#1 Bandsintown Adds Presales Feature for Artists

Bandsintown’s new “Presales” feature allows artists to promote tour ticket presales, with a premium “White Glove” version for larger artists. Fans can sign up for notifications and receive alerts when presales go live. The feature is integrated with Bandsintown’s recommendation engine and partnerships with Spotify, Google, and Apple. It’s free to use through 2024, with SMS alerts becoming chargeable in 2025 as part of Bandsintown’s business model.

#2 Apple’s ‘Concert for One’ to Debut on Vision Pro

Apple’s next immersive experience for its Vision Pro headset is ‘Concert for One,’ premiering on November 22. This series will feature intimate filmed performances, starting with British artist Raye. Available on Vision Pro with spatial audio on Apple Music, it aims to offer high-quality, personal music experiences. This initiative follows previous VR concert trends but stands out due to Apple’s focus on top-tier production values.

#3 Spotify Introduces Monetisation for Video Podcasters

Spotify’s new monetisation program for video podcasters allows creators to earn from ads and premium video revenue. Available in select countries from January, it’s driven by Spotify’s growing video podcast viewership. The program promises not to affect music royalties and includes features like customisable thumbnails and enhanced analytics. It follows Spotify’s push to expand video content, with over 300,000 video podcasts now available.

#4 TikTok’s First UK & Ireland Awards to Include Music

TikTok will host its first UK & Ireland Awards in December, celebrating creators across multiple categories, including music. A key highlight will be the “Breakthrough Artist of the Year” award, which recognises six emerging musicians who have gained significant attention through TikTok in 2024. The event will showcase TikTok’s growing influence in the music industry, highlighting how the platform has become a major tool for music discovery and promotion.

#5 UK Government Supports Ticket Levy for Grassroots Venues

The UK government is backing a voluntary levy on stadium and arena tickets to fund grassroots music venues. The levy aims to support artists and promoters, with the potential to become statutory if the industry doesn’t reach a consensus. The initiative is designed to sustain the UK’s live music ecosystem, with a proposed rollout in 2025. Live music body “Live” is working on plans for a fund to distribute the revenues.

#1 Deezer Expands DAX Partnership in the U.S.

Deezer has extended its partnership with Global to utilise the DAX digital audio ads exchange in the U.S., building on their existing UK collaboration. This move aims to boost Deezer’s presence in the U.S. market through DAX’s advertiser network. In the first half of 2024, Deezer’s advertising revenue totaled €9.6m. DAX’s other partners include TuneIn, AccuRadio, and LiveOne, and it also provides ads for podcasts on platforms like Spotify and Pandora.

#2 Spotify Reports Record Operating Profit for Q3 2024

Spotify’s Q3 2024 results show a record operating profit of €454m, up from €266m in Q2. The platform now has 252 million premium subscribers and 402 million free users, marking year-on-year growth of 12% and 11%. Spotify’s total monthly active users reached 640 million, an 11% increase from last year. Revenue grew to €3.99bn, driven by a 21% rise in premium subscriptions. 

#3 Audiomack Hits 10 Million Daily Active Users

Audiomack has reached a milestone of 10 million daily active users globally, announced by its founder on LinkedIn. This daily active user figure is a key indicator of engagement, highlighting consistent platform use. Audiomack previously reported 17 million monthly active users in 2021, but daily metrics reflect stronger user engagement and increasing popularity in the competitive streaming landscape.

#4 Tencent Music Hits 119 Million Paying Subscribers in Q3 2024

Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) reported Q3 2024 revenue of RMB 7.02bn, a 6.8% increase from last year. The company saw a 15.5% rise in paying users, reaching 119 million, with music subscription revenue growing by 20.3% to RMB 3.84bn. TME now boasts over 10 million Super VIP subscribers, paying significantly more for premium features. While monthly active users slightly declined, the revenue growth underscores TME’s strong position as a leading music streaming service in China.

#5 Spotify and Apple Music Launch 'Share to TikTok' Feature

Spotify and Apple Music have introduced the “Share to TikTok” feature, allowing users to share music, podcasts, and audiobooks directly to TikTok. Content can be posted on TikTok feeds or sent as direct messages, with links back to the original platform. The feature complements the existing “Add to Music App” tool, which has driven millions of track saves and streams across music services.

#1 Meta Reports Strong Growth and Threads Milestone

Meta’s Q3 2024 results show impressive growth with revenue up 19% year-on-year to $40.59 billion and net profit reaching $15.59 billion. Daily active users (DAP) across Meta’s apps grew by 5% to 3.29 billion. Instagram’s Threads app hit a major milestone, surpassing 275 million monthly active users, growing by over a million sign-ups per day. CEO Mark Zuckerberg noted increased engagement, positioning Threads as Meta’s next major social platform.

#2 TikTok Expands ‘Add to Music App’ with Album Pre-Saves

TikTok is testing a new album pre-save feature within its ‘Add to Music App’ function, allowing users to add upcoming albums to their Apple Music or Spotify libraries. TikTok confirmed the feature is in beta, aiming to boost album pre-saves alongside song discovery on the app. The new feature is a strategic addition, turning music discovery into full-album streams, playlist additions, and library saves—a move aimed at supporting artists and engaging music fans.

#3 Apple Music Unveils Holiday Playlists and Exclusive Covers

With the holidays approaching, Apple Music has launched festive playlists and exclusive covers to spread seasonal cheer. The seven new playlists include “Holiday Piano,” “Cozy Christmas,” “Christmas Chill,” “New in Holiday,” “A Very Gospel Christmas,” “A LoFi Holiday,” and “Mistletoe.” These playlists provide listeners with a range of options to set the holiday mood.

#4 YouTube Grows Ad Revenue and Subscribers

Alphabet’s (the parent company of Google) Q3 2024 financial report reveals that YouTube’s ad revenue grew 12.2% year-on-year, totaling $8.92 billion. YouTube also surpassed $50 billion in combined ad and subscription revenue over the past year, thanks to subscription growth driven by YouTube TV, NFL Sunday Ticket, and YouTube Music Premium. The platform’s impressive financial performance underscores its role as a significant revenue driver for Alphabet and its fantastic position in the video streaming market.

#5 Snapchat Hits 443 Million Daily Active Users

Snapchat’s Q3 2024 results reveal the app added 11 million daily active users (DAUs), totalling 443 million worldwide. Growth in DAUs was especially strong outside North America, with a 15.6% rise in regions beyond Europe and North America. Time spent on Snapchat also grew by 25% year-on-year, and its premium subscription service, Snapchat+, doubled subscribers to over 12 million. Public sharing on Snapchat is increasing too, with users now posting over 1 billion snaps monthly.

#1 Spotify feature lets users create playlist cover art in-app

Spotify has introduced a new in-app feature that allows users to create playlist cover art, simplifying the process of crafting visually appealing images directly within the app. Users can now upload photos and enhance them with filters, text, and stickers, mirroring the functionalities of popular social media platforms. This feature aims to empower users to produce eye-catching artwork that resonates with current album aesthetics. However, while it democratises playlist curation, it also highlights Spotify’s ongoing integration of social media-like tools, sparking discussions on its identity as a music platform versus a social network.

#2 Global Music Merchandise Sales Face Growth Challenges

According to Midia Research, the global music merchandise market is projected to reach $16.3 billion annually by 2023, but growth is slowing, with an expected rise of only 1.6% by 2030. The report encompasses physical merchandise and digital items, including vinyl and CDs. Analyst Tatiana Cirisano warns that unofficial merchandise sales, such as fan-created items, significantly impact the market. With a substantial portion of purchases detached from the music industry, artists are encouraged to collaborate with fans to capitalise on these trends while being mindful of potential “overharvesting” of fandom.

#2 Global Music Merchandise Sales Face Growth Challenges

According to Midia Research, the global music merchandise market is projected to reach $16.3 billion annually by 2023, but growth is slowing, with an expected rise of only 1.6% by 2030. The report encompasses physical merchandise and digital items, including vinyl and CDs. Analyst Tatiana Cirisano warns that unofficial merchandise sales, such as fan-created items, significantly impact the market. With a substantial portion of purchases detached from the music industry, artists are encouraged to collaborate with fans to capitalise on these trends while being mindful of potential “overharvesting” of fandom.

#3 Apple Music Partners with China Mobile to Boost Subscriptions

Apple Music has forged a new partnership with China Mobile, facilitating easier subscription access for users via the app and retail locations. Given China’s challenging landscape for foreign streaming services, this move is expected to enhance Apple Music’s user base in a region dominated by local competitors Tencent Music and NetEase Cloud Music. With China Mobile’s extensive paying user base, Apple Music aims to attract subscribers, particularly from the middle class. However, the partnership also faces the complexities of censorship and content limitations inherent in the Chinese market.

#4 Google Unveils MusicFX DJ AI Tool with Jacob Collier

Google has launched a new interface for its MusicFX DJ AI tool, developed in collaboration with Grammy-winning artist Jacob Collier. This generative music creation tool allows users to mix prompts across instruments, genres, and emotions, creating a continuous live music stream. Collier emphasises the importance of flow in creativity, inspiring users to explore their musical visions. The updated interface streamlines user interaction, allowing for easy remixing and sharing of creations. This initiative underscores Google’s commitment to enhancing creative processes, offering tools for collaboration and artistic expression in music-making.

#5 Spotify Develops In-House Ad Exchange with a Video Focus

Spotify is reportedly developing its own automated ad exchange, initially targeting video content. This strategic move, highlighted by recent job postings related to advertising roles, reflects Spotify’s commitment to improving operational efficiency and profitability. The self-serve “Spotify Ad Exchange” aims to provide clients with direct access to advertising space, starting with a partnership with The Trade Desk. As Spotify expands its video advertising efforts, the platform also plans to broaden its offerings to include music and audiobooks, indicating a shift towards monetising ad-supported content amid slowing subscription growth in established markets.

#1 YouTube Music Enhances Social Interaction with New Features

YouTube is rolling out its Autumn refresh, introducing over 20 new features on YouTube Music. Later this year, users will have the option to vote on videos within playlists, enabling artists to engage fans in curating their favourite tracks. YouTube is also introducing gamification through superfan badges, rewarding users for milestones like being early paid members or top listeners, creating a more interactive experience for artists and fans alike.

#2 Apple Music Encourages Artists to Share Live Setlists

Apple Music has launched a feature allowing artists to turn their live setlists into playlists, shareable on Apple Music and Shazam concert pages. This builds on last year’s initiative that saw over 450 setlists from artists like Taylor Swift and Post Malone. Now available to all artists, this feature enhances concert promotion and listener engagement. Additionally, Bandsintown has integrated this functionality, strengthening its partnership with Apple Music and Shazam, thus expanding the visibility of artists’ live performances and setlists. READ MORE HERE.

#3 TikTok Reveal Electronic Music Insights

During the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE), TikTok and SoundCloud released new statistics on electronic music. TikTok reports a 70% increase in video creations featuring electronic music, particularly in genres like drum and bass, techno, and trance. The platform’s #ElectronicMusic hub, launched in the UK, is expanding globally, boosted by 3.5 billion views from Tomorrowland this year. SoundCloud noted a similar trend also.

#4 Instagram Introduces 'Add to Music App' Feature

Instagram is following TikTok’s lead by introducing a feature that simplifies adding songs to streaming libraries. Spotify announced an integration allowing users to capture and add songs from Instagram with a single tap, appearing when previewing a song. This development mirrors TikTok’s successful ‘Add to Music App,’ which supports various streaming platforms, including Apple Music and Amazon Music.

#5 Spotify Prepares for 2024 Wrapped Artist Engagement

Spotify is gearing up for its annual Wrapped promotion and encouraging artists to prepare for the 2024 event. A dedicated landing page outlines steps for artists, highlighting that 225 million listeners engaged with Wrapped in 2023. Artists are advised to record a 30-second clip for their top fans (read more here) as well as continue to keep their profile updated. The deadline for uploading clips is November 15, ensuring artists can maximise engagement and connection with their fans during this promotional campaign.

#1 UK's PPL Pays Over $21M to Artists in Q3 2024

UK music licensing body PPL distributed £16.5 million (around $21.6 million) to over 1,500 recording rights holders and 21,000 performers in Q3 2024, marking a 30% year-over-year increase. The payout, the largest since 2020, includes £2.3 million from VPL, PPL’s video licensing branch. With growing international reach, PPL credited the boost to partnerships with 110 collection management organisations worldwide.

#2 Spotify Introduces Free Tier in South Korea

Spotify has launched its free tier in South Korea, more than three years after entering the market in February 2021 with a subscription-only model. Gautam Talwar, Spotify’s General Manager for Asia Pacific, highlighted the platform’s growth, noting a 70% increase in Korean artist streams since launch, now surpassing 5.8 billion monthly streams. This free tier launch allows Spotify to better compete with local streaming giant Melon and YouTube Music, which has rapidly gained ground in South Korea’s competitive market.

#3 Beatport Streaming Adds Lossless FLAC Audio for DJs

Beatport Streaming now offers lossless FLAC audio for DJs through its Beatport Streaming Professional and Beatsource Streaming Pro+ plans. The service provides access to over 12 million and 7 million lossless tracks, respectively. Beatport’s lossless audio is already integrated into popular DJ tools like djay Pro, VirtualDJ, and Serato DJ Pro for Macs, with upcoming support for rekordbox and Traktor Pro. This upgrade enhances Beatport’s streaming platform by offering high-quality audio, critical for professional DJs alike.

#4 TikTok Deepens Apple Music Partnership with iOS 18.1 Update

TikTok and Apple Music have expanded their partnership with iOS 18.1, introducing a new feature that allows seamless sharing of Apple Music tracks directly to TikTok. Users can now share songs as videos, photos, or messages, with TikTok automatically linking the track to the post. This integration strengthens Apple Music’s presence on TikTok, following similar partnerships with Spotify and Amazon Music.

#5 Spotify and BAPE Team Up for Music and Streetwear Collaboration

Spotify has partnered with iconic streetwear brand A BATHING APE (BAPE) to celebrate global hip-hop and streetwear culture. The collaboration debuts with exclusive designs, including a reimagined Shark Hoodie and College Tee featuring BAPE’s signature camouflage and Spotify branding. BAPE will redesign the cover of Spotify’s Rap Caviar playlist, and billboard ads promoting the partnership will appear across the U.S. and U.K.

#1 TikTok Launches New 'Flip Stories' Feature for Creative Photo Sharing

TikTok has rolled out its new ‘Flip Stories’ feature, allowing users to post photos that reveal a second image when flipped, making it ideal for popular formats like “How it started / How it’s going” memes. The feature, now available to all creators, encourages new ways for users to tell stories through photos. Alongside its debut, TikTok has also introduced exclusive themed frames and content as part of an in-app experience. This latest update highlights TikTok’s ongoing efforts to expand its creative tools and enhance user engagement.

#2 YouTube Shorts Expands Video Length to 3 Minutes

YouTube Shorts is extending its video length limit to three minutes starting October 15, tripling the previous cap of 60 seconds. This update follows similar moves by TikTok, which has been increasing its own video lengths. YouTube’s Todd Sherman mentioned plans to improve recommendations for longer Shorts, signalling potential algorithm boosts. Other new features include templates to mirror trending videos and easier remixing of long-form content. YouTube also plans to introduce Google’s Veo AI for Shorts and launch a new ‘Shorts Trends’ page to spotlight viral content.

#3 Spotify Raises Subscription Prices in Canada Amid Levy Talks

Spotify has raised its subscription prices in Canada, with individual plans up by 15% and family plans increasing by 24%. This price hike comes as Canada considers a new levy on streaming revenues, though Spotify has also raised prices globally due to pressure from music rights holders. In Canada, the levy may account for approximately 70 cents of the increase, based on current exchange rates, reflecting wider industry pricing trends.

#4 Meta Unveils Movie Gen: AI Model for Image, Video, and Audio

Meta has introduced Movie Gen, its generative AI model capable of creating images, videos, and audio. Through text prompts, the AI can produce videos with synchronised sound effects and background music. Meta emphasises that Movie Gen is meant to enhance creativity, not replace human artists. The model generates up to 45 seconds of audio, including ambient sounds and Foley effects, and has been trained on approximately 1 million hours of audio. Meta aims to provide new creative opportunities through this advanced technology.

#5 Apple Music Introduces ‘New’ Tab with iOS 18 Update

With the release of iOS 18, Apple Music has revamped its app with a new section called ‘New,’ replacing the ‘Browse’ tab. This feature offers a fully personalised experience, while still incorporating Apple Music’s signature editorial curation. According to Apple’s David Emery, the ‘New’ tab displays tracks, albums, and updated playlists tailored to each listener. 

#1 TikTok Music to Shut Down by the 28th of November

TikTok Music will officially cease operations on November 28, affecting users in Australia, Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico, and Singapore. The platform aims to focus on partnerships with existing streaming services instead. TikTok’s global head of music business development, Ole Obermann, highlighted that their “Add to Music App” feature has facilitated hundreds of millions of track saves on partner platforms. Despite its potential, TikTok Music struggled with catalogue limitations and did not achieve significant growth or success, leading to its closure.

#2 Amazon Music Launches City Sessions in Europe

Amazon Music is expanding its City Sessions livestream concerts to the UK, Germany, Spain, and Italy, featuring artists like Bastille, RVFV, and Lea. The UK session will be streamed live on Prime Video and Twitch, sponsored by Aviva. Additionally, Amazon Music supports The Cat’s Mother of the Year Awards, which celebrate women in creative industries. The company will also organise events throughout the UK in the coming year to encourage young women to pursue careers in music and related fields.

