Analysis Learnings from Spotify’s Q2 2025 earnings call… including what the company (didn’t) say about that long-awaited ‘Music Pro’ tier MBW's key takeaways from the green giant's latest grilling from investment analysts
Analysis On… The Orchard, indie deals, and willing sellers This article originally appeared in Tim Ingham’s latest MBW+ Review email, issued exclusively to MBW+ subscribers.
Analysis If your music strategy is ‘quick hits’ on the US charts in 2025… good luck. Luminate's new midyear report shines a light on the declining global market share of the United States – and of the biggest hits within the US
Analysis The question at the heart of Downtown debate: What’s Universal Music Group’s actual distribution market share in Europe? A few of you have contacted me to ask if I got my numbers wrong. (Spoiler: No, I did not!)
Analysis The AI music problem on Spotify (and other streaming platforms) is worse than you think MBW has found 13 AI artists with over 4.1 million cumulative monthly listeners on Spotify
Analysis On… Taylor Swift, Cats, and the portfolio effect This article originally appeared in Tim Ingham’s latest MBW+ Review email, issued exclusively to MBW+ subscribers.
Analysis On… hallucinations, Charli XCX, and ‘daring to suck’ This article originally appeared in Tim Ingham’s latest MBW+ Review email, issued exclusively to MBW+ subscribers.
Analysis On… Udio, FUGA, Universal, Merlin, and missed opportunities The following op/ed originally appeared in Tim Ingham's MBW Review newsletter, sent exclusively to MBW+ subscribers.
Analysis Why Universal Music Group will be allowed to buy Downtown. MBW founder Tim Ingham assesses likelihood of Universal completing its proposed $775 million acquisition
Analysis On… OpenAI, Bain Capital, Daniel Ek, and reasons to be cheerful Tim Ingham's latest Review, exclusively sent to MBW+ subscribers
Analysis The best argument why Spotify (and other music streaming platforms) need to increase their prices in 2025. Why the oft-ignored metric of ARPCH gives the music industry a fresh perspective – and fresh insights – on streaming's pricing model
Analysis On… Universal’s Asian Adventure MBW Reacts is a series of analytical commentaries from Music Business Worldwide written in response to major recent entertainment events or news stories.
Analysis News The major record companies lost market share again on Spotify last year. But BMG and ‘artist-centric royalties’ make this a more complicated picture than it first appears. To understand one of the industry's favorite graphs, a few things first need to be taken into account