The Price of Music
The Price of Music is a weekly music business explainer podcast hosted by Stuart Dredge and Joe Sparrow. Each episode breaks down the latest industry news and trends in an accessible way. The show is produced by Music Ally, a music industry analysis and news company. Listeners can support the show via Patreon for extra content.
Episodes
Beyoncé's $900 record box (records not included); Macklemore, Ed Sheeran and politics on-stage; The giant streaming platform you've never heard of; The UK 'homegrown' artist chart; and more!
This week, Stu and Joe tread verrrrrry carefully around a bunch of hot-button topics: on-stage politics, billionaires billionaire-ing, and whether AI music is getting to the believable stage. In this week's show:You've probably already heard about the Macklemore and Ed Sheeran kerfuffle over the former's statements on Palestine. Now one big festivals promoter has launched an ‘artistic
Artists sue Suno! Soft rock! Virtual snarky record-shop clerks! A 16-year old 'song of the summer'! And... chicken ice cream?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. As ever, Stu and Joe take a closer look at this week's music industry news, including:→ TikTok’s ‘Song of the Summer’ this year is by HOT NEW BREAKING artist, erm, Katy Perry, and her 16-year old song ‘The One That Got Away’. So what is a summertime hit nowadays anyway?→ Yes, yes, another lawsuit against AI-music firm Suno – but this one
Grand Theft Cliff; Are festivals being cancelled because of the climate crisis?; Gina's Pet Bangers!; SoundCloud sells WAVs and much more
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe plan an ultraviolent trip through the criminal underworld* as they take a look at this week's music industry news, including:→ We’re all going on a summer holiday… (a summer holiday that involves cocaine, strip clubs and lots of shooting people in the face.) Yes, the Cliff Richard / Grand Theft Auto crossover you&#
Should Netflix offer music streaming too? Are YouTube view counts meaningless now? Is music blogging back (inside Spotify?) Which song would you remix? Christian Metal vs KPop Demon Hunters!
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe show their age as they reference 70s, 80s, 90s, and 00s pop culture whilst discussing this week's music industry news, including:→ Should Netflix add streaming music to its streaming video? Warner Music Group’s boss thinks so.→ Universal Music Group has signed a high-profile licensing deal with remixing app Hook. S
Artists pressure Andy Burnham over oil; Grammys removes foot from mouth; More popstar football sponsors; and why aren't Berlin clubbers drinking as much?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe revel in an extremely varied week of music biz news (including some more great pop football shirts AND a brand new jingle):→ 200 musicians have written a letter to the UK's new prime minister Andy Burnham. No, it's not to tell him New Order are rubbish. It's a protest against a decision he might be taking s
Is the music streaming boom over? Is an AI-song about to become a real hit? Which lower league Welsh football club would YOUR favourite artist sponsor? And much more...
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe wade into share prices, EU Law, and German legal judgements... NO WAIT, COME BACK! These are all actually really interesting insights into modern pop music and how it connects with the humans who make it and enjoy it (honest.)Plus, TPOM Superfans get to hear Joe and Stu go deep – some may say too deep – into minor leag
Music streaming fraud – how does it work, who's making millions, and why does it need so much AI music?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe pivot the podcast to the popular TRUE CRIME format in order to woo a giant mainstream audience. OK, not quite – but sort-of. We’ve spoken a lot recently about AI-generated music accounting for 50% of music uploaded to streaming platforms – and how the reason for it, mostly, is for it to be used for fraud. We had a few
Andy Burnham gives UK grassroots venues hope; Spotify takes on YouTube; Emo is big in Mexico; Suno user data hacked; and... K-POP SHARKS!
