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Spotify’s stock jumped as much as 17.3% on Tuesday (April 23) following the company’s first-quarter earnings report showed the company is starting to deliver better profits and margins. The share price closed at $303.49, up 11.5%, after reaching a new 52-week high of $319.30 earlier in the day.
Investors’ expectations for future quarters often drive large swings in stock prices when a company delivers results for past quarters. For Spotify, cost-cutting and newfound financial discipline are expected to produce tangible results next quarter. The company’s guidance for second quarter operating income of 250 million euros ($268 million) was well ahead of Guggenheim analysts’ estimate of 179 million euros ($192 million) and JP Morgan’s estimate of 199 million euros ($213 million), and was a vast improvement from the 247 million euro ($264 million) operating loss in the second quarter of 2023. Gross margin guidance of 28.1% far exceeded Guggenheim’s estimate of 26.6% and JP Morgan’s estimate of 26.9% and would be nearly four percentage points above the prior year period’s 24.3% gross margin.
First-quarter results often exceeded Spotify’s guidance from three months ago. Revenue of 3.63 billion euros ($3.9 billion) slightly topped the high end of guidance of 3.6 billion euros. Gross margin of 27.6% was more than a percentage point above guidance of 26.4%, although operating income of 168 million euros ($180 million) was under guidance of 180 million euros ($192 million).
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Gross margin was 243 basis points — 2.43 percentage points — better than the 25.2% gross margin in the prior year period. Spotify said the improvement came from improved music and podcast profitability that was partially offset by costs from its growing audiobooks business. Operating income was impacted by 82 million euros ($89 million) in social charges and was helped by lower personnel costs and marketing spending.
“We consider this a real trend” rather than the result of one-off events, said interim CFO Ben Kung during Tuesday’s earnings call when asked by an analyst what to expect from margin growth for the remainder of 2024.
Although Spotify didn’t surpass forecasts for subscriber growth, it met expectations and generated more revenue, on average, from each paid customer. Average revenue per user improved 5% to 4.55 euros ($4.94) thanks to price increases in July 2023. Total monthly active users of 615 million was slightly below Spotify’s guidance of 618 million, but the 239 million subscribers matched the company’s forecasts.
“It is really a new Spotify, and we are being relentless resourceful in all of our costs,” CEO Daniel Ek said during Tuesday’s earnings call. Second-quarter margins were helped by decreases in streaming delivery costs and other costs of revenue, Ek explained. The podcast segment, which was a drag on profitability in 2023, is expected to be profitable in 2024, he added.
The longtime knock against Spotify was it had a great product but wasn’t a great business. The economic demands of music streaming, which require Spotify to pay music rights holders most of its revenue, left little for R&D, marketing, salaries, and general and administrative expenses. Although the company has amassed more than 600 million monthly users — 239 million of them paid subscribers — it has been perpetually unprofitable.
Spotify’s fortunes began to change in 2023 after the company knuckled down, laid off 17% of its global workforce in December and jettisoned many high-priced, celebrity podcast deals — namely parting ways with Price Harry and Meghan Markle’s Archewell Studio and striking a non-exclusive deal with the previously exclusive-to-Spotify The Joe Rogan Experience.
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Sydney Sweeney went from the charming and hilarious Anyone But You rom-com to the chilling horror movie Immaculate, which you can finally watch online at home. The 2024 movie made its debut at SXSW back in March and had audiences falling for jump scares, then laughing at their own reactions, according to Variety‘s reporting.
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Immaculate originally premiered in theaters on March 22, but for those who missed its run in the cinemas, you can officially rent or buy the movie through video-on-demand. Collectors should also mark their calendars as the Blu-ray and DVD editions have a release date set for June 11 — and its already earned the label of No. 1 new release on Amazon in horror. Don’t worry though, you don’t have to wait until its release date to order a copy, Amazon, Target and Walmart have opened their preorders to ensure fans can get their hands on the Immaculate DVD the moment it’s released.
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Keep reading to learn more about Immaculate and the streaming options available.
How to Watch Immaculate Online
While a streaming service for Immaculate has yet to be announced, you can watch Immaculate online through VOD on Prime Video and Apple TV.
You can rent or buy the horror movie through Prime Video with the rental priced at $10, and $20 for purchases. You don’t need a Prime membership in order to stream Immaculate at home either — just make your purchase and the movie will automatically download to your digital library. Rentals will be available for 30 days after purchase and for 48 hours once you start streaming the movie.
You can also buy or rent the movie on Apple TV to watch Immaculate at home. An Apple TV streaming device is not required to stream the movie. You can also get access to Apple TV through most smart TVs, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV+, Roku devices, tablet or gaming consoles.
