December 22, 2014Vol 1 | Issue 8

The Best of the Best in 2014

For the past year, SoundExchange has released specialty charts to coincide with holidays

and events celebrated around the country (Valentine’s Day, Michael Jackson’s Birthday,

Halloween). And while SoundExchange will continue to release specialty charts in the future,

2014 brought the opportunity to leverage the rich and plentiful data SoundExchange collects

from more than 2,500 digital radio services. Thanks to the hard work of several different

SoundExchange departments, we are excited to present our first annual year-end digital

streaming charts.

So before we get to 2015, let’s take some time to celebrate music’s biggest accomplishments in

2014. Without further ado, here are three exclusive charts revealing the top streaming artists, top

breakout artists and top tracks from the past year.

www.soundexchange.com1

In This IssueThe Best of the Best in 2014 1

On the Hill & In the Know 3

2014 Rewind 4

World, Meet Oh Honey 5

Events 6

2 www.soundexchange.com | December 22, 2014

The charts are based on data reported to SoundExchange from digital radio services including satellite

radio (such as Sirius XM), Internet radio (such as Pandora and iHeartRadio), and cable radio (such as

Music Choice). The recordings featured were played between September 1, 2013 and August 31, 2014.

For an artist to be featured on the “Breakout Artist” chart, 100% of their total royalties earned from

SoundExchange must have been earned starting on September 1, 2013; the Breakout Artist rankings are

based on royalties earned in the period September 1, 2013-August 31, 2014.

3 www.soundexchange.com | December 22, 2014

On the Hill & In the Know

2014 has been a big year in Congress for SoundExchange. We have actively advocated for sound

recording artist rights during the ongoing Congressional copyright review and led the effort to enact

legislation to ensure that sound recording artists get fair pay for air play.

Music Licensing HearingThis year, the House Judiciary Committee held 14 hearings on copyright, two of which specifically

covered music licensing. SoundExchange CEO Michael Huppe testified in June, stressing the

underlying strength of the existing statutory licensing system, the central role that SoundExchange plays

in administering it, and how we can improve our current music licensing environment to make it fair,

easier to use and market-based both for the services that are built on it and the artists that depend on

it. Michael called on Congress to stop “picking winners and losers” and to ensure that recording artists

get fairly compensated when their music is played — regardless of whether it is heard over terrestrial,

Internet or satellite radio and irrespective of when their music was recorded.

Project72The national Project72 campaign championed the cause of ensuring fair pay for artists who recorded

before 1972 and backed the RESPECT Act, legislation that would require equal treatment for recordings

from this iconic era of music. The RESPECT Act was co-sponsored by 16 Members of Congress — both

Republicans and Democrats — and was the focus of a launch event on Capitol Hill in May at which

Martha Reeves, Richie Furay, Mark Farner, and Roger McGuinn performed. The RESPECT Act also

figured prominently in both testimony and questioning from Members of Congress at the second music

licensing hearing in the House.

Terrestrial Performance RightSoundExchange has also been educating Members of Congress on the importance of providing a

general performance right in sound recordings that covers terrestrial FM radio. Currently, performers in

the United States are only paid when their sound recordings are performed via digital radio — they do

not enjoy a full performance right. SoundExchange continues to advocate for legislation that would

provide recording artists and record labels with the right to be paid royalties when their work is played

publicly, whether on digital or non-digital formats.

The Year AheadLooking forward to 2015 and the start of the 114th Congress, things are not going to slow down

for SoundExchange. The House Judiciary Committee is wrapping up the hearing stage of its

comprehensive copyright review. Chairman Goodlatte (R-VA) has said that it’s too early to say what form

the next step will take, but that his committee will want input from all stakeholders. SoundExchange

will continue to make sure that the voices of recording artists and record labels are heard at every step

along the way.

4 www.soundexchange.com | December 22, 2014

Off the Hill, there are a number of other issues of interest we can expect to encounter in the coming

year. The United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will issue its White Paper on the

Copyright Policy, Creativity, and Innovation in the Digital Economy. This report will provide legislative

and administrative recommendations, and may well include recommendations impacting sound

recording artists.

Also of great significance, the Copyright Royalty Board will continue the Web IV proceedings, and will

announce by the end of 2015 the royalty rates for eligible services for 2016-2020. We can also expect

more progress at the Copyright Office. The Office is continuing its technical upgrade, as well as working

on a rewrite of the Compendium of Office Practices and Policies. We expect the Copyright Office to

issue its long-awaited report on music licensing, which is of special importance to SoundExchange.

2015 is going to be an exciting time for SoundExchange’s advocacy efforts, and we look forward to

sharing updates with you as these issues progress.

2014 Rewind

SoundExchange had another banner year in 2014. And with all that took place and everything we

accomplished, it would be too long to sum up with just words. So instead, SoundExchange has put

together a highlight film that will take you back through 2014. Check it out by clicking on the image

below.

5 www.soundexchange.com | December 22, 2014

World, Meet Oh Honey

Chances are, if you heard any popular music in the 1990s or 2000s, you are aware of the bands Fall Out

Boy and Eve 6. And if you are a big fan of either of these groups, you probably know that the names

were based on characters from TV shows (The Simpsons and The X-Files, respectively). So what does

duo Mitchy Collins and Danielle Bouchard, who make up the band “Oh Honey,” have in common

with the Fall Out Boy and Eve 6? Well other than the fact that they got their name from the Katy Perry

character on the now wrapped How I Met Your Mother, they are also on the rise — and fast. Their 2013

debut single “Be Okay” took off and propelled the band into the spotlight.

Mitchy says he was “born with a guitar in his hand” and grew up around music. Old photos show him

strumming his mom’s guitar from a very early age. As a young child, Mitchy was influenced by the sounds

of Bruce Springsteen and Michael Jackson and knew music was the only path for him. For Danielle,

theatre and musical theatre were her introduction to the arts. The theatre experience led her to voice and guitar

lessons and high school brought the influence of singer-songwriters like Regina Spektor, Ingrid Michaelson and

Sara Bareilles. Following high school, she pursued acting in college but continued writing songs.

As for how the two came together to form Oh Honey, they met at a show just over three years ago

(confirmed via Danielle’s TimeHop app) after knowing of each other through similar social circles. When

Mitchy was looking to put together an official band, a friend of his knew he was looking for a singing

counterpart and suggested Danielle. After hearing Danielle sing, Mitchy was sold.

Despite living across the country from one another (Mitchy lives in Los Angeles while Danielle lives in Brooklyn),

the two continue creating and recording new music. If their laid back attitude, fun personalities and powerful

indie pop sound are any indication, there’s no question this duo is going to “be okay” moving forward.

For more on the band, check out their website here and be sure to follow them on Twitter here.

6 www.soundexchange.com | December 22, 2014

Events

The NAMM Show

Anaheim, California

January 22-25

Maximizing Music Royalties with SoundExchange

January 24, 2 pm

This is a must attend for any recording artist who wants to plug into the fastest growing royalty source

in the music industry. Grammy winning artist/producer David Pack interviews SoundExchange CEO

Michael Huppe on everything artists need to know about this breakthrough independent digital

performance rights organization with a mission to support, protect and propel the music industry

forward by digital revenue streams. Expect to see special guests perform and discussion from the artist’s

point of view.

57th GRAMMY® Week

Los Angeles, California

February 2-8

DEW Digital Entertainment World

Los Angeles, California

February 10-12

SXSW 2015

Austin, Texas

March 13-22, 2015