Quantcast
Ek: Ready to open a window?

SPOTIFY ON THE SPOT AS SUBS STALL

Spotify’s new paid subscriptions in Q1 have been disappointing, according to rights holders. After a strong showing with a premium sign-up discount—three months for 99 cents helped the service push its subscriber base to from 20 million to 30 million—the streaming company’s sign-up rate has stalled. The dip has some wondering if the company will reconsider its past refusal to window new releases on its paid tier.

This development comes at a time when The Spot’s shortcomings have been most noticeable. Prince’s death led many fans to the service only to find none of his classic material was available on the service. Add to that the number of chart-topping artists—Adele, Beyoncé, Drake, Taylor Swift, Jay Z, Rihanna and Radiohead, to name a few—who have opted to withhold their albums from a service that offers a freemium (ad-supported) tier.

Several of these acts have, however, allowed a couple of key tracks to stream on Spotify, essentially using it as radio to build awareness and demand for the albums that were available elsewhere behind a paywall.

NEAR TRUTHS: SPRING BLOOMS
Here come the big guns. (3/28a)
THE COUNT: COLDPLAY IS HOT, COUNTRY'S COOKIN' IN THE U.K.
The latest tidbits from the bustling live sector (3/28a)
CITY OF HOPE TAPS MARCIANO FOR TOP HONOR
This year's philanthropic model (3/28a)
TRUST IN THE TOP 20
Hip-hop is no longer hibernating. (3/28a)
UMG BROADENS SPOTIFY OFFERINGS
Sir Lucian and Daniel are in harmony. (3/28a)
THE NEW UMG
Gosh, we hope there are more press releases.
TIKTOK BANNED!
Unless the Senate manages to make this whole thing go away, that is.
THE NEW HUGE COUNTRY ACT
No, not that one.
TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN PLAYLIST
Now 100% unlicensed!
 Email

 First Name

 Last Name

 Company

 Country
CAPTCHA code
Captcha: (type the characters above)