It’s likely that you’ll be able to stream Immaculate on Hulu, which has a deal with NEON (the film distributer for the horror flick). Hulu has yet to announce the official streaming date, but new users can sign up for a 30-day free trial here to make sure you have the platform in time for its streaming premiere.
Prefer to own a hardcopy? The Immaculate DVD will be released on June 11, but you can preorder the Blu-ray version below.
“Immaculate” [Blu-Ray]
The Immaculate DVD features a close-up photo of Sweeney you’lll be tempted to display on your mantle. Each Blu-ray DVD comes with special features that’ll give you a deeper look at the making of the film.
What Is the Movie Immaculate About?
Immaculate follows Cecilia (Sweeney) an American nun of devout faith who joins a remote convent in the Italian countryside. She enters what appears to be a warm welcoming, but soon takes a dark turn as Cecilia begins to unravel the sinister secrets the convent has been hiding.
Starring alongside Sweeney includes Álvaro Morte, Simona Tabasco, Benedetta Porcaroli, Giorgio Colangeli, Dora Romano, Giulia Heathfield Di Renzi, Giampiero Judica, Betty Pedrazzi and Giuseppe Lo Piccolo.
Why Is the Immaculate Movie Rated R?
Immaculate is rated R, which is not recommended for those under 17-years-old. IMBD explains the film was given the rating for its strong and bloody violent content, grisly images, nudity and some language.
Check below to watch the trailer for Immaculate.
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Spotify reported on Tuesday that first quarter revenue jumped 20% and gross profit topped 1 billion euros ($1.08 billion), returning the now 18-year-old streaming company to profitability and putting it on track to meet its 2024 growth target.
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Spotify reported 3.6 billion euros ($3.9 billion) in first quarter revenue, up from 3.04 billion euros ($3.3 billion) a year ago, and gross profit rose 31% to 1.004 billion euros ($1.08 million) from 766 million euros ($833 million), according to filings.
Spotify chief executive Daniel Ek said that revenue growth accelerated and the company had record-high profits in the quarter, while total monthly active users grew 19% to 615 million and premium subscribers increased by 14% to 239 million — both compared to last year’s first quarter.
“As an adult company we are now consistently profitable, which is great news,” Ek said in a video posted to LinkedIn.
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Spotify raised prices by $1 — to $10.99 a month for individuals, $16.99 a month for families — in the U.S., one of its largest markets, last year for the first time, and it is reportedly considering increasing prices again later this year, Bloomberg reports. The initial round of new price hikes — $1 a month for individuals, $2 a month for duos and families — will hit the U.K., Australia, and Pakistan, among others, according to Bloomberg.
Those price increases helped Spotify reach profitability in the third quarter of last year. But in the fourth quarter it reported an operating loss of 75 million euros ($82.7 million). In the first quarter earnings reported on Tuesday, Spotify was again profitable with 168 million euros ($181 million) in operating income.
While revenue from premium subscribers of 3.247 billion euros ($3.5 billion) grew by 20% compared to the first quarter last year, it inched up just 2% from the fourth quarter. Ad-supported of 389 million euros ($419.8) revenue rose 18% from the first quarter last year, but it declined by 22% from the fourth quarter.
Monthly active users of 615 million for the quarter was up 19% from a year ago and up 2% from the prior quarter but missed the company’s target of 618 million in the quarter.
Total Revenue grew 21% year over year, or 20% to €3.6 billion on a constant currency basis.
Premium ARPU grew 7% year over year on a constant currency basis.
Gross margin was up 27.6%, and gross profit surpassed €1 billion for the first time in Spotify’s history.
Operating Income finished at a record high of €168 million (a 4.6% margin)
Monthly active users grew 19% year over year to 615 million on annual and quarterly growth in all regions.
Premium subscribers grew 14% to 239 million, led by growth in the streaming giant’s bundles–Family and Duo plans.
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DIRECTV is offering a homerun of a deal for sports and entertainment fans that’ll get you seven months of DIRECTV Sports Pack at no extra cost.*
DIRECTV Sports Pack will allow you to indulge in more than 20 channels including the MLB Network and MLB Strike Zone, so you can follow your team all baseball season long. The offer is only going on until April 30, which means you don’t want to wait too long before taking advantage of the limited-time promo.
*New resid. customers w/24 mo. agmt. DIRECTV Sports Pack auto-renews monthly after 7 mos. at then-prevailing rate (currently $14.99/mo. + tax) unless cancelled. Select sales channels only.
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Blackout restrictions and other conditions apply to all sports programming. Regional Sports Networks included with CHOICE Package or higher. Actual number of channels and games varies by market. Some channels may be incl in base pkg. Visit directv.com/sportspack for more info.
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How to Get 7 Months of DIRECTV Sports Pack at No Extra Cost
In order to score seven months of DIRECTV Sports Pack, new subscribers must sign up for the ENTERTAINMENT Package, CHOICE Package or ULTIMATE Package.
