The most popular articles from the pages of Hypebot this week explored why some Spotify users are becoming so disenchanted with the platform, Tencent's IPO situation, Mariah and Ariana's YouTube successes, and more!

VIP experiences are on the rise in the music industry, giving cash-laden fans premium access and a variety of perks, and while organizers and attendees both seem to win out on the face of it, getting VIP ticketing right is easier said than done. Here we look at four tips for ensuring both customers and venues come out on top.

T-Series, the biggest global music label and and movies studio that you've likely never heard of, is within weeks of surpassing PewDiePie as the world's biggest YouTube Channel with more than 75 million subscribers. It's also the company that Spotify just cut a deal with as its preps entry into India.

Instagram: currently the fastest growing social media platform, it's one of the most important tools when it comes to making a splash on social media, and variety of new perks and features mean it's become easier than ever to connect with your fans and stoke the growth of you fanbase, provided you follow these practices.

In this piece, Bobby Owsinski observes how US pop hits which once permeated the world over have given way to more local music in every area except when it comes to the holidays, where American Christmas classics from the 50s and 60s still reign supreme.

Some of the greatest musical acts of all time have faced rejection at the hands of labels, and being passed over by the powers that be is as old as the music industry itself. That said, it doesn't make the stamp of disapproval any easier to deal with. Here we look at five ways to appropriately weather rejection in the music industry.

YouTube is cleaning up problem videos, spam comments and spam subscriptions on the platform. As a result, many creators are seeing a significant drop in subscribers numbers. YouTube explained the effort and its effects in a post to creators.

Apple Music is shutting down its  Connect artist to fan social platform.  Apple's previous attempt at building a music focused social network, iTunes Ping, launched and shutters in months.

The use of facial recognition at live events has become public with the recent report that it was used at Taylor Swift’s Rose Bowl concert on May 18th to spot potential stalkers. 

FRIDAY 12.14.18

Music Business News From Around The Web

Updated continuously under the More News tab

While a lot of airtime and marketing energy is put into landing a track on an official playlist, less attention is given to thriving sub-industry of third-party playlisting, and how artists can use it to their advantage.

Hypebot contributor Kyle Bylin writes about the rise of midsize cities. He believes these places are the next platforms for music ideas. Local residents are choosing to build their businesses where they live rather than relocating to pursue their dreams. These small businesses, fused with state personality and pride, are poised to reshape the music landscape in the coming decades.

YouTube Music is adding playlists for YouTube Charts in 29 markets. Each will get five chart playlists - three specific to the country and two global. With 1B monthly users, the charts and playlists offer a unique global overview, alongside a local snapshot.

[UPDATED] MAC Presents founder Marcie Allen was a keynote at the XLIVE conference in Las Vegas this week, where the branding guru shared that tour sponsorships are no more. “First of all, you need to know that tour sponsorships are dead. I don’t sell them anymore. I can’t sell them,” Allen noted.