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe comb their Emo fringes, use a tie as a belt, and pout about this week's music industry news:→ A surprising percentage of Americans are actually MORE interested in music if it was made using AI – according to a new survey.→ In last week’s episode, we talked about a data breach at Suno that seemed to have given the g
Over 50% of new songs uploaded are now AI-made(!); Lorde bashes Meta and Spotify; Why is Keith Richards in Roblox?; Is the Michael Jackson movie Bad or a Thriller?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe are back from two weeks' holiday in Rhyl – and immediately hop into a golf cart along with Ronaldo and Ronaldinho to go through this week's music biz news:→ More than 50%(!) of all new music being uploaded to streaming services is now AI-generated. How might the music industry respond to this? With... a system
Making records out of recycled plastic bottles for Coldplay and Lorde
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe are still on their summer holidays in Rhyl, but before they packed their bags, they had a chat with the team behind EcoRecord. It's a PVC-free, injection-moulded alternative to the traditional vinyl record, which cuts factory energy use by up to 85%, and swaps PVC for recyclable PET plastic. Recently, artists like
StubHub UK fined for ticket pricing; Artists' AI training pressure; Suno gives artists money; James Blake vs journalists; Artists' open letter for Fossil Fuel Treaty.
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe get ready for their summer holidays and punt a beachball at this week's music biz news:How much has controversial secondary-ticketing firm StubHub has just been fined in the UK for illegal ‘drip pricing’? (Also, what is that?)The news seems bit AI-heavy this week, but it's actually all about artists:→ 31 groups
Music prediction markets: a half-billion dollar business based on guessing what will happen in music...
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe focus on one very interesting and rapidly-developing story in the music biz...Did you know that music fans and industry insiders have quietly built a massive half-billion-dollar market trading purely on pop culture gossip and chart data? Stuart and Joe take a deeper look at how prediction platforms saw a staggering $40
The Happy Mondays want to sell you a giant pill; World Cup songs: reviewed; Lionel Richie's phrases trademarked; YouTube's AI clause; Tupac is back (again); plus much more...
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe go football crazy and stick a reducer early doors on this week's music biz news:→ 270. That’s how many ‘unofficial anthems’ called ‘World Cup 2026’ have been uploaded to Deezer… and 70% of them are AI slop.→ YouTube reckons that its terms of service allow it to use independent musicians’ uploads to train AI models.
The UK's fan-led live music revolution: saving grassroots venues & fixing ticket rip-off pricing – with Lord Kevin Brennan and Shain Shapiro
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week: two very special guests talk about how to actually make important change happen in the UK’s live industry at grassroots level, and improve the live music fan's experience: we welcome back Lord Kevin Brennan of Canton, Labour member of the House of Lords and a recording musician himself. We also speak to Shain Shapiro, who
Boards of Canada beef with, erm, The White House; Turning text message drama into songs; Universal says "no" to $55bn; Stream League lets you play Fantasy A&R; Last•fm goes indie; and more!
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section! This week:→ Enigmatic duo Boards of Canada have beef with the White House. What on earth is going on?→ €55bn: the amount that hedge fund Pershing Square WON’T be paying to buy Universal Music Group, because it has rejected
Ozzy Osbourne is... back?; Spotify's new tickets-for-fans feature; Does recycled vinyl sound good?; Drake's hit trio of albums; and Badger Badger Badger Badger...
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section! This week, Producer Joe steps into some big shoes to chat with Stuart about:How many streams did Drake’s THREE new albums get since their release on 15 May. But is this a hit comeback or a flop?Ozzy Osbourne is back! Wait, you
Bangaranga post-Eurovision; Zara Larsson’s virtual pyjamas; Steve’s big announcement; How many songs have you heard on Spotify?; Plus: World Cup Muppets!
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... Steve is back from the Great Escape music showcase festival and joins Stuart to discuss: How many songs have Steve and Stu listened to on Spotify since 2008, according to its latest nostalgia-baiting feature?BANGARA
Los Campesinos! share US tour costs; Blue Dot Fever; 37% of UK grassroots venues in danger; AI label has AI band making AI music for AI fans; Drink beer, support artists!; and much more...
