��Ü�� is a social media and music streaming platform co-founded by . The app allows artists to connect with users without intermediaries. This music marketplace, as Fergus describes it, is a form of disruptive technology that allows artists to collaborate, not only with each other, but with fans. Unlike other music streaming platforms, such as Apple and Spotify, ��Ü�� is a space where established and “unseasoned” artists can benefit from a creator-focused monetization system. American singer-songwriter and ��Ü��’s global ambassador, Ne-Yo, attests that newer artists can support themselves while simultaneously taking fans along their journey. Consumers pay subscription fees and participate in “” using the app’s virtual currency, the “”. This is a form of virtual tipping, equal to half a cent, which, as Fergus points out, is essentially the same royalty payout that exists on other music streaming platforms. Users can gift artists a surplus of “notes” relative to the number of streams per song. Effectively, artists  profit more per stream on ��Ü�� than any other music streaming platform. ��Ü��’s business model is redefining the music industry by eliminating the need for royalty payouts while maximizing for the artist.

The (“M�Ѵ�”) in the United States is aimed at modernizing copyright-related issues. It makes statutory licensing fair for creators and efficient for digital music providers. However, Fergus has pointed out that the MMA was designed to regulate “” streaming services and requires streaming platforms to pay fees which disproportionately impact smaller platforms. Operating outside of this traditional, yet allegedly “modernized” landscape, ��Ü��’s elimination of royalty payouts places the power and profits back in the hands of creators.

Another newcomer making a breakthrough, notably throughout the pandemic, is Wave. Wave is a platform that uses technology to enable artists and audiences to collaborate on the most interactive form of live virtual entertainment which is accessible from anywhere. “Wave allows artists to elevate their music assets and reach more fans than any other existing platform”, says , Wave’s Co-Founder. He acknowledges that, before the pandemic, the industry controlled all interactions between the creators and the consumers, including all of the distribution and marketing channels between the two groups. Technological innovation, and Wave in particular, has chiseled away at this control by lowering the barriers to entry and encouraging artists to stay active while maintaining a direct relationship with fans. like the Weeknd, J Balvin, and Justin Bieber have all invested in the platform, in pursuit of new forms of monetization.

Juxtaposed with ��Ü��’s mission, virtual concerts will arguably result in greater royalty payouts as performance rights organizations, such as , may require additional licensing fees. , for example, grant permission for a user to sync audio with video. Although most of the music licensing landscape will likely remain unchanged, could the incorporation of video and 3D holograms be an added barrier?

What do these platforms mean for a post-pandemic world? Will mainstream streaming giants be squeezed out by these cutting-edge competitors? Will this digital shift impact licensing and intellectual property rights? The gradual rise in the popularity of streaming services could contribute to a significant decline in traditional music platforms and performances while making an enormous impact on the industry’s regulatory scheme.

Kejsi Trimi is a 2022 JD Candidate at Osgoode Hall Law School and a guest contributor to the IPilogue.

The post Royalty-Free Music and Virtual Concerts: The Future of the Entertainment Industry? appeared first on IPOsgoode.

is , held annually in various locations. It has been held in Toronto for the last three years and the next one, scheduled for June 2022, will be held here as well. Last year, the Conference had over 38,000 attendees and spanned over three days. The Conference is a great opportunity for networking, learning from workshops and roundtables, meeting investors, leading generation, and creating brand awareness. You buy tickets online in advance, sign up, log in on the day of, and enjoy the ride. I highly recommend reviewing the programs in advance so you can be organized about what webinars you want to attend and whether you prefer to “Mingle” instead. 

Humans are a social species.  We rely on each other and thrive on each other’s existence. Since the COVID lockdowns happened, many social activities stopped mid-track. People became lonely and depressed. Virtual meetings, many of which are work-centric, became the norm. The Collision Conference turned out to be a perfect anti-dote to the theme of isolation.  Various options were available to the attendees: you could attend round-table conferences and webinars, and then there was “Mingle”. Under the Mingle feature, you stepped into a digital world of speed-networking.  You connected with AI-selected random matches, each for three minutes, before being escorted to another living room or home office. As random as the rooms were, so were their inhabitants. Some were brilliantly creative people who energised you: writers; musicians; inventors of a breathalyser for cancer, a work-from-home gaming platform, a royalty-free fair-trade music platform that empowers artists and contributors, and a brain-optimizing app, just to name a few. Others sapped your energy because they just offered a three-minute advertisement for their product and were not interested in meeting you, learning about you, or engaging. What a waste.

Once I slipped into my comfort zone with Mingle, I realized a few things: it is important to listen before you speak. Ask who they are, where they are from, what they do. People engage more when you express genuine interest in them. They can sense it. These interactions offer you the choice to become relevant to the person on the other side of the screen. This skill is key for a lawyer – to gauge the client’s needs and assess what they might need to know and what they want to hear. Listen to and analyze what the speaker is looking for. Ask yourself – why should this person sitting across from me be interested in what I have to say?

These skills and the people I met informed the way I wish to move forward in my legal career. They have shaped my perspective on the kind of work and clients I enjoy engaging with.

I would like to thank 91��ɫ’s VPRI, , and , Director of the IP Innovation Clinic, for the wonderful opportunity.  Were it not for their kindness, I would not have had this amazing experience. I am already looking forward to the next conference! 

Emma Abbas is an LLM student specializing in Intellectual Property Law. She has completed her training at the IP Innovation Clinic and plans to start her own practice soon, helping start-up companies with legal advice.

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This post was originally published on YSpace.

The Collision Conference is North America’s fastest growing tech conference – taking a forward-looking approach to connect the tech industry with every other industry in the world. Typically, attendees must pay $79 to attend this annual event. For the second year in a row, Innovation 91��ɫ and the Student Success Office are joining forces to offer 91��ɫ students the exclusive opportunity to claim one free ticket (with 100 total tickets available on a first-come, first-served basis). The event will take place on April 20-22, 2021. 

To claim your free ticket, you must become a 91��ɫ Digital Ambassador!

To become a YU Digital Ambassador: complete the 3 steps, and the form below by 11:59pm – Friday March 26, 2021. 

1. Follow at least 2 of these accounts on Instagram: @yspaceyu, @ellawomenyu, @schulichstartups, @bestlassonde, @studentlifeyu, @yorkulaps, @c4.capstone, @lassondeschool, @collisionconfhq or follow @IPOsgoode on Twitter
2. Subscribe to at least 1 of these newsletters:
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3. Post your best startup/business idea on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook with the hashtags #YUDigitalAmbassador and #CollisionFromHome and tag @yspaceyu and @collisionconfhq (@CollisionHQ on Twitter and @collisionconf on Facebook)

Once you have completed the 3 steps above, to receive your FREE 2021 Collision Ticket.

Tickets will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis while quantities last, so act fast!

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