 |
|
|
|||||
The trope of the starving, broke artist has long maintained a place in the public imagination, even as it has morphed into idealized notions of hustle or grindset. Its cool to romanticize [that lifestyle] for a little bit and use it as part of your motivation, says L.A.-based rising musician Gidi, but at a certain point we gotta be able to see the fruits of our labor. For many artists and songwriters, the fruits are there in the form of royaltiestheyre just exceedingly difficult to harvest. In the labyrinthine world of the music industry, royalty collection is particularly complex. There are hundreds of music streaming platforms operating in hundreds of countries, each with their own copyright laws. The simple act of uploading a song onto Spotify can quickly turn into an administrative nightmare, especially if an artist only owns the rights to a percentage of a given song. As a result, unclaimed dollarswhich estimates suggest be as much at $1 billion annuallyare effectively locked up in the global system of music publishing. Independent music publisher Kobalt wants to change that with its new product Kosign, aimed at empowering emerging songwriters by helping them collect the money theyre owed. Kobalt disrupted the music publishing space 25 years ago when it introduced the worlds first online portal for artists to look at their royalty earnings at any timea far cry from the snail mail system that preceded it. Today, Kobalt is the worlds biggest music publisher not owned by a major label, with clients who include Paul McCartney, Stevie Nicks, Childish Gambino, and Phoebe Bridgers. [Images: Courtesy of Kobalt] With Kosign, Kobalt is targeting a group executives describe as a growing middle class of artists and songwriters who, thanks to a changing music landscape, are increasingly able to operate independently, but may not be ideal for a publishing contract. The platform is designed to leverage Kobalts infrastructural and technological capabilities for a new demographic. We’ve already built, for the last 20 years, a platform to unlock [royalties], says Jacob Paul, Kobalts creative strategy director. The problem were trying to solve is How can we take this thing we already built and make it even more streamlined and flexible so that the next generation of artists coming up can get paid their money that otherwise is hidden from them? Kosign users apply, pay the platforms $100 signup fee, activate their membership, submit songs, and then get paid. We will register them across the globe, across every territory, every platform, Paul says. There’s no income stream left untouched. Artists can watch royalties hit their account in real time, as well as other useful metrics, such breaking down earnings by streaming platform or territory. That data is available for an artists entire catalog and individual songs alike. [Image: Courtesy of Kobalt] Though Kosign is focused on making its tools accessible to emerging talent, the company assesses projected earnings for prospective members to ensure theyre a fit for the platform. A single songwriting credit, no matter how lucrative, might not be reason enough for them to snap up a lucrative publishing dealespecially for someone who doesnt have an extensive back catalog. At the same time, Kosign doesnt want to become bloated with a huge, unwieldy user base that will dilute the level of service. What we want to do is to make sure that for those who earn a certain threshold of money, [they] have the ability to collect as effectively as possible, says Kobalt CEO Laurent Hubert. So, we want it to be selective from that perspective. For that growing population of songrwiters, Kosign is a way to secure their royalties without committing to the sort of long-term contract better suited to a more established artist (Kosign takes 20% of a members royalties). It’s a flexible deal, says Paul. Artists keep control of their copyrights, and they can leave the platform anytime if they want to evolve somewhere else. KOSIGN also affords emerging artists a level of self-sufficiency; no ironclad deals means no figuring out if you need a lawyer, a manager, or broader team to sort through the red tape. Its an appealing prospect for an up-and-coming artist. They get access to the same technological capabilities as Max Martin or Paul McCartney, minus a lengthy contract. Alongside its cut of royalties, Kobalt also gets a pipeline of potential future signed songwriters out of Kosign. When those artists are ready to make the jump to a major publishing deal, Kobalt will have already built a relationship with them via Kosign. Gidi, an early adopter of the platform, calls using it a no-brainer. A musician and producer specializing in electronic R&B and pop, Gidi was part of the studio crew on last years massive Tommy Richman hit Million Dollar Baby, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Gidis involvement earned him a small percentage of the song. While it might not sound like big money, music publishers know that royalties for even part of a track can be the difference between needing a day job and being able to pursue music full time. For Gidi, working with Kosign means he can collect the money that hes owed while expanding his own artistic output. Ultimately, he says, it comes down to understanding my worth, and understanding that there’s a lot more coming from me. The added financial security is also a weight off of Gidis mind. It great that Im able to collect my publishing royalties without having to pursue a full-scale publishing deal, he says, adding that the royalties offer him additional income he can use to cover the mixing and production costs for upcoming projects on his own. Gidi isnt a proxy for every Kosign artist, but he is representative of the sort of artist Kobalt wants it to reach. If you can unlock the publishing system for a new generation of up and coming artists and producers and songwriters, you are changing each of those people’s lives, Paul says. You are making it possible for each of those people to actually make a living off of their music.
