The Price of Music

Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works – and this week, it’s a Billionaire Special!Stu’s big figure has three commas: Beyonce is now worth a billion dollars – the fifth musician to do so, according to Forbes. (Experience being ultra-wealthy by listening to TPOM's extra content for FREE here: https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join)Elon Musk versus the music industry: the world’s richest man doesn’t like paying for musicThe head honcho of Universal Music has thoughts on how AI slop shouldn’t be paid in the same way as human artistsThe state of the UK industry – people are streaming more and spending more on music than everClassic label Sun records have been selling records at 1952 prices – so what could you have bought?There’s a listener question from Martin Bull, who asks about making a short run of vinyl records: Steve explains how to do it, how pricing can vary a lot – and how to make money doing it.(Also check out this earlier episode on physical album sales https://open.spotify.com/episode/40JrxtmsGfZwzPki0HFGzC?si=GQgiojyrTU2Io7XADcHTUA) Spotify has a new feature that lets you see what friends are playing - but why?And finally, a rare feel-good internet story: there’s now a “London Metal Ladies” WhatsApp group.And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our ⁠⁠Patreon Superfans⁠⁠, Steve and Stu prop themselves at the bar to chat about:Rapper La Russel sells $57,000 of records to Superfans in one day, selling albums on a pay-what-you-want basis.Steve has a neat idea: what if Bandcamp was a touring festival?The Charlatans’ Tim Burgess had Merch Market last week - and how has he become such an interesting and multi-faceted influence in UK music?And speaking of artist merchandise: Elton John has released his own zero-alcohol, vegan-friendly sparkling wine (and how does a product like this come about in the first place?)Plus, Stu reveals that he’s a Norwich City fan.As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!Email us: ⁠⁠thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠See you next week!Steve and Stuart======TPOM online: http://tpom.uk/Support The Price of Music on Patreon:⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusic⁠⁠Follow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodFor sponsorship opportunities, please email - ⁠⁠joe@musically.com

Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. And it’s a bumper episode as Steve and Stu take a look ahead into 2026: what will the big stories be in the coming year? Here are their predictions:It’s a year of change for the UK record industry, and where the UK stands in terms of influence in a global context – including acts like Sleep Token who have broken through in the USA.And there’s been a lot of layoffs at UK major labels – why might that be good for indie artists? (BTW - get a free trial of our extra content, The Lock In, right here! ⁠https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join⁠)AI inevitably will be playing a major role (again) – but what are the potentially erosive impacts now that it’s an established technology, what difficult decisions might the streaming platforms need to make, and how might it be used by indie music-makers?Live music will reach a pivotal point this year: the mega stadium shows will continue – but will people keep paying mega ticket prices? And what about the smaller venues who are under more pressure than ever?And will Oasis play Knebworth in 2026 – or 2027? The rumour mill is aggregated by Steve.Those reunion tours will keep coming – but can the bands keep doing it; and what happens when they find they can’t sell any more tickets?And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our ⁠Patreon Superfans⁠, Steve and Stu prop themselves at the bar to chat about:Are bigger gigs becoming like Premier League Football - where tickets (and everything else at the show) are expensive, gigs are once-yearly events, and people with less cash are being priced out?And what do people want from smaller, cheaper gigs these days anyway? Steve has been jostling shoulders with The Kids to find out.In TPOM fandom news: Steve has already seen Little Grandad in 2026! Stu squeezes in the first Black Crowes mention of the year!Stu tries to create an AI version of a Dry Cleaning song – how did he do it and what did it sound like? And what if a human band took his song, developed it, and performed it live?As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!Email us: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠See you next week!Steve and Stuart======Support The Price of Music on Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusic⁠⁠⁠Follow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodFor sponsorship opportunities, please email - ⁠⁠⁠joe@musically.com

Here it is! The long awaited, much feared Great Price of Music Christmas Quiz 2025 – which sees Steve pitted against Stu in a battle for the ages, as both vie to be crowned QUIZ CHAMP 2025.Our daring duo face questions about the show, band names, and each other – as well as especially tricky questions submitted by our Patreon Superfans, plus one question from a Very Special Indie Guest Star. Spoiler alert: it was a fiendishly tricky quiz, and a very close-run race.Look, the best thing to do is to hit play and just listen (Superfans get an extra 30 mins in the Lock-In, where Steve and Stu answer their questions about favourite gigs, best new bands, frozen toilets and much more.)We will be back after Christmas in the first full week of January. But until then, grab a glass of sherry and a mince pie and enjoy the sound of your two favourite music biz commentators squirming in the face of of some tricky trivia.As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!Email us: ⁠⁠thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠Steve and Stuart======Support The Price of Music on Patreon:⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusic⁠⁠Follow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodFor sponsorship opportunities, please email - ⁠⁠joe@musically.com

