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MIDiA’s Mark Mulligan talks changing industry dynamics, bifurcation and the superfan ecosystem
MIDiA’s Mark Mulligan talks changing industry dynamics, bifurcation and the superfan ecosystem…
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With the US record industry officially in recession can superpremium and superfans really save the major labels from streaming’s slowdown?
It’s stats season, and one of CMU’s favourite summaries of stats and trends - MIDiA’s ‘Recorded Music Market Shares’ - dropped last week. In an extensive interview with MIDiA founder Mark Mulligan, CMU’s Sam Taylor dives into the numbers, looking at the trends that will shape 2025…
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Record industry’s modest growth should make other industries jealous says IFPI boss, as labels weigh in on growth opportunities and AI threats
At an event yesterday Victoria Oakley, the new boss of the IFPI, tried to put a positive spin on contracting growth for recorded music, which last year failed to keep track with inflation. One thing that has not been affected by inflation is the price tag on IFPI’s £25,000-a-pop report. Phew!…
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UK recorded music market hits “decade of continuous growth” as streaming revenue breaks £1 billion barrier
UK record industry trade group BPI has published its annual stats pack revealing that the sector made more than £1 billion from streaming in 2024, with total wholesale revenues topping £1.49 billion. However, when inflation is factored it, there is still some way to go to match pre-digital levels…
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Universal will spend billions to dominate emerging markets, says Grainge during Q4 earnings call as major sets out its “eat the world” strategies
On yesterday’s Universal Music earnings call CEO Lucian Grainge revealed plans to spend billions on global acquisitions, targeting emerging markets where “massive piracy” previously prevented investment, in an extension to UMG’s recent, continuing and aggressive acquisition and investment strategy…
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Proper Music saved as Drew Hill and Artone conclude strategic acquisition deal to buy the assets of Proper Music Group
Drew Hill has announced that Proper Music Distribution will be acquired by Artone, the Dutch physical music specialists, in a triumph for the future of independent physical music in the UK…
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Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year
Live Nation’s CEO has told analysts that streaming platforms need ticket pre-sale inventory to make super premium work - but whether or not they get it is another question. The company spent more than $450 million settling Astroworld lawsuits in 2024 - and there’s still no news on the DOJ lawsuit…
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Buzzword bingo ahoy! It’s Papa Grainge’s annual pat on the back, and he’s got a bone to pick with distributors
If you can’t buy them, beat them! Universal Music's top banana Sir Lucian Grainge is declaring war on nefarious behaviour and heinous practices in the non-major music company controlled recesses of the industry. If everyone did business as spotlessly as UMG, the world would be so much better! Right?…
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Spotify wants to be “the best in the world at building AI products” and is focused on “accelerated execution”... but still no super-premium launch
Spotify has now been profitable for four quarters straight - a strong indication that its cost cutting and monetisation efforts are paying off. Now, says the company, it’s going to focus on high quality users and “accelerated execution” with AI playing a key part in its onward strategy…
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UK government is “giving away the property rights” of creators, warn Lords as they force AI copyright safeguards into Data Bill
Peers in the House of Lords have rallied together in a cross-party effort to force a number of amendments into the government’s Data (Use And Access) Bill. Those amendments - which still need to pass through the Commons - aim to provide safeguards for copyright owners in the context of AI…
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Judge throws out MLC’s audiobooks bundle lawsuit, says Spotify can keep cutting songwriter royalties through its “cynical trick”
The MLC’s lawsuit targeting Spotify’s “cynical trick” to reduce royalties to songwriters through its US-subscriber audiobooks bundle has been thrown out by the court, with the judge saying there is “no set of facts” that the collecting society could use to support its position…
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Sacha Lord quits as Night Time Advisor to Manchester Mayor as Arts Council confirms it is “seeking to recover” Culture Recovery Fund grant
A lengthy investigation by Arts Council England into a Culture Recovery Fund grant to Sacha Lord ends with a whimper rather than a bang, and raises more questions than it answers, with Manchester mayor Andy Burnham saying it is “not clear why the Arts Council” has come to its decision…