While Spotify’s Ad Studio feature (available to artists since 2017) has proven to be effective as a promotional tool, the behind the scenes of why was something of a mystery, at least until now. The streaming platform’s new ad metrics give artists a much more transparent understanding of what happens…
Category archives: streaming
Spotify [SPOT] Stock Drops On Threat From Amazon Music [UPDATED]
UPDATE: Spotify stock closed down 4.42% Monday on news that Amazon was close to launching a free ad-supported music service. With the exception of Pandora’s radio-like free offering, no other major streamer offers a free music service. Details and analysis here. Amazon To Launch Free Ad-Supported Music Service To Take…
Many Spotify, Apple Music Subscribers Share Passwords Costing Artists, Labels Millions
A survey of 1000 streaming service subscribers showed that many share their passwords with others, breaking terms of service. Apple Music subscribers were the biggest offenders among music services, with 31.4% admitting to sharing their passwords with others. 22.2% of Spotify subscribers and 13,5% of Pandora users shared their passwords,…
BTS, Halsey Break 24 Hour YouTube Record Capping Massive Weekend For The K-Pop Superstars
YouTube has confirmed that the new video from BTS, “Boy With Luv” featuring Halsey, is the now most-viewed 24 hour music video debut in YouTube history, adding to an already huge week for the K-Pop superstars. “Boy With Luv” got 74.6 million views in its first 24 hours. The video…
UMG Reports 19% Revenue Gain, ‘Progress’ On Sale
Universal Music Group reported an 18.8% jump in revenue for the first quarter of 2019. The increase came as part of a strong financial report from parent Vivendi. Music subscription and streaming revenue grew 28.1% year-over-year. The company also reported that it is making progress on its plan to sell…
Apple Music Slammed For Bowing To Chinese Censors
After pressure from authorities in China, Apple Music has removed songs with lyrics that refer the Tienanmen Square massacre. Several members of Congress members are calling out Apple for bowing to pressure and missing the chance to "become a stronger voice for freedom around the globe." Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators…
Amazon Planning Free Ad-Supported Music Streamer To Take On Spotify, Pandora
UPDATED: Amazon is in talks with the major labels to launch an ad-supported music streaming service in direct competition to Spotify and Pandora according to a new report. The free music service could launch as early as next week. Currently, Spotify is the only major music service to have a…
Spotify: The Decline of Playlists and Rise of Podcasts [MIDiA]
Just as the music industry gets comfortable with playlists as a marketing and revenue generation tool, come words of caution from the analysts at MIDiA. A playlist ‘hit’ often does not do much to help long-term artist brand building, they say, and then there are the challenges and opportunities caused…
Spotify [SPOT] Gets Boost From Mad Money’s Jim Cramer
[UPDATED] During his daily Mad Money Lightening Round Thursday, CNBC host Jim Cramer gave a very positive shout out to Spotify. "I think it’s only a matter of time before subscriptions take over," said Cramer. "This is a good one." But the former hedge fund manager’s stock picking track record…
Music Industry’s Growth Continues Thanks To Streaming
According to the latest report from the IFPI, the music industry has now seen its fourth uninterrupted year of growth, reaching $19 billion in revenue, a an increase which has been fueled in large part by a major uptick in paid music subscriptions. ___________________________ Guest post by Bobby Owsinski of…