Research into Publishing PlatformsBy Fearghal McGlinchey

Kobalt Music Publishing• In 2000 The Kobalt Music Group, the largest

independent music publisher in the world, was founded by CEO Willard Ahdritz. 

• It is an independent publishing company representing well known artists such as: Kelly Clarkson, Dr. Luke, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Gwen Stefani and Ryan Tedder.

• Kobalt is considered to be a pioneering collection technology platform for the following reason:

• It bypasses the middleman and collects directly from societies, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube and most major distributors. This in turn results in 20–30% higher revenues for their artists and writers.

Sentric Music• Sentric Music, The British independent music publisher,

founded in 2006, specialises in new emerging song writers and artists, such as: Bastille (Universal Music Publishing), Marmozets (BMG Rights Management), While She Sleeps (BMG Rights Management) Catfish and the Bottlemen (Communion).

• This European Music company is based in Liverpool and manages the work of over 12000 artists/writers in the UK and around the world.

• In 2010 Sentric signed a sub-publishing deal with Downtown Music Publishing branching into the US and Canada, thus allowing the company to access and appeal to a wider global audience.

Spotify

• Spotify, launched in October 2008 by Swedish start up Spotify AB, is one of the most popular and well used app/website that provides commercial music streaming, podcast and video service, giving digital rights management-restricted content from record labels and media companies including BBC, Sony, EMI, Warner Music Group, and Universal.

• The service has over 75 million users with 20 million of these with paid subscriptions. In order to reach a wider audience, Spotify, from May 2015, is available for Android, BlackBerry, Boxee, iOS, Linux, MeeGo, Microsoft Windows desktop, Openpandora, OS X, Roku, S60 (Symbian), Samsung Smart TV, Sonos, HEOS by Denon, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3, Squeezebox, Telia Digital-tv, TiVo, WD TV, webOS, Windows Mobile, and Windows Phone.

What does this publishing platform do?• It allows music to be searched by the individual via artist, album, genre, playlist, or

record label allowing the listener to access free music for a certain amount of time per month. However, not all artists are available, as some , such as Taylor Swift believe is it not fair to give away her ‘life’s work’ of music for free. However, there is a paid “Premium” subscription, that removes advertisements, with improved audio quality allowing listeners to access such artists.