Rachna Bhasin

Exciting news for music enthusiasts and investors alike! According to a recent report by Goldman Sachs Research, the global music industry is seeing growth thanks to live concerts, music publishing, and streaming services in emerging markets. After a landmark year in 2023, the industry is forecasted to grow 7.6% in 2024. This growth is supported by an 11% increase in new tracks available to stream year on year in 2023. Check out the full report here: https://lnkd.in/emNn_wDB #MusicIndustry #Finance #EmergingMarkets #GoldmanSachsResearch #musicacquisition

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SiriusXM reported its Q1 earnings this morning, and the headlines are justifiably focused on its loss of subscribers (nearly 500k). Like all radio, its subscription business is highly vulnerable with the move to digital audio, especially in cars. But a bright spot? If you paid attention to Spotify's earnings, you wouldn't be surprised: "off-platform revenue." For SXM, this includes Pandora and podcast revenue, which saw a 7% revenue increase. During their investor call, they signaled the growth for podcasts, explicitly saying, "Podcasting revenue saw a 22% year-over-year lift in the quarter, while programmatic podcast revenue increased 12% sequentially and 97% year over year." I'd love to see SXM break out the podcast numbers even further, but if you look at what they do provide, it's easy to conclude that podcast revenue is growing much faster than other segments. For example, Pandora continues to bleed users (64k paid subs in Q1 alone), so podcast revenue seems to be the tide lifting all "off-platform" boats. When asked about their podcast initiatives, Scott Greenstein said, "One is, you know, the podcast thing and industry is really still in the second or third inning, so it's evolving." He is 100% right. SXM also signaled that it will continue to license more podcast content and is not closing the book on exclusive content. One more fun nugget: On today's call, podcasts were mentioned 30 times. Pandora was only mentioned ten times, SmartLess nine times, and Howard Stern... zero point zero. Where do you think their priorities are moving forward? Read more: https://lnkd.in/eRQTM2Kq ---- I'm the CEO and founder of DWNLOAD Media, a fund focused on acquiring majority stakes in podcast companies. With continued audience and revenue growth, podcasting continues to be the most under-valued medium, making it time to invest in audio. If you're interested in investing in the podcast space, DM me! #podcasting #audio #siriusxm #sxm #earnings #investor #investing #podcasts

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I read this interesting article on whether Netflix or Prime Video & Amazon MGM Studios was the biggest streamer. From a subscriber standpoint Netflix reported that it had 269.6 million global subscribers at the end of March 2024, as reported in its April Q1 2024 earnings. Amazon Prime Video does not disclose subscriber numbers, but mentioned in a CEO’s letter to shareholders that it had had “over 200 million” subscribers as of April 2024. An argument can be made that Amazon Prime subscribers do so for the shipping benefit but at the end of the day being a Prime member gets you the entertainment for free. I opted for the $50 per year ad-free which I think is still a great value …I think I made it back just off of watching Fallout commercial free. The next area I wanted to look at is revenue. Amazon’s reportsthat its subscription services alone brought in $10.48 billion in Q1 of 2024. In Netflix’s latest earnings, revenue came in at $9.37 billion for Q1 2024. I think going forward people are may not see the stealth that Amazon has employed in mechandising. After I binged Fallout I went to Amazon to see what kind items I could buy from the show. The number of t-shirts and other Fallout products rivaled what I’d see of the movies came from The Walt Disney Company. It’s kind of sad watching the studios trying to keep their heads above the debt waters. Like most movie fans I want to see Paramount Pictures and Warner Bros. Discovery thrive but unless interest rates go down it’s going to be tough. https://lnkd.in/gr9Em55M

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🎉 Exciting news regarding #CMCD 🎉 Apple's native AVPlayer framework now officially supports CMCD, which makes the Common Media Client Data standard immediately available for all iPhones, iPads, AppleTVs, etc. This is a major step in CMCD. In the past, many argued that CMCD does not provide full coverage of playback metrics across all platforms. With Apple joining the list, these days are over. CMCD is now available within web-based applications, on Android, RDK devices, Roku sticks, and.... all Apple devices 🍎 And the best: CMCD v2 is expected to be finalized by the end of this year 🚀 https://lnkd.in/dtEzxTPJ

