Apple leads the next chapter of podcasting with Apple Podcasts Subscriptions 20 Apr 2021
- Apple Podcasts Subscriptions will be available to listeners in over 170 countries and regions in May. Specific software requirements for Apple Podcasts Subscriptions and channels will be shared ahead of availability.
- Pricing for each subscription is set by creators and billed monthly by default. Creators can additionally offer annual billing, which subscribers can manage from their Apple ID account settings, now accessible from Listen Now. Listeners will also be able to access free trials and sample episodes offered by creators.
- Through Family Sharing, up to six family members can share a subscription.
- Listeners will be able to access the enhanced Search tab with Top Charts and categories, new show and episode pages with the Smart Play button, and Saved Episodes on iOS 14.5, iPadOS 14.5, and macOS 11.3. Saved Episodes are also available on watchOS 7.4 and tvOS 14.5. These software updates will be available next week.
- The Apple Podcasters Program, which includes all of the tools needed to offer premium subscriptions on Apple Podcasts, is available to creators in over 170 countries and regions for £17.99 per year. Creators can enrol in the Apple Podcasters Program today through Apple Podcasts Connect.
- Apple Podcasts features more than 2 million free shows and is available for free on iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, HomePod mini, CarPlay, iTunes on Windows, and other smart speakers and car systems.
NEWS & PRESS
IMS Business Report 2024
Dance Music industry now firmly in its post-pandemic growth phase with 17% revenue growth in 2023 and a total industry valuation reaching $11.8 billion.Independent labels increased their market share for the fourth consecutive quarter, reaching 31%.The annual study of the electronic...more
Pulse Music Group and hit songwriter/producer/artist Jon Bellion form publishing venture
First signing between Beautiful Mind & PULSE Music Group is Elijah Noll PULSE Music Group Co-CEO’s Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham along with President/Head of Creative, Ashley Calhoun announced today that they have formed a music publishing creative joint venture...more
Record Store Day, The Music Business Association and Luminate announce new partnership regarding physical music sales data across independent retail sector in the US
Luminate Now Receiving Independent Sales Data from StreetPulse Billboard Rebranding “Tastemaker Albums” Chart To Better Recognize Impact of Independent Store Sales Today, Coalition of Independent Music Stores (CIMS), Alliance of Independent Media Stores (AIMS), and Department of Record Stores (DORS), who work together as Record Store Day, The Music Business Association,...more
Absolue inks deal with Capitol Records Italy for Jack Savoretti album
Absolute Label Services will handle release of Savoretti’s first ever Italian language LP in UK & Ireland. Absolute Label Services has agreed a deal with Universal/Capitol Records Italy for the release of Jack Savoretti’s first ever Italian language album. The deal covers...more
Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music opens at the British Library
Beyond the Bassline: 500 Years of Black British Music opens at the British Library First exhibition to document the 500-year musical journey of African and Caribbean people in Britain opens at the British Library and in local libraries across the UK Soul...more
YolanDa Brown OBE DL becomes University of Kent’s new chancellor
The University of Kent is delighted to announce that double-MOBO winning musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL has been appointed to the role of Chancellor, succeeding Gavin Esler who has retired from the position after almost 10 years in the role. Having...more
Festivals unite to extend fundraising prize draw closing date
WIN TICKETS TO OVER 60 OF THE UK & EUROPE’S MOST BELOVED FESTIVALS IN SUPPORT OF WAR CHILD AND MAP BOOMTOWN, LOVE SAVES THE DAY, PARKLIFE, ALL POINTS EAST, TRUCK, THE LONG ROAD, WIDE AWAKE AND MANY MORE OVER £10,000 RAISED SO...more
Concord Music Publishing extends agreement with Jeremy Lutito, signs Jon Class under new JV partnership
Today, Concord Music Publishing announced that they have extended and expanded their existing agreement with GRAMMY-nominated producer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Jeremy Lutito. This worldwide publishing deal, effective immediately, includes Lutito’s full catalog and all future works and launches a new joint venture partnership, Mezzanine,...more
