Politics

Joining us this week on the New Music Business is Billboard’s music copyright reporter, Kristin Robinson. In this episode, Ari and Kristin dive deep into one of her latest articles ("How Did Two Unknown Latin Music Operators Make $23 Million From YouTube? The IRS Says They Stole It") and why it's more important than ever for artists to protect their works.

Did you know that there is a law on the books in California that states a company cannot bind someone to a personal services agreement for longer than 7 calendar years - unless they are a RECORDING ARTIST?! That’s right, in 1987 the slimy, slippery, soulless major record labels successfully lobbied the California legislature to add an amendment to exempt recording artists from this law meant to protect people from long-term, predatory contracts. But finally, California might have a chance to right these historic wrongs with the new Bill AB-2926 (Kalra) that has been introduced.

If you’ve ever played on a recording as a hired gun, you are entitled to more than just the check you got for the session. You are guaranteed (up to) 5% of all the performance royalties that recording ever makes....

If you're an artist in Los Angeles, stop what you're doing and jump on this. Today, the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Public Art Division (DCA) and the City Council, led by Councilman David Ryu of Council District 4,...

On Thursday, July 16th, in a brave act of solidarity and dissent against their employer, black musicians penned an open letter to the founder and leader of Postmodern Jukebox, Scott Bradlee.  Many posted this letter and subsequent demands to social...

Yesterday, the SBA clarified that if you’re self-employed, a freelancer or independent contractor you can get a PPP loan with forgiveness. It was previously thought that the PPP program was only for companies with W2'd employees on payroll. But now...

Most music companies around America participated in #TheShowMustBePaused movement and gave their employees the day off to do THE WORK. But some did not.  Last Saturday I attended the Black Lives Matter peaceful protest in Los Angeles. It was very inspiring. For the first hour in Pan Pacific Park right by CBS studios and The Grove (and Canter’s Deli - my favorite), we listened to speeches by black community members. Namely, we heard from family members of people who had been killed by the LAPD and have yet to see justice. We all said their names together over and over again. There were so many names I didn’t know. 

Last month musicians and other independent contractors got a HUGE win by getting included in the CARES Act benefits program. Independent contractors were promised at least $600/week from this stimulus package. However what ended up happening, in many cases, was...

Well ladies and gentlemen, seven months after Governor Newsom signed into law the “gig worker” bill AB5, which sent the California music industry into a complete panic, we finally have some relief. Today, the music industry, along with Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez and Assemb...

Late last night/early this morning, Trump administration officials and top Democrats finalized an agreement on a nearly $2 trillion rescue package which will include provisions that help musicians, freelancers and other gig workers. As the New York Times reports: “At the insist...