Get over 75 national, local and sports channels with DIRECTV’s ENTERTAINMENT Package including ABC, AMC, BBC, Bravo, Cartoon Network, CNBC, CNN, Discovery, ESPN, Food Network, Fox News, FS1, HGTV, Lifetime, MSNBC, MTV, Paramount Network and many more.
$69.99/month* for 24 months + taxes and fees, with a 24-month agreement. Autopay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo. is extra and applies.
If you’re looking for more content, the CHOICE Package has over 105 channels and offers regional sports networks including ACC Network, Big Ten Network, MLB Network, NBA TV and SEC Network. The package is $84.99/month.
$84.99/month* for 24 months, plus taxes and fees, with a 24-month agreement. Autopay and Paperless bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/month and Regional Sports Fee up to $15.99/mo. are extra and apply.
The DIRECTV ULTIMATE Package includes everything within the ENTERTAINMENT and CHOICE Packages as well as additional sports and movie channels like CBS Sports, Discovery Family, FX Movie Channel, NHL Network and more for a total of over 140 channels.
$114.99/mo.*for 24-months +taxes and fees, with a 24-month agreement. Autopay and Paperless Bill req’d. Advanced Receiver Service Fee $15/mo and Regional Sports Fee up to $15.99/mo are extra and apply.
*New approved residential customers, price inc. TV pkg & equip. fees for first TV. Add’l fees may apply to non-qualified customers. Equipment lease req’d. Early agmt termination fee applies ($20/mo.) & add’l fee(s) may apply if equip.is not returned. Credit card req’d. Restr’s apply. $19.95 activation applies for satellite customers.
Cancel DIRECTV Sports Pack online or by phone. Offer subject to change. Some channels may be included in base package, visit DIRECTV.com/sportspack for more info.
Service subject to DIRECTV delivered via internet terms and conditions (see directv.com/legal/legal-policy-center/). Available only in the U.S. (excludes Puerto Rico and U.S.V.I.). Some offers may not be available through all channels and in select areas. Different offers may apply for eligible multi-dwelling units. Early termination fees apply for a maximum of $480, prorated at $20 per month over the 24-month term. If you cancel your service within the first 14 days of ordering, a full refund of charges will be applied, and the early termination fees will be waived. If service is canceled after 14 days, you can continue to access DIRECTV through the end of the bill period, but there is no refund or credit for partial-month or unwatched content.Requires high speed internet. Minimum internet speed of 8Mbps per stream recommended for optimal viewing. Pricing: ENTERTAINMENT $69.99/mo.; CHOICE $84.99/mo; ULTIMATE $114.99/mo. PREMIER $159.99/mo. for two years. After 2 years, continues month to month at then-current prevailing prices unless cancelled. Additional Fees & Taxes: Price excludes Advanced Receiver Service Fee of $15/mo. (which is extra and applies to all packages) and Regional Sports Fee of up to $15.99/mo. (which is extra & applies to CHOICE pkg or higher. $7/mo. lease fee per each additional device will be charged on your account. State and local taxes or other governmental fees and charges may apply including any such taxes, fees or charges assessed against discounted fees or service credits. See directv.com/directv-fees/ for additional information.
Equipment Non-Return Fees: If service is cancelled you must return the included and leased device to avoid a non-return fee of $120 per device.Regional Sports & Local Channels: Regional Sports available with CHOICE and above. Not available in select areas. Channels vary by package & billing region. Device may need to be in billing region in order to view. Limits: Programming subject to blackout restrictions.
DIRECTV SPORTS PACK 7 MONTHS ON US OFFER: Ends 4/30/24. With ENTERTAINMENT, CHOICE or ULTIMATE package. Account must remain in good standing. DIRECTV Sports Pack auto-renews monthly unless you cancel online at directv.com or by calling 800.531.5000. However, once you’ve canceled, you can access it through the remaining monthly period. No refunds or credits for any partial-month periods or unwatched content. If you cancel your service, you will no longer be eligible for this offer. Blackout restrictions and other conditions apply to all sports programming. Regional Sports Networks included with CHOICE Package or higher. Actual number of channels and games varies by market. Returning customers who disconnected service within previous 12 months are not eligible for offer. LIMIT ONE OFFER PER DIRECTV ACCOUNT. May be combined with other promotional offers on same services. Offer may be changed or discontinued at any time.
DIRECTV Svc Terms: Subject to Equipment Lease & Customer Agreement. Taxes, surcharges, add-on programming (including premium channels), DIRECTV TECH PROTECT, transactional fees, and Federal Cost Recovery Fee are not included in two-year price guarantee. Visit directv.com/legal/ or call for details.
All offers, programming, promotions, pricing, terms, restrictions & conditions subject to change & may be modified, discontinued, or terminated at any time without notice. See directv.com for details.
