Michael Simon, President & CEO of HFA, discusses the ever-changing landscape of the music industry and how Music Services serves our clients in adapting to the constant innovation.
Throughout my career, I’ve observed a fascinating pattern: every time a new creation or distribution technology emerges, our industry immediately prophesies its own demise.
Remember when cassette tapes were going to destroy the music business? Record companies went so far as to print skulls and crossbones on vinyl inner sleeves with ominous warnings about the dangers of home taping. Fast forward to today, and that panic seems quaint compared to the challenges posed by AI and emerging media.
Our Music Services division brings together a powerhouse lineup of companies and services to support every corner of the music ecosystem — from creators and publishers to labels and platforms. Whether it’s tech, licensing, or back-end admin, we’re the behind-the-scenes pros helping the industry run smoothly.
At Music Services, we’ve learned to recognize and manage these cycles of disruption and adaptation. They follow a remarkably consistent pattern: massive technological disruption, followed by heated debates about rights, rates, and revenue – intended to balance the interests of all contributors to the emerging ecosystem. Revenue grows, interests are balanced, investments are made, and the cycle begins anew with the next innovation.