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... Stu's back from his travels and joins Steve to discuss beer, AI music, and Los Campesinos!:→ $5bn is how much controversial AI-music firm Suno could be valued at – and it might raising $250... so what is it
William Shatner's metal album; The Jimi Hendrix High Court Experience; Recycled vinyl; The UK's ban on touting/scalping is on pause; Big Spotify numbers; and more...
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... Steve and Producer Joe grapple with some big numbers, mergers, and warnings about signing your rights away:The UK government promised to ban ticket touting (scalping). But now the ban may be delayed for a year o
Which pub was Olivia Rodrigo drinking Guinness in? Can AIs run a record label? Taylor Swift trademarks her speaking voice; AND... Heavy metal dinosaurs.
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... Stu and Steve grapple with:→ Brace yourself - how many AI-generated tracks are being uploaded every single day now?→ Steve uses his knowledge of London pubs to try and figure out which one Olivia Rodrigo shot her
Live Nation loses in court; Strong Opinions On Geese (of course); Live royalty argy-bargy; and live music reform in the UK...
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... → Geese have been one of the big breakthrough rock bands of the last year. But now some of the marketing tactics that helped them cut through are under the spotlight…→ Live Nation has lost a major lawsuit in the US
Radiohead's secret bunker; the Kanye/Wireless fallout; and how is the world's oldest record shop preparing for Record Store Day 2026? We chat to owner Ashli Todd to find out...
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section! This week, there's a change to our normal schedule – with a whistlestop tour around the news and then a very special interview with Ashli Todd, owner of the legendary Spillers Records, the world's oldest record shop (fo
Is merch getting unaffordable?; Bands cancelling gigs due to low ticket sales; Are we in a "Pop Slump"?; Music in space; Do you have irrational hate for a specific artist?; and Celine Dion is back?!
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... $63.5bn is a very big number – but is it worth paying this much for Universal Music Group?A report suggests that 2025 and 2026 saw a ‘pop slump’ in the streaming charts – but what does ‘pop slump’ even mean?If you we
Twigs Vs Twigs! Just how big is country music in the UK now?; Timbaland's new artist is unreal; Digging for deep cuts; and how much is AI Slop worth?
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... → Stu's Big Figure is... £50,000 – and it's been donated by that good egg Sam Fender... but to whom?→ Music’s latest bitter lawsuit is Twigs versus Twigs. (That’s FKA Twigs versus indie band The Twigs, BTW.) So
Radiohead's twenty-show limit; Spotify lets you tweak its algorithm; Steve's SXSW debrief; BTS' mega-livestream; and... Salt-n-Pepa!
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!This week... Steve's back from Austin, Texas and has plenty of stories to tell about SXSW. Plus Radiohead, BTS, and, erm, Salt 'n' Pepa – all in this week's TPOM:→ Radiohead's Ed O’Brien has revealed the band will
Asking fans to help wind the cables: Picture Parlour on what it's really like to be a touring indie band in 2026
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy a weekly Superfan Lock-in section!This week Katherine and Ella from ace UK indie band Picture Parlour talk about the stark economic realities of being a touring artist in the modern music industry. They're joined by David Martin from the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC), w
Radiohead and Kesha are furious; Artists are struggling to tour; Football cosies up to music; and buying a slice of your favourite artist
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy a weekly Superfan Lock-in section!This week... Steve's about to head off to SXSW in Austin, Texas, so we interrupted him as he was packing his suitcases, and grapple with non-league football, buying pieces of your favourite artist, why Tr*mp deliberately annoys artists by us
Phonk: the biggest genre you've (probably) not heard of; Only 20% of the 2025 UK Top 100 were performed by UK artists; What is 'radio plugging'?; and your ashes in an urn that's also a speaker...
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy a weekly Superfan Lock-in section!This week... Steve and Stu get Phonky with the biggest overlooked genre in the world: so what is Phonk anyway? Also on TPOM this week:How much music streaming is “passive” – where the platform chooses what you listen to? What impact does that hav
Bigger than Ed Sheeran – have you heard of Mrs Green Apple? Why are so many old bands in the album charts? (And so few in the singles chart?) Plus: The Wiggles!
