Music Industry Analysis
Music Biz curates a feed of music industry news articles, business statistics and trend analysis from a variety of media outlets, filtering out the noise to deliver you the actionable insights you need to succeed. Starting in 2024, these articles will be accessible exclusively from Music Biz’s social media feeds.
July 27, 2020 – Digital Device Listening Crosses the 50% Threshold During COVID-19 Disruptions
For the first time since Edison Research’s Share of Ear study began tracking the growth of audio consumption in 2014, the total daily share of time spent listening on digital devices by those age 13+ in the U.S. has surpassed the share of time spent listening on traditional, more linear devices. Before the COVID-19 disruptions, 55% of the daily total share of time spent listening by those in the U.S. age 13 and older was done on traditional,... Read More
July 23, 2020 – Senators Introduce Bill to Fund Independent Venues Struggling During COVID-19
Senators John Cornyn of Texas and Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota introduced a new relief bill for independent music and entertainment venues struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Per a press release, the “Save Our Stages Act” would provide six months of financial support to help “keep venues afloat, pay employees and preserve a critical economic sector for communities across America.” Independent music and entertainment venues have been among the hardest-hit businesses during the COVID-19 crisis. Even as some portions of the economy begin to re-open,... Read More
July 23, 2020 – Households With Children Dominate Consumer Tech Purchases
Ninety percent of households with children at home subscribe to at least one OTT service New consumer research from Parks Associates finds households with children, particularly those ages 6-11, are the leading demographic groups for technology product and entertainment service purchasing. Households with Children: Dominant Tech Purchasers finds 38% of US broadband households with children plan to buy a smart video doorbell over the next 12 months, compared to 14% of households without children. Ninety percent of households with children at home subscribe to at least one OTT service.... Read More
July 22, 2020 – Freelance Workers Shut Out of Pandemic Unemployment Aid Could Receive Relief From New Congressional Bill
Introduced on Monday (July 20) by U.S. Representatives Adam Schiff and Judy Chu (both D-CA) and co-sponsored by 19 others, the Mixed Earner Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Act would allow individuals who derive much of their income from freelance work – a group that includes the majority of independent music workers – to opt into the freelancer-focused Pandemic Unemployment Assistance (PUA) program, which offers state unemployment benefits to freelance workers for the first time in U.S. history.... Read More
July 22, 2020 – COVID-Inspired Lessons Learned for Brands
Does your brand have a responsibility in the face of the challenges posed by COVID-19 and racial injustice? Yes. America is in the midst of two significant crises – the coronavirus pandemic and the protest against racial injustice – both of which have demonstrated that there is a marked difference between an important message and an impactful message for your business/brand. Click here for more from Ipsos.... Read More
July 21, 2020 – U.S. Listeners’ Audio Day Starting Later During COVID-19 Disruptions
Half of those age 13+ now begin their audio day at 8:30am; before COVID was 7:15am New data from the Edison Research Share of Ear® study, conducted during the period of COVID-19 disruptions, shows that people in the U.S. age 13 and older began listening to audio a full 75 minutes later on average, as compared to before the disruptions. Click here for more from Edison Research.... Read More
July 20, 2020 – More Consumers Are Shopping Via Mobile Amid the Pandemic
The pandemic has pushed many consumers to shift their shopping behaviors, with many now turning to their mobile phone for their shopping needs. According to App Annie, shopping apps reached 14.4 million downloads in the US between March 29 and April 4, a 20% increase from January. A more recent study from the mobile app tracker found that 59% of US adults prefer to shop using their mobile phone. Click here for more from eMarketer.... Read More
July 9, 2020 – What Kind of Year Will It Be for the Record Business? The Forecasts Are Getting Worse, Not Better
Recorded music has been in a state of limbo throughout quarantine: Though live events like concerts and other in-person money-makers have shut down, songs and albums have been buoyed by streaming — so things are difficult, but not terminal. On April 20th, Olivier Nusse, the CEO of Universal Music France, gave a pre-recorded address to shareholders of Universal Music Group owner Vivendi that summed up the mood of the global industry. Nusse said UMG’s “global executive management team is leading the company to success” but that COVID-19 would “certainly impact physical sales,... Read More
July 8, 2020 – Inside the Virtual BET Awards: How They Pulled It Off & Why It Might Change the Future of Award Shows
In April, BET aired a special called Saving Our Selves: A BET COVID-19 Relief Effort, which was the network’s first foray into producing and airing a show under pandemic conditions. “At that point, even though we didn’t really think that we’d be extended through now, we started thinking about the ‘what if,’” says Connie Orlando, BET’s evp of specials, music programming & music strategy. “What would an award show look like if we had to produce it during the pandemic?” Turns out,... Read More
July 7, 2020 – Inside Lost Horizon: A Virtual Reality Music Festival
The music festival landscape has changed drastically this year as a result of COVID-19, resulting in many festivals moving into the live stream space. The team behind Glastonbury’s Shangri-La festival has done something different: They have teamed up with VR Jam, Sansar, Orca Sound Project and Beatport to create the world’s largest independent music and arts festival in virtual reality, Lost Horizon. “The colossal negative impact that this pandemic has caused on the creative and music industries has also meant we can’t take the annual moment to celebrate our community through art,... Read More
