Spotify confirms streaming thresholds for new royalty model

Omid Scobie, the author of a new tell-all book on the royal family, says he did not interview the Duchess of Sussex for it.

Amid the Royal Family rift Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could "be invited for New Year" as King Charles wants to "mend bridges". This month rumours emerged that Harry and Meghan are "keen for reconciliation" after the prince reportedly called his father, King Charles, for his birthday earlier this month. In turn royal expert Jennie Bond spoke exclusively to OK! and said Charles "would like nothing better than to mend bridges" with his youngest son.

Neil Young has shared a video of himself performing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ on an electric guitar, urging viewers to “Stand For Peace”.The track was shared for Thanksgiving 2023 and sees the Canadian-American songwriter share a Jimi Hendrix-style version of the US national anthem while standing next to an American flag.The video was directed by Young’s wife Daryl Hannah and concludes with “Be Brave” and “Stand For Peace” written on the screen.Uploaded less than 24 hours ago, the video has already amassed just shy of 50,000 views online and, despite being titled ‘Stand For Peace’, it does not refer to any ongoing conflict in particular. Check out the cover of ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ below.Although the seemingly politically-motivated track doesn’t link directly to any current wars, it does arrive just days after the singer-songwriter posted a separate statement to social media speaking against the conflict in Israel and Palestine.“For our many Palestinian friends and our many Jewish friends, we do need to start over in the present and release our terrible connections to the past,” he wrote (via Consequence).

Spotify have confirmed that all songs on the platform must have a minimum of 1,000 streams before they can earn any royalties.The new regulations come following weeks of speculation about the new policies the streaming service would be introducing, including rumours that the company would be making it harder for artists to generate royalties from their music.These new amendments were finally outlined in a new blog post by Spotify yesterday (November 21), which noted several new policies that are being implemented in the hopes of containing the volume of content on the platform and minimising the risks of fraud.In these new policies, it was confirmed that Spotify would be introducing a payment threshold for 2024 – meaning that songs must hit 1,000 streams on the service before they can earn any 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.This means that around 60 per cent of tracks will not qualify for the new threshold, although Spotify did recall that these songs make up less than one per cent of the total number of streams on the service.Unsurprisingly, artists have been quick to share their take on the new changes to the royalty structure on Spotify, with some highlighting the negative impacts it will have on emerging talent.

CBS is finding success in taking its NCIS franchise Down Under.

Prison officers are being sought for HMP Kilmarnock, which will become the first ever Scottish prison to transfer from private to public sector control.

Nick Vivarelli International Correspondent Middle East streamer OSN+ is joining forces with Anghami, the Arab world’s rival to Spotify, in what is being touted as a landmark deal. The combination of OSN+ and Anghami will become the first platform in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to provide customers premium movies, TV series and music.

Michael B. Jordan made his directorial debut with the release of Creed III earlier this year. Ever since, there have been questions about if the franchise would return for a fourth movie.

Bob Geldof has revealed that there are plans to release a new Live Aid IMAX film.Geldof, a former member of The Boomtown Rats turned activist, and ex-Ultravox co-lead singer Midge Ure, organised the concert held on July 13, 1985 to raise money for famine relief in Ethiopia.Live Aid was attended by about 72,000 people at London’s Wembley Stadium, and, simultaneously more than 89,000 people at the John F. Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, US. An estimated 1.9billion people from across 130 countries watched the TV broadcast.A 20th anniversary event called Live 8 was held in 2005 at venues in G8 countries and South Africa.Speaking at this week’s EnergaCamerimage cinematography film festival, Geldof reflected on his career and the concert before revealing that an IMAX film about Live Aid could be on the way to cinemas soon.

Brittany Howard has debuted a new single, ‘Red Flags’, coinciding with the news that she will be opening for Hozier on his UK tour next year.‘Red Flags’ is set to be taken from Howard’s forthcoming second solo album ‘What Now’, which is due for release on February 2, 2024. It is the second single from that album, following the title track, which was released last month.Speaking about the track, the Alabama Shakes singer said: “In my past relationships, I’ve had a tendency to see red flags as part of some parade just for me—something for me to run right through without paying any attention.“To me ‘Red Flags’ sounds very dystopian, which makes sense for a song that feels like end-of-times as far as me emotionally maturing.

New Zealand has voted the pūteketeke as its “Bird of the Century” after John Oliver announced on his show earlier this month that Last Week Tonight was taking up the mantle of “official campaign manager.”

NCIS: Sydney is premiering tonight (November 14)!

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music As the music industry explores an updated, more artist-friendly model for streaming royalties, Warner Music has joined Universal in adopting a new “artist centric” model with Deezer in the streaming company’s home country of France. The arrangement has been in effect since Oct. 1, sources confirm to Variety.

The 2023 edition of Deadline’s live-music event Sound & Screen: Film hit the stage November 9 showcasing the songs and scores from 12 of the ramping-up awards season’s buzziest movies. Panelists and performances came from the likes of Diane Warren and Mark Ronson and from movies as varied as Barbie and Creed III to Killers of the Flower Moon and Napoleon. The packed crowd of industry voters saw a 60-piece orchestra perform the music live.

Newcastle United could be without Callum Wilson when they host Manchester United at the start of December after the striker was forced to withdraw from international duty.

Hozier is back by popular demand.Following a successful 2023 tour, the Irish singer announced a second 39-concert leg of his ‘Unreal Unearth Tour’ with special guest Allison Russell on select dates from April through September 2024.Along the way, he’ll play not one, not two, not three, not four but five (!) concerts in New York.First up, Hozier will stop into Saratoga Springs’ Saratoga Performing Arts Center on May 19.Soon after that, the “Take Me To Church” crooner hits Syracuse’s Empower Federal Credit Union Amphitheater on May 21, Forest Hills’ Forest Hills Stadium on June 4-5 and Bethel’s Bethel Woods Performing Arts Center on July 27.The tour is in support of Hozier’s critically acclaimed 2023 album “Unreal Unearth;” the New York Post called the record a “fantastic, sonically diverse offering from a constantly maturing artist.”And if you missed Hozier in 2023, you can grab your 2024 tickets as soon as today.Although inventory isn’t available on Ticketmaster until Friday, Nov. 17, fans who want to ensure they have tickets ahead of time can purchase on sites like Vivid Seats before tickets are officially on sale.Vivid Seats is a secondary market ticketing platform, and prices may be higher or lower than face value, depending on demand.They have a 100% buyer guarantee that states your transaction will be safe and secure and will be delivered before the event.Batter up, baseball fans.Right before spring training kicks into high gear, Hozier will headline at Tempe, AZ’s annual Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park on Feb.

Hollywood director Guillermo del Toro is currently in Glasgow and it seems that he is scouting out filming locations for his next big project.

EXCLUSIVE: The Unforgettable Gala, the annual ceremony that honors the biggest and most impactful Asian Pacific Islanders in entertainment, arts and culture, is getting a broadcast and streaming home for its 2023 edition, which has been set for December 16 at the Beverly Hilton.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music As news about Spotify’s new payment model has torturously dribbled out — details have been leaked through sources, with little official comment from the company — it’s not surprising that controversy has accompanied it. Streaming royalty models are deeply complicated and Spotify, the world’s largest paid streaming service by a long measure, has borne the brunt of the world’s frustration with the low royalties that most artists and especially songwriters receive from digital service providers.

“Yellowstone” news has been scarce as of late. However, fans finally know when the second half of Season 5 will return. The show is set for a huge comeback to air the final episodes, including the series finale, in November 2024.