Universal Music’s global head of digital business has spoken out strongly against the practice of album ‘windowing’ where an LP is withheld from streaming services for a period after release.
“Us trying to implement windowing in our business is a complete disaster,” said Francis Keeling at Music Ally’s 2013 A Survival Guide event in London last night.
“It is the wrong thing to do and can only alienate the fanbases,” he added.
Streaming services have been embraced by Universal artists to varying degrees with Rihanna’s Unapologetic being a notable absentee on the digital platforms.
Keeling also showed support for ad-funded digital models saying, “Advertising is not something we should be afraid of. We should embrace it, and use it to fund a lot of what we’re doing.”
Also at the Music Ally event, FAC co-CEO Crispin Hunt flagged up the need for transparency when it comes to making deals with streaming services.
“Artists have to be included in that, or we won’t be able to make art any more,” he said.
Via: Music Ally
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