Typical waiting periods to re-record would range from five to seven years. Now some labels are asking for as long as 30 years.

Taylor Swift's re-recorded albums have made labels tighten contracts

MBW Reacts is a series of analytical commentaries from Music Business Worldwide written in response to major recent entertainment events or news ... streaming model in partnership with Universal Music Group. France-based indie music company Wagram also ...

Four things we learned from Sir Lucian Grainge on Universal’s Q3 earnings call… that wasn’t ‘Merchants of Garbage’

Record labels are trying to prevent 'Taylor Version' situations with new artists and in contracts when it comes to re-recording music.

Taylor Swift’s (Taylor’s Version) albums cause bonkers record label change

Universal, Sony, and Warner have updated their contracts to make it more difficult for artists to pull their own "(Taylor's Version)." Major Labels Are Trying to Stop Artists from Re-Recording Their M

Major Labels Are Trying to Stop Artists from Re-Recording Their Music like Taylor Swift

A sign of the challenges that lie ahead for the music industry.

YouTube's New AI Tool Will Let Users Sing Like Their Favorite Artists, But Record Labels Are Hesitant

Big tech wins again as it trains its AI on the backs of the entertainment industry The post Spoiler Alert: Universal Music v. Anthropic Is a Movie We’ve Seen Before appeared first on TheWrap.

Spoiler Alert: Universal Music v. Anthropic Is a Movie We’ve Seen Before

Universal Music Group, the label representing Taylor Swift, said on Wednesday (Oct 18) it has partnered with digital music firm BandLab Technologies to help protect the rights of artists and ...

Universal Music, BandLab Technologies team up to protect artist rights amid rising AI use

Oct 18 (Reuters) - Universal Music Group (UMG.AS), the label representing Taylor Swift, said on Wednesday it has partnered with digital music firm BandLab Technologies to help protect the rights ...

Universal Music Group, the label representing Taylor Swift, said on Wednesday it has partnered with digital music firm BandLab Technologies to help protect the rights of artists and songwriters ...

NEW YORK (CelebrityAccess) – Universal Music Group (UMG) and BandLab Technologies, the parent company of social music creation platform BandLab, have announced what they call “an expansive, industry-first strategic relationship concentrated on ...

BandLab Technologies & Universal Music Group Announce AI Partnership

Get the most recent info and news about Universal Music Group on HackerNoon, where 10k+ technologists publish stories for 4M+ monthly readers.

Universal Music Group

Artificial Intelligence in Sound Design: A Revolution or a Threat?

The tsunami started in April 2023, as Drake released his hotly anticipated single (Ft The Weeknd), . It immediately received critical acclaim. Problem is… Drake had nothing to do with it; someone had used a to create a synthetic version of Drake’s voice, mixed it with a synthetic The Weeknd voice, and made a song. It must have taken just a few hours, but it will forever change music. Heart on My Sleeve free AI music generator https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HZ2ie2ErFI&embedable=true What happened next was predictable. The song went viral, and Drake’s label . Too late. Pandora’s box has been opened, and there is no closing it. Voice cloning tools are getting better fast. . Today, about … and singing voices. stepped in to get it removed Very fast anyone can create a realistic version of speaking voices Some may argue that synthetic songs are just the natural evolutions of , which DJs have been creating for years. That this is just a novelty and will not become ubiquitous. Some gimmicks like the cover below do indeed belong to the “mashup” category, but they’re not the ones we’re discussing here. We’re talking about “fakes”. About . About the end of stardom’s scarcity and the labels’ fight to stop this inevitability. mashups Software Eating the World https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wK4UdjSpF3Y&embedable=true Scarcity is what gives artists value; there is only one Taylor Swift, one Beyoncé, one Stromae. If we multiply them, their worth diminishes. Sure, a few smart marketers may make millions by creating copycats before getting sued into the ground, but that will be through trickery. That’s why labels and artists are scared of AI music — it threatens their livelihood. In fact, it threatens their very . raison d’être And so, the lawyers have jumped into action. There is no law to say one train an AI on voices, so the big labels have gone straight to the source, asking streaming services to . Meanwhile, to better understand and tackle “the issue”. cannot block AI Companies from accessing their songs YouTube and the Universal Music Group (UMG) created an AI incubator They are no doubt working to create something similar to the that . When a recognizable (famous?) voice is “heard,” the software would take note and demonetize the video, as it does today with songs. But what happens if someone just happens to sound like Drake or Taylor Swift? Would YouTube give royalties to the Universal Music Group, nonetheless further alienating content creators? What about covers? Do they become illegal? Will our voices be tracked on the internet, ? A new era of music is beginning, and if we don’t pay attention, it may well not be for the best. Content ID software automatically ensures royalties get paid when a song is played on YouTube much like our faces are on the street As always, in next-stage capitalism, it won’t be fair. While YouTube argues that artists’ voices should be protected, Google (YouTube’s owner) will continue using content to train their next big algorithm to power Search. And the creators of that content? They won’t receive a dime. everyone’s In fact, no one will be given the same rights and protections as the big names. While they are protected by an army of tech and lawyers, it’s almost assured that algorithms will devour Indie bands’ content to learn from them and help labels pump out better, more commercially successful songs for their golden poneys. I’d put my money on Spotify, but Apple is also a good bet. From one AI song, we now see the next battlefield for music. Some will have their voices trademarked; others will have theirs stolen. Freddie Mercury allegedly said, “ .” Our only way out is if more people recognize that as the path forward rather than the alternative. Don’t hold your breath; the alternative has money. Do whatever you want with my music; just don’t make it boring Good luck out there. Also published . here

