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News
What changed on the platforms, and what it costs you.
In date order
Platform changes, payout changes and rule changes, in date order. What it is, and what it costs you.
Global streams up 9.8%, but US growth is half thatLuminate's midyear 2026 report puts global on-demand streams up 9.8 percent to 2.8 trillion, while US growth reached only 4.8 percent. CD sales rose 16 percent and Spanish-language music now takes roughly 10 percent of US streams.
EU AI Act labeling rules are now in forceSince 2 August 2026, AI-generated or AI-edited audio and video distributed in the EU must be labeled, with machine-readable markings required. The rules affect any artist using generative tools in their music or their content.
SoundCloud's The Upload picks emerging tracks with no follower minimumSoundCloud launched The Upload on 3 August 2026: a weekly human-curated discovery playlist with editorial commentary and no follower requirement, positioned as an answer to algorithmic fatigue.
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