Recorded music global revenues grew by 9.4% in 2025 to reach $39.5 billion, according to MIDiA Research's "Recorded music market 2025 | Rise of the fan economy" yearly report. "2025 saw strong performance across the board – even downloads stopped its decade-plus race to oblivion," wrote MIDiA's founder Mark Mulligan in a blogpost. "However, there was one revenue category that left all others in the dust: expanded rights (labels’ participation in merch, live, brand, etc.), which grew by a whoppi...

US production music licensing platform Slipstream has acquired Los Angeles-based production music library Megatrax, adding 200,000 tracks to its global catalogue. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed. Following the acquisition, Megatrax will continue to operate independently while it is integrated into the Slipstream platform over the coming months. “This acquisition reflects our long-term consolidation strategy,” said Slipstream CEO Dan Demole. “Megatrax is a highly respected, composer-led...

Sony Music Publishing Nashville, in partnership with country music songwriter Dan Isbell, have signed up-and-coming artist and songwriter Scout Speer to a worldwide publishing deal. Speer has released several tracks including, most recently, 'That’d Be Crazy' (Centerline Records), as well as 'Strangers', 'Against Me' and 'Rub Some Dirt on Me'. Collectively, her songs have accumulated over 5 million streams. A full-length album slated for release later in 2026. “I’m incredibly grateful to be pa...