SONO Music Updates: Spotify Faces Türkiye Inquiry Amid Cultural Controversy; Indie Leaders Challenge UMG’s Latest Move; Ed Sheeran Tops Streaming Charts

**SONO Music Updates: Spotify Faces Türkiye Inquiry Amid Cultural Controversy; Indie Leaders Challenge UMG's Latest Move; Ed Sheeran Tops Streaming Charts** Article Image

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Spotify Faces Türkiye Competition Inquiry Amid Content Controversy

Spotify finds itself at the center of a legal maelstrom as Türkiye’s competition regulator, Rekabet Kurumu, delves into alleged anti-competitive practices and potential biases in artist visibility on the platform. The inquiry accuses the streaming giant of complicating rival operations, with claims that it affects royalty distributions and shows favoritism among artists and creators. In a curious twist, the debate is enlivened by a cultural controversy dubbed the “golden toilets” saga. A social media post by Dr. Batuhan Mumcu, deputy minister of culture and tourism, criticizes Spotify for hosting playlists that allegedly offend national values and religious sensitivities. One particularly contentious point involves playlist titles mocking Emine Erdoğan, the wife of Türkiye’s president, over alleged gold-plated bathrooms in their palace—claims the presidency denies. The backlash highlights the broader implications of platform neutrality, as Spotify users—not the company itself—curated these provocative playlists. Spotify is navigating the inquiry by cooperating fully with Turkish authorities, further emphasizing its commitment to supporting the local music scene, having contributed over 2 billion TRY ($50 million) in 2024 to the Turkish industry.

In a different arena, Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You” reigns supreme as Apple Music’s most-streamed track of the past decade, surpassing hits like The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” and Drake’s “God’s Plan.” While Apple didn’t divulge specific stream counts, it celebrated the track for setting first-day streaming records and dominating charts worldwide. With 4.44 billion Spotify streams and standing as YouTube’s seventh most-viewed video at 6.47 billion views, “Shape of You” underscores Sheeran’s unparalleled digital success.

Meanwhile, unrest stirs within the independent music world as over 200 indie leaders write to the European Commission to oppose Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings. The letter warns of UMG’s deepening market grip, threatening diversity and competitive fairness. This resistance highlights growing concerns in the indie sector about major labels monopolizing critical infrastructures.

In tech-driven transformations, Phil Barry’s departure from Blokur introduces intriguing possibilities. Now under Music Reports’ ownership, Blokur stands as a key player in rights management. Barry envisions leveraging AI’s potential to enhance human creativity in an era where technology increasingly challenges traditional creative processes, signaling an exciting frontier for independent creators.

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