Spotify reported results for the first quarter of 2026 that were in line or slightly ahead of expectations across all key metrics — gaining 3 million Premium subscribers in the period to reach 293 million total, notwithstanding its recent price increases in the U.S.
I dag presenterade vi vårt resultat för det första kvartalet 2026. Vi inleder året med starkt momentum i hela verksamheten och fortsatt innovation på plattformen.
Today, we announced our First Quarter 2026 earnings, starting the Year of Raising Ambition with strong momentum across the business and continued innovation across our platform.
MBW's World Leaders series meets Taeho Park, who leads the NEXT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS (NEB) and Data Strategy Center units at Korean entertainment giant HYBE, the home of BTS Source
Keyla Richardson drew particular attention for her take on “Lover,” reworking the song into something that even guest judge Nikki Glaser said felt entirely new.
London’s Royal Albert Hall will stage its first “Star Wars” in-concert weekender over four days in spring 2027, with the London Symphony Orchestra performing the iconic scores live to all three original trilogy episodes across two screenings each.
The records carry an estimated retail loss of GBP £259,920 ($351,372), according to investigators. Source
The dates mark the duo’s first performances in both territories, arriving on the heels of a sold-out U.S. tour.
The ARIA Award-winning country artist will take the stage on May 15.
Deezer reports lower revenues and global subscribers in Q1, but its AI-detection tool continues to make it an industry leader in a deal with Hungary-based music rights organization, EJI.
A man has pleaded guilty to his role in the 2002 murder of Run-D.M.C.’s Jam Master Jay. The plea comes three years after he was charged. Jay Bryant, 52, the third man accused in the murder of DJ Jam Master Jay back in 2002, pleaded guilty in federal court on Monday. He was charged nearly […]
Keegan-Michael Key will host the event, which will be held May 12 at Cipriani in New York City.
The news of her exit also arrived on the heels of her breakup from NBA star Klay Thompson
This goes off the rails in the last two episodes. We were watching three series at once, “Beef,” “Drops of God” and “Mudtown.” I occasionally do this with books, when nothing grabs me, I read a chapter of each in rotation and then wait to find a book I want to continue to read. Same […]
Apple misled consumers by concealing AirPods Pro 1 sound issues and then rolling out an “ineffective” service program for the defective product – at least according to a newly refiled class action lawsuit alleging false advertising and more.
The rapper's Broadway stint will conclude May 1 instead of her original May 17 end date. The news comes after her Klay Thompson breakup.
There are no wrong choices at Jazz Fest just regret at not being able to see more.
The ceremony is two days before the release of his new album Cinematic, and two months before the start of a tour with special guest Jennifer Hudson.
Some fans on social media weren't happy that the country star had to delay and then cut short his show over the weekend.
SpaceX and Blue Origin tell NASA their lunar landers will be ready for Artemis III in late 2027.
You’re trying to get lucky. And to do that, you’ve got to go where the people are, and that’s social media. Let’s leave aside the potential deleterious effects of social media, the bottom line is that’s where trends are started, where records are broken, where true fans live, and when you’re not on...
On the new Billboard Pop Shop Podcast, Katie & Keith take listeners inside The Abbey as Madonna previews unreleased Confessions II tracks.
Rappers have been mentioning the actress in their music for about 30 years.
Over the past year, Camper has quietly been steering the sound of contemporary R&B. The producer, whose real name is Darhyl Camper Jr., has sat behind the boards for tracks from Justin Bieber, Coco Jones, Mary J. Blige, Ty Dolla $ign and Victoria Monét, among many others.
Deal marks Spotify’s expansion into guided wellness experiences as Peloton pushes further into platform-agnostic distribution strategy. Source
London police seized nearly 6,500 records in a raid of a counterfeit vinyl operation that caused an estimated $350,000 loss for the music industry. The vinyl boom that has swept the music industry for the last 20 years amid the rise of streaming has made plenty of headlines for its positive impact...
