All Episodes
The Price of Music — 140 episodes
Is the music streaming boom over? Is an AI-song about to become a real hit? Which lower league Welsh football club would YOUR favourite artist sponsor? And much more...
Music streaming fraud – how does it work, who's making millions, and why does it need so much AI music?
Andy Burnham gives UK grassroots venues hope; Spotify takes on YouTube; Emo is big in Mexico; Suno user data hacked; and... K-POP SHARKS!
Over 50% of new songs uploaded are now AI-made(!); Lorde bashes Meta and Spotify; Why is Keith Richards in Roblox?; Is the Michael Jackson movie Bad or a Thriller?
Making records out of recycled plastic bottles for Coldplay and Lorde
StubHub UK fined for ticket pricing; Artists' AI training pressure; Suno gives artists money; James Blake vs journalists; Artists' open letter for Fossil Fuel Treaty.
Music prediction markets: a half-billion dollar business based on guessing what will happen in music...
The Happy Mondays want to sell you a giant pill; World Cup songs: reviewed; Lionel Richie's phrases trademarked; YouTube's AI clause; Tupac is back (again); plus much more...
The UK's fan-led live music revolution: saving grassroots venues & fixing ticket rip-off pricing – with Lord Kevin Brennan and Shain Shapiro
Boards of Canada beef with, erm, The White House; Turning text message drama into songs; Universal says "no" to $55bn; Stream League lets you play Fantasy A&R; Last•fm goes indie; and more!
Ozzy Osbourne is... back?; Spotify's new tickets-for-fans feature; Does recycled vinyl sound good?; Drake's hit trio of albums; and Badger Badger Badger Badger...
Bangaranga post-Eurovision; Zara Larsson’s virtual pyjamas; Steve’s big announcement; How many songs have you heard on Spotify?; Plus: World Cup Muppets!
Los Campesinos! share US tour costs; Blue Dot Fever; 37% of UK grassroots venues in danger; AI label has AI band making AI music for AI fans; Drink beer, support artists!; and much more...
William Shatner's metal album; The Jimi Hendrix High Court Experience; Recycled vinyl; The UK's ban on touting/scalping is on pause; Big Spotify numbers; and more...
Looking ahead to 2026: Live music's pivotal year; More reunion tours; How influential is the UK record industry now?; And Oasis: Knebworth in 2026 – or 2027?
Which pub was Olivia Rodrigo drinking Guinness in? Can AIs run a record label? Taylor Swift trademarks her speaking voice; AND... Heavy metal dinosaurs.
Live Nation loses in court; Strong Opinions On Geese (of course); Live royalty argy-bargy; and live music reform in the UK...
Radiohead's secret bunker; the Kanye/Wireless fallout; and how is the world's oldest record shop preparing for Record Store Day 2026? We chat to owner Ashli Todd to find out...
Is merch getting unaffordable?; Bands cancelling gigs due to low ticket sales; Are we in a "Pop Slump"?; Music in space; Do you have irrational hate for a specific artist?; and Celine Dion is back?!
Twigs Vs Twigs! Just how big is country music in the UK now?; Timbaland's new artist is unreal; Digging for deep cuts; and how much is AI Slop worth?
Radiohead's twenty-show limit; Spotify lets you tweak its algorithm; Steve's SXSW debrief; BTS' mega-livestream; and... Salt-n-Pepa!
Asking fans to help wind the cables: Picture Parlour on what it's really like to be a touring indie band in 2026
Radiohead and Kesha are furious; Artists are struggling to tour; Football cosies up to music; and buying a slice of your favourite artist
Phonk: the biggest genre you've (probably) not heard of; Only 20% of the 2025 UK Top 100 were performed by UK artists; What is 'radio plugging'?; and your ashes in an urn that's also a speaker...
Bigger than Ed Sheeran – have you heard of Mrs Green Apple? Why are so many old bands in the album charts? (And so few in the singles chart?) Plus: The Wiggles!
“Managers do a lot more than they used to...” – super-manager Niamh Byrne on Gorillaz, how the role of manager is changing, and more
Why did Taylor Swift snub YouTube? Did Bad Bunny's Superbowl show boost his streaming numbers? Do teenagers want to go to gigs any more?
Have world tours stopped doing the "tour" part?; Apple Music had 2bn(!) fraudulent streams in 2025; Spotify pays out $11bn; and Bonnie Tyler speaks out!
The battle to keep one of the UK's great grassroots venues alive, buying the venue with the help of the community, and the many challenges small venues face in 2026 – with Ricky Bates of The Joiners
Over 50 million songs got zero streams in 2025 – and other eye-popping data on music streaming
Elon Musk versus the music industry; AI slop vs human artists - who gets paid?; How can YOU make and sell vinyl records?; and all hail the London Metal Ladies
Looking ahead to 2026: Live music's pivotal year; More reunion tours; How influential is the UK record industry now?; And Oasis: Knebworth in 2026 – or 2027?
The Price of Music Christmas Quiz 2025!
Los Campesinos! share their streaming money data (and it's... sobering); Could a new budget policy be "the death knell for small venues"?; And what are Steve & Stu's Spotify Wrapped 'listening ages'?
