Spotify Hits 300M Subs, WMG Q2 Up 9% After CFO Exit - August 4

Email us hereSpotify crossed 300 million Premium subscribers in Q2 2026 — a first for any audio streaming service — while WMG posted surprise-early Q2 results the same week its CFO/COO abruptly departed. Meanwhile, the EU AI Act's enforcement deadline arrived, putting real legal teeth behind transparency rules for AI music platforms. Deals & M&A • WMG Q2 revenue up 9% YoY, subscriptions up 11%, net income $204M; CFO Zerza out, Dickler steps in as acting CFO • Merlin strikes Spotify licensing deal for generative-AI fan covers and remixes, extending UMG's May agreement to indie labels • BMG acquires Wolfmother frontman Andrew Stockdale's publishing, recorded, and neighboring rights • TREBEL acquires superfan engagement platform Sesh to deepen artist-fan tools across the Americas Lawsuits & AI • EU AI Act enforcement began August 2: AI audio must carry labels and watermarks, GPAI platforms must publish training-data summaries • Cher appeals denial of $1M+ attorney-fee recovery from Mary Bono; judge ruled dispute was contract, not copyright law • ISP Grande Communications seeks ~$4M in bond-premium costs from major labels as UMG v. Grande nears conclusion Streaming & Tech • Spotify Q2: 300M Premium subs, €4.78B revenue up 14%, €545M net income; shares fell ~4% on soft Q3 MAU outlook • Apple Music Classical launches first time-synchronized listening guide to Wagner's Ring cycle on its 150th anniversary Artists & Releases • BTS Grammy performance videos scrubbed from Recording Academy channels; Academy cites routine licensing expiration • Alicia Keys departs WME after nearly 15 years, signs with CAA International • Singapore permanently bans Massive Attack's two core members after Palestinian flag display at July 29 concert Five minutes, six categories, zero fluff.