Indie Labels Challenge Apple Music's Spatial Audio Royalties
Independent labels such as Beggars Group, Secretly Group, and Partisan Records are criticizing Apple Music's preferential payouts for spatial audio, arguing that it disadvantages independent artists who can't afford to record in that format. Apple Music offers bonuses for spatial audio tracks, but the cost of production and updating older music makes it difficult for smaller labels and artists to participate, benefiting larger players like Universal Music Group. This has sparked concerns about fairness and financial impact within the music industry.