InnerCat Music Group

“What Else Do We Do…”

Yani Sanchez — Mon, 21 Aug 2023 16:56:00 +0000

From Left to Right: Aurelio Morales, Carlos Garcia, Tony Moreno, Cheo, Julio Gonzalez, Dagoberto Fernandez (Drago)

“What Else Do We Do…”

August 21, 2023

DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION

How do we do it? We started by building our own server farm, and designed everything from the ground up the way WE knew it should be. Because of that, we’re able to push music accurately and effectively to over 60 DSPs worldwide. Whether you’re an independent artist or an independent label, InnerCat is built for YOU. We can also distribute video content whether it’s going to YouTube, VEVO, Apple Music, and/or TIDAL.

We’re diligent about having all metadata in perfect order before a release so that the artist or label will earn everything they’re entitled to for the content they have worked so hard to create. We also have a full graphics team in-house, so if the artist needs artwork for their release we’ve got it covered. Actually everything is in-house which allows for fast turnaround, from content upload to delivery. And we provide monthly accounting of all releases including a breakdown by DSP.

NO INTERMEDIARIES.

We push content directly to all partners. That means nothing can get changed between when we receive the release assets and when the world hears or sees the final product. This ensures proper tracking of royalties.

MONTHLY REPORTING & ANALYTICS

Every month we send a detailed breakdown of the artist’s streaming activity and royalty payments from every DSP we connect with.

DDEX TECHNOLOGY

InnerCat has been a long-standing partner of DDEX and actively contributes to working groups aimed at enhancing these standards. We adhere to the gold standard in our content delivery process to ensure that our content is efficiently distributed to stores.

DIGITAL MARKETING

We develop marketing plans with a focus on digital engagement. Our digital team is Google-Certified and specializes in music.

REAL-TIME ANALYTICS

We believe that data is the foundation of learning and evolution. InnerCat Music’s digital team is constantly developing tools for measurement and analytics that range from custom landing pages to Google Analytics 360 dashboards.

AUDIENCE REMARKETING TOOLS

Remarketing is the process of putting the right content in front of a predefined audience based on their previous interactions. We use remarketing audience groups that are constantly updated from the traffic on our 170 million+ user network.

NEIGHBORING RIGHTS

InnerCat Music Group has developed advanced metadata standardization tools in order to facilitate and maximize the collection of neighboring rights for performers and labels. We combine innovative technology and our direct partnerships with specific collection societies to ensure no royalties remain uncollected. Our fully integrated management system facilitates the fast identification of mandates, lineups, licensing periods and defective playlist records, while also allowing us to audit and match performers and/or labels repertoires at lightning speed.

PUBLISHING

We provide administrative and co-publishing services such as registering songs with performance rights organizations, collecting royalties, enforcing copyright, and looking for sync opportunities.

LABS

InnerCat Labs is where we create the technology to help content creators share, promote, and monetize their creative output.

PLAY & FOLLOW

An interactive landing page building tool designed to simplify the user experience.

VEVO

InnerCat Music Group has a dedicated VEVO CMS to accurately ingest and track video assets.

OTT

We built a proprietary OTT platform to stream and monetize long form proprietary video content.

METADATA

Our in-house server farm allows an efficient workflow from content upload to delivery in stores as well as high volume metadata transformations and checkpoints.

LABEL SERVICES

For labels that don’t have the resources to provide full-service back office support to their clients, InnerCat can provide these solutions in a white label environment with our technical support.

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“What Is Channel Management”

Yani Sanchez — Mon, 14 Aug 2023 15:26:00 +0000

From Left to Right: Aurelio Morales, Carlos Garcia, Tony Moreno, Cheo, Julio Gonzalez, Dagoberto Fernandez (Drago)

“What Is Channel Management”

August 14, 2023

YouTube Channel Management and Optimization involves the strategies and techniques used to effectively manage and improve the performance of a YouTube channel. It can include tasks such as content creation, video production, audience engagement, channel branding, and channel analytics analysis. The goal of YouTube Channel Management and Optimization is to attract more viewers, increase watch time, and ultimately, grow the channel’s subscriber base. It involves optimizing video titles, descriptions, tags, and custom thumbnails for search engine visibility and audience engagement. Additionally, it involves analyzing viewer engagement metrics such as watch time, retention rates, and click-through rates to make data-driven decisions on content creation and audience targeting. Effective YouTube Channel Management and Optimization requires a deep understanding of the platform and its audience, along with consistent effort and dedication to producing quality content and engaging with viewers.

