Quick Hits: Festivals in the streaming era. Musical M&A trends. Behind Spotify’s direct listing.

Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web:

Music festivals in the streaming era: Streaming services have changed how and why artists break out into the mainstream. Those shifts have caused a ripple effect that is influencing how music festivals plan their programming. Smash singles that can propel a newcomer to quick stardom and enough interest for a festival slot, but they may not always have the full catalog to fill out a headlining set. Australian publication Financial Review investigated the changes.

A year in musical mergers: This year had some noteworthy developments in mergers and acquisitions. Several streaming services picked up startups in data analytics and label services, plus Sirius XM finally made its move to acquire Pandora. Billboard examined the key M&A trends for the industry.

Reflecting on Spotify’s listing: The Hollywood Reporter profiled the companies it dubbed the Rule Breakers of 2018. For its unique approach to a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange, Spotify merited a spot on the list. THR shared analysts’ reasons why the listing worked in the streaming service’s favor.

Anna Washenko