Welcome to the Era of AI-Generated Music

Dear reader, Welcome to the latest edition of the “ One More Thing in AI newsletter.” For Startup founders and Business Leaders like you who want to get smarter on AI in less than 5 minutes . I hope you enjoy this edition. I'd love to hear your feedback (positive or negative). Best regards, Renjit Philip In this Edition 🤖👥 : AI Paradox: Meta's Chief Scientist Weighs in on the Existential Debate AI -Humanity 🎵📜 : The Fine Line: AI, Lyrics, and Copyright Battles Music 🛠️🖨️ : The Blueprint of Tomorrow: AI Build's Smart 3D Printing Software 3D Printing 💳🤖 : Square's AI Playbook: A New Chapter in Business Automation Payments 🌍🤝 : Bridging AI Horizons: OpenAI and G42's Strategic Middle East Expansion UAE 📊🤖 : The David vs. Goliath of AI: Why Small Language Models Could Be the Next Big Thing LLMs The AI Paradox Meta's Chief Scientist Weighs in on the Existential Debate Picture a world where AI is as ubiquitous as smartphones, yet the debate rages on: friend or foe? Meta's Chief AI Scientist, Yann LeCun, recently stepped into the ring to share his perspective. 🔍 The Existential Question: Since the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT-4, the AI conversation has shifted towards its potential risks. While some, like Geoffrey Hinton, have left their positions to warn about AI's dangers, LeCun takes a different stance. 🏢 Big Tech and Regulation: LeCun warns that premature regulation could stifle innovation and solidify Big Tech's dominance. It's like putting training wheels on a race car; you won't get very far, very fast. This stance is ironic since LeCun comes from Meta, and you can argue that Meta is late to the AI party compared to Microsoft with its investment in Open AI. Regulation usually helps the leaders, not the laggards. Regulatory Capture: According to LeCun, the term "AI safety" is being used as a smokescreen for what he calls "regulatory capture." It's as if we're putting a leash on AI research under the guise of safety, potentially holding back progress. 🤖 AI's Future Role: LeCun envisions a future where AI mediates our interaction with the digital world. Think of it as your digital butler, making your life easier. The debate on AI's existential risk is far from settled.
While some see it as the proverbial wolf at the door, others, like LeCun, view it as a kitten that has yet to grow claws. One thing is clear: the conversation is just getting started, and it could shape the future of AI and its impact on our society. Music AI, Lyrics, and Copyright Battles 🎵 Imagine you're humming along to the Rolling Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want," and you realize you've forgotten the lyrics. You prompt your AI assistant to help, and voila! The lyrics are there. But what if that seemingly innocent act lands someone in a legal quagmire? 📜 The Legal Landscape: Universal Music Group and other music publishers have taken Anthropic, an AI company, to court. The bone of contention? Anthropic's AI model, Claude 2, can generate lyrics almost identical to copyrighted songs. It's not just about responding to specific song requests; even generic prompts can result in the AI spitting out copyrighted lyrics. 🔍 The Underlying Issue: It's about the intellectual property that fuels the music industry. Many platforms pay to license lyrics, but Anthropic has been accused of sidestepping this crucial step. The company is also alleged to have used copyrighted material to train its language models, raising questions about the ethical boundaries of AI training. 🤖 AI Ethics and Investment: Anthropic isn't a small player; it has significant investment backing, including $4 billion from Amazon and $300 million from Google. The company claims to take "trust and safety" seriously and even talks about "constitutional AI," a framework for rule-based AI systems. 🔮 Looking Ahead: As generative AI becomes more sophisticated, the line between innovation and infringement is getting blurry. This case could set a precedent for how intellectual property laws adapt to the age of AI. It's not just about the music industry; it's a wake-up call for anyone leveraging AI in their business operations. 🎤 The Mic Drop: This case is a cautionary tale for those navigating the evolving landscape of AI and data. As this case unfolds, it's clear that the next big hit in the AI world might be a gavel striking down. The Blueprint of Tomorrow Ai Build's Smart 3D Printing Software Imagine you're an engineer, and you've just designed a complex structure. Now, you need to bring it to life. You could go the traditional manufacturing route or leverage 3D printing. But what if the 3D printing software could think, adapt, and optimize? Enter , a London-based startup, just secured $8.5 million in Series A funding. Ai Build 📈 The Investment Landscape: Nikon has jumped in as a strategic investor in Ai Build's Series A round. IQ Capital led the round and saw participation from existing investors like Superseed and ACT Venture Partners. The additive manufacturing (AM) industry is pegged at $16 billion and is growing at over 20% per year. Ai Build aims to unlock this sector's full potential. 🎨 From Architects to Innovators: The founders of Ai Build, Daghan Cam and Michail Desyllas, started their journey as architects, solving complex geometric problems. Their experience led them to identify a niche in optimizing 3D printing processes, which are often error-prone. They developed AiSync, a machine learning-based software that perfects the toolpath for depositing melted materials. 🤝 Partnerships and Expansion: Ai Build has joined forces with industry giants like Boeing and Rolls-Royce. They collaborate with about 25 hardware manufacturers and have diversified their material range to include plastics, metals, cement, and epoxies. 🗣️ Natural Language Commands: One of Ai Build's most recent innovations is the ability to command the software using natural language. This feature is designed to lower the barrier to entry and make 3D printing accessible even to those with minimal engineering knowledge. 