Round-Up: March 2026
Economy
Streaming hits new highs globally
Global recorded music revenues reached $31.7bn in 2025, up 6.4% YoY, with 837 million paid subscribers worldwide confirming streaming as the industry’s financial backbone.
But the bigger story isn’t just growth — it’s how that money is distributed, with ongoing debate about whether artists are truly benefiting. Music Business Worlwide
Spotify publishes Loud & Clear data
Spotify’s latest Loud & Clear report emphasises how much it has paid out to the music industry in 2025, reinforcing its narrative as the largest contributor to artist revenue globally.
At the same time, criticism continues: streaming may have saved the industry, but many argue it has reshaped earnings in ways that disadvantage smaller artists. Billboard
UK market shows continued strength
The United Kingdom recorded music market grew again in 2025, with streaming driving the majority of revenue. Artists like Olivia Dean and Alex Warren highlight how streaming-first success is translating into mainstream recognition. Billboard
Tencent Music scales premium tiers
Tencent Music reported strong Q4 2025 results, including 20 million “Super VIP” subscribers, signalling a shift toward tiered monetisation in China, where ARPU (average revenue per user) is being actively expanded beyond standard subscriptions. Digital Music
New Features & Platform Moves
Spotify tests edit button for algorithms
Spotify is experimenting with a feature allowing users to adjust or “edit” their algorithmic recommendations. This is a major shift: giving listeners direct control over personalization rather than relying purely on passive listening data. Digital Music News
Apple Music x TikTok integration
Apple Music is testing a feature enabling full-song playback directly within TikTok, tightening the link between discovery (TikTok) and consumption (DSPs). This could reduce friction in the funnel from viral moment to stream. Billboard
TIDAL moves into direct-to-fan downloads
TIDAL is expanding beyond streaming into direct-to-fan downloads, signalling a hybrid model where platforms support both access and ownership. This puts it closer to Bandcamp territory while leveraging its premium audience. Digital Music News
YouTube Music leans further into AI
YouTube Music’s leadership has signalled a stronger embrace of AI across discovery and creation, positioning the platform as a future hub for AI-assisted music experiences, not just traditional streaming. Digital Music News
Spotify cracks down on fake releases
Spotify is rolling out a new “artist profile protection” feature aimed at preventing fake or misattributed releases from appearing on artist pages.
The update tackles a growing issue across streaming: tracks, sometimes AI-generated or fraudulently uploaded, being incorrectly delivered under established artist names, often gaining streams before. Music Ally
AI
Suno leads the AI music wave
Suno is emerging as one of the most prominent AI music startups, capable of generating full songs — pushing AI from a novelty into a serious creative and commercial force.
Industry tension rises
Debate is intensifying around AI companies “starting fresh” building models without fully compensating rights holders. The core issue:
Can AI music companies scale without licensing the past?
Platforms align around AI adoption
From Spotify’s tooling experiments to YouTube Music’s strategy, AI is now embedded across:
Discovery (recommendations)
Creation (generative tools)
Monetisation (new formats, derivatives)
The conversation has shifted from if to how fast — and under what rules. Billboard