#3 DSPs and Labels Jointly Protest Canada’s Streaming Tax

Streaming services and Canadian labels have voiced their opposition to a proposed 5% levy on local streaming revenues, intended to fund Canadian media production. The joint letter to the CRTC (Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission) emphasises that radio and audio streaming differ significantly. It argues that streaming has allowed Canadian artists to gain visibility without being confined to traditional radio.  The letter advocates that streaming already effectively supports Canadian culture, making the proposed levy unnecessary. 

#4 Spotify Expands AI Playlist Feature to New Countries

Spotify’s ‘AI Playlist’ feature, launched in April, will now be available in the US, Canada, Ireland, and New Zealand. Initially accessible in the UK and Australia, the feature allows users to create playlists via text prompts. Spotify reports millions of playlists created to date, but the focus remains on user engagement with these playlists. To maintain quality, the tool avoids non-music-related prompts and scans for offensive content, aiming to ensure a positive user experience as it expands its reach.

#5 France's Recorded Music Market Grows by 5.9%

The French recorded music market experienced a robust 5.9% growth in the first half of 2024, reaching €415 million. This growth is primarily fueled by an impressive 11.3% rise in streaming subscription revenues, reflecting the increasing popularity of music streaming among consumers. Additionally, ad-supported audio streaming saw a 6.1% increase, and video streaming rose by 5.1%. As the market continues to expand, it presents exciting opportunities for artists, labels, and industry stakeholders to connect with a growing audience. 

#1 Snapchat Expands ‘Lip Syncing Lens’ to Thousands of Tracks

Snapchat has unveiled its new ‘Lip Syncing Lens,’ enabling users to create Snaps in real time or enhance their Memories by syncing them with music. The feature debuted with Eminem’s track “Fuel” and will soon offer thousands of songs from Snapchat’s extensive Sounds library. Already, over 100 million Snaps have been created using the lens. This launch is part of a broader update, which also simplifies the app by merging Stories and Spotlight videos into a more streamlined experience.

#2 Apple Music Revamps with New Feature in iOS 18

Apple Music’s latest iOS 18 update introduces a revamped ‘New’ section, replacing the previous ‘Browse’ tab. This feature offers personalised content for each listener while keeping human curation at its core. The ‘New’ tab spotlights tracks, albums, and playlists tailored to individual listening habits, ensuring users stay connected to the latest music releases and discoveries.

#3 TikTok’s Hot 50 Chart Drives 27% of German Hits in 2023

New data shows that TikTok’s ‘Hot 50’ chart has had a significant influence on Germany’s music scene, contributing to 27% of the country’s top 100 singles in 2023. Songs typically appeared on TikTok about 12 days before entering the official charts. Several local artists gained momentum through TikTok before achieving mainstream success. Whilst some larger, international artists also saw benefits, the app played a key role in elevating homegrown talent, making it a vital platform for music promotion in Germany.

#4 YouTube Introduces ‘Communities’ for Enhanced Creator-Fan Interaction

YouTube has launched a new feature called ‘Communities,’ aimed at transforming how creators interact with their fans. This feature allows creators to establish dedicated spaces where subscribers can chat with both the creator and each other, fostering deeper connections beyond video comments. Initially, only subscribers can post, and these conversations aren’t limited to specific videos, offering broader engagement. 

#5 Amazon Music Sees 249% Surge in Música Mexicana Streams in 2024

Amazon Music is reporting substantial growth in Música Mexicana streams, with a 249% increase globally in 2024, making it the platform’s leading Latin genre. The streaming service is celebrating the genre’s success through various campaigns and initiatives that spotlight its impact. Amazon’s efforts also include promoting crossover opportunities between Música Mexicana and other genres, such as country music. The platform will cap off the celebration with a live streamed concert from Mexico, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to this flourishing music scene.

#1 Tencent Music Launches 'Global Music Outreach Initiative'

Tencent Music, a dominant force in China’s streaming market with 571 million monthly listeners as of June 2024, is expanding its global reach with the ‘Global Music Outreach Initiative.’ This new program aims to enhance the international presence of Chinese artists by opening up new markets and opportunities for growth. Kicking off in Singapore, the initiative features live performances, music sessions, university visits, and industry events. 

#2 Musician Charged With Using AI to Inflate Streaming Revenue

Michael Smith, a North Carolina musician, is charged with wire fraud and money laundering for allegedly using AI tools and bots to fraudulently boost streaming numbers and claim over $10 million in royalties. Prosecutors call it the first criminal case of its kind, detailing how Smith used thousands of AI-generated songs and automated accounts to manipulate streams. The FBI is involved, and Smith faces decades in prison if convicted, underscoring rising concerns about AI misuse in music.

#3 UK Live Music Sector Grows 35% Above Pre-Pandemic Levels

The UK live music industry experienced a significant 35% growth from pre-pandemic levels, contributing over GBP £6 billion to the economy in 2023. This increase, detailed in a new report from industry group LIVE, represents a 17% year-on-year rise despite ongoing economic challenges. London remains the top revenue generator, followed by Manchester and Glasgow. The sector supported nearly 230,000 jobs in 2023. However, the crisis has led to the closure of an average of two small venues per week, prompting calls for reduced VAT on tickets and support for grassroots venues.

#4 Chartmetric Reveals Updated List of Key 'Trigger Cities'

Chartmetric has updated its influential ‘trigger cities’ list, highlighting cities with burgeoning music-streaming populations that serve as critical launchpads for new artists. The new report identifies 30 key cities globally, with Latin America and Asia remaining prominent. Top cities include Bogotá, São Paulo, Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and London, categorised into tiers based on their influence. The report also provides strategies for marketers to leverage these cities, emphasising social campaigns, playlist placements, and data-driven decisions to boost artist visibility and success.

#5 Music Streaming Market to Reach $97.5 Billion by 2030

The global music streaming market, valued at $34.5 billion in 2023, is projected to grow at a 16.0% annual rate, reaching nearly $97.5 billion by 2030. This growth is fueled by rising consumer demand, technological advancements, and the expansion of high-speed internet. The market report explores various segments, including subscription-based, ad-supported, and premium models, offering insights into user engagement and revenue trends. North America and Europe are leading markets, while the Asia-Pacific region shows the fastest growth due to increased smartphone adoption, with Latin America and the Middle East also showing potential.

#1 Spotify’s 'Daylist' Expansion Boosts Engagement Across Europe

Spotify introduced its ‘daylist’ feature in September 2023, offering personalised playlists tailored to users’ listening habits at specific times of the day. Initially launched in a few regions, this feature has now expanded to 65 countries, with recent additions covering most of Europe.  Spotify shared statistics showing a 118% rise in demand for ‘daylist’ since the start of the year, with 70% of users tuning in weekly. This personalised approach highlights Spotify’s focus on enhancing user engagement worldwide.

#2 Argentina's Music Industry Flourishes with 8.2% Growth in 2023

Argentina’s music industry reported significant growth in 2023, with an 8.2% increase, primarily driven by paid streaming subscriptions, according to Capif’s ‘Informe de la Música Argentina 2024’.  The report highlights that Argentinians spend an average of 26.4 hours weekly listening to music, ranking fifth among 18 studied markets. Spotify leads as the top streaming service, with YouTube Music following closely behind. The report reflects the increasing role of streaming in Argentina’s flourishing music market.

#3 SoundCloud Launches 'Ascending' to Support Emerging Artists

SoundCloud has officially launched its ‘Ascending’ artist development program after a successful pilot phase. Designed to spotlight breakthrough artists, ‘Ascending’ aims to boost emerging talents’ visibility and growth. The program, similar to Spotify’s ‘Radar’ and Apple Music’s ‘Up Next’, selects an artist each month for focused promotion. SoundCloud’s approach demonstrates its commitment to nurturing new talent, with promising results from the artists featured in the pilot phase.

#4 Beatport's LabelRadar Introduces Artist Network for Creative Collaboration

Beatport’s LabelRadar division has launched the Artist Network, a platform designed to facilitate collaboration among musicians. The service allows artists to connect based on genre, location, language, and preferred DAW. With nearly 220,000 users already on LabelRadar, the Artist Network offers a new way for musicians to collaborate remotely or in person. Read more about our LabelRadar partnership here. 

#5 YouTube Prepares 'Responsible AI' Tools to Protect Artists' Rights

YouTube is set to introduce new “responsible AI” tools in early 2025 to protect artists from unauthorised AI-generated content. These tools will allow artists and rights holders to detect and manage AI-generated imitations of their voices and faces. YouTube plans to enhance systems that prevent the misuse of content for AI training, including blocking third-party access if necessary.

#1 Italy’s Music Revenue Grows by 15.1% in 2024

Italy’s recorded music revenue surged by 15.1% in the first half of 2024, reaching €202.6 million ($225.9 million). This growth, while slightly slower than the 18.8% increase in 2023, reflects robust demand, driven largely by premium streaming, which rose by 23%. Streaming now dominates 81% of the market. Despite revenue growth, the volume of streams expanded even faster, with 46 billion streams marking a 31.7% year-on-year increase. Italian artists continue to lead the charts, as the top 10 albums and singles in the country were all by local musicians. 

#2 Spotify Fights Back Against MLC Lawsuit Over Bundle Royalties

Spotify is pushing to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC) over its classification of premium subscriptions as a bundle (which includes audiobooks, podcasts & music streaming), which the MLC claims reduces royalty payouts by over $150 million annually. Filed in the US District Court, Spotify argues that the lawsuit is unfounded, stating that audiobook streaming offers significant value and should not be considered a mere token. 

#3 Apple Eyed as Investor in OpenAI’s $100 Billion Funding Round

Apple is reportedly in talks to invest in OpenAI’s upcoming funding round, which could value the AI company at over $100 billion, according to The Wall Street Journal. Venture firm Thrive Capital is expected to lead the round, with Microsoft also participating. While Apple’s interest is somewhat surprising, given its neutral stance on AI partnerships, it has already collaborated with OpenAI on its Apple Intelligence tools. This potential investment highlights Apple’s increasing focus on generative AI, although it may complicate its relationships with other AI companies.

#4 Airtel to Shut Down Wynk Music and Push Subscribers to Apple Music

Wynk Music, a major Indian streaming platform owned by Bharti Airtel, will soon cease operations. Announced on August 27, 2024, the shutdown comes as Airtel partners with Apple to offer exclusive deals on Apple Music and Apple TV+ to its customers. Wynk Music Premium subscribers will be transitioned to Apple Music, where they’ll receive special offers during the migration. This move intensifies competition in India’s music streaming market, where local services like JioSaavn and Gaana will compete against global giants like Spotify, YouTube Music, and Apple Music.

#1 Spotify and Crunchyroll Collaborate on Anime Music Hub

Anime’s global appeal extends beyond just animation—its music is soaring in popularity too. Spotify revealed that anime music streams have surged by 395% since 2021, with 6.7 million user-generated anime playlists. To capitalise on this trend, Spotify has partnered with Crunchyroll to create a dedicated anime hub. This new feature will include playlists curated by Crunchyroll, highlighting music from new anime series and featuring its official podcast, “Crunchyroll Presents: The Anime Effect.” Spotify also offers its anime-themed playlists, with “Anime Now” boasting nearly 1.5 million saves.

#2 Amazon Music Introduces 'Listening Party' on Discord

Amazon Music has expanded its reach by launching the “Amazon Music Listening Party” on Discord, allowing users to listen to music and podcasts together while chatting. This new feature syncs users’ music libraries across both platforms, enabling seamless playlist creation. However, only Amazon Music Unlimited subscribers can participate. To attract new users, Amazon is offering a three-month trial subscription. Discord, with over 200 million monthly active users, presents a significant opportunity for Amazon Music. 

#3 Apple Music Partners with The Warehouse Project for Spatial-Audio DJ Sets

Apple Music is enhancing its spatial audio offerings by collaborating with Manchester’s The Warehouse Project to produce spatial-audio DJ sets. This partnership will feature performances from artists like Nia Archives, Black Coffee, and Disclosure during the WHP24 series, with the sets mixed into spatial audio for Apple Music. Additionally, Apple Music has converted previous DJ sets from last year’s events into spatial mixes, offering listeners an immersive experience that captures the energy of live performances.

#4 NetEase Cloud Music Sees 25.5% Growth in Subscriptions in Q2 2024

NetEase Cloud Music (NCM) reported a 25.5% increase in subscription revenues for Q2 2024, with overall revenues for the first half of the year up 4.1% to RMB 4.07 billion ($580.3 million). While its social entertainment segment, including live streaming and karaoke, saw a decline, online music revenues rose by 26.6%, reaching RMB 2.56 billion ($358.7 million). NetEase has focused on enhancing music discovery, social interaction, and expanding its K-Pop catalogue.

#5 Spotify CEO and Mark Zuckerberg Advocate for Open-Source AI

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg are teaming up to push for open-source AI, encouraging European regulators to get on board. In a joint blog post, they argued that making AI models publicly available could prevent a few big companies from holding all the power, much like the early days of the internet. While some might see their support as self-serving, Ek and Zuckerberg believe an open AI system could boost innovation and competition in Europe. Now, it’s up to the EU to decide whether to support this approach.

#1 Spotify to List Pricing and Promo Details in iOS App for Europe

In response to the EU’s Digital Markets Act, Spotify has agreed to display subscription pricing and promotional details within its iOS app for European users. Although this allows transparency in pricing, users still can’t purchase subscriptions directly in-app due to Apple’s commission policies. Spotify continues to criticise Apple’s restrictions. The change marks a step towards greater consumer choice, though the broader battle over app store policies persists.

#2 Deezer and Dazn Partner to Offer Subscription Discounts

Deezer and sports streaming service Dazn have announced a multi-year partnership, starting in France, to offer users subscription discounts. Deezer users will soon enjoy discounted access to Dazn’s sports content, while Dazn users will get similar offers for Deezer’s music streaming. Although the services won’t be integrated within each other’s apps, this collaboration marks a closer unification of entertainment services. A broader rollout is planned for Germany, Austria, and Switzerland later this year.

#3 YouTube Music Leads Music Service Adoption in Q2 2024

According to research firm Kantar, YouTube Music was the most adopted music service in Q2 2024, solidifying its leadership in the streaming market. Spotify also saw a 2% year-on-year increase in user penetration across key markets like the UK, US, and Australia. The report highlights a significant growth opportunity, with 85% of non-subscribers expressing interest in streaming music. However, 42% of potential users are deterred by the regular subscription fees.

#4 SoundCloud Launches Merch Store for Artists

SoundCloud has launched its official ‘SoundCloud Store,’ allowing artists on its ‘Next Pro’ tier to design and sell merchandise. The store debuted with collections from artists like Wiz Khalifa and Denzel Curry. Artists retain 100% of profits, with SoundCloud handling manufacturing and distribution. This move reflects SoundCloud’s growing ambitions in the merch business. 

#1 Twitch Launches DJ Program

In June, Twitch announced music licensing deals for live DJ sets, and now, its ‘Twitch DJ Program’ has officially launched. DJs can sign up to stream a cleared catalogue of tracks on their channels, with rights holders receiving a share of the revenue. To celebrate the program’s launch, Twitch designated August 8 as ‘8.08 Day,’ referencing the iconic drum machine. More information on this can be found in our resources here. 

#2 YouTube Dominates Reach and Watchtime in India

YouTube continues to dominate the Indian market, with CEO Neal Mohan announcing at a recent Brandcast event that YouTube leads in both reach and watch time in the country. YouTube Shorts, first launched in India, now boasts trillions of views, fuelling the platform’s popularity. More than 11,000 Indian YouTubers have over 1 million subscribers, a 50% year-on-year increase. 

#3 Spotify Criticises Apple’s New EU App Store Policies

Apple’s recent changes to its App Store policies in the EU, aimed at complying with the Digital Markets Act, have drawn criticism from Spotify. The update allows developers to place links within iOS apps to market offers outside Apple’s ecosystem, but it introduces two new fees: a 5% “Initial Acquisition Fee” and a 10% “Store Services Fee.” Spotify condemned the move, accusing Apple of undermining the DMA’s goals by imposing a potential 25% fee for basic user communication.

#4 Snapchat Surpasses 432 Million Daily Active Users

Snapchat reached new heights in Q2 2024, surpassing 432 million daily active users (DAUs), a 9% year-on-year increase. The platform also reported over 850 million monthly active users, fuelling a 16% revenue boost to $1.24 billion. A standout music success moment was the ‘Cowboy Carter’ AR lens, launched with Beyoncé in June. Snapchat’s continued growth and innovative features reflect its ongoing relevance in the competitive social media landscape.

#5 TikTok Ends Lite Rewards Program in the EU Amid Regulatory Pressure

TikTok is discontinuing its ‘TikTok Lite Rewards’ program in the European Union following concerns from the European Commission. Launched earlier this year in France and Spain, the program rewarded users with points for activities, which could be redeemed for gift cards or virtual coins. The European Commission expressed concerns over the program’s potential “addictive effect” and initiated an investigation under the Digital Services Act. 

#1 TikTok Unveils 'Sound Search' Feature

TikTok has introduced a new feature called ‘Sound Search,’ designed to help users discover music by singing or humming a tune. Similar to YouTube and Deezer’s vocal search tools, Sound Search allows users to vocalise or play a song to identify it. The feature not only identifies music but also locates videos using the identified songs, offering a Shazam-like experience. 

#2 Meta's Threads Approaching 200 Million Monthly Users

Meta’s Threads app is nearing 200 million monthly active users, just a month after surpassing 175 million. CEO Mark Zuckerberg revealed this milestone during Meta’s Q2 earnings call, noting the app’s increasing engagement and its potential to become a major social platform. Meta’s Q2 revenues rose 22% year-on-year to $39.07 billion, with a 7% growth in daily active users across its family of apps. 

#3 UK Government Initiates Streaming Royalties and AI Bill Discussions

The UK’s ‘Creator Remuneration Working Group’ recently reconvened under the new Labour government to address streaming royalties. The Department for Culture, Media, and Sport emphasised the importance of these discussions for the music industry’s future. The government aims to foster cross-industry action on fair compensation for music creators. 

