Author archives: Tim Ingham

Spotify and Apple go big on independent artist Aaron Smith… and get major record labels talking

Scottish songwriter lands enviable support from streamers
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Close to a third of Spotify’s 217m users are playing Ed Sheeran following release of his new album

Over 69 million people have played the star’s music in the past 28 days
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The birth of Sony Music Group creates a joined-up superpower at the heart of the music business

MBW estimates that SMG will turn over more than $5bn each year, including Japan
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Apple is investing in original podcasts – and Spotify investors aren’t happy about it

Daniel Ek’s company has earmarked between $400m and $500m to spend on acquiring podcast content and tools this year
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Ed Sheeran’s No.6 Collaborations album isn’t a record-breaker – but it just cleared 100m Spotify streams in three days

Album generated $500,000 for Sheeran and Atlantic Records on Spotify in its first three days of availability
The post Ed Sheeran’s No.6 Collaborations album isn’t a record-breaker – but it just cleared 100m Spotify streams in three da…

Has Spotify given up on its emerging artist program, RISE?

As Apple commits to Up Next, we haven’t seen a hint of an update to Spotify’s rival in nine long months
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‘This is the most exciting time the music business has ever known.’

Mark Gillespie, founder of Three Six Zero, on his career, Calvin Harris and the industry’s future
The post ‘This is the most exciting time the music business has ever known.’ appeared first on Music Business Worldwide.

Live music business slumps in first half of 2019, with world’s Top 100 tours down $752m year-on-year

MBW analysis of Pollstar data shows significant decline in blockbuster concert revenue worldwide
The post Live music business slumps in first half of 2019, with world’s Top 100 tours down $752m year-on-year appeared first on Music Business Worldw…

‘I marry business to my passion for music – not the other way round.’

Peter Edge runs RCA Records at Sony in New York. At heart, he says, he’s still the fastidious A&R setting a high bar for the artists his company signs…
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