November 13, 2023

It seems like someone took the phrase "bring the adventure home" a bit too literally. A hiker was hospitalized last week after bringing home a venomous snake to show his kids.

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In this week’s email:

The big idea: Spotify's new royalty policy is a game-changer for artists
Accolades: San Francisco names street after Michael Tilson Thomas
Streaming: Carnegie Hall launches streaming service on Amazon Prime
Cartoon of the week
Around the web: November’s molecule, a website to help you measure nearly anything, nightclub communications in 1920s Berlin, plus more curious internet finds.

CLASSICAL CHARTZ

Weekly selections are based on sales numbers and albums we simply love and think you NEED to hear!

For the complete top 20, tune into Classical Chartz with the New Classical FM’s Mark Wigmore every Saturday from 3-5 pm EST!

THE BIG IDEA

Spotify's New Royalty Policy is a Game-Changer for Artists

Music Business Worldwide has confirmed Spotify will be making a significant policy shift in its royalty model. Starting in 2024, tracks with fewer than 1,000 streams will no longer be eligible for royalties.

This decision marks a stark contrast to the platform's current pay-per-stream model.

Key points

Change in 2024: Spotify to stop paying artists for tracks with less than 1,000 streams.
Spotify expects the new 1,000-play minimum annual threshold will free up more money to a more meaningful percentage of musicians in the royalty pool.
Effective Date: The new policy begins January 1, 2024.

Spotify vs. other platforms

Spotify's current pay-per-stream rate is among the lower end in the industry, averaging about $0.003 to $0.005 per stream. In comparison, Apple Music pays about $0.01 per stream, and Amazon Music's rate is similar. Tidal, known for its high-quality audio, offers even higher rates. This new policy from Spotify could potentially widen the gap in how different streaming services compensate artists, especially those with smaller followings or niche audiences.

What they’re saying

In an interview on the Music Business Worldwide podcast, Denis Ladegaillerie, CEO of Believe – the parent company of TuneCore – voiced his opposition to the concept of setting a 1,000-stream threshold for monetization on music streaming services. Ladegaillerie questioned the rationale behind such a policy, stating, “Why would you not pay such an artist [for getting less than 1,000 streams]? It doesn’t make any sense.” He further challenged the industry, asking, “What signal as a music industry do you send to aspiring artists if you go in that direction?”

Why this matters

The policy has intensified discussions around fair compensation in the streaming industry, with comparisons being drawn between Spotify and other platforms. Many emerging and independent artists in niche or experimental genres typically won't reach the 1,000-stream threshold, shutting them out of streaming revenues. This now raises concerns about the potential decrease in music diversity on the platform as they leave for other platforms without a threshold.

The impact of Spotify’s decision could set a precedent, influencing how other streaming platforms structure their payment systems and, ultimately, how artists create their music. — MV

TOUR DE HEADLINES

Photo courtesy of the 2023 International Opera Awards

Aigul Akhmetshina, Michael Spyres, Lisette Oropesa, & Bayerische Staatsoper Win Big at Opera Awards — The 2023 Opera Awards celebrated the most illustrious names and institutions, with Bayerische Staatsoper claiming the Opera Company of the Year. Aigul Akhmetshina, Michael Spyres, and Lisette Oropesa were among the distinguished winners at the Polish National Opera-hosted ceremony. | OperaWire

Classical Music Presents a Vital Front in the 2024 Grammy Noms — The 66th Grammy Awards have highlighted classical music with notable nominations for pianist Yuja Wang and conductor Gustavo Dudamel. This representation underscores the genre's continued relevance and vibrancy within the broader musical landscape. | WRTI

A Disciplined Plea for Peace – and Quiet – from Composer Arvo Pärt — Arvo Pärt's latest album, 'Tractus,' offers a tranquil respite in times of turmoil. The revered 88-year-old Estonian composer continues to enchant a diverse audience with his signature serene and meditative music. | NPR

City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Appoints Lord Hall of Birkenhead as ChairPerson — The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra welcomes Lord Hall of Birkenhead as its new Chairperson, setting a promising direction for the institution's future endeavors. | City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

ACCOLADES

Michael Tilson Thomas (Photo courtesy of the artist)

San Francisco Names Street After Conductor Michael Tilson Thomas

The city of San Francisco will honour the San Francisco Symphony’s former music director by naming a street after him.

What’s Up: The mayor of San Francisco, London N. Breed, has announced that a central street in the city will honour conductor and former music director of the San Francisco Symphony, Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT). The block of Grove Street between Franklin Avenue and Van Ness Avenue where Davies Symphony Hall is situated, will hang a sign marking MTT Way.

Refresher: The American pianist, conductor and composer Michael Tilson Thomas served as the San Francisco Symphony’s 11th music director for 25 years. His tenure as music director of the ensemble led to 11 Grammy Award-winning recordings and the establishment of cutting-edge performances and concert formats as part of his SoundBox program. His name is now considered synonymous with the institution.

Digging Deeper: Michael Tilson Thomas, now 78, was diagnosed two years ago with glioblastoma multiforme, an aggressive brain cancer. While he still conducts, in his last performance with the SFS he appeared visibly weakened. The street named for MTT demonstrates the conductor’s lasting imprint on classical music in San Francisco, ensuring his legacy will be honoured in years to come. — SS

STREAMING

John Williams. Photo courtesy of the artist

Carnegie Hall Launches Streaming Service on Amazon Prime

Carnegie Hall has announced its new streaming platform on Amazon Prime US.

What’s Up: Carnegie Hall has unveiled their new streaming platform, Carnegie Hall+. The service will stream performances from Carnegie Hall, the Salzburg Festival, the BBC Proms, the Vienna Philharmonic, as well as concerts, operas, dance performances and documentaries. It will be hosted as a premium add-on for American Amazon Prime members for $7.99 USD a month. The service will also be available on Apple TV, Astound, Dish Network, Verizon Fios, Sling TV, and Spectrum.

Refresher: Carnegie Hall+ joins a growing list of streaming services for classical music and opera, which includes Met Opera on Demand, Medici.tv and Arte. Earlier this year, Amazon Prime Video also acquired the rights to Naxos opera recordings, which include shows from major European opera houses.

Digging Deeper: In July 2022, Amazon Prime Video was the third most downloaded video streaming mobile app, after Netflix and Disney+. Like Netflix and Disney+, it creates its own unique content, including the upcoming The Lord of the Rings, which is anticipated to be the largest TV series ever created. Let’s see if the service generates any unique classical music content while it’s at it. Opera, anyone?— SS

QUIZ

Composer or pasta?

Bazzini

Scroll down for the answer…

AROUND THE WEB

📅 On this day: Gioachino Rossini (1792 - 1868) dies.

🤔 Fun Fact: In the 1920s in Berlin, people at nightclubs used to communicate and flirt by sending notes to each other via pneumatic tubes.

🧪 Cure Boredom: For the last 27 years, this website has featured a monthly molecule. November’s is Varespladib methyl.

🍌 Useful: When you want to measure something in bananas or small buildings, this website has you covered.

🐈 Aww: These cats are obsessed!

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

Via Euge Chan, don’t shoot the pianist.

QUIZ ANSWER

Antonio Bazzini was an Italian violinist, composer, and teacher born on March 11, 1818, in Brescia. Renowned for his captivating compositions and masterful violin playing, Bazzini is best remembered for his virtuosic work "La Ronde des Lutins" (The Dance of the Goblins), which showcases his exceptional skill and has become a favourite among violin virtuosos.

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Today's email was brought to you by Sara "don't shoot the soprano" Schabas and Michael "999 Streams" Vincent.

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