Matthew Hawn has an axe to grind about Measurement Obsession.

 

And we check in on some touring thThursday and TikTok News.

 

 

Names In Today's Pod:

Matthew Hawn

Kid Rock

Abby Jones

Linkin Park

Ashley King

TikTok

Amazon

Lauren Hirsch

Maggie Haberman

Zolan Kanno-Youngs

Karen Weise

Sapna Maheshwari

 

 

LINKS:

Amazon to the TikTok Rescue?

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/02/business/media/amazon-tiktok-bid.html

Linkin Park Bingo

https://www.stereogum.com/2302353/linkin-park-downgrade-dodger-stadium-show-slash-ticket-price/news/

Kid Rock's stopped clock moment

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/31/trump-executive-order-price-gouging-entertainment/

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.fm

Https://hangout.fm

Lydia's V30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tG6NjUzug

Peter Harvey has an AI Axe to grind.

 

 

Names In Today's Pod:

Peter Harvey

Triller

Merlin

TikTok

Andreessen Horowitz

Reuters

Krystal Scanlan

Daniel Tencer

 

 

LINKS:

Andreesen Horowitz to the TikTok Rescue?

https://www.reuters.com/technology/andreessen-horowitz-talks-help-buy-out-tiktoks-chinese-owners-ft-reports-2025-04-01/

But Folks are taking it in stride

https://digiday.com/marketing/marketers-are-calmer-about-tiktoks-future-in-the-u-s-even-as-its-ads-team-thins-out/

Triller's bad week. Sued again...

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/merlin-sues-tiktok-rival-triller-for-breach-of-contract-over-allegedly-unpaid-music-licensing-fees/

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.fm

Https://hangout.fm

Lydia's V30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tG6NjUzug

Jack Hedges has an AI Axe to grind.

 

Names In Today's Pod:

Jack Hedges

Canvasback Music

Transgressive Records

Dylan Smith

Mandy Dalugdug

Tiger Baby Records

Sony Music

Kakao

Hybe

 

LINKS:

Canvasback has cool artists

https://canvasbackmusic.com/

India Streaming in reverse gear

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/28/indian-music-market-2024-data/

But Sony is playng the long game

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-music-forms-record-label-joint-venture-with-tiger-baby-films-in-latest-move-in-india/

Weverse launches listening parties (Hangouts are available to all artists)

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybes-weverse-launches-in-app-streaming-service-listening-party/

Every Superfan Coke deserves a Superfan Pepsi

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/youve-heard-of-superfan-app-weverse-now-the-parent-company-of-hybes-arch-rival-has-launched-a-direct-competitor-meet-berriz/

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.fm

Https://hangout.fm

Syd Schwartz has a Record Store Day Axe to grind.

 

Names In Today's Pod:

Syd Schwartz

Jazz And Coffee

Roman Mars

Podcast Evolutions

99% Invisible

 

LINKS:

Syd's Awesome Substack

https://jazzandcoffee.substack.com/

Record Store Day

https://recordstoreday.com/

99% Invisible

https://99percentinvisible.org/

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.fm

Https://hangout.fm

Parasites regulating the music ecosystem and other oddities today...

 

Names in the pod today:

 

Charlie Hellman

Murray Stassen

Paul Resnikoff

Tom Corson

Lisa Wolfe

Dale Connone

TikTok

Spotify

GetReal

The Orchard

PPL

In2une

 

LINKS:

 

Tariffs vs TikTok

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/27/trump-lower-tariffs-china-tiktok-deal/

USA Streaming share

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/pro/dsp-ranking-2024-spotify-apple-music-two-thirds/

Spotify makes its artist case

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/charlie-hellman-22100-artists-generated-over-50-meaningful/

Get Real Raises a Bag

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/getreal-security-raises-17-5m-to-combat-ai-deepfakes/

PPL and PRS working together!

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/uk-collection-org-ppls-2024-revenue-jumps-6-yoy-to-record-384m/

Scalpers Fight Inflation?!?!

https://www.economist.com/finance-and-economics/2025/03/23/live-music-seems-recession-proof-thank-ticket-scalpers

In2uneXOrchard Promo

https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/in2une-to-take-over-orchard-promo-2025-04-03

Corson's Spirit Honor

https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/awards/tom-corson-honored-by-city-of-hope

WolfeXSeacrest

https://www.hitsdailydouble.com/news/nashville/seacrest-foundation-adds-ten-to-advisory-group-2025-03-19

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.FM

Hangout.fm

Idiosyncrasy and Complexity are the words of the day.

