<p><strong>Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. </strong>In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu pull on their Santa hats and get stuck in to:</p><ul><li><p>Spotify Wrapped 2025 has just launched (and has now taken over your social feeds) But why is it such a big deal this year?</p></li><li><p>Steve answers a great listener question: &quot;why don’t more bands and venues do afternoon gigs for people who can&#39;t stay out late?&quot;</p></li><li><p>Olivia Dean is the breakout British star this year... and is now taking on Ticketmaster – but why?</p></li><li><p>Is it or isn&#39;t it Jorja Smith? (It isn&#39;t). She&#39;s at the centre of a row about AI technology and vocal soundalikes.</p></li><li><p>Stu&#39;s big number this week is £134 million – and indie labels have spent it... but on what?</p></li><li><p>Part 654 of the &quot;Universal wants to buy indie firm Downtown Music&quot; story</p></li><li><p>Last week we predicted that AI music firm Suno might finally sign licensing deals... and two hours after we recorded, they did! So who’s the partner?</p></li><li><p>Why have Oasis reopened their pop-up merch stores in London and Dublin? (VFX: Sleigh bells jingling)</p></li></ul><li><p><strong>And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our </strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/thepriceofmusic/membership" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><u><strong>Patreon Superfans</strong></u></a><strong>, Steve and Stu prop themselves at the bar to chat about:</strong></p></li><ul><li><p>When bands implode spectacularly: Steve and Stu revel in the story of Portland death metal band Vitriol, who abandoned their frontman at a remote gas station, mid tour</p></li><li><p>Is Spotify Wrapped a good thing?</p></li><li><p>Stu accidentally insults all of Australia</p></li><li><p>Steve and Stu chat more about matinee gigs and weigh up the pros and cons (and their boozing opportunities)</p></li><li><p>Stu has a news based joke about Johnny Cash, his song ‘A Boy Named Sue’, and the Coca-Cola corporation</p></li><li><p>Would you like an art print of Amy Winehouse in the bath? (It’s not as creepy as that sounds…)</p></li></ul><p>🎄🎄 DON&#39;T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR OUR XMAS QUIZ! (SUPERFANS: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144529777" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144529777</a> AND FANS: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144542513)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144542513)</a> 🎄🎄</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:thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠<strong>thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com</strong>⁠⁠</a></p><p>See you next week!</p><p>Steve and Stuart</p><p>======</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:⁠⁠joe@musically.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠joe@musically.com</a></p>

The Price of Music

Music Ally

Spotify Wrapped is here (and why is it a big deal?); Why aren't there any matinee gigs?; Olivia Dean takes on Ticketmaster; and Jorja Smith takes on AI clones

DEC 3, 202537 MIN
The Price of Music

Spotify Wrapped is here (and why is it a big deal?); Why aren't there any matinee gigs?; Olivia Dean takes on Ticketmaster; and Jorja Smith takes on AI clones

DEC 3, 202537 MIN

Description

<p><strong>Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. </strong>In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu pull on their Santa hats and get stuck in to:</p><ul><li><p>Spotify Wrapped 2025 has just launched (and has now taken over your social feeds) But why is it such a big deal this year?</p></li><li><p>Steve answers a great listener question: &quot;why don’t more bands and venues do afternoon gigs for people who can&#39;t stay out late?&quot;</p></li><li><p>Olivia Dean is the breakout British star this year... and is now taking on Ticketmaster – but why?</p></li><li><p>Is it or isn&#39;t it Jorja Smith? (It isn&#39;t). She&#39;s at the centre of a row about AI technology and vocal soundalikes.</p></li><li><p>Stu&#39;s big number this week is £134 million – and indie labels have spent it... but on what?</p></li><li><p>Part 654 of the &quot;Universal wants to buy indie firm Downtown Music&quot; story</p></li><li><p>Last week we predicted that AI music firm Suno might finally sign licensing deals... and two hours after we recorded, they did! So who’s the partner?</p></li><li><p>Why have Oasis reopened their pop-up merch stores in London and Dublin? (VFX: Sleigh bells jingling)</p></li></ul><li><p><strong>And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our </strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/c/thepriceofmusic/membership" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><u><strong>Patreon Superfans</strong></u></a><strong>, Steve and Stu prop themselves at the bar to chat about:</strong></p></li><ul><li><p>When bands implode spectacularly: Steve and Stu revel in the story of Portland death metal band Vitriol, who abandoned their frontman at a remote gas station, mid tour</p></li><li><p>Is Spotify Wrapped a good thing?</p></li><li><p>Stu accidentally insults all of Australia</p></li><li><p>Steve and Stu chat more about matinee gigs and weigh up the pros and cons (and their boozing opportunities)</p></li><li><p>Stu has a news based joke about Johnny Cash, his song ‘A Boy Named Sue’, and the Coca-Cola corporation</p></li><li><p>Would you like an art print of Amy Winehouse in the bath? (It’s not as creepy as that sounds…)</p></li></ul><p>🎄🎄 DON&#39;T FORGET TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS FOR OUR XMAS QUIZ! (SUPERFANS: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144529777" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144529777</a> AND FANS: <a href="https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144542513)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">https://www.patreon.com/posts/price-of-music-n-144542513)</a> 🎄🎄</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">⁠⁠<strong>[email protected]</strong>⁠⁠</a></p><p>See you next week!</p><p>Steve and Stuart</p><p>======</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>