#4 Spotify Expands Lyrics Availability

Spotify is increasing the availability of song lyrics for free-tier users, expanding a feature previously limited in certain regions. This move follows criticism from the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) over Spotify’s use of lyrics without proper compensation. Spotify asserts it fairly compensates publishers and aims to enhance user experience by providing more lyrics access. 

#5 Apple Music Launches Classical Top 100 Chart

Apple Music has launched a Top 100 chart dedicated to classical music albums, integrating data from streams, iTunes sales, and Shazam tags. Updated weekly, the inaugural chart is topped by Bach’s Keyboard Concertos performed by pianist Tianqi Du and the Academy of St Martins in the Fields. Apple Music Classical has gained significant traction among classical music fans, and the new chart reflects its global reach. 

#1 Daniel Ek Envisions a Superior Version of Spotify

Spotify’s quarterly earnings call highlighted a slight miss in monthly active users (MAUs), reporting 626 million—5 million below expectations but still a 14% year-on-year increase. CEO Daniel Ek plans to boost the free tier with enhanced marketing and product improvements in developing markets. Ek also hinted at a new premium tier, targeting avid music lovers, priced around $17-$18, offering higher audio quality and additional features. 

#2 Apple Music Integrates Radio Monitoring in Artist Dashboard

Apple Music has added ‘Radio Spins’ metrics to its Apple Music for Artists dashboard, tracking plays across over 40,000 radio stations worldwide using Shazam’s technology. This feature allows artists to see detailed breakdowns of their songs’ radio performances by track, station, and location, along with top tracks and trends. Updated daily, this enhancement provides artists with comprehensive insights into their radio reach, helping them make informed promotional decisions. Apple Music’s new feature aims to empower artists with robust data, optimising their music’s impact and visibility both within and beyond the platform.

#3 Spotify Expands Countdown Pages Feature to More Artists

Spotify’s ‘Countdown Pages’ feature, launched in March 2023, is now available to artists with at least 5,000 active listeners. This expansion aims to provide “hundreds of thousands of artists” with new promotional tools, according to Sam Duboff, Spotify’s global head of Spotify for Artists. Nearly 70% of users who pre-save an album stream it in the first week. Artists using Spotify’s ‘Clips’ feature on these pages have doubled their pre-saves. Emily Puterbaugh from Secretly Group confirmed significant increases in pre-saves and early streams, crucial for charting success, highlighting the feature’s impact on fan engagement. More information here. 

#4 Deezer Appoints Alexis Lanternier as New CEO

Deezer has appointed Alexis Lanternier as CEO, effective September 2nd. Deezer’s board chair, Iris Knobloch, praised Lanternier’s vision and leadership, expressing confidence in his ability to drive growth and innovation. Deezer aims to enhance its offerings and expand its user base under Lanternier’s leadership. The company reported 10.5 million subscribers in Q1 – a 12.8% increase from Q1 2023. Lanternier’s appointment reflects Deezer’s commitment to navigating the evolving streaming market and delivering enhanced user experiences.

#5 SoundCloud Expands 'Buzzing Playlists' to More Genres

SoundCloud has expanded its ‘Buzzing Playlists’ to include metal, rock, and indie genres. Initially launched with electronic, hip-hop/rap, pop, and R&B, these playlists feature emerging artists and successful tracks from the ‘First Fans’ program. SoundCloud’s curatorial ladder sees ‘First Fans’ selections feeding into ‘Buzzing Playlists’, which then contribute to ‘Trending’ playlists. Nearly 20% of ‘Buzzing’ tracks make it to ‘Trending’ playlists, attracting three times more listeners. ‘First Fans’ has showcased over 4.8 million tracks. 

#1 YouTube Shorts Enhances Editing and Interaction Features

YouTube is ramping up its investment in Shorts with six new features designed to enhance user experience. A major addition is the ‘Auto Layout’ tool, which automatically adjusts longer videos into Shorts by applying panning, zooming, and cropping to highlight key elements. Another new feature is text-to-speech narration, which will audibly read any text included in a Short. The ‘Add Yours’ sticker encourages viewers to produce their own follow-up videos. 

#2 UK Music Sales Outpace Video and Gaming Growth

The latest figures from the UK’s Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) highlight a significant rise in music sales, which grew by 7.9% in the first half of 2024. This contrasts with a 5.4% increase in video sales and a sharp 29.4% decline in game sales. It’s important to note that these figures do not include streaming revenue for music or video, which could skew the comparison. Despite music still trailing behind video and gaming in overall sales—£163.8 million compared to £213.7 million for video and £348.6 million for games—the growth in vinyl and CD sales is notable. Vinyl sales surged by 13.5% to £86.3 million, driven by Taylor Swift’s release and Record Store Day. 

#3 Deezer Introduces 'Playlist with AI' in Beta

Deezer is launching its ‘Playlist with AI’ feature in beta, following Spotify’s lead with similar technology. This new feature will be available to 5% of Deezer’s paying subscribers, who can use it to generate playlists based on text prompts like moods, genres, or activities. This addition complements Deezer’s existing AI tools, including Flow mix and SongCatcher. Prompt-based playlists are emerging as a popular trend in 2024, with YouTube Music also experimenting with AI-driven radio features.

#4 Instagram Reels Expands Music Options to 20 Tracks

Instagram has upgraded its Reels feature to allow users to include up to 20 music tracks in a single video. This enhancement enables users to create custom audio mixes by aligning various tracks with text, stickers, and clips during the editing process. Users can now craft unique audio experiences and have their custom mixes attributed to them. This new capability transforms Reels into a mini DJ platform, offering more creative possibilities. 

#5 Spotify’s AI DJ Expands with Spanish Language Version

Spotify is broadening the reach of its AI-powered DJ feature with a new Spanish-language version. This update follows the feature’s success in other markets and introduces a virtual DJ, voiced by Olivia ‘Livi’ Quiroz Roa, a senior music editor based in Mexico. This Spanish version will serve premium subscribers in Spain and various Latin American countries. Spotify reports that listeners who engage with the DJ feature are more likely to discover and enjoy new music, leading to increased overall listening. 

#1 Spotify India Reports Significant Revenue Growth in 2023

Spotify India has reported notable financial growth for 2023. Advertising revenues nearly doubled, increasing by 91% to Rs 63 crore ($7.5 million), and subscription revenues grew by 66% to Rs 88 crore ($10.5 million). Globally, streams of Indian music rose by 85%, and in India, over 70% of listening is focused on local music. Spotify also tripled its user base in India over the past two years and was identified by as the top paid music service in India, accounting for 26% of subscription listening. To enhance subscription rates, Spotify has restricted its free tier in India.

#2 Major Streaming Services Challenge Canada's Streaming Tax

Amazon, Apple, and Spotify are legally challenging Canada’s proposed 5% levy on the revenues of global streaming services. The tax, intended to support Canadian content, is expected to generate CA$200 million annually. The Digital Media Association (DiMA) confirmed the legal action, with the case to be heard by Canada’s Federal Court of Appeal. The tax aims to fund local radio and TV news, French-language and indigenous content, and projects by diverse communities. The Motion Picture Association has also launched legal challenges.

#3 Beatport Partners with Beatdapp to Combat Streaming Fraud

Beatport has partnered with anti-fraud startup Beatdapp to address streaming fraud. Beatport’s chief revenue officer, Helen Sartory, noted an increase in suspicious activity, despite the streaming services-side of their business not being a traditional target. Beatdapp co-CEO Andrew Batey revealed that their analysis found fraud levels at about half the industry average, which is notable given Beatport’s selective user base. This partnership aims to enhance the integrity of Beatport’s emerging streaming services.

#4 Spotify Introduces Podcast Comments Feature

Spotify now allows podcast listeners to post comments on episode pages, expanding on its existing Q&A and poll features introduced in 2021. Over nine million users have interacted with these features in 2024. This new comments section, currently exclusive to podcasts, raises speculation about its potential extension to music tracks. This could improve Spotify’s engagement massively and encourage further active listening.  

#5 Ticketmaster Integrates with Shazam for Concert Promotions

Ticketmaster’s latest app integration is with Shazam, enhancing its existing collaborations with TikTok, Snapchat, and Spotify. This partnership allows artists to link their concerts directly to their Shazam profiles, promoting ticket sales whenever their music is identified by users. To support this feature, Ticketmaster has launched the ‘Music Finds You’ campaign with artists Meghan Trainor, Niki, and Peach Tree Rascals.

#1 YouTube updates privacy guidelines to enable deepfake takedowns

Amid the music industry’s call for proper licensing of commercial music for AI training, another significant issue is the use of AI to create deepfakes of musicians’ voices and images. This has become particularly contentious with high-profile cases involving artists like Drake and The Weeknd. Platforms such as Discord host thriving communities dedicated to cloning famous artists’ voices, exacerbating the issue. In response, the U.S. has seen legislative actions, including Tennessee’s “Elvis Act,” aimed at preventing unauthorised cloning. 

#2 Ticketmaster Suffers Data Breach Impacting Over 1,000 Customers

Ticketmaster has confirmed a significant data breach affecting over 1,000 customers, who received notifications about the breach involving their personal information. The breach, detailed in a filing with the Maine Attorney General, occurred between April 2 and May 18, with hackers accessing data from a cloud database managed by a third-party provider. Reports indicate that the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility, stealing 1.3TB of data. Affected information includes email addresses, phone numbers, and encrypted credit card details. Ticketmaster has provided support documentation online but has refrained from further comment.

#3 Spotify Introduces Countdown Pages for Artists

Starting July 24th, Spotify will gradually roll out Countdown Pages for eligible artists over four weeks. These pages aim to build anticipation for upcoming releases. To qualify, artists must have at least 5,000 active listeners in the past 28 days, as seen in the Segments tab on Spotify for Artists. Additionally, artists with over 700,000 monthly listeners will gain access to Clips when creating Countdown Pages. This feature, which Cygnus Music will soon provide more details on, allows artists to engage their audience more effectively and create buzz around new music releases​. 

#4 UK Introduces Industry Transparency Code on Music Streaming

The UK is set to implement a new voluntary Industry Transparency Code on Music Streaming on July 31, 2024. Developed by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO) in response to the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee’s Inquiry into Music Streaming, the code aims to enhance transparency in royalty payments and licensing deals. It has been agreed upon by 12 music industry bodies, including creators, record labels, and digital service providers. The IPO will oversee the code’s implementation, with regular meetings to review its effectiveness and a formal evaluation planned for 2026. This initiative marks a significant step toward ensuring fair  clarity for musicians, distributors and artist teams in the streaming era​ (more information can be found here). 

#5 YouTube Music Tests AI-Generated Custom Radio Stations

YouTube Music is testing a new feature that uses generative AI to create custom radio stations based on user prompts. When available, users will see an “Ask for music any way you like” card in their Home feed, allowing them to enter a prompt to generate a radio station. The feature leverages existing playlist functionality to display the custom station, which is labeled “Created for you” and includes a description. This innovative feature aims to offer personalised listening experiences​

#1 Spotify Introduces $10.99 'Basic' Music-Only Plan in the U.S

#2 BBC Invests £500k in 3D Streaming Innovator Condense

The BBC has invested £500k in Condense, a startup pioneering 3D live streaming technology for music and sports events. Condense volumetric capture technology streams live events into virtual worlds and games. This investment enhances the existing collaboration between the BBC and Condense, including immersive concerts for BBC Radio 1’s New Music Show. Condense plans to extend its streaming capabilities to platforms like Fortnite and Roblox.

#3 TikTok Launches New App "Whee" for Close Friends

TikTok has quietly released a new Instagram-like app called Whee in 71 countries. Focused on photo-sharing and messaging for close friends, Whee had approximately 23,000 downloads despite no significant marketing efforts. The App Store describes Whee as “the best place for close friends to share life moments.” Whee is part of TikTok’s strategy to expand its app offerings and capture more of the social media market.

#4 PPL's Q2 2024 Payouts Hit Record £103.7m

UK licensing firm PPL announced its highest-ever single-quarter payout of £103.7m in Q2 2024, marking a 6% year-on-year increase. This record distribution benefits over 133,000 artists and rights holders. A notable 13% rise in international payments, from countries including the Netherlands, Brazil, Switzerland, and the US, contributed to this growth. The number of payees has significantly increased since 2018, when PPL paid 94,000 performers and 10,000 rights holders. By 2024, the total has reached 133,000, reflecting a more competitive landscape for artist and company earnings.

#5 Gen-Z Embraces Video Content Creation on YouTube

UK licensing firm PPL announced its highest-ever single-quarter payout of £103.7m in Q2 2024, marking a 6% year-on-year increase. This record distribution benefits over 133,000 artists and rights holders. A notable 13% rise in international payments, from countries including the Netherlands, Brazil, Switzerland, and the US, contributed to this growth. The number of payees has significantly increased since 2018, when PPL paid 94,000 performers and 10,000 rights holders. By 2024, the total has reached 133,000, reflecting a more competitive landscape for artist and company earnings.

#1 TikTok and Adobe Partnership Enhances Commercial Music Library

Brands often face legal issues when using major label music in social media videos without proper licensing. To address this, TikTok has expanded its Commercial Music Library (CML), a catalog of tracks pre-cleared for brand use, through a new deal with Adobe. This builds on their existing AI-powered “Symphony Assistant” partnership. The CML, now accessible within Adobe Express software, boasts over 1 million tracks used in nearly 2 billion business videos last year. Additionally, TikTok introduced Symphony Digital Avatars for commercial use, offering virtual characters for brand marketing.

#2 Spotify Expands Video Podcasting Capabilities

Spotify now allows all podcasters to upload video content directly to the platform, a feature previously limited to those hosted on Spotify for Podcasters or partner services. Creators can now upload videos using their preferred hosting service by navigating to the Spotify for Podcasters portal and adding a video version to their audio episodes. This update, first reported by Podnews, aligns with Spotify’s growing focus on video content, which has seen a significant increase in usage and engagement. The platform now hosts over 250,000 video podcasts, with 170 million global users watching video content. Spotify continues to enhance the video podcast experience with features like “Miniplayer” and expanding music videos in select countries.

#3 Introducing fresh news at Beatportal

Beatportal is a digital platform that offers comprehensive news, features, and insights on electronic music. It serves as an extension of Beatport, providing music lovers with curated content, interviews, and industry analysis. Beatportal covers a wide range of topics including artist spotlights, new releases, genre trends, and events, making it a valuable resource for staying updated on the electronic music scene. The platform aims to enhance the Beatport experience by offering engaging editorial content to complement its extensive music catalog.

#4 Deezer Renews Iris Knobloch as Chair of the Board

Deezer has announced the renewal of Iris Knobloch as Chair of the Board of Directors. The decision was confirmed during the Annual General Meeting of shareholders, which also approved the renewal of the terms of office for Combat Holding and Mark Simonian. Iris expressed her honor in continuing her role and looks forward to Deezer’s future growth. Additionally, Carl de Place will succeed Stéphane Rougeot as Chief Financial Officer effective August 1, 2024, with Rougeot ensuring a smooth transition.

#1 Spotify Raises Subscription Prices Again Amid Controversy

Spotify has announced another increase in subscription prices in the US, effective from July. The cost of an individual ‘Premium’ subscription will rise from $10.99 to $11.99 per month. The ‘Duo’ plan for two users will increase to $16.99, and the ‘Family’ plan will cost $19.99 per month. The ‘Student’ tier remains unchanged at $5.99. This marks the second price hike in a year, following increases in July 2023. Record labels are likely to welcome the price rises, having previously urged streaming services to increase their rates. However, Spotify’s announcement occurs amid tensions with US music publishers. The company recently reclassified its premium tier as a ‘bundle’—due to its inclusion of audiobooks. The US remains Spotify’s largest market, contributing significantly to its €13.25 billion revenue in 2023.

#2 Discord Introduces Live-Radio Features via TuneIn Partnership

Discord has partnered with TuneIn to bring live-radio features to its platform. TuneIn will provide a curated selection of music, news, sports, and podcasts through Discord’s ‘activity’ add-ons. Users can access this feature by starting a voice chat, clicking the rocket-ship button, and selecting the TuneIn Radio & Podcasts activity. This integration, free for Discord users, marks TuneIn’s first full integration into a communication platform, allowing shared listening experiences. Both companies have faced past challenges with music licensing. In 2021, several popular Discord bots playing YouTube music were shut down, though SoundCloud later launched an official Discord bot. TuneIn has also battled major record labels in copyright infringement cases. This partnership represents a significant step for both platforms, enhancing Discord’s audio features and expanding TuneIn’s reach.

#3 Twitch Secures Music Licensing Deals for DJ Live-Streams

Twitch has finalised music licensing agreements to support DJ live-streams. These deals will allow DJs to pay royalties and legally use music during live performances. However, the agreements only cover live-streams, not VODs, Clips, or Highlights. DJs must opt into a new agreement for their channels, and Twitch recommends part-time DJs create separate channels for live-streaming. CEO Dan Clancy highlighted that over 15,000 DJs have built communities on Twitch, with a significant increase since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Previously, DJs faced copyright strikes and takedown notices, but the new program mitigates these risks. Twitch will launch its ‘Twitch DJ Program’ this summer, enabling DJs to broadcast using licensed tracks. While this initiative resolves some issues, it may challenge DJs wanting to play new, unlicensed music. Twitch will set aside earnings from DJ channels for royalty payments, with initial costs shared between Twitch and streamers.

#4 PRS Foundation Announces Talent Development Grants

The PRS Foundation in the UK has merged its Open Fund for Organisations and Talent Development Partner schemes into a single ‘Talent Development Network.’ This initiative, in collaboration with PPL, offers grants of up to £25,000 annually for three years to support organisations aiding musicians. The foundation has announced 73 grantees in the first round, including Liverpool Sound City, Saffron, The Roundhouse Trust, UD Music Foundation, and Tomorrow’s Warriors. This new network aims to identify and address gaps in support for music creators, with future cohorts planned for 2025. The full list of grantees can be viewed on the PRS Foundation’s website.