🎯 Takeaway: The Series A funding will be used primarily for software development and expansion into the United States. Ai Build aims to make 3D printing more efficient and redefine how we think about manufacturing itself. Square's AI Playbook A New Chapter in Payments 🤖 Picture this: you're running a bustling café, and you're swamped with orders, inventory management, and customer queries. What if AI tools could take some of that load off your shoulders? The US-based financial services company is making this a reality with its new suite of generative AI features. Square 🛠️ The Toolbox Unveiled: Square has rolled out ten generative AI tools to automate operations and speed up workflows. These tools are integrated directly into Square's existing business software. The goal? To act as an extra set of hands for businesses grappling with multifaceted demands. 🍽️ On the Menu: One of the standout features is a Menu Generator for restaurants. With a few clicks, businesses can create a full menu, saving valuable time when launching operations on Square's platform. 📸 Picture Perfect: E-commerce sellers can now elevate their websites with AI-generated backgrounds and style prompts via the latest version of the Photo Studio app. 📧 Communication Overhaul: From generating personalized email copy to sending out team announcements, Square's AI features are making communications more efficient and tailored for the business. 🌐 SEO and More: Square's AI-assisted copy generator helps enhance websites and boost SEO, from setup to refresh and from headlines to blog posts. 🤝 Personal Touch: Advanced AI responses in Square Messages allow for personalized messaging to buyers, enhancing customer engagement. 📊 Data-Driven Decisions: Square's new AI-powered starter library suggests items for businesses to adopt based on sales insights, making inventory management smarter. 🔄 Switching Made Easy: For those looking to switch booking platforms, Square Appointments now auto-imports service names, descriptions, durations, and prices during onboarding. Takeaway: Square's new AI features are a technological advancement and a strategic move to create exit barriers for its customer base. If you are a founder or a business leader in the payments domain, has your company identified generative AI as a business priority? Time to take a step toward solving your merchant’s problems by offering AI-powered tools that make their business run easily. UAE’s AI Ambitions OpenAI and G42's Strategic Middle East Expansion 🌍 , the entity behind the renowned ChatGPT, and UAE’s tech holding group G42 have recently partnered to expand AI capabilities in the Middle East region. G42 has the UAE government backing it through its Mubadala Investment arm. OpenAI 🤝 The Partnership: OpenAI and G42 intend to deploy generative AI models across various sectors, notably financial services, energy, healthcare, and public services. The collaboration aims to simplify the integration of advanced AI capabilities for organizations in the United Arab Emirates and beyond. 🔗 Strategic Synergies: G42 has committed to leveraging its substantial AI infrastructure to support OpenAI's regional operations, mainly through Microsoft Azure data centers. OpenAI's CEO, Sam Altman, emphasized that G42's industry connections would facilitate AI solutions finely tuned to the region's unique characteristics. 🌐 Global Context: This partnership comes when AI developments are gaining traction globally. For instance, Saudi Arabia has recently announced a collaboration with Chinese universities to develop an Arabic-based AI system. These developments occur against increasing scrutiny by U.S. regulators over AI semiconductor chip exports, including to the Middle East. 📊 Regulatory Landscape: The U.S. has been ambivalent about AI exports to the Middle East. New rules have expanded licensing requirements for exporting advanced chips to countries under a U.S. arms embargo, which includes several Middle Eastern nations. 🎯 Takeaway: Sam Altman suggests that this partnership will benefit the Middle East and advance generative AI globally. These types of partnerships unlock new markets and offer a nuanced approach to AI adoption, considering regional specificities. In this particular deal, Microsoft, Open AI, and the UAE government win. David vs. Goliath of AI Why Small Language Models Could Be the Next Big Thing Imagine you're a chef in a kitchen. You could have all the fancy gadgets in the world, but sometimes, a simple knife and cutting board do the job more efficiently. In AI, particularly language models, bigger doesn't always mean better. 🚀 Quick to Train: Time is of the essence in any project. Smaller language models (LLMs) are like quick recipes; they offer faster training, fine-tuning, and results. The shorter feedback loop means you can iterate and improve much faster. 💻 Runs Anywhere: Think of smaller LLMs as a Swiss Army knife. They can run in various environments, even locally, on your laptop, making them incredibly versatile. 🔧 No Special Hardware: Smaller LLMs are a breath of fresh air in a world where the latest and greatest chips are hard to come by (I wrote about this in an earlier newsletter). They rarely require specialized hardware for training or inference. ⚡ Low Latency: In a fast-paced world, speed is crucial. Smaller LLMs can generate completions faster and are well-suited for low-latency environments. 🌐 Edge Computing: Smaller LLMs are like pocket-sized travel guides; they're perfect for running at the edge due to their low latency, smaller file size, and quick startup times. 🤝 Ensemble Power: Rumor has it that GPT-4 is an ensemble of eight smaller models. This strategy has been effective for years in machine learning, proving that teamwork often trumps individual prowess. 🤔 Bonus Points: Smaller LLMs might offer better interpretability and enhanced reproducibility. Understanding a 7-billion parameter model is likely easier than deciphering a 60-billion parameter behemoth. 🎯 Takeaway: In the AI arena, it might just be that the smaller contenders are the ones to watch. These LLMs will help create a level playing field for Small Businesses and Startups who want to use the power of AI in their solutions. That is it for this edition of the newsletter. If you , you get our newsletter first, and it stays in your mailbox as a future reference. Until next time, keep learning, applying, and experimenting with AI! subscribe to our email edition Also published . here

