Music Industry News – August 29, 2025

Italy’s Paid Streaming Subscriptions Jump 12.7% Year-Over-Year

Italy’s music streaming market shows robust growth with paid subscriptions increasing 12.7% in the first half of 2025, driven by strong local content performance. Italian artists dominated the charts, accounting for 90% of the top 10 albums and singles during this period, demonstrating the power of localized content strategies.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/italys-paid-streaming-subscriptions-jump-12-7-yoy-in-first-half-of-2025-as-local-acts-dominate-the-charts/

UK Tribunal Rejects Blur Drummer’s Class-Action Lawsuit Against PRS

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has dismissed Dave Rowntree’s (Blur drummer) class-action lawsuit against PRS for Music over “black box” royalties. The case challenged how the performing rights organization distributes unallocated revenue, with significant implications for songwriter royalty transparency across the industry.
https://musically.com/2025/08/29/prs-class-action-lawsuit-knocked-back-by-uk-competition-appeal-tribunal/

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YouTube Expands Creator Promotion Tool ‘Hype’ to 39 Markets

YouTube has rolled out its “Hype” feature to 39 new markets, allowing viewers to promote videos from creators with fewer than 500,000 subscribers. The tool represents YouTube’s effort to democratize content discovery and help emerging creators compete with established channels for visibility.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/youtube-expands-creator-promotion-tool-hype-to-39-markets/

Royalties Inc. Acquires Additional $525,000 in Music Royalties

Investment firm Royalties Inc. has purchased an additional $525,000 worth of shares in Music Royalties Inc., signaling continued institutional confidence in music royalty investments as an asset class. The move reflects growing investor appetite for music intellectual property portfolios.
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264434/Royalties-Inc.-Acquires-an-Additional-525000-in-Shares-of-Music-Royalties-Inc.

Johnnie Walker Announces Global Partnership with Sabrina Carpenter

Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker has secured a global partnership with Grammy-winning artist Sabrina Carpenter, whose recent album “Short n’ Sweet” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. The deal represents a significant brand alignment with one of 2025’s breakthrough pop stars and demonstrates the growing value of music artist partnerships in premium brand marketing.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnnie-walker-scotch-whisky-announces-global-partnership-with-grammy-award-winning-music-artist-and-international-superstar-sabrina-carpenter-302541721.html

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Longest-Reigning Album in Australia for 2025

The Netflix animated film’s soundtrack has maintained the #1 position on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart for seven consecutive weeks, making it the longest-running #1 album of 2025. The soundtrack’s track “Golden” also holds the top singles position for five weeks, demonstrating the crossover potential of entertainment properties into music charts.
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kpop-demon-hunters-longest-reigning-album-australia-2025-1236054529/

Gen-Z’s Music Discovery Shift Away from Streaming Platforms

New research reveals Gen-Z consumers are increasingly abandoning traditional music streaming services in favor of TikTok and YouTube for music discovery and consumption. This behavioral shift poses significant challenges for subscription-based streaming models and suggests a fundamental change in how younger audiences engage with music content.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/gen-z-dislikes-streaming-discovers-music-on-youtube-and-tiktok.html

26% of UK Nightclubs Have Closed in the Last Five Years

The Night Time Industries Association reports that a quarter of all UK nightclubs have permanently closed since 2020, highlighting the ongoing crisis in live music and entertainment venues. The closures represent significant revenue losses for the broader music ecosystem and impact artist development opportunities.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/26-of-uk-nightclubs-closed-in-last-5-years.html

Time Traveler Records Launches Muse Catalog Reissue Series

Record producer Zev Feldman has launched Time Traveler Recordings with the Muse Master Edition Series, beginning with three historic jazz albums set for October 17 release. The venture represents continued investment in catalog reissues and vinyl market expansion, with quarterly releases planned from legendary artists.
https://www.thevinyldistrict.com/a-morning-mix-of-news-for-the-vinyl-inclined/in-rotation-8-29-25/

MusiCares Expands Health Support for Music Professionals

MusiCares has partnered with Maven virtual health clinic to provide free health support services for music industry professionals and musicians. The initiative addresses healthcare access challenges within the music community and represents industry efforts to support artist welfare beyond traditional financial assistance.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/musicares-adds-free-health-support-for-music-professionals.html

Garrett Mickley

Garrett Mickley is a dedicated music copywriter who has skillfully combined his two true passions—music and writing—into a fulfilling career. Drawing on years of experience as a musician and writer, Garrett has developed a unique ability to craft compelling content that resonates with both fans and industry professionals. Whether it's writing engaging press releases, captivating lyrics, or impactful marketing campaigns, Garrett thrives on helping artists connect with their audience on a deeper level. His expertise and genuine love for both music and communication make him a trusted partner for musicians looking to elevate their careers through the power of words.

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