YouTube’s new daily Shorts limit

Last October, YouTube introduced daily time limits for Shorts, letting users take control of their screen time. The aim? To help prevent users from endlessly doomscrolling, at least kind of. Since then, the platform expanded those controls to parental accounts, letting parents set limits as low as zero minutes for their kids.

Now, YouTube is taking that a step further, effectively letting users switch off Shorts altogether.

What’s changing?

When the tool initially rolled out, users could cap their Shorts scrolling between 15 minutes and 2 hours. With the latest update, any user can now set a daily limit for Shorts at zero minutes. Following on from the parental controls, YouTube told The Verge that a new zero limit timer is “live for all parents, and is currently being rolled out to everyone,” including adult users.

How to set a daily Shorts limit

Same as previously, users can head to Time Management inside Settings on the YouTube app to set a daily limit. Once that limit is reached, you’ll see a full-screen notification that appears when you attempt to scroll on the Shorts feed. 

When that timer is set to zero, Shorts are removed from the YouTube homepage too. They can, however, still be viewed in the subscription feed.

However, the feature isn’t exactly strict. Like previous limits, it can easily be dismissed to keep on scrolling. 

What this means for the music industry

Once again, this raises a familiar question: if users spend less time watching Shorts, what happens to music discovery.

Shorts remain one of the most powerful tools for artists to reach new audiences. If even a small portion of viewers actively limit or remove Shorts, it could reduce the level of exposure possible. That’s especially true with a time limit of zero as it goes a step further than previous updates. 

Still, the feature is optional and easy to bypass. I even have a time limit for certain apps on my phone which I easily dismiss on a daily basis. So, perhaps the real impact is likely to be extremely limited.

Short-form video is a crucial way to grow your fanbase as an artist. Get your music onto social platforms like YouTube Shorts for free with RouteNote today!

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Spotify has bridged the gap between audiobooks and physical books on its platform with the launch of its new feature. The streaming platform’s partnership with Bookshop.org offers a streamlined connection between digital discovery and physical book sales.

Following its initial announcement earlier this year, the feature is now live in the US and UK., allowing users to purchase printed books directly through the Spotify app. Currently available on Android, with iOS support arriving next week, the feature introduces a “Get a copy for your bookshelf” option on audiobook pages. This takes users to Bookshop.org, where purchases are completed, with pricing, stock, and delivery handled externally.

This move not only connects listeners with physical copies of the stories they enjoy but also supports independent bookshops through Bookshop.org’s model.

This latest launch builds on the groundwork laid earlier this year, when Spotify introduced other features designed to connect audiobooks and physical reading. Alongside the rollout of physical book sales, Spotify has also expanded and refined several of its audiobook features. One of the most notable updates is the continued expansion of Page Match, which now supports more than 30 additional languages, including French, German, and Swedish. The feature allows users to switch between reading a physical or digital book and listening to the audiobook version without losing their place.

Early data suggests that Page Match is already having a strong impact on engagement. Spotify reports that users who use the feature listen to 55% more audiobook hours each week on average. It also found that 62% of Page Match titles are books users had not previously streamed, showing that the feature is helping drive discovery as well as retention.

Spotify has also expanded its Audiobook Recaps feature to Android devices, bringing it in line with iOS. These short audio summaries are tailored to a listener’s last stopping point, making it easier to jump back into a story without feeling lost.

In addition, Audiobook Charts are continuing to roll out across more regions. The charts, which update weekly, are now available in Germany, joining the US and UK, and rank titles based on listening behaviour and engagement. Genres include sci-fi and fantasy, mystery and thriller, self-help, and more. A new dedicated Kids and Family chart has also launched in the US and UK.

All of these updates come as Spotify’s audiobook catalogue continues to grow rapidly. The platform now offers more than 700,000 titles across 22 markets, and reports that it pays “hundreds of millions of dollars annually to authors and publishers”.

Speaking on the wider update, Owen Smith, Spotify’s Global Head of Audiobooks, said: “These updates demonstrate our continued ambition to make reading fit into modern life.”

He added, “Whether it’s discovering a book the same way you’d find a song or podcast on Spotify, picking up the audiobook on your commute, using Page Match to switch to a physical copy at home, or jumping back in with a Recap, we’re making it easier for people to engage with books while supporting growth for authors and publishers along the way.”

Distribute your music to Spotify and all leading streaming platforms around the world with RouteNote. Sign up today to get started.

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All you need to do is sign up for a free account at RouteNote Licensing and follow the link below.

We’re giving one lucky winner a free pair of Beyerdynamic AVENTHO 100 on-ear headphones, worth €199. These headphones are praised for their premium sound and style.

RouteNote Licensing is our new platform, giving creators easy and affordable access to copyright-free music to use in their videos and other projects. Create a free account here and start browsing through the thousands of high-quality tracks available.

