Taylor Swift approached Apple with concern for its 3 month free music trial & not the music labels. Is there more to the story? It doesn’t add up.
Two weeks after Apple released its new $10-a-month streaming service, the pop star wrote the company a public letter on her Tumblr, explaining why she’s withholding her latest album,1989, from the subscription-based platform.
“I’m sure you are aware that Apple Music will be offering a free 3 month trial to anyone who signs up for the service. I’m not sure you know that Apple Music will not be paying writers, producers, or artists for those three months. I find it to be shocking, disappointing, and completely unlike this historically progressive and generous company.”
“These are not the complaints of a spoiled, petulant child. These are the echoed sentiments of every artist, writer and producer in my social circles who are afraid to speak up publicly because we admire and respect Apple so much. We simply do not respect this particular call.
I realize that Apple is working towards a goal of paid streaming. I think that is beautiful progress. We know how astronomically successful Apple has been and we know that this incredible company has the money to pay artists, writers and producers for the 3 month trial period… even if it is free for the fans trying it out.
Three months is a long time to go unpaid, and it is unfair to ask anyone to work for nothing. I say this with love, reverence, and admiration for everything else Apple has done. I hope that soon I can join them in the progression towards a streaming model that seems fair to those who create this music. I think this could be the platform that gets it right.
But I say to Apple with all due respect, it’s not too late to change this policy and change the minds of those in the music industry who will be deeply and gravely affected by this. We don’t ask you for free iPhones. Please don’t ask us to provide you with our music for no compensation.”
Have you heard ‘Lifeline’ by Secret Company? It’s fun catchy, upbeat & combines rock/electro/synch. The band also just premiered the new video for ‘Savior‘. Their debut EP will be released in July and they have several festival performances lined up.
Alison@silvascreen.co.uk, charley@illustrious-pr.co.uk
Tenterhook released a new single “What I Like” via Cartoon Records. Produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J, Marika Hackman), the track simply memorizes with its monster harmonies and infectious melody that can hang with Passenger’s ‘Let Her Go’ at its best moments. Tenterhook will headline The Lexington on 24th June. He has sold-out all his London headline shows to date including two nights at The Waiting Room and gigs at St. Pancras Old Church and Servant Jazz Quarters. He’s supported Young The Giant and Luke Sital Singh and has had airplay across Radio 1, Radio 2, Radio 4, 6 Music, XFM and Amazing Radio.
hayley@six07press.com, tenterhookband@gmail.com
Alexa Melo, a 20 year-old singer-songwriter from Los Angeles released her self-titled debut album. Produced by Christian James-Hand (The Mowgli’s), the first single, ‘Still Right Here‘, has been receiving local SoCal radio airplay on KROQ among others. She is receiving love from Culture Collide, Buzzbands.LA, AllMusic, Purevolume, and ARTISTdirect. Drawing influences from Raddiohead, Björk and Pink Floyd she cites “If I weren’t doing music for myself, I’d be producing or writing for someone else, making music videos for other artists or playing an instrument in someone else’s band”.
mikesavage123@gmail.com
Nashville based Heather Bond’s latest track So Long impresses. We call this indie piano pop that will put you in melancholy state for weeks. She was featured on American Songwriter, Songwriting Magazine, Nashville Scene and on Nashville’s independent radio station “Lightning 100.” Her track, “Beside Me,” was featured in a television commercial, which aired nationally in Germany.
amanda.m@ei-pr.com