©2024 DIRECTV. DIRECTV and all other DIRECTV marks are trademarks of DIRECTV, LLC. All other marks are the property of their respective owners.
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ESPN is just one option for watching baseball, basketball and more — sports fans can watch exclusive games live including for the NBA and NHL on TNT. Unless you have cable though, your viewing options are limited. Cord cutters don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a cable package in order to get access to basketball games and other TNT content, there are affordable streaming options like live TV streamers that’ll give you instant access and for a fraction of the price.
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With current free trials and promos going on, you can livestream the NBA playoffs for free or for less than $100 a month. You’ll also get access to hundreds of other live TV channels that’ll expand your program options, so you can watch sports, reality TV and the latest dramas live and in real time.
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And, if you’re interested in catching NBA playoff games, TNT will be airing select matchups that are also going to be simulcasted on TruTV.
Keep reading to learn more about the current offers available.
How to Watch TNT Online for Free
You can get access to TNT and TruTV through live TV streamers such as DirecTV Stream, Sling TV and Hulu + Live TV. All options are currently offering either a free trial or promos that’ll reduce the cost of the platform and give you access to the NBA playoffs.
Below are all the ways to watch TNT online, including ways to stream TNT online for free.
DirecTV Stream
DirecTV Stream is offering new users a five-day free trial when you sign up for one its four packages offered. All of the packages include TNT and TruTV so you can stream the channels online.
Plus, right now you can save $30 when you combine any streaming package with a “Sports Pack.” Currently, the Entertainment + Sports Pack is dropped down to $85 (reg. $95) for the first three months and comes with TNT and TruTV for simulcasted NBA playoff games. Once the three months are up you’ll be charged the subscription price based on what package you choose at checkout.
In addition to unlimited DVR storage, you’ll get access to local channels and the ability to stream on as many devices as you want.
Sling TV
You can take advantage of $10 off the first month of all of Sling TV‘s streaming packages, dropping the price down to $30 (reg. $40 a month). There are three package plans to choose from: Orange, Blue and Orange + Blue with every option including the TNT channel — only the Blue and Orange + Blue packages also include TruTV. After your first month is up you’ll be charged the regular subscription price based on the package you pick.
The Orange Package comes with 32 channels and can be streamed on just one device at a time. Included in the Blue Package is 40 channels including TNT and TruTV as well as FS1 and the NFL Network. Can’t choose? You can combine both packages and get all 68 channels and the ability to stream on up to three devices at once — and just for $45 for the first month (reg. $55).
Hulu + Live TV
For the most content offerings, you can sign up for Hulu + Live TV and get access to the Hulu library in addition to more then 95 live TV channels (including TNT and TruTV), and all for $77 a month.
And, for even more programming, Hulu + Live TV now comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN+, which will give you everything within the Hulu library in addition to exclusive content on the two other streamers.
Is TNT Free On Amazon Prime?
The TNT channel is not available on Prime Video, but Amazon does offer access to some of the TNT’s most popular programs like The Closer, The Librarians, Perception, The Alienist and The Last Ship. Prime members can watch the TV shows for free and get instant access to the programs through the Prime Video library.
Don’t have a Prime membership? New users are eligible for a 30-day free trial that you can sign up for here.
Can You Watch TNT On Hulu?
With Hulu + Live TV, you get access to 95+ channels of live TV channels including TNT and TruTV, so you can watch select NBA playoff games live and right from your couch. It doesn’t include a free trial, but once you sign up, you’ll get instant access to the channels — no add-ons required.
2024 NBA Playoffs Schedule
See below for the upcoming games or click here to see the full schedule.
Saturday (April 20)
Cavaliers vs. Magic at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Timberwolves vs. Suns at 3:30 ET on ESPN
Knicks vs. TBD at 6 p.m. on ESPN
Nuggets vs. Lakers at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Sunday (April 21)
Celtics vs. TBD at 1 p.m. ET on ABC
Clippers vs. Mavericks at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Bucks vs. Pacers at 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Thunder vs. West No. 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Monday (April 22)
Cavaliers vs. Magic at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Knicks vs. TBD at 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Nuggets vs. Lakers at 10 p.m. on TNT
Tuesday (April 23)
Timberwolves vs. Suns at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Bucks vs. Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Clippers vs. Mavericks at 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Wednesday (April 24)
Celtics vs. TBD at 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Thunder vs. TBD at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Thursday (April 25)
Magic vs. Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV
TBD vs. Knicks at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Lakers vs. Nuggets at 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Friday (April 26)
Pacers vs. Bucks at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Mavericks vs. Clippers at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Suns vs. Timberwolves at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Last week, Bloomberg reported that Spotify will be raising prices for its premium subscription in five markets later this month and do the same in the United States at an unspecified time later this year. For about $1 to $2 extra per month, depending on the market, premium users will receive audiobooks alongside podcasts and ad-free music listening in their subscription — but the change will have a knock-on effect for mechanical royalty rates for songwriters and publishers.