Category:
E-Commerce
Even if you’re a regular Alexa user, there’s a good chance you haven’t discovered some of its most efficient features. Actually, strike that: Theres a good chance youre only using your Alexa device to set timers and play music. But Alexa does so much more! Here are five commands to add to your vernacular that could save you tons of time with regular use. “Alexa, check traffic” Once you link your home and work addresses in the Alexa app, simply asking to check traffic will give the time between your home and office by defaultalways handy when youre heading out the door. You also can ask for traffic conditions to a certain destination. Alexa just told me that traffic from my house to the nearest Whole Foods is sluggishitd take me a whole six minutes to get there. Good thing I saved so much time asking for traffic conditions, eh? Alexa, add jelly to my shopping list Writing a shopping list by hand? A fools errand. Opening an app and typing a list by hand? A suckers gambit. As you notice ingredients running low, just say “Alexa, add [blank] to my shopping list.” The items will appear in your Alexa app’s shopping list, ready for your next grocery run. You can even check what’s on your list by asking, “Alexa, what’s on my shopping list?” before running to the store. “Alexa, announce that its time for lunch” Its 2025enough shouting up and down the stairs. Instead, say, “Alexa, announce that its time for lunch.” Your message will immediately be broadcast to all Alexa devices in your home at the same time, just like a fancy-schmancy intercom system. “Alexa, find my phone” My wife never reads these articles, so Im safe telling you that while she was frantically searching for her phone the other day, it turned out that it was in her hand. Not all lost phones are so easy to find! For the tougher tests, Alexa can call your wayward device and you can follow the ringtone. There are a couple slight catches: Youll need to do a one-time setup so Alexa knows which number to call, and you only get three free calls each month. If youre asked whether you want to sign up for a free trial of the premium phone-finding service, just say no and Alexa will place the call. Alexa, remind me . . . Just as a glorified note-to-self, Alexa is a lifesaver. There are a few ways you can ask it to remember things for you. First, just ask Alexa to remember something. Itll store it in the notes section of the Alexa app on your phone. Second, ask it to remind you of something at a certain time. Itll . . . well, you get the idea. And the best one is asking Alexa to remind you of something when youre at a certain place. If youve enabled location in the phone app, it can remind you to get Band-Aids the next time youre at Walgreens. Its almost too easy.
Category:
E-Commerce
The Fast Company Impact Council is a private membership community of influential leaders, experts, executives, and entrepreneurs who share their insights with our audience. Members pay annual membership dues for access to peer learning and thought leadership opportunities, events and more. Most ordinary people know little about the calculus, statistics, linear algebra, logic, and programming languages required to design projects and products to leverage artificial intelligence. However, we are not exempt from using products and services that rely on AI. If we do not learn how to maximize these tools, our organizationsbusinesses, schools, and governmentswill have less ability to generate income and a lower quality of life compared to those who do. What is most unsettling is the general lack of knowledge about logic, mathematics, and grammatical syntax that may affect AIs creation and usage. Set theory Consider set theory in mathematics, introduced indirectly in elementary school. Basic concepts like classification, grouping, and counting objects, form its foundation. During middle school, students learn set definitions, notation, and representations (listing elements, Venn diagrams), set operations (union, intersection, difference, and complements), and relationships between sets (subsets, empty sets, disjointed sets, universal sets). By high school, students face set theory with greater complexity. Applications are presented in discrete mathematics, relationships between sets and probabilities, numerical sets and related algebraic operations, and advanced concepts to introduce mathematical logic. You might be wondering where this is going. Logical reasoning Set theory feeds into logic: the science and art of reasoning correctly. Logic studies the principles of valid thought, structuring rules and methods that help evaluate the consistency and validity of arguments, deductions, and propositions. Modern mathematics is built on set theory, itself a logical system. Logic provides the structure and principles underpinning mathematical reasoning. Concepts such as implication, equivalence, negation, and quantification are fundamental logical tools used in mathematics. Logical reasoning uses symbols and formulas to represent propositions and inferences. It is essential for solving mathematical problems. In mathematics, logic explores topics like set theory and computability theory. Were circling back to the topic again. Logic helps children (and adults) break problems into smaller, more manageable parts and tackle them systematically. When solving a puzzle, logical reasoning helps them identify patterns, rules, or constraints. Chess, Sudoku, mazes, and building blocks simultaneously develop logical