Once you’ve created your RouteNote Licensing account, go to this link, follow the instructions and be sure to use the same email address as you used for your account.

This competition is open to entrants worldwide. The giveaway will close at 23:59pm (UK time) on April 23, 2026. A winner will be chosen at random and contacted shortly after. From this date, keep an eye out for an email from @routenote.com on the account used to enter. We will not be in touch over social media or ask for any payment details.

Please note, although RouteNote Licensing is part of the wider RouteNote family, you must create an account there, even if you already have a RouteNote account. Already have a RouteNote Licensing account? Great, you’re one step closer to winning. Just follow the link above.

The Beyerdynamic AVENTHO 100 headphones are an ex-review unit. They have been used for testing, but have been cleaned and are in like new condition.

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It’s been another turbulent week for Kanye West, as his planned show in France has officially been cancelled, adding to what’s becoming a pattern of disrupted appearances across Europe.

The concert, which was set to take place in Marseille this summer, has been postponed indefinitely following growing pressure from French officials and local authorities. What started as online backlash quickly escalated into something more serious, with politicians publicly opposing the event and even discussing whether legal action could be taken to stop it from going ahead altogether.

A lot of the concern centres around Kanye’s past controversies, particularly his antisemitic remarks in recent years. French authorities made it clear they were worried about the potential impact of hosting such a high-profile and divisive figure, especially in a large public setting. In a country that takes issues around public order and hate speech very seriously.

Although Kanye, who now often goes by Ye, claimed that postponing the show was ultimately his own decision, it’s hard to separate that from the mounting pressure around him. From a fan perspective, it leaves things feeling a bit uncertain. There’s no rescheduled date yet. 

This isn’t an isolated incident either. The French show follows other recent setbacks, including issues in the UK that prevented him from performing as planned at wireless festival. It paints a picture of an artist who, despite his huge influence and legacy, is finding it increasingly difficult to secure a stable return to international stages.

What makes this situation particularly interesting is the contrast between Kanye’s musical legacy and his current public image. There’s no denying his impact on modern music, his work has shaped hip-hop and pop for over two decades. But at the same time, the controversies surrounding him are continuing to affect how governments, festivals, and audiences respond to him.

For some it’s a complicated moment. Some are still eager to see him perform live again, while others feel that the backlash is justified. Either way, the cancellation of the Marseille show shows just how much the conversation around artists has shifted. It’s not just about the music, public perception, accountability, and cultural impact all play a role.

Distribute your music for FREE with RouteNote!

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A solid year for PPL

PPL has wrapped up 2025 with a strong performance, reporting total collections of £325.5 million. That marks a 4.8% year-on-year increase of £14.3 million, according to the press release from the UK music-licensing body. 

Behind that figure, over 182,000 performers and recording rightsholders received payments in 2025, including around 16,000 who were paid for the first time. 

What’s driving the growth?

While overall growth remained steady, the real standout story came from international collections. 

Strong international performance

International revenue jumped by 16% YoY to £94.0 million, marking PPL’s highest-ever year for international recording rightsholder collections. The surge was driven by a mix of new performers signing up, improved revenue streams, and opportunities on a global level. 

Public performance holds steady

PPL’s public performance income, generated from music played in venues like shops, gyms, bars, and offices etc., accounts for around 40% of PPL’s total collections revenue. 

In 2025, this segment saw modest growth of 1%, reaching £122.9 million. This figure was held back by a “challenging economic backdrop”, including ongoing pub closures across the UK. With that being said, this drop may have been offset by shifting consumer trends, as fitness venue collections rose by 5.6%. 

Broadcast and online licensing dip slightly

Broadcast and online licensing, covering TV, radio, and digital platforms, accounted for 315 of total revenue. This segment dipped ever so slightly, falling from £98.6 million in 2024 to £98.5 million in 2025. 

Despite signing several broadcast deals with major UK TV providers, it couldn’t offset the fall caused by broader trends which saw more channels shutting down.

Why music licensing matters

Music licensing remains a key piece of the puzzle for artist income. It can often be overlooked by streaming, but licensing can provide a reliable source of income for those who get airplay. Whether your music is played in a café, broadcast on TV, or used overseas, these payments can quietly add up over time.

For artists with growing catalogues, or even just a few tracks gaining traction, making sure your music is properly registered and monetized is essential.

Don’t leave money on the table

If you’re not tapped into all available licensing opportunities, you could be missing out on valuable earnings.

That’s where RouteNote comes in. Alongside global distribution to services worldwide, RouteNote helps artists get their music onto YouTube’s Content ID system, ensuring you get paid whenever your tracks are used in videos across the platform.

Why wait? Get started for free with RouteNote today!

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