Music Ally

8m subs fuelled 13.7% growth for Spain’s recorded-music industry in 2025 Spanish labels body Promusicae has reported its figures for the country’s recorded-music market in 2025, and they are strong.

8m subs fuelled 13.7% growth for Spain’s recorded-music industry in 2025

Spanish labels body Promusicae has reported its figures for the country’s recorded-music market in 2025, and they are strong.

Google gets quizzical with BTS Army in mobile scavenger hunt What was the first BTS song to top Billboard’s Hot 100 chart? Which of their hidden tracks starts with the sound of waves crashing on a shore?

Google gets quizzical with BTS #Army in mobile scavenger hunt

What was the first BTS song to top Billboard’s Hot 100 chart? Which of their hidden tracks starts with the sound of waves crashing on a shore?

Report warns of ‘clear and present’ AI danger for UK creative sector The Communications and Digital Committee in the UK’s House of Lords has published a report on AI, Copyright and the Creative Industries’.

Report warns of ‘clear and present’ AI danger for UK creative sector

The Communications and Digital Committee in the UK’s House of Lords has published a report on AI, Copyright and the Creative Industries’.

UMG boss sees AI as more than just a risk for media industries Universal Music Group published its Q4 and full-year financial results yesterday, revealing that its revenues for 2025 were up 5.7%.

UMG boss sees AI as more than just a risk for media industries

Universal Music Group published its Q4 and full-year financial results yesterday, revealing that its revenues for 2025 were up 5.7%.

Amsterdam nightlife thrived as 90% of residents took part in 2025 Some of the events industry doom and gloom of last year has apparently steered clear of Amsterdam, as a recent Dutch study uncovered a 90% participation rate in the city's nightlife.

Amsterdam nightlife thrived as 90% of residents took part in 2025

Some of the events industry doom and gloom of last year has apparently steered clear of Amsterdam, as a recent Dutch study uncovered a 90% participation rate in the city's nightlife.

Create Music Group raises $450m at a valuation of $2.2bn Create Music Group (CMG) has been a regular acquirer of independent labels and other music companies. Now it has raised new funding.

Create Music Group raises $450m at a valuation of $2.2bn

Create Music Group (CMG) has been a regular acquirer of independent labels and other music companies. Now it has raised new funding.

Two Reservoir shareholders could enter bidding war for company Earlier this month we reported on music firm Reservoir Media fielding an acquisition bid from activist hedge-fund Irenic Capital Management.

Two Reservoir shareholders could enter bidding war for company

Earlier this month we reported on music firm Reservoir Media fielding an acquisition bid from activist hedge-fund Irenic Capital Management.

Ticketing service Seatfun launches with 100 event organisers What better time to launch a new ticketing platform than the week when the biggest established firm is being hauled over the coals in court?

Ticketing service Seatfun launches with 100 event organisers

What better time to launch a new ticketing platform than the week when the biggest established firm is being hauled over the coals in court?

Tomorrow’s Warriors turns 35 and appoints its first 12 patrons This year is a notable one for UK charity and talent-development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors: its 35th anniversary.

Tomorrow’s Warriors turns 35 and appoints its first 12 patrons

This year is a notable one for UK charity and talent-development organisation Tomorrow’s Warriors: its 35th anniversary.

Charlie Puth gets a new job as chief music officer at Moises If you, like us, enjoy a celebrity c-suite appointment, then Charlie Puth has some good news for you, courtesy of Moises.

Charlie Puth gets a new job as chief music officer at Moises

If you, like us, enjoy a celebrity c-suite appointment, then Charlie Puth has some good news for you, courtesy of Moises.

Apple Music adds ‘transparency tags’ for uses of AI with music Apple Music is the latest streaming service trying to ensure people know when they’re listening to music where AI has been used.

Apple Music adds ‘transparency tags’ for uses of AI with music

Apple Music is the latest streaming service trying to ensure people know when they’re listening to music where AI has been used.

Lucy Dreams has an artificial band member – but she’s not an AI Viennese band Lucy Dreams are a trio, but only two of them are human: David Reiterer and Philipp Prückl. The third is artificial: Lucy.

Lucy Dreams has an artificial band member – but she’s not an AI

Viennese band Lucy Dreams are a trio, but only two of them are human: David Reiterer and Philipp Prückl. The third is artificial: Lucy.

She Sounds. wants to bring the female gaze to branded audio "When women are underrepresented in creative leadership or only wheeled in for the quote, you do not get a female gaze..."

She Sounds. wants to bring the female gaze to branded audio

"When women are underrepresented in creative leadership or only wheeled in for the quote, you do not get a female gaze..."

BPI hails ‘record levels of digital engagement’ for Brit Awards We’re still boggling at Rosaliá’s performance (with a Björk assist) at the Brit Awards last Saturday, which has already notched up 4.8m YouTube views of its standalone video. It turns out there were plenty of other big digital stats around the event, with UK labels body the BPI hailing “record levels of digital engagement” for the awards. Overall, video content from the show was viewed more than 250m times – up 275% on last year’s shindig – including 162m views on Instagram, 70m Facebook reels and more than 19m views on TikTok.

