Dylan Smith

Fired Recording Academy CEO Says She Has Evidence of Grammys Voting Corruption

March 4, 2020

Ex-Grammys CEO Deborah Dugan Having been officially fired by the Recording Academy just two days ago, Deborah Dugan has made good on her promise to retaliate by coming forward with what she claims is evidence... Read More...

Amazon, VEVO, TikTok, Intel Cancel SXSW — Organizers Still Refuse to Call Off the Event

Dylan Smith

March 4, 2020

Austin–Bergstrom International Airport, which services downtown Austin and SXSW (LoneStarMike CC 2.0) Amazon, Vevo, and TikTok have all canceled their SXSW 2020 appearances within the last 24 hours. But the m... Read More...

Ariana Grande’s ‘7 Rings’ Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Might Get Tossed

Dylan Smith

March 3, 2020

The previously reported Ariana Grande copyright infringement lawsuit could be dismissed sooner rather than later. Earlier today, District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald sent a letter to the lawsuit’s plaintiff a... Read More...

The Average Canadian Songwriter Earned Just $67 Last Year from Domestic Digital Sources

Dylan Smith

March 3, 2020

photo: Annie Spratt SOCAN members — including songwriters, composers, producers, publishers, and other composition rights owners — received an average of $67 (Canadian dollars) for domestic digital royalties ... Read More...

Marvin Gaye’s Estate Doubles Down on Pharrell Williams Perjury Charges

Dylan Smith

March 3, 2020

Marvin Gaye's estate has doubled down on perjury allegations against Pharrell Williams, whose statements in a 2019 GQ interview are said to have contradicted those he gave while under oath in the courtroom. ... Read More...

German High Court Postpones YouTube Illegal Uploads Ruling

One of Germany’s Largest ‘Fake Stream’ Operations Has Been Shut Down

Dylan Smith

March 3, 2020

Followerschmiede.de on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2020 The recording industry has taken decisive action against a company that offered artists stream-manipulation services—i.e., fake plays on Spotify and other leadi... Read More...

Facebook Officially Exits SXSW 2020 — 24 Hours After Twitter Cancels

Dylan Smith

March 3, 2020

Following Twitter’s lead, Facebook has pulled out of South by Southwest (SXSW) 2020. Even so, event organizers say the mega-festival will go on as scheduled, despite rising domestic and international concerns... Read More...

Spotify Faces Class Action Lawsuit Over Employee Mistreatment

Dylan Smith

March 2, 2020

U.S. District Court for the Central District of California, Los Angeles A California man has filed a class-action lawsuit against Spotify over the company’s alleged misclassification of his employment status ... Read More...

Taylor Swift Declared Best-Selling Global Artist of 2019

Dylan Smith

March 2, 2020

Taylor Swift London-based global recording industry trade group IFPI has declared Taylor Swift the bestselling worldwide artist of 2019. Swift edged out the likes of Ed Sheeran, Billie Eilish, Lady Gaga, Post... Read More...

The Recording Academy Officially Fires Deborah Dugan, Lawyers Promise to Retaliate

Dylan Smith

March 2, 2020

Recording Academy ex-President and CEO Deborah Dugan The very public conflict between the Recording Academy and Deborah Dugan has taken yet another dramatic turn, as Recording Academy board members have offic... Read More...

UK Government Discusses Post-Brexit US Trade Goals, British Labels Respond

Dylan Smith

March 2, 2020

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and U.S. President Donald Trump confer at 2019's G7 (photo: The White House CC0) The United Kingdom government has released a comprehensive (184-page-long) analysis of pos... Read More...

Flavor Flav Slaps the Bernie Sanders Campaign With a Cease-and-Desist

Dylan Smith

March 2, 2020

Photo: Ray McCort (CC by 3.0) Chuck D booted Flavor Flav from Public Enemy after clashing over a Bernie Sanders concert. Flavor Flav is no longer part of the hip-hop group Public Enemy. And in keeping with ... Read More...

Author Dylan Smith