Spotify announced that its total payments to artists, labels, publishers and other rightholders now tops $5 billion.That’s up $2 billion from June 2015, when the music streamer shared that it had paid out $3 billion total. At this pace, which is likely quickening, Spotify is paying the music industry $133…
Category archives: Streaming & Cloud
Spotify SoundCloud Acquisition Could Come At A Deep Discount, As Traffic Flattens
There are conflicting reports has to how likely a Spotify acquisition of SoundCloud is, but any deal would likely happen at a price far below the $700 million – $1.2 billion which investors have valued the company during previous funding rounds. __________________________________ The valuation of SoundCloud fell from around $1.2…
Music’s Streaming Pile Of Garbage [Cortney Harding]
While variety and competition are typically a good sign in most other industries, the same doesn’t seem to hold true in the music industry. An increasing number of not-so-different streaming services are cropping up from companies like Amazon, iHeart, and Pandora, says Cortney Harding. _________________________ Guest post by music tech…
Spotify Finally Launches In Japan, World’s 2nd Largest Music Market, Debuts New Lyrics Feature
Spotify has finally launched in Japan. The world’s second biggest music market is a notoriously finicky one and slow to change. CD’s still sell in large numbers there, despite early digital adoption elsewhere in the culture. With the launch also came the overdue re-introduction of a Spotify lyrics feature. ___________________________…
Spotify, SoundCloud Deal May Not Happen [New Report]
Late Wednesday came reports that Spotify was in advanced talks to acquire SoundCloud, and that an announcement of the deal could be made very soon. Now, a new report asserts that the deal is far from done and could go either way. _________________________________________________ Will Spotify acquire rival SoundCloud? "People I…
Spotify In ‘Advance Talks’ To Buy SoundCloud
[UPDATED] Spotify is reportedly in advance talks to buy Soundcloud. We’d heard months ago that Soundcloud was hemorrhaging cash, after efforts to monetize had been slowed by label talks. The labels said yes, but perhaps too late; and the way out may be to sell. ____________________________________ Spotify is in advanced…
Google Hires Ex-Warner Music Group CEO Lyor Cohen As YouTube Global Head Of Music
Former Warner Music Group CEO Lyor Cohen has joined Google’s YouTube as its Global Head of Music. The outspoken music industry veteran takes on the difficult task of mending fences with a music industry vocally upset with the royalties that YouTube pays compared to its massive scale. Lyor Cohen “Lyor…
Spotify’s Most Viral Tracks US, UK, Global
The most viral tracks on Spotify based on the number of people who shared it divided by the number who listened to it from Sept. 16 – 22, 2016 on Facebook, Tumblr, Twitter and Spotify. ______________________________ Spotify’s Most Viral Tracks US, UK, Global UNITED STATES 1. Rockie Gold, "Dicks out…
Kobalt Creates Neighboring Rights Powerhouse With Fintage House Superstar Client List Acquisition
Neighboring rights are one of the most misunderstood and fastest growing income streams in music. It’s $2 billion annual business, and with the acquisition of the Fintage House’s superstar client list, Kobalt becomes a dominate player. ___________________________________ Indie music services company Kobalt announced that they have acquired Fintage House’s Neighbouring…
A Streaming Service’s Metamorphosis: Radical.FM Founder Shares His Startup Journey
In this piece traveler and music business entrepreneur Tom McAlevey walks us the through the development of his music streaming startup Radical.FM and how the service has evolved over time to fit the needs of the industry. ____________________ Guest Post by Tom McAlevey on Radical Indie My life swings between…