Has Music Copyright Gone Too Far?

November 14, 2019
MusicMusic Copyright

Lately in the past few years there has been a noticeable marked increase in the number of disputes in the music industry which have led to court action in the music industry. Often it can be a he said , she said situation. However it is up to the courts to decide if there is indeed a copyright infringement.

Why Music Copyright Is Important

Music copyright is very important because artists in the music depend on their song being played or streamed to earn royalties from this that go towards their overall pay.

If someone breaks copyright and does not link the song back to the artist or their record label then they are missing out on revenue which they are legally due. Using music without permission is infringing copyright and can lead to a number of issues for both parties overall. One of the most common places where music copyright is detected is on video sharing platform Youtube.

High Profile Cases

As well as copyright infringement relating to the unauthorised use of a song or its lyrics , in addition to this there have been a number of high profile cases in which artists have taken each other to court due to a song being copied or similar to the point it is hard to differentiate the two. One of the highest profile cases has been Katy Perry v Christian Rapper Flame. In this case Katy perry lost and was ordered to pay over 2 million pounds due to the findings of the case.

This case highlights well the issues surrounding the world of music copyright. However despite this case the world of music copyright is still very uncertain and unexplored due to the lack of cases such as this. In this instance it was deemed that the musical melodies were almost identical and that it had effectively been copied by Katy Perry as the other parties song had come out before she released hers.

Is Music Copyright Becoming Too Restrictive?

Some people in the industry and outside of it have argued that music copyright might be becoming too restrictive overall. This is because in theory a child could play a piece on piano and upload it to Youtube without the knowledge they need the licensing for the tune they played as someone may have already produced this music elsewhere in the world.

This could lead to the video being taken down and demonitzied. Furthermore, many songs can be played on the radio and then recorded on a device such as a mobile phone.

There then is a grey area as to whether this would effectively be breaking copyright law. At the moment it seems copyright law predominantly affects larger artists , individuals or organisations. However we could see the law tighten in the future.

Overall Conclusions

In conclusion clearly copyright law within the music industry is still being developed and remains an important issue which concerns artists from around the world. There needs to be an overhaul of the industry to determine how a balance can be struck between fair use and unfair prosecutions.

A Helpful Guide To The Folding Trolley Cart

Folding trolley cart
November 13, 2019
EventsFolding trolley cartIndustry

The folding trolley cart is a piece of equipment which is increasingly being seen within industrial as well as non industrial environments. One of the main reasons for its popularity is its unique design as well as lightweight and portable frame.

In this guide we will look at what the folding trolley cart is capable of and why it is becoming popular with events companies and is in use at many concerts.

Folding trolley cart

What Is The Folding Trolley Cart?

The folding trolley cart is a piece of equipment which is commonly used in in a range of different industries. One of the main industries which is heavy industry. One of the main reasons that it is used in these kind of environments is its overall mobility and size. Due to its compact size as well as portability the folding trolley cart makes an excellent addition to most industrial and non industrial environments.

The main purpose of the trolley cart is to transport items quickly and efficiently. Its unique feature is that it can be folded up when out of use to allow for great storage as well as mobility options.

What Makes It So Popular?

  • The folding trolley cart can be used in a range of different environments easily thanks to its compact and lightweight construction
  • Only requires one person to operate it
  • Is affordable and cost effective for most organisations
  • Can be used to transport heavy loads distances without taking up much space overall
  • Can be used with little training required
Folding trolley cart

How Has It Affected The Events Industry?

The trolley cart has overall had a very positive effect on the events industry as a whole. One of the main reasons it has been so effective if its overall affordability as well as effectiveness. At Reading and Leeds festivals each year folding trolleys are a common site across the sites of both festivals. Normally they can be used to transport heavy items and supplies across the site quickly and effectively.

One major advantage that this form of equipment has over other pieces of equipment is that it can be transported and stored with ease due to its overall size. Whereas a forklift truck for example requires a significantly larger amount of storage space as well as overall space to move around and operate in. Forklifts are restricted in this sense as they could lead to a significant accident.

Overall within the events industry this form of trolley has helped many events companies as well as production crews to overall speed up and improve their performance as a whole.

