This week, industry headlines circle around a central theme: control. From how fans form deeper bonds with artists to how platforms are trying to offer more customization to users (or not), one thing is clear: record labels and music publishers are navigating an evolving ecosystem where fandom, formats, and algorithms are constantly being redefined.
#1. Building Fandom is a Long-Run Strategy
MIDiA’s latest blog is here to remind us that fandom is truly based on narrative. More than relying on passive listening, superfans are developed through interactive experiences that unfold over time. Many activations have their place: alternate accounts, cryptic Easter eggs, and even fan-involved creative decisions.
For record labels and publishers, that means rethinking release strategies to reward curiosity and build scarcity. Surface-level engagement won’t cut it in a world where attention is the currency.
#2. Deezer Wants “More Customization, More Control, More Connection”
In an interview with Music Ally, Deezer’s CEO, Alexis Lanternier, outlined the platform’s guiding principle: additive AI, not destructive AI. More than tracking AI-generated tracks, the company is focused on restoring user agency by letting fans train their own recommendation engines. That’s good news for catalog owners. But with fraud still muddying the data behind the scenes, transparency and curation are more critical than ever.
#3. Questioning Loyalty to Spotify
The latest Music X piece questioned the industry’s continued dependence on Spotify. Why is that? Algorithm fatigue, stagnant royalties, and poor creator equity. The real kicker: the convenience that hooked us might be the very reason we’re stuck. It’s a wake-up call for rights-holders to diversify our platforms, but also formats, pricing models, and fan channels.
#4. Streaming Keeps Growing, on Various Levels
Luminate reported a 10.3% YoY increase in global audio song streams for the first half of 2025, crossing 2.5 trillion plays. But the U.S. is slowing (+4.6%) compared to non-U.S. growth (+12.6%). Also notable: niche genres like Christian and Gospel are seeing major jumps, particularly among Gen Z women. Meanwhile, nostalgia continues its climb, with “recession pop” (2007–2012) gaining serious traction. If you’re curious, the full report is available!
#5. Roblox Steps Into Licensing
To wrap up our Weekly Roundup, a focus on big implications for music licensing: Roblox launched a licensing platform allowing developers to use IP from the likes of Netflix, Lionsgate, and Sega. With in-game concerts and branded virtual worlds already a proven format, this opens up a new frontier for music rights holders to embed catalogs directly into immersive experiences.
