Spotify and BMG’s US Deal, TikTok Creator Revenue Boost, and Deezer Cross-Platform Playlists. Plus, Instagram Reels Experiments and Spotify Wrapped 2025 Preparations.
Spotify and Merlin Extend Global Licensing Partnership
Spotify and Merlin have recently renewed their global licensing partnership, emphasizing a commitment to supporting independent labels and artists globally. This strengthened deal is pivotal in ensuring indie music creators have equitable access to Spotify’s extensive tools and resources. By reinforcing these partnerships, the significance of sustainable independent music projects is underscored, highlighting the necessity of strong collaborations in the modern music industry.
Spotify and BMG’s US Deal, TikTok Creator Revenue Boost, and Deezer Cross-Platform Playlists. Plus, Instagram Reels Experiments and Spotify Wrapped 2025 Preparations.
Spotify and Merlin Extend Global Licensing Partnership
Spotify and Merlin have recently renewed their global licensing partnership, emphasizing a commitment to supporting independent labels and artists worldwide. This strengthened deal is pivotal in ensuring indie music creators have equitable access to Spotify’s extensive tools and resources. By reinforcing these partnerships, the significance of sustainable independent music projects is underscored, highlighting the necessity of strong collaborations in the modern music industry.
Instagram Experiments with a Reels-Focused Home Screen
In an innovative move, Instagram has begun testing a new home screen layout that focuses solely on Reels, replacing the traditional feed for select users. This experiment signifies Meta’s ongoing investment in short-form video content and its fierce competition with TikTok. If this layout proves successful, it could significantly alter how users discover music and creators on the platform, pushing creators to rethink their content strategies.
TikTok Launches Superfan Revenue Share for Creators
TikTok has introduced its new superfan revenue share program, allowing creators to earn up to 90% of subscription revenue from their most dedicated followers. This initiative marks a substantial step in enhancing creator monetization while fostering deeper community engagement. As a result, TikTok is positioning itself more closely to platforms like Twitch and Patreon, where the monetization model heavily relies on superfans.
Deezer Enables Playlist Sharing Across Streaming Services
Deezer has launched an exciting feature that allows users to share playlists seamlessly across various streaming platforms. This new functionality aims to create a more inclusive and social music-sharing experience, enabling fans to connect regardless of their chosen service. By breaking down platform barriers, Deezer is encouraging greater music discovery and fostering a stronger sense of community among listeners.
Spotify Wrapped 2025 Preparations Begin
As the end of the year approaches, Spotify has initiated hype for Wrapped 2025 by launching a new artist guide filled with prompts and suggestions. This early engagement aims to ensure that both artists and listeners have their statistics and streams included in the highly anticipated yearly event. Historically, Wrapped generates significant social media buzz, showcasing global listening trends and individual user highlights.
SoundCloud Introduces New Social Discovery Tools
SoundCloud has rolled out fresh social discovery features designed to enhance interaction in finding and sharing music. Among the updates are playlists based on friends’ and artists’ preferences, as well as a visually engaging, feed-like tracklist that showcases trending content. These enhancements reflect SoundCloud’s strategy to merge social engagement with its community-driven streaming model, cultivating a richer user experience.
Spotify and BMG Strike Direct US Publishing Deal
In a significant move, Spotify and BMG have announced a new multiyear, direct US publishing licensing deal that aims to enhance value for songwriters and their work. This agreement exhibits both companies’ dedication to fairer royalties and robust protections, particularly in the context of AI usage. Following Spotify’s previous direct deals with major publishers, this initiative contributes to a more transparent and modern licensing framework within the industry.
Spotify Testing SongDNA for Deeper Track Insights
Spotify is currently testing a new feature tentatively called SongDNA, which promises to deliver comprehensive insights into the creators behind a track. This feature could provide an interactive breakdown of everyone involved, including songwriters, vocalists, producers, and engineers. By enhancing discovery for users while strengthening ties with music creators, this initiative aligns with Spotify’s broader goal of supporting artistic communities.
YouTube Pays $8 Billion to Musicians and Labels in 2025
In a groundbreaking announcement, YouTube has revealed it will pay a staggering $8 billion to musicians and record labels in 2025. This milestone cements YouTube’s position as one of the largest revenue sources within the music industry, particularly through ad-supported content. It underscores the platform’s evolution as a hybrid space for streaming, promotion, and monetization, effectively reshaping how artists engage with their audiences.
US TikTok Deal Could Finally Be Signed
Reports are indicating that the long-anticipated US TikTok deal may receive approval in the final week of October, potentially resolving years of political and business uncertainty. This agreement is expected to clarify TikTok’s future operations and data governance within the US, offering much-needed stability for its vast creator and advertiser community. A resolution could pave the way for a more streamlined and secure operating environment for the platform.