September 2021 Newsletter
Summer normally means warm weather, sunshine and of course vacations (When there isn’t a global pandemic), it’s no wonder that many people consider summer their favourite time of the year. However, for us in the Northern Hemisphere, all good things must come to an end. We have to put away those Summer Playlists, BBQs, let the evenings get shorter and transition into the more structured fall routine.
The kids need to prepare for a new school year. Parents have to get ready for managing hectic after-school schedules, waking up early, and making sure everything stays organised. It can be a lot to take in all at once!
UK’s competition regulator concerned by Sony Music / AWAL merger highlights:
It has been announced that Sony Music’s acquisition of distributor AWAL “raises competition concerns”, and has given the major label a five-day deadline to head off a full investigation of the merger.
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) did not see any problems with the neighbouring rights part of the deal. Its announcement offers more context for its concerns about Sony Music buying AWAL though.
The CMA also suggested that the competition could have seen artists “improving the terms of their deals with distributors, potentially allowing them to keep a larger share of their earnings and to have more ownership of their music rights”.
Sony now has five days to respond to the CMA, and if those responses do not satisfy the regulator, it will launch a deeper ‘phase two’ investigation of the deal.
One Year Later…
We are very happy to announce to you all that this month holds a special date for us. Jess Hannam, Our A&R Assistant, has been with us for One Year!!
It is crazy to think that a year can go by so fast, but here we are celebrating 12 months with you all! Those of you who have the pleasure of working alongside Jess will know that she is AMAZING. She is very passionate about making the music industry fair for all artists.
Jess worked with Identity Music for International Women’s Day and was proudly featured as the front-facing female of Identity Music. Always ensuring everyone is heard and respected is at the heart of all of Jess’ actions.
❤️ Here is a huge thank you to Jess for being a part of Identity Music ❤️
IM LO-FI HIP HOP RADIO
Identity Music are proud to announce that our IM Lo-Fi Radio has now gone live on YouTube! We support a range of Lo-Fi artists and wanted to embrace their soothing sounds with you all. If you are looking for some background music during your downtime or during your study session check it out.
What Music Platforms would you like Identity Music to work alongside?
Getting your music out to platforms that your fans are on matters to the growth of your music. That is why we encourage you to get in touch with us and tell us which platforms you want us to connect with on your behalf.
Send Your Account Manager Which Platforms You Want Next.
Our Hottest Releases For August
‘#02RF’ By Maggie Cassidy
A fast-paced Rock anthem that is full of energy! Crank it up with the windows down for that perfect drive track.
‘The Night Breathes’ By Narrow Skies
A truly evocative and atmospheric piece with subtle sounds, recordings and vocals. Need to wind down? Give this a try!
‘Cupid’s Chokehold’ By Rajstar
Cupid’s Chokehold is a Lo-Fi cover, bringing a fresh chill and mellow take on the 2005 hit track by Gym Class Heroes. With dreamy guitars and carefully laid out reverb, the track is the perfect soundtrack for a late afternoon chillout sesh.
Did You Miss Our Blog – ‘TikTok Musicians Guide: Tips & Tricks’?
Check It Out Now!
Top Tips From Identity Music
We are invested in YOUR success, that is why we are on hand Monday – Friday 10am-6pm BST to answer any questions you might have. All of the teams here at Identity Music are here to make the music industry a fair industry. This starts with helping you get the most out of your music distribution.
Each and every month we will be bringing you new top tips on how to make the most of what Identity Music has to offer or music industry hacks to get your releases out without hassle.
Alex – A&R Team
Get your track uploaded early! When you upload your release to the dashboard in advance of it’s release date, we can help you even more. Looking to pitch your music to those big editorial playlists? No problem, when you release with us, we can pitch your track for you. Yes, this includes Spotify, Tidal, Apple Music and Deezer.
Uploading early also means, if any issues arise you should still have enough time to sort it before release.
Don’t limit your track’s potential by fast-tracking the release and rushing it out to fans. We always advise uploading your release at least 6 weeks in advance of the release date to get those all-important playlist spots!
