It seems that last week was a time for reflection on what strategies work and should be pushed further and repositioning discourses. Curious about what you could activate in the latest trends? This Weekly Roundup is for you!
#1. Fan Engagement’s new tool: the Docuseries
After talking at length about the strategies behind the various musicians' biopics currently flooding movie theaters, now is the time to talk docuseries!
The success of Netflix’s Drive to Survive reshaped sports fandom by drawing in new audiences through compelling storytelling. Now, the music industry is tapping into this strategy with artist-focused docuseries. From The Beatles: Get Back to Taylor Swift’s Miss Americana, these projects don’t just serve superfans; they re-ignite interest in back catalogs, spark social media engagement, and create cultural moments. Recent successes, like Boyzone: No Matter What, show that well-timed music documentaries can drive album sales and online conversations, making them a powerful tool for labels and publishers looking to maximize artist exposure.
#2. Finding the Line: AI Sampling or Plagiarism?
With AI tools generating songs in seconds and copyright lawsuits piling up, the music industry is facing a new wave of legal battles over plagiarism. Recent cases, from Ed Sheeran's courtroom defense to AI-generated tracks sparking lawsuits from major labels, show how blurred the lines are between inspiration, imitation, and outright infringement.
For now, courts rely on "substantial similarity" tests, expert opinions, and, increasingly, AI-driven plagiarism detection. Meanwhile, music publishers are suing AI companies for training models on copyrighted material.
As technology advances, artists and labels must stay ahead, ensuring their work is protected while navigating an evolving legal landscape. How? Kill The DJ tried to bring answers to that!
#3. Quick Copyright Reform + 75 000 tracks takedown
At the same time, Sony is pushing back against the UK government’s proposed copyright reforms, which would allow AI companies to train on copyrighted materials unless creators actively opt out. Sony argues this approach is “unworkable” and risks harming the UK’s £7.6 billion music industry, likening it to requiring homeowners to tag their belongings to prevent theft.
However, Sony emphasizes it is not against AI itself and is actively exploring licensing agreements with AI developers. With platforms like Deezer seeing 10 000 new AI-generated tracks uploaded daily and startups like Udio and Suno AI producing millions of recordings, the conversation around balancing innovation with creator rights is more urgent than ever.
#4. Amazon Music Sparks Backlash on Minimum-Pay Threshold
Amazon Music is now also setting a new minimum-play threshold for royalty payments—part of its “artist-centric” model, which is drawing criticism from indie music advocates. IMPALA, the European independent music trade body, has pushed back, warning that the policy could demonetize up to 70% of indie artists’ catalogs overnight.
Amazon follows Spotify’s lead, which last year introduced a 1 000 stream annual minimum before tracks can generate royalties. While major label hits remain unaffected, independent and unsigned artists now face steeper challenges in monetizing their work, especially amid a flood of AI-generated music and streaming fraud.
With fewer users than Spotify, Amazon’s streaming threshold details remain unclear. As frustration grows, some artists are exploring alternative platforms. Whether these shifts will drive change in streaming remains to be seen, but the debate over fairer compensation is far from over.
#5. Spotify Highlights Indie Payouts
Spotify is making a conscious effort to reshape its narrative around artist compensation, emphasizing its role in empowering independent musicians. In its latest Loud and Clear report, the company revealed that half of its $10 billion royalty payouts in 2024, an increase of $500 million from the previous year, went to indie labels and artists.
This announcement comes as Spotify celebrates its first-ever profitable year but continues to face criticism over low per-stream payouts and recent policy changes. Many tracks still don’t meet the minimum threshold for monetization, and the platform’s bundling strategy previously angered the songwriter community.
Spotify’s messaging suggests a push to “acculturate” artists to its streaming model, positioning itself as a transparent player in an evolving ecosystem. However, with indie artists struggling to break through a crowded platform, the industry remains divided on whether this shift in tone truly reflects a more artist-friendly approach—or simply a strategic PR move.
