Apple Music Now Has 60 Million Subscribers

Apple Music now has 60 million subscribers, including paying users and those on free trials, according to Apple executive Eddie Cue. That’s up 20% from 50 million in May of 2018. Cue revealed the solid but not spectacular year over year growth in an interview with French publication Numera. He…

Netflix Needs Music, But Music Is Fine Without It

After a lengthy amount of time atop the streaming roost, Netflix now faces a serious threat from its competitors, and is hoping that investing in the music industry by creating things like original docs, it can stay at the head of the pack. That said, Netflix will need to act…

TUE. BRIEF: Apple Counters Spotify Claim • Leadership Music Celebrates 30 • Consent Decree Concerns • More

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Spotify Only Paid 0.5% on App Store Commissions to Apple for Premium Subscriptions

Several months ago, and with the help of Anghami and Deezer, Spotify formally lodged an antitrust complaint against Apple in the European Union. The Swedish music streaming company accused its rival of taking a 30% “fee” on the App Store.  This, claime…

Apple: Spotify pays ‘app tax’ on less than 1% of paid subscribers

Spotify could really have done with some positive industry PR today following last week’s revelation that it’s clawing back overpaid royalties from songwriters and publishers. Instead, Spotify boss Daniel Ek might have some explaining to do…

Labels, Streamers, Publishers Pledge To Battle Streaming, But Major Players Fail To Sign On

Spotify, Amazon and Deezer have joined all three major labels and music publishers, the RIAA, the American Association of Independent Music, IMPALA, Merlin, The International Confederation of Music Publishers and other global music industry trade groups in signing code of conduct designed to battle streaming manipulation. MIssing from the list…

Grammys Finally Accept Streaming Links As Submissions

The Recording Academy will finally accept streaming links instead of physical product for award submissions in most categories. In a statement, the Academy also said, "For most categories, we would prefer streaming distribution links for online entry submissions, though CD submissions remain optional." The cost of submitting multiple physical copies…

Why Fans Are More Important Than Listeners

It’s impossible to please everyone, and trying to winner every casual listeners is a futile effort. Instead, artists are better off focusing on their core diehard fans – an overall more easily targeted, easier to keep happy group. _________________________ Guest post by James Shotwell of Haulix You will never please…