The AvA Connection

🐝 The Weekly Buzz

Spotify rolled out their latest “Loud and Clear” report, which offers an annual snapshot into ‘music economics’ along with the trends and stats of streaming. Here are some of the highlights. I’m sure no one will have any negative feedback here 🙂 

• Spotify payouts have increased 10x over the past 10 years

• Indies generated ~50% of total 2024 Spotify royalties ($5B of $10B total)

• The number of people uploading music to the platform has jumped to 12 million, a 20% increase compared to their last report.

• Only 71,200 (0.59%) of artists on the platform earned more than $10,000 from the platform last year.

• Payouts to publishing rights holders grew from $2 billion in 2023, to $2.5 billion in 2024 – a 25% increase.

• The 100,000th ranked artist generated almost $6K in Spotify royalties.

(Source for this breakdown: MusicAlly)

BACK FOR MORE! After (at least by my account) an incredible hosting/roasting job at the Golden Globes this year, Nikki Glaser will return as the host in 2026. My guess is I’ll be writing this same note with her returning in 2027 after a rumored “multi-year” deal.

Miley Cyrus secured her 4th song into the billion views club on YouTube with the song “Flowers.” Her other 3 singles to do that were “Wrecking Ball,” “Party In The U.S.A.,” and “23.”

MARTIN GARRIX sets a new L.A. live performance record: His first headline performance since 2015 turned into three LA State Historic Park shows this June, making him the first Artist ever to host three shows at the LA State Historic Park in one weekend.

France’s recorded music revenues reached $1.1 billion in 2024, with an increase of 7% year over year. SNEP, the company that protects the best interests of the French record industry, shared that this is “positive but misleading,” stating that France is “3.3% behind the global average.” If diving further into the socio-economic state of the French music industry is your cup of tea, you can do that here.

Ariana Grande announced a new short film titled “Brighter Days” that is set to come out with the deluxe version of her album, ‘Eternal Sunshine.’ The film is dropping on the same day as the deluxe album, and is directed by Christian Breslauer, who she worked with on “Yes, And?” and a handful of other projects. Ariana’s official announcement can be found here.

In more music-film news, it was announced that there will be an Oasis Reunion Tour movie tracking their tour this year.

📞 The Call Log: Julie Nguyen, Co-Head of Marketing at JET Management

Julie Nguyen is a Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and a creative force in music marketing, playing a key role in campaigns for Grammy-winning duo Justice, Madeon, San Holo, LP Giobbi, and more as the co-head of marketing at JET Management. Voted the "momager" of her team, Julie is the go-to problem solver who keeps ideas flowing and projects on track. Outside of work, she’s a dedicated dog mom to Bucky, JET’s unofficial office mascot.

Our conversation is below:

AvA: What was your first job in music? What was that experience like? 

Nguyen: My first job in music was at C3 Management where I started as an intern and was hired as a management assistant after graduating from Cal State Long Beach. It was a small but mighty team of five, which meant I got to wear a lot of hats – from building decks and content calendars to brainstorming digital campaigns. That hands-on experience helped me discover my passion for music marketing, and I naturally gravitated more towards leading digital strategies for our roster. Fast forward seven years, I’m still with the same team (although it’s grown a lot bigger than the original five) – now at JET Management as the Co-Head of Marketing. 

AvA: Looking back on your career so far, what’s one moment that you consider to be a milestone or turning point for you? What did you learn from that experience that you still carry with you today?

Nguyen: One of the highlights of my career so far was working on Madeon’s Good Faith album rollout and headline tour. It was amazing to be part of a project from start to finish – the stakes were high but so was the creative energy. Seeing all the hard work culminate in a Grammy nomination and a sold out tour was really rewarding. From digital storytelling to planning real-world activations like the Good Faith merch pop-up and seeing the immersive live show come to life, we built something truly special for the fans. That campaign taught me the power of project management and learning how to juggle multiple moving pieces without losing sight of the big picture. Even now, I approach every project with that same mindset: dream big, plan obsessively, and create something fans will never forget.

AvA: How are you seeing artists effectively stand out in a landscape that is more saturated than ever? 

Nguyen: The artists who stand out today are the ones who lean into storytelling and building an ecosystem around their world. In an oversaturated industry, it’s no longer just about the music – it’s about creating a community and giving fans a reason to stay engaged beyond release cycles. The most successful artists invest in authentic fan relationships and craft experiences that feel unique to them, whether through interactive content, world-building, or direct-to-fan moments. It’s about creating something people want to be a part of, rather than just pushing content into the void. 

AvA: What are 3 of the most important qualities you see in your peers who have risen through the ranks quickly in their professional roles? 

Nguyen: Adaptability - The music industry moves fast, especially in management, so you need to be able to pivot to a new plan when something unexpected happens. 

Proactiveness - Being able to identify opportunities, anticipate challenges, and bring solutions before they’re even asked.

Relationship-building - Having a strong network and genuinely investing in the people around you goes a long way. It’s a small industry and you cross paths with the same people frequently.

AvA: What is one piece of advice you have for someone just starting out in their careers?

Nguyen: Don’t be afraid to speak up for yourself! You are your own biggest advocate and no one will fight for your growth as much as you will. The more you assert yourself, the more people will recognize your value.

AvA: Dream festival headliners (dead or alive)?

Nguyen: Taylor Swift (sorry not sorry, I’m a basic Swiftie), Odesza and Queen. Maybe not all at the same festival, but why not?

AvA: If money was no object, what would your job/career be (outside of the Entertainment Industry)?

Nguyen: I would open a doggy daycare and training facility! I’m raising a puppy right now (@buckythebucketdog) and I’d love to be able to spend more time with him and other pups. It’s exhausting raising a puppy but so rewarding to see all his growth and progress.

AvA: What are you binging on TV right now?

Nguyen: My guilty pleasure is reality TV so I’m always watching the latest Love Is Blind or Bachelor seasons. Lately, I’ve been watching Apple Cider Vinegar and will start the new season of White Lotus when I can find some time.

AvA: Mentor shoutout? 

Nguyen: My marketing professor from college, Professor Tomlin, is still my mentor to this day. On the first day of class, he ran us through an exercise about how not to be mediocre – something I thought was silly at the time, but it stuck with me. By the end of the semester, I gained so much confidence in myself, especially through the presentations we gave to real company executives. Those experiences pushed me out of my comfort zone and gave me tools I still use in my career today. We still catch up over breakfast or on the phone every few months, and he always has the best life and career advice. Shoutout to Professor Tomlin!

AvA: Book or podcast recommendation? 

Nguyen: Since our jobs are so demanding, I like to listen to podcasts and read books where I can turn off my brain. I love listening to Scrubbing In with Becca Tilley and Tanya Rad (podcast) for a good belly laugh and I’m a big fan of the Fourth Wing book series. 

👋 See you back here on Tuesday for a brand new selection of Entertainment jobs

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