Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained (Page 2)

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

BookMyShow must do more to stop touting after Coldplay controversy, say Indian police

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BookMyShow • 2 min read

BookMyShow must do more to stop touting after Coldplay controversy, say Indian police

BookMyShow says all stakeholders in the Indian live sector should “come together” to tackle ticket touting. The Indian primary ticketing company was last week ordered by police to put more restrictions in place when selling tickets to indemand events following the recent Coldplay touting controversy…

Chris Cooke • 11 Nov 2024

Diddy’s gagging order denied as judge says alleged victims must be free to speak

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Diddy • 2 min read

Diddy’s gagging order denied as judge says alleged victims must be free to speak

Diddy has been denied a gagging order that would have prohibited everyone who has accused him of assault of speaking to the media while he awaits trial on charges of sex trafficking. He’s also having another go at getting bail while he awaits that trial, proposing extensive house arrest restrictions…

Chris Cooke • 11 Nov 2024

MU calls on major labels to “step up” in creator remuneration negotiations

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Musicians’ Union • 2 min read

MU calls on major labels to “step up” in creator remuneration negotiations

The UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to the Creator Remuneration Working Group which is trying to address issues that have been raised about how music creators share in streaming income. The MU says that for that process to succeed, the majors now need to “step up and make some offers”…

Chris Cooke • 08 Nov 2024

Cloudflare says EU piracy list should focus on “truly bad actors”, not companies like Cloudflare

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Cloudflare • 3 min read

Cloudflare says EU piracy list should focus on “truly bad actors”, not companies like Cloudflare

The EU is currently compiling the next edition of its Piracy Watch List, with rightsholders submitting lists of their main piracy concerns. In some cases that includes grievances about internet services companies like Cloudflare. But that’s not what the Watch List should be about, insists Cloudflare…

Chris Cooke • 08 Nov 2024

PRS says claim it dubbed venues and managers “inefficient” and “unprofessional” is “utterly untrue”

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PRS For Music • 2 min read

PRS says claim it dubbed venues and managers “inefficient” and “unprofessional” is “utterly untrue”

PRS has responded to the claim that it recently implied that smaller venues, and the managers of artists that play them, are “inefficient” and “unprofessional”. The claim - based on something PRS said in recent a filing as part of an ongoing legal battle - is “false”, the collecting society insists…

Chris Cooke • 08 Nov 2024

Kem manager dispute puts sunset clauses in the spotlight

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Kem • 2 min read

Kem manager dispute puts sunset clauses in the spotlight

A dispute between Kem and his ex-manager highlights the importance of management deals being properly documented in writing. The manager claims she is still due commissions on his income despite not managing him since 2016. That depends on whether agreements from 2003 or 2005 are still in force…

Chris Cooke • 07 Nov 2024