This fact often garners a cult following, and in my opinion, it's a cool place for any sort of music entity to be. When it comes to modern rock ...
Concord’s acquisition streak isn’t finished yet, as the company’s officially purchased the assets of Mothership Music Publishing – chief among them a 5,000-song catalog. Nashville-based Concord and Mothership reached out with word of the transaction today.
The collaboration is part of the Devil Wears Prada 2, which premieres May 1
If you're one of millions using element-data, it's time to check for compromise.
Musk’s shifting stance on AI dangers may complicate trial over OpenAI’s mission.
Amended agreement clears the way for OpenAI models to run on Amazon Bedrock.
Gemini gets preferential treatment on Android, but maybe not for long (in Europe).
A crew member who was setting up for Shakira’s upcoming Brazil concert died in a stage accident on Sunday, according to concert organizers. Concert organizers for Shakira’s upcoming performance in Brazil revealed that a construction worker who was helping set up for the show died in a stage...
Houston, we have another "13."
Spotify announces a broad-content partnership with Peloton to integrate fitness content into a new category on the digital streaming platform. Spotify has teamed up with Peloton in a broad-content partnership to integrate fitness into a new “Fitness” category on the digital streaming platform.
The singer’s company filed three applications pertaining to an image of Swift performing and the phrases “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift” and “Hey, it’s Taylor."
This release mostly consists of a very substantial rewrite of the external links editor code, to make that section of our editors more efficient. While doing that we also fixed a few long-standing links editor bugs.
A year and change after purchasing S10 Music Publishing, Avex Music Group has unveiled plans to scoop up $100 million worth of catalogs and companies during the next 12 months.
Taylor Swift has just filed multiple new trademark applications to protect her voice and image, specifically designed to guard her against increasing threats from AI. She’s one of the first major celebrities (music or otherwise) to take the aggressive preventative measure.
Live Nation is turning the music up this summer. The entertainment ticketing company just unveiled its lineup for its annual “Summer of Live” series, which offers $30 tickets to more than 4,000 shows across the U.S and Canada.
Lady Gaga and Doechii have released the music video for their latest collaboration, “Runway,” serving sass and high fashion in the Parris Goebel-directed clip.
After the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael made history in its opening weekend, talk of a sequel emerges. But would a Lionsgate sequel head to the dark recesses of Neverland?
The couple were first spotted together last summer and have now shared news of their engagement with “a small circle,” according to People
Upgrades to SNES graphics and sound go way beyond the typical screen filtering.
Jay Bryant, 52, admitted to opening up a back door to the hip-hop legend’s studio, so two other suspects could catch the DJ/producer off guard
The unwinding of Meta’s deal shows how tech founders struggle to cut China ties.
Low-frequency infrasound (below 20 Hz) can raise cortisol levels in saliva and increase irritability.
Valve's new hardware is solid but might not justify its $99 price.
The metal greats recorded a cover of the song — which frontman Dave Mustaine co-wrote — for their 2026 farewell album, Megadeth
The record, arriving in the place of the ostensibly scrapped Love in Real Life, is set to drop in June
Busy artist and producer management company in N1 London looking for a tech-savvy and creative coordinator to support our teams of managers across the roster and the company’s own channels. […] The post is from Music Ally.
Sabrina Carpenter and Madonna are officially releasing their Coachella duet. The song, titled “Bring Your Love,” is dropping on Thursday at 3 p.m. PT, the pop stars revealed in a joint Instagram post.
Taylor Swift has taken a new legal step seemingly aimed at protecting her identity in the age of AI — following in the footsteps of actor Matthew McConaughey. On Friday, April 24, Swift’s company filed three trademark applications with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
Members had planned to release report that US is ceding scientific ground to China.
Tom Rose, MD of UK-based GRAPE.VN (formerly Propeller), on radio's significance in the streaming age, the firm's pan-European promo work with RAYE, and its move to offer management, label services and more following a rebrand Source
A construction worker who was helping set up for singer Shakira’s upcoming Brazil concert died in a stage accident on Sunday, concert organizers announced in a statement.
