Spotify Hits 113 Million Paying Subscribers Worldwide — Says They’re Crushing Apple Music and Amazon

Spotify posted better-than-expected quarterly results this morning, but will that ease doubts on Wall Street? In a bold and bullish quarterly announcement this morning, Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and his lieutenants were trumpeting some better-than-expected…

Yes, the U.S. Secret Service Actually Interrogated Eminem Over Threats Against Trump

It’s now confirmed that the U.S. Secret Service interrogated rapper Eminem in regards to lyrics he sang about President Trump and his daughter Ivanka. The interrogation took place on January 16th, 2018, and related specifically to the lyrics of E…

Emergency Alerts: Coming Soon to Spotify, Apple Music, and Netflix

If you find emergency alerts on your phone annoying, be prepared to be annoyed a lot more. A new U.S. government bill would require streaming platforms, such as Spotify, Apple Music, and Netflix, to issue emergency alerts. The alerts would be similar t…

Amazon Responds to Growing Accusations of Selling Counterfeit Vinyl — By Cutting-and-Pasting Their Response from August

Earlier this week, we reported on a growing chorus of concern relating to Amazon and the sale of counterfeit vinyl records. Alarmingly, executives rebuilding the vinyl records space are detecting a swell in fake LPs, with Amazon accused of facilitating…

Trevanna Tracks Simplifies the Chaos of Film & TV Music Licensing

Spending time with Jennifer Freed, founder & CEO of Trevanna Tracks, can be a bit contagious. You suddenly start to think that all the problems plaguing music licensing for film, television, and video games can actually be solved. A longtime vet in…

PledgeMusic Is ‘Unlikely’ to Pay Nearly $10 Million Owed to Artists, Bank-Appointed Administrator Says

PledgeMusic’s bank-appointed receiver says it’s ‘unlikely’ that artists will see any of the money they’re owed. We predicted this outcome back in July when PledgeMusic filed its wind up petition. Instead of heading into ad…

How to Be a Star in Your Hometown

This is an excerpt from Ari Herstand’s new book How to Make it in the New Music Business (Second Edition) As important as establishing yourself online is, everyone has a hometown community they come from. You don’t compete in a NASCAR race before…

Spotify Handing Out Google Home Mini Speakers to Premium Subscribers

Spotify is bringing back its free smart speaker offer to all new and existing Spotify Premium members. All premium individual and family plans are eligible to receive a new Google Home Mini. Spotify says the offer is available “while supplies las…

Rainbo Records Is Officially Shutting Down After 80 Years — Here’s a Message from the President

Just as vinyl records are taking off, one of the format’s largest pressing plants — Rainbo Records in Los Angeles — is shutting down. The news is quickly spreading around the industry today, with Rainbo Records president Steve Sheldon delivering …

Juice Wrld Hit With a $15 Million Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over ‘Lucid Dreams’

On Monday (October 21st), early 2000s emo rock band Yellowcard filed a copyright infringement lawsuit in a California U.S. District Court against Juice Wrld. The members of Yellowcard are alleging that the rapper used the melody and other elements from…