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Kids, mom and dad love you very much, but things got a little hectic this holiday season, so we just got you something small... a Christmas mini-episode! We talk about holiday music strategy, trends in Christmas music—including why it starts so early now—and how and why musicians choose to do so many Christmas songs. It may be a little late for this year, but we'll set you up to succeed for next year.

• OPINION: Modern Christmas music doesn’t hold up by Ashley Ragone for The Signal
• Is Christmas Starting Earlier and Earlier for the Music Industry? by Ashley King for Digital Music News

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

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They say politics make for strange bedfellows, and that's never been more true than when The Wholesome Music Podcast is forced to give props to Gene Simmons (who is gross). He recently testified before US Congress, urging them to close the loophole that lets radio stations not pay for music. Next, we catch up on iHeartRadio's efforts to brand themselves as "Guaranteed Human," and finally we look at investments Jay Z is making in K-pop and "K-culture" and what that could mean for the future of music.

• 'That's Called robbery': Gene Simmons Urges US Congress to End Loophole That Allows Radio Stations Not To Pay for Using Recordings By Daniel Tencer for Music Business Worldwide
• iHeartRadio Exec Says Company Won't 'Play AI Music' or Use 'AI Generated Personalities' in Staff Memo by Billboard
• Jay-Z’s MarcyPen Capital eyes $500m Korean culture investment fund in partnership with Hanwha Asset Management by Murray Stassen for Music Business Worldwide
• Gene Simmons testifies at Senate hearing about American Music Fairness Act | full video

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

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Are you sure that Spotify actually knows what your musical taste is? And do you really want to outsource your opinions to a profit-driven algorithm? It's Spotify Wrapped season! Next, we look at 2025 vinyl sales trends. Vinyl is on the rise, but why? And what do you need to know about vinyl for your own career? Finally, we talk songwriting: mega-songwriter Dan Wilson shares great tips on songwriting, and we discuss natural language, why it's dominating the charts, and how you can use it in your songs!

• This Spotify Wrapped season, don’t outsource your love of music to AI by Liz Pelly for The Guardian
• Vinyl Sales On Track to Grow for the 19th Year in a Row by Fraim
• Naturalistic Language from Dan Wilson

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

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This episode has a decidedly backwards-looking approach. Did you know the last time a band had a #1 song on the US charts was all the way back in 2001? We dig into why are there so few bands in the charts these days. Next we look at two retro trends and discuss if they're linked as well as what they say about tech backlash in the music industry. Finally, we talk about why local music is in decline in Australia, why that matters globally, and what can be done about it.

• Are bands becoming obsolete in the era of Spotify and individual stardom? by Dave Van Dyke, President Bridge Ratings Media Research
• Why Aren't Kids Starting Bands? - MattyBallz
• ‘Everyone’s in Sync’: Phone Ban on NYC Dance Floors Is Getting Rave Reviews
  by Alexandra E. Petri for New York Times
• Why are MP3 players making a comeback? By Dazed
• Australian local music is in decline, and UK, Canada aren't far behind by Music Business Worldwide

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

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Should YOU register your music with the copyright office? Our final installment on How Musicians Get Paid has answers! Next, in the spirt of Thanksgiving we talk about what we're grateful for in our music careers this year. After that: a major spate of music industry and AI collaborations were announced... but what does it actually mean? We discuss the backlash to Tidal's new upload program, then look at a few hip hop artists still making moves in 2025 (Hip Hop is not dead!).

Be sure to check the links for our our copyright guide!

• Download Our Free Music Copyright Guide
• Music Copyright Basics: Do Musicians Really Need To Copyright Their Songs by D4 Music Marketing
• United States Copyright Office - Register Works
• UMG, Sony, and Warner Strike Licensing Deals with New AI Music Platform KLAY by Murray Stassen for Music Business Worldwide
• WMG settles Udio lawsuit, strikes licensing deal for ‘next-generation’ AI music platform coming in 2026 by Murray Stassen for Music Business Worldwide
• WMG strikes deal with Stability AI to ‘build the next generation of responsible AI tools for music creation’ by Murray Stassen for Music Business Worldwide
• UMG strikes strategic alliance with Stability AI to develop ‘next-generation’ AI music-making tools by Mandy Dalugdug for Music Business Worldwide
• Universal Music settles Udio lawsuit, strikes deal for licensed AI music platform by Mandy Dalugdug for Music Business Worldwide
• TikTok is testing limiting AI generated content in user feeds by Music Business Worldwide
• Tyler, The Creator named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2025
• Travis Scott Closes His 'Historic Chapter' As He Breaks Solo Rap Tour Sales Record By Tomás Mier for Rolling Stone