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📺 **Battle for the Living Room**   The race to dominate the smart TV operating system (TV OS) market is heating up, with major players like Roku, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and LG vying to enhance user experience and capitalize on new business opportunities through data and advertising. Despite this fierce competition, a key question emerges: do consumers actually care about which OS their TV uses? 📊 **Market Potential**   At the StreamTV Show in Denver, experts discussed the benefits of owning a TV OS, such as controlling user data and enhancing ad revenue. Analyst Alan Wolk noted that around 40% of smart TVs globally lack a dedicated TV OS, presenting a significant market opportunity. Even small gains in market share can translate to substantial financial rewards, making the competition highly lucrative. 💡 **Consumer Preferences**   Panelists at the event debated whether consumers prioritize the TV OS in their purchasing decisions. Google’s Rob Caruso argued that factors like size and price still dominate, with the OS being a secondary consideration. However, Vizio's Katherine Pond and LG's Matt Durgin highlighted that content availability and user experience offered by the TV OS could influence consumer choices, particularly for those seeking quality and value. 🎬 **Content and User Experience**   Ultimately, while the current focus for consumers might not be on the specific TV OS, the content and seamless user experience provided by these systems are crucial. Companies like Vizio and Samsung emphasize the importance of offering desired content and a smooth interface, hoping that improvements in these areas will eventually drive consumer preferences toward specific TV OS platforms. #TV #TVOS #Streaming #SmartTV

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Some additional information on how CKE Restaurants, Inc. and PMG are leveraging video-level contextual data via the IRIS_ID to target their CTV campaigns and drive actual bottom funnel conversion results! 📈 35% increase in incremental foot traffic 📈 152% increase in incremental sales lift Reach out to us if your a brand looking to increase the performance of your CTV campaigns or if you’re a publisher looking to increase your yield. IRIS.TV #ctv #data #performanceadvertising #contextual Digiday

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“Apple Music is rolling out a new ‘premium’ data analytics toolkit for its record label and distributor partners. The new ‘Apple Music Partner Program’ features various tools for Apple Music’s partners to track trends on its streaming service as well as global radio plays using Shazam technology. According to the landing page for the platform, it offers “access [to] more tools to break the next talent, spot emerging trends, and uncover new insights about your content”. “Apple Music already runs another analytics platform in Apple Music For Artists, which was made available for every artist on Apple Music in August 2019. Apple Music For Artists allows artists to monitor the volume of their streaming plays on Apple Music, all within a data set that updates daily. Spotify launched its own Spotify For Artists app in 2017 (an evolution of the ‘Fan Insights’ tool it introduced two years earlier) to provide artists and their teams with information pertaining to their popularity on the service. Like Spotify for Artists, the Apple Music For Artists service is available as both a desktop interface and a standalone mobile app.” #Apple #AppleMusic #Artists #RecordLabels #Spotify #Fans #Fandom #Streaming #StreamingRoyalties #Royalties #RecordedMusic #StreamingServices #StreamingMedia #MusicTracks #MusicStreams #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz

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Some exciting news today. Reaching viewers at the right moment and mindset is now driving big outcomes in real life metrics like sales and foot traffic. It is still early days for streaming TV. The market is beginning to adopt new technologies like the IRIS_ID. Driving outcomes, not just matching an IP, is the biggest opportunity to expand the TAM of streaming. We're focused there—growing the whole market and all of our work is around one product, the IRIS_ID. Building trust as a content data clean room for publishers, and acting as the infrastructure and enrichment service to connect publishers with the leading computer vision AI data co's in contextual, emotional, and brand suitability has been hard. But now that we're seeing the IRIS_ID available at scale, it is becoming easy for advertisers to place ads when their ad is relevant. We now know that relevance drives business outcomes. This case study is consistent with performance trends we're seeing for buyers in all of our research across top of funnel (lift, purchase intent) and bottom funnel metrics (sales, foot traffic, app downloads). For publishers and ad platforms—that means higher CPM and yields. We're excited to it on the record! Placing ads next to relevant content makes sense, but you have to prove it works. A big thank you to Jennifer Tate.,CKE Restaurants, Inc., Michael Treon, Doug Paladino and the whole PMG team for being great partners. I hear there is pretty visionary head of partnerships at PMG in Sam Bloom too ; )

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In the rapidly changing world of digital broadcasting, content creators and broadcasters are constantly on the lookout for monetization models that work. While YouTube has been a game-changer for individual creators looking to monetize their content, its limitations become apparent when it comes to TV programs and movies. This is due to the fact that YouTube's platform is predominantly focused on user-generated content. To learn more about the differences between YouTube's monetization model and professional CTV platforms, check out this informative article: https://lnkd.in/en8ew-c9 #DigitalBroadcasting #MonetizationModels #YouTubeVsCTV

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The stage was set at the NAB Show 2024. Hundreds of products battled for supremacy in the ever-evolving streaming video arena. Tensions were high as the industry's elite judging panel meticulously evaluated each offering. Then, a true champion emerged from the fray. Vimond's VIA App Builder captivated the experts with a perfect fusion of power and elegance. Features that dazzled: - Lightning-fast development capabilities that make deploying streaming services across devices a mere formality. - An interface so intuitive even a novice could wield its might. - Unparalleled content management that monetises like never before. In an epic clash of innovation, the VIA App Builder reigned supreme – conquering the "Next TV" category to seize the coveted Best of Show honour. A thousand competitors stood in awe. This was more than just an award. It was a statement of Vimond's unwavering commitment to streamlining video streaming for the modern era. An undisputed mark of quality that will shatter industry conventions. The victory horn has sounded. All others have been put on notice. Brace yourselves for the VIA App Builder's continued dominance, as it leads content creators to a new era of broadcast supremacy. https://lnkd.in/gssvefKG

