The music business explained: news, analysis, insights and jobs for music industry professionals

Sony sues Napster over $9.2 million in unpaid royalties

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

Increasing number of artists join Spotify boycott over CEO’s AI weapon investments

If China blocks TikTok deal app will “go dark” says US Commerce Secretary, but hints deal “coming soon”

Blackstone bails on consortium bidding to buy TikTok US - will a deal still be done by September deadline?

Anthropic’s ‘fair use’ win in AI copyright case could turn into a trillion dollar loss

No copyright exception for AI training in European law, says new report

Full scale anticompetition investigation on the cards after UMG’s Virgin Music fails to allay EU fears over Downtown merger

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?

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

Musicians’ Union • 2 min read

New busking spots needed says Musicians' Union after Leicester Square busking ban

Earlier this year a court ruling effectively ended busking in London’s Leicester Square after a legal complaint from Global Radio, which has its HQ there. Now the Musicians’ Union is backing a campaign calling on Westminster Council to ensure replacement busking spots are found for performers…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2025

SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange can’t sue Sirius in federal courts, says judge in royalties dispute

A US judge has said that collecting society SoundExchange doesn’t have the right to file lawsuits in order to enforce its members’ rights. Which isn’t ideal. That ruling has been made in SoundExchange’s ongoing royalties dispute with satellite broadcaster Sirius, which it sued in 2023…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2025

Horizon Future Leaders • 8 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Marta Martinez

This week we caught up with Marta Martinez, the founder of Bedmar Music, an artist management company focused on building sustainable, fulfilling careers on artists’ own terms.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 08 Aug 2025

Hybe • 2 min read

HYBE founder returning to Korea to deal with mounting controversies, he tells staff in leaked memo

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk has told staff that he is returning to Korea to “transparently work” with officials investigating allegations he misled investors ahead of the company’s IPO. Bang has been in the US of late, which he says “contributed to confusion and frustration” around the investigation…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧Approved: Tracey

One of London’s mythic new groups, Tracey blend UKG, R&B and rave pop into something glitchy and addictive. Their latest single ‘Sleazy’ is a chaotic sugar-high; all hiccuping beats, warped vocals and Y2K flair…

Kaya Robertson • 07 Aug 2025

Salt N Pepa • 3 min read

Salt N Pepa say its “time to fight for our rights” as Universal legal bust up continues

Salt N Pepa have spoken about their legal dispute with Universal Music. The duo want to exercise the termination right and reclaim rights in their 1980s recordings. The major says they don’t qualify. But, the rappers insist, that right is meant to protect the artist and “we are the artist”…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2025

Live industry news including ticketing, venues, festivals and more • 5 min read

Artists and promoters continue to navigate a politically charged festival season

The 2025 festival season continues to be politically charged. Police are still investigating whether Bob Vylan’s anti-Israel statements at Glastonbury constituted a crime. And one pro-Palestine band is boycotting Boardmasters despite the festival’s statement supporting the Palestinian cause…

Chris Cooke • 06 Aug 2025

Boomtown • 3 min read

Boomtown ups drugs policing as coroner says dealers operated freely at festival

A coroner has reported on his inquest into the drug-related death of a festival-goer at last year’s Boomtown, concluding that drugs were “freely available to purchase” at the event. Local police say plans are in place this year to “disrupt” the sale of drugs on site at the festival…

Chris Cooke • 06 Aug 2025

Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify announces more price increases, boosting share price

Spotify is putting up its prices again in multiple markets, including - for the first time - India. In some European markets, a monthly subscription will increase from €10.99 to €11.99. Investors have responded positively to the news, with the company’s share price increasing yesterday…

Chris Cooke • 05 Aug 2025

Sony Music • 2 min read

Sony sues Napster over $9.2 million in unpaid royalties

Following reports earlier this year that Napster wasn’t paying all the royalties that were due to the music industry, Sony Music has now sued the streaming service. It says Napster hasn’t been paying its bills for over a year now and new owner Infinite Reality hasn’t fixed the problem…

Kaya Robertson • 05 Aug 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Earthly Measures

London duo Earthly Measures step out from behind the decks with ‘From Earth’ - a six-track EP fusing Afro-Latin rhythm, UK club energy and rich live percussion. Lead track ‘Que?’ (featuring OKRAA) is bold, borderless and built for movement…

Kaya Robertson • 05 Aug 2025