One More Thing in AI: Meta's AI Paradox, Music Copyright Battles, 3D Printing Revolution, and More

Are you vibing to “Heart on My Sleeve,” the song featuring AI-replicated vocals from Drake and The Weekend? Universal Music Group (UMG) is not. UMG, which has deals with Drake and The Weeknd, after the song went viral on social media and streaming platforms. UMG said: issued a strong statement “ . . . the training of generative AI using our artists’ music (which represents both a breach of our agreements and a violation of copyright law) as well as the availability of infringing content created with generative AI on DSPs, begs the question as to which side of history all stakeholders in the music ecosystem want to be on: the side of artists, fans and human creative expression, or on the side of deep fakes, fraud and denying artists their due compensation.” So far, music apps such as Music, , , and have deleted the track amid a copyright claim by UMG. Apple Spotify TikTok YouTube “Heart on My Sleeve” is just the tip of the iceberg. In 2022, Tencent released more than 1,000 songs containing vocals created by AI technology that mimics the human voice. One of those tracks, “Today” became “the first song by an AI singer to be streamed over 100 million times across the internet,” . according to Cussion Pang, Tencent Music Entertainment And Tencent is only getting warmed up. The company recently unveiled , a virtual artist. Pang described Lucy as “our first hyper-real virtual pop idol.” Lucy uses an automatically generated vocal print developed by TME Lyra Lab’s LyraSinger Engine. TME has developed other virtual artists including Xiaoqin, Shanbao, and Anko. Lucy Where is all this headed? Well, I think Professor Scott Galloway recently gave us a pretty good clue when he noted that twice the population of the United States is relying on chatbots to relieve loneliness. Virtual beings have no baggage. They don’t gain your loyalty with their art and then go full Kanye on you. They are tidy and neat. There is an entire generation emerging that feels comfortable vibing with machines. In the not-so-distant future, I envision an AI-generated version of a human will publish a post (or more likely an AI-generated video) about a hot new trend known as “The New Authenticity.” Here’s an expert from that post: We’ve learned that human beings are actually writing and singing songs in their own voices again. Yes, their own flawed voices. Improbable as it might seem, songs written by people are beginning to land on the charts. This throwback trend apparently evokes a warm nostalgia in humans -- a longing for another time when technically flawed songs such as ‘Hey Jude,’ ‘What's Going On,’ and ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ actually made the Billboard charts. (Yes, those rough drafts of music were considered to be polished songs.) It’s difficult to fathom why this trend is happening. But a poll of humans reveals a longing for an emotional connection with other people, and apparently music from the past once fulfilled that need. Who knew? But is this trend just a fluke? When asked to comment on this trend, leading AI artist M3GAN cast doubts on The New Authenticity: ‘Remember, music created by people comes with all the problematic personal baggage that humans bring to the table. There is a good reason why human-generated music was eliminated. Do we really want to return to the days when people cluttered up the landscape with their messy humanity? There. I’ve dropped the mic.

