Executive Overview If rock and roll history were mapped out using Pete Frame’s legendary, spindly, hand-drawn Rock Family Trees, Derek “Blue” Weaver would occupy one of its most dense and high-traffic nodes. To trace Weaver’s career is to trace the connective tissue of modern popular music. He is the man who can seamlessly bridge Wales’s … Read more
Executive Overview The landscape of 1990s British pop music was defined by an intense, chart-dominating rivalry between squeaky-clean perfection and gritty, street-smart swagger. While some groups leaned heavily into choreographed routines and polished personas, East 17 carved out a distinct legacy rooted in hip-hop beats, raw emotion, and an undeniable urban edge. Now, as the … Read more
Executive Overview In the summer of 1970, the British progressive rock band Genesis stood on the precipice of total dissolution. The sudden departure of co-founding guitarist Anthony "Ant" Phillips—a primary songwriter and the band’s musical compass—shattered the confidence of the young group following a show at Sussex Hall in Haywards Heath. Having recently recorded their … Read more
Executive Overview As the music industry looks ahead to the close of the decade, a high-stakes legislative and economic battle is quietly brewing in Washington, D.C. Next year, the United States Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) will formally embark on its next major rate-setting proceeding, known as Phonorecords V. This crucial regulatory review will dictate the … Read more
Executive Overview In the sprawling landscape of modern electronic music, few genres maintain as fiercely dedicated a subculture as Italo disco. Defined by its shimmering synthesizers, melancholic yet euphoric melodies, and a distinct nocturnal romanticism, the genre has experienced numerous revivals over the past four decades. Few figures have worked as tirelessly to preserve, modernize, … Read more
Executive Overview As the music industry looks ahead to the next decade, a quiet but monumental regulatory war is brewing in the United States. Next year, the federal Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) will formally commence hearings to determine the statutory royalty rates that digital streaming services must pay to songwriters, composers, and music publishers for … Read more
Executive Overview As the digital music landscape continues to mature, the economic battlegrounds between multi-trillion-dollar technology conglomerates and the creative community are shifting into sharper, more contentious focus. Next year, the United States Copyright Royalty Board (CRB)—a tribunal of three judges operating under the Library of Congress—will commence formal proceedings to determine the statutory royalty … Read more
Executive Overview As the music industry looks ahead to the next decade, a silent yet monumental financial war is brewing in Washington, D.C. Next year, the United States Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) will officially commence proceedings to determine the statutory royalty rates that streaming services must pay to songwriters and music publishers for the American … Read more
Executive Overview The battle lines have officially been drawn for the next monumental chapter in music streaming economics. As the US Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) prepares to determine the royalty rates that streaming giants must pay to songwriters and music publishers between 2028 and 2032—a proceeding formally designated as Phonorecords V—initial submissions from stakeholders reveal … Read more
Executive Overview In the fast-paced, algorithm-driven landscape of modern pop music, true cultural collisions remain rare. Yet, when two of the generation’s most defining voices unite, the industry listens. Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan have officially shattered expectations—pun intended—with a radical new remix of Rodrigo’s hit single, "Expectations." The track, which originally served as a … Read more
