Samantha Carpintero’s Post

"While it’s impossible to know how much Charli made in total from the groundswell around brat, a colorful concept built on spontaneity and living life to its fullest, we crunched the numbers around a few brat summer deals." "Marcie Allen, the MAC (Marcie Allen Consulting) president known for orchestrating some of the highest-profile brand partnerships in the music industry, says these kinds of deals, and what it takes to land them, are rarely about the money. To attract attention from top companies serving the Gen Z market, “it isn’t just about awareness, recognition or buzz. It is about puncturing through culture to create an entire subculture, a new vernacular, and ultimately becoming embedded into identity.” “The concept of ‘going viral’ is fundamentally changing and Charli XCX’s ‘brat summer’ is a perfect example.” Thank you Billboard for the mention. The power of music is palpable. Brand Partnerships in the music biz are changing by the day so brands have to know how to tap into culture in a measurable and meaningful way. #music #partnerships #marketing #brandpartnerships #genz #billboard

New Post: Sphere Entertainment Stock Gets Analyst Downgrade for ‘Potentially Underwhelming Profitability Outlook’ - https://lnkd.in/g_mP2Cdv - The year-old Sphere venue quickly became a must-see attraction in Las Vegas, but some analysts don’t believe the eye-grabbing, multi-purpose venue has a viable business model. Benchmark downgraded Sphere Entertainment Co. to a “sell” rating on Tuesday (Sept. 3) with a $40 price target, sending the stock down 4.4% to $44.55.  Benchmark downgraded the stock over concerns about the company’s “scalability, high production costs, and a potentially underwhelming profitability outlook,” wrote Benchmark analyst Mike Hickey in an investor note. “A weakening consumer environment may negatively impact their Las Vegas non-gaming entertainment business, while MSG Networks faces significant debt maturity challenges.” The MSG Networks division of Sphere Entertainment Co. operates regional sports networks and the MSG+ streaming platform.  The Sphere Entertainment downgrade arrived on a rough day for stocks in general. A handful of music companies had similar losses on Tuesday: Reservoir Media and SiriusXM each fell 5.2%, Spotify dropped 4.2%, Madison Square Garden Entertainment slipped 4.0% and iHeartRadio lost 3.9%. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite lost 3.3% and the S&P 500 was down 2.1%.   Sphere Entertainment posted a $201 million net loss on revenue of $1.03 billion in the fiscal year ended June 30. Hosting residencies by U2, Phish and Dead & Company, the venue itself generated revenue of $489.4 million in its first three full quarters of operation, with the film Postcards from Earth earning more than $300 million in “high margin” revenue since opening in October 2023. Sphere has also expanded to corporate and sporting events by hosting Hewlett Packard Enterprise and the NHL Draft. The stunning $2.3 billion venue has “the potential to change the entertainment landscape for artists, guests and partners,” CEO James Dolan said during the company’s Aug. 14 earnings call. “Fully realizing that vision will take time, but we are learning every day how to optimize Sphere’s operating model.” Dolan emphasized how the company is learning to increase the venue’s utilization to hold different types of events and multiple events on a single day. Following Tuesday’s decline, Sphere Entertainment’s share price is up 31.1% year to date.  - #news #business #world -------------------------------------------------- #MagicTheGathering #macos #mac #tradingcardgame - SellingIt(.)org ---> https://sellingit.org

The buzz trap ! 🕳 A few weeks back, I talked about how much of the music industry is caught up in chasing buzz instead of creating it. Zimmer90's hit "What Is Love" is a perfect case study. After it blew up on social media, I started getting emails about agents signing the band. That's great news, right? But here's where my predictions hit the mark. Instead of fueling the fire and building on that buzz, it felt like everyone just sat back and let the song's organic popularity do the work. Now, I wouldn't expect the band themselves to come up with marketing strategies, but the distro/label? They definitely should have stepped up. The campaign for "What Is Love" lasted just a month. Considering the song's impact, that effort should have been stretched out over 6 month/1 year. It's a classic example of the industry's focus on short-term gains rather than long-term growth and sustainability. #musicindustry

Coachella always sets the tone for the upcoming year. They are the first festival to announce each year and the kick off to the Summer’s Festival season, each April. Last week, Goldenvoice (the promoter behind Coachella), surprised us all by announcing the lineup for next year’s festival 2+ months earlier than the usual January announcement. It's a smart move, in my opinion, to mix things help and help them move toward selling out (something that didn't happen as quickly last year as it did in the past). Rostr did a nice breakdown of the trends and insights with their annual “Who Booked Coachella” post. Interesting to see what agencies, management companies, labels and demos had impact in this lineup. Worth a read if you are interested in the behind the scenes, industry dynamics at play. #MusicBusiness #Concerts #Festivals #Coachella

There’s been a lot of talk lately about marketing at major events and the current state of the music industry. A couple of things to address: Do Coldplay concerts need more marketing? For global superstars like Coldplay, the believe the answer is no. The frenzy for their tickets is driven by the experience they've created over years, not by excessive ads or promotions. BookMyShow and platforms alike manage their workload and capacity efficiently, and sometimes, less is more when it comes to marketing for such massive acts. Not every moment needs to be filled with ads when the product sells itself. Is the demand for Coldplay tickets a reflection of the music industry’s challenges? Not quite. The scarcity and excitement around bands like Coldplay or other big acts are a testament to their legacy and fan loyalty. While it’s true that mainstream music needs fresh talent to drive culture, building communities and fan bases for new artists takes time. Management companies and labels are working tirelessly behind the scenes to nurture this, but we can't compare that process to the frenzy around established acts. These are two very separate challenges. Let’s not conflate these issues. The music industry is evolving, and while there are gaps, it takes time and effort to create the next generation of artists who will bring people together in the same way. #Coldplay #Bookmyshow #MusicIndustry #FanEngagement #Marketing #CreativeBusiness #TalentDevelopment

