There Are Nearly 90 Million People Paying for Streaming Music

30 + 30 + 11 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 3.5 + 3 = 87.5 million

Streaming Music Subscribers, April, 2016

(sources: company announcements; Pandora estimated)

According to the latest stats this morning, the music industry is rapidly approaching 90 million paying streaming music subscribers.

It was a nearly unthinkable level just a few years ago, but the music industry is now surging towards the all-important 100 million threshold.  Now, with recent announcements from both Spotify (worldwide) and Sirius XM Radio (US), and Apple Music largely expected to tip 15 million in the coming months, the industry is approaching 90 million streaming music subscribers.

According to some insiders, the 100 million-mark could represent a major turning point in negotiations with YouTube, SoundCloud, Spotify, and other ‘freemium’ sites.

The math looks something like this:

  • Sirius XM Radio (US): 30 million (announced this morning).
  • Spotify (WW): 30 million (announced last month)
  • Apple Music (WW): 11 million (rapidly moving towards 15 million, +4).
  • Deezer (ex-US, most other nations): 3 million (direct paying and active mobile-bundled subscribers)
  • Rhapsody (+Napster)(WW): 3 million
  • SoundCloud Go: 0 (no figures announced)
  • Rdio: 0 (currently bankrupt but being revived by Pandora)
  • Pandora: 3.5 million (estimated on topline 3-5% premium take).
  • Tidal: 3 million (1.5 million hi-fidelity)
  • Xbox Music (aka, Groove Music): unknown.
  • Google Play Music All Access: unknown.

30 + 30 + 11 + 4 + 3 + 3 + 3.5 + 3 = 87.5 million paying streaming music subscribers.

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Yes Plot Summer Tour Behind ‘Drama,’ ‘Topographic Oceans’ LPs

Yes will perform the entirety of their 1980 album Drama, sides one and four of their 1973 double-LP Tales From Topographic Oceans and a selection of greatest hits on their upcoming American summer tour. The 25-date trek kicks off July 27th at the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, Ohio and concludes September 4th…

Ticketmaster Partners With Facebook To Sell Concert Tickets

Ticketmaster Partners With Facebook To Sell Concert Tickets

According to recent reports, Ticketmaster will be soon selling concert tickets directly through Facebook.

In an interview with Buzzfeed, Dan Armstrong VP and General Manager of distributed commerce for Ticketmaster confirmed the joint venture.

“By putting the ability to buy tickets directly within Facebook we hope that we’re going to provide a more seamless purchase experience and sell more tickets.”

The service will reportedly roll out at the end of the month due to a growing number of people spending a large volume of their time on mobile phone apps as opposed to desktops and laptops.

This is a great move for both parties. It allows Ticketmaster customers more platforms to purchase tickets. Facebook has a massive one billion active monthly users and this new partnership will allow Ticketmaster to market their concerts to a wider audience than they currently have access to.

The joint venture also allows Facebook to offer additional features to its users. In a market place with a growing number of social media platforms it is important for Facebook to diversify its features so that it can keep the younger audience engaged with the service. Also, this is a monetization opportunity for the social media giant as they will reportedly gain a cut of each ticket sale.

Though the tickets can be purchased via Facebook, Ticketmaster still requires people to ‘claim’ them via the Ticketmaster site and app. Also, initially the option to buy on Facebook will be limited to a select group of general admission events but it is expected that this will expand to all concerts and events over time.

 

(Pixaby Image, Public Domain)

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Gloria Gaynor on Obama, Beyonce, How Disco Could Have Ended Terrorism

Gloria Gaynor’s disco anthem “I Will Survive” – forever a mainstay of movie soundtracks, karaoke bars and drag shows – has never gone out of style and was recently inducted into the Library of Congress’ National Recording Registry. “It’s such an awesome honor,” Gaynor tells Rolling Stone. “It was totally unexpected, but…