Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained (Page 22)

EU regulators tell TikTok to make changes to its “addictive design”

public

TikTok • 1 min read

EU regulators tell TikTok to make changes to its “addictive design”

TikTok may be forced to make changes to its app in Europe after EU regulators said it had failed to “adequately assess” the negative impact of its “addictive design”. But TikTok says the European Commission has presented a “categorically false and entirely meritless depiction of our platform”…

Chris Cooke • 09 Feb 2026

California considering ticket touting price cap, while campaigns call on New York to outlaw for-profit resale

public

Secondary Ticketing • 3 min read

California considering ticket touting price cap, while campaigns call on New York to outlaw for-profit resale

Proposals have been made to cap the price of touted tickets in both California and New York. Californian Assembly member Matt Haney has proposed a 10% price cap on resale via his Fans First Act. And the Fix The Tix campaign has called on New York lawmakers to ban for-profit resale and cap admin fees…

Chris Cooke • 06 Feb 2026

Managers at “forefront of an emerging artist-centric music business” need better access to finance and more transparency

public

EMMA • 2 min read

Managers at “forefront of an emerging artist-centric music business” need better access to finance and more transparency

The European Music Managers Alliance has published a new report based on a survey of 330 managers. The trade group says the study shows that “managers are at the forefront of an emerging artist-centric music business” but are often “holding the fort in the most challenging of circumstances”…

Chris Cooke • 06 Feb 2026

Chris Brown recorded ‘Sensational’ lyrics without paying the writer, claims lawsuit

public

Chris Brown • 2 min read

Chris Brown recorded ‘Sensational’ lyrics without paying the writer, claims lawsuit

A new lawsuit accuses Chris Brown of cutting a fellow artist who wrote lyrics for his tracks ‘Sensational’ and ‘Monalisa’ out of the rights and royalties stemming from those works. Steve Chokpelle wants the court to confirm his status as co-author and to order Brown to pay him millions in damages…

Chris Cooke • 05 Feb 2026

Adding “hot takes” to unlicensed music is not fair use, judge confirms in rockumentary copyright case

public

Universal Music • 2 min read

Adding “hot takes” to unlicensed music is not fair use, judge confirms in rockumentary copyright case

When British film-maker Robert Carruthers was sued for including uncleared music in documentaries he made about The Rolling Stones and Nirvana he employed the ‘fair use’ defence. But a US judge has ruled that adding a few ‘hot takes’ alongside the music doesn’t mean you can avoid getting licences…

Chris Cooke • 05 Feb 2026

Martin Shkreli sues Wu-Tang’s RZA in ongoing ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’ battle

public

Wu-Tang Clan • 3 min read

Martin Shkreli sues Wu-Tang’s RZA in ongoing ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’ battle

The legal battle over who owns rights in single-copy Wu-Tang album ‘Once Upon A Time In Shaolin’ has ramped up. The crypto collective that owns the single copy is locked in a legal battle with Martin Shkreli, the pharma bro who originally bought the album. Now Shkreli is pulling RZA into the dispute…

Chris Cooke • 04 Feb 2026

European Commission must tackle “coercive buy-out practices” when US video streamers commission music, says MEP

public

Buy-Outs • 2 min read

European Commission must tackle “coercive buy-out practices” when US video streamers commission music, says MEP

“Coercive buy-out practices” were in the spotlight in the European Parliament today as composers campaign against US studios and streamers seeking to control all the rights in music they commission for film and TV. MEP Leire Pajín called on the European Commission to “tackle these abusive practices”…

Chris Cooke • 03 Feb 2026

BOTS Act definitely applies to Ticketmaster in FTC case, insists senator who wrote the BOTS Act

public

Ticketmaster • 2 min read

BOTS Act definitely applies to Ticketmaster in FTC case, insists senator who wrote the BOTS Act

Last year the FTC accused Ticketmaster US of breaching the BOTS Act, the law that regulates how American touts access tickets to resell. The ticketing company insists that the BOTS Act does not apply to its operations, but one of the senators who wrote the act has told the court it definitely does…

Chris Cooke • 03 Feb 2026

Spotify makes good on commitment to support Turkish music, announces opening of Istanbul office

public

Spotify • 1 min read

Spotify makes good on commitment to support Turkish music, announces opening of Istanbul office

Spotify’s new Istanbul office will be open by the end of June. The streaming service committed to have an office there last year after receiving scrutiny and criticism from Turkish regulators and politicians. It says the new office “demonstrates our long-term commitment to Türkiye’s music ecosystem”…

Chris Cooke • 02 Feb 2026

Charlie Puth got musician to provide vocals for ‘Furious 7’ track, then Warner cheated him out rights and royalties, says lawsuit

public

Jake Broido • 2 min read

Charlie Puth got musician to provide vocals for ‘Furious 7’ track, then Warner cheated him out rights and royalties, says lawsuit

A musician who performed backing vocals on Wiz Khalifa and Charlie Puth song ‘See You Again’ has sued Warner, accusing the label of depriving him of rights and royalties he is due from it. Jake Broido was working in Warner’s offices when Puth invited him into the studio to work on the track…

Chris Cooke • 02 Feb 2026

UK government needs to urgently address creator concerns over AI, say two new studies

public

Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

UK government needs to urgently address creator concerns over AI, say two new studies

PRS and ISM have both published new studies on creator concerns around generative AI, seeking to put pressure on the UK government as ministers prepare to set out their long-awaited plans regarding AI and copyright. The government must ensure creator livelihoods “are protected”, PRS says…

Chris Cooke • 30 Jan 2026

public

BMG • 2 min read

BMG in talks to buy Concord

BMG is reportedly in talks to buy Concord in a deal that could be worth $7 billion. The CEO of BMG owner Bertelsmann said the time might be right for the music company to “join forces with a competitor” nearly two years ago, and Concord was always on the relatively short list of possible partners…

Chris Cooke • 30 Jan 2026