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

Part three of our "How Musicians Get Paid" series zeroes in on how performers get paid, including the ins and outs of distribution, SoundExchange, and a couple little-known revenue sources for session musicians. We look at TIDAL's new direct upload feature and what this means for indie musicians and the culture. We profile a recent Spotify acquisition and their new efforts to offer more robust credits and discuss SUNO's new fundraising. Finally, we react to "Walk My Walk," the new AI-generated song that is actually charting in the Billboard country charts.

• How Songwriters, Composers, and Performers Get Paid by copyright.gov
• TIDAL Announces New Upload Feature for Indie Artists by Rod Yates for New Industry Focus
• Spotify acquires music database WhoSampled by Sarah Perez for TechCrunch
• Spotify to Offer More Song Credit Information by Harry Levin for New Industry Focus
• Suno Raises $250 Million in Latest Round of Series C Funding by Harry Levin for New Industry Focus
• Breaking Rust's "Walk My Walk," an AI-Generated Song, Tops Billboard Country Digital Song Sales by HypeBeast
• "Walk My Walk" video

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

Part two of our "How musicians get paid" series dives into how songwriters make money, followed by a discussion on publishing deals. Then we break down Spotify’s new “payola” lawsuit, look at Ireland’s universal basic income for musicians, and talk about Kanye West’s recent public apology.

A lil’ music-biz, a lil’ legal tea, and a whole lot of game for songwriters trying to level up.

• How Songwriters, Composers, and Performers Get Paid by Copyright.gov
• Class Action Lawsuit Accuses Spotify of Engaging in "Payola" in Discover Mode By Daniel Kreps for Rolling Stone
• Irish government to pay musicians basic income of €325 a week
  by Headliner
• Calls grow for basic income scheme for artists in England and Wales after Ireland’s success by Gabrielle Pickard-Whitehead for Left Foot Forward
• Ireland vs United States - Cost of Living Comparison by LivingCost.org
• Kanye West Apology Video

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/

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For months we've been promising you a breakdown on how to get paid in the music industry, and we launch part one of this discussion with a quick overview on the history of music copyright, to help us understand why music copyright is so convoluted. After that, we look at why there are no rap songs in the Billboard Top 40 — the first time since 1990. In AI news, ASCAP, BMI, and SOCAN have announced new plans to accept some kinds of AI authorship. Next, we cheer on Billie Eilish for calling out Mark Zuckerberg for being a POS billionaire. Finally, what does the beef between Cam'Ron and J. Cole about their song "Ready '24" teach us about contracts and split sheets?

• How Songwriters, Composers, and Performers Get Paid by United States Copyright Office
• The Brief History of Mechanical Royalties and Music in the U.S.
  January 21, 2021 by Jeffrey E. Jacobson for The Jacobson Firm
• Ernest Bourget's Revolution in Music Rights for Mone Tunes
• No Rap Songs Are in the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 40 for the First Time Since 1990 by Andrew Unterberger for Billboard.com
• ASCAP, BMI and SOCAN align on musical compositions using AI tools alongside human authorship by Andre Paine for Music Week
• Billie Eilish Calls Out Mark Zuckerberg and Other Billionaires After Announcing Her Own $11.5 Million Charitable Donation by Scoop Harrison for Consequence
• Cam’Ron Takes Legal Action Against J. Cole Over Their Song “Ready ’24” Claims He Wasn’t Properly Compensated by Jamal Osborne for Hollywood Unlocked
  
  

Recorded live at Secret Spot DTLA http://secretspotdtla.com

Cameron Ljungkull https://www.cameronljungkull.com

Augustus Watkins https://augustuswatkins.com

Cocaine Opera - Music PR https://cocaineopera.com/