#5 Apple Music Partners with Robert Glasper for Exclusive Jazz Album

Apple Music has announced an exclusive partnership with jazz artist Robert Glasper for his new album ‘Let Go.’ This deal is part of Apple’s broader initiatives for Juneteenth, a US holiday commemorating the end of slavery. Ebro Darden, Apple Music’s global editorial head of hip-hop and R&B, highlighted the importance of jazz in popular music and Apple’s commitment to promoting the genre. The streaming service has also curated a ‘Freedom Songs 2024’ playlist featuring contemporary jazz musicians and playlists showcasing jazz’s influence across genres. Beyond the album, Glasper has also composed the score for the Apple TV+ series ‘The Big Cigar.’ This partnership signals Apple Music’s increasing focus on jazz and its cultural significance.

#1 Web3 Music Technology Gets Its Own Trade Association

A new trade association focusing on Web3 technologies and music has launched, called the Web3 Music Association (W3M). It includes members like Beggars Group, Blue Raincoat Music, PIAS, Hospital Records, Tileyard, and Karta. W3M aims to transform music rights into dynamic assets with its ‘Music Protocol’. Adrian Pope, PIAS chief digital officer, emphasised the importance of adhering to copyright and creative IP protection. W3M faces the challenge of rebuilding confidence in web3 music, which has seen scepticism in the mainstream music business. 

#2 Pandora Increases Subscription Prices Citing Licensing Costs

Pandora is raising its subscription prices due to rising music licensing costs. The discounted $7.99-a-month plan for military service members will increase to $8.99. The price hike also affects Pandora’s regular premium and family plans. Pandora, which currently has 5.9 million self-pay subscribers, has seen a decline from its peak of nearly 6.6 million in Q2 2021. This move underscores the significant impact of licensing costs on subscription prices in the music streaming industry.

#3 UK Music Urges Politicians to Develop a National Music Strategy

As the UK gears up for a general election in July, UK Music, an umbrella body for the UK music industry, has called on political parties to create a comprehensive strategy for the music sector. In an open letter, UK Music outlines five key policy demands: regulation of AI, resolution of Brexit-related issues affecting EU tours, a tax credit for music production, increased funding for music education, and measures to combat “rip-off secondary ticketing practices.” 

#4 Spotify Increases Subscription Price in France by 1.2%

Spotify is raising subscription prices in France by €0.13 to cover a new levy funding the Centre National de la Musique. The monthly cost will increase from €10.99 to €11.12, matching the 1.2% revenue contribution required by the levy. Although modest, this price change moves Spotify’s pricing away from its traditional ends-in-99 structure. The adjustment reflects Spotify’s response to regulatory costs while keeping the impact on subscribers minimal.

#5 Apple Music Integral to Release Strategies in India

Apple Music has become a key part of release strategies for major and independent labels in India. Since its 2015 launch, Apple Music’s subscriber base has grown by 60%, with streams increasing by 30% to 40%. Strong iPhone sales and efforts to boost paid subscriptions have contributed to this growth. Apple’s push is further supported by Spotify limiting its free tier and Resso shutting down its free service, positioning Apple Music as a significant player in the Indian music streaming market.

#1 Universal Music and TikTok Reconcile Amid Billie Eilish's Campaign

Universal Music Group (UMG) and TikTok recently resolved their licensing dispute ahead of the imminent release of Billie Eilish’s album “Hit Me Hard and Soft.” This album’s launch highlights TikTok’s marketing power, as seen with Taylor Swift prioritising the platform despite UMG’s previous withdrawal. Eilish’s debut of TikTok’s new “Fan Spotlight” feature, which allows artists to pin fan videos, underscores user-generated content’s growing importance in music marketing. 

#2 Apple Fights €1.8bn EU Fine Over Antitrust Ruling

Apple has filed a suit to overturn the €1.8bn fine imposed by the EU for allegedly abusing its market dominance with anti-steering rules on the App Store. These rules prevented Spotify and other rivals from informing iOS users about subscription options outside Apple’s in-app purchase system. The European Commission, standing by its decision, will defend its ruling in court. Apple contends that the fine lacks credible evidence of consumer harm, a central argument in its legal challenge against the EU’s decision.

#3 TikTok Symphony: A New AI Suite for Advertisers

At its annual ‘TikTok World’ event, TikTok unveiled “TikTok Symphony,” an AI suite designed to assist advertisers in creating and optimising marketing campaigns. This suite offers tools for scripting, video production, and asset optimisation. As generative AI gains traction in marketing, TikTok’s Symphony is set to attract labels and artist teams looking to enhance their promotional efforts. Alongside Symphony, TikTok introduced new advertising features, including measurement tools, pop-out elements, and countdown stickers for TopView ads.

#4 Amazon's Alexa Set for Major AI Upgrade

Amazon’s Alexa is slated for a significant AI upgrade, enhancing its conversational capabilities to compete with new AI-powered chatbots from Google and OpenAI. This upgraded version will require a monthly subscription, unlike the current free service. Announced in September 2023 by Amazon’s SVP of devices and services, Dave Limp, the revamped Alexa aims to become a superhuman assistant capable of managing complex tasks.

#5 Global Recorded Music Revenues to Hit $100bn by 2031

Midia Research forecasts that global recorded music revenues will reach $100bn annually by 2031, with streaming driving most of the growth. By 2027, music subscribers are expected to surpass one billion, with significant contributions from the Global South, particularly China, which will become the second-largest recorded music market. The US will remain the top market due to high average revenue per user (ARPU). 

#1 Tencent Music's Growing Subscriber Base

The modern Chinese music industry has evolved from a market dominated by free, unlicensed downloads to one where the largest digital service provider has 113.5 million paying users. Tencent Music Entertainment (TME) leads the way with its streaming services QQ Music, Kugou Music, and Kuwo Music. These platforms have thrived alongside rival NetEase Music, benefiting from regulatory support. According to TME’s latest financial results, the company added 19.1 million paying users over the past year, a 20.2% increase. Despite a 2.4% decline in monthly active users, now at 578 million, this vast user base provides a significant funnel for paid music. 

#2 Logic Pro's AI-Driven Evolution

Apple’s Logic Pro software for Mac and iPad is embracing AI with new features aimed at enhancing the music creation process. Among these innovations is “Session Players,” an AI-driven backing band that responds to user feedback, expanding on the existing automated ‘Drummer’ feature by adding virtual bass and keyboard players. Apple developed these tools in collaboration with top musicians. Additionally, the latest version of Logic Pro includes a Stem Splitter tool, utilising AI to separate drums, bass, vocals, and other instruments from recordings. 

#3 Deezer's Purple Club for French Subscribers

Deezer is targeting superfans with its new ‘Purple Club’ initiative in France. This exclusive program for paying subscribers offers a variety of contests and rewards, including access to ‘Purple Door’ live performances, exclusive listening sessions with artists, release parties, and the ‘Front Row XP’ experience, which features soundcheck access, premium seats, and meet-and-greets with artists. Additionally, Deezer is incorporating concert tickets into its reward system. This approach marks a shift in how digital service providers engage with superfans, offering experiences typically reserved for VIP ticket packages. 

#4 TikTok's 60-Minute Video Experiment

TikTok continues to expand beyond its short-video roots, now testing 60-minute videos. This shift towards long-form content is evident from an in-app message encouraging users to upload videos up to an hour long. The move aims to retain creators who typically post short clips on TikTok and longer videos on platforms like YouTube. By offering extended video lengths, TikTok seeks to become a hub for diverse content.

#5 Sony Music Publishing's Dispute with Spotify

Sony Music Publishing is challenging Spotify over its new audiobooks and music bundle, which has been criticised for affecting mechanical royalties. Chairman and CEO Jon Platt expressed disagreement with Spotify’s approach, arguing that it does not align with the agreed CRB (Copyright Royalty Board) rate for discounted bundles. Spotify’s new Audiobooks Access Tier at $9.99/month lowers music-licensing rates for its music-audiobook bundle. Platt indicated that Sony Music Publishing is working with the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) and exploring all options to enforce the improved rates. 

#1 Instagram Teams Up with Dua Lipa for Music Sticker Debut

Instagram has partnered with Dua Lipa to introduce a fresh addition to its Stories feature: the “Add Yours Music” sticker. This collaboration coincides with the release of Dua Lipa’s upcoming album, offering users a novel way to showcase their favourite songs. With this new sticker, users can transform their Stories into customisable music templates, inviting others to contribute and share their musical preferences.

#2 Spotify Unveils UK Streaming Royalties Report

In continuation of its annual Loud & Clear report, Spotify has divulged UK-specific streaming royalties data. The report highlights significant growth, with royalties generated by UK artists surpassing £750 million in 2023. Notably, the number of UK artists earning over £10,000 and £50,000 in royalties has doubled since 2017. Moreover, 75% of royalties from UK artists came from international listeners. Despite global trends favouring indies, over 40% of UK royalties were from independent artists or labels, showcasing a market landscape shift. 

#3 SoundCloud Introduces 'Buzzing Playlists' for Artist Discovery

SoundCloud has introduced a fresh set of playlists, dubbed ‘Buzzing Playlists,’ aimed at promoting new music across various genres like electronic, hip-hop, rap, pop, and R&B. The platform then curates the most successful tracks, based on metrics like likes, comments, reposts, replays, and playlist adds, for inclusion in the ‘Buzzing Playlists.’ This move serves as a precursor to SoundCloud’s established editorial playlists and chart rankings, aiming to enhance artist exposure and engagement. Since the launch of ‘First Fans,’ over 3.5 million tracks have been analysed and recommended, resulting in a remarkable 400% increase in streams for the average artist.

#4 Shazam Introduces 'Radio Spins' Charts from 40k+ Stations

Shazam has now ventured into a new arena with the launch of ‘Radio Spins’ charts on both Shazam and Apple Music platforms. These charts utilise data gleaned from over 40,000 radio stations worldwide, offering insights into global music trends. Apple Music features a daily global top 200 radio chart too, with genre-specific rankings spanning from pop and electronic to rock and Latin music.  Additionally, Shazam’s website now expands on the genres, incorporating Afrobeats, reggae, dancehall, French pop, singer/songwriter and much more to showcase more detailed statistics. 

#5 TikTok Implements Content Credentials for AI Transparency

The recent turnaround in the relationship between TikTok and UMG has been swift. Previously embroiled in disputes, Universal Music Publishing Group voiced strong concerns about TikTok’s handling of AI-generated content (AIGC). However, TikTok is now taking steps towards transparency by adopting “Content Credentials.”This technology automatically labels AI-generated image and video content originating from other platforms. While the efforts mark progress, the implementation currently excludes audio-only content. TikTok aims to lead in transparency and encourage other platforms to adopt similar measures to facilitate AIGC labelling.

#1 Spotify vs. Apple: The iOS Update Standoff

The Spotify-Apple feud escalates as Spotify submits its iOS app update, sans direct subscription links, rejecting Apple’s ‘steering’ system. Hours later, Spotify accuses Apple of defying the EU by rejecting their update for disclosing subscription prices. Apple insists on compliance with the ‘Music Streaming Service Entitlement’, regardless of link inclusion. Apple contends Spotify must accept terms for approval. The saga underscores growing tensions between tech giants, testing regulatory boundaries. The EU monitors the situation, evaluating Apple’s compliance.

#2 YouTube's Q1 2024: Ad Revenue Surge and Steady Subscriptions

#3 TikTok Expands Ticketing Reach with CTS Eventim Partnership

#4 Instagram's Algorithm Shift: Boosting Original Content

#5 UMG and TikTok Resolve Licensing Dispute: Emphasizing Fair Compensation and Innovation

#1 TikTok CEO Counters Biden with Defiant Message

President Biden’s signing of the TikTok forced-sale bill triggered a strong response from TikTok CEO Shou Chew. Chew’s video message rebukes the legislation, warning of its potential to sever the platform’s ties with its 170 million American users. Asserting TikTok’s determination, Chew pledges to contest the law in court, ensuring uninterrupted service for users. However, uncertainties loom over TikTok’s future, impacting user confidence and industry dynamics, with competitors eyeing opportunities. 

#2 Spotify's Playlist Power: Insights from Latest 'Fan Study'

Spotify’s latest ‘Fan Study’ delves into the influential role of playlists in artist discovery and engagement. More than half of new artist discoveries on Spotify stem from curated playlists, debunking assumptions about passive listening habits. Active playlist audiences drive higher streaming rates and contribute significantly to concert ticket purchases. Spotify advocates for its Discovery Mode and other tools to maximise artist exposure. The study underscores playlists’ significance in shaping music consumption patterns and driving audience engagement, offering valuable insights for artists and industry professionals.

#3 Meta's Financial Report Reveals Instagram Threads Milestone

Meta’s financial report unveils Instagram Threads’ milestone achievement of surpassing 150 million monthly users. CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlights the app’s growth trajectory alongside Instagram’s engagement-driving features like Reels. Despite robust revenue growth, Meta cautions investors about regulatory challenges in key markets. The company’s enduring popularity and diverse product offerings position it for continued success, albeit amid regulatory scrutiny and evolving market dynamics.

#4 Discord's Global Reach: Over 200 Million Monthly Users

Discord’s CEO Jason Citron discusses the platform’s exponential growth, surpassing 200 million monthly active users worldwide. While rooted in gaming, Discord’s appeal extends to music artists, signalling its evolving role in digital communication. Citron highlights the platform’s profitability trajectory, driven by its ‘Nitro’ subscription tier’s success. Discord’s diverse features, including enhanced game streaming and custom emoji, contribute to its popularity among users. The platform’s robust revenue stream positions it as a formidable player in the messaging space, with potential for further expansion into diverse user communities.

#5 Spotify Challenges Apple's App Store Policies in Europe

Spotify intensifies its battle against Apple’s App Store regulations in Europe with its latest iOS update submission. Despite Apple’s fee-related changes, Spotify remains steadfast in providing consumers with transparent pricing information. Chief Public Affairs Officer Dustee Jenkins criticises Apple’s policies as violations of European law, advocating for regulatory intervention. Spotify’s public stance reflects its commitment to fair competition and consumer choice. 

#1 TikTok's Music and Ticketing Innovations

TikTok unveils two significant music-related updates: a partnership with AXS for in-app ticket sales and its inaugural live music event, the ‘LIVE Music Pop-up’. The collaboration with AXS enables certified artists to directly sell tickets on TikTok, initially available in the US, UK, Sweden, and Australia. Meanwhile, the ‘LIVE Music Pop-up’ event in London will feature emerging artists and will be livestreamed on TikTok. These announcements underscore TikTok’s commitment to supporting artists and enhancing user experiences through immersive music-related initiatives.

#2 Amazon Music Introduces Maestro, an AI Playlist Generator

Amazon Music launches Maestro, an AI-powered playlist generator, following in the footsteps of Spotify. Maestro allows users to create personalised playlists using text prompts, though initial results may vary. Amazon ensures content safety by blocking offensive language. The introduction of Maestro aims to deepen user engagement and foster music discovery within the evolving streaming landscape by providing a tailored listening experience to its customers.

#3 Live Nation Faces Antitrust Allegations

Live Nation faces scrutiny from the US Department of Justice for alleged monopolistic practices in live event ticketing. Despite asserting defences, including claims of market misconceptions, Live Nation braces for a potential legal battle, highlighting the intricate dynamics within the live music industry and the regulatory landscape surrounding it.

#4 Rise of Independent Music in the UK - Indie’s Accounted for 29.2% of Music Consumption

Independent labels assert a significant share of the UK music market, comprising 29.2% of album equivalent sales in 2023. Leading indies like BMG and Beggars Group challenge major labels, reflecting a diverse and thriving music ecosystem. The growing prominence of independent music underscores the industry’s evolving landscape and the increasing opportunities for artists outside the traditional major label structure.

#5 Spotify Empowers User Creativity With a Potential New Remix Tool

Spotify is reportedly introducing tools for music remixing and customization, aiming to deepen user engagement and diversify revenue streams. By compensating rights holders and exploring premium subscription models, Spotify adapts to changing music consumption habits and seeks to provide a more interactive and immersive experience for its users. The move towards empowering user creativity reflects Spotify’s commitment to innovation and enhancing the platform’s appeal to a broader audience.

#1 TikTok Diversifies with TikTok Notes and TikTok Lite

Amidst policy challenges, TikTok unveils plans for expansion with TikTok Notes, a photo-sharing app, and TikTok Lite, featuring a unique rewards system. While Notes provides a dedicated space for creative expression, Lite introduces a new engagement model, currently exclusive to Spain and France. These ventures mark TikTok’s commitment to innovation and could potentially reshape user experiences across its ecosystem, hinting at a broader strategy to enhance engagement and monetization avenues.

#2 Netherlands Music Streaming Soars

The Netherlands witnesses a surge in music streaming, with nearly 10 million regular users despite price hikes. Streaming revenue climbed by 11% in 2023, reaching €239.9m, contributing to the country’s overall music market growth. Increased prices by major platforms like Spotify drove this growth, signaling positive consumer perception of music value.

#3 PPL Records Growth Amidst Challenges

UK’s PPL achieves record revenues of £283.5m in 2023, despite international revenue decline and industry challenges. Public performance revenues soar, surpassing pre-pandemic levels, attributed to innovative tariffs like ‘Specially Featured Entertainment’. However, international revenue dips due to past collection declines and Covid-19 disruptions, reflecting ongoing industry complexities.

