Music Business Worldwide’s weekly round-up highlights major developments in music streaming, AI-generated music and industry finances, including Universal Music Group’s Spotify share sale, Spotify’s subscriber growth, and new AI licensing initiatives.

– Universal Music Group sold part of its Spotify stake for €403 million ($467 million), with artists estimated to receive about $131 million.
– Spotify reached 300 million Premium subscribers in Q2 2026, adding seven million during the quarter and reporting $762 million operating profit.
– Warner Music Group’s recorded-music subscription streaming revenue rose 11% year-on-year, despite CFO and COO Armin Zerza’s sudden departure.
– AI music company Suno plans to let users press AI-generated songs onto 12-inch vinyl records.
– Merlin agreed a licence with Spotify for an upcoming paid tool enabling fan-made covers and remixes of participating artists’ songs.