Spotify's acquisition last week of the music licensing start-up Loudr helps the streaming service to better manage its costs so that it can focus on attracting new subscribers for its premium service, said a digital media investment banker who helped Loudr close the deal.
Loudr's services are intended to make it easier for content creators and digital music services to identify, track, and pay royalties to music publishers more efficiently. Royalties are, of course, part of Spotify's recurring costs.
"It makes sense for Spotify, which is the largest music streaming service in terms of paid users, to take control of this important piece," said Sun Jen Yung, a partner and the head of digital media at Nfluence Partners.
Loudr makes the complex process of paying royalties easier through automation, she said Wednesday in an interview on Cheddar.
This week, Spotify announced it will update its mobile app soon in an effort to make it easier to use.
"To the extent that they can attract more users, that can hopefully help them upgrade to a premium service," said Yung.
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/inside-spotifys-acquisition-of-loudr).
A new report said the private sector added 103,000 jobs in November while refinance applications climb as mortgage rates dip. Plus, the FTC is once again looking to block the Microsoft-Activision deal and McDonald's is looking to buy 10,000 new locations by 2027.
Fans of the Grand Theft Auto series got a glimpse of the latest release that's not due out until 2025. The trailer was officially released after a leak on the 'X' platform, giving an idea to industry experts of the massive effect GTA will have on the gaming sector. Cheddar News senior reporter Michelle Castillo breaks it all down.
Tax season is around the corner as soon as we conclude the holiday festivities. Mark Steber, chief tax information officer with Jackson Hewitt, joined Cheddar News to discuss some tax changes that people should be aware of and what to expect during next year's tax filing season.