Spotify Introduces a Brand New Feature: Payola

To better match individual songs with listeners’ preferences, Spotify will add the “Sponsored Songs” feature to its free tier.  Yet, does this move violate federal laws that explicitly prohibit payola schemes? To better monetize their free tier, Spotify is reportedly testing their new ‘Sponsored Songs’ feature.  The move will allow not only brands to put […]

The post Spotify Introduces a Brand New Feature: Payola appeared first on Digital Music News.

Big Publishers Feeling Cheated After Spotify’s Small Publisher Deal

Did major publishers get hoodwinked by Spotify and their own trade association?  That’s the scuttlebutt this week in the wake of an impressive settlement by smaller publishers. So just to bring everyone up to speed… Earlier this month, a collective of indie publishers and songwriters secured a juicy $43.4 million settlement with Spotify over unpaid […]

The post Big Publishers Feeling Cheated After Spotify’s Small Publisher Deal appeared first on Digital Music News.

Big Publishers Feeling Cheated After Spotify’s Small Publisher Deal

Did major publishers get hoodwinked by Spotify and their own trade association?  That’s the scuttlebutt this week in the wake of an impressive settlement by smaller publishers. So just to bring everyone up to speed… Earlier this month, a collective of indie publishers and songwriters secured a juicy $43.4 million settlement with Spotify over unpaid […]

The post Big Publishers Feeling Cheated After Spotify’s Small Publisher Deal appeared first on Digital Music News.

As Spotify Tops 140 Million Users, Losses Surmount With No Profit In Sight

Promising more money to major labels, Spotify crossed the 140 million user mark. In an announcement on For Brands site, Spotify proudly announced that they have surpassed 140 million global monthly active users.  They also guaranteed to pay $2 billion to major content owners in the next two years.  Yet, the news was quickly muddled […]

The post As Spotify Tops 140 Million Users, Losses Surmount With No Profit In Sight appeared first on Digital Music News.

Pandora CEO Tim Westergren: In, or Out?

SiriusXM’s parent company, Liberty Media, may be taking a harsh view of Tim Westergren.  The founder and CEO has been accused of costing the company over $1 billion. It’s been a rocky period for Pandora’s founder and CEO Tim Westergren.  A recent study has shown that in the past year alone, teenagers and young adults […]

The post Pandora CEO Tim Westergren: In, or Out? appeared first on Digital Music News.

Indie Labels Say Spotify Is Paying 3X Better Than YouTube

Merlin Network makes it clear: No, YouTube doesn’t pay out artists equally, but Spotify does. YouTube has long been considered the bane of the music industry.  Thanks in part to exploiting DMCA safe harbor loopholes, the video platform can pay out major labels and artists the bare minimum.  As it pushes ahead with its IPO […]

The post Indie Labels Say Spotify Is Paying 3X Better Than YouTube appeared first on Digital Music News.

STIM: “Spotify Hasn’t Paid Our Bills”

Ahead of their long-rumored IPO, Spotify has yet to fix its main problem: unmatched song royalties. When a radio station plays a song, Swedish copyright organization STIM looks at who to pay.  The organization does the same when listeners stream songs from Swedish artists and songwriters.  Yet, for the second time in less than a […]

The post STIM: “Spotify Hasn’t Paid Our Bills” appeared first on Digital Music News.

Pandora Gets Desperately Needed Money From SiriusXM & Sells Ticketfly

Following a much-needed investment from SiriusXM, Pandora Radio survives to live another day. Yet, how long before more poor decisions sink this streamer? Late last year, Pandora Radio shares rose after news came out that SiriusXM wanted to purchase the streamer.  SiriusXM reportedly offered the streamer $15 per share. The stock price then floated around […]

The post Pandora Gets Desperately Needed Money From SiriusXM & Sells Ticketfly appeared first on Digital Music News.

Pandora’s Worst Nightmare: Stock Plunges; Sirius Vultures; Lifeline Looms

Maybe this is all Spotify’s fault.  Maybe Pandora only has itself to blame.  Either way, Pandora is now battling a tailspin in valuation as Sirius vultures overhead.  Here’s the latest. Falling subscribers.  Sagging subscriptions.  A surging Spotify.  Welcome to the daily nightmare endured by Pandora, once the darling of music streaming. Now, the company is […]

The post Pandora’s Worst Nightmare: Stock Plunges; Sirius Vultures; Lifeline Looms appeared first on Digital Music News.

Pandora’s Worst Nightmare: Stock Plunges; Sirius Vultures; Lifeline Looms

Maybe this is all Spotify’s fault.  Maybe Pandora only has itself to blame.  Either way, Pandora is now battling a tailspin in valuation as Sirius vultures overhead.  Here’s the latest. Falling subscribers.  Sagging subscriptions.  A surging Spotify.  Welcome to the daily nightmare endured by Pandora, once the darling of music streaming. Now, the company is […]

The post Pandora’s Worst Nightmare: Stock Plunges; Sirius Vultures; Lifeline Looms appeared first on Digital Music News.