Spotify announces cut of 1,500 jobs with 17 per cent of workforce facing axe

Twisted Sister‘s Dee Snider has hit out at Spotify, suggesting CEO Daniel Ek “should be taken out and shot” for unfairly compensating artists.The streaming platform has frequently come under fire for the low rates at which it pays artists, which has contributed to many artists struggling to make enough money directly from their music. Recently, Spotify controversially changed its royalty streaming threshold of 1000 plays before songs are able to generate royalties.According to Spotify data, there are around 100million songs on the service, yet only around 37.5million meet the new requirements to generate revenue.Snyder’s criticism for the platform and its CEO, who he didn’t refer to by name, came during an interview with the YouTube podcast The Jeremy White Show.“That guy from Spotify, I wanna tell you, he should be taken out and shot,” Snider said (via Consequence of Sound), presumably referring to Ek.

Billie Eilish‘s third studio album is “85 per cent done”, according to her brother and collaborator Finneas.Finneas produced and co-wrote Eilish’s first two records – ‘When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?’ (2019) and ‘Happier Than Ever’ (2021) – as well as her two-track 2022 EP ‘Guitar Songs’.During a new interview with Mr Porter, he gave an update on the pop star’s next full-length effort. Finneas said the LP was currently “85 per cent done”, but admitted that the process had been “challenging” this time around.The article noted some of Eilish’s recent interviews in which she has spoken about experiencing a period of writer’s block.

An Audit Scotland report has revealed more than half of all Perth and Kinross Council's (PKC) housing failed to meet Scottish Housing Quality Standards in 2021/22.

Kanye West showcased a host of new songs from his forthcoming album last night (December 12) and one of them featured a Backstreet Boys song.The track ‘Everybody’ features a recreated chorus from Charlie Wilson, who joins West, Ty Dolla $ign and Lil Baby on the track, instead of mining a sample from the boy band’s famous 1997 hit ‘Everybody (Backstreet’s Back)’. You can view the performance of the track below.A sample would require permission from both a record label and a publisher, but because an interpolation – which is essentially a cover of a segment of a song re-sung or re-played in another song – does not use a recording, only the publisher’s permission is required.Because Backstreet Boys did not write the song they have no control over its use.

Kanye West appears to have announced that his new collaborative album with Ty Dolla $ign will be released on Friday (December 15).West, who legally changed his name to Ye last year, made an appearance in a club over the weekend, where, as reported by The Independent, he was overheard saying, “It’s called ‘Vultures’, and it’s coming out this Friday.”Last week, Ty confirmed the album’s tracklisting with a handwritten note posted on Instagram. The album is expected to be released under the artist name ¥$, and is said to include features from Freddie Gibbs, Playboi Carti, Future, James Blake, Nicki Minaj and several others.In November, the rapper returned with the record’s first single, ‘Vultures’.

Beyoncé has been CALLED OUT!

mental health services over the past two years.The charity, which supports professional musicians in the UK, has warned of a growing mental health crisis in the industry, reporting a 200 per cent increase in people engaging with their services.Help Musicians has a dedicated mental health service called Music Minds Matter, a free, 24/7 service which was launched last year and allows musicians access to counsellors who offer emotional support, advice and information.According to the charity, the burgeoning mental health crisis is connected to financial issues, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic which temporarily brought touring to a halt.“Music is a serious career,” head of Help Musicians Joe Hastings told the BBC. “People creating music work incredibly hard and have very difficult schedules.“It’s a very competitive industry, lots of late nights and time away from home.”He added: “People need to be respected for their abilities and skills, which needs to be reflected in what they earn and the level of skill involved.”One Bristol-based performer said the charity paid for 10 sessions of therapy.

Todd Spangler NY Digital Editor Spotify said chief financial officer Paul Vogel will leave the company next year and that it has launched a search to find a replacement. Vogel’s last day at Spotify will be March 31, 2024.

Spotify said chief financial officer Paul Vogel will be leaving at the end of March. The news comes several days after the music streamer announced about 1,500 layoffs, some 17% of its workforce.

