<p><strong>Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works –</strong> and this week Steve and Stu grapple with Harry Styles, Bonnie Tyler and Bruno Mars...</p><p>Don&#39;t forget - you can become a <a href="https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join"><strong>Superfan of the podcast for free – and access an extra 20 mins of show each week!</strong></a><strong></strong></p><p><br></p><ul><li><p><strong>Stu&#39;s big number is </strong>$11bn - and that’s <a href="https://musically.com/2026/01/28/spotify-paid-out-11bn-to-the-music-industry-in-2025/">⁠how much Spotify paid out to the music industry in 2025⁠</a>. But will that be enough to get its critics off its back?</p></li><li><p>Apple Music <a href="https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2026/02/02/apple-music-streaming-fraud-2025/#:~:text=Apple%20Music%20Says%20It%20Flagged,for%20Alleged%20Fraud%20Now%20Doubled">⁠identified up to 2 billion fraudulent streams on its service in 2025 alone⁠</a>. But did it pay any money out for them?</p></li><li><p>Music is now <a href="https://musically.com/2026/01/29/report-music-is-now-a-third-of-all-viewing-time-on-youtube/">⁠a third of all the time people spend watching YouTube⁠</a>. But is that good news?</p></li><li><p>UK venues complained bitterly about proposed changes to business rates tax which would increase ticket prices and force small venues to close: now the government has announced some changes…</p></li><li><p>Remember when we talked about Bonnie Tyler’s Spotify royalties in a show last year? <a href="https://musically.com/2026/01/27/bonnie-tyler-makes-nothing-from-total-eclipse-of-the-heart-streams/">⁠Both Bonnie and Spotify have chipped in with a follow-up to that story⁠</a>…</p></li><li><p>Harry Styles’ &quot;world tour&quot; is <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czx3q0qw0npo">⁠only playing in seven cities⁠</a>. Is this a new model for superstar touring?</p></li><li><p>Bruno Mars’ latest concert <a href="https://musically.com/2026/01/23/12-8-million-people-tuned-in-to-bruno-mars-concert-on-roblox/">⁠attracted 12.8 million people⁠</a>! But what&#39;s the twist?</p></li><li><p><a href="https://musically.com/2026/01/28/from-this-weekend-there-will-be-top-100-charts-for-ai-music/">⁠No one wanted a global chart for AI-generated music⁠</a> - but here it is anyway!</p></li></ul><p><strong>And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our </strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join">⁠⁠⁠<strong>Patreon Superfans</strong>⁠⁠⁠</a><strong>, Steve and Stu prop themselves at the bar to chat about:</strong></p><ul><li><p>Steve and Stu reflect on last week&#39;s excellent interview with Ricky from Southampton Joiners - and the pressures on venues; and the changes in touring routes.</p></li><li><p>... and also the dubious reality for young gig-goers: who&#39;s putting gigs on for them – and do they even want gigs?</p></li><li><p>Football’s January transfer window has just closed in most of the big countries, which made us think: what if there was an equivalent for bands...</p></li><li><p>If you’ve been wondering what <a href="https://musically.com/2026/01/22/liza-minnelli-art-garfunkel-and-more-feature-on-elevenlabs-ai-album/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Liza Minnelli, Art Garfunkel</a> and the Pope think about AI music… it’s your lucky week!</p></li></ul><p>===================================</p><p><strong>As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular</strong> – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!</p><p>Email us: <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠</a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>[email protected]</strong></a><a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠</a></p><p>See you next week!</p><p>Steve and Stuart</p><p>======</p><p>TPOM online: <a href="http://tpom.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">http://tpom.uk/</a></p><p>Support The Price of Music on Patreon:</p><p><a href="https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusic" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠</a><a href="https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusic⁠⁠" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/ThePriceofMusic⁠⁠</a></p><p>Follow Steve on X - @steve_lamacq</p><p>Follow Stuart on X - @stuartdredge</p><p>Follow The Price of Music on X - @PriceofMusicpod</p><p>For sponsorship opportunities, please email - <a href="mailto:⁠⁠[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠[email protected]</a></p>