Welcome back to Subscriptions Weekly! This is a very international edition–we’ll review The Economist’s new subscription tier, Deezer and Universal’s artist-centric streaming model, Dance’s e-bike subscriber growth, Caravelo’s funding to expand all-you-can-fly subscriptions, and a special invite to Subscription Sessions–the industry event of the year. 

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The Economist adds podcast subscription tier

Audio has become the Economist’s fastest-growing platform for audience growth, so they plan to introduce a new subscription plan for $4.90/month. Current subscribers to The Economist will get access to the tier at no additional cost. Non-subscribers can preorder their subscriptions at a 50% discount from the annual rate of $49. Learn more on Axios.

Deezer and Universal to launch 'artist-centric' streaming model

Universal Music Group and Deezer will jointly launch a music streaming model to generate bigger royalties for artists. Singers would be paid more if users actively choose to listen to their music. The move could significantly impact the music industry, particularly if major streaming services such as Spotify or Apple Music adjust their own models. Read more on BBC.

E-bike subscription service Dance reaches 10,000 active subscribers

Dance, the German startup that offers electric bike subscriptions, now has 10,000 active members–just after the court of Amsterdam declared bankruptcy for VanMoof. Dance customers get a personal e-bike with repairs and insurance included in a monthly fee. Dance also offers electric mopeds and has a B2B offering for companies looking to offer bikes to their employees. Learn more on TechCrunch.

Barcelona-based Caravelo takes off with €3.5 million to expand “all you can fly” subscriptions

Caravelo, a travel tech company that provides subscription solutions, announced the closing of €3.5 million in a Series A funding round. The Barcelona-based startup works with over 20 airlines, including Volaris and Alaska Airlines. The growing demand for Caravelo’s solution and client success stories have also been key to receiving funding. Read more on EU startups.

From the Recurly blog

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