The Price of Music 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?!
Your easy weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. Become a Superfan of the podcast for free – and enjoy the exclusive weekly Lock-in bonus section!
This week...
$63.5bn is a very big number – but is it worth paying this much for Universal Music Group?
A report suggests that 2025 and 2026 saw a ‘pop slump’ in the streaming charts – but what does ‘pop slump’ even mean?
If you were on the Artemis II moon mission, what space-related songs songs would you force your fellow astronauts to listen to?
And another study has found that nearly half of music fans think merch is becoming unaffordable – what's your t-shirt buying budget?
Do you have an irrational hatred of a certain artist's music – and just can't change your mind?
People are getting hesitant about buying gig tickets – and gig cancellations due to poor ticket sales are starting to happen. Steve digs in and has some concerns.
Celine Dion: Now Big With The Kids! (OK, maybe not The Kids, but people under the age of 35 are reviving her career...)
Guitars, synths, drum machines... they're definitely all musical instruments. Mayonnaise? Not so much. Or is it...?
Instagram says it’s the "home of music superfans". But what does that actually mean for those fans and their favourite artists?
And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our Patreon Superfans, Steve and Stu prop themselves at the bar – and Steve's getting the first round in – as they discuss this week's bonus material:
Steve remembers Paul Jackson, the man responsible for UK indie venue stalwart The Hull Adelphi.
More chat on the possible takeover of Universal Music - and what does it say about the state of the most successful music company? Is it good for artists? And what about fans?
Recommendations of music in other media: some good books to read on the music industry, and in the theatre, Rebecca Lucy Taylor (AKA Self Esteem) in the revived play Teeth 'n' Smiles.
The huge increase in women headlining the major UK venue The O2 – and what it means about where pop is going.
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As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!
Email us: thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com
See you next week!
Steve and Stuart
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