UNLIMITED SUPPLY with Digital Music News The morals of catalogue, a Song of the Summer champ, and merch folks, be very afraid.
Sep 5, 2025
What happens when Amazon gets involved with artists like Le Sserafim? The team dives into this partnership and its implications for ownership of data. TikTok’s hit of the summer reigns supreme, but the conversation shifts to the ethical dilemmas of Universal’s deal with Downtown Music. Amid this, financial woes continue for StubHub as they eye an IPO. The chaotic supply chain in physical music retail is also examined, highlighting the tension between human artistry and AI-generated content.
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TikTok Resurfaces Old Hits
- TikTok declared Jess Glynne's 2015 single "Hold My Hand" the song of the summer after it became an earworm this year.
- Older tracks like Connie Francis and Radiohead also trended, showing TikTok's power to resurface legacy music.
Merch Businesses Must Demand Data Terms
- Merch sellers should brace for DSPs entering merch because Amazon's systems can radically change fulfillment and customer access.
- Ask partners how they will share customer data and insist on clear data-exchange terms before doing deals.
Regulators Eye Data In Industry M&A
- The EU paused Universal's proposed acquisition of Downtown Music citing competition concerns around indie distribution and A&R data.
- That pause highlights regulatory scrutiny when majors target data-rich indie firms.