Japanese Independent Music Is Travelling on Its Own Terms
Nearly half the royalties paid to Merlin’s Japanese members now come from abroad, showing how local identity and strong rights infrastructure can help independent music travel.
When the DJ Set Becomes Part of the Catalogue
Spotify’s Portola videos show how longform DJ sets can preserve electronic music’s pacing, transitions and performance context inside a streaming catalogue.
The Livestream Is Over. That May Be the Point
a-nation’s replay-free festival broadcast shows how a livestream can widen access while still creating a shared, fleeting music moment.
When a Mixtape Becomes a Proper Streaming Release
A new continuous DMV mix shows how careful curation and track-level metadata can bring mixtape culture into formal streaming without losing its flow.
What Fake Streams Take From Music Discovery
Fake play counts can distort what popularity appears to mean. A new industry initiative offers a chance to make music discovery more trustworthy.
When the Stage Becomes the Recording Studio
Apple Music Hall can turn one concert into immersive audio, video and livestreams. What changes when the stage becomes part of the release workflow?
Europe’s Music Market Is Growing. The Bigger Opportunity Is Participation
EU recorded-music revenue reached €6 billion in 2025, yet paid-streaming penetration remains at 27%. The gap reveals where Europe’s next phase of music growth may begin.
Should AI-Generated Music Be Allowed on the Charts?
Artificial intelligence has already changed how music can be created. Now the music industry is confronting a more difficult question: when should AI-generated music be allowed to compete alongside human artists? Australia has just provided one of the clearest answers so far. The Australian Recording Industry Association, better known as ARIA, has changed its chart …
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Is the Song of the Summer Disappearing? How Streaming Fragmented Music Culture
There was a time when the “song of the summer” felt almost unavoidable. The same track followed you from the radio to the beach, into shops, bars, cars and television. Even if you did not particularly like it, by the end of August you probably knew the chorus. That idea has not disappeared. Spotify still …
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The Hardest Part of Making Music Isn’t Making Music Anymore
For decades, creating music was the greatest challenge facing independent artists. Recording studios were expensive, distribution was limited, and reaching listeners often depended on record labels, radio stations, or physical stores. Today, almost anyone can write, record, produce, and release music to a global audience. Technology has dramatically lowered the barriers to entry, allowing more …
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