Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained (Page 5)

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Suno • 4 min read

Having been accused of stream-ripping by the majors, Suno and Udio intervene in high profile stream-ripper case

The major labels recently added stream-ripping allegations to their Suno and Udio lawsuits. The AI start-ups say the majors’ new claims are invalid, but fear that a ruling in an earlier legal battle involving stream-ripper Yout could open them to liability. So they want that earlier ruling changed…

Chris Cooke • 13 Oct 2025

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Neil Young • 2 min read

Now Neil Young is boycotting Amazon

Neil Young is boycotting Amazon, announcing in a blog post “soon my music will not be there”. It seems to be the links between Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos and US President Donald Trump that has prompted the boycott. The musician also urges fans to “forget Amazon” and instead “buy local”…

Chris Cooke • 13 Oct 2025

Drake vows to appeal after judge throws out defamation lawsuit against Universal

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Drake • 3 min read

Drake vows to appeal after judge throws out defamation lawsuit against Universal

A New York judge has dismissed Drake’s defamation action against Universal Music over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’, concluding that Lamar’s lyrics cannot be understood to “convey as a factual matter” that Drake is a pedophile. Drake’s legal team have already vowed to appeal the ruling…

Chris Cooke • 10 Oct 2025

Tim Westwood charged with four counts of rape

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Tim Westwood • 2 min read

Tim Westwood charged with four counts of rape

Tim Westwood has been charged with four counts of rape and additional charges of indecent and sexual assault following a Metropolitan Police investigation, which in turn followed the 2022 media report in which eighteen women accused the former BBC DJ of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour…

Chris Cooke • 10 Oct 2025

Kneecap manager claims that pro-Israel entertainment industry group manufactured post-Coachella outrage

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Kneecap • 2 min read

Kneecap manager claims that pro-Israel entertainment industry group manufactured post-Coachella outrage

Kneecap’s manager has discussed the outrage that followed their performance at Coachella, which made the band headline news. He says their set wasn’t seen as controversial during the festival itself, and the outrage was prompted by a pro-Israel group within the entertainment industry…

Chris Cooke • 09 Oct 2025

BMG is the latest publisher to agree direct licence with Spotify in the US

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BMG • 2 min read

BMG is the latest publisher to agree direct licence with Spotify in the US

BMG has agreed a direct licensing deal with Spotify covering its songs catalogue in the US. It follows the majors and Kobalt in agreeing a direct deal that circumvents the MLC-administered compulsory licence in the US market, in response to Spotify exploiting a bundling discount in that MLC licence…

Chris Cooke • 09 Oct 2025

Warner UK COO departs as downsizing of senior leadership continues

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Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner UK COO departs as downsizing of senior leadership continues

Downsizing at the top of Warner Music continues. Following the news that Warner UK CEO Tony Harlow is departing and won’t be replaced, now UK COO Isabel Garvey has also announced she is leaving. UK labels will report into the US, while other departments will report to EMEA President Simon Robson…

Chris Cooke • 09 Oct 2025

Kneecap say government appealing Mo Chara terror offence dismissal is “unsurprising” but a “massive waste of taxpayers’ money”

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Kneecap • 2 min read

Kneecap say government appealing Mo Chara terror offence dismissal is “unsurprising” but a “massive waste of taxpayers’ money”

Kneecap have responded to the news that UK prosecutors are appealing the recent ruling to dismiss the criminal case against the group’s Mo Chara over the alleged displaying of a Hezbollah flag at a London gig. They say the appeal is “unsurprising” but a “massive waste of taxpayers’ money”…

Chris Cooke • 08 Oct 2025

Culture minister tells industrial-level ticket touts: “your time is up”

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Secondary Ticketing • 2 min read

Culture minister tells industrial-level ticket touts: “your time is up”

The UK government has confirmed it still plans to introduce a price cap on ticket touting, while also stating that ticket resale platforms like Viagogo will be obliged to ensure resellers are following the rules. All of this is revealed in a new Daily Record article by culture minister Ian Murray…

Chris Cooke • 08 Oct 2025

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PRS For Music • 2 min read

High profile songwriters express concern about PRS transparency, accuracy and admin costs

A group of high profile songwriters have written to PRS questioning admin costs incurred by the collecting society, and expressing concerns over transparency. PRS says it has met with representatives of the writers and “will continue to explore all practical changes” to further improve its systems…

Chris Cooke • 08 Oct 2025

Two thirds of South Asian music professionals feel poorly represented in the UK industry, says South Asian Soundcheck report

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South Asian Soundcheck • 2 min read

Two thirds of South Asian music professionals feel poorly represented in the UK industry, says South Asian Soundcheck report

The newly published ‘South Asian Soundcheck’ report reveals that two thirds of South Asian creators and professionals working in the UK music industry feel poorly represented in the music business. It also identifies three essential needs to deliver change: mentorship, representation and investment…

Chris Cooke • 07 Oct 2025

Anthropic’s own guardrails revive full copyright lawsuit from litigious music publishers

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Anthropic • 3 min read

Anthropic’s own guardrails revive full copyright lawsuit from litigious music publishers

Earlier this year a judge dismissed all but one of the copyright claims in a lawsuit filed by three music publishers against AI company Anthropic. However, the publishers revised and resubmitted those claims, and this time the judge reckons all the allegations are sufficiently “plausible” to proceed…

Chris Cooke • 07 Oct 2025