 

Names in the Pod today:

 

Anthropic

Soundcloud

Stubhub

Jeremy Zimmer

Ari Emanuel

Glenn Peoples

Elias Leight

Dylan Smith

The Pinnacle

 

LINKS:

Anthropic Wins one in AI

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/26/anthropic-lawsuit-music-publishers/

Soundcloud Flexes

https://www.billboard.com/pro/soundcloud-report-listeners-new-music-gen-z-tastemaker/

Stubhub Finally files for its IPO

https://www.billboard.com/pro/stubhub-ipo-2024-revenue-1-77-billion/

Agency Tectonics 1

https://news.pollstar.com/2025/03/19/david-kramer-set-to-succeed-jeremy-zimmer-as-uta-ceo/

Agency Tectonics 1

https://news.pollstar.com/2025/03/24/endeavor-goes-private-emanuel-drops-ceo-title-as-silver-lake-wraps-25b-deal/

The Pinnacle Probably won't sell out a lot

https://www.billboard.com/pro/pinnacle-aeg-presents-flagship-venue-nashville/

Shakira Rains Money on Mexico

https://www.billboard.com/pro/shakira-economic-impact-mexico-tour/

Anitta won't be wearing Pastel Goth this year

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/21/coachella-anitta-pull-out-2025/

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout

Https://hangout.fm

We are still talking about Napster! And TikTok is getting interesting again.

 

Names in the pod today:

Jon Vlassopoulous

Napster

Evan Spiegel

Blake Chandlee

TikTok

Ashley King

Elias Leight

Snapchat

Sapna Maheshwari

Andrew Hutchinson

Pinterest

 

 

Links:

Napster's Next Phase

https://www.billboard.com/pro/napster-acquired-infinite-reality/

Another Big TikTok Exit

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/technology/tiktok-ban-ads.html

TikTok as Usual

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/25/technology/tiktok-ban-ads.html

Evan Spiegel is the adult in the room

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/snap-ceo-evan-spiegel-zuckerberg-ar-content-moderation/743373

Pinterest enters the Aughts (guess which look I made up?)

https://www.socialmediatoday.com/news/pinterest-trends-coachella-2025/743400/

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.fm

Https://hangout.fm

Lydia's V30

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0tG6NjUzug

Lots of our Axe Grinder guests showing and proving...

 

Names In Today's Pod:

 

Milana Lewis

Kritin Graziani

Bob Valentine

Mark Meharry

Murray Stassen

Dylan Smith

Shara Senderoff

Howie SInger

Lee Martin

Matt Slifkin

Lauren Blitzer-Wright

Drew Thurlow

 

LINKS:

Two Takes on Concord Stem

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/concord-acquires-stem/

Mark Maharry

https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/on-understanding-the-critical-value-of-data-ownership/

Shara Senderoff Cares about AI Training Data...

https://www.billboard.com/pro/generative-ethical-ai-fix-music-licensing/

...So Does Howie Singer

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/key-changes-ai-fair-use-fussing-fighting-howie-singer-uc5oe/

Lee Martin Does another Cool Thing

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/leepaulmartin_last-week-i-had-a-wonderful-talk-with-matt-activity-7309930535361880064-uTgi

Axegrinders Launch a podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIpdwU8Rmgk

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.fm

Https://hangout.fm

The Wisdom of Avenue Q is eternal...

 

Names In Today's Pod:

Ted Gioia

Daniel Ek

Ashley Carman

Kyle Barr

Mandy Dalugdug

Winter Music Conference

Miami Music Week

Ultra Music Festival

BillBoard Women In Music

 

LINKS:

Inflation Adjusted Hype

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ted-gioia-338597_question-what-happens-when-you-adjust-music-activity-7308904561858031617-dxP4?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios&rcm=ACoAAAAC_y4Bj_55MYX2ryKaHuxhU84V4OgAAeM

Spotify Is for Porn

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2025-03-20/porn-on-spotify-is-infiltrating-the-streaming-service-s-top-podcast-charts?srnd=undefined

https://gizmodo.com/spotify-is-blocking-porn-that-rises-to-top-of-podcasts-2000579307

A Creator Friendly AI decision

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/21/ai-generated-works-cannot-be-copyrighted-in-the-us-court-of-appeals-rules/     

The Great Spotify Cash Out Continues

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/20/nmpa-spotify-criticism-stock-sales/

Miami Music Week

 

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.fm

Https://hangout.fm

Welcome to all the new listeners this week! We explain some of our shorthand.

 

Names in the pod today:

IFPI

Dylan Smith

Jamie Marconette

Isabela Raygoza

QoBuz

Dan Mackta

Elizabeth Dilts Marshall

STEM

Paul Resnikoff

Primary Wave

Tencent

Deezer

 

 

 

LINKS:

DMN on IFPI

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/19/global-music-industry-revenue-2024

The IFPI full preort

https://globalmusicreport.ifpi.org/

Mexico Conquers Australia https://www.billboard.com/pro/mexico-top-10-global-music-market-ifpi-report/

Qobuz opens the kimono

https://www.billboard.com/pro/qobuz-releases-per-stream-royalty-rate-streaming-platform/

Song value now vs 1999

https://www.billboard.com/pro/how-much-hit-song-worth-today-1999-analysis/

One Rod for Stem

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/20/concord-stem-acquisition-price/

Two Rods for Biggie

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/20/primary-wave-notorious-big-catalog-2/

TenCent Earnings

https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/03/18/tencent-music-earnings-q4-2024

Deezer Earnings

https://www.billboard.com/pro/deezer-2024-earnings-revenue/

RoyFi

https://www.RoyFI.com

Hangout.FM

Hangout.fm

Park Slope Divorce Show

https://partiful.com/e/usAXNMM80wQ8MVcYBDqt