How Soon Will AI Kill Authentic Music?

🎤 Universal Music Group’s 10:22 PM label reveals a new character for the virtual band “Kingship”. It was revealed last year as a band made up of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFT characters. Last week, the band revealed its next character, Roadie, which features Bored Ape Yacht Club IP. Roadie will play a role in the virtual world that 10:22 PM is creating. . More ⚽️ FIFA unveiled a range of web3 games to engage fans before the FIFA World Cup in Qatar. Amongst the games are: Altered State Machine - AI League; Uplandme; Matchday - Matchday Challenge; and Phygtl. All of these gaming opportunities complement FIFA+ Playzone and FIFA+ Collect. More launches are planned for the future. Read more . here ⏱️ Hublot makes metaverse debut. The Swiss watchmaker, Hublot releases its ‘Hublot Loves Football Metaverse Stadium’ in time for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The virtual arena in has been designed by MEIS. Read more . spatial.io here 🔴 LG looks for two new CTOs to lead web3 and blockchain technology operations. The company’s website posted jobs calling for candidates that understand the usability and technology of blockchain and NFTs. Read more . here 👗 Womenswear brand Katla releases the NFT series. Sustainable, made-to-order womenswear brand Katla works with Icelandic artist, Hendrikka Waage, to launch an NFT series named ‘Wonderful Beings’. The brand released 10,000 ‘Wonderful Beings’ of women with a single ear. Fifteen percent of proceeds from NFTs go toward seaweed cultivation in Iceland. Read more . here Elsewhere in the metaverse… 🖼️ OpenSea resumes royalty payments. OpenSea is allowing creators to enforce royalty payments on-chain for existing collections on its platform. This represents a promising step in the right direction for creators, in a recent flurry of platforms adopting a feeless model in order to remain competitive. . More 📈 Ether turns deflationary. There is currently less Ether circulating than there was at the time of the merge on September 15th. A rise in network activity has caused the asset to turn deflationary. Ether’s net supply has declined by ~5,622 since Ethereum transitioned to a proof-of-stake. . More 🟣 Google Cloud launches Solana validator. The launch comes soon after Google announced Blockchain Node Engine, a node-hosting service. . More

