Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained (Page 15)

Ultra boss says “nothing changes but the name” as he downplays Sony trademark face-off defeat

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Ultra Music Publishing • 3 min read

Ultra boss says “nothing changes but the name” as he downplays Sony trademark face-off defeat

A judge has ruled on Sony’s legal battle with former business partner Patrick Moxey over his continued use of the Ultra brand. Sony now owns the Ultra label Moxey founded and insisted he can’t use the brand for his publishing company. The judge agreed, meaning Ultra Music Publishing needs a new name…

Chris Cooke • 27 Feb 2025

Universal uses Vevo and unfair international deductions to the “detriment of artists” alleges lawsuit filed by The Cranberries

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The Cranberries • 3 min read

Universal uses Vevo and unfair international deductions to the “detriment of artists” alleges lawsuit filed by The Cranberries

The Cranberries have sued Island Records for allegedly under-paying digital royalties by allowing foreign subsidiaries to take 40% of streaming revenue as it flows through their bank accounts and using Vevo to reduce payments on YouTube streams. The band are suing for more than $5 million in damages…

Chris Cooke • 27 Feb 2025

UK government to offer additional concessions to creative industries as it proceeds with AI copyright exception plan

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Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

UK government to offer additional concessions to creative industries as it proceeds with AI copyright exception plan

The deadline for a government consultation on copyright and AI passed yesterday. Ministers want to introduce a new copyright exception for AI companies but, sources say, now plan to propose additional concessions for the creative industries after a high profile campaign against the new exception…

Chris Cooke • 26 Feb 2025

Payola back in the spotlight as FCC boss asks about artist deals at upcoming iHeart festival

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iHeart • 3 min read

Payola back in the spotlight as FCC boss asks about artist deals at upcoming iHeart festival

US media regulator the FCC recently warned broadcasters that pressuring artists to play their events for free in return for airplay likely constitutes illegal payola. Now the FCC wants to know what radio giant iHeart is paying artists playing one of its festivals in Austin this May…

Chris Cooke • 26 Feb 2025

1000+ musicians collaborate on silent protest album as deadline arrives for UK government’s big AI consultation

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Artificial Intelligence • 5 min read

1000+ musicians collaborate on silent protest album as deadline arrives for UK government’s big AI consultation

Today is the deadline for the UK government’s consultation on copyright and AI, including the proposed new copyright exception for AI companies. The music industry strongly opposes that proposal and, with that in mind, more than a 1000 artists have together released a silent album in protest…

Chris Cooke • 25 Feb 2025

Barry Manilow tells London judge bonus dispute with Hipgnosis should be fought out in LA

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Barry Manilow • 2 min read

Barry Manilow tells London judge bonus dispute with Hipgnosis should be fought out in LA

Barry Manilow and Hipgnosis are involved in a legal dispute over bonus payments stemming from a 2020 deal. Both have filed lawsuits, Manilow in LA and Hipgnosis in London. Manilow last week told a London judge that, under his Hipgnosis deal, he gets to decide where the litigation is fought out…

Chris Cooke • 25 Feb 2025

Diddy defence lawyer quits saying there are “no circumstances” under which he can continue to rep the musician

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Diddy • 2 min read

Diddy defence lawyer quits saying there are “no circumstances” under which he can continue to rep the musician

A lawyer working for Diddy as he fights criminal charges of sex trafficking has asked the judge to let him quit the case, though hasn’t really provided much information why. It shouldn’t delay the schedule for Diddy’s May trial as there are five other lawyers working on the case…

Chris Cooke • 24 Feb 2025

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Stormzy • 3 min read

Stormzy says brands can’t tell him what to do after McDonald’s backlash

Stormzy has faced a backlash over his partnership with McDonald’s. There were also allegations that the brand deal prompted him to remove an Instagram post supporting Palestine. The rapper has denied that claim, insisting none of the brands he works with “tell me what to do”…

Chris Cooke • 24 Feb 2025

K-pop labels and agencies want new laws against contract tampering, but no other regulation, as Ador v NewJeans dispute continues

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NewJeans • 4 min read

K-pop labels and agencies want new laws against contract tampering, but no other regulation, as Ador v NewJeans dispute continues

With the ongoing very public dispute between NewJeans and HYBE’s Ador still grabbing the headlines in South Korea, resulting in proposals for regulating the K-pop business, five trade groups for the Korean music industry have said the focus of law-makers should be so called “tampering practices”…

Chris Cooke • 21 Feb 2025

Malaysian festival can’t sue individual members of The 1975, says band’s lawyer

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The 1975 • 2 min read

Malaysian festival can’t sue individual members of The 1975, says band’s lawyer

The lawsuit filed by a Malaysian festival against The 1975 following their controversial performance at the event in 2023 was in court this week. The band’s lawyers began by arguing that, while the festival can sue The 1975’s company, individual band members should be removed from the litigation…

Chris Cooke • 20 Feb 2025

Leadmill operator vows to “exhaust every possible legal avenue” after losing eviction battle in court

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The Leadmill • 3 min read

Leadmill operator vows to “exhaust every possible legal avenue” after losing eviction battle in court

The current operator of Sheffield’s The Leadmill has acknowledged that a judge has ruled against him in an eviction dispute with landlord The Electric Group. However, he says the Save The Leadmill campaign continues and all legal routes will be pursued before he vacates the premises…

Chris Cooke • 20 Feb 2025

Sony Music says Ultra copyright lawsuit “an ill-conceived” and retaliatory ploy filed to “exact revenge” over trademark dispute

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Sony Music • 3 min read

Sony Music says Ultra copyright lawsuit “an ill-conceived” and retaliatory ploy filed to “exact revenge” over trademark dispute

Sony Music says that a copyright lawsuit filed against it by Ultra Music Publishing should be dismissed, because it fails to identify “any particular infringing acts”. Not only that, but the lawsuit was filed in retaliation after it sued the Ultra publisher for trademark infringement…

Chris Cooke • 19 Feb 2025