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Paramount's Q1 earnings performance highlights both opportunities and challenges within the dynamic #streaming landscape. Most notably making recent headlines, the potential merger with Skydance suggests a strategic repositioning, aiming to strengthen Paramount's portfolio with high-quality content that could enhance its competitive stance in a crowded market and enhance Paramount's capabilities in producing and offering blockbuster films and acclaimed TV series on Paramount+. This move is a strategic effort to amplify Paramount's content offerings in both traditional and streaming formats, potentially improving its market share and appeal to a diverse viewer base. The recent introduction of international ad-tier subscriptions broadens Paramount's market reach outside of the U.S., attracting cost-conscious consumers with more accessible price points and tapping into new ad revenue streams. Introducing ad-tiers will capture global markets, reaching new demographics and analyzing consumer engagement habits. By integrating ads, Paramount will build valuable partnerships with advertisers looking to reach international audiences while increasing its global footprint. A key emphasis on providing original content and #livesports such as The Masters Tournament and National Women’s Soccer League are drivers of subscriber growth and consumer engagement on streaming platforms. The company's ability to enhance its original programming and secure compelling live sports rights will be decisive in its efforts to compete with industry giants and attract a global audience, ultimately improving its bottom line. Additionally, Bob Bakish, Paramount CEO, is stepping down today, signaling a pivot in Paramount’s overall corporate strategy and governance. New leadership may bring a different perspective on addressing the challenges of digital transformation in the #entertainment industry as we move away from traditional #cable and legacy media. This change could catalyze a more aggressive push into streaming and technology, and an increase in direct-to-consumer services, areas where Paramount must evolve to remain competitive with streaming giants like Netflix, Hulu and Prime Video & Amazon Studios. #LITrendingTopics #Q1Earnings #Streamers #Content #CordCutting https://lnkd.in/gt6_nFWN

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📈 Streamflation Alert: Subscription prices are rising again! In 2024, platforms are boosting prices for the second time in two years. Streaming services like Peacock, Max, and Spotify are increasing costs, often coinciding with major events or new content launches. 💡 Why the price hikes? Streaming platforms are adding more content and employing strategic moves to drive users towards ad-supported tiers, which generate higher revenue. For example, Peacock raised prices right before the Paris Olympics, and Max did so ahead of the new season of House of the Dragon. Bundling services are also on the rise, with companies like Disney and Verizon offering attractive package deals to reduce subscriber churn and enhance value. 📊 What's next? Analysts believe these price hikes are just the beginning, expecting more increases by the end of the year. The goal is to boost margins and gently push consumers towards ads and bundles, supporting the company's larger financial objectives. #TV #svod #streaming #bundle https://lnkd.in/e8-uYitV

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🎵 Sony Music Chief Rob Stringer calls for free streamers to pay a 'modest fee' during a Sony Corp. investor presentation. He emphasizes the need for short-form video platforms to provide more revenue for labels supplying "premium quality artistry." MUSQ ETF offers exposure to these evolving dynamics in the music streaming and content creation landscape, capturing growth across various segments of the industry. Consider adding some streaming innovation to your portfolio with $MUSQ as we witness the ongoing negotiations between music labels and digital platforms. Ready to invest in the future of music monetization? View all MUSQ Holdings here: https://lnkd.in/dvszPVdE #MusicIndustry #ETFinvesting #MusicStreaming #MUSQETF https://lnkd.in/gXtCyu6B

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Digital Nomads. So many of us have become wanderers moving from sub to sub based on that hot show and Ian's post unpacks this clearly. I feel that this is a streamer self-inflicted issue. Cost of subs goes up, nomad behavior goes up, cost of content supply goes up, possibly time to examine the fulcrum of diminishing returns and make different decisions/models of subscription? I continue to believe that under these worsening returns, aggregators and new models for additional windows will be what thrives.

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Another big licensing deal in podcasting! In addition to selling the audio podcast inventory, Amazon will distribute video episodes and translate them for global distribution. These types of deals show how effective podcasting can be in proving IP. Once you have a hit, you need to figure out your 360-degree strategy for global audiences, live events, merchandise, etc. Q3 just started, and we'll still see a couple more of these before the end of the year, as predicted in the DWNLOAD Media Report. https://lnkd.in/efJVZXEE

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