What is a Netflix moment?

Although Netflix Inc.'s online-only show, "House of Cards," didn't take the Emmy for drama series, "Breaking Bad" creator Vince Gilligan tells Variety, "this was still a Netflix moment."

Gilligan credits on demand streaming video with keeping "Breaking Bad" on the air.

This isn't to say that Netflix Inc. didn't have its own Netflix moment -- The Wall Street Journal reports that "House of Cards" made history when director David Fincher won an Emmy for best directing in a drama series.

What about a Spotify moment?

Could Spotify ever command similar praise -- a Spotify moment? Spotify is after all an on demand streaming service.

Spotify is under fire over playlists generated by its users. Ministry of Sound claims that Spotify refuses to remove playlists mirroring compilation albums that it sells and using Ministry of Sound's name. The company's chief executive Lohan Presencer tells The Guardian, "It is not appropriate for someone to just cut and paste them."

Entertainment Attorney Trey Rick Talks Blurred Lines in the Music Industry with Edmond Sun's Business Times

New Artists Need to Know Their Business: Local entertainment experts see vast change in the music industry

Nope. Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" never came up -- not even once -- when I spoke with Van Mitchell about the music industry for his recent piece featured in The Business Times, a monthly publication of the Edmond Sun. But maybe it should have.

Our conversation centered on what new artists should know about today's music business to increase their likelihood of success (or survival) in light of changes in the way music is consumed. So, is it even worth the trouble?

Without a doubt, the landscape has changed. The roles of traditional intermediaries are either less significant or in a state of flux.

But don't believe -- just yet -- that the answer to the modern music industry's struggles is as simple as out with the old and in with the new. In the immediate future, artists and music companies would probably be best served to continue incorporating some of the old into their business models while embracing a lot of the new (e.g., interactive streaming or "on-demand" streaming). For example, the record business won't survive on sales of shiny plastic discs alone -- but it could survive on a model that involves exploiting sound recordings in diverse formats distributed across a multitude of physical and digital delivery systems creating value for consumers. Of course, that's a lofty goal. But nobody said any of this would be easy! However, it can be made easier.

"Students of the entertainment industry need to be skilled at recognizing what rights authors have in their creative works. And specifically in the music business, exclusive rights to songs are important to music publishers, and record labels are interested in exploiting rights in sound recordings. But, today, we have blurred lines."

Read the entire article in the August 2013 edition of The Business Times (Volume 5, Number 8) here: 

New Artists Need to Know Their Business: Local entertainment experts see vast change in the music industry

--TR 

Trey Rick Law Client's Song “Oklahoma Breakdown" to be Featured on Stoney LaRue’s Concrete Country on CMT

Congratulations to Trey Rick Law client, songwriter Mike Hosty!

Hosty's song “Oklahoma Breakdown" will be performed by Stoney LaRue on CMT’s first Texas shoot of Concrete Country.

From CMT:

 "….LaRue easily kept the crowd’s attention with fan favorites ("Oklahoma Breakdown")…"

Stoney LaRue’s Concrete Country appearance premiers on CMT on Tuesday, August 6, 2013, at 10:50 p.m. CDT.

See photos HERE.

Release of Joint Strategic Plan from IPEC

As NMPA (National Music Publishers' Association) President and CEO said, "Songwriters are some of America's smallest businesses. When their work is illegally used or undervalued it can be disastrous and career ending."

Since the high cost of bringing infringement claims under current copyright law is out of reach for many of these small businesses, the Copyright Office is looking at potential legal remedies for "small copyright claims." Expect to see the results of its Small Claims Study in the fall of 2013.

Enter The November/December 2013 Lyric Contest - American Songwriter

Songwriters, enter American Songwriter’s “Dream Co-Write" competition for a chance to win a co-writing session with country hit maker, Lee Brice!

From American Songwriter:

"We are currently accepting entries for the November/December 2013 Lyric Contest. Deadline is September 15 at Midnight. Enter now for your chance to win a… 2013 "€œDream Co-Write"€ with hit songwriter and recording artist Lee Brice Professional Demo Session (1 song) at Omni Sound Studios Round-Trip Flight to Nashville (domestic only) Gibson Hummingbird Guitar Legendary..."

Read more HERE. 

With So Many Hits, It's No Wonder BMG Re-Signed Hillary Lindsey

Hit songwriter Hillary Lindsey has penned some of the biggest songs in country music including "American Honey," "This One's for the Girls," and "Jesus Take the Wheel," to name a few.

According to Music Row Magazine:

"Songwriter Hillary Lindsey has re-signed her administration agreement with BMG Chrysalis US."

Admin deals are here to stay for top songwriters. Next generation administration tools like those used by BMG Chrysalis' Income Tracking Team and Kobalt Music's Kobalt System and dashboard for artist and label services continue to push the envelope. These innovations are great for providing transparent royalty collection for musical work copyright owners, as well as, sound recording copyright owners. But, how will these innovations shape the role of music publishers in the future? For hit songwriters who don't need much more than a place to send royalty checks, what will drive songwriters to choose one publishing administrator over another?

Look for future posts further exploring this topic.