Spotify Nearing Warner Music Deal, But Ongoing Battles With Songwriters, Publishers Could Delay IPO

[UPDATED] Spotify is nearing a new licensing deal with Warner Music, the last of the big three label agreements it needs before a U.S. stock market listing, according to a new report. But ongoing battles with music publishers could delay the streamer’s entry into the public markets. ________________________________________ Spotify is…

Music’s Top Money Makers, Where They Got It From

For all the talk of money in the music industry, it’s interesting to take a step back and look at who’s actually been pulling it off and raking in the real industry cash. Here we look the music business’s top ten earners and where that money came from. ___________________________ Guest…

JAY-Z’s "4.44" Is #1 For 2nd Week Even Without Spotify, But It’s Costing The Rapper Millions

JAY-Z’s "4.44" is #1 for the second week in a row, even though its still not available on Spotify, the largest streaming music service globally. It’s an impressive accomplishment, but its costing the rapper dearly in other ways. _________________________________________ JAY-Z’s new album "4.44" is number one on the Billboard chart,…

Vinyl Sales Are Flattening, But Why?

The income boost that many artists and labels get from vinyl record sales is in danger of shrinking. This year vinyl sales grew just 2% compared to 12% in 2016, according to new data from Nielsen Music. ______________________________________________ Why are vinyl record sales flat? Have we just reached a saturation…

Transparency In The Music Licensing And Ownership Act – Doomsday Book Meets Unicorn [Chris Castle]

In this article, Chris Castle works to unpack a host of issues relating to the new Transparency in Music Licensing and Ownership Act recently introduced to congress which would require music creators register their works in a cumbersome number of fields of data in order to ensure they can defend…

How YouTube And Latin America Are Taking Over The Music World [Mark Mulligan]

Music industry analyst Mark Mulligan of MIDiA looks at how two trends – a growing Latin American music market and the explosive growth of streaming – are coming together to create a seismic shift in music. ________________________________________________ By Mark Mulligan of MIDiA Unless you have been on Mars for the…

Spotify Most Played, Viral Tracks US, UK, Global Week Ending 7.14.17

Here are Spotify’s most played and most viral tracks for the week ending 7.14.17. The Spotify Weekly Charts highlight top artists by listener along with the past week’s most streamed and viral songs in the US, UK and globally. Spotify Global Top Artists (by Listener) Rank Artist Monthly Listeners 1…

Sony To Purchase Believe Digital, TuneCore For $400M+ [REPORT]

Sony Music Entertainment is in final talks to acquire French independent music distribution and label services provider Believe Digital, and its d.i.y distribution subsidiary TuneCore, according to a new report. Last month, Hypebot broke the story that Believe was actively for sale, with all three major label groups among the…

Steve Knopper Discusses His Updated Book “Appetite for Self-Destruction" [Podcast]

This week co-host of Hypebot’s Music Biz Weekly Podcast Jay Gilbert flies solo. He’s joined by guest Steve Knopper who it a Rolling Stone contributing editor and the author of "Appetite for Self-Destruction: The Spectacular Crash of the Record Industry in the Digital Age," which was just re-release in an…

AM BRIEF: Judge Voids Prince UMG Deal • Music’s Top Money Makers • Google Play Adds New Release Radio • More

FRIDAY 7.14.17 Music Business News From Around The Web Prince’s heirs are now out $31 million, and no one will offer that much again. Updated continuously under our More News tab