#4 IMS Ibiza Unveils Dynamic Lineup

IMS Ibiza presents a diverse program for its upcoming electronic music summit, featuring industry stalwarts and thought-provoking sessions. Highlights include insights on industry values, a keynote from Tomorrowland’s founder, and discussions on superfandom. With Pete Tong and Jaguar at the helm, the event promises enriching discourse and networking opportunities. More information can be found here.

#5 GEMA Reports Record Year Amid Streaming Concerns

#1 Spotify Diversifies it’s Content with Video Learning

Spotify broadens its offerings with video learning content, encompassing music alongside podcasts and audiobooks. Testing the waters in the UK, they’ll provide select courses from partners like BBC Maestro and SkillShare. Users can sample two lessons per course before deciding to purchase, with prices ranging from £24.90 to £239.99. Spotify cites the popularity of educational podcasts among its 118 million Premium subscribers, anticipating a receptive audience for learning content.

#2 Recorded Music Booms in Australia and Italy: Subscription Streaming Leads the Way

Australia and Italy see substantial growth in recorded music revenue, with Australia experiencing a 10.9% increase to A$676m. Subscription streaming dominates, comprising 69% of the market. In Italy, revenue surged by 18.8% to €440m, propelled by a rise in streaming and vinyl sales. Italy’s ‘Culture Bonus‘ contributed significantly to music spending. Both countries rank among the top 12 global music markets. 

#3 Danish Man Jailed for Music-Streaming Fraud

A Danish man faces consequences after being convicted of music-streaming fraud, resulting in an 18-month sentence. The defendant’s scheme, which generated $635k, highlights the severity of stream manipulation challenges. The verdict underscores the efforts of rights holders and authorities in combating such fraud. Despite the defendant’s significant earnings, justice prevailed, marking a milestone in addressing fraudulent practices in the music industry.

#4 Spotify's Royalty Changes and Updates

Spotify implements changes to its royalty payout structure, including measures to combat fraud and ensure fair compensation for artists. As of April 1, tracks must accrue at least 1,000 streams in a year to earn royalties. These adjustments aim to redirect $1bn to professional artists over five years. However, European indies express concern, cautioning that the new criteria may disproportionately impact independent artists and labels.

#5 Meta Expands Transparency in Labeling AI-Generated Content

#1 Apple under new pressure from Meta, Microsoft and Match

Amidst criticism from Spotify and Epic Games, larger tech firms including Meta, Microsoft, X (formerly Twitter), and Match have joined the fray against Apple’s App Store policies. According to The Wall Street Journal, these companies filed a joint amicus briefing supporting Epic Games’s legal battle against Apple’s restrictive payment methods on iOS devices. Spotify filed its own briefing, arguing that Apple fails to comply with a federal court order to open up its app ecosystem. Additionally, the European Commission’s antitrust boss, Margrethe Vestager, warned Apple about its plans to charge companies for iOS app distribution outside the App Store, a move protested by Spotify.

#2 US Department of Justice aims to split TikTok US and ByteDance

Political pressure to force ByteDance to sell TikTok’s US operations or face a ban has escalated, drawing attention from the US Department of Justice. Bloomberg reported that senior officials from the Justice Department and other agencies are discussing legislation in the Senate to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US under new ownership. Meanwhile, TikTok refutes claims that its data on American users is accessible to Chinese authorities, as potential buyers circle around the app.

#3 Spotify updates Loud & Clear website with 2023 payout stats

Spotify unveiled its 2023 payout stats on its Loud & Clear website, disclosing that it paid over $9 billion to the music industry last year, with approximately half going to independent music. The update highlights the growth in the number of artists earning significant payouts, with 66,000 artists generating over $10k from Spotify, up from 57,000 the previous year. Furthermore, Spotify detailed the rise in non-English language music’s popularity, with Spanish, German, Portuguese, French, and Korean leading the way, reflecting Spotify’s expanding global reach.

#4 Deezer has removed 26m tracks to 'declutter the platform'

Deezer announced the removal of over 26 million tracks from its platform, aiming to enhance user experience and prioritise valuable content after striking a deal with Universal Music Group. CEO Jeronimo Folgueira clarified that the removed tracks included noise, mono-track albums, fake artists, and rarely listened-to songs. While this move aligns with Deezer’s shift towards an ‘artist-centric’ model, questions about transparency regarding track removal decisions remain. You can see the content guidelines here. 

#5 Recorded music trade revenues in the UK experienced an 8.1% growth throughout 2023

In 2023, the UK’s recorded music trade revenues surged by 8.1%, totaling £1.43bn ($1.83bn). Streaming income notably soared by 8.4%, comprising 67.4% of total revenue and marking a significant increase from a decade ago. Paid subscriptions contributed £826.8m, growing by 8.1%, while ad-supported audio and video revenues increased by 12.4% and 6.9% respectively. Vinyl sales continued their resurgence, recording £141.6m in revenues, up 18.6% year-on-year. Even CD sales saw a 5.4% growth to £97.2m. The report also highlights 2,245 artists surpassing 10m audio streams in the UK in 2023, despite concerns of revenue growth slightly lagging behind consumption.

#1 CNM Counters Spotify's Subscription Price Increase in France

France’s Centre National de la Musique (CNM) has responded to Spotify’s decision to increase subscription prices in France, which is part of Spotify’s opposition to a financial budget that imposes taxes on music services to support CNM’s work. In a translated statement published by CMU, CNM accuses Spotify of misrepresentation regarding the €15m raised from Digital Service Providers (DSPs). CNM clarifies that none of this revenue directly funds CNM’s operations; instead, it supports financial aid programs for artists and music companies, fostering the diversity and international growth of French music. CNM emphasises solidarity and industry-wide consultation in designing the levy. It criticises Spotify for suggesting that the price increase solely stems from new solidarity contributions, aligning it with previous decisions.

#2 US Lawmakers Target TikTok with New Legislation

A group of US lawmakers has introduced a bill in the House of Representatives targeting TikTok and its parent company ByteDance. Named the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, it aims to sever ties between such apps and entities controlled by foreign adversaries, specifically targeting TikTok’s alleged connections with Chinese authorities. Supported by politicians from both parties, the bill’s proponents express concerns over national security and data privacy. Representative Mike Gallagher emphasised severing ties with the Chinese Communist Party, while others criticised TikTok as “Communist Chinese malware.” TikTok responded, accusing the bill of being an outright ban and infringing on First Amendment rights, noting its importance for millions of American users and small businesses. Despite bipartisan support, the bill’s passage may face challenges amid political dynamics and upcoming elections.

#3 Tidal Unifies HiFi Tiers, Redefines Premium Music Streaming

Tidal has merged its HiFi and HiFi Plus tiers into a single subscription plan priced at $10.99 per month, offering access to FLAC and Dolby Atmos music previously exclusive to the higher-priced tier. The move follows industry trends after Apple Music introduced lossless audio without extra charges in 2021. Tidal’s decision aims to provide a wider audience with high-quality music, aligning with its global expansion strategy. The company emphasises offering a premium listening experience across its extensive catalogue to music enthusiasts worldwide. With this pricing adjustment, Tidal aims to stay competitive in the streaming market while meeting consumer demands for quality audio. Attention now turns to Spotify, which has yet to launch its own high-fidelity tier announced in 2021, setting the stage for potential shifts in the streaming landscape.

#4 Streaming Industry Reacts to European Commission's Apple Fine

Following the European Commission’s €1.8bn fine on Apple over App Store policies, Spotify, Deezer, and Epic Games have responded to the decision. Spotify applauded the ruling, emphasising its significance in curbing Apple’s alleged abuse of power. However, it stressed the need for further action to address Apple’s ongoing unfair practices. Deezer welcomed the Commission’s stance against anti-competitive behaviour, urging scrutiny of Apple’s proposed App Store changes in light of the ruling. Epic Games, a vocal critic of Apple, criticised its response to the fine, accusing it of denial and highlighting the need for fair app marketplace practices. As attention shifts to Apple’s promised appeal and ongoing regulatory discussions, the impact of the ruling on app ecosystems and competition remains a focal point for stakeholders across the industry.

#1 UK Music Advocates VAT Reduction to Revitalise Struggling Music Venues

UK Music urges the government to slash VAT on ticket sales to support struggling music venues. The body advocates for reducing the current 20% VAT rate to 10%, aligning with the EU average. This call comes amidst a distressing trend where 125 grassroots music venues shut down in 2023 due to escalating energy expenses and a concertgoers’ cost-of-living squeeze. UK Music’s interim CEO, Tom Kiehl, emphasises that halving VAT on tickets could be instrumental in preserving cherished music venues, vital for local economies. The Association of Independent Festivals echoes this sentiment, launching a campaign for a similar VAT cut on festival tickets. Such measures aim to alleviate financial burdens on both venues and attendees while safeguarding the cultural vibrancy of the music scene.

#2 Deezer's Financial Upsurge and CEO Departure: A Tale of Growth and Transition

Deezer sees a 7.4% revenue increase in 2023, but its CEO steps down unexpectedly. Jeronimo Folgueira, who guided the company through its transition into a public entity, resigned to pursue personal endeavours. Despite this, Deezer reports growth with 10.5 million subscribers by the year-end, marking a gain of 1.1 million over the year. Annual revenues reach €484.7 million, with France contributing significantly. Although Deezer remains unprofitable, it managed to narrow its operating losses from €166.7 million in 2022 to €64.4 million in 2023. Notably, subscriber growth through B2B partnerships outpaced direct subscriptions. While the departure of Folgueira brings uncertainty, Deezer’s financial performance underscores resilience and potential for future growth strategies under new leadership.

#3 NetEase Cloud Music Surpasses 44 Million Paying Users Amid Revenue Surge

NetEase Cloud Music achieves 44.1 million paying users in 2023, as its parent company reports robust revenue growth. With revenues reaching RMB 4.4 billion, the streaming service experiences a 17.6% year-on-year surge, primarily fueled by subscription upticks. NetEase Cloud Music’s monthly active users surpass 205.9 million, with paying users rising from 38.3 million to 44.1 million. Notably, the service expands its offerings beyond digital albums, venturing into physical releases, evident from its successful collaboration with artist Chenyu Hua. Additionally, NetEase Cloud Music ventures into AI music with innovative tools like NetEase Tianyin and X Studio. These developments underscore the platform’s commitment to enhancing user experience and diversifying revenue streams.

#4 Spotify, Deezer, and Epic Games Unite Against Apple's App Store Policies

Spotify, Deezer, and Epic Games join forces to challenge Apple’s policies ahead of the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in the EU. The alliance opposes Apple’s proposed changes to its App Store, particularly its plans to levy charges on app downloads. Spotify, in particular, voices concerns over potential escalation in customer acquisition costs. The group urges the European Commission to scrutinise Apple’s actions, emphasising the need to uphold competitive digital markets. Despite ongoing regulatory battles, Spotify anticipates a favourable ruling in its 2019 complaint against Apple. Meanwhile, Apple defends its position, accusing Spotify of seeking unwarranted benefits without compensating for the value provided by Apple’s tools. As the confrontation unfolds, both sides gear up for further engagement with European regulators.

#5 Billboard Unveils Impact of TikTok's UMPG Takedowns on Top Tracks

Billboard examines the repercussions of TikTok’s removal of music affiliated with Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG). Following TikTok’s earlier removal of UMG recordings, this action further impacts popular songs on the platform. Billboard’s analysis reveals that UMPG’s ownership interest extends to 61 of the top 100 tracks in the US. Interpolations, samples, and numerous credited co-writers contribute to the list too. Despite previous estimates suggesting a lesser impact, the current scenario highlights the importance of connections between music creators and platforms. 

#1 Reprezent Radio Takes to Crowdfunding to Secure Future Growth

Reprezent, the pioneering London radio station, is turning to crowdfunding to address its current challenges. With over 20 years of influence, Reprezent has not only shaped the music landscape by championing emerging artists but also by nurturing talent in broadcasting. As it transitions into a registered charity to access broader funding avenues, it faces a financial gap. Enter its crowdfunding campaign, which has already exceeded its initial £50k goal on Crowdfunder within days and now aims for a stretch target of £100k. The funds raised will be pivotal in shoring up infrastructural gaps caused by years of budget constraints. While donors contributing over £250 will receive an exclusive Reprezent hoodie, the true reward for all supporters lies in ensuring the station’s survival and eventual flourishing as a charity.

#2 SoundCloud's New Innovative Mood Targeting Advertising

SoundCloud is embracing mood targeting in its latest advertising innovation. This new feature enables advertisers to align their campaigns with specific music moods, reflecting what users are currently listening to. Initially introduced in the US and now expanding across the European Union, it offers nine targetable moods, including Angsty, Celebratory, Chill, Energetic, Focused, Happy, Soothing, Love, and Relaxed. SoundCloud positions this launch as a means for advertisers to enhance campaign precision without relying on individual user data. By leveraging this unique service, SoundCloud aims to boost ad relevance, ensuring advertisers effectively reach their desired audiences while providing the community with relevant advertisements.

#3 Apple's Vision Pro Headset Set to Redefine Music Production with RipX DAW

Apple’s Vision Pro headset, priced just under $3,500, enters the premium segment of mixed-reality headsets. Despite the price tag, anticipation surrounds the potential music experiences it will offer, including music-making capabilities.Hit’n’Mix, the developer behind the RipX digital audio workstation (DAW), has announced a version of its software tailored for the Vision Pro. RipX DAW for Apple Vision Pro is set to launch soon, boasting a user interface optimised for the wearable device. This innovative DAW promises a unique experience: imagine a 3D display presenting all audio, whether live recorded, MIDI, or stem separated, as fully editable notes, with instruments distinguished by distance. It’s a departure from traditional waveforms, offering pure sound immersion. Users can even expand the music to fill their surroundings, interacting with melodies as if they were physically present.

#4 TikTok Expands 'Add to Music App' Feature Globally Amidst Licensing Challenges

TikTok continues its global expansion with the rollout of its ‘Add to Music App’ feature to 163 additional countries. Initially launched in the US and UK, this feature simplifies the process of adding discovered songs to libraries and playlists on popular DSPs like Apple Music, Amazon Music, and Spotify. This move not only benefits TikTok users but also underscores the platform’s value proposition to the music industry, facilitating the transition from short clips to full-length track consumption. However, complications arise as Universal Music Group (UMG) removes its catalogue from TikTok, potentially affecting recordings released by other labels. Despite licensing challenges, TikTok remains committed to enhancing user engagement with music content.

#5 Apple Music Introduces Monthly Replay Recap and Streamlines Music Transfer Experience

Apple Music introduces a monthly iteration of its Replay recap feature, providing users with regular insights into their listening habits. Alongside the existing annual recap, which compiles top songs, albums, and artists, the monthly updates offer real-time milestones and encourage social sharing. Additionally, Apple Music is testing a feature to simplify music and playlist transfers for users switching streaming services, highlighting its commitment to user convenience and platform accessibility.

#1 UK music-streaming reaches 57% of the population and continues to expand

The UK boasts approximately 39 million monthly active users of music streaming services, constituting around 57% of the population, with this number steadily rising.  The growth in streaming is fueled in part by music fans across the generations who are subscribing to streaming services for the first time. This includes young adults transitioning from family plans to individual subscriptions, as well as newcomers to streaming who previously relied solely on physical products. In January 2024, BPI announced a 10% increase in music consumption in the UK, totalling 182.8 million “album equivalent sales” in 2023, with British consumers streaming 179.6 billion audio tracks, marking a 12.8% year-on-year rise.

#2 Spotify enhances concert listings with Bandsintown data

Spotify has enriched its concerts feature with data from Bandsintown. Users will now find Bandsintown’s event listings integrated within Spotify, appearing on artist pages, the ‘Live Events’ feed, and the ‘Now Playing’ screen. Spotify introduced the live events feed in 2022, replacing its previous ‘Concerts Hub,’ initially sourcing listings from ticketing platforms like Ticketmaster, AXS, Dice, Eventbrite, and See Tickets. The addition of Bandsintown data expands coverage to include many more concerts by independent artists, enhancing discoverability within Spotify. Artists can keep their upcoming concerts updated through Bandsintown’s dashboard. This partnership aligns with Bandsintown’s growth trajectory, with over 150,000 additional concerts listed on its platform in 2023 compared to 2022.

#3 YouTube introduces music video remix feature for shorts

YouTube introduces a new feature allowing users to “remix” music videos into their short-form videos, aiming to compete with TikTok. As part of its ongoing development to rival TikTok’s features, YouTube now enables users to integrate music videos, leveraging its extensive library, into Shorts. This update arrives amid Universal Music Group’s decision to withdraw its catalogue from TikTok, positioning YouTube to capture more attention in the music video segment. To incorporate a music video into a Short, users can select the ‘Remix’ button on any eligible video and utilise various tools:

• The “Collab” tool displays the music video alongside the user’s content, ideal for dance videos.
• The “Green Screen” feature sets the music video as the background for the user’s video, popular for reaction videos.
• The “Cut” tool allows users to extract a five-second clip from a music video for their Short.
• The “Sound” tool extracts audio from a music video for incorporation into Shorts.

#4 Electronic music's £2.5 billion contribution to the UK economy in 2023

In 2023, the vibrancy of electronic music shone brightly as it made a significant £2.5 billion contribution to the UK economy, according to a comprehensive report commissioned by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). This illuminating report, an integral part of the ‘Electronic Beats, Economic Treats 2024’ music report, delved deep into the multifaceted economic influence of electronic music. This contribution not only underscores the creativity and innovation within the electronic music scene but also highlights its amazing impact on the economic landscape of the UK.