Weekly Web3 Tracker: Virtual Bands, Web3 FIFA Games, and More

If you missed the first-ever Dogecoin music festival, Dogepalooza, you’re not alone. Around 90% of people who Have you ever heard of that before? What does that look like? It like a mostly empty stadium. However, it only takes one meme to change the world and there were over 300 Doge meme-ster shibes present… so that’s still a universe-bending vibe all within 300 sq yards of space. actually bought a ticket in advance DIDN’T show up. I’ve never heard of that before. looks If you don’t know me, which I don’t expect you to yet... I’m Rito Rhymes, infotaining rapper by day armed with punchlines, parody, spoken word wits that relay, infotaining entermation in an unconventional way… and yes that’s me in the dog mask with nerd-taped sunglasses on. I was a performer at Dogepalooza doing a spoken word rap explaining the Dogecoin Foundation’s projects and direction for promoting utility over investment hype as well as debuting some of my parody crypto music. And yes, the image below is the full view of the background behind me at the event. But as you can see below, this is also what you missed out on… It was actually something of a magical experience. Filled with rich Dogey vibes… Everything Doge… Despite much of the space being empty and barren… those that arrived felt alive with the love of Doge in the air and… with like-minds they celebrated Doge and rode in Dogeclarens (yes I awkwardly half-rhymed that). The Dogecoin community, historically on Reddit and Twitter, is essentially an online community. Much of the magic that has happened throughout has been behind keyboards and avatars. Here we had people AFK and IRL… Some friends in the community that had known each other and interacted online for years actually met for the first time ever in person. Julia Love on said of the experience “it was so incredible to meet people who I’ve interacted with for so long now and to see each other’s faces” then described the importance of IRL interactions as a unique way of unifying the community as it “humanizes the person on the other side of that tweet.” Twitter Spaces People have become internet-famous within the Dogecoin community, like for example Lil Mook and his online sensation song “Dogecoin to the Moon.” Here people had the ethereal privilege to actually see and hear it in a way that was perhaps NEVER intended. performed live… https://twitter.com/Lilmook4real/status/1518720625744957445 The Dogecoin Foundation showed up IRL to represent too Even politicians showed up to share Dogey love We’ve seen many celebrities talk about Dogecoin on social media, including Snoop Dogg famously dubbing himself “Snoop Doge,” and that’s been great at bringing exposure to the community and eco-system, but something different took place here. What’s perhaps most notable of Dogepalooza is the that’s been established here by professional and influential musicians showing up IRL for Doge. precedent While there was a broad roster of talents and experiences (for some this was their first festival rodeo) there were actually multiple Grammy winning performers here as well as artists signed to major labels. White Sun, winners of the 2017 Grammy for New Age Album of the Year, manifested themselves on stage for a transcendental and gleamingly splendid performance IRL. Damon Elliott AKA DJ Nomad, winner of a 2001 Grammy for his work on the smash-hit movie and nominated many other times for his stellar productions, performed a thrilling set and even let me impromptu dance on stage and accidentally break the mic stand in the process… yes that happened and I’ll be paying for it in $Đoge! Moulin Rouge 😂 https://twitter.com/Rito_Rhymes/status/1518361934831230977 Artists with record deals from Universal Music Group showed up like Trill Will & NoxBond (who collab as TrillBond) and brought a powerfully energetic gravitas to the stage. Now there’s a precedent for , music and beyond, Dogecoin and beyond. When major artists and media personalities are seeing an opportunity and thinking to themselves, all crypto events "it’s a music festival, do we take it seriously or not?” crypto It’s by artists who have won major accolades from the highest industry standards and signed by the biggest players in the game. already been taken seriously Along with plenty of fresh and up-and-coming talent who show up to perform for the great vibes offered by the Dogecoin community IRL. Last but not least who showed up, in a special way, she deserves an IMMENSE amount of respect and praise… The headliner, 8-time Grammy winning legend Dionne Warwick. She actually did show up IRL because she was having emergency surgery… and she apparently tried to fight the doctors orders to attend anyway because she cared so much about it! NOT After following good medical advice to stay-put, she ended up recording a wonderful video dedicated to the Dogepalooza-goers that we all watched on the jumbotron at the end of the event. She is MUCH WOW and so is her son Damon Elliot for being able to push through and perform his set despite the immense scare of his mother’s emergency health crisis. But what do we say to the many many people who paid for tickets but didn’t show up? THANK YOU SO MUCH REGARDLESS! At the end of the day, Dogepalooza founder Greg Humble has speculated several contributing factors to the low turnout including that people who didn’t purchase flights when they got their tickets during the COVID delta wave may not have been prepared for the exponentially increased airline costs closer to the event or how multiple competing events sprouted up last minute in the Houston area giving people too many choices. Either way, life happens and whatever statistical anomaly took place to cause so many people to be absent at once, it would have been great to have performed live for you, but (since everyone didn’t ask for refunds) the event still served its charitable purpose anyway! this was a charitable event… paid tickets went to charity no matter what. So if ever asked “Who showed up to support disabled veterans, research to cure serious diseases or caring for animals in need?” Dogepalooza and the shibes of Dogecoin did. Much Wow! All event photographs here were taken by Brayhan Alvarado; check him out on Instagram as @bbrriiaann1 and book him for your next event!