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy a weekly Superfan Lock-in section!This week... Steve and Stu dig into the charts – and take a look at a load of data that’s been released about singles, albums and streams:Do you know Japanese rock band Mrs Green Apple? They were the 13th biggest artist in the world last year. (Bigger
“Managers do a lot more than they used to...” – super-manager Niamh Byrne on Gorillaz, how the role of manager is changing, and more
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works: don't forget - you can become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and access an extra 20 mins of show each week!This week, it's time for another interview with one of the people who make it all happen. Steve speaks to Niamh Byrne, who managed Blur, Elastica, and Turin Brakes, before founding Eleven management, which works with ar
Why did Taylor Swift snub YouTube? Did Bad Bunny's Superbowl show boost his streaming numbers? Do teenagers want to go to gigs any more?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works: don't forget - you can become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and access an extra 20 mins of show each week!This week, Steve and Stu get stuck into:Stu's big number is $60 billion... and it's how much money YouTube made in 2025. But how much of this goes to music makers?Taylor Swift’s new music video was deliberately delay
Have world tours stopped doing the "tour" part?; Apple Music had 2bn(!) fraudulent streams in 2025; Spotify pays out $11bn; and Bonnie Tyler speaks out!
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works – and this week Steve and Stu grapple with Harry Styles, Bonnie Tyler and Bruno Mars...Don't forget - you can become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and access an extra 20 mins of show each week!Stu's big number is $11bn - and that’s how much Spotify paid out to the music industry in 2025. But will that be enough to get its cri
The battle to keep one of the UK's great grassroots venues alive, buying the venue with the help of the community, and the many challenges small venues face in 2026 – with Ricky Bates of The Joiners
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works – and this week they speak to Ricky Bates, head of booking and promotion at the Joiners in Southampton - one of the UK’s great grassroots venues. But first they chat about:Half a million pounds is being distributed in the UK to grassroots venues artists and events - and it’s money gathered from the levy on ticket sales in the UK. Steve and St
Over 50 million songs got zero streams in 2025 – and other eye-popping data on music streaming
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works – and this week, Stu’s Big Number is also the Big Story – and here are some mind-boggling facts to bewilder your friends with: There are now 253 million tracks available on streaming sites… and 55.3 million songs were not played even once in 2025(And, over 100 million songs have been played less than 100 times)Over 50 million songs - 20% of a
Elon Musk versus the music industry; AI slop vs human artists - who gets paid?; How can YOU make and sell vinyl records?; and all hail the London Metal Ladies
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works – and this week, it’s a Billionaire Special!Stu’s big figure has three commas: Beyonce is now worth a billion dollars – the fifth musician to do so, according to Forbes. (Experience being ultra-wealthy by listening to TPOM's extra content for FREE here: https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join)Elon Musk versus the music industry: the world’s
Looking ahead to 2026: Live music's pivotal year; More reunion tours; How influential is the UK record industry now?; And Oasis: Knebworth in 2026 – or 2027?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. And it’s a bumper episode as Steve and Stu take a look ahead into 2026: what will the big stories be in the coming year? Here are their predictions:It’s a year of change for the UK record industry, and where the UK stands in terms of influence in a global context – including acts like Sleep Token who have broken through in the USA.And there’
The Price of Music Christmas Quiz 2025!
