Streaming - CMU | the music business explained

Streaming fraud is fuelled by “perceived lack of a legal risk”, industry stakeholders tell judge in Michael Smith sentencing

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Music Fights Fraud Alliance • 3 min read

Streaming fraud is fuelled by “perceived lack of a legal risk”, industry stakeholders tell judge in Michael Smith sentencing

The streaming fraudster who pleaded guilty to wire fraud conspiracy in relation to an $8 million streaming scam will be sentenced next week. The Music Fights Fraud Alliance says the sentence should “reflect the systemic harm” caused by the scam, so that it deters others involved in streaming fraud…

Chris Cooke • 02 Oct 2026

IMPALA publishes new digital music plan, calling for the adoption of provenance labelling and an end to royalty thresholds

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IMPALA • 3 min read

IMPALA publishes new digital music plan, calling for the adoption of provenance labelling and an end to royalty thresholds

Pan-European indie label trade group IMPALA has published a new plan to transform the digital music market, with five headline objectives. Among other things it criticises the controversial payment thresholds introduced by some streaming services and proposes new ‘provenance’ labelling…

Chris Cooke • 01 Jul 2026

“Content is king” say analysts - so why is Spotify worth more than the entire music rights industry?

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Spotify • 3 min read

“Content is king” say analysts - so why is Spotify worth more than the entire music rights industry?

Lucian Grainge might be rubbing his hands with glee after a new report by investment bankers TD Cowen said Spotify is overvalued and Universal is undervalued. Plus the financial wizards reckon the majors might have the upper hand in future streaming negotiations now Spotify has hit profitability…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jul 2025

NYC backs plan to hike streaming prices by 50% to pay musicians as much as $40k a year each

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Streaming • 4 min read

NYC backs plan to hike streaming prices by 50% to pay musicians as much as $40k a year each

A proposal that could see every musician in the US better off to the tune of $40k a year via a 50% levy on music streaming subscriptions has been endorsed by New York City Council. It says Congress should back the proposals which would provide new income for musicians living and working in NYC…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 30 May 2025

Bundling antics in the spotlight again as YouTube is hauled over the coals by South Korean regulators

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YouTube • 3 min read

Bundling antics in the spotlight again as YouTube is hauled over the coals by South Korean regulators

YouTube might roll out its Premium Lite product in South Korea as part of a settlement with the country’s Fair Trade Commission, which last year criticised YouTube for bundling its music service as part of Premium, saying that marginalised rival platforms. The Lite product doesn’t include music…

Chris Cooke • 16 Apr 2025

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