As an overview, when we manage an artist’s YouTube channel, it includes the following:

Bringing the channel into our Multi Channel Network This will ensure that any ads being served across the channel will receive the highest rates.

Audit We will conduct a channel audit, which involves examining the subscriber list to determine active subscribers and assessing the condition of all channel assets, including master and publishing, metadata, end cards, and more.

Releases We can upload your new video to the channel with proper metadata, end cards, and branding.

VEVO We can create a VEVO channel for the artist, which offers two significant benefits: a fixed monetization rate and the ability to replace videos without losing accrued views. As we have direct access to the VEVO CMS, we can upload videos directly. By merging the artist’s YouTube channel with the VEVO channel, we can create an Official Artist Channel (OAC) that consolidates all official videos and music onto a single channel page.

Advice and Strategy We’re available to talk to you and your artists about best practices and ways to create maximum engagement on your channels.

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“Data + Details = $$$”

Yani Sanchez — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 15:22:00 +0000

From Left to Right: Aurelio Morales, Carlos Garcia, Tony Moreno, Cheo, Julio Gonzalez, Dagoberto Fernandez (Drago)

“Data + Details = $$$”

August 07, 2023

To understand today’s music trends is to understand the data that drives them. Data plays a crucial role in the music industry today, as it helps artists, record labels, and streaming platforms make informed decisions about how to market, distribute, and monetize music. Data analytics, in particular, have revolutionized the way the industry operates by providing insights and information that were once unavailable.

In the music industry, data analytics on streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube play a crucial role in analyzing consumer behavior. These platforms track the number of times a song or video is played, enabling them to identify popular and less popular content. This information is then utilized to generate customized playlists, radio stations, and recommendations, ultimately driving the visibility and popularity of particular songs and artists. By leveraging data, record labels and artists gain insights into their audience, empowering them to tailor their marketing strategies for optimal impact.

Apart from aiding in marketing and distribution, data is also employed to monitor royalties and payments to songwriters and artists, guaranteeing fair payment for their contributions to a song. This process is crucial in preventing exploitation and ensuring that artists receive their rightful royalties for their artistic efforts.

Furthermore, data is utilized to monitor the demographics and behavior of music listeners, allowing record labels and streaming platforms to pinpoint new trends and target specific audiences. This can result in the discovery of emerging artists. For instance, if a streaming platform observes a surge in the popularity of a particular genre, it may choose to invest in and promote artists in that genre. Paris Cabezas, the CEO and Managing Partner of InnerCat Music Group, explains that “Data can detect significant changes in engagement. It captures an artist’s current status of development, presenting it on a dashboard that aids in making decisions and giving the artist a chance to emerge.”

Moreover, data can help the streaming platforms optimize the revenue streams through advertising, subscriptions, and other forms of monetization. The DSPs can use this data to understand their users’ preferences and behavior, which in turn can help them target ads to the right audiences and increase their revenue.

Data is no longer just a tool for tracking and analysis – it is a strategic asset that can be used to gain a competitive advantage. The music industry has become more data-driven and it is essential for artists, record labels, and streaming platforms to understand and utilize data in order to stay relevant and successful in today’s music industry. With the continued technological growth of the industry, it is clear that data will continue to play a key role in shaping the future of music.

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“Let’s Get Digital The Transformation From Physical Distribution To Digital”

Yani Sanchez — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 16:28:51 +0000

From Left to Right: Aurelio Morales, Carlos Garcia, Tony Moreno, Cheo, Julio Gonzalez, Dagoberto Fernandez (Drago)

“Let’s Get Digital The Transformation From Physical Distribution To Digital”

