Topic

Streaming

Canada backs off making Spotify pay for Canadian music, and the money has stopped
Ottawa has told the Federal Court of Appeal it plans to scrap the rule that large foreign streamers pay 5% of their Canadian revenue into Canadian content funds, and replace it with government money. The 31 August payment date came and went with no new transfers. For music, that means FACTOR, Musicaction and the funds behind early-career artists swap a levy that grew with streaming for a budget line that can be cut.
2 Sept 2026Industryvia Department of Justice Canada (via Cartt.ca)
Spotify Discovery Mode explained: 30% of royalties for a better shot at the algorithm. Is it payola?
Discovery Mode lets you flag songs for Spotify Radio, Autoplay and some Mixes, and Spotify keeps 30% of the recording royalties from streams there. Here is the maths on when that pays, and why a listener lawsuit calling it payola went to private arbitration instead.
2 Sept 2026Industryvia Spotify for Artists Support
Indian artists' Spotify royalties grew 29% in 2025, and the growth is regional
Spotify's India Loud & Clear report says royalties generated by Indian artists rose 29% in 2025, led by Telugu (up more than 120%), with over 40% of that money coming from listeners abroad. At home, only about 14.4 million of India's 178 million audio streamers pay, so how much of the growth reaches regional independents depends on their deals and their publishing paperwork.
2 Sept 2026Industryvia Spotify Newsroom
Japan's record market: streaming hits 46% while vinyl jumps 42%
Japan's recorded music market grew to an estimated ¥196.5 billion in the first half of 2026, up 4%, and streaming made up 46% of it. CDs fell 11% to ¥72.0 billion and vinyl rose 42%, but physical formats together still slightly outsold digital. For international indies, Japan remains the one big market where the plastic you press can matter as much as the playlist you land on.
31 Aug 2026Industryvia Recording Industry Association of Japan (via PR TIMES)
Marquee, Showcase and Discovery Mode: Spotify's paid promotion options compared
Spotify sells promotion three ways: two click-priced display formats and a commission on royalties. Here is what each costs, who can use it, and the numbers that tell you whether it paid off, including the break-even point Spotify's own reports leave out.
13 Aug 2026Industryvia Spotify for Artists

Canada backs off making Spotify pay for Canadian music, and the money has stopped

Spotify Discovery Mode explained: 30% of royalties for a better shot at the algorithm. Is it payola?

Indian artists' Spotify royalties grew 29% in 2025, and the growth is regional

Japan's record market: streaming hits 46% while vinyl jumps 42%

Marquee, Showcase and Discovery Mode: Spotify's paid promotion options compared

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