Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained

Music industry happy as NO FAKES Act progresses further in US Congress, though criticism remains on free speech grounds

public

NO FAKES Act • 3 min read

Music industry happy as NO FAKES Act progresses further in US Congress, though criticism remains on free speech grounds

The NO FAKES Act, which will introduce a new digital replica right in the context of AI, was unanimously advanced by the US Senate’s Judiciary Committee yesterday. The move has been welcomed and applauded by the music industry, though some groups still oppose the proposals on free speech grounds…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jun 2026

APRA AMCOS says Atlantic investigation proves AI companies have plundered the “life’s work of Australian and New Zealand songwriters”

public

APRA AMCOS • 3 min read

APRA AMCOS says Atlantic investigation proves AI companies have plundered the “life’s work of Australian and New Zealand songwriters”

APRA AMCOS has utilised an investigation by The Atlantic to identify the many Australian artists whose work has been used for AI training without licence. It comes as the tech sector lobbies Australian lawmakers for new copyright loopholes, something the music industry continues to strongly oppose…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jun 2026

US Supreme Court needs to stop termination rights “chaos”, say majors

public

Termination Right • 6 min read

US Supreme Court needs to stop termination rights “chaos”, say majors

The majors and BMG have formally asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in the Vetter v Resnik termination rights dispute, which sets a precedent that massively favours songwriters seeking to terminate old publishing deals. The publishers say the ruling, if allowed to stand, will create “chaos”…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jun 2026

public

Japan • 2 min read

Japan amends copyright law so that artists and labels will get public performance royalties for the first time

Japanese lawmakers have voted through changes to the country’s copyright law so that artists and labels will have a public performance right, like in most other countries. It means artists and labels will, for the first time, receive royalties when recordings are played in public spaces within Japan…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jun 2026

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Peanuts music gag lands CBS with unexpected bill

public

Lee Mendelson Film Productions • 3 min read

Stephen Colbert’s Late Show Peanuts music gag lands CBS with unexpected bill

When the producer of the classic ‘Peanuts’ TV specials filed four lawsuits last month over unlicensed use of music from the programmes, Stephen Colbert had his house band play that music on the final edition of his axed CBS TV show, joking “I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!” Turns out it did…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jun 2026

Majors secure their first Canadian web-blocking order targeting stream-rippers that “threaten the foundation of Canada’s music marketplace”

public

web-blocking • 1 min read

Majors secure their first Canadian web-blocking order targeting stream-rippers that “threaten the foundation of Canada’s music marketplace”

The major record companies have got themselves some web-blocking orders against several stream-ripping sites in Canada. It’s the first major label secured web-blocks in the country, with Music Canada stating that stream-ripping “threatens the foundation of Canada’s music marketplace”…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jun 2026

UK government should prioritise tackling post-Brexit touring issues at next EU summit, MPs tell ministers

public

CMS Select Committee • 3 min read

UK government should prioritise tackling post-Brexit touring issues at next EU summit, MPs tell ministers

Parliament’s culture select committee has urged the UK government to put post-Brexit touring issues high on the agenda at its next EU Summit, which could be next month. It should also provide more support for artists and performers who are currently navigating all those issues, MPs add…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jun 2026

public

Live Nation • 3 min read

DoJ seeks court approval for Live Nation antitrust deal - but is it in the public interest?

The US Department Of Justice is seeking court approval for its antitrust settlement with Live Nation. It says no court hearing is required to scrutinise the deal if the judge believes it’s in the public interest, but lots of people argue it is not, including ex-DoJ officials…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jun 2026

UK government announces social media ban for under-sixteens that builds on and goes further than the ban in Australia

public

• 3 min read

UK government announces social media ban for under-sixteens that builds on and goes further than the ban in Australia

The UK government has announced a social media ban for under sixteens, going even further than the ban already in place in Australia. That will impact on music marketers trying to reach younger teens, although quite how will depend on whether the UK ban proves more effective than the Aussie one…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jun 2026

Elon Musk’s DMCA dissing tweets did not induce copyright infringement, X says in latest response to music industry lawsuit

public

X • 4 min read

Elon Musk’s DMCA dissing tweets did not induce copyright infringement, X says in latest response to music industry lawsuit

X is still trying to get the lawsuit filed against it by a group of music publishers dismissed. In their most recent court filing, the publishers claim that the social media platform and its owner Elon Musk have induced X users to infringe copyright. In its own filing, X denies that’s the case…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jun 2026

New ticketing regulations needed, Irish politicians say, following collapse of DEAG’s tickets.ie

public

ticket.ie • 3 min read

New ticketing regulations needed, Irish politicians say, following collapse of DEAG’s tickets.ie

The collapse of Irish ticketing platform tickets.ie - and its impact on festivals that are owed hundreds of thousands of euro - was discussed in the Irish parliament this week, with politicians insisting new laws are needed to protect promoters and ticket buyers when ticketing companies go bust…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jun 2026

NMPA unveils AI licensing deals with Udio and Klay with 50/50 split for songs and recordings

public

National Music Publishers Association • 3 min read

NMPA unveils AI licensing deals with Udio and Klay with 50/50 split for songs and recordings

The NMPA in the US has announced licensing deals with Udio and Klay, providing a template agreement indie publishers can now opt into. NMPA boss David Israelite stresses these “value songs and sound recordings equally”, something songwriters and indie publishers have been demanding with AI deals…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jun 2026