Music Business Roundup: YouTube Launches Music Key, Azoff Flexes Global Rights Muscle, and More

P1-AO811_Azoff__G_20090220175139
Each week on Songwriter U, Songspace recaps the top stories in the world of music business. Here’s everything you need to know from the week ending on November 15th.

Videos by American Songwriter

YouTube Launches Music Key Streaming Service
After much anticipation, YouTube has beta launched a paid music streaming service called Music Key that allows listeners to stream music on demand without watching videos. Already the leading online platform for free music discovery, Music Key puts YouTube head-to-head with subscription companies like Spotify and Beats.
Read More…

Azoff Flexes Global Rights Muscle
As YouTube launched its new streaming service, music mogul Irving Azoff flexed the muscles of his upstart Performing Rights Organization, Global Music Rights. Azoff claims YouTube has not properly licensed around 20,000 songs from his marquee songwriters and threatened to remove the songs unless YouTube negotiates directly.
Read More…

Warner Music Group Looks to China
Warner Music Group is looking at China’s 600 million+ Internet users as an opportunity to gain more revenue.  They’ve signed a licensing deal with Tencent, a major Chinese media, entertainment, and phone services company.
Read More…

Taylor Swift & Spotify Feud Continues
The public battle between Taylor Swift and Spotify continued this week. After Swift removed her entire catalog from the platform last week, Spotify CEO Daniel Elk shot back with an impassioned blog post, defending Spotify’s role in the industry as a monetized alternative to piracy.
Read More…

Uber & Spotify
News leaked that popular ridesharing platform Uber is set to announce a partnership with Spotify, giving passengers the option to control in-car music during rides.
Read More…

One Comment

Leave a Reply

Leave a Reply

Lyric Of The Week: Guy Clark, “L.A. Freeway”