The Week In Music Publishing 6.1.12

For the first time in UK history, digital music sales have eclipsed physical sales. According to the BPI (British Recorded Music Industry), digital accounted for 55.5% of trade revenues in Q1 2012. Good news also for paid subscription services, with income growing 93% year-on-year to £9 million.

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• Despite this good news on the streaming side, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and major investor Sean Parker were under fire again this week for their response to questioning about artist payments.
• It was a big week for BMG Rights Management with three major announcements: digital music services will be able to license BMG's Anglo-American repertoire for Europe through GEMA; acquisition of Francis Dreyfus Music, whose catalog includes many French hits; renewal of worldwide admin deal with The Pokémon Company International.
• Iconic music publisher Howie Richmond has died at age 94. Richmond's the Richmond Organization at various points looked after songs by Lead Belly and Woody Guthrie, the Who, Black Sabbath and Pink Floyd.
• Gotye's monster smash Somebody That I Used To Know netted the Australian artist three awards – including Song of the Year – at the APRA Awards in Sydney.

 Courtesy of Songtrust – One-stop royalty collection for songwriters, bands and producers.