Folding trolley cart

Conclusion

To conclude it is clear that the folding trolley cart makes a great addition as a piece of equipment overall for any business handling storage and moving items. It provides an excellent cost effective alternative to larger bulkier pieces of equipment overall.

There are some limitations to the trolley cart such as its weight capacity and also it cannot provide the same levels of speed as a machine driven form of equipment such as a forklift. However overall the folding trolley cart makes an excellent all round piece of equipment for a range of different tasks.

Ticket Regulation At Gigs/Festival Guide

June 18, 2019
Music

Tickets and gigs come hand in hand. However the rise of ticket selling sites such as viagogo as well as others have lead to much debate in the music industry as to what is acceptable practice for ticket selling and what is not. Some have argued that regardless of who sells the tickets some will always go for very high amounts due to demand for remaining tickets. In this article we will look at the effect Via go go has had as well as tips for what to bring to a festival.

Viagogo

Viagogo is a well known ticket selling site which is currently facing legal action from several different companies and people due to its business practices. One of the reasons people are up in arms against this website is the prices it has charged for tickets. In some instances for popular events the site asked for double or triple the organisers asking price when there were tickets available for less. Furthermore another aspect of the site that many dislike is Viagogo has several programmes running on the site where pop ups will appear encouraging you to buy now or that the tickets may sell out soon. This was not always accurate and was a ploy from the company to try and increase ticket sales overall on their website.

One of the artists that chose to stand up to this company was Ed Sheeran , Ed decided that he’d had enough of his fans paying over and above what they should be paying for his gigs. As a result many fans across the UK that had tickets to show were refused entry unless they payed a flat fee of around £50 and were assured they would be refunded for their original ticket. This was met with many mixed reactions. Many were dismayed that their tickets would not grant them entry however understood why this was the case and paid the fee. Viagogo were quick to defend themselves in this situation. However their reputation has never been the same since.

Festival Guide

Festivals are held across most of the year in the UK and always require planning ahead in order to get tickets and to plan how to get to the festival itself. A good tip prior to the festival is to plan your journey by checking the festival’s website as well as local public transport connections before heading off. Another important thing to consider is bringing food and drink for the journey down as food and drink at festivals can be very expensive and normally priced above average. Another important tip for visiting festivals is to bring appropriate clothing. E.g if its during winter bringing scarves gloves and jackets to ensure you are warm while the festival is on.

All You Need To Know About The Impact Of The Pallet Lifter

pallet lifter
June 18, 2019
BlogMusic

The festival industry is well known for large events such as Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds with millions from across the UK making the trip every year. However a lesser known fact is that there is an army of production staff and event staff working extremely hard to ensure the event is successful. Part of the reason for this is their use of the pallet lifter which we will look at further.

pallet lifter

What Is The Pallet Lifter?

The pallet lifter is a tool which is regularly used by production teams to move heavy goods and equipment across different festival sites. Normally they are used within warehouse environments but can also be used outside them. Pallet lifters can be used to lift goods which would normally require several people to lift. A Pallet lifter is normally operated by just one person and are simple to use and manoeuvre supplies/equipment. They are normally used to transport heavy goods short distances.

Why Is It Used At Festivals?

There are a number of different reasons as to why pallet lifters are used at festivals. One of the main reasons is it frees up more staff to do other roles. Another reason why it is used at festivals is it is lightweight and mobile allowing for equipment to be moved quickly and effectively to where it is needed. This sort of equipment is essential at festivals as there is often a quick turnover after each artist performs and their equipment is moved on and off stage and into their vehicles. They are also cost effective which allows for several to be used at one event.

Advantages Of The Pallet Lifter

  • Can be used to navigate small narrow areas with ease thanks to its compact design
  • Can lift in some cases over a tonne of goods or equipment that needs moved
  • Requires very little training to operate and only requires one operator
  • Compared to its alternatives it is fairly affordable for most events companies
  • requires very little maintenance

Alternatives To The Pallet Lifter

As well as the Pallet Lifter there are a number of alternative forms of equipment which can be used in a festival environment in order to move goods and ensure that the festival runs effectively. One of the most popular alternatives to the pallet lifter is the forklift truck. The forklift truck has a number of different unique capabilities and traits that set it apart.

