Music Business Worldwide

The latest music news from Music Business Worldwide, News, jobs and analysis for the global music industry and on artists new releases and where to get new mp3 songs.

1. Apple Music launches its ‘best offer ever’ – a six-month trial for $2.99

   The timing of the promotion comes as Apple Music promotes Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX Halftime Show performance on Sunday (February 9)

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2. Spotify slams the NMPA’s takedown action over alleged unlicensed songs in podcasts: ‘This is a press stunt.’

   Spotify confirms that is investigating the takedown requests

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3. Virgin Music Group expands presence in Africa, partnering with Ghana-based services company RainLabs

   The partnership's goal is to ensure that the music of African artists “reaches global audiences and achieves lasting success"

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4. NMPA hits Spotify with ‘extensive’ takedown action over alleged unlicensed songs in podcasts

   The publishers' group says Spotify has known 'for years' about widespread violations of music copyrights on the podcasts it hosts

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5. US court says copyright termination applies globally, potentially causing ‘chaos’ for rightsholders

   "While the plaintiffs’ arguments are clever, it’s unlikely they’ll ultimately hold up"

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6. Warner Music Group and Audiomack expand licensing deal to cover 47 additional countries

   Partnership began in 2019 and was Audiomack’s first licensing deal with a major music company

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7. Spotify posts $1.5bn annual operating profit for 2024, as subscriber base grows to 263m in Q4

   Spotify posted a quarterly operating income of over half a billion dollars

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8. Trump signs executive order to create US sovereign wealth fund that could buy TikTok

   Trump hinted at the fund’s potential role in the TikTok acquisition, saying, “I have the right to do that, and we might put that in the sovereign wealth fund”

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9. Read Sir Lucian Grainge’s 2025 memo to Universal Music Group staff: ‘Streaming 2.0 will represent a new age of innovation, consumer segmentation, geographic expansion, greater consumer value and ARPU growth.’

   UMG boss says: "I’m pleased to report that the Streaming 2.0 era has arrived."

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10. TikTok rival Triller secures $50m in equity funding

    Funding round was secured through a private placement with institutional investors

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