Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained

Major labels “bewildered” by why Trump appointee would meddle in Cox Communications piracy cas

public

Cox Communications • 2 min read

Major labels “bewildered” by why Trump appointee would meddle in Cox Communications piracy cas

Donald Trump’s Solicitor General recently urged the US Supreme Court to intervene in the major labels’ legal battle with ISP Cox, expressing concerns that precedent set in the case could lead to millions of internet disconnections. The majors now say that intervention is “bewildering” and wrong…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jun 2025

Talent agency CAA accuses founders of rival company Range of “spy novel” plot to launch competing business

public

CAA • 2 min read

Talent agency CAA accuses founders of rival company Range of “spy novel” plot to launch competing business

The already dramatic legal battle between agency CAA and rival company Range - set up in 2020 by a team of former CAA agents - ramped up this week. CAA says it has new evidence that shows Range’s founders employed spy-novel type tactics to steal confidential information from their former employer…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jun 2025

AI platform Midjourney is “bottomless pit of plagiarism” say Hollywood studios as they join legal battle against AI

public

Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

AI platform Midjourney is “bottomless pit of plagiarism” say Hollywood studios as they join legal battle against AI

Film studios Disney and Universal have sued Midjourney claiming that its image-generating AI is “a bottomless pit of plagiarism”. Although a movie industry case, it’s relevant to the music business too, with the RIAA stating that the studios’ lawsuit is “a critical stand for human creativity”…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jun 2025

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

public

Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

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

The House Of Lords is now expected to pass the Data Bill without the provisions on AI transparency it has been trying hard to include. The government says it has listened to the Lords and in response committed to publish some reports. But, that’s just “pushing the can down the road”, say critics…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jun 2025

What does ‘egregious infringement’ even mean, asks Grande as it ridicules majors’ latest piracy filing

public

Grande Communications • 3 min read

What does ‘egregious infringement’ even mean, asks Grande as it ridicules majors’ latest piracy filing

Grande Communications wants the US Supreme Court to overturn a $47 million judgement against it in a piracy case pursued by the major record companies. The majors recently argued that judgement was sound because it related to “egregious copyright infringement”. In a new filing, Grande disagrees…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jun 2025

As another festival falls, AIF proposes new tax relief scheme

public

Association Of Independent Festivals • 2 min read

As another festival falls, AIF proposes new tax relief scheme

As Homestead, a new festival in Somerset, announces it can’t go ahead due to tough economic factors, AIF has again called for more government support for festivals, switching its main demand from a VAT cut on tickets to a new tax relief scheme for smaller events…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jun 2025

Industry and policymakers should work together to stop two-tier streaming market taking hold, says new IMPALA report

public

IMPALA • 3 min read

Industry and policymakers should work together to stop two-tier streaming market taking hold, says new IMPALA report

IMPALA has published a new report on the streaming business, criticising recent trends that are creating a two-tier market that favours the majors. It calls on industry and policymakers to work together to ensure a steaming ecosystem that “supports innovation, inclusivity and sustainable growth”…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jun 2025

Campaigners say second round of legal action should stop “misuse of planning powers” that allowed Brockwell Park festivals to go ahead

public

Brockwell Live • 3 min read

Campaigners say second round of legal action should stop “misuse of planning powers” that allowed Brockwell Park festivals to go ahead

While the 2025 edition of Brockwell Live is over, the legal battle over the use of London’s Brockwell Park as a festival venue continues. Local campaigners have launched a second judicial review which they say should stop the “misuse of planning powers” that allowed the 2025 festivals to proceed…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jun 2025

Hipgnosis acquisition further expands Sony’s publishing dominance, though Cooking Vinyl stays indie with Exceleration Music deal

public

Hipgnosis • 4 min read

Hipgnosis acquisition further expands Sony’s publishing dominance, though Cooking Vinyl stays indie with Exceleration Music deal

Two more acquisitions in the music rights business. Sony has bought one of the Hipgnosis catalogues that wasn’t included when the rest of Hipgnosis revamped as the Recognition Music Group in March. Meanwhile Cooking Vinyl has been bought, but will stay indie, being acquired by Exceleration Music…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jun 2025

public

Massive Attack • 3 min read

Yet more Barclays backlash as Massive Attack demands all traces of controversial bank stripped from Co-op Live show

After its sponsorship of music festivals proved too controversial last year, Barclays recently announced deals with two venues instead, including Manchester’s Co-op Live. But that angered Massive Attack, who played the arena last night. So much so, the bank’s branding had to be removed for their gig…

Chris Cooke • 06 Jun 2025

LyricFind lawsuit is meritless nonsense from bitter jilted rival with messy paperwork, says Musixmatch

public

Musixmatch • 3 min read

LyricFind lawsuit is meritless nonsense from bitter jilted rival with messy paperwork, says Musixmatch

Earlier this year LyricFind filed a lawsuit in California claiming an exclusivity deal negotiated between its competitor Musixmatch and Warner Chappell was anticompetitive. Musixmatch says that’s simply not the case - and, anyway, the Californian courts don’t have jurisdiction in this dispute…

Chris Cooke • 06 Jun 2025

If Congress forces AM radio into every car, it should also force AM radio to pay artists, says open letter to US lawmakers

public

Radio royalties • 3 min read

If Congress forces AM radio into every car, it should also force AM radio to pay artists, says open letter to US lawmakers

Proposals are moving through US Congress that would force car manufacturers to ensure that every vehicle still has an AM radio in it. The automotive sector has now joined with the music industry to argue: if that is going to happen, US radio should be forced to pay royalties to artists and labels…

Chris Cooke • 05 Jun 2025