The major record companies (and Merlin) saw their Spotify market share fall again in 2023. Yet even before ‘artist-centric’ changes, this decline started slowing.Spotify's annual report reveals an interesting trend around the joint market share of major record companies and Merlin on the platform
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dSONIQ update Realphones headphone correction suite dSONIQ have recently announced the release of Realphones 2.0, a new and improved version of their headphone correction and room simulation software.

US accounts for 9.9% of global music piracyAfter years of decline, global music piracy is rising again by double digits, and the United States accounted for 9.9% of all illegal activity...
The post US accounts for 9.9% of global music piracy appeared first on Hypebot.

Music Subscriber Market Share Report 2023 shows global growth [MIDiA]Mark Mulligan and the team at MIDiA have released their latest music subscriber market share report, and it shows continued global streaming growth...
The post Music Subscriber Market Share Report 2023 shows global growth [MIDiA] appeared first on Hypebot.

Can’t find a music manager? This AI-powered bot could be the answerHaving trouble finding the perfect manager? Don't despair. An AI-powered virtual manager is about to launch that claims to be capable of providing the professional support you need...
The post Can’t find a music manager? This AI-powered bot could be the answer appeared first on Hypebot.

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Artist visa fees for work in the US to increase in 2024, reaching over $1,000Visa costs for musicians and DJs who want to work in the USA are set to rise later this year, with both O and P visas set to jump to over $1,000.
Despite the higher prices, costs are actually lower than expected compared to proposals originally put forward in 2023. The rise in application costs will commence on 1 April 2024.

READ MORE: AI-powered music manager app Maverick SoundZ offers a database of radio stations, DJs and journalists to aid promotion – for just £7.99 a month

Back in January of 2023, the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced plans to raise touring visa fees for international artists by more than 250 per cent.
This would have meant that applications for a P visa, which is temporary and for artists attending a specific event, would’ve increased from a rate of $460 to $1,615. The longer-term O work visa, which provides artists with a three-year stay, would’ve jumped from $460 to $1,655. Later that July, the decision was delayed following backlash from musicians.
Now, as RA reports, the longer-term O visa will jump from $460 to $1,055, an increase of 129 percent. The P visa will move from $460 to $1,015, a 121 percent jump.  This price hike is the first time artist visa costs have increased since 2016. The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (UCIS) says these higher fees are needed “to cover the cost of doing business and avoid the accumulation of future backlogs.”
A 2022 study from Help Musicians showed that more than eight in ten professional musicians are worried about meeting mortgage or rent costs, nine in ten also say that their career is being impacted by poor mental health amid the cost of living crisis and financial barriers within the industry.
The Chemical Brothers also recently cited rising costs as the reason why they could not play shows in the US. “The costs have gone up so much,” Ed Simons said in September last year. “It’s just not really viable at the moment… I’m apologetic to the people who do want to see us that it is increasingly difficult for us to get to America, because we have had the times of our lives playing there.”
The DHS and the UCIS have opened a comment period until 6 March which allows citizens of the USA to send public feedback. Visit the UCIS website for further information on visa applications. You can also get mental health and career support via Help Musicians.
The post Artist visa fees for work in the US to increase in 2024, reaching over $1,000 appeared first on MusicTech.

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PinkPantheress, 22, has already lost “80 percent of the hearing” in one of her earsPinkPantheress has revealed she suffers from hearing damage, with loud microphone feedback having caused her to lose “80 percent of the hearing” in her right ear.
The self-producing artist landed a record deal with Parlophone after her music began dominating videos on TikTok, and at just 22 years old she continues to be a prominent voice in popular culture. She has collaborated with the likes of Ice Spice, Mura Masa, and more.

READ MORE: PinkPantheress wants to be the “female Rick Rubin”

Earlier this month, the Boy’s A Liar singer discussed her experience with hearing loss during an appearance on The Louis Theroux Podcast, where she shared that voices now sound mostly like bass to her due to the damage, and that she first noticed signs of loss due to a ringing sound.
“At first it was just a really annoying ringing and I thought it was going to be fine. But it happened on the day, and ever since that day – even on the day it happened – I was trying to find… I got some weird ear drops and I thought that was going to help.
“I thought it was going to be fine in the coming weeks. It just kept going down to the point now where it’s weird because I can’t hear a lot of high stuff. I can make out [what people are trying to say], it just sounds like bass. It sounds like somebody took your voice and removed all the high end and it was just bass,” she says.
You can listen to the podcast below:

Last week (5-11 February) was Tinnitus Awareness Week. Back in December, a study carried out by auditory training app Eargym revealed that a quarter of people under the age of 35 have early signs of hearing loss.
Nearly half (47 percent) of 16-35 year olds have a hearing age that is older than their biological age, with an average difference of 13 years. A further half said their hearing ability is impacting their quality of life.
Find out more about hearing loss via the NHS website. View all upcoming live dates for PinkPantheress.
The post PinkPantheress, 22, has already lost “80 percent of the hearing” in one of her ears appeared first on MusicTech.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek sells 250,000 shares of company’s stock worth $57.5 millionSpotify CEO Daniel Ek has sold 250,000 shares of the company’s stock for $57.5 million.
Ek, who is Spotify’s largest shareholder, made the sale last week (7 February). It comes after the company shared strong financial earnings made in the final quarter of 2023.

READ MORE: This man releases a new album on Spotify every single day – here’s how much money he makes

As reported by Music Business Worldwide, Spotify’s final quarter filing shows that monthly active users surged by 23 percent year over year to 602 million, exceeding the company’s target by one million. The number of its subscribers also grew by 15 percent YOY to 236 million, also higher by one million against the company’s guidance.
Revenue in Quarter Four rose by 16 percent YOY to $3.99 million, resulting in an operating loss of $80.82 million in Q4 2023 compared to a loss of $248.9 million in Q4 2022.
This recent share sales were executed by DGE Investments Limited, which is solely owned by Ek. Spotify’s share price is up 27.56 percent since the start of the year, and according to the publication, Ek sold his shares at the highest price the stock has seen since late 2021.
In December, it was revealed that Spotify’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Paul Vogel, had cashed out 47,859 shares earning him $9.377 million. This occurred shortly after the company announced that 17 percent of its workforce would be laid off. A statement confirmed that Vogel will depart from the company at the end of Q1 in 2024 (31 March) as part of a new phase for Spotify.
More recently, the company teased that it will be introducing “superfan clubs” for its users on the platform: “Thanks to the DMA (Digital Markets Act) we’re looking forward to a future of superfan clubs, alternative app stores, and giving creators the ability to safely download Spotify for Artists or Spotify for Podcasters directly from our site – and that’s just the start,” it said in a statement.
“We will be able to communicate clearly with you in the Spotify app about new products for sale, promotional campaigns, superfan clubs, and upcoming events, including when items like audiobooks are going on sale.”
The post Spotify CEO Daniel Ek sells 250,000 shares of company’s stock worth $57.5 million appeared first on MusicTech.

Get 94% OFF Native Instruments Digital-Analogue Bundle
Plugin Boutique offers a massive 94% discount on the Digital-Analogue Bundle by Native Instruments until February 29th. As we move through Plugin Boutique’s birthday sale, there are, of course, going to be some new additions. From now until February 29th, you can snag this veritable grab bag of goodies in the Digital-Analogue Bundle from Native [...]
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SoundGhost Jumble: Innovate creative sampler The latest plug-in from SoundGhost aims to provide users with a simple way to discover new and interesting patterns and soundscapes.

Stay tuned...🌌💫

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