Here it is! The long awaited, much feared Great Price of Music Christmas Quiz 2025 – which sees Steve pitted against Stu in a battle for the ages, as both vie to be crowned QUIZ CHAMP 2025.Our daring duo face questions about the show, band names, and each other – as well as especially tricky questions submitted by our Patreon Superfans, plus one question from a Very Special Indie Guest Star. Spoil
Los Campesinos! share their streaming money data (and it's... sobering); Could a new budget policy be "the death knell for small venues"?; And what are Steve & Stu's Spotify Wrapped 'listening ages'?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu get stuck into a late-year flurry of big news:"This could be the death knell for small venues" – enormous increases in business rates are coming for UK venues – Steve has a lot to say about how a seemingly-innocuous business rates policy point in the recent UK budget may p
Spotify Wrapped is here (and why is it a big deal?); Why aren't there any matinee gigs?; Olivia Dean takes on Ticketmaster; and Jorja Smith takes on AI clones
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu pull on their Santa hats and get stuck in to:Spotify Wrapped 2025 has just launched (and has now taken over your social feeds) But why is it such a big deal this year?Steve answers a great listener question: "why don’t more bands and venues do afternoon gigs for people who can&
Exploding toilet cancels gig - but will the band and fans get their money back?; Is Spotify putting up prices again?; and yet more Baby Shark news
Get more TPOM in the post-show "lock-in" – try it for FREE!: https://www.patreon.com/c/thepriceofmusic/membership====Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu unwrap the week's music biz goings-on:An exploding toilet caused a gig cancellation – but what now for the band, fans and the venue?Stu’s Big Number
Why don't venues advertise set times for gigs?; Ticket resale prices capped in the UK; Megadeth brew beer; *How many* people are already listening to "All I Want For Christmas Is You"?; & much more...
One more round? The post-show "lock-in" is just for our Patreon Superfans - try it for FREE!: https://www.patreon.com/c/thepriceofmusic/membership====Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu pour a couple of foaming pints of:Stu’s Big Number is 10 million – but how does it relate to the premature jingling of
Why have The 1975 deleted a song? Can YOU tell the difference between AI music & real music (Answer: no.); An answer to why Fleetwood Mac are *still* popular; And music made £8bn for the UK in 2024…
Have you heard the now-legendary post-show "lock-in" section, just for our Patreon Superfans? Try it for FREE!: https://www.patreon.com/c/thepriceofmusic/membership=======Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, our dynamic duo Steve and Stu grapple with the following:Stu’s Big Number is 713 million – and you are quite possi
Major label Universal to make AI-music service with Udio; How did Billie Eilish annoy Billionaires?; Spotify under fire over controversial ICE ads; Why are there no rap tracks in the US Top 40?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. And in this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu grapple with:Stu's Big Number is 11.5 million – but what does it have to do with Billie Eilish and a room full of billionaires?One AI-music company is working on a new service with the world’s biggest major label... so will be be able to create our own sound-a-like tracks?Ho
Fans First: Lord Kevin Brennan on fixing live music from the ground up - Bonus Episode
Bonus episode! Steve is joined by Lord Kevin Brennan, the ex-MP – and now member of the UK's House of Lords – who is also a musician, and has been described as “a writer of songs and a righter of wrongs.”He talks to Steve about his leadership of the UK parliament’s new fan-led review of live and electronic music, with the aim of improving the sustainability of grassroots live and electronic mu
Steve & Stu answer listener's questions: Why do ticket prices vary so much at the same venue? Why are some songwriter credits missing on streaming platforms (and do they still get paid)?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu dip into the postbag and answer some very astute listeners’ questions which get to the heart of music streaming and live music!Matt asks why ticket prices can vary so much at the same venue? And he has a good real-world example: Maximo Park and Suede are playing Cambridge Corn Excha
Spotify will launch an AI-music service... but what might it be – and will artists get paid? MTV shuts its music video channels; The Irish basic income for musicians; and Stu sings Baby Shark (again)
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu crunch the numbers and figure out...Exactly how much does a Mercury prizewinner’s streams really go up after a win?Spotify is going to make a licensed AI music something – but what is it going to be? And will artists get paid?Is TPOM now a Baby Shark fan-podcast? Steve politely requ
How difficult is it to put on a music festival these days, anyway?