Exciting news for those attending #MusicBiz this year Our very own Michael Pelczynski will be speaking across #three panels at Music Business Association's quintessential event in Nashville. Here's a quick synopsis of each session for those interested: Session #1: Experienced music startup advisors will offer insights into avoiding common pitfalls when launching a startup in the music industry. They'll offer practical advice on navigating the complexities of startup preparation and market entry, emphasizing the importance of understanding the needs and strategies of rights holders. Featuring Aileen Crowley 🌎 Elizabeth Moody Michael Pelczynski and Cliff Fluet Session #2: Larry Mills, Monica Corton, Michael Pelczynski and Tomas Ericsson will address the shift from black boxes to market share payments as a solution to attribution issues in the music industry. They'll explore the fairness of market share payments and discuss the challenges in identification and attribution, while examining the roles of various stakeholders in resolving the black box problem. Session #3: The panel will discuss the evolving debate in the music industry regarding 'artist-centric' streaming remuneration models, driven by the influx of tracks on digital service platforms and concerns over fraudulent activities. Despite growing support for reform, issues such as tiered thresholds disadvantaging grassroots artists and ineffective penalties for fraud within major labels remain unresolved. The panel aims to identify necessary measures and collaborative efforts to establish streaming models that prioritize the interests of artists and rightsholders across all tiers of the industry. Featuring Thomas Sharp Maxwell Michael Pelczynski David Atkinson Matt Brinkworth Fran Mills Don't miss out on this opportunity to gain valuable insights from industry experts and join the conversation on these important topics. See you soon in Nashville! #MusicBusiness #IndustryInsights #StartupAdvice #StreamingModels #RightsHolders #IndustryDebate

New Post: Executive Turntable: WMG Veteran Taking (Temp) Reins of Deezer; Merlin’s Promotion-palooza; New Mega House President - https://lnkd.in/gRCwmx3d - It’s time for another spindle around the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music. For a summary of all the goings-on at UMG, scroll to the bottom. For everything else, read on! Deezer‘s search for a permanent replacement for the departing Jeronimo Folgueira is underway, but in the meantime the Paris-based streaming service has hired a ringer of sorts to keep the CEO seat warm. Stu Bergen, a 14-year veteran of Warner Music and longtime CEO of the label group’s international and global services division, has stepped in to serve as interim CEO until a new chief is found. Bergen, who left WMG in early 2021, has been a member of Deezer’s board of directors for more than a year and will remain there after the executive search is complete. “Stu’s in-depth knowledge of the music and digital industries, coupled with his tenure as a director on Deezer’s board, positions him perfectly to boost the company’s strategic direction and facilitate a seamless transition,” the company said this week, adding it believes Bergen is perfectly suited to guide them in its international expansion and boosting subscribers in key markets. The company recently posted positive financial results for 2023, with revenue up 7.4% to $524 million and an 11.5% increase in subscribers (thanks to business-to-business partnerships). ”I am honored to accept the interim CEO role at Deezer at this pivotal time,” Bergen said. “I am committed to strengthening the company’s values and driving its growth trajectory forward. With the dedicated team and clear objectives already in place, I am eager to lead us through this period of transition, ensuring the company is prepared for its ambitious future.” Related UMG’s East Coast Labels Reorganize as ‘Republic Corps’ With New Structure 03/15/2024 Merlin, the digital music licensing go-to for indies everywhere, announced an expansive run of promotions and role tweaks at the company. Over on the member and partner success teams, Emma Robinson ascends to senior director of member operations after six years of service; Daniele Yandel was promoted to senior manager of member operations after four years; four-year veteran Jo Danher is now senior manager of member relations; and Poppy Waring (seven years) and Shannon Bradley (three) both step up to senior manager of commercial partnerships. As for the finance fam, Vincent Moyo is promoted to director of commercial finance, four years in

The most interesting space in #musictech right now is #superfan brands that combine #content, #community and #commerce - the legendary #3Cs (for those of us who started out in #DotComOne . . .) As an example, investors are now alive to the fast growth of country music as a genre, but it's the changing consumption behaviours that are driving innovation and value. Who knew the 'Nashville lifestyle' would be where Gen Z and Gen A spend their disposable income? (Well, apart from the team at CountryLine of course 💁♂️ . . .) The smartest way for media & entertainment brands to thrive is through #experiential innovation. Indeed, if there's no #IRL dimension, is it even a community at all? The Maidthorn Group #targetglobalverticals #globalpassionniches https://lnkd.in/eT98duU7

Highlights from last week's 'Curating and Monetizing Exclusives for Your Superfan Community' panel for artists at Music Biz 2024 (feat. Sara Mertz, Tixr VP, Partnerships - Music) ⤵️ ✅ Value first: Always prioritize providing genuine value. Ensure what you're selling is unique and authentically resonates with both fan and artist. ✅ Engagement is key: Make fans feel seen and heard. Fans today see themselves as creators and integral parts of an artist's journey. ✅ Ticketing matters: Not all ticketing platforms are equal. Align with one that gives you multiple ways to engage, can sell more than just tickets, puts fairness first, and gets tickets to real fans. Drop us a comment with ways you've seen artists engage and monetize superfans successfully. #tixr #musicbiz2024 #ticketing #musicfans #venues

Plunging into the business realm, transforming your love for music into a lucrative enterprise is more than a fantasy—it's achievable. Similar to crafting a hit song, blending creativity with business acumen is essential for developing a thriving music-based business. In this discussion, we'll outline definitive steps to mold your musical talent into a prosperous venture. Consider it setting the base tracks for your entrepreneurial journey—ready to let your music take the spotlight? Read more: https://bit.ly/44neWyd