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The Spotify pile-on continues, a feel good upbeat mix, and I'll be your Mr. Beast.

Live by the algo, die by the algo...
 
 
Names in the pod today:
 
The Economist
Daniel Ek
Liz Pelly
Chad Blackwell
Paul Resnikoff
Music AI
Frank McCOurt
Kevin O'Leary
Mr. Beast
Jim Turner
 
 
LINKS:
 
The Economist joins the pile-on
https://econ.st/4jxaMuv
Publishing dropoff at SPOT
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/23/spotify-mechanical-royalties-drop-jan-2025/
Ek Cashes out more
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/daniel-ek-sells-another-29m-in-spotify-stock-as-total-cash-out-nears-600m/
Chad Blackwell is upbeat
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/great-time-to-be-an-independent-music-company-just-ask-investors/
Music Tech Startups 2020-23
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/pro/weekly-music-funding-crashes-2020/
Music AI. raises .4 Rods
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/22/music-ai-raises-40-million-in-series-a-funding/
Google pours another Queener into Anthropic
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/22/google-invests-anthropic-2025/
I'll Be Your Mr. Beast
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/22/mrbeast-tiktok-official-offer/
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/22/musicares-wildfire-relief-distributions/
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/daniel-ek-sells-another-29m-in-spotify-stock-as-total-cash-out-nears-600m/
McCourt Mr. Beast and The President
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/22/frank-mccourt-is-open-to-a-50percent-share-of-tiktok-after-trump-comments-.html
 
LA fire resources
Ian Cunningham
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iancunn_feels-odd-to-share-this-on-linkedin-but-trying-activity-7284674854086156289-xTFw
Running list
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
Stream these folks to help them
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tLN23Ens9S8wxl4A7fbN5ojQ_xCMRXfbxQw1JRGfYac/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Max Bernstein might be able to find you a place to stay
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mberns01_musicindustry-airtable-activity-7285062707056181248-x1Wn?
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout.FM
Hangout.fm
 

Sonos on the block, Bunny bests bots, and where is the love?

If I managed a country singer....
 
Names in the Pod today:
Tom Conrad
Mark Gurman
Sonos
Spotify
Napster
John Vlassopolous
Thomas Smith
ESNS
Bad Bunny
Fire Aid
Gordon Murray
 
 
LINKS:
SONOS Takeover?
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sonos-takeover-speculation-grows-with-spotify-or-amazon-seen-as-likely-suitors-report12/
Napster Kerfuffle
https://www.billboard.com/pro/napster-late-royalty-payments-backlash-labels-distributors/
Wehre is the BEP Love?
https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/black-eyed-peas-cancel-2025-las-vegas-residency-1235879174/
Bad Bunny Bests the Bots
https://www.billboard.com/pro/bad-bunny-puerto-rico-residency-tickets-sold-out-four-hours/
ESNS reccos
https://www.billboard.com/pro/esns-2025-european-industry-discover-talent-networking/
FIreAid onsale now
https://news.pollstar.com/2025/01/20/no-doubt-olivia-rodrigo-stevie-wonder-peso-pluma-more-added-to-fireaid-lineup
 
LA fire resources
Ian Cunningham
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iancunn_feels-odd-to-share-this-on-linkedin-but-trying-activity-7284674854086156289-xTFw
Running list
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
Stream these folks to help them
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tLN23Ens9S8wxl4A7fbN5ojQ_xCMRXfbxQw1JRGfYac/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Max Bernstein might be able to find you a place to stay
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mberns01_musicindustry-airtable-activity-7285062707056181248-x1Wn?
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout
Https://hangout.fm

Schrodinger's TikTok, Whither the Influgees? and Own Your Data, Know Your Fans.

Where will the Influgees land And our theme song actually has lyrics...
 
Not many links today, mostly me.
 
Names in the pod today:
Glen Peoples
Paul Resnikoff
Elon Musk
Zuck
Don Ho
Likee
Rednote
BlueSky
Triller
 
Links:
Uploads down in 2024
https://www.billboard.com/pro/new-tracks-streaming-services-fell-2024-why/
Resnikoff Struggles to Care about TikTok
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/21/tiktok-music-industry-down-in-flames/
Watching those Apps Looking to replace TikTok
https://www.apple.com/app-store/
 
 
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout.fm
Https://hangout.fm
Lydia's V30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tG6NjUzug

TikTok chaos, Spotify 3. 0? And final proof, Anaheim is not LA.

How was YOUR holiday weekend? And where do stand today regardng TikTok? I'm collecting takes.
 