TuneCore Expands Music Publishing Services and User Experience to Aid Independent Songwriters
TuneCore, the leading independent development partner for self-releasing artists—owned by Believe, one of the world’s leading digital music companies—has rolled out a comprehensive suite of music publishing services to help independent songwriters increase their earnings in over 200 countries. Andreea Gleeson,...more
Radio 2 in the Park 2024Â to land in Preston
Radio 2’s flagship annual live music event, Radio 2 in the Park, will take place this year in Moor Park in Preston, Lancashire on Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th September, as revealed this morning by Gaby Roslin on the Radio...more
Como No – The UK’s Leading Latin Music Promoter – Announces New Director Amid Major Changes To Organisational Structure
Elena Beltrami is appointed as new Director of Como No & La Linea Festival as Founder Andy Wood steps back and becomes a Non-Executive board member Como No, one of the world’s foremost Latin music promoters, today announces a significant change...more
Liana Flores signs to Verve (US) and partners with Fiction (UK)
Releases highly anticipated new song ‘I Wish For The Rain’ Today, British-Brazilian artist Liana Flores is proud to announce that she is now signed to the iconic Verve Records (The Velvet Underground, Astrud Gilberto Kurt Vile, Arooj Aftab). Fiction Records (The...more
Amazon Music returns to Primavera Sound to exclusively livestream the festival to audiences around the world
Amazon Music and Primavera Sound join forces for the third consecutive year Music fans around the world will be able to tune in to the event from 30th May – 1st June Primavera Sound will be broadcast in Spanish and English on the Amazon...more
Black Lives in Music - Government ‘Falling Short’ in Helping to Protect Women in the Music Industry
UK Government ‘Falling Short’ in Helping to Protect Women in the Music Industry Harassment and Discrimination Allowed to Continue After Government Rejects Recommendations of the Misogyny in Music Report BLiM & CIISA amd more respond to the Government’s inaction CIISA cite BLiM's new...more
Symphonic Distribution Hires Stephen Nightingale to Lead A&R and Business in Canada
Symphonic Distribution, a leading music technology and services company for independent labels, managers, and artists, has hired music industry veteran Stephen Nightingale as Vice President, A&R and Business Development, Canada. Reporting to Symphonic’s Chief Creative Officer, Randall Foster, Nightingale will bring his...more
Rock icon Dan P Carter joins Spinefarm as Director of Artist Development
Key appointments also made across UK Marketing Team Spinefarm Music Group, one of the most successful and best-known rock labels in the world, has announced a major global hire alongside a new UK marketing team. Dan P Carter, the longtime curator of...more
Park Avenue Artists Expands Booking Division
New York multihyphenate agency signs new talent, brings on booking co-director in ongoing push to create a new model for arts agencies and management. Park Avenue Artists has expanded both its artist roster and its executive team in its booking division....more
Meet Unisound: The ultimate matchmaker between sample buyers and sellers
The market for sample packs is more saturated than ever–forcing modern sample libraries to make and market their sounds and leaving buyers to sift through endless sounds to find exactly what they are looking for. That’s why Unisound created a platform that lets...more
Universal Music France and Binetou Sylla, founder of leading independent label Wèrè Wèrè Music partner to lead Def Jam Africa across French-speaking Africa
Universal Music France and producer Binetou Sylla form strategic relationship to lead Def Jam Africa, focusing on further developing French-speaking regional artists globally Universal Music France (UMF), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today...more
BPI CEO calls on music industry and government to unite around 5 key priorities to support human artistry and sustainably promote British music
Focus on talent & education, fan engagement & innovation; and sustainability; Keynotes from Ed Newton-Rex, Fay Milton, Louis VI, and Thangam Debbonaire MP, Shadow Secretary of State for DCMS. Panel contributions including by Rebecca Allen (EMI Records), Elton Jackson (Sony Music UK), Vabyanti Endrojono-Ellis...more
The Independent and Music Venue Trust launch major new initiative to support UK grassroots music venues