Once the price increases are launched, all premium subscribers will automatically be subject to the new offering unless they manually change their subscription tier. While the increased price will result in Spotify getting increased revenue, a representative for Spotify believes it also qualifies the popular premium tier for a discount on its royalty rate on U.S. mechanicals because it is now considered a “bundle,” similar to how Amazon bundles Prime and Amazon Music and Apple bundles Apple Music and Apple News.
“Spotify is on track to pay publishers and societies more in 2024 than in 2023,” a Spotify rep said, citing the company’s Loud and Clear report that says the streamer has paid nearly $4 billion to publishers, PROs and collection societies in the last two years.
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“As our industry partners are aware, changes in our product portfolio mean that we are paying out in different ways based on terms agreed to by both streaming services and publishers. Multiple DSPs have long paid a lower rate for bundles versus a standalone music subscription, and our approach is consistent,” the company added. Though Spotify premium users have already gotten access to audiobooks on the service since October for no additional charge, the company clarified to Billboard that its re-classification of the tier as a “bundle” is not retroactive to when it began testing audiobooks but only begins when the subscription price increases.
Music publishers have made it clear they are not going to accept the change without a fight. David Israelite, president/CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), called out the service for the move, saying that “it appears Spotify has returned to attacking the very songwriters who make its business possible.” He went on to add that the company’s attempt to “radically reduce payments” to publishers and songwriters is “a cynical and potentially unlawful move.” If it is determined that Spotify’s move is not properly categorized as a bundle, the trade organization says it will consider “all options,” including the MLC or publishers taking Spotify to court or before the Copyright Royalty Board (CRB), the entity that sets mechanical royalty rates for streaming in the United States. “We will not stand for their perversion of the settlement we agreed upon in 2022,” he warned.
Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) took to Instagram, urging their followers to cancel their subscriptions: “NSAI, along with the the @nmpaorg, is contemplating our next steps to fight this move. Stay tuned, but in the meantime remember they are doing all this in the worst possible show of disrespect to the songwriters who make them billions.”
Songwriters of North America CEO Michelle Lewis shared the perspective of songwriters, telling Billboard, “We are disappointed, but not surprised, to see Spotify once again on the forefront of finding ways to pay songwriters less. This reclassification, which we see as a deliberate misclassification, dangerously undermines the good faith of the last CRB settlement. It’s also duly noted that it is always the same company leading in this way.”
Phonorecords IV Settlement
Every five years, the CRB reconsiders the royalty rate for mechanicals in the United States. It is a complex, multi-pronged formula, setting the rate that each streaming service must pay to publishers and songwriters based on a number of contingent factors, including the subscription price, the amount the service pays to record labels and more. There are other caveats to consider when setting the rate based on how the user is subscribed with their streaming service, including whether the music was streamed on a free, ad-supported tier or on a paid, premium tier and whether the user is subscribed to the service through a bundle of other products.
In late 2022, NMPA, NSAI and Digital Media Association (DiMA) jointly announced that they had come to a voluntary settlement about what the U.S. mechanical royalty rate would be for the period of 2023-2027 (also called Phonorecords IV or “Phono IV”).
Even though the changes to the way bundling worked were considered a concession to streaming services, many in the music business celebrated the Phono IV settlement as an overall win, especially because the previous five-year rate (Phono III) was fought over for years, causing confusion over rates in the interim. When it was announced, the NMPA touted the Phono IV settlement as delivering the “highest rates in the history of digital streaming,” and many felt it signaled a new era of cooperation between streaming services and the music business. Israelite says now in his statement that Spotify’s latest move to bundle audiobooks “ends our period of relative peace.”
How Bundling Affects Mechanical Revenue
Even though the price of Spotify premium is rising, that additional revenue does not benefit songwriters and publishers. Now that premium is considered a bundled service with audiobooks, some of the subscription price is owed to book publishers and authors to license their works, too.
Mechanical revenue for bundles is calculated by seeing what audiobooks are valued at as a standalone offering ($9.99) and weighing that against the price of the premium bundle offering ($10.99), according to Phonorecords IV. The value of music is found by dividing the total premium price ($10.99) by the two services (audiobooks only and premium) together ($21), which results in music being valued at about 52% of the total bundle, or around $5.70 per subscriber.
How Bundling Affects the Total Content Cost
The first step in calculating the mechanical royalty rate a streaming service owes to songwriters and publishers is to find the “all-in pool.” This is the greater of either the headline rate (which ranges from 15.1% for 2023, 15.2% for 2024, 15.25% for 2025, 15.3% for 2026, and 15.35% for 2027) of Spotify’s revenue (which is now lowered to around $5.70 per subscriber) or the percentage of total content cost (TCC), a.k.a. what royalty Spotify pays to labels.
