The Motive Unknown Podcast

Yes, you read correctly: this is indeed the last Motive Unknown Podcast! So, for our final hurrah we look back over the stories that dominated our initial shows and ask what has changed in the time since, and reflect on the future a little too. Join us this last time - and THANK YOU, it has been a blast!

In this episode we discuss Facebook's moves into music as it reportedly offers 'hundreds of millions' to licence music from rightsholders. We also talk about Apple potentially bundling Apple Music with handsets for a year, and chat over Taylor Swift's Ticketmaster collaboration. Finally, we also ask whether the whole vocabulary around marketing music needs to change. Take a listen!

In our latest show we discuss the leaked news of Spotify's sponsored songs feature, as well as the poor reporting around the story as it broke. We also ask whether streaming services can be social networks, and whether JAY-Z is making a longer-term error with his forthcoming Tidal-exclusive album 4:44. Dive in!

Recently we've had one article claiming the growth of streaming services will be a bad thing for smaller indie artists in particular, whilst another (penned by co-host Mr Emery) countered this, claiming there has never been a better time to be an independent artist. We pick apart both sides of this argument and ask whether it is really as simple as blaming streaming services, and also discuss where many get it wrong with their approach to marketing.

In our latest episode we reflect on the very excellent Fast Forward conference that Darren managed to attend... and David did not - thanks to Storm Doris. Once we're done relating tales of excess and silliness, matters turn to the huge successes of Ed Sheeran, Rag N' Bone Man and Stormzy, when we ask whether the music business is getting like the movie industry - ie 5 or 6 massive releases per annum which swallow the bulk of the market share. In addition, we also talk about SoundCloud's new budget price tier and whether that will change its rather bleak outlook, and ask whether Snapchat's IPO bodes well for the likes of Spotify. Dive in!