  • Can lift weights over 3 tonnes
  • Requires one operator
  • Requires a driver that has sat a training course and holds a certificate allowing them to operate the forklift
  • The forklift is much larger than the pallet lifter and costs significantly more to purchase
  • The forklift typically requires regular maintenance in order remain in working order

Conclusions

Overall there are a number of different conclusions which can be drawn. The pallet lifter is one of the most affordable and efficient ways in which workers at festivals can carry out their roles moving supplies etc. To conclude pallet lifters are an excellent tool which can be utilised well at events and large festivals.

The Changing Face Of Music

May 25, 2019
MusicMusic Marketing

Music and the overall music industry has come a long way since the 90s. Technology as well as social media and society has changed fundamentally and now music is more accessible than ever. However this has taken its toll on artists as well as record labels as with the growth of technology there has also been a growth in pirated music which had been downloaded for free illegally.

The Rise Of The Mobile Phone

Mobile phones were around in the early 90s. However they were large and cumbersome and did not have anywhere near the capabilities of the phones we now have in 2019. Mobile phones now are almost like mini computers they can access the internet , play music , take videos and photos. From the early 2000s onwards mobile phones grew in popularity as they became more and more widespread as well as more affordable for the general population. Whilst the mobile phone was growing in popularity tech company apple recognised this and created itunes. Itunes is a digital music platform where you can buy music and then own a song. previously this could only be done by purchasing a cd or tape recording. This fundamentally changed the way in which music is distributed and produced and we will take about this later in the article.

Music Piracy

As well as adapting to the rise of the mobile phone music producers and record labels had another more pressing issue that they have to deal with- music piracy. Piracy of music is a contencious subject matter. One of the biggest sites to begin “pirating” music was site known as Napster. Through this website people could share and upload songs anonymously through files. Eventually napster was taken down after legal action and objections from many in the music industry arguing that it was setting a precedent for pirated music.

In the wake of napster there were several other sites that appeared despite high profile court cases and artists speaking out against them. One of the most infamous ones was Pirate Bay. Pirate bay was a site that hosted free music as well as movies and games. What was difficult about preventing sites such as pirate bay from doing this is that there wasn’t really legislation that covered what they were doing. This led to years of court cases before pirate bay was taken offline. However even then duplicate sites began appearing across the internet as soon as the original site had been shut down.

Streaming Services

Streaming services are another part of the music industry that has seen an astronomical rise in demand as well as usage. One of the problems artists face as a result of this is they only receive a very small part of the royalties from streaming platforms. Sometimes as little as a penny a stream. However the catch is that if they do not use a large streaming platform such as spotify then they lose a large potential audience who may become a fan and buy their music or go to their gigs in future.

Mobility Aids UK At Festivals

mobility aids UK
May 24, 2019
Music

One of the latest features across the festival scene in the UK has been the appearance of mobility aids UK. Mobility aids are an aid for people who struggle to walk unassisted or are disabled. So far their appearance at several festivals has gone down very well and people have been supportive of the venture. Through this article we will explore what mobility aids UK are and also analyse their overall effectiveness at events. In addition to this we will look at other schemes or events festival organisers can run to benefit the wider festival community.

mobility aids UK

Disabled Access At Festivals

Disabled access at festivals is a very important issue although sometimes unfortunately some organisers may overlook it slightly. This can result in a lack of seating for disabled festival goers , lack of viewing areas and lack of overall support. However having said this the industry is becoming much more sympathetic and understanding of peoples needs and requirements and increasing numbers of festivals are going over and above to ensure that everyone can enjoy the festival. UK mobility aids is one way in which attitudes and routines are being changed at festivals. Many festivals now have UK mobility aids on standby that people can use if necessary to suit their needs or requirements.

