Streaming round-up – October 2023

by IDOL
News
25.10.23
Stay up to date on the latest in streaming news with our monthly streaming round-up. This month, Spotify's response to Deezer's proposed remuneration model, Songtradr's takeover of Bandcamp and TikTok Music launches without UMG's approval. Don’t miss a beat!

The figure of the month: 6 million. That’s the net number of new Spotify premium subscribers, for a total of 226 million paying users in Q3. More info on Music Business Worldwide.

Economy

Amazon Music
Amazon is shutting down its Amazon Amp radio service, launched in 2022, which allowed listeners to play DJs. More info on Music Ally. Amazon Music for Artists launches a new site with case studies of success stories. More info on Music Ally.

Audioshake
Audioshake adds LyricSync, a feature for lyrics transcription with time stamping. More info on Hypebot.

Bandcamp
A year and a half after its purchase, Epic Games resells Bandcamp. More info on Music Business Worldwide. In the weeks following the takeover, the new owner, Songtradr, laid off 50% of its employees. More info on Variety.

Bandlab
Universal Music Group enters a strategic AI partnership with BandLab Technologies. More info on Music Week.

Deezer
French label Wagram Music signs up to Deezer’s artist-centric approach. More info on Complete Music Update.

Patreon
Patreon acquires Moment, an event live streaming startup. More info on Variety.

Spotify
Spotify has just announced that it is changing its royalties model to “crush streaming fraud”. More info on Music Business Worldwide. Spotify has no plans to ban music created with AI. More info on BBC News. In fact, Spotify is embracing AI, and developing AI-generated playlists. More info on TechCrunch. Spotify threatens to pull out of Uruguay over proposed regulatory changes to copyright law. More info on Music Business Worldwide. Spotify has patented a “digital mixtape” generator that compiles users’ vocal recordings with songs. More info on Music Business Worldwide. Spotify code suggests the arrival of a Supermium service with lossless audio for $20 a month. More info on The Verge.

Tencent
Tencent Music partners with Qualcomm to launch AI-powered premium sound quality. More info on TechNode.

TikTok
TikTok officially launches TikTok Music in Australia, Singapore and Mexico without the Universal Music catalog. More info on Music Business Worldwide. TikTok confirms testing an ad-free subscription outside the US. More info on TechCrunch.

X / Twitter
X tests new paid subscriptions to offset disappointing advertising revenues. More info on The Verge. X introduces a $1/year fee for new subscriptions in New Zealand and the Philippines. More info on Complete Music Update. X no longer labels sponsored posts for some users, which is illegal. More info on Mashable.

New Features

Amazon Music
Amazon Music expands benefits for Prime members. More info on Digital Music News.

BandLab
BandLab users can now integrate their sounds directly from Airbit, the platform acquired by BandLab Technologies last February. More info on Music Business Worldwide.

Meta
Meta launches generative AI features for advertisers. More info on TechCrunch. Broadcast channels, popular on Instagram and WhatsApp, arrive on Facebook and Messenger. More info on The Verge. Instagram adds a poll feature to comments. More info on Social Media Today

Spotify
Spotify’s new artist profiles highlight music, Stories, merchandise and events. More info on TechCrunch. Spotify launches Jam, a real-time collaborative playlist. More info on Music Business Worldwide. Spotify publishes a guide to help artists “prepare for Wrapped”. More info on Hypebot. Spotify works on a new “surprise” way to share your favorite music. More info on Android Central. Spotify adds listening restrictions to its free users in India. More info on Music Ally.

TikTok
TikTok launches a new feature to enable video publishing from Adobe, CapCut, Twitch and other popular editing apps. More info on TechCrunch.

YouTube
YouTube’s latest features aim to help creators generate more money. More info on TechCrunch. YouTube develops an AI tool to help create videos with voices of popular artists. More info on Billboard.

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