Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained (Page 11)

“Antisemitic tirades and conspiracies” a daily occurrence when working for Kanye West, claims latest lawsuit from ex-employee

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Kanye • 2 min read

“Antisemitic tirades and conspiracies” a daily occurrence when working for Kanye West, claims latest lawsuit from ex-employee

Kanye West is accused of spouting “antisemitic tirades and conspiracies” on a daily basis, and of making an employee wait for a meeting while he had sex in an adjacent room, twice, in the latest lawsuit filed against the rapper by an aggrieved former employee…

Chris Cooke • 18 Nov 2024

Robbie Williams hits out at former manager Nigel Martin-Smith saying he had “the brain but not the heart” to manage him

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Robbie Williams • 3 min read

Robbie Williams hits out at former manager Nigel Martin-Smith saying he had “the brain but not the heart” to manage him

Both Robbie Williams and original Take That manager Nigel Martin-Smith appear in a new BBC documentary called ‘Boybands Forever’. Martin-Smith says Williams was “smart” to blame him for his drug taking in the 1990s, prompting Williams to urge his former manager to show some “contrition”…

Chris Cooke • 18 Nov 2024

Major breakthrough for drugs safety as The Loop announces year round drug monitoring at key London and Manchester venues

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The Loop • 3 min read

Major breakthrough for drugs safety as The Loop announces year round drug monitoring at key London and Manchester venues

The Loop has secured a licence from the Home Office that will allow it to undertake year-round drug monitoring at venues in London and Manchester, to better “inform our understanding of the UK’s changing drug market”, with learnings communicated to the public and emergency services…

Chris Cooke • 18 Nov 2024

Tech sector wants EU to reform private copy levies, but GESAC says changes would only benefit foreign device manufacturers

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Private Copy Levy • 5 min read

Tech sector wants EU to reform private copy levies, but GESAC says changes would only benefit foreign device manufacturers

With new EU Commissioners being appointed, tech sector trade group DigitalEurope has proposed a radical overhaul of the private copy levy across Europe. The music industry says the proposed changes would only benefit American and South-East Asian device manufacturers and shouldn’t be considered…

Chris Cooke • 15 Nov 2024

Live Nation says ruling in Ticketmaster customer litigation threatens to block sensible measures for dispute resolution

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Live Nation • 3 min read

Live Nation says ruling in Ticketmaster customer litigation threatens to block sensible measures for dispute resolution

The Ninth Circuit Appeals Court recently refused to force a dispute between Live Nation and some Ticketmaster customers to arbitration after raising concerns about the live giant’s arbitrator of choice. Live Nation now says that decision sets a dangerous precedent and should be reconsidered…

Chris Cooke • 15 Nov 2024

US Copyright Office boss says she’s “kept up” at night by the speed at which AI is developing

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

US Copyright Office boss says she’s “kept up” at night by the speed at which AI is developing

The US Copyright Office recently undertook a consultation on copyright and AI. In an update to Senators, the Office revealed that both AI companies and copyright owners think current US copyright law is fit for purpose. They just radically disagree on how those laws should be interpreted…

Chris Cooke • 14 Nov 2024

UK government warns live sector: sort out ticket levy ASAP or we will force people to the negotiating table

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Ticket Levy • 5 min read

UK government warns live sector: sort out ticket levy ASAP or we will force people to the negotiating table

Earlier this year Parliament’s culture select committee said the live sector should set up a ticket levy and the government introduce a VAT cut to support grassroots venues and shows. The government has responded agreeing the industry should swiftly set up a levy system, but rejecting the VAT cut…

Chris Cooke • 14 Nov 2024

FanFair Alliance says “industrial level” touting fraud rife on Viagogo with touts selling thousands of tickets they don’t own

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Viagogo • 5 min read

FanFair Alliance says “industrial level” touting fraud rife on Viagogo with touts selling thousands of tickets they don’t own

FanFair Alliance has identified thousands of tickets listed by supposedly ‘trusted sellers’ on resale platform Viagogo for seats that are still available on primary sites, meaning touts don’t own the tickets they are selling - a practice banned by Viagogo, and which possibly breaks the law in the UK…

Chris Cooke • 13 Nov 2024

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GEMA • 3 min read

GEMA sues OpenAI

German collecting society GEMA has sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, saying generative AI poses “fundamental legal questions that we absolutely must clarify” through litigation. It’s the first music industry lawsuit against an AI company within Europe rather than the US…

Chris Cooke • 13 Nov 2024

Major labels vs ISPs rumbles on as labels ask appeals court to reconsider latest Grande ruling

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Grande Communications • 3 min read

Major labels vs ISPs rumbles on as labels ask appeals court to reconsider latest Grande ruling

A US appeals court recently upheld a copyright ruling secured against Grande Communications by the major labels. However, it also ordered for the ISP’s damages bill to be recalculated in a way that would mean the labels get less cash. The majors want that element of the decision to be reconsidered…

Chris Cooke • 12 Nov 2024

“Hurrah for Trump!” hoots Live Nation’s CFO Joe Berchtold - sort of - as he ponders the future of the DoJ’s antitrust lawsuit

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Live Nation • 3 min read

“Hurrah for Trump!” hoots Live Nation’s CFO Joe Berchtold - sort of - as he ponders the future of the DoJ’s antitrust lawsuit

Trump’s victory in last week’s US election is likely good news for Live Nation, as it continues to fight an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Department Of Justice. Under Trump, the DoJ is expected to be much less interventionist on antitrust issues. Certainly that’s what Live Nation is expecting…

Chris Cooke • 12 Nov 2024

Pershing Square’s Ackman wants Universal Music to ditch Dutch stock market

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Pershing Square’s Ackman wants Universal Music to ditch Dutch stock market

Universal Music board member Bill Ackman says he wants the major to move its stock market listing from Amsterdam to New York. Although prompted by unrest in Amsterdam last Thursday, he argues there are sound business reasons to move the listing. Universal says Ackman’s position has been noted…

Sam Taylor & Chris Cooke • 11 Nov 2024