BMG’s Post

Spotify and Merlin have announced the renewal of their global licensing partnership in a multi-year deal, strengthening their collaboration in the music industry. This agreement will enhance access to a diverse range of independent music for Spotify users, showcasing a commitment to supporting independent artists and labels. The partnership reflects the ongoing evolution of music distribution and the importance of collaboration between streaming platforms and independent music groups.

NEW PARTNERSHIP: #MusicBizMembers Sony Music Group and Spotify have inked a multi-year deal across recorded music and publishing, set to ensure that songwriters and artists are compensated adequately 🖋️💵

Spotify and Sony Music Group just renewed their partnership with a fresh twist. Not only does the multi-year deal span both recorded music and publishing, it also moves beyond the traditional royalty model, giving songwriters a more direct stake in streaming growth. With all three majors now aligned, Spotify is hinting at “new formats” that could reshape the platform. If music videos are next, this deal might be the green light. The story here: streaming is no longer just about access. It is about creating deeper connections and building a fairer ecosystem for artists and songwriters. https://hubs.ly/Q03JXQlY0

Omdia now has detailed music publishing forecasts! With 20 countries covered, the forecasts show total revenue received by music publishing companies from digital, performance, synchronization, mechanical, and other means such as use in sheet music. As detailed below, it's a healthy sector whose growth outstrips that of recorded music. Subscribers will find the data in the Music & Digital Audio Intelligence Service: https://lnkd.in/eWr3v48T

Omdia finds music publishing revenue growth will outshine the recorded-music sector over the next five years, topping the $10bn mark for the first time in 2025 and projected to reach $14.04bn by 2030. In this analysis, Omdia's Senior Principal Analyst, Simon Dyson, examines the factors driving this growth, including the continued gains from streaming services. The report forecasts that publishing's annual growth rate will be higher than that of recorded music by 2030. Read the full analysis: https://lnkd.in/eatv3BUY #Omdia #MusicPublishing #MusicIndustry #RecordedMusic #MusicStreaming #MarketForecast

Independent music licensing group Merlin and streaming platform Spotify have renewed their global, multi-year licensing partnership. According to the companies, the agreement, announced on Tuesday (September 30), “reinforces the vital role of independent music on Spotify and provides Merlin members continued access to a platform that reaches fans worldwide”. Jeremy Sirota, CEO, Merlin, said: “Merlin’s mission is to empower our members to own their future. Spotify remains a key and forward-looking partner in advancing that mission.” Alex Norstrom, Co-President & Chief Business Officer, Spotify added: “Independent music has always been at the heart of discovery on Spotify, and our partnership with Merlin makes that possible at a global scale." 🔗 Full Story: https://lnkd.in/gY6cYi2v #musicindustry

Sony Music Group and Spotify recently signed a new multi-year global deal covering both recording and publishing. Spotify made a direct licensing deal with Sony Music Publishing allowing songwriters to be paid more fairly when their music is streamed. Sony is now the third major publisher (after Universal and Warner) to make this kind of deal with Spotify. “This alignment creates space for new opportunities and long-term growth for everyone involved,” said Alex Norström, Spotify’s Co-President and Chief Business Officer. David Philp #musicbusiness #sony #spotify

Spotify has announced the long-awaited launch of lossless audio on its platform, enhancing the listening experience for music enthusiasts. This feature is part of Spotify's continuous efforts to innovate and improve its offerings, yet it will not be tied to a separate 'super premium' subscription tier. This decision indicates Spotify's commitment to providing high-quality audio access to its broad user base. As the music streaming landscape evolves, this update could redefine standards for sound quality in the industry.

BMG and Spotify have announced a new direct publishing licensing agreement in the United States. This strategic alliance aims to enhance the value delivered to songwriters and their teams, marking a significant step forward in the music publishing landscape. By streamlining the relationship between songwriters and digital platforms, both companies are committed to fostering a more supportive environment for creative professionals.

Spotify and BMG have announced a new direct, multiyear publishing licensing deal for the US market. The agreement, revealed on October 8, 2025, is designed to move their relationship beyond the traditional CRB model and is intended to deliver greater value to songwriters and their teams. This marks Spotify's latest direct agreement with a major music publisher in the US, following similar recent deals with Kobalt and all three major music companies: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, and Sony Music Publishing. Under this new model, the combined remuneration from the direct licensing deal and the standard MLC payouts from the blanket mechanical license is expected to result in higher royalties for songwriters. This is a significant shift from the controversial "bundling" payment structure Spotify introduced last year, which had substantially reduced mechanical royalty rates for publishers and songwriters in the US. Spotify's Co-President & Chief Business Officer, Alex Norström, stated the deal advances their vision for stronger industry collaboration and provides renewed support for songwriters through an enhanced licensing model. BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld emphasized that working directly with Spotify reinforces their mission to ensure songwriters are fairly represented and rewarded, calling it a progressive step that reflects real-world music use across digital platforms. The deal also represents a key step in BMG's strategy of taking direct control of its digital business, a move initiated in late 2023 to manage its own relationships with streaming platforms. Source: Music Business Worldwide https://lnkd.in/gki9MYgv