Mark Mulligan: Streaming’s problems will not be fixed by royalties alone

by Mark Mulligan

The royalty agreement crafted by Universal Music Group and the Deezer streaming platform has gotten a lot of attention. In his latest guest column, MiDIA Research chief Mark Mulligan says both parties want that attention, if not necessarily the exact commentary they hoped for. “Streaming royalties are not adding up because streaming is not adding up. Fixing royalties is only part of the solution,” Mark asserts. Part of the solution requires understanding how these services have evolved, and solutions must consider the audience’s needs. A must-read.
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CORRECTED: 97 of top 100 remain unchanged in Triton Digital Sept podcast ranker

CORRECTED: In a demonstration of stability (or staleness?) Triton Digital’s Podcast Ranker for August shows 97 of the same 100 podcasts as the July ranker.In our thinking two principles are at work: First, that people listen to what they already know, and second, that podcast discovery remains a commanding challenge for creators and producers. Click for deets. Continue Reading

RIAA revenue second look: Not record-breaking when adjusted for inflation

Earlier this week we reported the mid-year update from the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), which tabulates revenue for the U.S. recorded music industry. That report broke new ground with the highest dollar amount in the span of the RIAA’s public reporting period (1973-2023). But a different reality emerges when we consider relative dollar value. Click for an illustrated comparison. Continue Reading

NPR re-ups with Veritonic, and expands across podcasts and broadcast

Veritonic announces that high-profile client NPR has renewed its relationship with the company, and expanded its use of Veritonic’s solutions. Specifically, NPR is now assessing brand advertising effectiveness across its podcasting and broadcast empires. For Veritonic, the continued engagement highlights its Brand Lift solution, which measures the recall and sentiment listeners have for audio ads. Continue Reading