Exploding toilet cancels gig - but will the band and fans get their money back?; Is Spotify putting up prices again?; and yet more Baby Shark news

Get more TPOM in the post-show "lock-in" – try it for FREE!: ⁠⁠https://www.patreon.com/c/thepriceofmusic/membership⁠

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Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. In this week’s episode of The Price of Music, Steve and Stu unwrap the week's music biz goings-on:

• An exploding toilet caused a gig cancellation – but what now for the band, fans and the venue?

• Stu’s Big Number is $2.45bn - it’s big, but why might it feel scary to artists and labels?

• Spotify might also put their prices by a dollar in the US - who will welcome this (and who won’t?)

• Three AI music-making companies have struck deals with major labels - but who and why?

• The UK ticket levy to help smaller grassroots venues is taking off – so what's next? Stu's been chatting to an MP to find out.

• TPOM’s continued role as your Primary Baby Shark News Resource continues as Stu explains how many millions of dollars it made last year (it was a lot).

And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our Patreon Superfans, Steve and Stu prop themselves at the bar to chat about:

• Steve once flew several thousand miles to watch a band, only for them to quit after a mere three songs. But which now-massive band was it?

• Who are Steve and Stu's artists of the year? (Including Wet Leg and Self Esteem)

  What was the annual Reader's Poll like behind the scenes at the NME for Steve?

• More unusual gig cancellation stories - including pigeons pooping on Kings of Leon, Neil Young’s sandwiches, and more

• What’s the city of Manchester doing to support local venues and promoters?

As ever, we welcome your feedback, emails and – in particular – any questions you might have about how the music biz works!

Email us: ⁠⁠thepriceofmusicpodcast@gmail.com⁠⁠

See you next week!

Steve and Stuart

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