Tidal has laid off 40 members of staff across multiple departments, amounting to 10 per cent of its total staff.The music streaming service is owned by Twitter founder Jack Dorsey’s company Block, which has been making layoffs across its many branches, which also include Square and Cash App.As reported by Bloomberg, the layoffs include Jeff Benjamin, a former member of Tidal’s editorial team, along with other members of the editorial staff.In a statement from the company, they said: “As part of Block and its recent announcement to cap the number of employees at the company to focus on business growth, TIDAL has carefully considered how to right-size our team to ensure we are able to continue to build and invest in critical areas of the business.”“We do not take these decisions lightly, and we are sincerely grateful for the contributions of our impacted teammates.”Earlier this week, Spotify also announced that they were cutting down 17 per cent of its workforce in order to save costs. The streaming platform had previously laid off 6 per cent of its staff earlier in the year.Spotify chief executing Daniel Ek said that the recent decision was made as economic growth had “slowed dramatically”.

Max Richter has announced a new audio workshop, SRM Sounds, created in collaboration with his multimedia production studio, Studio Richter Mahr.SRM Sounds offers musicians an opportunity to harness the sound of Richter’s personal collection of instruments and sonic explorations at Studio Richter Mahr in the English countryside and to compose their own songs with them.Working with ex-Spitfire Audio CEO Will Evans and his new venture Song Athletics – to bring the instruments in his studio to digital life – the first product to be released is SRM Sounds #001 which is a Steinway grand piano.With Richter’s distinct musical signature meticulously captured and transformed into digital format, creators will be able to immerse themselves in the tones and intricate nuances of the revered instrument.Essentially, once SRM Sounds #001 has been purchased and downloaded, any composer around the world can use that sound, and ‘play’ as though Richter himself was there.“For composers, sound is an incredibly personal and very emotional thing. For many of us, the experience of falling in love with the physical and tactile aspects of sound is what got us into music in the first place, so working with sounds that aren’t quite right is really disturbing.

Olly Murs has announced he is expecting his first child with wife Amelia, five months after the couple got married. The 39-year-old singer surprised his fans and followers with the joyous news on Wednesday (December 6) as he took to Instagram to share a sweet photo showing off his wife's blossoming baby bump.

Massive Attack will play their first live show since 2019 next summer, with the event described as a "large-scale climate action accelerator event" and "the lowest carbon show of its size ever staged" by the group. The show will take place on August 25 at Clifton Downs in Bristol, England.

Spotify has announced it is cutting 17% of its staff, with around 1800 jobs expected to be lost in the process. Chief executive Daniel Ek broke the news on Monday, saying in a public memo that the "difficult" decision was made in reponse to economic growth slowing "dramatically." Ek said "substantial action to rightsize our costs" was required in order for the company to reach its financial targets.

Kasabian have announced a huge ‘Summer Solstice II’ show in their hometown of Leicester ahead of a new album, ‘Happenings’.The band will be performing at Leicester’s Victoria Park on Saturday July 6 with Kaiser Chiefs set to support. More opening acts are set to be announced in due course.“We are truly honoured to be playing Victoria Park in our beloved hometown, with all our people for summer solstice two,” the band said in a press release.

Music streaming service Spotify will cut about 17% of its global workforce, becoming the latest big tech company feel the bite of the economy.

Ellise Shafer Spotify is laying off 17% of its global workforce in order to cut costs, CEO Daniel Ek said on Monday. According to the Financial Times, Ek made the announcement in an internal memo sent to staff.

Fat Joe has claimed he has lied in “95 per cent” of his songs, criticising the use of Young Thug‘s lyrics in his current RICO trial.The rapper joined Gayle King on CNN in a discussion of Young Thug’s trial, who was charged with several felonies alongside Gunna including two gang-related charges in 2022. Both men have denied their charges, with Young Thug having his bail denied three times. Gunna was released from prison in December 2022 after entering a negotiated plea; Young Thug’s case is still ongoing.In November this year, it was ruled that Young Thug’s lyrics could be used in his trial subject to certain conditions.

UFC fighter Conor McGregor and his partner Dee Devlin have announced the birth of their fourth child.The proud parents already share Conor Jr, six, Croia, four, and Rian, two.Taking to Twitter, now known as X, to share the wonderful news, he penned: "My baby boy is born! Mammy and baby doing amazing, 8.1lbs of prime Irish double champion beef!" Fans rushed to send their congratulations to the star as one commented: "Congratulations Conor and Dee. God bless the McGregor family", while another added: "Congratulations on being blessed with a strong Irish son!" A third quipped: "congratulations… you’ll both be busy.. Enjoy these special moments".

New Order have confirmed they will play a special homecoming gig at Wythenshawe Park next year. The gig will take place next August Bank Holiday on Saturday, August 24.