Best Fit’s Weekly Industry Roundup #2

This week has sees label mergers, Timberlake ventures, Billboard chart shake-ups and Intern law. But first...

Spotify and Uber team up to replace the trusty car radio

With all the kerfuffles currently surrounding Spotify and Uber, two of the most controversial tech bodies of 2014, they've sought to rectify a few PR slip-ups by joining forces. Prudent? Perhaps; perhaps not. The idea is that passengers in 'Spotify-enabled' Uber cars will be able to select from a list of curated playlists so that they can enjoy their journey even more.

In a joint statement, the two giants said: "Uber connects riders with transportation on-demand, wherever and whenever they choose. Spotify brings listeners the right music for every moment. And now, with our new first-of-its kind product partnership, Uber and Spotify Premium users can personalise their Uber ride by playing their favorite Spotify music right through the car speakers."

Justin Timberlake buys stake in Aftermaster Audio Labs

Apprently not content with MySpace, Timberlake is now a co-owner of Aftermaster Audio Labs, a service which, as their website states, "instantly masters all audio signals, making audio sound clearer, louder and fuller without adding distortion or sacrificing dynamic range." It actually seems to work pretty well, and you can listen to some examples here. In a statement, Timberlake said: "I’m thrilled to be a part of this groundbreaking company. The first time I heard audio, post AfterMaster, I knew that I had to be a part of this company and that we had something revolutionary on our hands."

Indie labels absorbed into majors

Black Butter have joined the ranks of Sony as a "standalone" imprint. The dance label, who've had a hand in Clean Bandit and Rudimental to name but a few. Co-founders Henry Village and Joe Gossa will stay in their roles.Village said: "Jason [Iley, new Sony UK and Ireland CEO] was very supportive early on in Black Butter’s ascendancy and has always made it very evident he wanted to work with Joe and I as soon as we were ready. I’ve always been a supporter and now that he’s taken the helm at Sony, the time felt right."

BMG have also acquired L.A.'s Vagrant Records, following the takeover of Infectious back in September. Jon Cohen - Vagrant co-founder and new Executive VP of Recorded Music for BMG Chrysalis US, said: "It is impossible not to be impressed by what BMG has achieved in the US since it opened here just five short years ago. By putting service to artists at the centre of its offering, BMG is committed to offering a genuine alternative to traditional label deals. Together with the rest of the Vagrant team, I look forward to further growing BMG’s presence in the recordings business."

Apple put all their eggs in one musical basket

The Financial Times has got wind of a new Apple development - it appears they are to make Beats (rebranded under the iTunes moniker) the default music streaming app on iOS from March 2015. Users will be forced to download the app, which will form part of a future update, but have the option to actually pay the subscription fee. Chances are it'll be the newest in a long line of dead-weight apps that Apple thrust upon its users - Stocks, that bookshelf thingy and the Pass Book.

Billboard to include streaming data in albums chart

The American chart providers are set to include data from Spotify, Beats Music, Google Play and Xbox Music in its Billboard 200 album rundown for the first time. CMU note that "Chart compiler Nielsen will take 1500 streams from one album as being equivalent to one sale. The updated album chart will also measure single track sales - equating ten track sales from an album to one full album sale." The UK Official Charts Company said that it was a matter of "when not if" in regards to following suit.

UK Music launches "Internship Code Of Practice"

The trade body has published a set of guidelines for employers and employees, highlighting rules that the former must abide by - including how much they must pay interns - and a list of tips on how to avoid shoddy placements. You can peruse the guide here. UK Music's CEO Jo Dipple released a long statement about the publication:

“Music is one of the UK’s strongest cultural assets, to maintain our standing, we must ensure that our businesses are filled with the most talented people, constantly refreshed from the widest pool of creative talent. Internships are a fantastic way for a young person to get their foot in the door, but we must attract and retain people from all walks of life and all backgrounds. Diversity is a necessity, not an option... our research shows that despite common myths, people perceive music as an open industry. This means we must ensure that music companies offer paid internships to maximise the number of candidates applying to any role. The policies and advice in this guide will ensure that employers respect every young person for their talent and not their ability to work for free. Adherence to this code will benefit both the employers and the intern”.