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

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

Suno • 8 min read

Suno CEO Mikey Shulman says making music sucks, skill doesn’t matter and everyone building AI products infringes copyright

In a wide ranging interview on the 20VC podcast, Suno.ai boss Mikey Shulman has outlined his vision for music in the age of AI, saying that AI generated music is an opportunity to drive greater engagement for both listeners and creators, and that artists he talks to “love and use” Suno…

Sam Taylor • 14 Jan 2025

Ador • 1 min read

Ador seeks injunction to stop NewJeans brand deals

As the legal dispute between HYBE subsidiary Ador and K-pop group NewJeans rumbles on, the label has asked the courts in South Korea to issue an injunction stopping the girl group from entering into new brand deals without its involvement…

Chris Cooke • 14 Jan 2025

Piracy • 2 min read

Record industry welcomes Notorious Markets Report putting spotlight on bulletproof ISPs

The US Trade Representative last week published its annual Notorious Markets Report, running through key piracy gripes of the American IP industries. Although counterfeit medicines are a particular focus this year, music industry concerns are also summarised, including those pesky bulletproof ISPs…

Chris Cooke • 14 Jan 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Brooke Combe

Brooke Combe’s vocals, with their old-soul depth, feel as though they pre-date her. Drawing on classic 70s grooves with a touch of Northern soul, it’s no wonder she won the Play Next Rising Award. Her latest single, ‘This Town’, is a defiant rejection of goldfish-bowl living in her hometown…

Kaya Robertson • 14 Jan 2025

TikTok • 4 min read

TikTok will be fine as soon as consummate dealmaker Trump gets stuck in, says Trump

TikTok is due to be banned in the US on 19 Jan. The US Supreme Court could block the ban, though at a hearing last week it seemed judges weren’t likely to go that route. Which means TikTok’s future in the US now rests with “consummate dealmaker” Donald Trump, who still reckons he can solve this one…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jan 2025

• 6 min read

Ten key developments over the Christmas break

CMU Daily returns after its Christmas break later today. In the meantime, here are ten music business developments since the last CMU Daily in December, including year-end stats, a ticketing consultation, music industry v Anthropic updates, alleged fraud at PPL and Universal’s new Amazon deal…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jan 2025

Ed Sheeran • 1 min read

Ed Sheeran launches foundation supporting music education

Ed Sheeran last week visited talent development projects in Cardiff, Coventry, Edinburgh and Belfast to formally launch a new foundation that will support music education. The foundation aims to ensure more young people have access to instruments, performance opportunities and industry pathways…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jan 2025

ERA • 3 min read

UK recorded music revenues reach all-time high in 2024 - providing no one adjusts for inflation

UK trade groups ERA and BPI have both published year-end stats. ERA reveals that recorded music retail revenues in 2024 were £2.39 billion, an all-time high, providing you don’t adjust for inflation. Streaming generates 84% of the revenue, although vinyl sales also continue to grow…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jan 2025

Secondary Ticketing • 3 min read

Government opens consultation on “potentially game-changing” new rules for ticket touting

The UK government has launched its previously promised consultation on the ticketing business. It will consider new regulations for ticket touting, including a price cap on tickets resold on platforms like Viagogo. The impact of dynamic pricing on primary ticketing sites will also be reviewed…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jan 2025

Universal Music • 4 min read

Downtown deal “another step in UMG’s relentless path to dominance” says WIN, as criticism builds over Universal’s latest acquisition

Criticism continues to build of Universal Music’s deal to buy Downtown Music. The World Independent Network has today published a lengthy statement including comments from labels and trade organisations based all over the world…

Chris Cooke • 19 Dec 2024

Diddy • 2 min read

Jay-Z says “sham” rape allegations against him should be withdrawn, as Diddy accepts he’ll have to await trial in prison

Jay-Z has again hit out at the attorney leading on a lawsuit that accuses the rapper of rape, saying an interview by his accuser shows the litigation “has no factual basis”. Meanwhile Diddy, co-defendant on that lawsuit, has given up trying to get bail as he awaits trial on criminal charges…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2024

TikTok • 3 min read

TikTok seeks help from Supreme Court and Donald Trump in latest bid to avoid January ban in the US

TikTok has turned to both the US Supreme Court and Donald Trump as it seeks to stop a ban that is due to come into effect in the US on 19 Jan. Meanwhile the EU is investigating if TikTok did enough to stop its platform being used to spread disinformation in the recent Romanian elections…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2024