The days of low-cost music streaming could also be numbered

I’m actually bummed that we’re probably going to have to attend till 2024 for the subsequent season of House of the Dragon and likewise type of ashamed that I do know extra about Westerosi historical past than I do about, like, World War I (A Wiki of Ice and Fire is an actual bottomless pit). I may also miss my day-after routine of HOTD pods like Talk the Thrones and Boars, Gore, and Swords, so if anybody has some recent pods to suggest, hmu. 

Anyway, in the actual world, Apple is climbing its subscription costs, Spotify is reporting earnings, and Taylor Swift is among the final actual music stars.

Apple is elevating its subscription costs

Yesterday, 9to5Mac reported that Apple is growing the costs of its plans for Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, and Apple One. It’s the primary time Apple has raised its costs for these providers within the US, and given market forces, the transfer makes excellent sense (even whether it is annoying for me personally).

The video facet appears fairly lower and dry. TV streamers increase their costs commonly — Netflix did so in March, Hulu noticed a hike this month, and Disney Plus will get dearer in December. Plus, Apple TV Plus is in a a lot stronger place than when it debuted three years in the past at a measly $4.99 per thirty days. It has since scored business and demanding hits with Ted Lasso, Severance, and For All Mankind and even took house the Academy Award for Best Picture this 12 months for Coda. The streamer now prices $6.99 per thirty days.

The audio facet is a bit trickier. In an announcement to 9to5Mac, Apple cited the recent increase in licensing fees. Apple Music and its opponents should pay 15.35 % of music income to songwriters and publishing rights holders beginning, a 0.25 % enhance over the present price and practically 5 % greater than the outdated price. But at $10.99, Apple’s service is now dearer than Amazon Music, which is $8.99 per thirty days, and Spotify, which has been caught at $9.99 per thirty days for greater than a decade. And not like with video streamers, you may entry (principally) the very same music regardless of which audio service you decide.

That means the audio streamers should work tougher to distinguish themselves. Apple Music and Amazon Music supply high-quality audio, whereas Spotify is exploring HiFi just for Platinum Plan subscribers, who may reportedly be charged $19.99 per thirty days. Both Spotify and Amazon supply unique podcasting content material, too, whereas Apple Music is totally separate from Apple Podcasts. 

For me, the lossless audio on Apple and accessing the music library I’ve been constructing since center faculty is price the additional $1 per thirty days. And the value distinction might not final lengthy — I’d not be stunned if Apple’s resolution spurs comparable value will increase from Spotify and Amazon. Between inflation and the licensing charges, it appears inevitable.

What to search for in Spotify’s earnings right this moment

Spotify is posting its third-quarter earnings after market shut right this moment. Here are a few of the issues I’ll be holding my eye on:

• Podcast stats (duh): Last week, a user spotted a notification from Spotify that mentioned the streamer is now house to five,523,475 podcasts. Spotify has not confirmed that quantity but, however the firm likes to tout the scale of its podcast library as an indication of success (in lieu of, you realize, earnings). If that quantity seems to be true, that will be a fairly large leap from Spotify’s second-quarter figure of 4.4 million podcasts. Also, anticipate some severe celebrating of Meghan Markle’s podcast, the streamer’s most profitable unique speak present thus far.
• Subs: Spotify’s subscriptions have constantly exceeded expectations, and there’s no purpose to anticipate that they gained’t once more. Wells Fargo analyst Steve Cahall mentioned in a notice that whereas he’s curbing his estimate without spending a dime customers, based mostly on third-party knowledge, he nonetheless expects premium subscriptions to hit 195 million (up from 188 million final quarter). Wall Street consensus is nearer to 194 million, which might nonetheless signify a wholesome addition of 6 million paying subscribers. 
• Ad income: This is the place the worsening economic system could also be most strongly felt for the corporate. Advertising nonetheless represents lower than one-seventh of Spotify’s general enterprise, so a decline in advert income might not have a big impact. However, that is the place podcasting falls. The firm desires to see podcasting contribute extra in advert income with the intention to be much less reliant on music (which, re the licensing payment growth above, is changing into costlier). 
• Platinum Plan: The Spotify survey making the rounds earlier this month factors to the likelihood that Spotify might lastly ship HiFi — for a value. The survey included a number of completely different variations (and costs) of a Platinum plan, however the one which has grabbed essentially the most consideration would go for $19.99 per thirty days. In addition to HiFi, that plan would come with restricted adverts on podcasts, library and playlist managing instruments, and audio insights. I’ll be listening to see if it’s talked about on the investor name at 4:30PM ET.
• Audiobooks: Okay, there’ll probably not be a lot to say about audiobooks, which debuted on the app solely a month in the past. But maybe they’ll give just a few tidbits on what to anticipate for the vertical.

Taylor Swift’s Midnights has largest debut of any album within the final 5 years

I could also be partially chargeable for this, having listened to “Anti-Hero” on loop all weekend. Taylor Swift is maybe the one artist alive who can nonetheless promote 1 million albums in per week, an achievement that was uncommon even earlier than the rise of streaming. According to analysis agency Luminate, which offers the info for Billboard’s charts, Midnights earned 1.2 million equivalent album units in its first three days. The final time an album managed to rack up such numbers was in 2017 with Reputation by… Taylor Swift.

Hot Pod Summit and On Air LA Annex are subsequent week

We’re wanting ahead to seeing a bunch of you in LA subsequent week! Hot Pod Summit is bought out, however tickets are still available for On Air LA Annex. On Air Fest introduced the occasion’s full lineup this week, together with a stay taping of Object of Sound with Hrishikesh Hirway and the world premiere of ESPN 30 for 30’s Pink Card. 

That’s all for right this moment! See you subsequent week.