The incident occurred on Sunday, April 26, on Copacabana Beach, where the musician will perform next weekend as part of the live performance series Todo Mundo no Rio
Pacific heat pulse is temporary, but scientists warn that its climate impacts are not.
"At this time, further comments would be premature."
Mothership's roster includes Grammy Best New Artist nominee The Marías, Falling In Reverse, Architects, Pam Sheyne and more. Source
April began with the continuation of Zendaya and Robert Pattinson’s promotional tour for their new romantic dramedy “The Drama.” The two stopped by “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” ahead of a special New York City screening of the film set for the following evening.
Yungblud will play an eclectic mix of whatever he feels like playing on a new Sirius XM show, Yungblud Radio, that will air at 10 p.m. ET on Mondays on the digital broadcaster’s Alt Nation channel (Number 36). The first episode arrives tonight.
Rolling Stone’s first-ever music festival celebrates Independence Day on the Hudson River with an A-list lineup, local food, on-site stays, and much more
Rolling Stone magazine is launching its first-ever festival, Stateside, which will be headlined by folk-pop hitmaker Noah Kahan. The music and culture fest is set to take place on July 4 at Hutton Brickyards in Kingston, New York and will channel the “timeless spirit of Americana,” according to a...
Infamous co-wrote and co-produced Teddy Swims' "Lose Control", and worked with Lil Wayne and Charlie Puth. Source
Deezer’s latest financial results reflect some ongoing trends for the streaming service: growth in some parts of its business outweighed – if not by much – by decline in others. The company reported €131.9m of revenues for Q1 2026 ($114.3m at current exchange rates). That was down 1.6%...
iHeartMedia and SiriusXM are both giants of the US radio industry that have been navigating the challenges and opportunities in a world where radio competes with (but also complements) on-demand streaming and podcasts. Soon they could be sharing this environment in an even deeper way.
We have seen in streaming that where there’s money in music, there will be criminals trying to siphon some off for themselves. But that trend is by no means restricted to streaming.
Spotify started with music as its focus, then added podcasts, audiobooks and educational courses. And now fitness – with Peloton. The post is from Music Ally.
New senior appointments come as music-focused financing platform builds out infrastructure across capital, legal and data functions Source
Time on Spotify should feel meaningful and intentional, not something that slips away in a blur of mindless scrolling. That’s why we’re always investing in experiences that leave you feeling more energized, in control, and empowered.
France-headquartered music streaming service Deezer has published its Q1 2026 results, covering the three months ended March 31 Source
After millions in NFT sales, the hyped “play to earn” game was effectively dead in weeks.
Ben Blackburn, founder of Common Knowledge and manager of girl in red, is among the investors Source
6 billion track saves translated to 'many, many billions more streams in repeat' on platforms like Spotify and Apple Music said TikTok Source
If you want to understand where AI policy is really heading, don’t look at press releases, look at the fault lines. Florida just exposed one. On one side: a federal AI policy direction increasingly aligned with hyperscalers and their investors—call it the “hyperscaler donor consensus.” Closer than...
Last week saw the first Stockholm Music Week, a conference intersecting music industry, business, tech and academics. The post is from Music Ally.
iHeartMedia and SiriusXM are reportedly in early merger discussions, with music industry vet Irving Azoff and Apollo Global Management advising on the matter.
Severe weather plagues Stagecoach over the weekend, leading to cancelled and delayed shows and upset attendees who were given the runaround. High winds in Southern California led to an emergency evacuation at the Stagecoach country music festival, hosted at the same site that Coachella used the...
As D4vd faces murder charges, Fortnite creator Epic Games confirms it will refund D4vd cosmetics for any player who requests it via player support. Musician and Fortnite player D4vd, who got his start making content centered on the game before he began making his own music, has been charged with...