July 31, 2023

We are in a generation where radios, audio cassettes and the Walkman are regarded more as antique memorabilia than devices to play music. In the last 20 years alone, the music industry has made a dramatic turn toward digital, with a bright technological future. Music is an essential component of almost every industry. Consider the last time you went to a store, restaurant, or even a doctor’s office without hearing some form of music. Due to the demand and necessity of music, digital platforms have made it easily accessible for anyone to enjoy from almost anywhere in the world. “The Playlist,” the recent streaming series, explores this shift and depicts the challenging transformation from physical distribution to streaming from the perspective of record labels. It took time for record labels to fully embrace this new way of delivering and promoting music since it went against the traditional methods of music royalty collection and outreach. Today, purchasing music is practically non-existent. Instead, you pay for a service that grants you access to all the music in the world at any time of day with just a click of a button. Streaming allows you to create your own music collection with playlist tools and liking capabilities that save your favorite music to your account for on-demand playback. Streaming services have opened up a world where consumers have easy access to vast catalogs of music they have never been exposed to before, expanding a fan’s musical palette to discover new genres, artists, and communities. When InnerCat recognized that the tide was changing towards a more technological approach, we didn’t back down. Although transitioning from CD manufacturing to a digital distributor wasn’t easy, we had the platform and infrastructure to

educate and convert our artists and products to this new form of music consumption and marketing. Every day, we discover new and innovative ways to maximize our artists’ music exposure with the freedom we have in today’s digital ecosystem. Our daily mission is to promote music across all genres on all platforms, reaching both new and established audiences globally.

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“InnerCat Turns 10 A Night We Will Never Forget!”

Yani Sanchez — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:21:29 +0000

From Left to Right: Aurelio Morales, Carlos Garcia, Tony Moreno, Cheo, Julio Gonzalez, Dagoberto Fernandez (Drago)

“InnerCat Turns 10 A Night We Will Never Forget!”

July 24, 2023

To commence our Ten Year Anniversary, we threw an extraordinary celebration that brought together clients, partners, family, and friends for an evening of networking and non-stop dancing. The legendary salsa musicians Gilberto Santa Rosa and Albita, as well as up-and-coming star Christian Alicea, put on spectacular performances that had everyone on their feet. The event would not have been complete without the incredible support of our host Sonja La Makina and the music selections of DJ Felva, who played some of InnerCat’s biggest hits all night long. Not only were we celebrating our 10-year milestone, but we also had a birthday celebration for our Managing Partner, Paris Cabezas. Latin Urban singer-rapper, Laurent, who is part of the InnerCat family, performed her single “El Equipo Más Duro ” dedicated to the InnerCat team. It was truly a night to remember, capturing the essence of the InnerCat brand and the impact we have made over the past decade. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who was able to attend, as well as those who were with us in spirit or have been part of our journey. A special thanks to the InnerCat team for their hard work in making the night a success. We will continue to celebrate this milestone throughout 2023. Follow our social media accounts to stroll down our memory lane and for special content and videos highlighting our journey and future plans.

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We Are A Music Boutique

Yani Sanchez — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 11:20:00 +0000

From Left to Right: Aurelio Morales, Carlos Garcia, Tony Moreno, Cheo, Julio Gonzalez, Dagoberto Fernandez (Drago)

“We Are A Music Boutique”

July 17, 2023

InnerCat is many things to the thousands of artists and labels we have on our roster. From Digital Distribution, YouTube Channel Management, Digital Marketing, and Catalog Management to Publishing and Neighboring Rights, we pride ourselves on being a one-stop-shop for all independent artists and labels.

One of the most common misconceptions that we get when beginning to work with an independent artist is that we are their record label. That is not always the case.

We, of course, have artists where we act as the label, but the majority of our artists act as their very own label. We encourage this type of business model because we want to be sure that the artist has complete control of the direction they want to take their music while we educate them on the best practices of the business.

What it means to be a record label:
A record label is generally responsible for financing the recording, mixing, and mastering of the artist’s music while providing guidance alongside the artists’ journey. They coordinate the distribution, promotion, and marketing strategy for each of the artist’s projects which can include touring, publicity, registrations, royalty collections, and the many other elements necessary for the roll-out of an artist’s career.

What it means to be a music distributor:

Music distributors are responsible for delivering music to the digital service providers (DSPs) for the public to be able to stream or download music worldwide. They work as the middleman between the artist and the DSPs to send the music to the stores, and pay the artist their share of the royalties.

What it means to work with InnerCat Music Group:

Here at InnerCat, we offer an array of services to our artists and labels that has evolved over the past 10 years. From solely digital distribution services, to complete 360 label management deals, our team is capable of providing that one-stop-shopping destination for independent artists and labels while empowering their career every step of the way.

