The biggest music industry news | June 2026
Spotify’s Songs of Summer predictions, Instagram updates and subscription launches, and Deezer’s AI music findings. Plus, new video and live concert moves from Spotify and YouTube.
Spotify’s Songs of Summer 2026
Spotify has unveiled its annual Songs of Summer predictions, highlighting 30 tracks expected to soundtrack the season across a range of genres. The list reflects diverse listening trends, from nostalgic dance bangers to more viral-appropriate hits. Fans can also vote for their favourite tracks in-app for the first time.
Instagram launches new “Plus” subscription
Instagram has introduced Instagram Plus, a paid subscription tier offering enhanced Story features, audience management tools and profile customisation options. Priced at $3.99 per month, the service adds premium functionality while the standard Instagram experience remains free. The launch reflects Meta’s continued expansion of subscription-based offerings across its platforms.
Spotify explores live concert streaming opportunities
Spotify is reportedly exploring live concert streaming as it continues to expand its video offerings. The platform has already experimented with pre-recorded concert footage and is said to be discussing live broadcast rights with concert promoters. The move would further broaden Spotify’s content beyond music and podcasts.
Instagram rolls out grid reordering
Instagram has officially (finally) launched profile grid reordering, allowing users to rearrange posts on their profiles without deleting or reposting content. The feature, which began rolling out on the 8th of June across iOS and Android, lets creators, artists and brands showcase content in any order regardless of when it was originally published.
Deezer pelted with AI-generated World Cup 2026 songs
Deezer has reported that the majority of unofficial World Cup 2026-themed songs uploaded to its platform were created using AI. More than 270 tracks titled “World Cup 2026” have been uploaded, with over 70% identified as AI-generated, while over 65% of songs titled “FIFA World Cup 2026” were also flagged as AI-generated.
Instagram expands ‘Your Algorithm’ transparency tools
Instagram has expanded its “Your Algorithm” feature, giving users more insight into how content recommendations are personalised across the platform. The update provides additional information on the factors influencing recommendations and offers more controls to help users shape what they see in their feeds.
Qobuz reports strong revenue growth in 2025
Qobuz revealed that its revenue grew by 45.7% in 2025, significantly outpacing the wider paid music streaming market, which grew by 8.8% over the same period. The high-resolution streaming platform also reached 1.2 million monthly active users, with 80% of its revenue now coming from international markets and the US becoming its largest market.
YouTube launches Music Nights live concert series
YouTube has unveiled Music Nights, a new series of exclusive filmed concerts featuring album release shows, intimate performances and special tour stops. The first events spotlighted Kacey Musgraves, Isaiah Rashad and Bleachers, with full performances and behind-the-scenes content available on their Official Artist Channels. The series will expand to cities including Los Angeles, New York, London, Paris and Tokyo throughout 2026.
Spotify launches direct artist video uploads in beta
Spotify has launched a beta feature allowing eligible artists to upload full-length videos directly through Spotify for Artists, including official music videos, live performances, studio sessions and covers. Previously, music videos could only be delivered through labels and distributors, although those routes remain available. Spotify says video viewers stream songs 64% more over the following three weeks on average, with uploaded videos also eligible to earn royalties from qualifying views.
Tidal announces AI music tagging and royalties block
Tidal has become the latest streaming service to announce it will tag AI-generated music uploaded to its platform. Its policy goes a step further, stating that any content that is automatically tagged as 100% AI-generated will not be eligible for royalties or direct-to-fan monetisation.