BPI hails ‘record levels of digital engagement’ for Brit Awards

We’re still boggling at Rosaliá’s performance (with a Björk assist) at the Brit Awards last Saturday, which has already notched up 4.8m YouTube views of its standalone video. It turns out there were plenty of other big digital stats…

Spotify reveals Australian payouts and streaming boost in 2025 Music-streaming has been under the spotlight in Australia recently, amid concerns about the declining domestic stream-share of local artists. Spotify is at the heart of this debate, and it has offered its latest pushback on criticism this week with some new payout stats. The company says that it paid out AUD $330m ($231.9m at current exchange rates) to Australian rightsholders in 2025, up 7% year-on-year, with around half of it generated by independent music.

Spotify reveals Australian payouts and streaming boost in 2025

Music-streaming has been under the spotlight in Australia recently, amid concerns about the declining domestic stream-share of local artists. Spotify is at the heart of this debate, and it has offered its latest pushback on criticism…

AI-music artists get their own accelerator from Prose Ventures We’ve written about plenty of tech-startup accelerators in our time, but the Prose AI Music Creators Accelerator is a different beast.

AI-music artists get their own accelerator from Prose Ventures

We’ve written about plenty of tech-startup accelerators in our time, but the Prose AI Music Creators Accelerator is a different beast.

TikTok’s music layoffs have now reached its team in the UK A number of members of TikTok's music team in the UK have confirmed this week that they are leaving the company, as part of the wider program of layoffs that has affected TikTok staff around the world. At the time of writing, Music Ally has tracked farewell posts on LinkedIn from head of music partnerships, UK, Ireland and SSA Toyin Mustapha…

TikTok’s music layoffs have now reached its team in the UK

A number of members of TikTok's music team in the UK have confirmed this week that they are leaving the company, as part of the wider program of layoffs that has affected TikTok staff around the world. At the time of writing, Music Ally…

MMF boss issues warning on ‘unspoken crisis in British music’ This weekend's Brit Awards was a show of strength for the UK's music industry, from Olivia Dean's awards sweep to barnstorming performances from Harry Styles, Raye and Wolf Alice. However, the boss of management body the MMF, Annabella Coldrick, has issued a warning that this is not the whole story. "Troubling warning lights are flashing – and have been for some time," she…

MMF boss issues warning on ‘unspoken crisis in British music’

This weekend's Brit Awards was a show of strength for the UK's music industry, from Olivia Dean's awards sweep to barnstorming performances from Harry Styles, Raye and Wolf Alice. However, the boss of management body the MMF, Annabella…

Guest Post: Words matter. So why do lyrics generate just 1% of publishing income? Guest column: Music Ally publishes guest columns which voice the opinions of notable authors that advance specific perspectives on important issues. These are chosen at the Editorial team’s discretion and are not paid-for. You can explore the guest column archive here. This is a guest column from Rio Caraeff, Musixmatch’s co-president and chief business officer – and who previously held key roles at Vevo and UMG, amongst others.

Guest Post: Words matter. So why do lyrics generate just 1% of publishing income?

Guest column: Music Ally publishes guest columns which voice the opinions of notable authors that advance specific perspectives on important issues. These are chosen at the Editorial team’s discretion and are not…

Radiohead slam use of ‘Let Down’ in pro-ICE US government post The use of liberal-leaning artists’ music in official videos promoting the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) isn’t an accident: it’s a strategy. The aim is to provoke those artists into responding, which then brings more publicity to the videos. Radiohead are the latest artist expressing their fury at their music being used in this way. A choral version of their ‘Let Down’ song accompanied…

Radiohead slam use of ‘Let Down’ in pro-ICE US government post

The use of liberal-leaning artists’ music in official videos promoting the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE) isn’t an accident: it’s a strategy. The aim is to provoke those artists into responding, which then brings…

Publishing moves: Kobalt and Reservoir are acquisition targets In a break from individual music catalogues being rumoured to be up for sale, a pair of prominent companies in the music-publishing sector have been making headlines in recent days. MBW reported on advanced talks for Primary Wave to acquire Kobalt Music Group, noting that it was “among a number of potential suitors” who had been negotiating with Kobalt’s majority owner Francisco Partners.

Publishing moves: Kobalt and Reservoir are acquisition targets

In a break from individual music catalogues being rumoured to be up for sale, a pair of prominent companies in the music-publishing sector have been making headlines in recent days. MBW reported on advanced talks for Primary Wave to…

OpenAI raises $110bn and says it has 900m weekly ChatGPT users Speculation about an imminent wallet-busting funding round for AI giant OpenAI has been building in recent months, but now the round has been announced – so the figures involved are finally official. OpenAI has raised $110bn, valuing the company at $730bn. The round comes from just three technology companies: Amazon ($50bn), Nvidia ($30bn) and SoftBank ($30bn), although OpenAI said that more investors may join, as the round is still open.

