Warner Music Cashes Out Its Entire Spotify Stake — Totaling $504 Million

Warner Music Group is awash in cash after a flowing third quarter — thanks largely to a complete liquidation of its Spotify shares. Life is good at Warner Music Group, thanks to the usual rainmaker: streaming music.  According to financial details file…

Hit Songwriters Hit Back at SESAC: ‘Shame on You!’

“This is the strongest I’ve ever seen the songwriting community” – Ross Golan, hit songwriter, podcaster of ‘And The Writer Is…’ The Music Modernization Act recently passed the House by a 415-0 vote. It looked as if …

Sony’s Q1 2018 – 100% Stake in EMI, Spotify Payday, and Surging Streaming Revenue

Streaming revenue continues to climb, while Sony Music confirms hefty Spotify payday and a 100% stake in EMI Music Publishing. Sony Corp. has released its fiscal Q1 / calendar Q2 2018 financial report. Sony Music’s streaming revenue for the first half …

Vivendi Is Selling 50% of Universal Music Group — But Who’s Buying?

The biggest label in the world is for sale — or at least half of it is. In case your Monday was getting lackluster, here’s a bombshell to spice things up.  French media conglomerate Vivendi is now planning to sell 50% of Universal Music Group, an…

Warner Music Just Dumped 75% of Their Spotify Shares – A $400 Million Payday

Warner Music Group pulls a Sony and lets go of most of its Spotify shares.  But, why? Warner Music Group Corp. has announced that it has sold around 75% of its shares in Spotify.  The company received $400 million. WMG CEO Stephen Cooper stated that $3…

Why Pandora Still Has a Long, Long Way to Go

Pandora Media’s Q1 2018 may look great at first.  But, just look a little closer. Pandora Media has reported better-than-expected first quarter financial results.  The company posted a lower quarterly loss thanks to higher subscription …

Spotify’s Q1 2018: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Looks like Spotify isn’t going to become the next Netflix after all.  Nor will it turn a profit in 2018. Spotify has just published its first quarterly earnings since going public.  And the news isn’t pretty.  At least, not f…

Streaming Pushes Sony Music’s Revenue Over $4 Billion

Thanks to streaming, Sony Music CEO Rob Stringer had a great first year. Sony Corporation has published its earnings report for the 2017-2018 fiscal year ending March 31st, 2018.  The company’s music division brought in ¥447 billion ($4…

SoundCloud’s Financial Losses Are Way, Way Worse Than We Thought

SoundCloud’s revenues topped $100 million last year.  That’s great!  But, its losses totaled nearly $100 million in 2016.  It will likely grow even more.  =( Speaking with the Financial Times just over a week ago, SoundC…

Less Than 180 Days Until TIDAL Runs Out of Cash

Jay Z has 99 problems. We now know that TIDAL running out of cash is one of them. 2017 hasn’t been a good year for Jay Z. First, his latest album, 4:44, didn’t appear on Billboard charts.  The same week as the rapper’s highly-anticipated release, DJ Kh…