Streaming - CMU | the music business explained

With the US record industry officially in recession can superpremium and superfans really save the major labels from streaming’s slowdown?

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MIDiA • 11 min read

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…

Sam Taylor • 21 Mar 2025

Record industry’s modest growth should make other industries jealous says IFPI boss, as labels weigh in on growth opportunities and AI threats

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IFPI • 7 min read

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!…

Sam Taylor • 20 Mar 2025

Everyone’s making loads of money but don’t point the finger at us if you’re not, says Spotify’s updated Loud & Clear

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Spotify • 6 min read

Everyone’s making loads of money but don’t point the finger at us if you’re not, says Spotify’s updated Loud & Clear

Spotify has updated its Loud & Clear website with lots of stats for 2024, including that it paid the music industry more than $10 billion last year. Spotify also uses Loud & Clear to counter negative narratives about streaming, and the updates in that domain are just as interesting as the stats…

Chris Cooke • 12 Mar 2025

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

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Spotify • 8 min read

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…

Sam Taylor • 04 Feb 2025

Deezer is reworking the way it allocates royalties again as SACEM signs up to its ‘artist-centric’ model

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Deezer • 5 min read

Deezer is reworking the way it allocates royalties again as SACEM signs up to its ‘artist-centric’ model

French collecting society SACEM has signed up to Deezer’s ‘artist-centric’ approach to paying royalties, which disadvantages tracks released by artists who fail to meet certain thresholds. That system has only applied to recordings previously, but will now also apply to songs, albeit only in France…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jan 2025

Belgium's plan to give artists and session musicians direct streaming payments could be blocked by EU court

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Equitable Remuneration • 4 min read

Belgium's plan to give artists and session musicians direct streaming payments could be blocked by EU court

When implementing the 2019 EU Copyright Directive, Belgium introduced a new performer ER right on streams, a move opposed through the Belgian courts by the labels and digital services. Judges have now referred the matter to the EU courts to clarify if the new right is compliant with European law…

Chris Cooke • 27 Sep 2024

Streaming isn’t radio, the majors and DSPs tell Canadian regulator

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CRTC • 2 min read

Streaming isn’t radio, the majors and DSPs tell Canadian regulator

Canadian broadcasting regulator the CRTC is implementing the elements of Canada’s Online Streaming Act that aim to promote Canadian content. That has led to concerns that radio industry rules will be applied to streaming platforms, prompting an open letter from the major labels and digital services…

Chris Cooke • 27 Sep 2024

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Bytedance • 3 min read

TikTok Music to close

TikTok Music will close down at the end of November. The standalone music service launched last year as an evolution of Resso, the earlier music platform operated by TikTok owner Bytedance. TikTok says it now wants to focus on its Add To Music App feature…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 24 Sep 2024

It’s “common sense” that audiobooks have “more than token value” says Spotify in MLC lawsuit response letter

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Spotify • 4 min read

It’s “common sense” that audiobooks have “more than token value” says Spotify in MLC lawsuit response letter

Spotify has sent a letter to the court where it has been sued by the MLC in the ongoing dispute over its decision to classify its premium subscription as a music + audiobooks bundle. That centres on whether audiobook access has “more than token value”. Spotify argues that common sense says it does…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jul 2024

Canada's new streaming levy is a “protectionist subsidy for radio”

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Streaming • 3 min read

Canada's new streaming levy is a “protectionist subsidy for radio”

Streaming services in Canada will have to pay a new 5% levy with the money supporting music and radio industry initiatives. Stemming from the country’s Online Streaming Act, the levy has been welcomed by the music industry but heavily criticised by the digital platforms…

Chris Cooke • 05 Jun 2024

⏩ One Liners: RAK Publishing, FAC Artist Ambassadors, CIISA + more

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One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 4 min read

⏩ One Liners: RAK Publishing, FAC Artist Ambassadors, CIISA + more

Bella Figura snaps up RAK catalogue; Deezer does ad-sales deal with Global; Big Life Management promotions; new Artist Ambassadors for FAC; new music from Lambrini Girls, mui zyu, LYLO…

Sam Taylor • 23 Apr 2024

Here’s what happened when we asked cutting edge AI chatbots to pretend to be millennials who had scrapped their streaming subscriptions.

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ChatGPT • 2 min read

Here’s what happened when we asked cutting edge AI chatbots to pretend to be millennials who had scrapped their streaming subscriptions.

Millennials are more likely to cut their streaming subscriptions. We wanted to know why, but couldn't find any to ask - so asked ChatGPT and Claude to pretend to be Millennials. Confusing? You bet. Fun? Maybe.…

CMU • 06 Mar 2024