OpenAI raises $110bn and says it has 900m weekly ChatGPT users

Speculation about an imminent wallet-busting funding round for AI giant OpenAI has been building in recent months, but now the round has been announced – so the figures involved are finally official. OpenAI has raised $110bn, valuing…

Suno CEO reveals that his company has 2m paying subscribers So much of the talk around AI-music is about the capabilities of the tools, whether they’re properly licensed, and the amount of money their developers are able to raise. Less discussed (so far) is how much actual demand there is for these tools from music fans – and as a follow-on from that question, how many of them are willing to pay to use them.

Suno CEO reveals that his company has 2m paying subscribers

So much of the talk around AI-music is about the capabilities of the tools, whether they’re properly licensed, and the amount of money their developers are able to raise. Less discussed (so far) is how much actual demand there is for…

Block lays off 40% of staff due to AI – and expects other firms to follow We’ve written about fintech firm Block’s Cash App subsidiary in our story about Charli XCX’s ‘Brat card’ today, lower down this bulletin. But Block also had some news this week about its workforce. Bad news, for 40% of it. “Today we shared a difficult decision with our team. We're reducing Block from over 10,000 people to just under 6,000,” CEO Jack Dorsey…

Block lays off 40% of staff due to AI – and expects other firms to follow

We’ve written about fintech firm Block’s Cash App subsidiary in our story about Charli XCX’s ‘Brat card’ today, lower down this bulletin. But Block also had some news this week about its workforce. Bad news, for 40% of it.…

Top look: What seven years of No.1s on Spotify’s India chart tell us about listenership patterns Spotify completes seven years of operation in India this weekend, and we thought the milestone was a good time to deep dive into data from its Weekly Top Songs chart since its launch in February 2019. Specifically, we took a close look at each of that chart’s No.1 songs so far—there have been 68 until date—to explore how listenership has evolved for different music segments and genres, both on the DSP and in the country as a whole.

Top look: What seven years of No.1s on Spotify’s India chart tell us about listenership patterns

Spotify completes seven years of operation in India this weekend, and we thought the milestone was a good time to deep dive into data from its Weekly Top Songs chart since its launch in February 2019.…

Report: Amazon to invest up to $50bn in OpenAI’s next funding round Money has been pouring in to the leading lights of the AI sector, but OpenAI’s next funding round could set a new bar – aided by the tech giants keen to take a stake in its business. Amazon has set aside up to $50bn to invest in OpenAI, according to Reuters. This is thought to include $15bn upfront and another $35bn if and when OpenAI hits “an AGI milestone” or starts the process of going public via an IPO.

Report: Amazon to invest up to $50bn in OpenAI’s next funding round

Money has been pouring in to the leading lights of the AI sector, but OpenAI’s next funding round could set a new bar – aided by the tech giants keen to take a stake in its business. Amazon has set aside up to $50bn to invest in…

Grassroots UK venue The Leadmill seeks people-power to reopen One of the UK’s most prominent grassroots venues, The Leadmill in Sheffield, closed last year after a long-running dispute between the venue’s management and the owner of the building in which it was located. Now the venue is hoping to find a new home, and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise the necessary funds to do that. “We’re independent. No grants, no council funding, no safety net,” explains the campaign, which has an initial target of £82k on the Crowdfunder platform.

Grassroots UK venue The Leadmill seeks people-power to reopen

One of the UK’s most prominent grassroots venues, The Leadmill in Sheffield, closed last year after a long-running dispute between the venue’s management and the owner of the building in which it was located. Now the venue is hoping to…

Spotify paid out more than £860m for UK artists’ music in 2025 Spotify has released some stats from its annual Loud & Clear research, zeroing in on its payouts for music by UK artists.

Spotify paid out more than £860m for UK artists’ music in 2025

Spotify has released some stats from its annual Loud & Clear research, zeroing in on its payouts for music by UK artists.

Phonk producer Slxughter reached 981m YouTube users last month The growth of phonk isn’t exactly under the radar, but the sheer scale of some of the genre’s leading lights may still shock many people within the music industry. The New York Times is the publication jumping out of the metaphorical bushes shouting ‘boo!’ this week. It has revealed the monthly YouTube audience of phonk producer Slxughter, who was born in Russia but is now based in Brazil.

Phonk producer Slxughter reached 981m YouTube users last month

The growth of phonk isn’t exactly under the radar, but the sheer scale of some of the genre’s leading lights may still shock many people within the music industry. The New York Times is the publication jumping out of the metaphorical…

Isaac Hayes estate reveals resolution of presidential lawsuit The Estate of Isaac Hayes, Jr. has settled its lawsuit against the US president over his campaign’s use of ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ in his political rallies between 2022 and 2024. The estate had sued the campaign for $3m, alleging that it had not properly licensed the song – co-written by Hayes for soul duo Sam & Dave – and also that it had continued playing it at the rallies after being asked to stop.

Isaac Hayes estate reveals resolution of presidential lawsuit

The Estate of Isaac Hayes, Jr. has settled its lawsuit against the US president over his campaign’s use of ‘Hold On, I’m Coming’ in his political rallies between 2022 and 2024. The estate had sued the campaign for $3m, alleging that it…