TikTok drops a licensing bomb, South Korea gets free Spotify, social media features galore, and RouteNote takes a trip to Seoul!

TikTok drops Merlin like a hot potato

TikTok sent shockwaves through the independent music community as it refused to renew, or even negotiate renewal, of its licensing deal with Merlin – the digital music licensing partner for the leading independent record labels, distributors, and rights holders around the world. While TikTok claims this is due to issues with quality control, it’s widely speculated that it has more to do with cost cutting. Emerging terms of direct deals between TikTok and independent labels/distributors suggest this to be true.


Apple makes sharing music easier

Apple Music began testing a new Share button that is linked directly to TikTok in its latest iOS 18.1 beta. The feature launches TikTok from within the Apple Music app, where listeners can share their music as a photo or video post, or as a private message. Is this a sign of TikTok looking to deepen its relationships with DSPs, following the closure of its own attempt at a streaming platform, TikTok Music?


Spotify brings free listening to South Korea

Having only been available as a premium paid service since 2021, Spotify has now made its free ad-supported tier available in South Korea. This follows streaming success in the country, as  global K-Pop streams on Spotify grew 362% since 2018. This free tier launch spells huge potential for new audiences, discoverability and ultimately, more revenue for artist.


Spotify expands European audiobooks offering

Spotify has expanded its audiobook service to Premium subscribers in France, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, offering 12 hours of listening per month. The platform now includes over 200,000 titles, including regional authors, to broaden audiobook options across Western Europe. Users can purchase additional listening time if needed, and audiobooks are accessible to Premium subscribers, including Family and Duo plan managers.


YouTube expands affordable premium service to new territories

YouTube Premium Lite is now available in Germany, Thailand, and Australia for €6.99, ฿129, and AUD$8.99 per month, respectively. This budget plan removes ads but lacks features like background play and offline downloads included in the full Premium subscription. It’s aimed at users who want an ad-free experience at a lower cost.


Instagram launches “Add to Spotify” feature

Instagram has launched a new “Add to Spotify” feature, allowing users to save songs they discover in Reels directly to their Spotify “Liked Songs” playlist with just a tap. This global feature, available on iOS and Android, simplifies music discovery by linking Instagram with Spotify for a seamless experience. Instagram is also testing “Listening Now Notes,” which lets users share what they’re currently playing on Spotify in select countries.


RouteNote shows off in South Korea

MU:CON 2024 in Seoul provided RouteNote a fantastic stage to connect with global music leaders, from K-pop to indie scenes, sparking new distribution partnerships and insights into the thriving Korean market. With 38 impactful meetings, the team explored exciting opportunities, underscoring South Korea’s pivotal role in shaping the music world. RouteNote’s presence at MU:CON laid groundwork for deeper industry collaborations across Asia – watch this space!


A swathe of features and updates are headed to YouTube

YouTube is rolling out over 24 new features to enhance user experience across mobile, web, and TV. Updates include a customisable miniplayer, collaborative playlist features, and a sleep timer, plus badges for active engagement and new aesthetic changes on TV. These updates aim to make navigating, sharing, and enjoying content easier and more interactive.


Deezer speaks out against unlicensed AI training

Deezer has become the first music streaming platform to sign an AI training statement, opposing the unlicensed use of music for AI training. In a commitment to protect artists, Deezer CEO Alexis Lanternier emphasised the importance of fair compensation and launched initiatives to detect and prevent unauthorised AI-generated content. With over 30,000 supporters, the statement hopes to set a precedent for ethical AI use across the industry.


Stay up to date with the biggest news in the music industry, as well as updates from RouteNote and partners by checking out the RouteNote blog.