Apple, Dubset Media sign deal enabling more mix/remix content on Apple Music
Apple has reportedly forged a deal with a distributor, Dubset Media Holdings, that will allow Apple Music to host more remixes, mashups, and full-length DJ mixes.
Much of this content has been unavailable because of the complex copyright and royalty situations created by mixing, Billboard said on Tuesday. A DJ mix with 25 to 30 songs might require paying not just the same number of record labels, but two to 10 publishers per track.
Partnering with Dubset should help circumvent this problem in two ways: the firm's licensing deals with over 14,000 labels and publishers, and proprietary apps known as MixBank and MixScan. Together, the tools can analyze a music file and determine where royalties are owed -- files submitted to Dubset must pass through this screening, which is also used to enforce any limits demanded by rights holders.
Apple will have to pay Dubset for access to content, from which point the latter will use some of the money to handle royalties.
The deal could help Apple better compete in the world of streaming electronic dance music, where it faces competition not just from Spotify but genre-specific services like Beatport, which introduced an iOS app roughly a year ago.
Much of this content has been unavailable because of the complex copyright and royalty situations created by mixing, Billboard said on Tuesday. A DJ mix with 25 to 30 songs might require paying not just the same number of record labels, but two to 10 publishers per track.
Partnering with Dubset should help circumvent this problem in two ways: the firm's licensing deals with over 14,000 labels and publishers, and proprietary apps known as MixBank and MixScan. Together, the tools can analyze a music file and determine where royalties are owed -- files submitted to Dubset must pass through this screening, which is also used to enforce any limits demanded by rights holders.
Apple will have to pay Dubset for access to content, from which point the latter will use some of the money to handle royalties.
The deal could help Apple better compete in the world of streaming electronic dance music, where it faces competition not just from Spotify but genre-specific services like Beatport, which introduced an iOS app roughly a year ago.
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*His most famous songs are Strobe, The Veldt (referencing a Ray Bradbury short story), and Ghosts n' Stuff.
**A long-time popular trance music dj/producer.
Of course, I hope that this will coincide with improvements to Apple Music (which I use regularly and enjoy):
-There desperately needs to be sub-genres, at least for the genre I'm most familiar with: "Dance": at least to include things like Big Room, Deep House, Trance, Dubstep, and Trap (for the kids).
-The playlists (supposed to be the main draw for Apple Music, 'what comes next' and all that) are a confusing mess, and way too limiting. There's Summer back yard pary mix, summer back yard pool mix, electronic bbq, on and on....... what's the difference between bbq and pool music?? No doubt there are fantastic songs in these playlists, but once you find an arbitrary one that you like, there's only 15 tracks in it, so then you have to go searching again.
-One of the things I was hoping for the most with Apple Music was the ability to create a public profile where I can post playlists. Where if people like my style of music I can point them to one place, instead of having to send links to individual playlists. This is a way a lot of people discover and share music. For instance, fitness/yoga instructors play music during their class, then have spotify playlists that people can follow if they like the music.
I think the biggest mistake Apple has made so far with Apple Music is not hyping it enough. Eddie Cue mentioned on Gruber's podcast that they have a problem with educating people on the value of Apple music. I HIGHLY doubt that is the problem. Hype and social connection are a MAJOR part of music for a lot of people (particularly for the largest consumers: youth). I think the lack of expected hype has caused a lot of people to be skeptical of it, when of course Apple Music offers a no-brainier value.
With both fashion items (eg watch/wearables) and music an ESSENTIAL element of the product is social/emotive, and thus hype driven. I'm not sure if Apple fully appreciates that.
deadmau5* was the first EDM artist I consciously paid attention to. I remember switching radio stations and tuning in to Pets for the first time. It was really amazing.