Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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• 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

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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

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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

Copyright Alliance welcomes separate AI documents published by White House and Congress, even though they differ on copyright matters

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

Copyright Alliance welcomes separate AI documents published by White House and Congress, even though they differ on copyright matters

Two documents on regulating AI were published in Washington last week, one by President Donald Trump and one by Senator Marsha Blackburn. They say opposing things when it comes to copyright matters. But the Copyright Alliance was still able to find positives in both of the documents…

Chris Cooke • 24 Mar 2026

Declare trademark claims bogus says FKA in Twigs vs Twigs

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FKA Twigs • 3 min read

Declare trademark claims bogus says FKA in Twigs vs Twigs

FKA Twigs is trying to trademark her name in the US, but an indie pop duo called The Twigs are trying to block her registration. They complained about FKA Twigs using that name back in 2014, but then went silent for ten years. FKA Twigs now wants a court to rule that they should shut up again…

Chris Cooke • 24 Mar 2026

Chance The Rapper wins sunset clause dispute with former manager

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Chance The Rapper • 4 min read

Chance The Rapper wins sunset clause dispute with former manager

Chance The Rapper has won his sunset clause dispute with ex-manager Patrick Corcoran. There was no written agreement between rapper and manager, so Corcoran was relying on a 2013 conversation. The rapper also countersued over allegations of misconduct by his manager, for which he won $35 in damages…

Chris Cooke • 23 Mar 2026

Ontario plans to ban for-profit ticket touting

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Secondary Ticketing • 2 min read

Ontario plans to ban for-profit ticket touting

For-profit ticket touting, or scalping, is set to be outlawed in the Canadian province of Ontario. The government there reviewed the regulation of ticket resale after touted tickets for World Series games in Toronto last year topped $21,000. Plans for a ticket scalping ban were announced last week…

Chris Cooke • 23 Mar 2026

Entrapment, disgusting employees and saying no to Adele: Rapino testifies in Live Nation lawsuit

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Live Nation • 5 min read

Entrapment, disgusting employees and saying no to Adele: Rapino testifies in Live Nation lawsuit

The Live Nation antitrust trial continues in New York, and yesterday boss man Michael Rapino took to the witness stand. He insisted that his company does not operate an unlawful monopoly, but admitted that a staff member’s Slack post calling ticket buyers “stupid” was “disgusting”…

Chris Cooke • 20 Mar 2026