Sam Altman’s iris-scanning Orb startup announced a partnership with Bruno Mars to promote its new Concert Kit. But the partnership doesn’t exist. Last week, OpenAI head Sam Altman’s iris-scanning Orb company, Tools for Humanity, announced a partnership with Bruno Mars to promote its new Concert Kit...
A couple of years ago, I was standing in a live music venue in my hometown of Paris, France and tears started streaming down my face uncontrollably. The artist on […] The post is from Music Ally.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs moves to secure a default win in his defamation suit against a woman who failed to respond to the lawsuit over alleged sex tapes. In a lawsuit filed before his conviction on prostitution charges last year, Sean “Diddy” Combs has moved to secure a default win against Courtney...
När Spotify grundades för 20 år sedan dominerades musikmarknaden av illegal nedladdning. Sedan dess har streaming bidragit till att återupprätta betalningsviljan för musik och lagt grunden för en starkare och mer hållbar musikekonomi.
Michael moonwalks to new heights for biopics of all kinds with a record-smashing $97 million domestic opening, beating Straight Outta Compton. In an impressive opening weekend, the Antoine Fuqua-directed Michael Jackson biopic achieved new heights for a biopic of any genre, with a record-setting...
"I have ever been prone to seek adventure and to investigate where wiser men would have left well enough alone."
It's "a detective story, but the detective happens to also have spider powers”—EP Chris Miller.
Before Coachella, Tomora wasn't on my radar at all. It's actually only by chance that I stumbled upon them - I opened the wrong stream because my TV was lagging like a MFer. I paused for a few moments, entranced by the two ethereal Nordic women banging on giant drums to a techno beat.
Software lets robots learn from each other even if they have different hardware.
"It wasn't a big deal. It just coincided with the fact that Moon was farther away from the Earth."
Slack messages, interviews with current and former works paint picture of company in turmoil.
As we head back into the next Phonorecords proceeding, there is an issue hiding in plain sight inside the existing and ancient streaming mechanical royalty rate structure that we fondly call “the 39 steps” in honor of John Buchan, Alfred Hitchcock and Richard Hannay.
"If boost-phase intercept from space is not affordable and scalable, we will not produce it."
Albums where the best song is not the single. This is a live show, call in with your opinion. Tune in Saturday April 25th to Faction Talk, channel 103, at 4 PM East, 1 PM West. Phone #: 844-686-5863 If you miss the episode, you can hear it on demand on the SiriusXM app. Search: […]
In the heart of Mexico City, music, culture, and fashion converged last night as Spotify and Vogue Latin America welcomed guests to an intimate gathering at Soho House.
In the entertainment world, the newly released Michael might be poised to break box office records. But in the courtroom, the Michael Jackson estate has moved to compel arbitration in the ugly sexual abuse complaint filed by multiple Cascio family members.
TikTok reveals its “Add to Music App” feature has been used to save more than 6 billion tracks to premium music streaming services in the past year. TikTok has announced that its “Add to Music App” function has been used to save more than 6 billion tracks to premium music streaming services over...
Madonna teams up with LGBTQ+ social networking app Grindr for an exclusive partnership to launch “Confessions II,” just in time for Pride season. Madonna has long been an icon for the gay community, and the artist has long returned that sentiment, using her platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ people...
‘Add to Music App’ is a big deal for TikTok. It’s the feature that enables its users to save a song they discover on TikTok to playlists. The post is from Music Ally.
Music Ally has been interested in micro-dramas since seeing a conference talk last October about the format being a $7bn business in China. The post is from Music Ally.
It’s high time for Suno to disclose the terms of its Warner Music licensing deal – at least according to Universal Music and Sony Music, which are aggressively pushing to obtain a copy of the contract via discovery.
Thousands of authors seek share of Anthropic copyright settlement — “The authors sued Anthropic in 2024, arguing that the company, which is backed by Amazon and Alphabet, used pirated versions of their books without permission or compensation to teach Claude to respond to human prompts.
