The future of record labels – with Midia's Mark Mulligan
Mon Feb 02 2026
Ep. 175: Mark Mulligan of MIDiA Research joins us to talk about labels in 2026. It's jam-packed with great advice for labels of all sizes and ambitions, including:
The value shift between labels and streaming platforms in terms of the 'ownership' of the music consumerHow labels should "specialise" - and what that means for the labels who try to do it allHe advocates for labels to 'nurture' artists with long-term artist development. He explains why – and how a label boss might need to justify a three-year slow-burn strategy when they're under so much pressure to deliver nowWhat revenue streams or opportunities might labels be labels ignoring because they're too focused on protecting the streaming status quo?There's also a fairly unexpected chat about Nu-Metal, Limp Bizkit, and UK Garage.Midia report: The future of labels – https://www.midiaresearch.com/reports/the-future-of-labels-shifting-sands
Ride - Vapour Trail – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVhNi5cU8mo
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Ep. 175: Mark Mulligan of MIDiA Research joins us to talk about labels in 2026. It's jam-packed with great advice for labels of all sizes and ambitions, including: The value shift between labels and streaming platforms in terms of the 'ownership' of the music consumerHow labels should "specialise" - and what that means for the labels who try to do it allHe advocates for labels to 'nurture' artists with long-term artist development. He explains why – and how a label boss might need to justify a three-year slow-burn strategy when they're under so much pressure to deliver nowWhat revenue streams or opportunities might labels be labels ignoring because they're too focused on protecting the streaming status quo?There's also a fairly unexpected chat about Nu-Metal, Limp Bizkit, and UK Garage.Midia report: The future of labels – https://www.midiaresearch.com/reports/the-future-of-labels-shifting-sands Ride - Vapour Trail – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pVhNi5cU8mo ------ 👋 The Knowledge, Music Ally’s free weekly newsletter: musically.lnk.to/knowledgepo 🎉 You may be eligible for a FREE Music Ally subscription, worth over £450/year, via our corporate and sponsored subscriptions. If you work for a DSP, a major label, an indie label, or if you’re an artist manager, an employee of a CMO or a publisher, check here to see if you’re eligible: musically.com/subscription-options Ⓜ️ Subscribe to Music Ally's industry-leading analysis, reporting and news: musically.com/subscribe Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/musicallybiz X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/musically Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/musicallyfb