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

BBC says it won’t ban Kneecap from its Glastonbury coverage

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Kneecap • 2 min read

BBC says it won’t ban Kneecap from its Glastonbury coverage

Glastonbury has confirmed that Kneecap will play this year’s festival on the West Holts stage, which is livestreamed by the BBC. Despite all the controversies surrounding the group, the BBC says it doesn’t ban artists who are playing the festival, but will apply “editorial guidelines” to their set…

Chris Cooke • 05 Jun 2025

Super-premium streaming expected in the next year, says Goldman Sachs, after global music revenues “fell short of expectations”

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Music In The Air • 4 min read

Super-premium streaming expected in the next year, says Goldman Sachs, after global music revenues “fell short of expectations”

Goldman Sachs has published its annual ‘Music In The Air’ report, admitting that music sector revenue growth last year was below expectations. Super-premium could be what helps boost future growth in streaming revenues, but getting those services off the ground is “complex”, the bankers concede…

Chris Cooke • 04 Jun 2025

One year on from Misogyny In Music report issues are unaddressed and “appear to be on repeat” say MPs

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Misogyny In Music • 4 min read

One year on from Misogyny In Music report issues are unaddressed and “appear to be on repeat” say MPs

Parliament’s Women And Equalities Committee has published an update to its 2024 ‘Misogyny In Music’ report confirming much more still needs to be done. The last government declined to implement legal reforms, but this government should, MPs say, including outlawing NDAs in cases of sexual misconduct…

Chris Cooke • 04 Jun 2025

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

The majors are involved in licensing negotiations with the two music AI companies they sued last year, Udio and Suno. But will they consult music creators before agreeing any deals? Artist and songwriter organisations fear not, but insist that creator consent must be secured before signing any deals…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

Eminem publisher sues Meta in “another case of a trillion dollar company” exploiting artists for “obscene monetary benefit”

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Eminem • 3 min read

Eminem publisher sues Meta in “another case of a trillion dollar company” exploiting artists for “obscene monetary benefit”

Music publisher Eight Mile Style has sued Meta for the unlicensed use of Eminem’s songs on Facebook and Instagram. The publisher says that, by including Eminem’s music in its own audio clip libraries without a licence, Meta can’t rely on the copyright safe harbour and is liable for infringement…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

Songwriters and publishers are making over $11 billion across sixteen key markets as digital dominates

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Music Publishing • 4 min read

Songwriters and publishers are making over $11 billion across sixteen key markets as digital dominates

A new study on music publishing revenues in sixteen key markets shows that digital now dominates, generating 47.1% of publisher income. The study includes revenues from both direct and collective licensing, and therefore provides a fuller picture of the role digital plays in the wider songs business…

Chris Cooke • 02 Jun 2025

Yout stream ripper could face prison as Brazil pushes ahead with criminal copyright case

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Yout • 2 min read

Yout stream ripper could face prison as Brazil pushes ahead with criminal copyright case

The owner of stream-ripping service Yout has failed to get criminal proceedings against him in Brazil dismissed. A judge says prosecutors have provided sufficient evidence for their criminal copyright infringement case to proceed. If found guilty, the Yout operator could face four years in jail…

Chris Cooke • 02 Jun 2025

NYC backs plan to hike streaming prices by 50% to pay musicians as much as $40k a year each

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Streaming • 4 min read

NYC backs plan to hike streaming prices by 50% to pay musicians as much as $40k a year each

A proposal that could see every musician in the US better off to the tune of $40k a year via a 50% levy on music streaming subscriptions has been endorsed by New York City Council. It says Congress should back the proposals which would provide new income for musicians living and working in NYC…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 30 May 2025

Sean Combs assistant talks of Diddy’s “violent rages” in trial testimony

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Diddy • 2 min read

Sean Combs assistant talks of Diddy’s “violent rages” in trial testimony

The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs continues, with jurors this week hearing from another of the musician’s alleged victims. A former PA of Combs described the “chaotic” and “toxic” work environment she endured for eight years, and how he physically and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions…

Chris Cooke • 30 May 2025

Major labels face setback as Trump’s pet DOJ legal beagle sides with Cox in piracy battle

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Cox Communications • 5 min read

Major labels face setback as Trump’s pet DOJ legal beagle sides with Cox in piracy battle

Trump’s Solicitor General D John Sauer has backed Cox Communications’ bid for a Supreme Court review of its lawsuit with the majors, arguing that the ruling breaks 40 years of precedent and could force ISPs to cut internet access for Americans based on a single copyright complaint…

Chris Cooke • 29 May 2025

TRNSMT pulls Kneecap performance over “safety concerns”

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Kneecap • 2 min read

TRNSMT pulls Kneecap performance over “safety concerns”

Glasgow’s TRNSMT festival has pulled Kneecap from its line-up. While promoter DF Concerts has been under political pressure to cancel the group’s set ever since their Coachella performance, a statement says they were removed because local police expressed concern about safety if the group performed…

Chris Cooke • 29 May 2025

We are just another victim in the shameful lineage of Apple intimidation and bullying, cries Musi

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Apple • 3 min read

We are just another victim in the shameful lineage of Apple intimidation and bullying, cries Musi

Music app Musi has filed new papers in its ongoing bid to get reinstated to Apple’s App Store. Apple recently said Musi and its lawyers should be sanctioned by the court for making already disproven claims in an amended lawsuit. Musi has hit back arguing that it’s Apple that should be sanctioned…

Chris Cooke • 28 May 2025