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Issue Nº 21Live · May 18, 2026Weekly · Tuesdays

The Brief.

A weekly dispatch on streaming, royalties, marketing and the music industry — written from real campaign data, not theory.

In the archive
278 dispatches
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5,000+ artists
AllStreaming103Marketing65Business44Touring13Money36Career17
Editorial collage of a faceless AI-generated rock band with a Spotify monthly listener counter ticking past 1.4 million against a static-distorted backdrop
★ Cover Story
01 / 12Issue Nº 21·Streaming

The Velvet Sundown Effect: How a Fake AI Band Hit 1.4M Spotify Listeners (2026)

Inside the velvet sundown ai band spotify hoax: 1.4M listeners, three albums, Suno-generated, and the algorithm signals indies can replicate (legally).

MV
Marcus ValeMay 16, 2026
13 min readRead the story
This Week

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In Depth

The long reads

Editorial overhead shot of a vintage accountant's ledger with a magnifying glass over a column of payout figures, soft tungsten desk lamp light, muted teal and amber palette
Money

Deezer Just Demonetized 85% of AI Streams: What Indie Payouts Look Like Now

Deezer ai music demonetization hit 85% of AI streams in April 2026 as 44% of daily uploads go AI. Here is what indie payouts actually look like now.

Daniel BrooksMay 16, 2026 · 11 min read
Independent songwriter at a desk reviewing a Mechanical Licensing Collective royalty statement on a laptop, with sheet music and a coffee cup beside the keyboard.
Money

How to Claim Your Share of the MLC's $424M Black Box Pool (2026 Walkthrough)

Learn how to claim mlc unclaimed royalties from the $424M black box pool. Step-by-step 2026 walkthrough for self-published songwriters and indie artists.

Daniel BrooksMay 16, 2026 · 12 min read
SoundCloud Artist Pro dashboard on a laptop showing royalty payouts at 100 percent next to a stack of streaming platform logos including Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok.
Money

SoundCloud Now Pays 100% on Distribution: Is Artist Pro Worth Switching For? (2026)

SoundCloud Artist Pro 100 percent royalties shake up distribution in 2026. Compare $99/yr Artist Pro vs DistroKid, TuneCore, and CD Baby before you switch.

Daniel BrooksMay 16, 2026 · 12 min read
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