Record labels and recording artists have undergone significant changes in the way they are paid for their recordings over the past 19 years. Napster started

the revolution, followed by iTunes, Pandora and Spotify. Since 2000, have recording revenues increased? If not, what would you identify as the hindrance? If

revenues have increased, would you say the recording industry has truly recovered? Find articles that discuss the changing nature of the record business from

selling physical product to selling streams.

Quincy Jones, who produced many of Michael Jackson’s greatest hits sued the estate for unpaid royalties. See if you can find an article or two that discuss

this lawsuit. What was Quincy Jones’ main claim in the lawsuit?
Many beginning producers may offer an artist a “spec” deal (spec is short for speculation). See if you can find an example of a spec deal online. There are

many types of spec deals and the terms can vary greatly.
Visit the SoundExchange website. Do they provide any method for a producer to be paid from the artist’s royalties? What is the purpose of the Music

Modernization Act (MMA) that was recently passed by Congress in 2018? How will it affect producers?
Record labels have rebranded themselves as “entertainment companies” since they now care more about branding, marketing and promoting an artist in all aspects

of the career and not just selling CD’s or other consumer products (as that market has dramatically changed over the past two decades). Are record companies

still viable? Still important? See if you can find two articles, one that argues that record labels are no longer required and another that takes the opposite position.

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