thinking and problem-solving skills. In math and science, solving problems logically is intrinsic to solving equations, understanding patterns, and conducting experiments. Grammar And what about grammar? Although the proposition might seem counterintuitive, grammatical syntax has a direct relationship with mathematics, particularly set theory and logic. In traditional grammar, syntax refers to the set of rules dictating how words and phrases are organized to form sentences. Grammatical classes (nouns, verbs, adjectives) combine according to rules, and sentences have hierarchical structures (clauses, phrases). Syntax rules determine whether a sentence is grammatically correct, and in linguistic analysis (parsing), understanding sentences involves breaking them into parts. Noam Chomsky’s generative grammar theory describes the implicit rules and principles underlying natural language structure. It demonstrates how sentences are generated from a finite set of rules to create infinite possible expressions in a language. Programming languages also have syntaxrules determining the correct structure of commands and expressions. Code elements (variables, functions, loops) combine using the specific rules of the language to form programs, which also have hierarchical structures (functions, blocks, modules). Like linguistic analysis, compilers and interpreters analyze code by breaking it into tokens (parts) and examining its structure. Algorithms and AI You might think this article was supposed to be about using artificial intelligence, not creating computational models. And you’re right. One important concept for using AI’s capabilities is the notion of intervals. Defining intervals enable users to separate, structure, search, and manipulate information in databases or directly within documents. This concept, widely used in set theory, is fundamental to logic, and connects logic to computer science, artificial intelligence, and dynamic systems. It also plays a critical role in syntax, particularly in structural analysis, grammatical hierarchy, and even natural language processing. Ultimately, mathematics, logic, and grammatical syntax are fundamental to structuring algorithms. It’s worth emphasizing the classical definition of an algorithm, originating in the 9th century: a finite set of well-defined, step-by-step instructions for completing a task or solving a problem. Develop natural algorithms The brain has specialized areas for numerical and logical processing (parietal lobe) and specific regions dedicated to grammar and syntax (Brocas and Wernickes areas). These regions integrate their functions to create dynamic problem-solving strategies that mimic algorithmic thinking, unconsciously generating “natural algorithms” to tackle everyday challenges, such as planning a route or making decisions based on available data, evaluating options, and predicting outcomes. The correlation between mathematics, grammar, and the brains ability to create natural algorithms for solving daily problems reveals a shared reliance on structured logical thinking and generative creativity. This interconnectedness highlights the brains remarkable ability to abstract rules, recognize patterns, and develop natural algorithms to navigate the complexities of daily life. A logical proposition is that our young people must be well-versed in fundamental mathematics and written language proficiency for a single purpose: to train their cognitive engines to develop natural algorithms, and then artificial ones, which increasingly mimic the human brain. This way they can keep up with the times, which are being radically reshaped by humanitys computational capabilities. For parents, a logical takeaway is the idea of increasing their childrens instructional time in this cognitive set. What skills are most important? Calibrating the educational curriculum and workload has been a persistent challenge for educators. The current technological revolution makes this challenge even more pronounced. What is the correct workload for each subject to keep young people in step with evolution? Will mathematics, logic, and grammar gain more importance than subjects like history, geography, or chemistry? A realistic perspective considers these skills as foundational as others, which are also taught in knowledge blockslessons, sections, chapters, umbered exercises, and, ultimately, structured intervals. Indeed, this structure is what students use globally, with tools like Google and now ChatGPT to support their studies (in best-case scenario). Value creation We are not looking for passive users if we aim for a better world. Technologies based on set theory, grammar, and logic were the foundation for social media and other revolutionary applications in recent years. Billions around the world improved their cultural awareness and their daily life, but we cant exactly say that these applications created value for all of them. The common usability of AI, such as addressing everyday inquiries, solving household essentials, drafting texts, creating videos, or using preset tools in the workplace, will certainly deliver significant benefits to the general population, much like its predecessor technologies did. However, this time, technology should go further by driving value creation that is more equally distributed, enhancing economic output for people around the world. Rodrigo Magnago is the director of rere.eco.
Category:
E-Commerce
All news |
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||