Previously, Spotify premium qualified for the full rate of the lesser of 26.2% of TCC for the period or $1.10 per subscriber. Now, after deciding to change its premium offering to include audiobooks, Spotify argues it qualifies as a “bundled subscription offering,” which moves its rate down to 24.5% of TCC for the accounting period.
Regardless of whether Spotify calculates its royalties due to songwriters and publishers based on the percentage of TCC or the headline rate, both options are affected by Spotify reclassifying premium as a bundle. One source close to the matter tells Billboard that Spotify has been paying based on the TCC recently.
Many songs from across the musical canon feature the sound of ocean waves, wind, rain, thunder, lightning, bird calls and other sounds of nature. Now, nature itself is being recognized as an artist for these contributions in an initiative to raise money for global conservation efforts.
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This new projects, Sounds Right, includes “Nature” getting an artist page on Spotify, with this page populated by new music and older songs remixed to “Feat. NATURE” by artists including David Bowie with Brian Eno, Ellie Goulding, U.K. electronic outfit London Grammar, neo-soul and folk artist UMI with V of BTS, Indian artist Anuv Jain, Norwegian singer Aurora and many more.
These songs will also be available on all major streaming platforms, with royalties going to Sounds Right. The project is projected to raise more than $40 million for conservation efforts from more than 600 million individual listeners in its first four years.
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Launched Tuesday (April 18), the Spotify playlist currently features 15 tracks, with more to be added as Sounds Right grows. Currently available songs include a “Nature Remix” of Goulding’s 2020 song “Brightest Blue” that now incorporates sounds of the Colombian rainforest. The 1995 Eno and Bowie collab “Get Real” features the sounds of hyenas, rooks and wild pigs, while Jain’s “Baarishein” includes the sound of an Indian rainfall.
Revenue will be collected by conservation nonprofit EarthPercent, then allotted to biodiversity conservation and restoration projects in threatened ecosystems around the world. The Sounds Right Expert Advisory Panel, a group of established biologists, environmental activists, representatives of Indigenous Peoples and experts in conservation funding, will advise on how funding should be dispersed.
“It’s been fantastic to see so many brilliant artists excited to engage creatively with the sounds of nature and supportive of Sounds Right’s core objective to see that nature is fairly compensated for her musical contributions,” EarthPercent’s Co-Executive Director Cathy Runciman said in a statement. “We know that many artists care deeply about protecting and restoring nature, and it’s a privilege to launch these collaborations via the Feat. NATURE playlist and together generate positive impact for biodiversity.”
Sounds Right was developed by the Museum for the United Nations and UN Live, Copenhagen-based organizations that use culture to crate local action and global change, in collaboration with a variety of climate-focused partners.
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Cutting the cable cord doesn’t mean you have to give up watching your favorite shows and sports like Vanderpump Rules, 90 Day Financé or NHL games in real time — Sling TV is one of the affordable streaming options that’ll give you access to channels like ESPN, Bravo, E!, FX and AMC, among others, for one low price. The live TV streaming service is one of Shop Billboard‘s favorites for its ability to choose the channels you want without having to worry about paying extra for premium add-ons.
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In short, Sling TV delivers the best value for premium content, and is one of the best ways to stream live TV online. While Sling is already affordable at $40 a month, a new Sling deal gets you $10 off your first month — a 25% discount.
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Keep reading to learn more about Sling TV including the best deals and promos currently going on.
What Is Sling TV?
Sling TV is a TV streaming platform that’ll give you instant access to more than 30 live TV channels. Other streaming services like Apple TV+ and Netflix only provide you with on-demand shows and movies, but Sling TV will give you on-demand content and live TV channels to watch at your leisure. You can choose from three different packages: Orange, Blue and Orange + Blue depending on your budget and viewing preferences.
The Orange package is best for sports fans, as it includes channels like ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPN3, while the Blue package offers more entertainment channels such as Bravo, TLC and The Food Network. Each plan also includes DVR storage to record and watch programs later.
Don’t want to choose? You can also combine both with the Orange + Blue package, which will give you all 72 channels to livestream as well as the ability to stream on three devices at once.
What Are the Best Sling Streaming Deals?
There are a number of new Sling streaming deals online right now. New users can sign up here and take 25% off your first month of Sling TV. This promo is active on all three packages, which will knock the price down to as low as $30 (reg. $40). Since the Orange + Blue plan combines both packages, the price will be slightly more at $45 with the deal (reg. $55). Once your first month is up, you’ll be charged the regular subscription price based on the plan you choose at checkout.
The best part? No installation is required — once you sign up you’ll get instant access to live TV and on-demand movies and TV shows.
