📻 Hi, thanks for tuning in to Arpeggio.

The focus of Arpeggio is to provide fresh, curated music as well as data & analysis of the music biz. Curated music is important because, in a world dominated by streaming companies, there are independent artists who deserve the spotlight. As the music business continues to evolve, I also share any data, trends, insights, analysis along the way.

The title of today’s letter is in reference to the AMC anthology series, Dispatches From Elsewhere, featuring Andre 3000 and Jason Segal that was filmed in Philly last year and released in March of this year.

Today’s newsletter includes recent news in the industry, curated playlists, as well as articles and podcasts on the evolving music biz. As always, music first!

🎧 Recording Industry

ted when is a rising indie-electronic artist with music reminiscent of Glass Animals, Sylvan Esso, and Rufus Du Sol. Edge Off, featured above, is a single released ahead of his six-song EP morning.

Mani Kissling is my talented friend & singer-songwriter from Jersey, she released this single “Potential” recently, a well-produced summertime R&B vibe.

Def Jam Records' rising star Kaash Paige dropped a second single ahead of her album Teenage Fever, coming soon! Kaash stands for Kill All Arrogance Stop Hatred. Her song follows the release of “Love Songs,” a mellow vibe I’ve been loving this summer that is now certified gold by the RIAA.

Playlists

Bollywood’s Impact on Hip-Hip: Vol. 1

Curated by my friend Becky Mathai, this list is a collection of hip hop music that has its roots in sounds originally sampled from Bollywood. It was surprising to hear Method Man, Ghostface Killa, and Jay Dilla’s names here among others.

Summer Vibes curated by Spotify:

• Chill Vibes

• The Wind Down

• Pollen

Songs Trending on Tik Tok:

• Tik Tok Meme Songs

• tik tok songs that are actually good

🗞️ Music Business

Amid a Racial Justice Reckoning, Pioneers of Rap, Reggae, and R&B Recount Their Struggles to Get Paid

Creative Artists Agency Announces Significant Layoffs Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

Since the touring industry was put on hold in March, plus the halting of Film & TV production, CAA is the latest talent agency forced to make large layoffs. CAA joins AEG among others in making significant job cuts and furloughs.

Data Dives: COLORS, DSCVR, and NPR: The Growth Power of YouTube Sessions for Artist Career

Michelle Yuen wrote an article about how live YouTube shows can drive higher Spotify streams and social media followings while also giving the artist’s career a boost. Specifically, she details how these digital live experiences can grow an artist’s follower count on a streaming platform like Spotify or social media following on Instagram.

If you’d like to see more “Data Dives” from Chartmetric, check them out here, or follow along with their stories below!

COVID-19’s effect on the Global Music Industry

• Part 1: Genre

• Part 2: Geography

• Part 3: Live Streaming Artists

Snapchat

• Licensed Music is Coming to Snapchat as parent strikes deal with Warner, UMPG, and more

Spotify

• Spotify CEO talks Covid-19, artist incomes and podcasting

• Spotify Has More Users Than Ever, But It’s Still Losing Money

• Spotify Dreams of Artists Making a Living. It Probably Won’t Come True

• There’s So Much Music on Spotify, Artists Are Paying for You to (Hopefully) Find Them

• Your Squad Can Now Stream Simultaneously Using Spotify’s Group Session Beta

• Artists Fire Back After Spotify CEO Tells Musicians To Release More Music If They Want To Survive

• Musicians criticize Spotify CEO for saying it’s “not enough” to release albums “every 3-4 years”

Tik Tok

• Microsoft in Talks to Aquire Tik Tok

• Where Tik Tok fits in Microsoft’s Music Strategy

• Why Microsoft Needs To Walk Away from Tik Tok

• Warner Music is now signing Tik Tok stars

• As TikTok’s Acquisition Clock Is Ticking, Instagram Officially Rolls Out Copycat ‘Reels’ 

• Music Speaks with Paolo: EP 003 TikTok's Effect on the Music Industry

The Weeknd is wrapping up his four-day virtual tour today, in a partnership with Tik Tok and music startup Wave. The Weeknd’s global virtual tour engages with Tik Tok accounts from different regions in the world, simulating a touring experience with fans from different countries.

Twitch

• Jeff Bezos says he isn’t if Twitch Pays Royalties to Artists (It Doesn’t)

• The New Online Rap Communities

YouTube Music

• All Together Now: YouTube’s Artist Analytics Tool, with Music in Mind

• 88.4% of videos on youtube generate fewer than 1,000 views

• Music became even more valuable on YouTube in 2019

🎧 Podcast episodes

Real Talk with Zuby: How to Make it in the New Music Business

The New Music Business with Ari Herstand: TikTok and Instagram Influencers with Ultra Records Marketing Director

Rosie: Investigating a Crime at the Heart of the Music Industry

Thanks for reading! I’d love to hear your comments, questions, thoughts.

If you’re enjoying Arpeggio, feel free to subscribe or share the newsletter below.

– Jimmy Seykot