Main Stage will be led by Music Editor Roisin O’Connor alongside the Music Venue Trust 12 venues around the UK to be recognised over the next yearEach venue to receive editorial coverage and a free ad campaign on The Independent The Independent...more
Sony Music Publishing Nashville Signs Randall King to Global Deal
Sony Music Publishing Nashville today announced the signing of West Texas native Randall King, celebrated by Holler as “the genre's neo-traditional figurehead,” to a global publishing agreement. King has emerged as one of today’s most promising new voices in country music, amassing over...more
Nominations announced for the Ivors with Amazon Music 2024
Sampha and Yussef Dayes lead the way with two nominations each Composer Daniel Pemberton also receives two nominations across the screen categories RAYE, CMAT, Yussef Dayes, Lankum and Sampha in the running for Best Album Jungle, The Japanese House, Jazzy and Kenya Grace...more
The Great Escape announces full conference line-up and schedule
NEW SPEAKERS INCLUDE WIRE'S COLIN NEWMAN, IZZY BEE PHILLIPS (BLACK HONEY) AND APPLE MUSIC HOST DOTTY Today The Great Escape has announced the full line-up and schedule for its UK-leading music industry conference, returning to Brighton from Wednesday 15th to Saturday...more
FAC boost their community with 20 new Artist Ambassadors
FAC boost their community with 20 new Artist Ambassadors including Duran Duran, Nia Archives, Girli, Elkka, English Teacher, Guvna B, OneDa and Alt-J's Gus Unger-Hamilton The new cohort means more than 140 artists have agreed to act as Ambassadors for the...more
Fairground Attraction partners with Absolute for first album in 35 years
The band’s 1988 hit Perfect was a chart topper in the UK and around the globe. Eighties neo-skiffle band Fairground Attraction have partnered with Absolute Label Services after reuniting for the first time in 35 years. Absolute will power the marketing, promotion,...more
BPI to host ‘In Tune With Tomorrow’
Monday 22nd April 2024, Waterloo Leake Street Future-facing conference on how the recorded music industry can support talent and enable creativity for a more sustainable future * * * * * * * YolanDa Brown OBE DL in conversation with BRIT School’s Stuart Worden...more
AIM and the BPI appoint Creative Zero’s Roxy Erickson to lead next phase of Music Climate Pact
Funding provided through partnership between AIM and creative industries climate charity, Murmur Erickson to work closely with Pact’s stakeholders to deliver outcomes to benefit the entire music industry AIM (The Association of Independent Music) and the BPI (British Phonographic Industry) have appointed...more
Leading European PR agencies unite to form PR:E
- an innovative network providing consultancy for popular culture clients & brands PR:E is a brand new network of award-winning PR agencies from Belgium (ABCommunication), France (Cartel), Germany (Kruger Media), Italy (Goigest), the Nordics (PR Nordic), Spain (Blanchón), and the UK...more
Bella Figura Music acquires Rak Publishing
Agreement Includes Classic Songs by Hot Chocolate, Suzi Quatro, Steve Harley, Kim Wilde, Joan Jett & more Bella Figura Music, the independent music publisher and record label founded by Alexi Cory-Smith and Neelesh Prabhu in 2022, has announced the acquisition of...more
THE HEADLINES
Spotify talks growth, bundle royalties and short-video plans (see Digital)
BPI CEO calls on music industry and government to unite around 5 key priorities to support human artistry and sustainably promote British music (see News)
Hipgnosis Song Management fires back at Songs Fund board (see Business)
Blackstone bid for Hipgnosis receives backing from board (see Business)
Taylor Swift’s new album breaks Spotify records (see News)
Independence - what’s up with that BPI press release about 2023 music consumption? (see Comment)
Creator Remuneration Working Group meet for the first time (see News)
Concord's takeover of Hipgnosis (see Analysis)
Concord set to acquire Hipgnosis Songs Fund (see Business)
Is the music industry gaslighting artists? (see Comment)
BPI’s new Yearbook highlights an independent sector growing for a sixth consecutive year (see Reports)
Can’t cross the moat? Walk around it. (see Comment)
The conversation around Fandom needs to change (see Opinion)
Viagogo: Carrying on ticketing, despite the controversy (see News)
Taylor Swift songs return to TikTok (see Digital)
Spotify plans new remixing tools for the TikTok generation (see Digital)
Is Spotify plotting a largescale push into short-form video? (see Digital)