Spotify Wrapped is here (and why is it a big deal?); Why aren't there any matinee gigs?; Olivia Dean takes on Ticketmaster; and Jorja Smith takes on AI clones
Exploding toilet cancels gig - but will the band and fans get their money back?; Is Spotify putting up prices again?; and yet more Baby Shark news
Why don't venues advertise set times for gigs?; Ticket resale prices capped in the UK; Megadeth brew beer; *How many* people are already listening to "All I Want For Christmas Is You"?; & much more...
Why have The 1975 deleted a song? Can YOU tell the difference between AI music & real music (Answer: no.); An answer to why Fleetwood Mac are *still* popular; And music made £8bn for the UK in 2024…
Major label Universal to make AI-music service with Udio; How did Billie Eilish annoy Billionaires?; Spotify under fire over controversial ICE ads; Why are there no rap tracks in the US Top 40?
Fans First: Lord Kevin Brennan on fixing live music from the ground up - Bonus Episode
Steve & Stu answer listener's questions: Why do ticket prices vary so much at the same venue? Why are some songwriter credits missing on streaming platforms (and do they still get paid)?
Spotify will launch an AI-music service... but what might it be – and will artists get paid? MTV shuts its music video channels; The Irish basic income for musicians; and Stu sings Baby Shark (again)
How difficult is it to put on a music festival these days, anyway?
Coldplay's first single is now worth *how much*? The best new band Steve's seen in months; An AI vs human band dust up; A splendidly indignant speech from RAYE; and Steve & Stu vs ‘Baby Shark’
Steve reflects on working as a music journalist in the 1990s – and has lots to say on music journalism today; Spotify deletes 75 million "spam songs"; and why is TikTok so important to music?
Massive Attack pull music from Spotify in protest; Ticketmaster sued by US government; Lizzo thinks that music videos are dead; More album-filing dilemmas; & people are listening to "My Humps" again?
*How many* AI-generated songs are uploaded to streaming each week? Why are Radiohead's fans angry about tickets? Why has Spotify given users lossless music for free? And much more...
Morrissey, Mazzy Star, and, erm, Bonnie Tyler: selling The Smiths’ songs, and the truth on music streaming royalties – do artists REALLY get such a bad deal?
The Weeknd’s big streaming milestone; ABBA Gold’s long chart run; Ready for friends to slide into your Spotify DMs?; Apple Music Radio expands; and Radiohead’s ‘Let Down’ gets a TikTok boost.Th
Coldplay's never-ending world tour keeps selling tickets; K-Pop Demon Hunters!; What on earth is "speculative ticketing"?; Bandcamp's $3.5m Friday; and has Steve actually “gone deaf for a living?”
Spotify's prices go up again; Which album's songs are in the wrong order?; Napster are being sued (is it 1999 again?); How easy is it to get a #1 album?; Steve's tip for getting into a sold-out gig
Beyoncé sells $400m+ of tickets; How much money is Oasis making from merch?; Spotify wants a billion subscribers; Hayley Williams surprise-releases songs; and Cardi B’s "full-on cheese experience"...
Steve and Stu answer your questions! Does the money from a stream get split evenly? Do bands get paid if a festival is cancelled? How do music-making AIs work? What is Spotify's Discovery Mode?
Will Drake face Kendrick in the witness box?; Los Campesinos! turn down a $60,000 ad deal – but why?; Steve takes a music superfan test; ... and what connects Taylor Swift & Five Finger Death Punch?
How do songwriters *really* earn money (and which bands moonlight as cover bands)?; Spotify under investigation; Netflix K-Pop animation artists; and Ozzy Osbourne's chimpanzee art
Oasis are back; The AI-generated band with a million listeners; Indies vs Universal Music spat gets grumpy; and who owns your songs if your label goes bust?