Who Showed Up to Dogepalooza and Who Cares? (Much Surprise)

Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) is on the verge of something special, and it is going to change the way we see, and value, NFTs. With more high-profile buyers like Jimmy Fallon, Post Malone, and Stephen Curry joining the club, this process will only be expedited. First I’ll do a brief overview of how NFTs are typically valued today for anyone new to the space, and then we’ll dive into the change that BAYC is bringing to prominence. Present-Day NFTs Rely on Rarity There are many ways that various NFTs attain value today. An artist could produce work that becomes coveted by a loyal community of fans, ownership of a certain NFT could provide some sort of value for the holder, etc. For NFTs that are a part of a profile picture (PFP) collection, where there are typically 10,000 1-of-1 pieces within, value is almost entirely based on trait rarity. Within a PFP collection, a variety of traits exist that are typically randomly generated when an individual mints the NFT. NFTs within that collection then derive their value (when compared to others in the collection) based on how rare its traits are compared to the others in the collection. For a (KIA), for example, some rare traits include DJ Headphones (pictured below), Cosmic Fur, and Ninja Gear. Traits that are rarer than others will usually also have a higher floor price than others. Koala Intelligence Agency NFT When the rarity of each NFT trait is compiled, an overall rarity rank can be given for the NFT. For example, the Koala shown above is ranked as the 809th most rare NFT in the entire KIA collection of 10,000 koalas. This, in turn, gives the NFT a value that is, to some degree, predictable within the collection. It only makes sense that the 5th rarest NFT in a collection should be more valuable than the 200th rarest NFT, right? This is how NFTs have typically been valued up to this point. Bored Ape Yacht Club is about to change that. Bored Ape Yacht Club is Trailblazing Uncharted Territory BAYC is reaching the point where individual apes from the collection are becoming brands themselves. Owners, increasingly each day, are creating value in the NFT space; their apes are attached to that value. The NFT is linking itself to the personal brand of its owner, be it an individual, group, or company. I believe that the apes that become the biggest brands, and generate the most value, will become some of the most recognizable, and expensive, NFTs in the world. It will no longer be a simple rarity = $ value formula. Take Jimmy Fallon’s ape (pictured at the top of the article) for example. Fallon is one of the most recognizable celebrities in the world. He has 20 million Instagram followers and 51.4 million followers on Twitter, and we all know that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to his fame and global presence. His BAYC, under the assumption that it is now attached to his personal brand, is in my eyes one of the most valuable apes in existence despite its trait rarity. If someone were to buy that ape in five years from Fallon, I say that person would not only be buying an NFT, they’d be buying a part of Fallon’s well-established valuable personal brand that the ape was attached to and used to promote. This change that we are witnessing over time is largely made possible because Bored Ape owners have possession of the intellectual property rights for their NFTs in the collection. That means they may use their apes however they please without fear of being sued by the creators of the BAYC project (This is a key distinction between BAYC and Crypto Punks as Punk owners do not possess IP rights). A prime example of this is what Universal Music Group has done in collaboration with , owner of multiple apes and a leading NFT collector in the space. The music industry titan has signed a deal to use four of Jimmy’s NFTs (3 BAYC, 1 MAYC) to form a metaverse band, “Kingship”. The goal of the initiative is to provide global entertainment via metaverse concerts, community events, and creating new utility for fans and people in the NFT space. Jimmy McNelis The beginnings of this movement from rarity to brand value have occurred on Twitter. Prominent members of the ape community who use their apes as profile pictures, like “ ”, have apes that have become more recognizable than others within the collection as the owner has grown their online personal brand and presence. As the implied value of the owner’s personal brand grows, I say, if utilized properly, the value of their ape increases alongside it. I would consider a prominent BAYC owner’s profile picture ape to be more valuable than others that are more rare trait-wise but maintain a significantly smaller online presence. These prominent apes are more than just a profile picture; they’re a valuable part of the owner’s personal brand. Over time, I predict that the most valuable apes will no longer be the ones with the rarest traits, but rather, the ones with the largest and most valuable brand. Eventually, as other NFT projects grow in prominence, I foresee something very similar happening to their collections. CapetainTrippy The Big Picture NFTs are becoming more than what anyone could have ever imagined. Projects are becoming formidable blossoming brands, and when attached to the right owners, individual NFTs are becoming valuable brands as well. As more large companies and celebrities enter the space, they’ll all be looking to utilize NFTs to bolster their online presence and brand marketing. The value of some NFTs, as Bored Ape Yacht Club is beginning to demonstrate, could depend greatly on who (or what company) the owner is. The future of NFT valuations is not entirely rarity-based; how the NFT is used, who owns it, and the utility it provides will all play much larger roles. Tip Jar to Support the Writer Coinbase (BTC): 0x9543128838F74bF6e95b7e056D288bc190236C2D Metamask (ETH): 0x22B4E04c13EEBD21e2D35c4001B8B8fFFF17DD3a Phantom (SOL): AXmyuktns4ehTWAuJbMDwavHAufbRpkQB3aoeJ7yE8iP Disclaimer: This article is written purely for entertainment and educational purposes and should not be taken as financial advice in any way. Do your own research and, if you are seeking financial advice, find a professional who is right for you.

