Major label bosses put the spotlight on superfans

On this week's show we discuss the start-of-year memos from the bosses of Universal Music and Warner Music, both of whom put the spotlight in super-serving superfans, plus the ASA ruling against Viagogo's advertorial pieces in the NME, and lots of stats about the music market in 2023.

SECTION TIMES
01: New year memos (00:04:45)
02: News in brief (00:18:37)
03: Viagogo (00:25:01)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Universal “most successful company in the history of the music industry” hoots Grainge in 2024 memo
• Lucian Grainge's 2024 memo to Universal Music Group staff
• Warner Music boss talks streaming model and super-fans in start-of-year memo
• UK’s Advertising Standards Authority raps Viagogo over NME paid editorial

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Vinyl sales grow, cassettes slump; streaming now 87.7% of UK music consumption
• UK music retail brought in £2.2 billion in 2023 says ERA
• India’s streaming growth explodes to hit over one trillion streams, Gen Z pull back on streaming subscription spend

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music industry welcomes proposed new laws to help performers protect their voices and likeness from AI clones
• Artificial Intelligence and the music industry in 2023
• CMU's 2024 Masterclass Sessions
• Sony Music chief talks streaming, short-form, gaming and AI in investor presentation (May 2023)