> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.hypebot.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# 6 Major Music Industry Stories You Missed Over The Holiday Break
- URL: https://www.hypebot.com/6-major-music-industry-stories-you-missed-over-the-holiday-break/
- Published: 2016-01-04T08:35:06.000Z
- Updated: 2016-01-04T08:35:06.000Z
- Description: While you were enjoying the annual music industry holiday break, things were far from quiet. Lawyers went into overdrive filing lawsuits against Spotify and Ticketmaster, Pandora struck its biggest licensing. Continue reading [https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2016/01/6-major-music-industry-stories-yo
- Author: Bruce Houghton
- Tags: Music Business, music, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-01-21 10:22

[![santa](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201bb08a6dcb9970d-100wi "santa")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201bb08a6dcb9970d-popup?ref=hypebot.com)While you were enjoying the **annual music industry holiday break**, things were **far from quiet.** Lawyers went into overdrive filing lawsuits against **Spotify** and **Ticketmaster**, **Pandora** struck its biggest licensing deal yet, **SFX** stumbled and **The Beatles** finally arrived on streaming. This and more: 

\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_

Over the holiday break:

[![Spotify$](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d18c1cd1970c-150wi "Spotify$")](http://hypebot.typepad.com/.a/6a00d83451b36c69e201b8d18c1cd1970c-popup?ref=hypebot.com)1. **Spotify** acknowledged that its **music [publishing payment system was not compensating writers and publishers](https://www.hypebot.com/spotify-admits-their-music-publishing-payment-system-is-broken-commits-to-major-overhaul/) properly** and committed to overhaul it.2. That did not deter musician and music industry critic **David Lowery** from filing a **[$150 million class action lawsuit against Spotify](https://www.hypebot.com/david-lowery-file-150m-class-action-suit-against-spotify-over-unpaid-royalties-other-lawsuits-may-fo/)** for nonpayment of royalties.A similar suit from the legal team behind the Flo & Eddie pre-1972 class action suit is also reportedly in the works.3. **Pandora** signed **[landmark direct licensing deals with ASCAP and BMI](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/12/-pandora-signs-landmark-licensing-agreements-with-ascap-and-bmi.html)** and dropped their appeal in Rate Court.4**. Songkick sued Live Nation** for allegedly **[abusing their power](https://www.hypebot.com/songkick-sues-live-nation-ticketmaster-for-abusing-power-to-stop-direct-to-fan-ticket-sales/)** to stop direct to fan ticket sales.5. **Struggles continued at SFX** with news that **James Barton**, who some saw as a possible savior, will **[not be making the move ](https://www.hypebot.com/edm-chief-james-barton-passes-on-sfx-offer-remains-at-live-nation/)**from Live Nation. The EDM conglomerate also **defaulted** on a**[ $10 million Spotify deal ](http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6828840/sfxs-woes-company-defaults-on-spotify-deal-loses-a-good-company?ref=hypebot.com)**[and](http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6828840/sfxs-woes-company-defaults-on-spotify-deal-loses-a-good-company?ref=hypebot.com)**[ lost one of its hottest management](http://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/touring/6828840/sfxs-woes-company-defaults-on-spotify-deal-loses-a-good-company?ref=hypebot.com) firms**.6. And just in case you really went digital cold turkey for the last 2 weeks, The **[Beatles arrived on 9 major streaming services](https://www.hypebot.com/confirmed-the-beatles-to-stream-on-spotify-other-music-services-at-midnight-tonight/)** Christmas Eve and were immediately **[a big hit](https://www.hypebot.com/the-beatles-are-a-big-hit-on-spotify-stats-top-tracks/)** with all ages. **([statistics, top tracks](https://www.hypebot.com/the-beatles-are-a-big-hit-on-spotify-stats-top-tracks/))**

*Read music industry news from across the web constantly updated under Hypebot's [More News](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/news.html) tab [here](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/news.html).* 

Related articles

[![](http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_7_80_80.jpg)](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/12/rewind-the-new-music-industrys-week-in-review-1.html)[REWIND: The New Music Industry's Week In Review – hypebot](https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/12/rewind-the-new-music-industrys-week-in-review-1.html)

[![](http://i.zemanta.com/364637350_80_80.jpg)](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/12034345/Why-all-I-want-for-Christmas-is-the-Beatles-to-join-Spotify.html?ref=hypebot.com)[Why all I want for Christmas is the Beatles to join Spotify](http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/news/12034345/Why-all-I-want-for-Christmas-is-the-Beatles-to-join-Spotify.html?ref=hypebot.com)

[![](http://i.zemanta.com/364336228_80_80.jpg)](http://gashouseradio.com/the-beatles-christmas-special/?ref=hypebot.com)[The Beatles Christmas Special](http://gashouseradio.com/the-beatles-christmas-special/?ref=hypebot.com)

[![](http://i.zemanta.com/noimg_6_80_80.jpg)](https://www.hypebot.com/the-beatles-are-a-big-hit-on-spotify-stats-top-tracks/)[The Beatles Are A Big Hit On Spotify \[Stats, Top Tracks\]](https://www.hypebot.com/the-beatles-are-a-big-hit-on-spotify-stats-top-tracks/)