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Budweiser boasts of “$0 spent on music rights” in “iconic songs” campaign, wins ad-land’s biggest prize

EU regulators formally launch investigation into Universal Music’s Downtown deal

Did Sony’s Rob Stringer just hand regulators the case to tank Universal’s Downtown dreams?

Ticketmaster offered touts meetings with Live Nation’s top lawyer

Don’t gaslight MPs warns Caroline Dinenage as she says ministers have got into a “terrible pickle” over AI

As another festival falls, AIF proposes new tax relief scheme

Major labels face setback as Trump’s pet DOJ legal beagle sides with Cox in piracy battle

We are just another victim in the shameful lineage of Apple intimidation and bullying, cries Musi

SoundCloud’s amended AI clause still “fundamentally terrible for artists” says Ed Newton-Rex

Guardrails aren’t proof of infringement says Anthropic as judge spanks AI company for “hallucinated” filin

Drake’s Super Bowl gripes in amended lawsuit show defamation action is really an attack on Kendrick Lamar’s success, says Universal

“I just don't understand how that can be fair use”, says judge in Meta AI trial

Pressure mounts for Universal Music Group’s $775 million Downtown acquisition as MEP highlights UMG’s “unprecedented control” of music ecosystem

Suno AI’s faulty guardrails mean its ‘ReMi’ lyric model will spit out entire lyrical works with basic prompting

Did Ticketmaster’s UK boss Andrew Parsons mislead MPs at a select committee hearing?

With the US record industry officially in recession can superpremium and superfans really save the major labels from streaming’s slowdown?

Record industry’s modest growth should make other industries jealous says IFPI boss, as labels weigh in on growth opportunities and AI threats

Trump must “weigh in” on AI copyright debate and pressure “less innovative countries” on copyright rules, says OpenAI

Everyone’s making loads of money but don’t point the finger at us if you’re not, says Spotify’s updated Loud & Clear

Andrew Tate course on ‘pimping’ and exploiting women remains on Spotify as petition passes 25,000 signatures

Universal will spend billions to dominate emerging markets, says Grainge during Q4 earnings call as major sets out its “eat the world” strategies

Liverpool “new heart of music business” says Sound City as major label execs and industry heavyweights head north

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

Spotify wants to be “the best in the world at building AI products” and is focused on “accelerated execution”... but still no super-premium launch

Judge throws out MLC’s audiobooks bundle lawsuit, says Spotify can keep cutting songwriter royalties through its “cynical trick”

Universal Music’s new Spotify deal could be a knock-out blow for streaming platform’s audiobook bundling trick

Universal put “corporate greed” before Drake’s safety, says defamation lawsuit filed over Kendrick Lamar diss track

Beware the “wolf under the cape” in Universal’s Downtown land grab, warns Beggars boss as IMPALA calls for regulators to block the deal

EU AI Act can only provide a “temporary fix” to the “darker aspect” of AI’s “profound disruption” to creative industries says open letter

AI generated music will suck €4 billion a year away from music creators by 2028 says CISAC

Village People founder loves Trump using YMCA, but hates people calling it a gay anthem

Executives from BMG, Absolute Label Services, Mahogany Music, Punch Records and more to join award winning female entrepreneurs in Liverpool as first Sound City+ 2025 speakers unveiled

AIF makes desperate call for government to “step up, and step up now” to get festivals through “devastating period”, as MVT launches new Liveline fund

New AI transparency proposal in US Congress will “pave the way” for creator compensation says ASCAP boss

SXSW ditches weapons sponsors to burnish brand - so why won’t it ditch its ties to Saudi Arabia?

SXSW London could disrupt delicately balanced music ecosystem and should reconsider its date

Spotify • 3 min read

“Content is king” say analysts - so why is Spotify worth more than the entire music rights industry?

Lucian Grainge might be rubbing his hands with glee after a new report by investment bankers TD Cowen said Spotify is overvalued and Universal is undervalued. Plus the financial wizards reckon the majors might have the upper hand in future streaming negotiations now Spotify has hit profitability…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jul 2025

DSW Shoe Warehouse • 4 min read

We are TikTok users so we can use music on TikTok, barks DSW Shoe Warehouse

In May, Warner sued DSW Shoe Warehouse over unlicensed music in the retailer’s social media posts. Now the shoe seller wants the courts to confirm it hasn’t infringed any one’s copyrights because it’s a TikTok user and therefore should be covered by TikTok’s music licences, even though it isn’t…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jul 2025

Horizon Future Leaders • 3 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Trey Smith

This week, we caught up with Trey Smith - independent music manager, video producer and founder of Hackney Spice Management - whose work spans artist development, creative direction and digital strategy.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 11 Jul 2025

Kneecap • 3 min read

Scottish First Minister hits back at Kneecap diss, says “let’s focus on Gaza”

Kneecap and Bob Vylan have both discussed the controversies around their respective shows during gigs this week. Kneecap, playing Glasgow, included a dig at Scotland’s First Minister over his past criticism, though in response the politician echoed the rap group by saying the focus should be on Gaza…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jul 2025

Oak View Group • 3 min read

Oak View boss stands down after being indicted for allegedly “rigging” the bidding to run Austin’s Moody Center

Live industry veteran Tim Leiweke has stood down as CEO of the venues company he co-founded, Oak View Group, after being indicted over allegations of anti-competitive conduct when his company was bidding to run the Moody Center arena at the University Of Texas. Leiweke denies any wrongdoing…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jul 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Coach Party

Isle of Wight four-piece Coach Party grew up orbiting the same island music scene: working at venues, sharing bills and forming the kinds of friendships that eventually turned into bands. That DIY background still defines their sound - not lo-fi, but self-sufficient…

Kaya Robertson • 10 Jul 2025

Live Nation • 3 min read

“Split Live Nation into four companies”, independent venues tell the US government

The deadline passed this week for submissions to the US government’s review of the ticketing business. Live Nation has asked for a 20% price cap on secondary ticketing, while NIVA wants even tighter regulation of resale - and for Live Nation to be split up into four separate companies…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jul 2025

Misogyny In Music • 3 min read

Music industry welcomes ban on NDAs in cases of workplace harassment and abuse

The recent Parliamentary report on misogyny in music called on the government to urgently ban the use of NDAs to silence victims of sexual harassment or discrimination, in the music sector and beyond. Ministers are now doing exactly that via an amendment to the Employment Rights Bill…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jul 2025

Live Nation • 3 min read

AIF calls for competition regulator to investigate Live Nation’s market dominance in the UK

Following the recent Parliamentary hearing discussing Live Nation’s dominance in the UK live music market, the Association Of Independent Festivals has asked competition regulator the CMA to investigate if there is anti-competitive behaviour. That would parallel similar investigations in the US…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jul 2025

Spotify • 3 min read

Turkish competition regulator to investigate Spotify as culture minister rails about playlists that disrespect the president’s wife

Spotify has said it is “cooperating” with the competition regulator in Turkey which has announced it is investigating whether any of the digital service’s practices breach competition law. That investigation comes as the country’s culture minister rails against Spotify’s content moderation policies…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jul 2025