A special episode for you this week - where TPOM wonders: just how hard is it to run a festival in 2025, anyway? Spoiler: it's tricky, but rewarding! To find out more, we spoke to John Rostron, who started in the festival world when he co-founded the award-winning multi-venue festival Sŵn in Cardiff in 2007.He's now CEO of the Association of Independent Festivals which represents over 150
Coldplay's first single is now worth *how much*? The best new band Steve's seen in months; An AI vs human band dust up; A splendidly indignant speech from RAYE; and Steve & Stu vs ‘Baby Shark’
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. And in this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu wrap their minds around...How much would it cost to buy Coldplay’s very first single today?; Steve reveals the “best new band he’s seen in months”;A proper AI vs human band dust up!;Are the major labels about to sign deals with music-generating AI platforms?A splendidly indignan
Steve reflects on working as a music journalist in the 1990s – and has lots to say on music journalism today; Spotify deletes 75 million "spam songs"; and why is TikTok so important to music?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. And goodness me, there's a lot in this week’s episode of The Price of Music for our dynamic duo to get stuck into...Listener Richard sent us a great question about music journalism – and Steve has a lot to say when answering: what’s changed about music journalism, whether music journalism is still important, where the music print media h
Massive Attack pull music from Spotify in protest; Ticketmaster sued by US government; Lizzo thinks that music videos are dead; More album-filing dilemmas; & people are listening to "My Humps" again?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s multi-faceted episode of The Price of Music our intrepid duo get to grips with...Stu’s Big Number is One Hundred Billion Dollars… but who has paid it to whom and should that number actually be bigger?Ticketmaster is being sued by the US government for ‘illegal ticket resale tactics’ and deceiving artists and fans - but what wi
*How many* AI-generated songs are uploaded to streaming each week? Why are Radiohead's fans angry about tickets? Why has Spotify given users lossless music for free? And much more...
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s action-packed episode of The Price of Music: a bunch of extremely interesting music biz questions are answered by our intrepid duo...Stu’s Big Number is 30,000 and relates to the number of AI-generated songs… but why so many songs and where are they going?Why are Radiohead’s fans getting angry about tickets (“that don’t exist”
Morrissey, Mazzy Star, and, erm, Bonnie Tyler: selling The Smiths’ songs, and the truth on music streaming royalties – do artists REALLY get such a bad deal?
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s The Price of Music: an urgent-ish delve into the news that Morrissey has announced he wants to sell his ownership of The Smiths’ songs… including a suggestion from Steve and Stu about how Johnny Marr might buy the songs off Morrissey via a gmail address that Morrissey put online.And then Steve and Stu take a deep dive into a f
The Weeknd’s big streaming milestone; ABBA Gold’s long chart run; Ready for friends to slide into your Spotify DMs?; Apple Music Radio expands; and Radiohead’s ‘Let Down’ gets a TikTok boost.Th
Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s The Price of Music:Steve takes over Big Number duties to reveal how many weeks ‘ABBA Gold’ has been in the UK’s album chartThe Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Light’ hits 5bn Spotify streams – but what is he raising $1bn for?Why has Spotify reintroduced messaging inside its app, and would Steve or Stuart use it?Apple Music’s radio stations
Coldplay's never-ending world tour keeps selling tickets; K-Pop Demon Hunters!; What on earth is "speculative ticketing"?; Bandcamp's $3.5m Friday; and has Steve actually “gone deaf for a living?”
If you want an easy guide to the music biz and how it all works – here we are! In this week's The Price of Music:Stuart’s Big Number involves Coldplay, a lot of sold-out Wembley stadium gigs, and the band raising money for grass roots venuesHas Steve actually “gone deaf for a living?”Chinese streaming platforms have a “Super VIP” subscription that costs 5x as much (and 15m people are paying fo
Spotify's prices go up again; Which album's songs are in the wrong order?; Napster are being sued (is it 1999 again?); How easy is it to get a #1 album?; Steve's tip for getting into a sold-out gig
Steve and Stu have questions – so many questions. Fortunately they also have answers! In this episode:Stuart's Big Number is 217.5 million... and what does it have to do with a B-side by US indie rock icons Pavement?Steve wants to know which albums have the songs sequenced in the "wrong" order? (And which Blur album does he have a controversial tracklisting opinion about?)Spotify'
Beyoncé sells $400m+ of tickets; How much money is Oasis making from merch?; Spotify wants a billion subscribers; Hayley Williams surprise-releases songs; and Cardi B’s "full-on cheese experience"...