Delve into the sobering reality of streaming royalties as Los Campesinos! share their financial data. Discover how impending budget changes may sound the death knell for small UK venues struggling with increased business rates. Explore the urgent inquiry into the UK live music industry and the challenges young artists face. Plus, ponder the impact of AI-generated music on careers and listen in as hosts reveal their surprising Spotify Wrapped 'listening ages'. It's a ride through the joys and struggles of the music biz!

Spotify Wrapped is making waves this year, capturing the spotlight on social media. Why do bands avoid afternoon gigs? The hosts dive into that listener question. Olivia Dean takes a stand against Ticketmaster, raising eyebrows along the way. Jorja Smith finds herself in hot water over AI vocal duplicates. Indie labels have splashed £134 million, but where's the cash going? Plus, Oasis is back with pop-up merch stores for the holidays. The hosts revel in music industry gossip and debates that keep the conversation lively!

A gig cancellation due to an exploding toilet raises questions about refunds for the band and fans. The podcast explores Spotify's potential price increase in the U.S. and its implications for artists. AI's growing role in music is discussed, with major labels striking deals with tech companies. Stuart shares insights from his interview regarding a new levy to support grassroots venues in the UK. Meanwhile, the financial success of Baby Shark continues to surprise, showcasing its lasting impact on the music industry.

In a lively discussion, the hosts explore why venues often withhold concert set times and the implications for fans. They dive into the UK government's cap on ticket resale prices and debate its potential effectiveness. Mariah Carey's holiday classic is already dominating streaming stats, raising questions about seasonal music trends. Meanwhile, Megadeth ventures into brewing with their own beer line. Plus, Tidal introduces a new upload feature for indie artists, and one DJ stages a unique protest by playing only 'number two' hits on the radio.

Explore the intriguing decision by The 1975 to delete a song from streaming platforms. Discover how a study shows listeners struggle to differentiate between AI-generated music and human-made tracks. Dive into the secrets behind Fleetwood Mac's enduring popularity and the remarkable £8 billion contribution music made to the UK economy in a single year. Plus, learn about a vinyl record made from coal dust and the unique promotion of Thundercat’s remix using a bone-conduction lollipop.

This week, a fascinating financial twist reveals Billie Eilish's $11.5 million donations tied to her tour. Universal collaborates with Udio to launch a licensed AI music service, stirring debates about royalties. Meanwhile, Spotify faces backlash over controversial ICE ads. The music scene sees a historic shift with no rap tracks in the US Top 40, prompting speculation about industry changes. Plus, a UK startup introduces a unique tech to protect artists from AI scraping. Dive into the music biz’s latest dynamics!

Bonus episode! Steve is joined by Lord Kevin Brennan, the ex-MP – and now member of the UK's House of Lords – who is also a musician, and has been described as “a writer of songs and a righter of wrongs.”He talks to Steve about his leadership of the UK parliament’s new fan-led review of live and electronic music, with the aim of improving the sustainability of grassroots live and electronic music to safeguard the success of the wider UK music industry.. You can take part in this review right now – just go to https://committees.parliament.uk/work/9161The initiative seeks to place fans’ voices at the centre of decisions about ticketing, venues, accessibility, and transport, similar to football’s fan-led reform from a few years ago. Lord Brennan stresses that live music depends on fair treatment of fans and transparency over ticket pricing, fees, and resale practices. Lord Brennan argues for a “fans’ charter” to ensure shared values across the live sector, from small venues to major promoters. Drawing from his experience in Parliament and his previous inquiry into music streaming, he also explains how policy can protect grassroots venues, improve access and late-night transport, and encourage community ownership models. He also exclusively reveals the future plans for his cross-party, all-MP band with the pun-tastic name of... “MP4”.As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!Email us: ⁠⁠⁠thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠See you next week!Steve and Stuart======Support The Price of Music on Patreon:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusic⁠⁠⁠Follow Steve on X - @steve_lamacqFollow Stuart on X - @stuartdredgeFollow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpodFor sponsorship opportunities, please email - ⁠⁠⁠joe@musically.com