We pride ourselves on the meticulous attention to detail when delivering content to the DSPs to provide correct writer and publisher information and to ensure no claims will affect the music’s monetization. Our goal is to establish beneficial partnerships on both ends and provide a platform where each artist can reach their full potential while working alongside us.

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The Idea For InnerCat Music Group Didn’t Happen Overnight

Jenny Fernandez — Mon, 01 May 2023 15:00:00 +0000

From Left to Right: Aurelio Morales, Carlos Garcia, Tony Moreno, Cheo, Julio Gonzalez, Dagoberto Fernandez (Drago)

The Idea For InnerCat Didn’t Happen Overnight

May 1, 2023

It began a long time ago in Cuba, where at an early age our founder, Julio Gonzalez, learned on the job about music manufacturing. He took that knowledge and relocated to Venezuela where he partnered with, and helped grow, Velvet Records into one of the strongest labels in the region. Always staying up to date on the latest technology at the time, over the next several years Julio was also instrumental in setting up manufacturing, printing, duplication and replication facilities for clients around the world.

In 1993 Julio relocated his family to Miami, and in 1994, with his daughter Ana Gonzalez, they built Mastercom/CD Depot. Having seen the evolution from eight-track to cassette to vinyl, he was prepared for the transition to CD. Over the next few years, Master- com/CD Depot developed into a manufacturer of CD duplication and replication technology. However, as the new millennium began, they saw that music consumption was evolving at a rapid adapt to the next iteration of the recorded music industry.

2012 was the official year InnerCat Music Group was born. They quickly transitioned to a new model, building out a dedicated server farm, renting then buying cloud storage, and digitizing their entire catalog. Today we aggregate and distribute content directly to over 60 DSPs worldwide. We provide digital marketing to some of the biggest artists currently on the charts across all genres. We help clients find money that they’ve earned and deserve to recover. And we’re constantly developing new technology and processes to ensure that we’re doing our absolute best for the artists and labels who entrust us with their content.

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Meet the Women of InnerCat!

Jenny Fernandez — Wed, 01 Mar 2023 15:25:50 +0000

MEET THE WOMEN OF INNERCAT

Empowering Women, March 1, 2023

Throughout the month of March we celebrate the contributions of women to events in history and contemporary society while also empowering the women of today. In honor of Women’s History Month, we would love to present the women that make up our team and who break the mold every single day. From different walks of life, generations and cultures, these women are key in the success of our company. Thank you for your hard work and dedication.
This month, we celebrate you!

Elevating artists and labels to stratospheric heights, Ana Gonzalez is a force to be reckoned with. Learning the trade from her father it didn’t take long for Ana to distinguish herself. Her drive and excellence in creative direction is key in the success of our artists’ development and our projects. A Latin Grammy winner and Billboard Indie Power Player, if Ana puts her mind to it – she achieves it.

Margarita is the lifeblood of InnerCat, and she is widely considered to be the most beloved member of the team. Her warm personality and delicious cafecitos are a hit with clients, partners, and labels alike, and her legendary dance moves during listening sessions are always a highlight. She truly brings the team together and leaves a lasting impression on everyone she meets.

From Intern to Content Manager and now Director of Product Marketing, Jenny has always been up for the challenge. Joining the InnerCat team in 2016 after graduating with a BA in Music Business from FIU, it didn’t take long for her to learn the ropes and become the go-to person for anything and everything. Ever so charismatic, Jenny wins the hearts of everyone who comes through our doors and her passion for music allows her to understand each artist on a deeper level.

The Godmother of InnerCat, CD Depot and Mastercom! Virginia has been with InnerCat since before its inception, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Starting as a receptionist, Virginia soon took over finances and spearheaded corporate branding merchandise for InnerCat and partner companies. Virginia is also the mastermind behind all company pranks – we leave it to her to keep everyone on their toes.

Data Manager by day, breakout artist by night. Lauren has the best of both worlds. Arriving at InnerCat with manager Julio Millor as a new artist, it didn’t take long for the team to fall in love with her and keep her for ourselves. Focusing on learning the ins and outs of the industry before embarking on her solo career, Lauren’s passion for music seeps through everything she does.