#5 Reportedly, Apple is set to encounter a $539 million fine in response to Spotify's antitrust complaint

According to a report from the Financial Times on a Sunday morning, Apple is facing a €500 million (approximately $539 million USD) fine following an investigation into a complaint filed by Spotify regarding antitrust concerns. The complaint alleges that Apple’s policies restrict iPhone apps from informing users about cheaper alternatives to Apple Music. This issue revolves around Apple’s control over its App Store payment system, which Spotify argues stifles competition. The European Union began investigating the complaint in 2020, focusing on Apple’s refusal to allow developers to link to their own subscription sign-ups within their apps. Although the fine of $539 million may seem substantial, the EU had initially considered imposing a much larger penalty of close to $40 billion.

#2 YouTube's CEO outlines 2024 priorities: AI and Shorts

YouTube CEO Neal Mohan recently outlined the company’s priorities for 2024, following the announcement of reaching 100 million premium subscribers. Mohan detailed YouTube’s current focuses, beginning with the integration of AI, particularly in the realm of YouTube Shorts, which is experiencing an average of over 70 billion daily views. He emphasized the growth of Shorts channels by 50% year over year and expressed confidence that AI innovation will enable even broader participation in content creation.

#3 Apple achieves an all-time revenue record for its services in Q4 2023

Apple’s latest financial report reveals a 2% year-on-year increase in revenue, reaching $119.6 billion in the final quarter of 2023. Notably, the company sets a new quarterly record for services revenue at $23.1 billion, up 11% year-on-year. Despite CEO Tim Cook’s mention of record revenue across various services, there is no explicit reference to Apple Music, suggesting it may not have set records in Q4 2023.

#4 Meta's financial report unveils Threads with 130 million monthly active users

Meta’s latest financial disclosure includes significant figures, with its family of apps now boasting 3.19 billion daily active users. CEO Mark Zuckerberg highlights the growth of Threads, indicating it has surpassed its initial launch peak with over 130 million monthly active users, up from nearly 100 million the previous quarter.

#5 Spotify's Record-breaking $9 Billion Payout

Following Spotify’s financial results release, the company unveiled a staggering payout to the music industry, exceeding $9 billion in 2023, nearly tripling over six years. The analysis revealed that Spotify allocated approximately 63% of its €13.25 billion ($14.27 billion) revenue to the music sector last year.  Furthermore, Spotify disclosed that 200,000 artists generated 95% of its payouts, averaging $42,750 annually per artist. This disclosure not only sets a benchmark but also intensifies competition among streaming platforms.

#1 TikTok's usage is beginning to experience a decline:

Despite TikTok claiming the top spot for global app downloads and consumer spending in 2023, its dominance did not extend to actual user engagement. Facebook maintained its leading position in monthly active users, with other Meta-owned apps like WhatsApp, Instagram, and Messenger outperforming TikTok and securing the fifth position. Recent data suggests that TikTok’s growth is showing signs of slowing down, raising questions about whether the platform’s foray into ecommerce via TikTok Shop is a contributing factor.

New insights from market intelligence firm Sensor Tower reveal a positive but decelerating growth trend for TikTok. While the platform experienced a robust 12% average year-over-year increase in monthly active users per quarter in 2022, this figure dwindled to 3% year-over-year per quarter in 2023.

#2 Spotify Wrapped saw a threefold increase in first-day ticket sales in 2023:

The annual year-end promotion by Spotify made a significant impact, not only creating buzz but also translating into notable sales for merchandise and concert tickets. According to an email from the Spotify for Artists team to musicians, the number of artists making at least one merchandise sale on Wrapped launch day increased fourfold compared to the previous year. Additionally, concert ticket sales on the launch day surpassed last year’s figures by nearly three times. While specific numerical data was not provided, Spotify, historically, has not disclosed the exact dollar amounts for merchandise and ticket sales on its platform. The observed growth aligns with the platform’s recent emphasis on promoting merchandise and ticket sales in the Wrapped experience, with artists encouraged to update their stores and listings before the promotion, and links to merchandise and tickets taking a more prominent place in the Wrapped experience for fans over the last two years.

#3 Amazon Music for Artists Unveils 'Hype Deck':

Amazon Music for Artists introduces ‘Hype Deck,’ a new promotional tool aimed at assisting musicians in amplifying their music and the streaming service on their social media platforms. Described as “an easy way to promote big moments for your music,” Hype Deck allows musicians to create shareable cards highlighting significant events such as new releases, anniversaries, or playlist features. According to the introductory Instagram post, these cards can be used on various marketing channels, including social media and email. The tool is accessible to anyone on an artist, distributor, or label team with access to the artist’s profile on Amazon Music for Artists. With similar promotional boosts proving successful for competitors like Spotify, especially during events like its annual Wrapped promotion, it comes as no surprise that Amazon Music is encouraging artists to showcase their accomplishments on its platform.

#4 Apple Music Confirms 10% Royalty Boost for Spatial Audio Streams:

Apple has officially confirmed its plan to boost royalty payouts for spatial audio streams on Apple Music by 10%. The increase, outlined in a memo to label partners, employs a factor of 1.1 for spatial audio plays, while maintaining a factor of 1 for non-spatial plays. The aim is to recognize high-quality content and ensure fair compensation for artists investing in spatial mixing. Apple shared that over 90% of subscribers have experimented with spatial audio, with total spatial audio plays tripling in the past two years. However, concerns arise about potential exclusion of artists with limited budgets for spatial mixes.

#5 BeReal Unveils Global Expansion with RealPeople and RealBrands, Targeting Brands and Celebrities:

BeReal is gearing up to unveil enticing features aimed at luring in brands and celebrities to its platform. On February 6, the social media powerhouse will globally introduce official accounts for both individuals and companies, labelled as RealPeople and RealBrands.

Unlike RealBrands, which is a fresh revelation, RealPeople had its initial beta launch in the UK back in May 2023 and is now poised for expansion into various other markets.

This strategic move carries weight for BeReal, as it gained traction in 2022 among the youth seeking a more authentic social media experience, steering clear of the increasingly staged atmosphere of Instagram and the entertainment-centric realm of TikTok. Despite currently boasting 23 million daily active users, the company has encountered a gradual deceleration in its growth trajectory.

#1 South Korean Album Sales Skyrocket to 115.1 Million Units in 2023, Fueled by Traditional Metrics Amid Streaming Growth:

South Korean album sales surged to 115.1 million units in 2023, marking a 49% increase from the previous year. Despite the ongoing discussions on streaming growth, the country’s music industry is celebrating the traditional metric of album sales. The report, sourced from Allkpop, notes the rapid ascent, with sales below 25 million in 2019. The rise is attributed to factors like pre-sales and bundle sales, where albums come with chances to win event tickets or band photos, encouraging multiple purchases. However, the article raises concerns about environmental impacts tied to the surge in physical sales.

#2 Steady Growth: Bulgarian Recorded Music Industry Thrives with Annual Streaming Subscribers Surge:

The Bulgarian recorded music industry is experiencing steady growth, with 210,000 subscribers to premium music streaming services among its 6.8 million inhabitants. Ruth Koleva, founder of the Sofia Live Festival and the So Alive Music Conference, reports a 15% annual increase in subscription numbers. In our latest country profile, focusing on the 54th biggest music market globally in 2022, it’s revealed that 2022 marked the eighth consecutive year of growth for Bulgaria’s recorded music industry, showcasing a remarkable 24% increase in recorded music revenue.

#3 Expansion of Apple Music Classical to Include China, Japan, and South Korea:

Apple is gearing up to launch its Apple Music Classical streaming app in more Asian countries, including Japan, China, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan. The app is available for pre-order on the App Store in these regions, with a planned release date of 24 January. Originally launched on 28 March 2023 in most countries where the parent service operates, the Classical app was notably absent in China, Japan, and South Korea until now. The app, which requires an Apple Music subscription, has been steadily expanding its presence, with Apple’s recent acquisition of the Swedish classical-music label BIS Records in September 2023. The integration of BIS Records into Apple Music Classical and the subsidiary Platoon reflects Apple’s commitment to growing its business around the new app. While user numbers for Apple Music Classical remain undisclosed, the company continues to strengthen its position in the classical music streaming market.

#4 Apple Announces 2 February Launch for Vision Pro Headset in the U.S.:

Apple’s much-anticipated Vision Pro headset is set to debut on 2 February, with the initial launch exclusively in the United States. Pre-orders for the device, unveiled last year, kick off on 19 January and will be available through both Apple’s online store and its U.S. retail locations. Apple touts compatibility with over 1 million apps, primarily from the iPhone and iPad, for use with the Vision Pro headset. Additionally, new native experiences and games are expected to enhance the mixed-reality offering. A standout feature, ‘Apple Immersive Video,’ delivers 180-degree 8K video paired with spatial audio. Priced at $3,499, the Vision Pro is positioned as a high-end product. With Meta’s heightened focus on music for its Quest headsets, the industry eagerly anticipates the musical experiences that Vision Pro will introduce at its launch.

#5 Report: SoundCloud Set to Be Sold for $1 Billion:

SoundCloud, among the world’s leading music streaming services, is gearing up for a potential sale exceeding $1 billion. Raine Group and Temasek Holdings have initiated talks with investment banks for a prospective auction of the company. Founded in 2007, SoundCloud provides a platform for over 40 million artists to release 320 million tracks, marking a significant turnaround in recent years under CEO Eliah Seton’s leadership.

#1 Apple Music Considering Higher Royalties for Spatial Audio Tracks:

Apple Music, a staunch advocate for spatial audio, is exploring ways to encourage labels and artists to embrace Dolby Atmos technology. Reports suggest that, beginning next year, the company plans to assign greater importance to streams of songs mixed in Dolby Atmos. While the sources cited by Bloomberg humorously mention ‘people with knowledge of the matter,’ the news signifies a potential adjustment in Apple Music’s royalty model. This move follows recent modifications by Deezer and Spotify. The emphasis on higher payments for spatial audio songs aligns with Apple’s dedication to the format. In January, the company revealed that 80% of its global subscribers were engaging with spatial tracks, witnessing a monthly play increase of 1,000%.

#2 Latin Music Dominates: Over 20% of Spotify's Top 100 Songs in 2023:

Over 20% of Spotify’s top 100 songs in 2023 were Latin, marking a decade since its launch in Latin American markets. Latin beats have grown by 28% annually, making Latin music a dominant force on global charts. The genre’s widespread appeal is evident, with more than one in five songs on the global Top 100 being Latin. Spotify reports a 986% growth in Latin music listeners since 2014. Additionally, five of the platform’s top 10 editorial playlists focus on Latin music, and 21% of its global users reside in Latin America, with the user base growing from 54.6 million in September 2019 to 120.5 million in September 2023.

#3 Spotify Trials AI-Driven Playlists with Text Prompts:

Spotify is currently testing a new feature that involves prompt-driven playlists, as initially reported in October and discovered in the mobile app’s code. The testing phase includes some users, with one showcasing the feature in a TikTok video. Found within the playlist-creation mechanism, the + button on the top-right of the ‘Your Library’ screen now offers a third option for an ‘AI playlist,’ generated using text prompts. Spotify responded to the leak by stating, “We routinely conduct a number of tests. Some of those tests end up paving the path for our broader experience and others serve only as an important learning.”

#4 PPL Achieves Record £48.7m Distribution in December:

UK music-licensing company PPL has disclosed its December quarterly distribution, setting a new year-end record of £48.7m ($62.1m). This marks a 13% increase from the corresponding distribution last year. PPL highlighted the inclusion of revenues allocated to members from 63 different collective management organisations (CMOs), showcasing the expansion of its global agreements. The distribution reached over 137,000 performers and rights holders, illustrating significant growth compared to the final quarter of 2020, where £42.8m was distributed to more than 112,000 members. Notably, despite the overall increase, the average payout per member in Q4 2023 decreased to £355.47 from £382.14 in Q4 2020, reflecting a rise in beneficiaries.

#5 YouTube Maintains Lead as Primary Online Platform for U.S. Teens:

#1 Spotify Expands Discovery Mode to Include Mixes and Unveils Global Campaign Kit Innovations:

Spotify is set to broaden the scope of its Discovery Mode by incorporating mixes. In a recent announcement, the platform consolidated its artist-marketing tools into a comprehensive ‘Campaign Kit.’ Notably, the expansion of Spotify’s ‘Discovery Mode’ initiative is a focal point, initially introduced to promote tracks in radio and autoplay modes at the expense of reduced royalty rates. Starting January 3, 2024, Discovery Mode campaigns will encompass Daily Mix playlists, followed by inclusion in artist, decade, mood, and genre mixes. This development has ignited considerable discussion and criticism, with some labelling it as a contemporary form of payola. Spotify has countered by regularly releasing case studies showcasing instances where artists achieved audience growth through the feature. As the expansion reaches various facets of the company’s service, anticipate renewed debates on the controversial subject. Additionally, Spotify is extending its ‘Showcase’ paid campaigns tool to the UK, Canada, Australia, and France, while introducing ‘Marquee’ ads in France for the first time.

#2 Sped up Tracks Dominate TikTok's 2023 Hit List:

TikTok has just released its comprehensive year-end report for 2023, featuring charts showcasing the most popular songs on the platform. In a reflection of an ongoing trend on TikTok, three of the top 10 global tracks were accelerated versions. The K-Pop group Fifty Fifty’s ‘Cupid – Twin Ver – Sped Up Version’ claimed the top spot, gauged by creations – the number of videos it featured in, surpassing 20 million. Simultaneously, Justine Skye’s ‘Collide (more sped up)’ secured the third position globally with over 13 million creations and topped TikTok’s music chart in the US. Notably, the original recording of this song dates back to 2014. Closing the list, thuy’s ‘girls like me don’t cry (sped up)’ ranked as the eighth biggest track globally on TikTok in 2023. Additionally, TikTok unveiled its list of the 10 most popular artists this year, led by Mexican artist Kimberly Loaiza, followed by Selena Gomez, Blackpink, BTS, and Feid. Enhypen, Karol G, Le Sserafim, NewJeans, and Shakira completed the chart, revealing the dominance of four Latin American artists and five K-Pop artists in the top 10, underscoring the cultural impact of these regions in today’s music industry.

#3 Apple's Shazam Surpasses 300 Million Monthly Active Users:

Apple celebrates a notable achievement with its Shazam music-identification app, revealing a user base exceeding 300 million globally. This marks a substantial increase from the 225 million reported in August 2022, demonstrating a consistent monthly growth of five million new users. Originally launched in 2002 in the UK as a service allowing users to identify music via shortcode, Shazam experienced a transformative surge with the advent of Apple’s App Store in 2008. A decade later, Apple acquired Shazam for a reported $400 million. This milestone coincides with the release of Shazam’s 2023 chart of the most-tagged songs, featuring Afrobeats sensation Rema’s ‘Calm Down’ at the top, followed by Miley Cyrus’s ‘Flowers’ and Lady Gaga’s ‘Bloody Mary.’ 

#4 Tidal, the streaming service, is implementing a workforce reduction, with plans to let go of 10% of its staff:

Tidal, the streaming service, is undergoing a workforce reduction, shedding more than 10% of its employees, equivalent to approximately 40 individuals, as confirmed by Variety. This move follows Spotify’s recent announcement of a 17% staff reduction. The downsizing at Tidal is part of broader cutbacks at its parent company, Block, aimed at reducing the overall headcount to below 12,000. Tidal’s spokesperson stated, ‘We can confirm that, as part of Block’s recent initiative to limit the company’s workforce and focus on business growth, Tidal has carefully assessed the necessary adjustments to our team to ensure continued development and investment in key areas of the business.

#5 TicketTok: TikTok and Ticketmaster Expand Collaborative Efforts:

TikTok and Ticketmaster are strengthening their alliance to facilitate ticket sales and boost the promotion of live events directly within the TikTok app. After launching in beta in the US last year, the partnership is expanding to over 20 additional countries, including the UK, Germany, France, Mexico, Spain, Sweden, and Australia. Artists holding ‘certified’ status on TikTok within these countries can enhance the promotion of their upcoming concerts by incorporating Ticketmaster links into their videos.

Fans can seamlessly tap on these links to make purchases directly from their phones. Since its beta introduction in the US, this feature has garnered over 2.5 billion views across videos involving musicians, sports teams, and event organisers. Notable artists such as Niall Horan, Burna Boy, Shania Twain, and The Kooks have already leveraged this functionality. TikTok is gearing up for its inaugural branded live concert, TikTok In The Mix, scheduled for December 10 in Arizona. While Tickets.com is the partner for this event’s pre-sales, TikTok’s collaboration with Ticketmaster remains a significant expansion for facilitating global ticketing and event promotion.

#1 Major: Spotify Announces 17% Workforce Reduction in Latest Job Cut Initiative:

In an effort to streamline operations and cut costs, Spotify’s CEO, Daniel Ek, has announced a 17 percent reduction in the company’s workforce, impacting over 1,500 employees. Ek cited a combination of slowing economic growth and escalating operational expenses as the driving factors behind the decision, emphasising the need for Spotify to become a more agile and efficient organisation. This move represents the third significant round of layoffs for Spotify in the current year, following a 6 percent staff reduction in January and the elimination of 200 roles in June. Despite historically prioritising growth, Spotify is now under increasing investor pressure to achieve profitability. Ek aims to realise this goal by 2024, even though the company reported losses of €462 million in the first nine months of the current year.

Moving forward, this means that listening sessions and editorial meetings will be cancelled. They’ll also be a smaller editorial team reading through pitches & updates. 

#2 Google Unveils 'Instrument Playground'

Google has introduced a new ‘AI-powered experiment’ in the realm of music. Developed by the Google Arts & Culture Lab team, the initiative named ‘Instrument Playground’ utilises the MusicLM model, launched by Google earlier this year. Users can select from over 100 instruments worldwide, and MusicLM generates a 20-second sound clip based on their choice. Users can also enhance their prompts by adding adjectives like moody, happy, or romantic to manipulate the resulting sound clip. Instrument Playground is part of Google’s broader collection of AI-driven experiments, including the ‘Viola the Bird’ project and the entertaining ‘Blob Opera’ experiment introduced a few years ago.