The Price of Music: your essential weekly music biz explainer – with Steve Lamacq and Stuart Dredge. (Trailer)
Spotify responds to Kate Nash’s comments on streaming royalties, Warner Music's superfan app
AI music startup Suno in hot water again, South African artists double their Spotify payouts
PPL posts highest ever annual revenues, Harry Kane invests in ticketing firm
US hits 100 million paid music subscriptions, Mariah Carey cleared of copyright infringement
SXSW finances analysed, the music economy of Gloucestershire
Interview: Youth Music CEO Matt Griffiths
Brit Awards artists speak out on grassroots venues, Snoop Dogg vs Spotify
Over 1,000 artists back 'silent' AI protest album, Casey Lowery making debut album through Kickstarter campaign
Spotify's new superfan tier, Sony's multi-billion dollar revenues
Ticketmaster cancel Oasis tickets, The Black Crowes relaunch Crowe-Mafia club
James Blake lifts the lid on the music industry, The Libertines as holograms
Spotify and Universal sign new licensing deal, Deezer publishing 10,000 AI-generated tracks every day
Interview: Simon Raymonde, Cocteau Twins and Bella Union records
Travis Scott, SZA and Future sued by Victory Boyd, Ed Sheeran launches music education foundation
UK recorded music revenue hits all-time record, Neil Young and Glastonbury
Virgin Music Group buying Downtown Music Holdings, Bad Boy Chiller Crew file legal claim against their record label
Artists' royalties for tracks featured on adverts, how much it costs to cancel a live tour
Kate Nash's OnlyFans "punk protest", Drake's legal action against Universal and Spotify over Kendrick Lamar track
UK government backs ticket levy on stadium and arena shows, Spotify hits 250m premium subscribers
Interview: Annabella Coldrick, Music Managers Forum chief executive
Ed Sheeran beats copyright appeal over Thinking Out Loud, Hipgnosis Songs Fund catalog valued at $2.4bn
Björn Ulvaeus and Thom Yorke among thousands warning AI companies over copyright, Lily Allen's OnlyFans foot pic revenue vs music streaming
How artists pay for samples, live music loyalty schemes
Interview: Jonathan Green, boss of EarMUSIC/MPS Records and Megan Page, organiser of Record Store Day UK
ABBA Voyage revenue tops £100m, Doja Cat teams up with Airbnb
The money behind music videos, Noel Gallagher's publishing rights explained
Oasis ditch dynamic pricing for their US tour, Kesha launches her own record label
The most profitable merch for artists, paying for support slots
TikTok Music shutting down, Miley Cyrus accused of copying Bruno Mars song
Interview: UK Music chief executive Tom Kiehl
Coldplay pledge 10% of tour profits to grassroots venues, Beyonce explains why she's stopped making music videos
Interview: Timm Cleasby, Tramlines Festival operations director, former Arctic Monkeys tour manager
Competition watchdog launches Oasis tickets investigation, The White Stripes sue Donald Trump
Spending on UK live music hits £6.1bn, Method Man says he’s never been paid for streams
Oasis reunion special
Streaming playlists, 'independent label' defined
Interview: Official Charts chief executive Martin Talbot
Interview: Sam Duckworth, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly
The 1975 sued by Malaysia’s Good Vibes Festival, Live Nation posts quarterly revenues of $6bn
Apollo's $700m Sony investment, Universal's share price dip
Interview: Kelly Wood, National Organiser for Live, Theatre & Music Writers at the Musicians' Union
Ticket platform DICE looking for fresh investment, Mungo Jerry employ anti-piracy firm
Secondary ticketing websites vs touts, how music metadata works
How much could Oasis be offered to reform, Beastie Boys suing restaurant chain Chilli's
Interview: Tom Robinson
Coldplay settle with former manager, Rema's Calm Down hits 2bn Spotify streams
Indoor v outdoor gig costs, podcast music royalties
Songwriters sue PRS for Music, Kanye West and Donna Summer's estate reach a settlement
The money behind Bandcamp, songwriter royalties for live covers
Glastonbury finances, record labels vs AI companies
Listener questions: Difference between PRS and PPL, how the money from gig tickets gets split
Twitch deal lets DJs play music in livestreams, streaming services must pay 5% of revenue to support Canadian music
Live at Crossed Wires: Sarah Brooksbank and Ross Orton
Sony Music boss tells streaming services to ditch their free tier, Queen back catalogue up for sale
Interview: Jo Twist, chief executive of the BPI, which represents major and independent labels in the UK
How music royalty payments work, Murder on the Dancefloor money post-Saltburn
Sony Music tells AI companies not to use its artists' work, music publishers sue Spotify
Interview: Caius Pawson, co-founder of climate strategy charity Murmur and founder of record label Young
Arena and stadium ticket levy, Live Nation revenue up 20%
Interview: singer-songwriter Lucy Rose
The money side of music and workplaces, venues and merchandise
Co-op Live Arena opening problems, Billie Eilish announces 81-date world tour
Interview: TikTok artists Charlie Tyler and Russell James Williams
Hipgnosis Songs Fund bidding war, 'nature' recognised as musical artist
StubHub looking at stock market flotation, Trent Reznor says streaming has ‘mortally wounded’ artists
Measuring physical album sales, artists' podcast revenues
Artificial Intelligence special, indie labels back Universal versus TikTok
Blur drummer Dave Rowntree leading legal challenge over songwriter royalties, BMG annual revenues up to £775m
Musicians and pensions, radio play payments
Global recorded music revenues up more than 10%, James Blake backs launch of Vault
UK recorded music revenue up more than 8%, Deezer removes 26m tracks
Interview: Global Head of Spotify for Artists, marketing and policy, Sam Duboff
Vinyl special: The cost of releasing vinyl records
European Commission fines Apple over €1.8bn, Raye calls for songwriters to receive “master royalty points”
Interview: Nathan Clark, owner of the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds
Four of the top ten best-selling artists worldwide from South Korea, UMG buys majority stake in Nigerian label Mavin
Headliners and supporting acts - who gets what?
The money behind Spotify, Sony Music buys half of Michael Jackson's music catalogues
Interview: Nadia Khan, founder and chief executive of Women in CTRL
Warner Music Group laying off 10% of staff, Belfast rappers Kneecap suing the UK government
Universal Music Group vs TikTok in depth, who foots the bill for low ticket sales
One in ten UK grassroots venues closed last year, 45 million tracks on Spotify had zero plays
Introducing... The Price of Music