Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained

Music industry trade bodies join forces with music publishers to defeat Anthropic’s “AI is fair use” defence

public

Anthropic • 4 min read

Music industry trade bodies join forces with music publishers to defeat Anthropic’s “AI is fair use” defence

The music publishers suing Anthropic recently asked the judge to reject the AI company’s fair use defence. Now eight music industry organisations have filed an amicus brief also arguing that AI training can never be fair use, because the development of AI music models causes market dilution…

Chris Cooke • 02 Apr 2026

Judges keep overriding artist safeguards say Salt N Pepa in latest termination rights filing

public

Salt N Pepa • 3 min read

Judges keep overriding artist safeguards say Salt N Pepa in latest termination rights filing

Salt N Pepa have filed an appeal in their termination rights dispute with Universal. Not only was the judge wrong to dismiss their lawsuit seeking to reclaim ownership of 1980s recordings, but - they say - her decision continues a trend of judges overriding artist safeguards put in place by Congress…

Chris Cooke • 01 Apr 2026

Kanye West’s three night Wireless booking criticised by antisemitism campaigners

public

Kanye West • 3 min read

Kanye West’s three night Wireless booking criticised by antisemitism campaigners

Kanye West headlining this year’s Wireless festival is proving controversial. Antisemitism campaigners have criticised the rapid rehabilitation of the rapper, noting that - while West apologised for past antisemitic statements in January - his “cycle of apology and relapse has become a routine”…

Chris Cooke • 01 Apr 2026

Wu-Tang Clan fans offered refunds after “all members” tour was missing four members

public

Wu-Tang Clan • 2 min read

Wu-Tang Clan fans offered refunds after “all members” tour was missing four members

Wu-Tang Clan fans in Australia were told that “all members” of the hip hop group would be taking part in their final ever shows in the country. But then four of them didn’t show up for the first gig in Brisbane. Fans were then given the option to claim a refund ahead of shows in Melbourne and Sydney…

Chris Cooke • 31 Mar 2026

X says Cox ruling means music publishers’ copyright litigation must now be dismissed

public

X • 4 min read

X says Cox ruling means music publishers’ copyright litigation must now be dismissed

X is hoping the US Supreme Court ruling in the majors v Cox case can help it win a legal battle with a group of music publishers. They argue X is liable for copyright infringement by hosting videos that contain unlicensed music, but X says in the wake of Cox that argument “fails as a matter of law”…

Chris Cooke • 31 Mar 2026

Major music publishers buy into termination rights lawsuit to take fight to Supreme Court

public

Termination Right • 4 min read

Major music publishers buy into termination rights lawsuit to take fight to Supreme Court

The three majors and BMG really want the US Supreme Court to intervene in the legal battle that set a major new creator-friendly precedent when it comes to the termination right under US copyright law. So much so they have acquired an interest in the song that is at the heart of that legal battle…

Chris Cooke • 30 Mar 2026

Universal responds to “nonsensical” defamation appeal filed by the “astoundingly hypocritical” Drake

public

Drake • 3 min read

Universal responds to “nonsensical” defamation appeal filed by the “astoundingly hypocritical” Drake

Universal has responded to Drake’s attempt to appeal the dismissal of his defamation lawsuit against the major over its role in releasing Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’, which included the infamous “certified pedophile” lyric. Drake’s appeal, it says, is “nonsensical” and “astoundingly hypocritical”…

Chris Cooke • 30 Mar 2026

Spotify wants $300 million in damages from Anna’s Archive, and for court to go after piracy site’s service providers

public

Anna's Archive • 4 min read

Spotify wants $300 million in damages from Anna’s Archive, and for court to go after piracy site’s service providers

Piracy group Anna’s Archive have done a good job of ignoring the lawsuit filed by Spotify and the majors after they hacked the streaming service and grabbed 86 million music files. As a result, the music companies want a default judgement in their favour, with Spotify seeking $300 million in damages…

Chris Cooke • 27 Mar 2026

Cox Communications celebrates as US Supreme Court overturns critical music piracy judgement

public

Cox Communications • 8 min read

Cox Communications celebrates as US Supreme Court overturns critical music piracy judgement

Yesterday the US Supreme Court overturned the major labels’ billion dollar copyright win against ISP Cox. The ruling not only costs the majors $1 billion dollars, it also affects their ability to combat online piracy. The RIAA says policymakers should “look closely at the impact of this ruling”…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2026

TikTok and X “neutral” on social media ban for under-sixteens, as UK government tests options for restricting access

public

• 3 min read

TikTok and X “neutral” on social media ban for under-sixteens, as UK government tests options for restricting access

The debate over banning younger UK teens from using social media continues. The House Of Lords supports a ban, but the government wants more time to review the matter and is now testing possible options for restricting access. Meanwhile, TikTok and X say they are “neutral” on any possible ban…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2026

Equality Commission expects festival promoters to review event accessibility, after taking action against Live Nation

public

Live Nation • 2 min read

Equality Commission expects festival promoters to review event accessibility, after taking action against Live Nation

In 2023 the Equality And Human Rights Commission took action against Live Nation over accessibility issues at its festivals. The live music company committed to a number of improvements that have now been implemented. The EHRC has urged other festivals to review accessibility at their own events…

Chris Cooke • 25 Mar 2026

Claude’s AI lyrics cause market dilution, say music publishers calling for courts to reject fair use defence

public

Anthropic • 3 min read

Claude’s AI lyrics cause market dilution, say music publishers calling for courts to reject fair use defence

Music publishers suing Anthropic for copyright infringement want a summary judgement in their favour, urging the judge to reject the AI company’s ‘fair use’ defence. They argue Anthropic’s Claude AI spitting out new lyrics is causing market dilution, which is grounds for rejecting a fair use claim…

Chris Cooke • 25 Mar 2026