#3 Potential Launch of Instagram's Threads in the European Union This Month:

Regulatory challenges initially prevented the launch of Instagram’s Twitter competitor, Threads, in the European Union earlier this year. However, it seems that Threads might finally debut in the EU this month, according to The Wall Street Journal. To comply with regulations, Meta plans to offer EU users the option of using Threads solely for consumption without the ability to create their own posts. Despite a slow start, Threads garnered nearly 100 million monthly active users globally by October, just three months post-launch. With Twitter facing challenges, including advertisers pausing spending, Threads sees an opportunity to attract users, potentially including more artists.

#4 Longer TikTok videos are working….

It’s time to rethink TikTok’s classification as merely a ‘short’ video app, considering its recent transformations. Beyond brief clips, TikTok began experimenting with a 10-minute video duration early in 2022, and the ‘Creativity Program Beta’ this year emphasised a shift towards longer-form videos exceeding one minute. Recent insights from The Information reveal that users on TikTok now spend half their time engaging with content surpassing one minute. Moreover, creators adopting videos longer than a minute experience a remarkable fivefold growth in their audiences, according to TikTok. The platform is reportedly testing a maximum video length of up to 15 minutes, prompting comparisons to YouTube. 

#5 SoundCloud Unveils Updated Official Charts in the US and UK

SoundCloud has reimagined its official charts in the US and UK, introducing a weekly refresh on Thursdays to provide an early glimpse before other charts typically release on Fridays. The revamped charts feature a new addition called ‘Next Pro,’ spotlighting unsigned and independent artists. The flagship ‘New & Hot’ chart is also undergoing enhancements. Utilising data from its AI subsidiary Musiio, SoundCloud is ensuring genre charts for rap, pop, R&B, and electronic music are free from inaccuracies like white noise. Moreover, SoundCloud is intensifying security measures to combat fraudulent streaming. The platform has also revamped its search page and introduced Spotify-style daily playlists, ‘Your Mix’ and ‘Your MegaMix,’ powered by Musiio’s technology, following SoundCloud’s acquisition of the startup in May 2022.

#1 Apple Music links up with PlayStation:

Apple Music is targeting gamers with its latest promotion, offering PlayStation 5 owners up to six months of subscription at no extra cost. This exclusive deal, available in 68 countries, is valid until November 15, 2024, and applies to both new and “qualified returning” Apple Music subscribers. New subscribers enjoy a complimentary six-month access, while returning users receive five months free. The offer capitalises on the availability of Apple Music on the PlayStation 5, introduced through its app launch in October 2021. With relatively few music-streaming apps on the PS5, including Spotify and YouTube, this collaboration aims to boost Apple Music’s presence in the gaming community. This marketing initiative aligns with Apple’s efforts to expand its music service, following recent financial results indicating a peak in revenues for Apple Music in Q1 2023, with subsequent declines in subsequent quarters.

#2 TikTok launches “Add to Music App” feature:

TikTok has officially launched its ‘Add to Music App’ feature, now including Spotify as its third partner alongside Apple Music and Amazon Music. The feature allows users to save tracks from TikTok videos to playlists on these platforms. Rolling out in the UK and US initially, Apple Music is included but not emphasised in TikTok’s announcement. YouTube’s music service is notably absent, possibly due to its connection with YouTube Shorts. Questions remain about data access for labels and artists to track the impact of TikTok’s feature on streams and playlists.

#3 Tencent Music has grown massively, surpassing 100 million subscribers:

Tencent Music has reached a significant milestone, with 103 million users now paying for its online music services, up from 85.3 million a year ago. This growth includes subscribers to Tencent Music’s QQ Music, Kugou, and Kuwo, as well as those purchasing digital albums and content. In Q3, subscription revenues specifically surged by 42% year-on-year to RMB 3.19 billion ($438 million). However, the company’s overall financial performance reflects a tale of two business lines. Online music (streaming) revenues increased by 32.7% to RMB 4.55 billion ($624 million), while Tencent Music’s ‘social entertainment’ business (live streaming, karaoke, etc.) experienced a sharp decline, with revenues dropping by 48.8% to RMB 2.02 billion ($276 million). This marks a significant shift from 2018 when social entertainment constituted over 70% of Tencent Music’s revenues, and online music made up just under 30%. Five years later, social entertainment now represents 30.6% of the business, with online music dominating.

#4 YouTube introduces new chart “Top Songs on Shorts”:

YouTube has introduced a new music chart, ‘Top Songs on Shorts,’ dedicated to tracks featured on YouTube Shorts. The chart includes both daily and weekly rankings and is initially available in countries such as the US, UK, Canada, Japan, and Mexico, along with a global chart. Notably, the global chart is currently dominated by Indian artists, with the majority of the top 20 entries originating from India. YouTube’s global head of music, Lyor Cohen, emphasises that these charts reflect global music culture and celebrate artists’ success. In conjunction with this announcement, YouTube is revamping its existing charts website, where the new Shorts rankings reside, to enhance functionality on both desktop and mobile. Additionally, there will be ‘share cards’ for tracks making the Shorts chart, enabling artists to share their success on social media.

#5 Apple Music introduces “Listening Now” features:

Apple Music has introduced a new feature for artists called ‘Listening Now,’ providing real-time data on the number of fans currently streaming their music. This feature is accessible through a new widget within Apple Music’s dashboard. Artists can select the widget to view detailed Listening Now trends from the past 48 hours. The metrics include ‘Maximum Listeners,’ highlighting the highest number of listeners within that period, and ‘Average Listeners,’ indicating the average number of listeners. Additionally, artists can see a snapshot of their top-six most played back songs under ‘Top Songs Now.’ It’s important to note that the feature has an unspecified minimum listener threshold, and artists may experience gaps in data reporting when this threshold is not met, according to Apple.

#1 Deezer undergoes branding and marketing changes:

Deezer’s recent rebranding and redesign mark its transition into an “experience services platform” while maintaining its core identity as a music-streaming service. This transformation centres around the principles of expression and connection, aimed at enabling artists, fans, and partners to foster a sense of belonging through music. The rebrand includes the introduction of a new purple-heart logo and a comprehensive overhaul of the company’s app, along with a redefined positioning in relation to its larger competitors. CEO Jeronimo Folgueira also provided an update on Deezer’s ‘artist-centric’ payout plans, highlighting their positive impact on artists and labels, especially independent ones. 

#2 Spotify's shift to a 1,000-stream minimum for royalties:

Reports indicate that Spotify is considering a significant change to its payout model that is sparking discussions within the music industry. The latest information reveals that starting early next year, Spotify’s ‘minimum annual threshold’ for tracks to begin generating royalties will be set at 1,000 streams. Currently, less popular songs receive 0.5% of the total artist earnings across the platform. The proposed change aims to shift tens of millions of dollars from the less popular songs (the 0.5%) to the more popular ones (the other 99.5%). “In 2024, Spotify expects this will move $40 million that would have previously been paid to tracks with fewer than 1,000 streams to those with more than 1,000 streams” (Music Business Worldwide). 

#3 Kaiber's new app helps artists make AI music videos:

Kaiber, a startup based in the United States, has launched a new app designed to assist artists in creating AI-generated music videos. In the past, Kaiber collaborated with artists such as Kid Cudi and Linkin Park, integrating AI-generated visuals into their music videos. This app, now available on both Android and iOS platforms, extends its technology to a broader range of musicians.

The app provides various tools, including text-to-video, image-to-video, and video-to-video features, allowing artists to craft their visual content.

#4 Amazon Music launches +44 performance series for Black British artists:

Amazon Music is expanding its video offerings, with a specific focus on +44, a playlist and broader brand dedicated to Black British music. The newly introduced ‘+44 Performance Series’ features artists delivering live performances on specially designed sets. This project involves collaboration with director Otis Dominique and set designer Jade Adeyemi. The inaugural performances feature rappers Giggs and Potter Payper, who present ‘P.A.D (Pistols At Dawn)’ from Giggs’ latest album. 

Amazon Music has already provided glimpses of other artists scheduled to participate in the series in the coming months, including NSG, Sainté, and Unknown T. This launch represents Amazon Music’s latest effort to elevate +44 into a brand as it continues to expand the playlist’s presence

#5 Tidal's new innovative tool for artist collaborations:

Tidal has unveiled its latest artist-centric feature, named “Tidal Collabs,” with the aim of assisting musicians in discovering potential collaborators. This new feature is integrated into the Tidal Artist Home portal and comes at no cost for users. Tidal Collabs is designed to suggest artists who are creatively compatible and registered on the platform. When artists identify a promising collaborator, they can initiate direct communication through Tidal to propose a musical partnership. To use collabs artists need to log in or sign up for TIDAL Artist Home. 

We’ve also created a resource on TIDAL Artist Home which you can find here.

#1 Spotify is introducing a dedicated hub for Afrobeats on its platform, named 'Afro’:

This hub offers a diverse range of content, including playlists, podcasts, articles, and videos. It prominently features Spotify’s key playlists within the Afrobeats genre, such as ‘African Heat,’ ‘Afropop,’ ‘Motive,’ ‘We Everywhere,’ and ‘Essence.’

Additionally, it provides a platform for new releases and extends its reach to encompass various genres and scenes, including Bongo Flava, Gengetone, Kwaito, and more. The launch of this hub comes after Spotify’s earlier announcement that Afrobeats tracks had garnered an impressive 13.5 billion streams on its service in 2022. 

#2 Spotify is introducing a new tab-based design for artist profiles within its mobile app:

This updated design divides the artist profile into three distinct tabs, each serving a specific purpose: one for music, one for events, and one for merchandise.

The revamped design aims to highlight essential offerings like concert tickets and merchandise in dedicated tabs. This facilitates a more convenient shopping experience for fans while providing artists with opportunities to generate additional revenue through Spotify.

Furthermore, Spotify encourages artists to personalise their profiles to maximise the benefits of the new design and features

#3 Meta's ad-free subscription services are coming to Europe:

The premium subscriptions, available for Facebook and Instagram, allow users to opt for an ad-free experience. However, this service is limited to the European Union, European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland, in response to recent European regulations. The subscription will cost €9.99/month on the web and €12.99/month on iOS and Android, varying depending on the platform.

Initially, the single fee will cover all linked Facebook and Instagram accounts within a user’s Accounts Center. Starting March 2024, an extra fee of €6/€8 per month will be applied for each additional account. The impact on those in the music industry will depend on the popularity of these new subscriptions and the extent to which Meta promotes them.

#4 Amazon’s Amp is coming to a close:

Amazon’s Amp, which made its debut in March 2022 as an innovative attempt to establish a live music-radio network where listeners could double as DJs, is now coming to a close.

During its launch, Amazon secured artists like Nicki Minaj, Travis Barker, and Lil Yachty as hosts, and Amp began with licensing agreements in place with all three major record labels and prominent independent music entities.

However, a year and a half later, Amp is being discontinued, mirroring Spotify’s venture into the world of live audio and streaming experiments. This could mean that they’re putting more focus on playlisting and editorial.

#5 Meta Updates:

In the ever-evolving landscape of digital marketing and content distribution, musicians are now presented with new opportunities and challenges, thanks to Meta’s latest updates. 

Meta are now unveiling a range of features and tools designed to empower musicians to connect, engage, and expand their fan base in unprecedented ways.

More on our resource page. 

#1 AI music startup Riffusion has secured a $4 million seed funding round:

Riffusion, an AI-driven music startup that surfaced just a year ago, has successfully secured $4 million in seed funding. Riffusion empowers individuals to generate original music through brief, shareable audio clips. Users are required to describe the lyrics and specify a musical style, and Riffusion’s model swiftly produces riffs that include singing and custom artwork within a matter of seconds.

In conjunction with this funding announcement, Riffusion has unveiled an updated version of its platform, introducing novel features. It now enables users to craft brief musical segments, referred to as “riffs,” by simply inputting lyrics and specifying their desired musical elements, such as genre, vocal style, or mood.

#2 Spotify has introduced a dedicated Artist Merch Hub within its mobile app:

Spotify has launched a new Artist Merch Hub within its mobile app to boost music merchandise sales. This move follows Spotify’s growing involvement in merchandising, including merch links in artist profiles and special offers to super fans. The Merch Hub offers personalised recommendations based on a listener’s favourite artists, making it easier for users to find and purchase artist merchandise through the artist’s Shopify-powered Spotify store.

#3 TikTok introduces a specialised hub in collaboration with Disney, featuring music and a variety of content:

TikTok has unveiled an exciting collaboration with Disney by launching a dedicated hub to celebrate the 100th anniversary of The Walt Disney Company. This month-long activation brings together over 48 distinct handles and brands under the Disney umbrella, spanning from Pixar and Star Wars to National Geographic and ESPN. Included in this Disney extravaganza is Disney Music, offering a specially curated ‘Disney100’ playlist on TikTok featuring music from Disney’s extensive catalogue. All of this content is conveniently housed in a Disney-themed hub on TikTok.

#4 Hook secures $3 million in funding to support the creation of licensed fan-made remixes for social media platforms:

Startup Hook has secured $3 million in funding to support fan-made music remixes on social media while respecting licensing requirements. This burgeoning trend, where fans remix and mashup music for social platforms, can sometimes pose licensing challenges. Hook aims to bridge this gap, offering a service that allows fans to create and share their favourite songs legally and seamlessly. They’ve established partnerships to ensure that rights holders receive compensation for these fan remixes

#5 Artists are being urged to "prepare" for Spotify Wrapped 2023:

Spotify is now reaching out to artists with guidance on how to get ready, which involves four key steps.

Firstly, artists now have the opportunity to record a 30-second video message to express gratitude to their top fans. These messages need to be submitted by November 15 to be included in the promotion. Secondly, artists in the US and Canada can offer special merchandise discounts to their top fans this year, with the setup deadline also set for November 15. Artists outside these regions are encouraged to update their merch stores on Spotify by the same date for inclusion in Wrapped.

The third and fourth steps revolve around housekeeping. Artists are advised to ensure that their tour dates are accurate and that their profiles include social handles, fan support links, and playlists, all in readiness for the promotion.

#1 TikTok Explores the Idea of Ad-Free Subscription:

A significant stride in TikTok’s monetization strategy has emerged: the introduction of monthly subscriptions. Android Authority has brought to light intriguing findings embedded in TikTok’s app code, hinting at trials for an “Ad-free plan” priced at $4.99 per month. TechCrunch took a deeper dive into this revelation and substantiated TikTok’s ongoing experiment, albeit within a sole English-speaking market beyond the borders of the United States, despite the dollar sign being used in the pricing.

#2 Mandopop Music hits 500 million monthly streams on Spotify:

In the streaming era, non-Anglo music genres like Reggaeton, K-Pop, and Afrobeats have surged globally. Spotify is now highlighting Mandopop, which combines elements from Chinese, Taiwanese, and Japanese music in Mandarin-language songs. While already popular in Asia, Mandopop’s streaming growth has been remarkable, with more than 500 million monthly streams on Spotify, representing a nearly 45% increase in the past year. This marks a significant milestone for Mandopop as it continues to capture a global audience.

#3 Spotify Introduces 'Jam' Feature:

Spotify has introduced its newest feature, called ‘Jam.’ This feature provides a personalised, real-time listening experience for groups to enjoy collectively. In a Jam session, a group of listeners can add songs to the existing playlist and receive song recommendations customised to suit the combined preferences of all participants. While starting these sessions is exclusive to premium subscribers, free users are encouraged to partake in them.

#4 Spotify potentially developing AI generated playlists:

Spotify, having successfully introduced an AI-driven DJ feature and support for AI-translated podcasts, appears to be delving further into AI integration. Clues within the app’s code hint at the development of AI-powered playlists, generated through user prompts.

These findings were revealed by tech genius Chris Messina, who shared screenshots of the app’s code referencing “AI playlists” and “prompts-based playlists.” It is speculated that these playlists might find their place within the Blend genre, where user preferences converge to create playlists that cater to collective tastes.

#5 Songtradr acquires Bandcamp from Epic Games:

Songtradr, a Los Angeles-based B2B music licensing company, is assuming control of Bandcamp from Epic Games. Songtradr’s dedication lies in preserving Bandcamp as both a thriving marketplace and vibrant music community, with a strong emphasis on an “artist-first revenue sharing” philosophy.

#1 web3 music startup Sonorus reached 160k users in six months:

Sonorus, a web3 music startup, has grown rapidly, reaching over 200,000 users, with 160,000 new users joining in just six months. Sonorus stands out by using NFTs and web3 technology for music discovery.

In essence, Sonorus reimagines the concept of a platform where users nominate and vote for their favourite songs. Past attempts like Thesixtyone, TheNextBigSound, and others struggled to gain similar traction.

#2 Afterparty Secures $5 Million in Funding for Its Superfan Platform

Afterparty is part of the growing wave of startups providing platforms for creators, including musicians, to engage with their superfans and monetize their relationship. The company has recently completed a $5 million funding round, with Blockchange Ventures leading the investment.

Currently, Afterparty offers creators the ability to host livestreams and engage in one-on-one conversations with their fans. However, the platform has ambitious plans to expand its offerings, including incorporating AI voice, photo, and video messaging, as well as integrating blockchain and NFT technology into its services. 

#3 Deezer Raises Prices Once Again Across the UK and Europe.

The Paris-based digital streaming platform (DSP), Deezer, has taken the lead in increasing subscription prices, a move that CEO Jeronimo Folguiera had previously emphasised as crucial for bolstering revenue growth in the recorded music industry and ensuring fair compensation for artists.

Following Deezer’s initiative, other DSPs have followed suit in raising their prices. This marks a significant shift after a decade of price stability.