Community Incentives At Festivals

As the use of mobility aids UK continues , there are a number of other schemes festival organisers could consider in order to benefit the wider festival community. One such scheme that could be introduced is CPR and first aid training for this attending the festival. This could be done at a stall or tent in the festival grounds. One of the major benefits from this is that lifesaving skills would be passed and could lead to someone being saved at the festival. In Addition to this the festival organisers would gain excellent positive publicity from getting involved in this kind of scheme.

mobility aids UK

Challenges Facing Mobility Scooter Users

Although the use of mobility aids UK is being phased in across the country , there are still a number of fundamental challenges that mobility scooter users face when attending festivals. One of the main ones is making their way through crowds. One way in which this problem could be tackled is by having designated routes where wheelchair users and mobility scooters can travel without having to push through crowds. A third problem facing mobility scooter users is storage of their scooter as well as potential for damage at the festival. Thankful due to the mobility scooters UK incentive festival goers do not have to worry about these issues as the scooters are provided with safe secure parking and scooters can be used at the event free of charge.

mobility aids UK

Overall Conclusions

To summarise there are a number of different positive incentives that are being implemented by festival organisers in order to ensure that festivals are accessible to everyone. Mobility scooters UK have greatly assisted with this effort. At present the UK festival scene is much more accommodating of people with disabilities than it has been in the past years.

How Musicians Build Their Brand With Logo Designers

logo designers
April 5, 2019
EntertainmentMusicMusic Marketing

Every successful musician has a ‘brand’. This about Madonna, she ‘re-brands’ every decade to keep people interested. Within her re-brand she changes her hair, her style and even her sound. Madonna isn’t the only musician to do this, Britney, Beyonce, Queen and David Bowie were all known to reinvent themselves to keep their listeners interested. Branding includes how you look, how your perform and how you sounds. Many musicians use artists and logo designers to design their ‘brand logo’ and album cover.

What Is A Brand

Lets first begin with asking what a brand is and how it relates to musicians. A brand can be a logo, tagline, designs, name tone of voice amongst many other features. A brand is a visual representation of a companies personality.

Start With Why

Start With Why is a bestselling book written by Simon Sinek in 2009 – it implies that a company or brand should communicate why they do what they do – the reason behind their business, or in this case a musician or band. It is really important to be unique and different in the music industry in order to stand out from the very competitive and overcrowded market. Once you have found your why you then need to communicate it on stage, what you wear, how you perform, the art in your album and also how you use social media.

How To Create Your Own Visual Identity

The first thing to begin with is your genre of music. You can be creative with your sound within your genre. Another thing you can get really creative with is your style and look. Freddie Mercury was one who was very experimental and fun with his styles and clothing choices -which is what made him so recognisable and successful.

Is Streaming Services Killing The Radio? Apparently Not.

April 5, 2019
EntertainmentMusicMusic Marketing

When streaming services like Spotify were born it disrupted the music industry dramatically. The service went hand in hand with smartphones so people could listen to music anytime anywhere. It meant that stores selling records, such as HMV were losing on sales as people didn’t need physical records.

With streaming services, people can also link up their phone to their car or office so they didn’t need to listen to the radio. So there is a lot of speculation if the long existing radio would die off? According to experts, apparently not. Here’s why.

Radio Content Is Exploding

We consume things differently now, so radio is having to think of innovative ways for consumers to listen in. Radio 1, for example allows listeners to stream on the internet and now have a YouTube channel. Radio 1 are also very prominent on all social media channel, engaging with their audience in all corners of the internet.

Another thing that radio are doing to ensure they retain is listeners is with their presenters. Using celebrities who already have a fan base is a great way to adapt to the new consumption habits consumers have.

Radio Advertising

Radio advertising budgets are starting to decline year on year. With consumers preferring streaming services that have no ads which interrupt their listening. Marketers have also realised that radio marketing doesn’t work so radio stations are finding other ways to raise funds.

The Charts

Gone are the days of top of the pops. The charts are measured very different nowadays. Rather that going by sales, number one is rewarded to the musician who has the most streams and sales put together. Radio 1 also changed their chart show from a Sunday to a Friday in 2015 to tie in with the new global music release date.

Reasons for Buying Golf Buggies in Scotland

April 3, 2019
BlogEntertainmentMusicVehicles

Golf buggies in Scotland have a huge market. Scotland has an abundance of countryside, as well as golf courses and a whole manner of outdoor areas that could benefit from the use of a golf buggy, including movie and music video sets.

Reasons That You May Opt for Buying Golf Buggies in Scotland

Golf buggies in Scotland are no longer just for on the golf course, there are many reasons that you choose to get a golf buggy. This is due to them being so versatile, with the ability to be used for a lot of different reasons. These are just some of the many reasons that so many people opt to buy a golf buggy.