New users can also sign up for Discovery+ through Sling TV and enjoy a seven-day free trial of the streaming platform. Once the trial is over, you’ll be charged $4.99/month for the ad-supported plan or $6.99/month if you want to go ad-free. In order to activate the deal, you’ll need to sign up for Sling TV, then you’ll be able to add Discovery+ to your subscription.
The streaming platform comes with more than 70,000 channels and original content as well as 150+ live TV channels for streaming programs like Deadliest Catch, 90 Day Fiancé, Chopped, Naked and Afraid and MythBusters.
Sling TV is also rewarding new users who prepay for three months with an AirTV Anywhere and OTA Bundle for just $89. It’s only valid for new users and once your first three months are done, you’ll be charged monthly based on the package you choose at checkout.
With the AirTV Anywhere and OTA Bundle you’ll be able to watch TV shows and movies on up to four devices at one, stream live TV on the go through your mobile device and record local channels with the device’s built-in 1TB DVR.
Sports fans can also take advantage of four months of basketball coverage for only $120 when you prepay for four months of Sling Orange. The deal can save you $40 by deducting $10 a month for the first four months. It’s valid for new subscribers who sign up for the Sling Orange package at checkout and will give you access to more than 30 channels including ESPN, ESPN2 and TNT. Games that air on ABC will be simulcasted on ESPN3, which is also included in the Sling Orange package.
Does Sling Have a Free Trial?
The live TV streamer’s deals and promos change throughout the year — and that includes when they have a free trial. While you won’t be able to get a free trial with the best Sling TV deals going on right now, you can score a major discounted price on the platform compared to competitors that offer packages around $80 a month.
Can You Get Local Channels on Sling?
A few of the channels offered on the Blue and Orange packages are local like ABC and FOX. Not all of the channels will be local though. See below for a full list of channels included in each package.
Sling TV Orange Plan Exclusive TV Channels
ESPN
ESPN2
ESPN3
Disney Channel
Freeform
Motortrend
Sling TV Blue Plan Exclusive TV Channels
Fox News
MSNBC
Bravo
NFL Network
FS1
FX
USA
Discovery Channel
TLC
E!
SyFy
National Geographic
TruTV
HLN
Live TV Channels Included in Both Plans
TBS
TNT
CNN
HGTV
AMC
History Channel
ID
A&E
Food Network
QVC
Nick Jr.
Comedy Central
IFC
BBC America
TRVL Channel
Cartoon Network
BET
MGM+
Lifetime
Vice
AXS TV
Fuse
Bloomberg TV+
Local Now
Comet
Charge!
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The 2024 NBA playoffs start this Saturday (April 20) and if you’ve recently cut the cable cord, you don’t need to spend hundreds of dollars on a new package in order to livestream the games at home. NBA League Pass is a one-stop hub to watch select playoff games live at home as well as on-demand matches and post-season coverage.
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While there are a number affordable streaming options on the market, this one is designed specifically for basketball lovers to catch all of the action without paying for a cable package. Plus, right now the best NBA League Pass deals can score you a free trial to watch NBA playoff games for free.
Keep reading to learn more about the streaming platform and current deals, discounts and promos going on.
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What Is the Cheapest Way to Get NBA League Pass?
Amazon is offering Prime members an exclusive deal that can get you a seven-day free trial of NBA League Pass. All you have to do is log into your Prime account and add the channel through the Prime Channel storefront and you’ll immediately get a week-long free trial. Once the free trial is over, you’ll be charged $14.99/month. Or you can cancel at any time to avoid being charged.
Don’t have a Prime membership? Amazon is offering new users a 30-day free trial when you sign up, in addition to the seven-day free trial of NBA League Pass.
What Are the Best NBA League Pass Deals?
Besides Prime Video’s offer, there are a couple more deals going on that’ll get you access to the streaming platform for an affordable price. Keep reading to see the latest NBA League Pass deals below.
NBA League Pass Subscription
The basketball platform provides affordable subscription options that’ll get you instant access to watch playoff games without cable. There are two NBA League Pass subscriptions you can choose from: League Pass and League Pass Premium. League Pass is ad-supported and the cheapest option of the two at only $14.99/month. Subscribing will let you stream on a single device as well as watch every out-of-market game live, 24/7 access to NBA TV, condensed versions of games and customizable broadcasts, angles and stats.
With League Pass Premium, you’ll get everything in League Pass with no ads and the ability to stream on up to three devices at one for just $22.99/month.
Looking for additional savings? You can sign up for the Single Team plan for $13.99/month that’ll allow you to choose one team of your choice to follow. You’ll only receive access to content for that team eliminating having to do the digging yourself.
NBA League Pass Student Plan
College students can take advantage of 40% off the NBA League Pass Monthly subscription for 12 months. Once the year is up, they’ll have to reverify their student status in order to continue receiving the discount.