Names in the Pod Today:
Mark Mulligan
Karen Allen
Gogi Gupta
The Daily
Ed Newton-Rex
Tamay Arkut
GEMA
Suno
NAMM
 
 
LINKS:
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/19/tiktok-availability-report-ban-app-store-trump/
Karen Allen's TikTok Take
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/karenlallen_tiktok-tiktokban-socialmedia-activity-7287261052935774208-tfUB
Gogi Gupta's TikTok Take
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/gogigupta_tiktok-has-laid-a-trap-for-trump-scenario-activity-7286597809594589184-OyhR?
The Daily's Take on TikTok
https://www.nytimes.com/column/the-daily
Ed Newton-Rex has 40K Signatures
https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7286170064607686656/
Mulligan on Spotify
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/markmulligan_spotify-is-the-streaming-music-markets-lightning-activity-7285991932487454720-Toqe?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
Dr. Arkut breaks Down Synthetic Data and AI
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/synthetic-data-north-star-generative-ai-part-i-dr-tamay-aykut-2hrbc/?trackingId=637ex9yJngD7SF8FAC5Emw%3D%3D
GEMA Vs. Suno
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/500m-valued-suno-hit-with-new-copyright-lawsuit-from-germanys-gema/
NAMM
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/19/namm-show-2025-setlist/
 
LA fire resources
Ian Cunningham
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iancunn_feels-odd-to-share-this-on-linkedin-but-trying-activity-7284674854086156289-xTFw
Running list
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
Stream these folks to help them
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tLN23Ens9S8wxl4A7fbN5ojQ_xCMRXfbxQw1JRGfYac/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Max Bernstein might be able to find you a place to stay
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mberns01_musicindustry-airtable-activity-7285062707056181248-x1Wn?
 
RoyFi
Https://www.royfi.com
Hangout.fm
Https://hangout.fm

The Little Scroll of the Tiktokalypse, more Queeners and Rods, and dude, really?

This weekend is gonna be...interesting.
 
 
Names in the pod today:
TikTok
Elizabeth Dilts Marshall (EDM)
Ashley King
Chartmetric
Luminate Again
Duetti
Tim Ingham
Zuck
Drake
Peter Hamby
Erig Gardner
 
 
LINKS:
 
Chartmetric year end report
https://reports.chartmetric.com/2024/chartmetric-year-in-music-2024#main-social
EDM on Single Revenue
https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-much-luminate-top-10-digital-songs-generate-2024/
Catalogue Moves into the teens
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/next-big-music-biz-acquisition-will-be-500m-valued-tempo-music-say-mbw-sources/
Is Duetti a Label?
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/duetti-blacklite-district-funding/
Anthropic moneys up
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/08/anthropic-closing-2-billion-funding-round-at-60b-valuation/
Puck on Drake and TikTok
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tiktoks-time-bomb-drakes-defamation-disaster/id1586269186?i=1000684203816
 
LA fire resources
Ian Cunningham
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iancunn_feels-odd-to-share-this-on-linkedin-but-trying-activity-7284674854086156289-xTFw
Running list
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
Stream these folks to help them
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tLN23Ens9S8wxl4A7fbN5ojQ_xCMRXfbxQw1JRGfYac/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Max Bernstein might be able to find you a place to stay
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mberns01_musicindustry-airtable-activity-7285062707056181248-x1Wn?
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout.FM
Hangout.fm

UMG Dominates, Luimnate illuminates, and Drake Sue-minates

An action-packed Thursday
 
Names in the Pod today:
 
Jamie Marconette
Karen Allen
Jem Aswad
Dan Rys
TikTok
UMG
JR Lind
Metallica
 
LINKS:
TikTok Is not having it
https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/15/24344299/tiktok-shutdown-us-ban-supreme-court
But also not laying folks off
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/15/business/tiktok-bytedance-ban-jobs.html
Luminate's year end report
https://luminatedata.com/reports/yearend-music-industry-report-2024/
2024 Market share
https://www.billboard.com/pro/record-label-market-share-year-end-2024-republic-interscope-warner/
Drake 1-2-3
A right
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/drake-drops-legal-action-against-universal-music-and-spotify-over-kendrick-lamars-not-like-us1/
A Deke Left
https://www.billboard.com/pro/drake-sues-umg-defamation-kendrick-lamar-not-like-us-lawsuit/
The blowback
https://variety.com/2025/music/news/universal-music-slams-drake-illogical-lawsuit-kendrick-lamar-not-like-us-1236275344/
The fire impact spreads
https://news.pollstar.com/2025/01/14/beyonce-nine-inch-nails-delay-announcements-due-to-la-wildfires/
Jazz in NOLA?
https://news.pollstar.com/2025/01/15/nola-jazz-fest-topped-by-pearl-jam-dave-matthews-band-luke-combs-lil-wayne-the-roots/
Tech Bro Woodstock
https://news.pollstar.com/2025/01/14/metallicas-all-within-my-hands-foundation-donates-500000-to-la-fire-relief/
LA fire resources
Ian Cunningham
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iancunn_feels-odd-to-share-this-on-linkedin-but-trying-activity-7284674854086156289-xTFw
Running list
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
Stream these folks to help them
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tLN23Ens9S8wxl4A7fbN5ojQ_xCMRXfbxQw1JRGfYac/edit?gid=0#gid=0
Max Bernstein might be able to find you a place to stay
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mberns01_musicindustry-airtable-activity-7285062707056181248-x1Wn?
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout
Https://hangout.fm

A cluster of TikTok successors, more LA fire info and what else? More TikTok rumors.