One of InnerCat’s pioneers, Patricia joined InnerCat before it even had a name, back when we were known as CD Depot. She was no stranger to the music industry. Working as a designer for a record label back in Cuba, she was equipped with the skill set to help establish the InnerCat brand. Eight years later, Patricia continues to help push us to the next level and looks forward to diving into the InnerCat Films division.

Nothing like walking into the InnerCat Live to get a first row seat for a beautiful performance – and its not from an artist. Yani has always been a dancer, but it wasn’t until the pandemic that she decided to embark on a new career path: coding. It didn’t take long for her to join the InnerCat family programming Play and Follow for Artists, websites, and many other applications.Yani is a true example of drive and dedication.

As InnerCat’s Media Coordinator, Mariella has demonstrated her love for the industry with her drive to expand into new projects and dive straight into the deep end. With public relations experience in her holster, Mariella has been able to utilize her skills to develop the Public Relations division at InnerCat to help empower InnerCat artists and to provide creative ways to expose our brand through her expertise in social media.

After a long career in audiovisual media in Venezuela working with an array of artists it didn’t take long for Adriana to land on InnerCat’s radar. Currently in charge of the audiovisual production of InnerCat Films, Adriana’s work has stood out for being efficient, timely and of high quality to satisfy the demands of different international artists. Videos, movies, photoshoots…you name it – she’s got it covered.

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In Loving Memory of Julio Gonzalez

Jenny Fernandez — Wed, 01 Feb 2023 15:54:27 +0000

Dear Valued Clients and Partners,

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Julio Gonzalez, our co-founder and Managing Partner. A beloved leader, mentor, and friend, Julio was the heart and soul of our company.

A music industry veteran, Julio personally experienced the evolution of the industry from vinyl to tape, cassette, and CD before embracing the shift to digital formats. Introduced to the industry through his older brother who worked at Gema, a record factory and label owned by the legendary Guillermo Alvarez-Guedes, Julio quickly became passionate about the ever changing industry. Starting his career at the young age of 14, Julio honed his skills for over 20 years at the venerable Velvet Records in Venezuela. Relocating to Miami with his family in 1993, he quickly regrouped and in 1994, with his daughter Ana Gonzalez, they built Mastercom/CD Depot, focusing on what he knew best: CD duplication and replication technology.

Building on their success, Julio and Ana envisioned an innovative way of keeping music consumption relevant during the industry’s shift towards digital formats. With Paris Cabezas, in 2012, they founded InnerCat Music Group to focus on digital music distribution. Working with renowned artists including Gilberto Santa Rosa, Albita, Marc Anthony, Maffio and many others, the company led by Julio has now grown into an independent artist powerhouse offering an array of services to artists and labels across the globe. Even at the age of 83, he continued to come to the office every day to offer his wisdom and insights to our team.

We appreciate your patience and understanding during this difficult time.

With much love,

The InnerCat Family

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Artificial Streams Aren’t Your Friend!

Jenny Fernandez — Tue, 10 Jan 2023 15:14:26 +0000

Artificial Streams Aren’t Your Friend!

January 10, 2023

As a content creator, you are constantly targeted with offers for way to increase your streams and plays on the various Digital Service Providers (DSPs). Of course, it’s tempting, because as a developing artist you’re looking at any and all ways to increase your fanbase and engagement. However, as the saying goes, “if it sounds too good to be true, it usually is….”

Third parties that promise playlist placements or a specific number of streams in exchange for financial compensation are most likely using illegitimate methods without your knowledge.These can include bots, hijacked accounts, and other methods, and the only thing they result in are “fake streams.” Not only is this illegal, but you also don’t make money or earn real fans with these types of streams.

At InnerCat Music Group, this is something we take very seriously. We are very protective of the artists and labels we service and go to great lengths to prevent artificial streams and other predatory practices that target our clients.

Our DSP streaming partners work diligently to ensure that their streams are legitimate, meaning that they reflect genuine user listening intent. If one of these partners finds that you, or a third party hired by you or on your behalf, have boosted play counts through any automated, deceptive, or fraudulent means, that DSP can and often will remove your entire catalog. They may also ban you from ever releasing product on their platform again.

InnerCat is here to protect you from these types of practices and help you build a legitimate, engaged audience. Don’t put your music – and your career – at risk. Just remember, there are no shortcuts….

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