It’s only offered for the League Pass plan and cannot be redeemed for another plan or upgrade. You can verify your student status here using the SheerID through NBA.com.
Does NBA League Pass Have a Free Trial?
NBA League Pass doesn’t come with a free trial on its own, but you can take advantage of Amazon’s promo, which is offering seven days free when you add the premium channel onto your subscription. There is no promo code needed to score this free trial.
Is NBA TV the Same As NBA League Pass?
NBA League Pass is a dedicated 24/7 streaming service for basketball games and exclusive coverage — with an ad-free experience too. NBA TV, meantime, is a channel included in the streaming service that provides non-stop coverage live for you to stream on your tablet, TV or smartphone as well as access to features, interviews, archived shows, NBA events and press conferences.
While you’ll have access to a number of games through both subscription plans, nationally televised games and local team games televised in your area won’t be available to livestream.
2024 NBA Playoffs Schedule
Check out the upcoming games below or click here to see the full schedule.
Saturday (April 20)
Cavaliers vs. Magic at 1 p.m. ET on ESPN
Timberwolves vs. Suns at 3:30 ET on ESPN
Knicks vs. TBD at 6 p.m. on ESPN
Nuggets vs. Lakers at 8:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Sunday (April 21)
Celtics vs. TBD at 1 p.m. ET on ABC
Clippers vs. Mavericks at 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Bucks vs. Pacers at 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Thunder vs. West No. 8 at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Monday (April 22)
Cavaliers vs. Magic at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Knicks vs. TBD at 7:30 p.m. on TNT
Nuggets vs. Lakers at 10 p.m. on TNT
Tuesday (April 23)
Timberwolves vs. Suns at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Bucks vs. Pacers at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBA TV
Clippers vs. Mavericks at 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Wednesday (April 24)
Celtics vs. TBD at 7 p.m. ET on TNT
Thunder vs. TBD at 9:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Thursday (April 25)
Magic vs. Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET on NBA TV
TBD vs. Knicks at 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT
Lakers vs. Nuggets at 10 p.m. ET on TNT
Friday (April 26)
Pacers vs. Bucks at 5:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Mavericks vs. Clippers at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN
Suns vs. Timberwolves at 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
More than six decades into her storied career, Barbra Streisand is still finding ways to challenge herself. The legend has recorded a new song, “Love Will Survive,” for the upcoming Sky/Peacock original series The Tattooist of Auschwitz.
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The track recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra (conducted by William Ross) was composed by two-time Oscar-winner Hans Zimmer in collaboration with Emmy-nominee Kara Talve (Prehistoric Planet) and Grammy-winning producer/songwriter Walter Afanasieff (Mariah Carey); the song’s lyrics were penned by Grammy and Golden Globe nominee Charlie Midnight; Afanasieff and Peter Asher produced the track.
“Because of the rise in antisemitism around the world today, I wanted to sing ‘Love Will Survive’ in the context of this series, as a way of remembering the six-million souls who were lost less than 80 years ago,” Streisand said in a statement. “And also to say that even in the darkest of times, the power of love can triumph and endure.”
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The song, Streisand’s first-ever recording for a TV series, will be released by Columbia Records on April 25, a week before the series launches globally on streaming on May 2. Zimmer also composed the original score for the six-part limited series starring Harvey Keitel, Melanie Lynskey, Jonah Hauer-King, Anna Próchniak and Jonas Nay.
The series tells the story of a Slovakian Jewish man, Lali (Hauer-King), who in 1942 was deported to the Nazi death camp where more than one million Jews were murdered during the Holocaust. According to a summary, the drama series follows Lali as he is made one of the camp’s Tätowierer (tattooist), whose job it is to ink identification numbers on the arms of fellow prisoners. It then follows Lali as he falls for fellow prisoner, Gita (Próchniak), “leading to a love that defied the horrors around them.”
The story shifts 60 years into the future to find the now 80-something recently widowed Lali meeting an aspiring writer, Heather Morris (Lynskey) to whom he tells his improbable story of finding love in the “darkest of places.”
“Barbra Streisand is one of the most renowned artists in the world, and we are deeply honoured to be working with her,” Synchronicity Films executive producer Claire Mundell said in a statement. “Barbra and her team have crafted the most beautiful song, based on Hans’ and Kara’s main theme for the show, and it sums up the key message of the series – love will survive. Recording the song with Barbra’s iconic vocals and William Ross conducting the LSO at Abbey Road Studios was an unforgettable moment and a memory I will treasure forever. We are thrilled to be able to honour the memory of Lali and Gita in this way, with this beautiful original piece of music.”
The series will be available beginning May 2nd on Sky Atlantic and the NOW streaming service in the UK and Ireland, Italy, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, as well as Peacock in the U.S. and Stan in Australia.