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Royalties

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Spotify reports $11B in 2025 royalties, but artist payouts remain uneven
business1 month ago

Spotify reports $11B in 2025 royalties, but artist payouts remain uneven

Spotify announced it paid more than $11 billion in royalties in 2025, about 30% of the recording industry’s revenue, but the money goes to rightsholders (labels, distributors, publishers) rather than directly to artists; roughly half of the royalties went to independent artists and labels, while payouts for indie acts can vary widely and artists with fewer than 1,000 streams receive no payout; 12,500+ artists earned over $100k in royalties in 2024, with 2025 figures due in March; per-stream payments depend on the pool size and deals, and Spotify is promising new anti-fraud measures and greater human curation to address criticism.

via The Verge|
#business#indie-artists#music-industry
Spotify Hikes Prices Again, Signaling a New Normal for Subscriptions
business1 month ago

Spotify Hikes Prices Again, Signaling a New Normal for Subscriptions

Spotify raised Premium to $13/month from $12, its third price increase in 2.5 years, with Student, Duo, and Family plans also rising (Basic stays at $11). The move follows its 2024 pricing and is framed as reflecting value and funding product features and royalties; Spotify says it paid $10 billion in royalties in 2024 and has seen growth in subscribers and users, though questions about musician earnings and platform economics persist.

via Ars Technica|
#business#pricing#royalties
Sting Faces London High Court Over Police Royalties Split
business1 month ago

Sting Faces London High Court Over Police Royalties Split

The Police royalties case has moved to London’s High Court, with Sting admitting he has paid Summers and Copeland about $800,000 (and Summers/Copeland noting a recent $870,000 payment) toward what they say is an underpayment from download and streaming revenue. Summers and Copeland contend there was an oral agreement later formalized to share royalties, and assert they’re owed more than $2 million; Sting’s side argues streaming is a public-performance issue and royalties should be limited to sales of records. The dispute centers on how the band’s late-1990s/2010s contracts should be interpreted in the streaming era. None of the members attended today’s preliminary hearing as the case progresses.

via MusicRadar|
#business#copeland#royalties
Sting shells out over £500k in Police royalties amid streaming dispute
music1 month ago

Sting shells out over £500k in Police royalties amid streaming dispute

Sting has paid his former Police bandmates Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland more than £500,000 in royalties after acknowledging underpayment; court filings reveal a recent payment of about $870,000 while Summers and Copeland claim they are owed more than $2 million in publishing income. They argue an oral agreement from 1977, later formalised, entitled them to a 15% share of income from songs like Roxanne and Every Breath You Take, including streaming revenue, whereas Sting’s side says streaming income isn’t royalty-bearing under their 2016 contract (which covers manufacturing) and that the case should not extend to download/digital royalties. The London High Court is considering whether to allow new arguments to claim streaming and download royalties under older contracts, a dispute rooted in The Police’s 1977–84 era, a 2007 reunion, and Sting’s 2022 sale of his songwriting catalogue to Universal Music Group.

via BBC|
#music#royalties#sting
Former Police Bandmates Sue Sting Over Unpaid Royalties
entertainment6 months ago

Former Police Bandmates Sue Sting Over Unpaid Royalties

Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland are suing Sting over unpaid royalties for the 1983 hit 'Every Breath You Take,' claiming they were not properly credited as songwriters and have not received their share of the song's substantial earnings. The case, filed in London, highlights ongoing disputes over songwriting credits and royalties for the iconic track.

via Louder|
#entertainment#every-breath-you-take#legal-dispute
Sting Faces Lawsuit from Ex-Police Bandmates Over Royalties
entertainment6 months ago

Sting Faces Lawsuit from Ex-Police Bandmates Over Royalties

Sting is being sued by his former Police bandmates, Andy Summers and Stewart Copeland, over alleged unpaid royalties and lack of songwriting credits for the hit song 'Every Breath You Take,' with the case filed in London high court. The band members claim they have not received compensation or recognition for their contributions, while Sting's spokesperson denied the allegations. The lawsuit highlights ongoing disputes over music rights and royalties among legendary artists.

via The Guardian|
#entertainment#lawsuit#police
Trump's Wealth Grows Through Crypto, Licensing, and Luxury Goods
business8 months ago

Trump's Wealth Grows Through Crypto, Licensing, and Luxury Goods

New financial disclosures reveal that Donald Trump has earned millions from various ventures including a $57 million token sale, royalties from products like watches and sneakers, and income from private clubs, while also facing significant civil liabilities. The disclosures provide insight into his recent earnings and assets, highlighting his ongoing business activities and legal challenges.

via CNN|
#business#civil-judgments#cryptocurrency
Cher's Memoir Reveals Financial Struggles and Star-Studded Stories
entertainment1 year ago

Cher's Memoir Reveals Financial Struggles and Star-Studded Stories

Cher, who recently released the first part of her memoir, continues to battle over royalties with Sonny Bono's widow, Mary Bono. Despite winning a lawsuit earlier this year, the legal dispute persists, with arguments over whether Cher is entitled to royalties after selling her stake in the catalog. Cher's memoir details her early life and marriage to Sonny, highlighting financial disputes from their divorce. Currently, Cher is promoting her book and recently appeared on talk shows, sharing anecdotes about her career and personal life.

via Stereogum|
#cher#entertainment#legal-battle
Cher Triumphs in Royalties Lawsuit Against Sonny Bono's Widow
entertainment1 year ago

Cher Triumphs in Royalties Lawsuit Against Sonny Bono's Widow

Cher has won a legal battle against Mary Bono, the widow of her late ex-husband Sonny Bono, over unpaid royalties. A U.S. District Judge ruled that Cher should have received over $418,000 in royalties as of June 30, 2022. The dispute centered around a 1978 marriage settlement agreement that entitled Cher to 50% ownership of the duo’s musical composition and record royalties. Mary Bono had attempted to terminate these provisions without Cher's knowledge.

via Fox Business|
#cher#entertainment#legal-battle
Cher Triumphs in Royalties Dispute Against Sonny Bono's Widow
entertainment1 year ago

Cher Triumphs in Royalties Dispute Against Sonny Bono's Widow

Cher has won a lawsuit against Sonny Bono’s widow, Mary Bono, ensuring she continues to receive royalties from songs created with Sonny, including "I Got You Babe." A federal judge ruled that the 1978 divorce settlement, which granted Cher a permanent 50% cut of publishing revenue, overrides federal copyright termination rights. Mary Bono may appeal the decision.

via Billboard|
#cher#divorce-settlement#entertainment
TikTok Continues to Lose UMG Music in Ongoing Royalty Dispute
music-technology2 years ago

TikTok Continues to Lose UMG Music in Ongoing Royalty Dispute

Universal Music Group and TikTok are in a standoff over royalties, resulting in UMG's songs being removed from the platform, including those published by the company. The battle, which began earlier this month, affects a vast number of recordings and artists, with videos featuring UMPG songs either being removed or muted. The situation has led to a war of words between the two parties, with UMG claiming TikTok proposed paying artists and songwriters a fraction of the rate that other major social platforms pay, while TikTok accuses UMG of putting their own greed above the interests of artists and songwriters. The impact on artists and songwriters has been significant, and a quick resolution to the standoff is not expected.

via Variety|
#artists#licensing-agreement#music-technology