Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained (Page 4)

SoundExchange can’t sue Sirius in federal courts, says judge in royalties dispute

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SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange can’t sue Sirius in federal courts, says judge in royalties dispute

A US judge has said that collecting society SoundExchange doesn’t have the right to file lawsuits in order to enforce its members’ rights. Which isn’t ideal. That ruling has been made in SoundExchange’s ongoing royalties dispute with satellite broadcaster Sirius, which it sued in 2023…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2025

HYBE founder returning to Korea to deal with mounting controversies, he tells staff in leaked memo

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Hybe • 2 min read

HYBE founder returning to Korea to deal with mounting controversies, he tells staff in leaked memo

HYBE founder Bang Si-hyuk has told staff that he is returning to Korea to “transparently work” with officials investigating allegations he misled investors ahead of the company’s IPO. Bang has been in the US of late, which he says “contributed to confusion and frustration” around the investigation…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2025

Salt N Pepa say its “time to fight for our rights” as Universal legal bust up continues

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Salt N Pepa • 3 min read

Salt N Pepa say its “time to fight for our rights” as Universal legal bust up continues

Salt N Pepa have spoken about their legal dispute with Universal Music. The duo want to exercise the termination right and reclaim rights in their 1980s recordings. The major says they don’t qualify. But, the rappers insist, that right is meant to protect the artist and “we are the artist”…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2025

Artists and promoters continue to navigate a politically charged festival season

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Live industry news including ticketing, venues, festivals and more • 5 min read

Artists and promoters continue to navigate a politically charged festival season

The 2025 festival season continues to be politically charged. Police are still investigating whether Bob Vylan’s anti-Israel statements at Glastonbury constituted a crime. And one pro-Palestine band is boycotting Boardmasters despite the festival’s statement supporting the Palestinian cause…

Chris Cooke • 06 Aug 2025

Boomtown ups drugs policing as coroner says dealers operated freely at festival

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Boomtown • 3 min read

Boomtown ups drugs policing as coroner says dealers operated freely at festival

A coroner has reported on his inquest into the drug-related death of a festival-goer at last year’s Boomtown, concluding that drugs were “freely available to purchase” at the event. Local police say plans are in place this year to “disrupt” the sale of drugs on site at the festival…

Chris Cooke • 06 Aug 2025

Spotify announces more price increases, boosting share price

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify announces more price increases, boosting share price

Spotify is putting up its prices again in multiple markets, including - for the first time - India. In some European markets, a monthly subscription will increase from €10.99 to €11.99. Investors have responded positively to the news, with the company’s share price increasing yesterday…

Chris Cooke • 05 Aug 2025

US music creators welcome latest proposal for web-blocking, which big tech dubs “a tool for censorship”

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Web blocking • 3 min read

US music creators welcome latest proposal for web-blocking, which big tech dubs “a tool for censorship”

More proposals were made last week to introduce web-blocking as an anti-piracy tool for copyright owners under US law. Music creators have welcomed the proposals, called the Block BEARD Act, but big tech says web-blocks are “a dangerous mechanism” that will result in legitimate content being blocked…

Chris Cooke • 04 Aug 2025

LyricFind’s “bluster” designed to distract from “business failures”, says rival Musixmatch in legal back and forth

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Musixmatch • 3 min read

LyricFind’s “bluster” designed to distract from “business failures”, says rival Musixmatch in legal back and forth

The legal battle between LyricFind and Musixmatch continues. LyricFind has sued its rival over alleged anti-competitive conduct. But after making another filing with the court seeking dismissal of the lawsuit, Musixmatch said LyricFind was using “bluster” to cover up “business failures”…

Chris Cooke • 04 Aug 2025

Controversial ruling on US termination right fulfills the intention of Congress, say creators

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Copyright • 4 min read

Controversial ruling on US termination right fulfills the intention of Congress, say creators

Earlier this year a court ruling expanded the scope of the termination right in US copyright law, saying that creators can reclaim rights globally, not just in the US. That potentially overturns longstanding industry convention, but creator groups insist it was the right ruling and should be upheld…

Chris Cooke • 01 Aug 2025

Industry welcomes ten step plan for “rebalancing the licensing regime” of UK festivals and venues

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Live industry news including ticketing, venues, festivals and more • 2 min read

Industry welcomes ten step plan for “rebalancing the licensing regime” of UK festivals and venues

The UK government has published ten recommendations from an industry taskforce that was asked to review how pubs, clubs, venues and events are licensed, 20 years on from the last Licensing Act. The music industry says the recommendations include many “positive, business friendly measures”…

Chris Cooke • 01 Aug 2025

YouTube now the second most watched media platform in the UK, behind only the BBC

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YouTube • 3 min read

YouTube now the second most watched media platform in the UK, behind only the BBC

YouTube is now second only to the BBC when it comes to at-home video consumption, according to a new report from OfCom. The regulator considers what that means for traditional public service broadcasters like the BBC, having recently suggested new laws to force YouTube to sign-post their content…

Chris Cooke • 31 Jul 2025

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

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Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

Last week age-check requirements contained in the UK’s Online Safety Act went into force, meaning platforms must check a user’s age before they access content that is deemed harmful to children. That includes Spotify, where new age-check rules led to fears some users might see their accounts deleted…

Chris Cooke • 31 Jul 2025