Legality of Spotify’s lyrics feature called into question

The real-time lyrics feature that Spotify added to its desktop app this past week hasn’t impressed the U.S. karaoke industry. Joseph C Vangieri, the CEO of DigiTrax, has called it “unfair competition for us American ‘Karaoke’ companies.”Lest you think that he has a beef with Spotify, know that his anger is directed at music publishers and not toward the music streaming service.On Thursday, Vangieri asked the publishing industry to weigh in on the legality of Spotify’s Musixmatch-powered lyrics feature in an open letter clearly penned in angry haste. “So how is Spotify getting around getting video sync license for this feature? ” he asked, pointing out that “there are a great many songwriters who will not allow ‘karaoke’ of their songs.” He also called attention to a power-packed list of holdouts that includes such leading lights of the music world as Bon Jovi, Led Zeppelin, and Madonna.To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2015-03-06 00:00:00 UTC ]

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On Writers and Writing review – Margaret Atwood on her profession

Drawing on her panoramic reading and her experiences of the authorly life cycle, Atwood surveys her trade with a mix of seriousness and gentle fun“You may find the subject a little peculiar,” warns Margaret Atwood, before she discusses the writer’s relationship with mortality. “It is a little... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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TV books programmes: if nobody watches them, make better ones

The novelist Robert Harris was right to call the BBC’s lack of a books show a ‘disgrace’. There’s plenty the corporation could do to make a popular literary programme on TVWith injury, there is always a little insult. When a BBC spokesperson, responding to Robert Harris’s complaints at the Costa... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2015-01-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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James Patterson resorts to blowing up new book Private Vegas

James Patterson, already among the world's best-selling authors, plans to shake up the publishing industry with the launch of his new novel, Private Vegas, which will self-destruct within 24 hours. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-01-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors speak out against ethnic and cultural stereotyping

Writers believe that the publishing industry still views them largely through a prism of ethnicity, but industry insiders say that there is no pigeonholing based on race. Authors told The Bookseller they are still defined by their racial identity for marketing purposes and receive more success... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-01-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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PEN Pushes Sony to Release 'The Interview'

With questions still lingering about Sony Pictures's release plans for the Seth Rogen comedy 'The Interview,' after the studio suffered a cyber attack and a terrorist threat issued by the North Korean government, the PEN American Center has published an open letter to Sony CEO Michael Lynton,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-12-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spanish publishers demand the return of Google News

Google removed its news aggregation service from Spain a few days ago, but the Spanish Newspaper Publishers’ Association (AEDE) is already asking the government to bring it back. AEDE claims the removal of Google News will be bad business for the publishing industry overall and will have more of... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-12-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Mark Zuckerberg defends free Facebook, fires back at Apple and Ello

When Tim Cook published an open letter in September to address iCloud privacy and security concerns, he said free online services treat you, the consumers, as product. Even newcomer Ello, which is dubbed the anti-Facebook, has a manifesto that ends w... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2014-12-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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CILIP protests against IWM library 'closure'

The Chartered Institute of Library and Information Professionals (CILIP) has written an open letter to the Imperial War Museum, expressing concern over the threat to its unique library. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-12-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Why is American book publishing so white?

If squabbles over format, pricing and Amazon have led the US publishing industry to neglect an ever more diverse audience, we have forgotten why people read books in the first placeThe true price of publishingAt the recent National Book Awards ceremony in New York City, presenter and bestselling... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Big Idea: Publishing Must Continue To Diversify

By Marcelle Soviero The publishing industry is busting out of business models as quickly as we can devise new ones. I think in 2015 we will see more product differentiation and more product offerings. These... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BoSacks: The Future Ain't What It Used to Be

By Robert M. Sacks Do you ever wonder if the publishing industry has learned enough in the last five years to be more effective and more profitable in the next five years? Of course, effective is a relative term... Continue reading at Publishing Executive

[ Publishing Executive | 2014-12-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cox Communications sued by two music publishers over piracy

Two music publishers - BMG Rights Management LLC and Round Hill Music LP – have sued Atlanta-based Cox Communications Inc., claiming that Cox deliberately turns a blind eye to illegal downloading by its subscribers. BMG and Round Hill, each of which controls the publishing rights to a number of... Continue reading at Silicon Valley Business Journal

[ Silicon Valley Business Journal | 2014-11-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishers go back to backlist

Backlist is more important than ever for the publishing industry and the opportunity to use backlist titles to drive the sale of frontlist titles is, according to publishers, “one of the true excitements” of the new era of digital publishing. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2014-11-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
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When Politics Gets in the Way of Innovation

Xerox invented Laser printing and copying less than 50 years ago and as a result revolutionized the publishing industry. This innovation was so significant during its time that the outcome was that almost every Japanese electronics product manufacturer, the likes of Canon, Konica, Ricoh and... Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2014-10-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Americas Authors Guild presses US justice department to get aggressive with Amazon

The literary body, representing 9,000 authors, is calling on the US government to launch a competition investigation into Amazon, following the long-running dispute between the internet retailer and publisher HachetteAmericas Authors Guild has met with the US department of justice to call for an... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Downton Abbey as Metaphor for the Publishing Industry

Amazon Kindle is now a 'proud sponsor' of Downton Abbey. And it suits, as the show's story arc reflects the current dynamic in the publishing business. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing’s Holding Pattern: 2014 Salary Survey

PW's annual salary survey reveals an eye-opening lack of diversity in the publishing industry, an enduring pay gap between men and women, and an increasingly optimistic workforce. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Von Schilling Takes Over for Applebaum at PRH Communications

Stuart Applebaum, who rose from a publicist at Bantam Books to become the dean of corporate communications directors in the publishing industry, has been named emeritus executive v-p, corporate communications at Penguin Random House. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-08-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German-language Authors Join in Battle Against Amazon

Austrian, Swiss and German authors have sent an open letter of protest to Amazon, protesting the use of 'authors and their books as a bargaining chip to exact deeper discounts.' Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2014-08-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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How Data and Editorial Teams Can Work Together

For publishers today, data has become the key to competitive advantage. But executing against data has traditionally been a challenge. Only in recent years has the publishing industry invested in the technology required to make sense of data's complexity and volume. It speaks to a culture shift,... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-08-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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