kidkante]

If the majors own the distribution services then they will write terms into the service agreements giving them first rights of negotiation for long term "traditional" recording contracts with artists who pique their interest. They will also be able to squash artists who refuse to sign long-term deals. Of course they will use distribution services as dry run testing grounds to see what is moving organically, all the while having the ability to (because they own parts of streaming platforms), manipulate the post-organic success of any artist they want to interact with.

[@1176hambone]

...The never ending problem of streaming and the "Terms of Service" trick. Distribution platforms are just another bad record contract, worse than than the worst contracts of the 80's. Songtrust breaks my heart. AI will be operating and servicing the entire space. Legislation has never kept up and never will. This vertical and horizontal integration of monopoly/oligopoly has got to be stopped. Physical artifacts and the listening culture of playing vinyl and cassettes is evermore appealing. In reality, streaming is inherently a direct form of sync licensing in which the buyer (streaming platform) pay nothing for the rights. Streaming is neither retail or radio, though it's presented as a convoluted form of all three, sync-retail-radio.

[@BernardShreveJr]

Excellent assessment. "They", will make or break anyone in the music industry- it has to be stopped.... 1940's all over again

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Thanks for the support!

[@Yhoda.PsyTrakked]

Im so glad im in the psytrance sphere! Im signed to timewarp and we are all hippies! The music is for hippies thou im going indy with Yhoda project and im gonna go pro with soundcloud to get my music on the streaming services

[@trailingupwards]

What would Luigi do?

[@song-explorer]

Thank you for sharing your expertise and telling it like it is.

[@TopMusicAttorney]

Thanks for the support!

[@Denver_Risley]

Squeeze us out, will ya? Fine. This is what has driven artists to work together since the beginning of recorded music. Record moguls start fucking everybody, everybody scatters out on their own to start their own label and distribute for themselves and the good ones start sticking to each other to start new studios. Rinse and repeat.

[@deagalore]

I truly pray that this plan gets derailed and other avenues open up. As a creator on earth, we have the right to expand and share what we are doing with the world without having to sign away rights or give a portion of it away. I pray that many people start to notice these things and some ethical modifications happen.

[@vanessajazp6341]

Is it possible to sue using antitrust statutes? If you as a creator are FORCED to use a corporate entity that you don't want to use, because said corporate entity has bought out the competition, isn't that a violation of antitrust laws?