Spotify news

Setlist Podcast: Spotify referred to FTC over “unlawful conduct”

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Setlist • 20 min read

Setlist Podcast: Spotify referred to FTC over “unlawful conduct”

The latest on the music publishers' battle with Spotify, Drake's allegedly trademark infringing t-shirts, and Easy Life's return following their legal battle with easyGroup…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 14 Jun 2024

Music publishers now fighting Spotify audiobook bundling trick on multiple fronts

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Spotify • 3 min read

Music publishers now fighting Spotify audiobook bundling trick on multiple fronts

The music publishers have written to the US Federal Trade Commission accusing Spotify of unlawful conduct over the way it bundled audiobooks into its main subscription product. It means the music industry is now fighting that big bundle, which reduces royalties to songwriters, on multiple fronts…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jun 2024

Spotify needs to find a path to consistent profitability. Are high res audio and AI playlists really the answer?

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Spotify • 9 min read

Spotify needs to find a path to consistent profitability. Are high res audio and AI playlists really the answer?

With its deadline to repay $1.3 billion in debt getting closer, Spotify needs to do anything it can to increase top line revenues and hit a consistent streak of profitability. It’s time to talk SUPREMIUM again!…

Sam Taylor • 12 Jun 2024

Investors welcome Spotify price increases, big up the service’s “pricing power”

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Spotify • 3 min read

Investors welcome Spotify price increases, big up the service’s “pricing power”

Spotify is increasing its prices for the second time in less than a year. Investors have welcomed the move, reckoning that it won’t negatively impact on total user numbers and will help Spotify in its ongoing bid to become a profitable business…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jun 2024

Spotify sued over decision to stop supporting Car Thing

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Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify sued over decision to stop supporting Car Thing

Spotify has been sued by subscribers who are still using its Car Thing device to control use of the service in their vehicles. Sales of Car Thing stopped in 2022 and the device will no longer be supported from December, meaning remaining devices won’t work. That, says a lawsuit, is not acceptable…

Chris Cooke • 30 May 2024

Setlist Podcast: “Spotify is not a business partner”, says NMPA boss

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Setlist • 3 min read

Setlist Podcast: “Spotify is not a business partner”, says NMPA boss

The NMPA ramps up its battle with Spotify, Sony sues Marriott…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 24 May 2024

Spotify’s conduct proves US compulsory licence isn’t working, says NMPA boss

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National Music Publishers Association • 6 min read

Spotify’s conduct proves US compulsory licence isn’t working, says NMPA boss

Earlier this week the US National Music Publishers Association said that publishers should be allowed to opt out of the compulsory licence relied upon by streaming services. Yesterday its CEO said that change is required because Spotify’s conduct has proven the current system isn’t working…

Chris Cooke • 23 May 2024

NPMA's Judiciary Committee letter in full

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NMPA • 4 min read

NPMA's Judiciary Committee letter in full

The NMPA has provided CMU with a copy of the letter that it sent to members of the House and Senate Judiciary Committees relating to legislative changes it says are needed to resolve the Spotify audiobooks bundle dispute…

CMU • 21 May 2024

US publishers plan “legislative proposals” in response to Spotify audiobooks bundling bust up

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National Music Publishers Association • 4 min read

US publishers plan “legislative proposals” in response to Spotify audiobooks bundling bust up

As the bust-up between the music publishers and Spotify over the streaming service’s audiobook bundling continues, the National Music Publishers Association has said it will propose legislative reform to “permanently fix the power imbalance” songwriters face because of a compulsory licence in the US…

Chris Cooke • 21 May 2024

Sony Music Publishing is "considering all options" in the Spotify audiobook bundling dispute

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Spotify • 2 min read

Sony Music Publishing is "considering all options" in the Spotify audiobook bundling dispute

Sony Music Publishing CEO Jon Platt has updated the company’s songwriters on the dispute between the US music publishing sector and Spotify over the streaming service’s decision to reclassify its main subscription product as a bundle in order to reduce its payments to writers and publishers…

Chris Cooke • 20 May 2024

Setlist Podcast: Music publishers go to war with Spotify

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: Music publishers go to war with Spotify

The dispute over Spotify's audiobook bundle goes legal, media companies hit out at BBC's podcast adverts plan…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 17 May 2024

The MLC is suing Spotify over audiobook bundling

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Spotify • 4 min read

The MLC is suing Spotify over audiobook bundling

The audiobooks bundling dispute between the US music industry and Spotify has gone legal. This is about how the streaming service is classifying its main premium subscription product - which now includes audiobooks - as a bundle, which lets it reduce royalty payments to publishers and songwriters…

Chris Cooke • 17 May 2024