Cruise for Less

Gold buggies in Scotland give you far more mobility for less, not only are they cheaper than other vehicles upfront, they are also cheaper to run as they require less fuel and still get decent mileage. You can also get battery powered and even solar powered golf buggies in Scotland, making them even more cost effective.

Make Great Work Vehicles

Golf buggies in Scotland can make excellent work vehicles as they can be used on a number of different types of terrain. Golf buggies are often used in the film and entertainment industry to get from one side of the set to another, they can also be used for a number of different music industries, including;

  • Stables and equestrian centres
  • Campgrounds
  • Parks
  • Schools and colleges
  • Country clubs
  • Retirement communities
  • Landscapers
  • Hospitals
  • Military bases
  • Hotels
  • And, of course, golf courses

Adventure Vehicles

Although golf buggies in Scotland can be used off road, they aren’t designed for it. With a few alterations, however, they can make excellent off road vehicles that are perfect for adventures. New tyres, a lift kit and any additional features that you can think of have the potential to be added and transform a regular golf buggy into the ultimate off road vehicle.

You Own a Large Property

If you own a large property with a lot of land in Scotland, then gold buggies could benefit you. Whether you need to move objects or materials from one side of your property or another or you just want to make getting around a little easier, you should consider investing in golf buggies in Scotland.

Affordable

Even if the price of golf buggies in Scotland is too much for you to pay for upfront, there are multiple companies that offer payment plans to help you split the payment and help make a golf buggy a lot more affordable.

Reasons That Your Music Marketing Might Not Be Working

April 3, 2019
BlogEntertainmentMusicMusic Marketing

If you are just getting started out in the music industry or have been at it for ages with nothing doing well for you so far, then you may be in need of some tips in music marketing. Here are some of the reasons that your music marketing strategy may not be working.

You’re Only Using Social Media

Social media has many benefits, especially in the music industry. This doesn’t mean that should be your only form of advertising your music. Social media allows you to interact with fans on a more personal level, strengthening the bond and trust that your followers have with you. It’s also a great chance to promote new music to a very specific audience.

The let down with social media is that it’s not always the best platform to use for getting new people interested in your music and brand. Many people will ignore social media ads altogether and keep scrolling and whilst there is a chance of a post going viral and helping you gain exposure, it’s a pretty slim chance at that. Even great content can sometimes go unnoticed.

You should brand out a little more and get in contact with some traditional sources of advertising to find out what you can make work with your budget and remember, every little helps.

Another important note to take away from this is that not all communication should be done through social media. If you are getting in contact with business associates, labels, promoters or journalists, then contacting them through either call or email is far more professional. You also need to take into consideration that their inboxes on social media will likely already be flooded with wannabe musicians, so your message may be overlooked in the sea of spam.

You’re Ignoring Outsiders and Freelancers

Of course, everyone wants to get that feature article with a major music publication, however, this may not always be achievable. Even if you have a large number of followers it still might not be enough to secure that spot.

It’s essential to aim high but in the music industry especially, you need to build stepping stones in order to get where you want to be. In this industry nothing is handed to you, so if you see an opportunity, even if it’s not as glamourous as you’d hoped, take it.

Reaching out to smaller bloggers and publications is a great way to get your name out there. These bloggers will usually focus on a niche type of music, which means that their followers may all be a part of your target audience if you choose the right bloggers. These blogs may have a smaller reach but they have a far more targeted audience, which could end up meaning that more people take an interest in what you have to offer.

You Are Paying for Fake Followers, Likes and Views

It is easy to lie online, everyone knows that by now. Whether it’s fake news or fake views, there can be a lot of deception out there. Avoid websites that claim to be able to increase your followers drastically in a short space of time. These will most likely be fake accounts, which isn’t going to do anything for your brand.

Many record labels will expect artists to have a real following of fans and they are experts at weeding out the fake accounts. But let’s be honest, that’s not that difficult to spot if the account has hundreds of thousands of followers but posts are only getting 10 likes and a couple of comments.  You risk tarnishing your name as a professional before you’ve even started out and it looks incredibly desperate.