5 Music Industry Shifts In November 2025 That Reveal What Changes Next

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By: Jessica Morrison

Excitement around five music moves is colliding with November 2025. These shifts-from Spotify adding music videos in the U.S. to a new NMPA opt‑in portal-are already changing who gets paid and how fans discover songs. One surprise: publishers can now opt into direct audiovisual licenses, which could alter payouts for indie songwriters. Which of these changes will affect how you listen, stream, or follow artists before year’s end?

Why these 5 music moves matter for streaming in November 2025

  • Spotify will add music videos in the U.S. and Canada; rollout begins in coming weeks.
  • NMPA opened an opt-in portal on Nov. 11 for publishers to license audiovisual rights.
  • Deadline launched a Sound & Screen streaming site showcasing composers from Oscar contenders.
  • Wicked: For Good leads the HMMA nominations with 6 nods; awards livestreams Nov. 19 globally.

The 5 picks that are reshaping music, awards and video in 2025

1 – Spotify Brings Music Videos To The U.S., Turning Lists Into Watchlists

Spotify confirmed it will expand last year’s video beta to the U.S. and Canada, letting listeners toggle audio and video. If you prefer video-first listening, this could steer discovery away from YouTube toward your music app. This will change how fans find songs.

2 – NMPA Opt-In Portal Could Rework Publisher Payouts And Licensing Flow

The National Music Publishers’ Association opened an opt‑in portal so publishers can sign direct audiovisual deals with Spotify starting Nov. 11. That new pathway promises higher payouts for some indie publishers and shifts bargaining power. Could creators see royalties move faster?

3 – Spotify’s Growth Gives New Weight To Video Experiments

Spotify reported adding 5 million paid Premium subscribers, reaching 281 million, while MAUs hit 713 million; the company pushed double‑digit growth this quarter. Bigger user numbers mean Spotify can test video features at scale and monetize differently. User footprint is expanding fast.

4 – Deadline’s Sound & Screen Site Packages Composer Work For Fans And Industry

Deadline launched a streaming hub for its Sound & Screen festival, putting composer showcases and session performances online. That centralizes film‑music discovery and makes soundtrack fandom easier for you to follow. Watch composers’ work in one place.

5 – Awards Nominations Spotlight Film Music As A Streaming Driver

The Hollywood Music In Media Awards put Wicked: For Good atop the field with 6 nominations, amplifying soundtrack visibility heading into awards season. Film music getting this spotlight can boost playlists and sync deals for artists. Film music is trending upward.

The key figures that prove who gains in music streaming in 2025

KPI Value + Unit Change/Impact
Paid subscribers 281 million +5M net adds, up 12% QoQ
Monthly active users 713 million +17M net gain, 11% growth
Top HMMA nominee Wicked: For Good (6 noms) Raises soundtrack profile globally

These figures show streaming growth and soundtrack prominence heading into awards season.

What will these 5 moves mean for fans and creators in 2025?

Expect playlists to feature more video clips, soundtrack spikes around awards, and dealmaking to shift behind the scenes as publishers opt in. If you follow artists, you’ll see new video-first releases and possibly different royalty splits; creators may chase audiovisual placement more aggressively. Which of these changes will reshape your streaming habits before 2026?

Sources

  • https://variety.com/2025/music/news/spotify-to-launch-music-videos-in-united-states-1236580065/
  • https://deadline.com/2025/11/spotify-set-to-launch-music-videos-in-us-canada-1236615738/
  • https://deadline.com/2025/11/hollywood-music-in-media-awards-2025-nominations-list-wicked-for-good-1236608348/

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