Apple Music can now identify music of different artists used in DJ mixes to compensate them for their creations. The music streaming service is using the audio-recognition technology of the Shazam app which it acquired in 2018 for $400 million.
Apple Music is one of the platforms which focus on artists as well. It pays the highest 1 cent per-stream rate, and introduced a new promotional tool for musicians to share their notable milestones achieved on the service with their fans by posting them on Facebook, Instagram Stories, and Twitter, and also sending them via email and messages. It created a $50 million fund for small music producers as future royalties so that artists are paid and the industry stays operational during the COVID-19 pandemic. And now it has made it possible for artists to earn royalties for their contribution to DJ mixes.
Shazam’s audio recognition tech allows Apple Music to pay artists royalties involved in DJ mixes
DJ mixes are difficult to stream online because they use songs from different artists to create a mix which can be flagged as a copyright infringement on platforms like YouTube and Twitch. As per the announcement, Apple Music is working with major and independent labels to fairly divide streaming royalties among artists, DJs, and labels involved in mixes.
TechCrunch reports that Apple Music subscribers will be able to enjoy mixes, as old as 15 years, on the service with the release of Studio K7!’s DJ Kicks archive of mixes on the service. DJ Charlotte de Witte said in a statement on behalf of Apple that;
“Apple Music is the first platform that offers continuous mixes where there’s a fair fee involved for the artists whose tracks are included in the mixes and for the artist making those mixes. It’s a step in the right direction where everyone gets treated fairly. I’m beyond excited to have the chance to provide online mixes again.”
Recently, Apple Music acquired Primephonic, a classic music streaming service to offer subscribers “an improved classical music experience beginning with Primephonic playlists and exclusive audio content.” And now it has added more DJ mixes to its music library.
