Spotify news

Publishers accuse Spotify of licensing gaps in letter the streaming service has dubbed a “misleading press stunt”

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Spotify • 3 min read

Publishers accuse Spotify of licensing gaps in letter the streaming service has dubbed a “misleading press stunt”

The music publishers in the US have sent a letter to Spotify accusing the streaming service of having gaps in its licences in relation to lyrics, videos and podcasts. But Spotify says it’s just a “misleading press stunt” as part of the building beef over audiobooks…

Chris Cooke • 16 May 2024

US music publishers ramp up the rhetoric against Spotify's royalty reducing bundling trick

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Spotify • 3 min read

US music publishers ramp up the rhetoric against Spotify's royalty reducing bundling trick

US music publishers are ready to “fight again” as they attempt to halt efforts by Spotify to reclassify its subscription package. The streaming service wants to say that its main subscription product is a ‘bundle’ of music, podcasts and audiobooks. This would allow it to pay less to songwriters…

Chris Cooke • 14 May 2024

Music services hit out at Apple’s plan to comply with EU in-app linking decision, call on European Commission to act

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Apple • 3 min read

Music services hit out at Apple’s plan to comply with EU in-app linking decision, call on European Commission to act

Apple is having to change its anti-steering provision, which previously stopped app developers from sign-posting alternative payment options, in both the EU and US. But the way it is making that change has been criticised, both in a letter to the European Commission and a court hearing in California…

Chris Cooke • 09 May 2024

Spotify says Apple “defying” European law as its updated app is knocked back

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify says Apple “defying” European law as its updated app is knocked back

Spotify is still trying to update its iOS app in the EU to take advantage of the recent regulator ruling in relation to Apple’s App Store rules. But Apple won’t approve the updates until Spotify agrees to new terms, including a new commission fee. That “defies” European law, says Spotify…

Chris Cooke • 26 Apr 2024

Indie publishers hit out at Spotify’s bundling trick to lower songwriter payments

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Spotify • 2 min read

Indie publishers hit out at Spotify’s bundling trick to lower songwriter payments

It recently emerged that Spotify was reclassifying its main premium subscription product as a bundle, because of the audiobooks, which means it can pay a lower song royalty rate under the compulsory licence in the US. A group of independent music publishers has now criticised that move…

Chris Cooke • 26 Apr 2024

“Value, value, value!” is the mantra at Spotify as Ek downplays the negatives

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Spotify • 4 min read

“Value, value, value!” is the mantra at Spotify as Ek downplays the negatives

Daniel Ek fixed a grin to his face and smiled hard as he ran us all through the company’s somewhat lacklustre numbers for Q1. Firing 1700 people helped the company show a €168 million profit, but no one - least of all Ek - seemed to anticipate the chaos shedding that many people could cause…

Sam Taylor • 24 Apr 2024

Publishers hit out at Spotify’s bundling trick to reduce royalty payments

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Spotify • 2 min read

Publishers hit out at Spotify’s bundling trick to reduce royalty payments

Spotify has been accused of trying to “radically reduce songwriter payments” in the US by reclassifying its subscriptions as music and audiobook bundles. The change allows it to pay lower US compulsory licence rates, but the National Music Publishers Association says it “will not stand” for this…

Chris Cooke • 19 Apr 2024

Setlist Podcast: MPs want to see action on musicians’ income

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: MPs want to see action on musicians’ income

UK politicians on the need for changes to how musicians get paid, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree's lawsuit against PRS, and more…

Andy Malt • 12 Apr 2024

Spotify planning tools to allow users to remix tracks

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify planning tools to allow users to remix tracks

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Spotify plans to provide remixing tools within its app that will allow users to speed up, mash up and otherwise tweak tracks in a legitimate and licensed way. There’s a logic to that plan, but it also raises some copyright questions…

Chris Cooke • 12 Apr 2024

Have a playlist idea but don’t know what songs to put on it? Spotify’s AI bot can help with that

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Spotify • 1 min read

Have a playlist idea but don’t know what songs to put on it? Spotify’s AI bot can help with that

Many people out there don’t like the idea of music discovery being handled by an algorithm. If you’re among them, Spotity has come up with a solution - hand the task over to artificial intelligence. Yes, that’s basically the same thing, but what you’re forgetting is that AI is cooler…

Andy Malt • 08 Apr 2024

Apple says Spotify should stay out of its ongoing Epic legal battle

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Apple • 3 min read

Apple says Spotify should stay out of its ongoing Epic legal battle

Spotify recently filed an amicus brief in support of Epic Games in the Fornite maker’s ongoing legal battle with Apple over its App Store rules. But in a new legal filing this week, Apple said that Spotify is just “parroting” Epic’s own arguments and its intervention should be rejected…

Chris Cooke • 05 Apr 2024

Spotify planning another price rise in five markets

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify planning another price rise in five markets

The price of a Spotify subscription is set to increase again in some markets this month, although users will reportedly be able to avoid the price rise if they opt out of audiobook access. It might all be a move by Spotify to create a separate revenue stream to fund its audiobook ambitions.…

Chris Cooke • 04 Apr 2024