Analysis Why Spotify’s ‘fake artists’ issue, like so much in streaming, comes back to transparency BASCA's Vick Bain on why Swedish service should make 'everything clearer' for songwriters - and for listeners
News Despacito storms past 5bn streams milestone as Latin America takes flight Analyst Mark Mulligan explains why record-breaking single may be 'the new normal'
Interviews ‘There are an immense number of songwriters not making enough money to live on’ Wixen Music boss Randall Wixen on the value of music and the future for publishing
Analysis News Forget about fake artists – it’s time to talk about fake streams. We just bought 10,000 Spotify plays on the internet. It was easy.
Analysis Can Lyor Cohen bridge the Google ‘value gap’ at YouTube? Can the experienced record exec bring together Google Play and YouTube for the good of everybody?
News Despacito breaks all-time streaming records with 4.6bn plays in 6 months Tracks has already scored more than 3bn plays on YouTube across official channels
News Ingrooves Music Group hires David Lessoff and Dave Roberge in senior roles CEO Bob Roback welcomes duo to respective legal and label development positions
News Amy Wheatley joins Ministry Of Sound as General Manager Exec formerly worked at Three Six Zero in the UK market
News Here’s Spotify’s biggest problem – in a Netflix-shaped nutshell Spotify's average subscriber used to spend more than Netflix's. Things have changed.
News Sony/ATV hires Thomas Krottinger as Senior Manager, International A&R Exec previously spent three years on the A&R team at Prescription Songs and Kemosabe Records
News Universal hires Sony exec Adam Granite as EVP, Market Development Respected executive will report directly to Sir Lucian Grainge
News Believe: We’re not selling to Sony (but we are raising money) Denis Ladegaillerie tells MBW that Paris-based company has two acquisition targets in mind
News Sony is buying Believe Digital for up to $444m, says report (updated) MBW first reported the news last month
News Warner acquires Songkick’s concert discovery business Deal does not include ticketing operation formerly known as Crowdsurge
Analysis Why Spotify’s fake artists problem is an Epidemic. Literally. The tall tale of three Swedish companies, with their own economic interests
News Facebook reveals plans to negotiate with existing digital music platforms Could latest job posting suggest a change in strategy for social media giant?
News Welcome to the future: Spotify poaches AI music expert from Sony Yeah. About those 'fake' artists. You ain't see nothing yet.
News So… who’s actually behind Spotify’s fake artists? One production duo in Stockholm is responsible for quite a lot of these songs