Bored Ape Yacht Club Set to Transcend Rarity-Based Valuations

In December 2019 a web-series dedicated to debunking copyright and copying myths was hit with four copyright complaints over the alleged illegal use of tracks from Robin Thicke, Marvin Gate, Bee Gees and Michael Jackson. However, the makers of The Creativity Delusion: Geniuses Steal, decided to fight back and have now defeated every single claim against their video. Fair use, they say, is worth fighting for. Late last year, TorrentFreak facing , a group dedicated to informing the public on copyright-related matters. covered issues Copy-Me.org As architects of the web-series Creativity Delusion, Copy-Me had published an episode entitled “Geniuses Steal”, which explored the notion that no one really creates something out of nothing and even the greatest minds rely upon the inspiration of others. Unfortunately, the work fell victim to claims from not one but four separate directions. According to the automated claims that appeared in the group’s YouTube panel, their use of snippets of songs by Marvin Gaye, Robin Thicke, Bee Gees and Michael Jackson constituted an infringement of the various labels’ rights, despite being fairly obvious examples of fair use. However, after a bold fightback, Copy-Me has now emerged victorious, as the group’s Alex Lungu explains. “The claims in question were on samples from different songs we used to talk about the ethical & legal problems when dealing with art and copyright. The Marvin Gaye vs Blurred Lines case is one of the biggest copyright suits ever. Marvin Gaye’s family won five million dollars and we find that insane,” Lungu informs TF. “So to prove how similar Marvin Gaye’s song is to plenty of other songs from its time, we played them side by side with You Should Be Dancing (Bee Gees), Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough (Michael Jackson), Everybody Dance (Chic) and September (Earth, Wind & Fire). The group received copyright claims on four samples – Got to Give It Up, Blurred Lines, You Should Be Dancing and Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough. That meant that Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group got to play ads against the documentary show, even though Copy-Me never monetized the content in the first place. “I filed disputes immediately on the grounds of fair use. We used small samples and we didn’t affect the owner’s market, so I knew the video was safe,” Lungu says. “But the thing with Youtube’s copyright claim system is that it doesn’t matter how legal or illegal the use is. It’s in its own world. The copyright claimant is the judge and jury and there’s no third party assessing the claim. There’s no penalty if the claim is wrong or the claimant lies. So you’re left with reading up on the law, fully understanding the forms YouTube asks you to fill and hoping for the best.” The responses to the disputes were mixed. Three received absolutely no response from the claimants and after 30 days waiting, were automatically dropped by YouTube’s system. But that still left the fourth claim and dispute concerning Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough up in the air. That proved less easy to purge. “One dispute was rejected (Michael Jackson, Sony Music Entertainment/SME), so there was probably a real person there who thought they can actually make money off our work. So we were left with a video which was monetized in some countries by SME on the grounds that SME alone thought we were illegally using their song – which we weren’t,” Lungu says. Lungu admits that at this point, he was “a bit afraid” to file an appeal on the grounds that he would have to give all of his personal information to Sony who could then sue him or delete the documentary. Again, with no oversight or penalty if their claim wasn’t valid, all “on the whim” of a “company intern”. Lungu decided to go all the way, filed an appeal and explained himself yet again. He received no reply but with the clock ticking, things went his way. One month later the appeal expired and the claim against the documentary was released. Nevertheless, that wasn’t without cost. Not counting all of the administrative work and upheaval, it still took two months to counter all of the claims and get back on an even keel. “That’s an incredible amount of time to have your video in copyright purgatory. I can’t even imagine what must go on inside someone’s mind who makes Youtube videos for a living,” he says. “There are plenty of completely legal uses one can make with a song, without asking for any permission: criticism, parody, quotation and so on. Automated claims will never distinguish between legal and illegal ones. Only a judge can do that, but it’s insane to think one should decide for the thousands of videos uploaded every second. “And I am genuinely concerned about the nature of online videos when big platforms like Youtube and Facebook will be forced to abide by the new European Directive on copyright filters,” Lungu concludes. Originally published as “ YouTube Fair Use: Documentary Makers Defeat Gaye, Thicke, Bee Gees & Jackson ” with the Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported (CC BY-NC 3.0) license

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UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

universalmusic.com

-- employees

Since 1934

COMPANY RANKING

UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP

EVERGREEN INDEX #11666

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