In its most recent price adjustment, Deezer has raised the cost of individual subscriptions to €11.99 per month (up from €10.99) in key European markets, including France, Spain, Italy, and the Netherlands. France had already seen a hike to €10.99 in early 2022, along with a similar adjustment in Germany.

#4 US Music Industry Achieves Record-Breaking Revenue

The US music industry has attained its highest-ever revenue levels since the inception of record-keeping, as stated in the mid year revenue report by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Streaming revenue saw remarkable growth, with a 10.3 percent increase from the previous year, totalling $7 billion. Notably, streaming now constitutes 84 percent of the music revenue generated in the United States. The RIAA points out that while revenue from paid subscriptions experienced an 11 percent growth, reaching $5.5 billion, the overall number of paid subscriptions only grew by 6 percent. This phenomenon is likely attributed to Spotify’s introduction of its first-ever price increase for its premium subscription service.

#1 Universal Music Group provides details on the mechanics of Deezer's 'double boosts.'

UMG and Deezer have introduced “double boosts” in their new artist-centric streaming payout model. Artists with 1,000 monthly streams from 500 unique listeners or songs actively chosen by fans will receive this boost. Concerns were raised about this potentially inflating Deezer’s payouts beyond its revenues. However, a report from MBW clarified that the total distribution will always match the royalty pool’s size. Double-boosted artists will see a boost in their stream volume share, not the total royalty amount.

#2 Spotify is preparing to introduce a feature that allows you to share songs with friends as "Audio Surprises."

Spotify is developing a new sharing feature entitled “Audio Surprises.” This feature allows users to share a song with a gift-wrapped presentation instead of traditional album art. If shared, when a listener taps the “Play on Spotify” button, the song will be revealed. Whilst it’s unclear whether the feature will stay on the platform, it’s certainly an interesting marketing development.

#3 Spotify CEO Says ’30-Second’ Trick for Royalty Payments Doesn’t Work

JP Morgan financial analysts projected that an individual could potentially earn $1,200 in monthly royalties by repeatedly playing a track they owned for at least 30 seconds, around the clock. Disproving the report, Daniel Ek tweeted, “If that were the case, my playlist would simply consist of ‘Daniel’s 30-Second Jam’ on constant replay!” In reality, the payment model operates on a pro rata basis, where all the monthly revenue is pooled together and subsequently distributed based on the number of streams and various other factors (such as label contract deals).

#4 SoundCloud is launching its clips-focused music discovery feed, similar to TikTok-style previews

This feature, previously in testing, is now available to all mobile app users within the ‘Discovery’ tab. SoundCloud explained that it recommends songs based on users’ listening history and preferences, with clear explanations for each recommendation. These clips are 30 seconds long, and unlike YouTube, SoundCloud allows artists to choose their preferred 30-second snippet, although automatic selection is available.

#5 Pixelynx introduces the BeatKOR AI music collection in collaboration with Beatport.

Pixelynx, the music metaverse platform co-founded by deadmau5 and Richie Hawtin, has unveiled the BeatKOR AI music collection in collaboration with Beatport. As an integral component of Pixelynx’s KORUS music platform, BeatKOR enables creators and fans to engage in remixing music from both established and emerging artists through innovative interactive modes.

The BeatKOR collection is set to launch on September 13th, featuring officially licensed stems and tracks from artists like Jitwam, Elle Shimada, Brux, and more.

#1 YouTube gives more details on how its Shorts algorithm works

A new video featuring YouTube Shorts product lead Todd Sherman has just been released. Topics such as video length, thumbnail design and the relevance of hashtags were just some of the talking points within the conversation. 

Sherman emphasised that individuals shouldn’t aim to meet a specific video quantity threshold when uploading to Shorts. Instead, he advocated for creating a smaller number of high-quality clips. He also highlighted the value of iteration – posting a video and then learning from its successes and shortcomings.

Sherman also cautioned against the practice of deleting videos and reposting them to gather more views. He emphasised the potential risk of this being perceived as spam within their systems, drawing a parallel to certain growth hacking tactics on platforms like Twitter.

#2 LimeWire launches AI-focused 'Creator Studio' including music

In 2022, the well-known file sharing brand LimeWire has made a comeback in a new form – a music NFTs marketplace. This resurgence was marked by a successful token sale that raised $10.4 million. Following this, LimeWire secured a licensing agreement with Universal Music Group. More recently, LimeWire expanded its offerings to include artist-level subscriptions akin to Patreon. Building upon this, they’ve now introduced an ‘AI Creator Studio’ designed for the generation of AI-created images, audio, and video content. 

#3 Spotify gives more detail about “Blend“

In the dynamic world of music streaming, Spotify has always been at the forefront of innovation. In 2021, they took the art of bonding over music to an entirely new dimension with the introduction of “Blend.” This feature transforms music listening into a shared social experience, merging the musical preferences of friends, families, fans, and even artists themselves together. You can now use Blend within your music marketing campaigns, Cygnus has gathered some top tips here.

#4 SymphonyOS, the marketing platform infused with AI capabilities, has secured an impressive $1 million in funding

SymphonyOS, an innovative AI-driven marketing platform catering to artists, creators, managers, and independent labels, has successfully concluded a pre-seed fundraising round, securing an impressive $1 million. The investment comes from a consortium of strategic backers from both the music and technology industries. 

Highlighted in a recent press release, Symphony’s fundraising initiative boasts participation from notable entities such as Spice Capital, GoldHouse Ventures, LVRN Records, and Guin Records. 

#5 YouTube Music has introduced new feature “Samples” to help boost engagement

YouTube Music is ramping up its music discovery capabilities by taking inspiration from TikTok. The platform has introduced its “Samples” feed, which mirrors TikTok’s approach to short-form video content. Similar to TikTok, Samples offers a personalised feed of short videos that give users a sneak peek into recommended songs and artists. Each snippet within the feed provides a quick glimpse into the musician, the music video, and the essence of a suggested song. 

#1 US District Court Judge Affirms Human Necessity in Copyright

A US federal judge, Beryl A. Howell, has ruled on the question of whether AI-generated art qualifies for copyright protection. The ruling supports the US Copyright Office’s decision to deny copyright protection to AI-created artworks. 

The core of the ruling is that copyright law does not extend to safeguarding works generated by new technologies without human involvement. Judge Howell emphasised that human authorship is a fundamental requirement for copyright protection, and this principle has remained unchanged even as copyright laws have evolved.

#2 Media group SRMG invests $5m in streaming service Anghami

Anghami, established in November 2011 in Lebanon, stands as the first lawful music streaming platform and digital distribution enterprise in the Arab world. It offers an extensive collection of both Arabic and international music for unlimited streaming and offline downloading. Anghami has gained a fresh supporter: the venture capital division of media conglomerate SRMG. They’ve invested $5 million into the platform to ensure its growth. 

#3 Amazon Raises Subscription Price for Prime Members on 'Music Unlimited'

In the previous month, we witnessed announcements of price increases from YouTube Music, Tidal, and Spotify – notably, the first-ever rise in the premium subscription fee for Spotify’s individual plan across multiple markets.

Adding to this trend, Amazon Music has disclosed a price adjustment for its Prime members in the United States, affecting Amazon Music Unlimited, the paid music streaming service offered by the online retail and media firm.

Starting September 19, Amazon Prime members will experience a monthly fee increase for Music Unlimited, shifting from $8.99 to $9.99. Additionally, new Prime members enrolling after Tuesday (August 15) will be subject to this new elevated price.

See Cygnus’s Amazon pitching tips here.

#4 The British government is reaching out to the creative industries to gather insights on the risks posed by AI.

The British government is actively seeking input from the creative sectors, including the music industry, regarding the potential risks associated with AI. There’s a strong desire within the creative and media fields to communicate their perspectives on the regulation of AI technologies.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the UK’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), responsible for previous investigations into topics such as streaming economics and misogyny in music, is now engaging with industry executives to gather their insights.

#5 Sony Music and Triller Resolve Copyright Dispute as TikTok Competitor Readies for Public Debut

Sony Music Entertainment (SME) and short-form video platform Triller have reached an agreement to resolve their legal dispute over the unapproved use of Sony’s music on the platform.

In a joint statement submitted on Friday (August 11), Sony Music and Triller announced the conclusion of the copyright case with prejudice, preventing any future possibility of reopening the case. The terms of the settlement were not immediately revealed.

The lawsuit, initiated by Sony Music against Triller the previous year, alleged that the Los Angeles-based company had both failed to meet payment obligations as per a licensing agreement and had engaged in extensive copyright infringement by streaming Sony’s music without proper authorization after the contract’s breach.

#1 Instagram presents a new feature

Introducing a new feature that lets you infuse music into your photo carousels, just as you can with your reels, stories, and individual feed images.

No matter which format serves your narrative best, you can now enhance it by incorporating a musical backdrop that captures the desired mood.

For photo carousels and individual feed images: Begin by uploading your images. Then, within the sharing options, simply click on “Add Music” and choose a song to accompany the viewing of your photos. Please note that carousels containing videos will not include the “Add Music” feature.

For reels: During the creation of your reel, access the Audio button to explore and select a song from our extensive music library.

For stories: When crafting your story, tap the Stickers button located at the top, and opt for the Music sticker to seamlessly integrate a musical element.

#2: Beatport issues NFT on Polkadot (blockchain platform and cryptocurrency)

Beatport is introducing its fresh marketplace named Beatport.io on the Aventus parachain (built on the Polkadot network). Centred around electronic music, Beatport.io offers enthusiasts the opportunity to acquire, vend, and exchange NFTs with a techno-centric flair. The platform will showcase NFT art releases titled “Music+,” a fusion of cultural treasures curated by music creators, potentially encompassing video components as well. This will allow artists to find new ways of monetization within their music. 

#3: Apple Music for Android gets fantastic new features

The most recent beta iteration of Apple Music for Android (v4.3.0) incorporates all the significant novel attributes that Apple introduced in the iOS rendition of the application for the upcoming operating system. Notably, it unveils the fresh Now Playing interface, which not only displays animated renditions of album artwork but also extends the cover visuals to the edges of the screen, generating a notably more immersive appearance for the player.

Furthermore, a dedicated segment has been introduced for song credits. Beyond showcasing the artists, this section comprehensively highlights credits for songwriting, lyrics, production, and engineering. This affords users an expansive list of contributors involved in creating the track. 

#4: Spotify's AI DJ is currently engaging listeners with insightful hip-hop commentary

Spotify is of course enthusiastic about this year commemorating the 50th anniversary of hip-hop. To celebrate this, they’ve decided to launch a ‘Hip-Hop Turns 50’ hub, a dedicated space featuring playlists, artists, and albums spanning the last five decades, accompanied by pertinent podcast episodes. Beyond the virtual realm, Spotify is also taking the celebration to the streets by commissioning murals and billboards in notable locations such as New York, Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, and Mexico, all in honour of significant hip-hop icons.

#5: Patreon collaborates with Spotify to facilitate podcasters offering exclusive content

The direct-to-fan platform, Patreon, has recently launched an integration with Spotify, streamlining the process for podcasters to provide premium content to their supporters.  With this fresh integration, podcasters can seamlessly deliver both premium and free content to Spotify. However, the premium content will be exclusively accessible to listeners who financially support the podcaster on Patreon. This exclusive content will be presented on a distinct page within the Spotify app, ensuring clear differentiation. This is a fantastic development for any labels/artists with a podcast. 

#1: According to Meta's latest financial results, Reels videos are now being watched a 200 billion times across Facebook and Instagram.

The battle for supremacy in the short-video realm between TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Meta’s Reels is driving these companies to regularly announce their growth figures. The remarkable growth figures for both YouTube Shorts and Meta’s Reels are not just a testament to the popularity of short videos but also a reflection of how aggressively both companies are promoting this format within their apps and services. Avoiding Shorts or Reels is challenging for users of either platform due to their prominent placement.

This surge in short-video growth should undoubtedly pique TikTok’s interest, possibly prompting them to release new metrics in response. Furthermore, the increasing success of short-video platforms puts added pressure on rights holders during the renegotiation of licensing deals for the use of music in these videos.

#2 Spotify for Artists has introduced a fresh study delving into the listening behaviours of dedicated fans, who they refer to as "super listeners."

This report draws insights from Spotify’s data, primarily focusing on the habits of these highly engaged fans. The analysis becomes more relevant as Spotify recently launched audience segmentation within the Spotify For Artists app, with one segment dedicated to these enthusiastic listeners. The study offers valuable information about the preferences and patterns of these committed music enthusiasts.

#3 YouTube's ad revenue reached an impressive $7.67 billion

In Q2 2023, YouTube’s ad revenue reached an impressive $7.67 billion, surpassing Wall Street analyst expectations of $7.43 billion, showcasing a growth of 4.4% compared to the previous year. Contributing to this success is the popularity of YouTube Shorts, with over 2 billion monthly users engaging with the platform. This figure marks an increase of half a billion compared to the reported monthly active users of YouTube Shorts in 2022.

#4: TikTok’s new music platform could be a game changer

The upcoming launch of TikTok Music’s premium-only streaming platform has the potential to make a significant impact on the music industry. Unlike free access platforms like Spotify and YouTube, TikTok Music will require users to pay for access. While ad-supported platforms generate substantial revenue through advertisements, the value of streams from these accounts is not as lucrative for companies like Spotify.  

In contrast, paid subscriptions on platforms like TikTok Music inject more revenue into the music industry, which has led the industry to support and promote these higher-paying options, recognizing their enhanced value and potential to boost earnings for artists and music creators.

#5: Twitter invests $70m into SoundCloud

Twitter has recently infused approximately $70 million into SoundCloud Ltd., a Berlin-based music streaming company, as part of its efforts to support the expansion of SoundCloud’s paid services. This investment forms a significant component of a larger financing round, anticipated to reach around $100 million, consequently valuing SoundCloud at approximately $700 million.

#1 Juice Music to provide brands with licensed short-video music.

Rich Sica, a former TikTok creative licensing executive, has joined forces with Jack Bradley and Aleena Bissett, seasoned professionals in the commercial music industry, to launch Juice. Juice is a music company that places a strong emphasis on social media and short-form online content for both brands and creators. Collaborating with Juice could provide some valuable sync opportunities. 

#2 Threads?

Threads has been absolutely everywhere recently. We at Cygnus thought we’d provide you with five reasons to join the app as a musician (read here). 

#3 TikTok Music has arrived.

TikTok Music has recently debuted as a premium-exclusive music subscription service in Indonesia and Brazil. This service has obtained licences from and incorporates the extensive catalogues of all three major record companies: Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music. Whether the app will include independent artists’ music is currently unclear… 

#4 Twitch are adding huge new additions to the platform

Twitch have started to push out their new engagement features. Taking inspiration from YouTube shorts and TikTok, the platform aims to increase user engagement through the use of user generated content. Twitch streamers will now have the capability to share temporary video clips, photos, text updates, and polls with their audience. They have the flexibility to decide whether these posts are exclusively visible to their paying subscribers or accessible to all their followers. This new feature will allow streamers to engage and interact with their community in dynamic ways (read more here). 

#5 Kits AI are tackling AI music licensing issues

Several initiatives are in progress to assist musicians in creating and licensing their own AI voices, granting them greater control over processes. ‘Kits AI’ by Arpeggi Labs, is a web3 music startup that is sure to make a difference. The tool allows artists to upload voice clips and utilise them for technology training. When the platform recognises the voice it can subsequently be licensed to fellow musicians. This empowers artists to maintain ownership and exercise control over their voice representation while exploring new avenues for collaboration and revenue generation (read more here).

#1 YouTube has published their Culture & Trends Report

As of this month, YouTube has published their Culture & Trends Report. It’s relatively clear to see that the audience on YouTube is changing dramatically, and it’s important to take note. 

Key takeaways:

• 47% of Gen-Z have “watched videos made by fans of specific content, artists, or public figures.” This showcases the power of user-generated content. Just like TikTok, audience engagement on YouTube is starting to be measured by the amount of user-generated content available. This in turn means that artists should make visual content engaging to allow reciprocal videos to be created. 

• Furthermore: “82% say they’ve posted video content online (e.g., to Instagram Stories, TikTok, YouTube, Snapchat) over the past 12 months.” Therefore reciprocal content is very much needed. 

• “87% of people surveyed say, across any streaming services, they watched at least 4 content formats YouTube offers over the past 12 months.” This means that usability is key. Creating content that can be shown in reel, portrait and landscape formats could be key for more engagement and accessibility. 

#2 Apple Music previews new app features

The future of Apple Music seems to be steeped in features involving collaboration. With addition of collaboration playlists friends will be able to share music to each other, which in turn means that they’re more likely to listen to the recommendation as it comes from a “trusted source.” The new updates are meant to encourage more active listening through the use of emojis and reactions to tracks (see here). 

#3 Utalise Instagram notes?

Instagram Notes have been introduced on the app for a while (see here), however you can now share a 30-second clip of a song in your note. Whilst it comes as a small marketing trick, it does offer you another chance to push out material to those who follow you, in a place within the app that many visit regularly.  

#4 New streaming service “Soundtrack Your Brand” raises $15m funding

“Soundtrack Your Brand” isn’t a normal streaming service. It’s a B2B company that offers retail establishments with licensed playlists. Based on genre, mood, and business type, the company’s playlists will provide curated background soundtracks for business use. Certainly as the company grows, there’ll be more tools and tricks to pitch and gain access to placements on these playlists, and landing on a store’s playlist can be very beneficial. (See more information here).

#5 Tackling streaming fraud across the board.

Key DSPs such as Amazon Music, Apple Music and Spotify (to name a few) have emphasised their desire to eradicate streaming fraud. This point just acts as a slight reminder to labels and artists to pitch to legitimate curators and through Spotify for Artists only. If a company/individual asks money for placement, or if an artist pays for fake streams (streams through the use of a bot) then this goes against Spotify’s (and every other DSPs) terms and conditions (see here).