This week, Steve and Stuart find out that they both went to see Oasis last week, but try not to spend the whole show talking about it; and instead get stuck into all this:Beyoncé’s tour is the most successful country tour of all time; Steve and Stu both go to watch Oasis - but what did they think?;Stu’s Big Number: Spotify wants One. Billion. Subscribers; Tomorrowland festival gets 74 million view
Steve and Stu answer your questions! Does the money from a stream get split evenly? Do bands get paid if a festival is cancelled? How do music-making AIs work? What is Spotify's Discovery Mode?
Steve and Stuart rummage through the TPOM inbox and pull out some brand new listeners' questions to answer (send yours into us here: thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com) – Does the money from a stream get split evenly?Do artists get paid if a festival is cancelled?How do music-making AIs get trained?What is Spotify's Discovery Mode?PLUS: they go over the UK government's reforms for artist
Will Drake face Kendrick in the witness box?; Los Campesinos! turn down a $60,000 ad deal – but why?; Steve takes a music superfan test; ... and what connects Taylor Swift & Five Finger Death Punch?
In this week's show, Steve and Stuart get to grips with government legislation and bands turning down big bucks:Stu’s Big Number: after some gentle ribbing from Steve on last week's (small) Big Number, Stu returns with a whopper: 2.5 trillion - but what is it?Will Drake face Kendrick Lamar in the witness box?Steve takes a 13-point "personality test" to see if he's a music SuperfanBreaking news fro
How do songwriters *really* earn money (and which bands moonlight as cover bands)?; Spotify under investigation; Netflix K-Pop animation artists; and Ozzy Osbourne's chimpanzee art
In this week's show, Steve and Stuart cover a lot of ground, including:Stu’s Big Number: it seems small (1000), but that’s how many days Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” has topped the Apple Music chartHow do songwriters actually earn their money – a new report reveals the truth (part of which is that a lot of them are struggling)Which well-known bands are also performing as cover bands to make cash?Wh
Oasis are back; The AI-generated band with a million listeners; Indies vs Universal Music spat gets grumpy; and who owns your songs if your label goes bust?
Steve and Stuart are back in the new and - oh yes - improved The Price of Music!In this episode:The Velvet Sundown are a fully-AI-generated band that have over a million listeners on Spotify – is this a tipping point – and should human artists worry?Oasis are back – so how much money did each show make (and how much of it is VAT?The band Deerhoof have pulled their music from Spotify in protest at
Spotify responds to Kate Nash’s comments on streaming royalties, Warner Music's superfan app
Steve and Stuart look at Spotify's response to Kate Nash’s latest comments about streaming royalties, and discuss the news that Warner Music is in the final stages of testing its superfan app, with heavy involvement from Ed Sheeran.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price
AI music startup Suno in hot water again, South African artists double their Spotify payouts
Steve and Stuart find out why AI music startup Suno is in hot water again, and discuss the news that South African artists have doubled their Spotify payouts over the last three years.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price o
PPL posts highest ever annual revenues, Harry Kane invests in ticketing firm
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that PPL, the UK's music licensing company, has posted the highest annual revenues in its 90-year history, and find out why England captain Harry Kane has invested in a ticketing firm.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X
US hits 100 million paid music subscriptions, Mariah Carey cleared of copyright infringement
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that the US has hit 100 million paid music subscriptions, and find out why Mariah Carey has been cleared of copyright infringement in a case over her 1994 Christmas staple, All I Want for Christmas Is You.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Pr
SXSW finances analysed, the music economy of Gloucestershire
Steve and Stuart take a look at the money behind SXSW in Austin, Texas, and discuss a new report on the music economy of Gloucestershire.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of Music on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/TheP
Interview: Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths
Stuart speaks to Matt Griffiths, chief executive of the charity dedicated to helping marginalised young people, Youth Music.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of Music on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusicFor
Brit Awards artists speak out on grassroots venues, Snoop Dogg vs Spotify