Keiran – Operations Team
Struggling to stay organised? Keep an up to date spreadsheet of your release plan. Include when you plan on distributing the track, how and when you will promote, as well as the big day itself!
When you are organised you will be able to manage your time so much better and will likely see great results.
You can also use the data to compare previous releases to see which strategies work better than others. I just love spreadsheets, can you tell?
If you would like a copy of Identity Music’s release plan timeline, ask your account manager today!
Quick Tip:
You can download ALL of your previous release data on your dashboard.
Simply click ‘Assets’ then on right, click ‘Actions’ then ‘Download full catalogue Excel’.
Kirsten – Marketing Team
Social media was built on one principle: sociability. Get social and get connecting with your fans. It is hands down the best way of using social media to get positive results. You can do this by responding to comments, hosting Q&As, doing competitions and more. You need to do things that make your fans feel like they are part of your music and have a connection with you.
Establishing yourself on social media takes a lot of time and effort. Don’t be discouraged if everything doesn’t take off at first. Stay consistent, keep trying and it will pay off. Social media comes in waves. To see proper results, it is a long game, and the only way to win is to be patient, build on your efforts, and keep at it.
Quick Tip:
Social Media is not just about creating meaningful relationships with fans. It can be a route to some pretty strong partnerships. Use your social media to network with other artists and continuously boost your industry colleagues up to the next level. This could return some wider reach to you in the future and create a variety of collaboration opportunities.
What You May Have Missed
Some highlights from our Social Media profiles that are definitely worth checking out!
In Other Music Industry News…
Deezer gives ‘It’s Raining Men’ a gender-neutral makeover
“They are Seen, They are Heard and We Must Listen”- Mila Jam
Deezer and Mila Jam have come together to provide us with a rework of The Weather Girls ‘It’s Raining Men’ as ‘It’s Raining Them‘.
Performed by trans artist and activist Mila Jam, Deezer promised that the track is “packed full of inclusive pronouns and updated adjectives”. With over 79,000 views since the premiere on the 20th of August 2021, the YouTube video has been at the top of music industry news for almost a month. Deezer announced that they will be donating its first year of revenues from the track to the charity.
“Trans and non-binary people have been marginalised throughout history, including within the LGBTQ+ movements. We want to do our part by giving the community a voice and a platform to be heard,” said VP of artist relations Nigel Harding.
Save the date: Music Week Awards 2022
Music Week Awards will return to Battersea Evolution on Thursday, May 19, 2022. The ceremony has moved to its traditional spring date in the industry calendar. Ticket details will be announced shortly.
Spotify’s new ‘Enhance’ feature adds tracks to users’ playlists
As you are all more than likely aware, when you curate a Spotify Playlist, Spotify loves to lend a helping hand with a list of ‘recommended’ tracks that they believe are similar to your selected tracks. This feature is known to be a bit like marmite, some of us love it and some hate it. Well not to worry, Spotify have now gone one step further with their new feature called ‘Enhance’.
It’s only for premium subscribers (which is interesting in itself) and can be toggled on or off for each user-created playlist. When it’s on, Spotify will automatically add recommendations in between your own tracks.
“It sounds like a useful feature for people who want it. Watch this closely though. If Spotify ever decides to extend its much-discussed ‘Discovery Mode’ paid-promotion program beyond its radio and autoplay features, ‘Enhance’ may be an obvious candidate for that expansion.” – MusicAlly
Thanks for reading!
We hope that you are ready for this new season. It is a pleasure to work alongside so many talented musicians, thank you all for choosing to work with Identity Music.
Our aim has always been to be a music distributor that gives back to our artists and labels. We will be sharing a newsletter with you now and again to keep everyone in the loop. We are allowing you to feature in our newsletters and join our music community. Want to have your input on our monthly newsletter? Get in touch with our marketing team at marketing@identitymusic.com.
By setting up your music distribution with Identity Music, you can take full advantage of our music promotion support services and get your music out to all corners of the globe. You can get in touch with our team to discuss your options here!
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