The music industry is changing rapidly, with new trends and technologies, platforms and opportunities at every turn. The industry is always searching for the next big thing. But some things will always hold true. Music will always lift us up and push culture forward. Artists will always be driven to create. And labels and creative entrepreneurs will always work to help artists find their voice and niche.
Ten, twenty, or thirty years from now, as artists pour their soul into new tracks, taking risks and pushing boundaries, they’ll continue to need partners in search of the common denominator — partners who can manage their rights efficiently, who can open doors to new opportunities, and who help them monetize their music in the most optimal ways. Perhaps most importantly, they’ll need partners who understand the complexities of licensing deeply.
That's where Downtown comes in.
A cornerstone of our work is helping clients monetize their music, and it all starts with the deal — the partnership — the license. Licensing provides the framework under which we can help clients monetize their music across our partners' platforms. As consumer behavior shifts, digital platforms proliferate and cross-rights catalogs expand, we remain laser-focused on providing thoughtful licensing opportunities that make it easy and transparent for our clients and partners to manage and monetize their music. This ensures that they not only reach the widest audience and generate maximum returns but also thrive in an evolving landscape.
As I step into the Chief Commercial Officer role this month, a core priority is to continue empowering artists by creating new opportunities for their work to reach the world. What would make our clients' lives easier? How can we help labels reach the right audience for the music they invest in? What product and tech support do our DSP partners require? What can we build that levels our clients and the industry as a whole up? The execution of our licenses and partnerships through technology and services is where we excel. And it's where we’ll always invest to ensure we serve our clients well.
We understand that the relationship between artists, labels, and DSPs is a constant negotiation. Balancing the creative vision of our clients and the operational needs of the platforms is no easy challenge: Clients are asked to continuously meet new metadata and asset standards; DSPs must curate their offerings to ensure the best user experience in a highly competitive and ever-expanding universe of formats. But it’s also a privilege. We thrive on easing this natural tension, helping both sides make the most of these challenges confidently. Ultimately, it’s about ensuring that the creators and rights holders receive the income they deserve.
This is why we continue to invest aggressively in the constellation of products and services that make up our platform. It’s why we’re the natural home for forward-thinking creators. And it’s why the music industry lives here.
Our commitment to innovation is woven into every aspect of our platform, where clients can effortlessly view all their revenue streams in a single place — whether they’re a publisher, a self-releasing artist, an entertainment company, or an indie label that’s been at it since the ‘70s. Our fully interoperable system is designed for minimum hassle and maximum transparency. We’ve surfaced more licensing opportunities than any other platform, and rather than pocketing unmatched income, we’ve reinvested millions in new tools and technologies to ensure accurate payouts. Our recently launched Royalties and Financial Services division is dedicated to getting creators and rights holders paid what they’re owed sooner, and across the different right types.
Beyond the hype, the newest apps, and the latest consumer trends, artists, music and fans remain constant. Creators will keep composing, fans will keep listening, and many parties will keep needing access to that music. We serve that intersection. Downtown seamlessly manages music, metadata, access, marketing, and remuneration all in one place. We’ll always be here for the risk-takers who step into the arena, the bold ones who get up at dawn to put their art into the world.
David Driessen
Chief Commercial Officer, Downtown Music