The money from the UK’s voluntary levy on arena and stadium tickets is already being distributed to support the country’s grassroots live sector. We reported on the Music Venue Trust’s plans earlier this week, and now the Featured Artists Coalition has announced the first musicians to benefit from...
We’ve been covering the growing number of big-artist partnerships signed by Openstage in recent times, with Radiohead, Hayley Williams, Bad Bunny and Oasis among the clients using its tech for ticket pre-sales.
Spotify launched in its first countries 20 years ago. To celebrate, the company has been mining its data to identify the most-streamed artists, albums and tracks from that first two decades. There are no big shocks.
This week brings a spate of new ventures and funding announcements in the music sphere. Starting with Tamber, a startup that pitches itself as a “sonic intelligence-powered creative suite”. What’s that?
‘Engage’ is indie licensing agency Merlin’s annual mentorship program for female executives in the music industry. It is returning for its fourth year this month with its largest cohort yet.
The biggest AI-music startups are based in the US, while there are plenty of innovative firms launching out of Europe and Asia. But Africa, too, has an emerging AI ecosystem. Korin AI is a good example. While its website is currently in a holding pattern ahead of its ‘Korin 2.0’ upgrade launch next...
Nintendo and Spotify are welcoming fans to the Super Mario Bros. 40th anniversary and the release of The Super Mario Galaxy Movie with new playlists and a special in-app experience.
“Jack Antonoff Reacts to Ticketmaster Canceling Some Harry Styles Ticket Sales After They ‘Caught Scalpers’: ‘You Caught You?’ – The ticket giant & Styles announced that they’re working together to sell tickets to fans at face value.”...
Whether you’re relaxing at home or on the go, Spotify is there across more than 2,000 devices, ready with your favorites or something new to discover. Now, Spotify is available somewhere new: inside Claude.
This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the original iPod.
Today, we’re making available another pre-release version for the upcoming MusicBrainz Picard 3. Beta 1 focuses on fixing issues that were found in the previous releases as well as some minor improvements and updated translations.
Multi-dimensionality in music – that is, engaging in ways beyond simply listening to a song – has existed for decades. In the vinyl era, fans could read liner notes and look at album artwork while listening. Source
It’s been 20 years since Spotify began, but the real story is what the world chose to play. For the first time, we’re unveiling the most streamed artists, albums, songs, podcasts, and audiobooks in our history.
Over the past 20 years, Spotify’s look and feel has evolved with the way people use our platform, while ensuring we preserve an intuitive, personal, and familiar experience for anyone who presses play.
All data tells a story, and in our case, that story is written by you. To celebrate 20 years of Spotify, we’re sharing bite‑sized moments that capture how the world listens, discovers, and connects. Check back each day as we build out the full story.
On this week’s podcast episode, I talk with Ben Montague, founder and CEO of The North American Guitar Global (TNAG) about the business of vintage guitars.
On April 14, 2026, Judge Rakoff ordered Anna's Archive to pay $322 million for copyright infringement, highlighting the difficulties of enforcing penalties against anonymous online operators. Difficult, but not impossible.
Back in 2014, my friend Alastair Porter and I built a thing called Spinbin. The idea was simple and, at the time, slightly ridiculous: if a radio station’s website showed the tracks it had just played, we should be able to turn that into a subscribable playlist. The tagline we...
It’s that time of year again for the definitive annual assessment of the global electronic music market: The IMS electronic music business report . Premiered at the annual IMS conference in Ibiza, this year’s report paints the picture of a healthy industry with thriving scenes but also a few war...
The FTC's StubHub settlement offers consumer refunds but raises concerns about whether it effectively deters deceptive pricing practices.
AI music startup GRAI says fans want to remix tracks, not generate songs from scratch.
A curious divergence is emerging in the UK's media habits. Earlier this month, Ofcom published its latest report on adults' media use, and one finding stands out. Social media usage remains high, with 89% of UK adults using at least one platform daily. Source