The Cluster of would-be TikTok successors
 
 
Names in the pod today:
Max Bernstein
Aisha Malik
Likee
Clapper
Neptune
Triller
Snapchat
Jennie Smythe (again)
 
Links:
Grammy Week parties getting canceled
https://www.billboard.com/pro/universal-music-group-cancels-grammy-events-la-wildfires/
Musicares POTY honoring The Grateful Dead is still on, though.
https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/13/as-tiktok-faces-a-us-shutdown-here-are-some-alternative-apps-to-check-out/
DMN LInks to resources
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/14/la-wildfires-relief-rundown-2025/
Max Bernstein might be able to find you a place to stay
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mberns01_musicindustry-airtable-activity-7285062707056181248-x1Wn?
TikTok to Musk?
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/13/china-tiktok-sale-elon-musk
Apparently not...
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c78w9zz62ego
The Clusterf**k of TikTok Successors
https://techcrunch.com/2025/01/13/as-tiktok-faces-a-us-shutdown-here-are-some-alternative-apps-to-check-out/
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout.fm
Https://hangout.fm
Lydia's V30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tG6NjUzug

A TikTok bid at the wire, another Suno head scratcher, and Jennie Smythe has an axe to grind.

The news has started to flow again.
 
Names in the Pod Today:
 
Jennie Smythe
Ian Cunningham
Harvey Mason
Willard Ahdritz
Mikey Shulman
Tom Conrad
Harry Stebbings
 
LINKS:
 
TikTok Bid
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/13/tiktok-offer-buyout-january-2025/
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/willard-ahdritz-b1810a1ba_ai-proven-uncertainty-decomposition-activity-7282488598145187840-Bcpj?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop
2024 data report Week
https://luminatedata.com/events/2024-year-end-music-webinar/
Tom Conrad and Sonos
https://www.theverge.com/2025/1/13/24342354/sonos-interim-ceo-tom-conrad-employee-letter
Willard Ahdritz is Smarter than you
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/willard-ahdritz-b1810a1ba_ai-proven-uncertainty-decomposition-activity-7282488598145187840-Bcpj
Suno (not holding my breath)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0YL83U5VWk
Jennie Smythe
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniesmythe/
 
LA fire resources
Ian Cunningham
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/iancunn_feels-odd-to-share-this-on-linkedin-but-trying-activity-7284674854086156289-xTFw
Running list
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
Stream these folks to help them
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1tLN23Ens9S8wxl4A7fbN5ojQ_xCMRXfbxQw1JRGfYac/edit?gid=0#gid=0
 
RoyFi
Https://www.royfi.com
Hangout.fm
Https://hangout.fm

Real fire and figurative fire dominate the week.

The TikTokalypse appears nigh...
 
 
Names In Today's Pod:
Harvey Mason
Adam Liptak
Paul Grein
TikTok
Clapper
Likee
Triller
Neptune
Lenny Beer
Todd Hensley
Simon Glickman
 
LINKS:
LA Fire Grammy Week Updates
https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/la-wildfires-disrupt-2025-awards-season-1235874550/
https://hitsdailydouble.com/rumor_mill
LA fire Relief
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
TikTok at the Supreme Court
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/10/us/politics/supreme-court-tiktok-ban-law.html
TikTok Afterparty Subreddit
https://www.reddit.com/r/tiktokparkinglotafter/comments/1hzfixg/welcome_to_the_tiktok_parking_lot_after_the_party/
The TikTok beat goes on X-US
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/12/tiktok-live-fest-london/
 
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout.fm
Https://hangout.fm

LA Fire Support, Supreme Court TikTok time, and my tribute to semiotics.

Fire donation links and hopefully a little egghead levity today.
 
Names in the pod today:
 
Musicares
Tatiana Cirisano
Murray Stassen
Thania Garcia
Tim Ingham
Charles Schwab
Blackstone
Citrin Cooperman
Indeed
 
LINKS:
 
LA fire Relief
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/01/09/los-angeles-fire-relief-musicares/
https://musicares.org/donations
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1jyJ-NM2qP-iRk1LJ8l3dc7e0M3IhHlo3E7Agvo9JOAQ/htmlview?at&fbclid=IwY2xjawHt_6hleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHXN3-Q2mmAkiflQ9P2fOUWx0AVBTyFa9FBbWvp7YmSfy9Zv1Uy5eT4XKCA_aem_XkNGZvPvtrq02-bMe6Y9LA
Oral TikTok Argument (on main page, scroll to the calendar)
https://www.supremecourt.gov/
Tatiana on the TikTok Ban's Global impact
https://www.midiaresearch.com/blog/how-a-us-tiktok-ban-could-accelerate-the-rise-of-the-global-south
Blackstone X Citrin Cooperman
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/blackstone-majority-acquires-citrin-cooperman-one-of-musics-biggest-valuation-firms/
Semiotics Links*
Indeed TV spot
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/f1ML/indeed-record-label
Schwab TV spot
https://www.ispot.tv/ad/5pC_/charles-schwab-number-one-broker
*Semiotics explained
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/16/books/review/i-was-an-under-age-semiotician.html
 
RoyFi
https://www.RoyFI.com
Hangout.FM
Hangout.fm