Bypass: Music Industry News for Independent Artists

Monday edition - 2 min read

Tidal’s $1M Contest For Indies

What’s Up

Tidal, the king of “actually paying artists,” are running a $1M contest where 10 people walk away with $100K each. All you need to do is be a U.S. artist (18+) and upload one track directly to Tidal. What, were you expecting them to ask for a kidney too?

So What

Upload Headliners is pretty straightforward. Even if you don’t win, you get to upload up to 200 tracks, no fees. Their Weekly Spotlight even gives you $100 a day if editors put you in a playlist. You only get this through Cash App though, and honestly, we don’t know why. Guess it’s just Tidal being Tidal.

Now What

There is no reason not to upload. Worst case: you get your songs streamed on another platform for free. Best case: you get $100K and start pretending you always believed in manifestation. The deadline is December 31, so go to tidal.com and upload your track.

[Full Story at MusicAlly]

Catalog – Sync Without the Waiting Room

What’s Up

We got a new sync platform on the block called Catalog, and they brought some heavy friends: Domino, Ninja Tune, Warp. Their whole thing is getting your music into film, TV, ads, fashion.

So What

Let’s face it. Normal sync licensing takes too long, just to maybe get $12 at the end of the process. You could end up on those stock sites where everything sounds like “Inspirational Corporate Ukulele.wav.”

Catalog decided that enough is enough. If you get licensed, you get real market rates and they make sure you get that in no time.

Now What

Apply at catalog.ac. If your sound works in sync, it is worth a shot. Hermès swapped out a fashion show track in one day. One. Day. Usually you need weeks and a miracle.

[Full story at Hypebot]

Contract Traps Are Real

What's Up

NewJeans (yes, that NewJeans) tried to leave their label after the CEO got fired. They even announced a whole rebrand as “NJZ,” and basically said “so long, farewell.” The Seoul court looked at the contract, looked back, and said “absolutely not.” Contract stays. Back to work, kids.

So What

They had millions of fans backing them, legit complaints, the whole internet screaming justice, and guess what… none of that mattered. The contract was bulletproof. NewJeans’s team compared it to forcing bullied students back into school and the court just shrugged.

Point is: once you sign, you are theirs until the paperwork lets you out.

Now What

Please get a real lawyer before signing anything. Or just don’t sign anything at all. It’s hard to make it as an indie but being one certainly beats being trapped in a contract you don’t like. If NewJeans could not walk away with the entire planet watching, you definitely can’t either. Do yourself a favor: protect yourself.

[Full story at Music Business Worldwide]