Steve and Stuart dissect the various comments from artists at the BRITs 2025 about grassroots music venues, youth-music education, and the government's AI policies, and find out why Snoop Dogg has sparked a disagreement with Spotify.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price
Over 1,000 artists back 'silent' AI protest album, Casey Lowery making debut album through Kickstarter campaign
Steve and Stuart find out why over 1,000 artists are backing a 'silent' AI protest album, and discuss thew news that Casey Lowery is funding the production of his debut album through a Kickstarter campaign.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @Priceo
Spotify's new superfan tier, Sony's multi-billion dollar revenues
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that Spotify is considering introducing a new superfan tier, and analyse the reasons why Sony generated $2.7bn from recorded music and publishing in the last three months of 2024.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @Priceof
Ticketmaster cancel Oasis tickets, The Black Crowes relaunch Crowe-Mafia club
Steve and Stuart find out why several people have received an email from Ticketmaster cancelling their Oasis tickets and accusing them of being bots, and discuss the news that The Black Crowes have relaunched their Crowe-Mafia club for superfans.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow T
James Blake lifts the lid on the music industry, The Libertines as holograms
Steve and Stuart discuss James Blake lifting the lid on the music industry, and find out why The Libertines are performing as holograms.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of Music on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com/ThePric
Spotify and Universal sign new licensing deal, Deezer publishing 10,000 AI-generated tracks every day
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that Spotify and Universal Music Group have signed a new licensing deal, and that music streaming service Deezer says around 10,000 ‘fully AI-generated tracks’ are being delivered to its platform every day.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Pri
Interview: Simon Raymonde, Cocteau Twins and Bella Union records
Steve speaks to Simon Raymonde, formerly of Cocteau Twins and now running the Bella Union record label and management company Bella Union Artist Management, about his long career in the industry.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport Th
Travis Scott, SZA and Future sued by Victory Boyd, Ed Sheeran launches music education foundation
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that Travis Scott, SZA and Future are being sued by Victory Boyd, and find out more about Ed Sheeran's new music education foundation.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of Music on Pat
UK recorded music revenue hits all-time record, Neil Young and Glastonbury
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that UK recorded music revenue has hit an all-time record, and find out what's going in between Neil Young and Glastonbury Festival.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of Music on Patre
Virgin Music Group buying Downtown Music Holdings, Bad Boy Chiller Crew file legal claim against their record label
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that Virgin Music Group is buying Downtown Music Holdings, and find out why Bad Boy Chiller Crew have filed a legal claim against their record label.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of M
Artists' royalties for tracks featured on adverts, how much it costs to cancel a live tour
Steve and Stuart discuss how much artists make when they're tracks are featured on adverts, and analyse the costs of cancelling a live tour.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of Music on Patreon:https://www.patreon.com
Kate Nash's OnlyFans "punk protest", Drake's legal action against Universal and Spotify over Kendrick Lamar track
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that Kate Nash has launched an OnlyFans account to help pay for her music tours, and find out why Drake has launched legal action against Universal Music and Spotify over a Kendrick Lamar track.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music
UK government backs ticket levy on stadium and arena shows, Spotify hits 250m premium subscribers
Steve and Stuart discuss the news that the UK government has backed a ticket levy on stadium and arena shows to support grassroots venues, and analyse Spotify's latest financial figures, which show the streaming service now has more than 250m premium subscribers.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X -
Interview: Annabella Coldrick, Music Managers Forum chief executive
Steve and Stuart chat to Annabella Coldrick, Music Managers Forum chief executive, about the different business models managers and artists use to collaborate.Send in your questions for Stuart and Steve on thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.comFollow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodSupport The Price of Music on Patreon:https://
