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

CD sales in the US plunge in first half of 2025 as paid streaming subscriptions hit 105 million users

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RIAA • 2 min read

CD sales in the US plunge in first half of 2025 as paid streaming subscriptions hit 105 million users

The RIAA has published stats for the US recorded music market for the first half of 2025, with paid streaming subscriptions in the country now exceeding 105 million. Streaming income was up 5.7%, but physical sales - especially CD - declined, so that overall recorded music revenues are up just 0.9%…

Chris Cooke • 10 Sep 2025

Spotify finally adds lossless audio to premium

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Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify finally adds lossless audio to premium

Spotify is finally adding lossless audio to its platform, something it has been promising since 2021, and which rival Tidal first offered in 2013. Despite rumours lossless audio might be part of Spotify’s planned higher price subscription product, it’s being rolled out to all premium subscribers…

Chris Cooke • 10 Sep 2025

StubHub pushes ahead with $9.2 billion IPO

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StubHub • 2 min read

StubHub pushes ahead with $9.2 billion IPO

StubHub is proceeding with its Initial Public Offering on the NYSE, after various previous delays, seeking a valuation of up to $9.2 billion. That’s significantly down on previous valuations. Live music is booming, but StubHub is facing increased regulation of ticket touting in key markets…

Chris Cooke • 09 Sep 2025

Yet more artists announce Spotify boycott over demonetised music, AI fakes and Daniel Ek's defence investments

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Spotify • 3 min read

Yet more artists announce Spotify boycott over demonetised music, AI fakes and Daniel Ek's defence investments

The number of artists boycotting Spotify continues to increase, with 30+ Seattle music creators signing an open letter criticising the streaming service. They hit out at Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in the defence sector, but set out other grievances too, including over thresholds and AI…

Chris Cooke • 09 Sep 2025

Anthropic will pay authors $1.5 billion to settle AI copyright case

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Anthropic • 3 min read

Anthropic will pay authors $1.5 billion to settle AI copyright case

Last month a US judge threw out a royalties lawsuit filed by SoundExchange against satellite broadcaster Sirius XM, concluding that the collecting society doesn’t actually have the right to sue its licensees. SoundExchange says that ruling was “erroneous” and is now taking the matter to appeal…

Chris Cooke • 08 Sep 2025

Plethora of tech companies and organisations back Cox as Supreme Court considers billion dollar music piracy case

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Cox Communications • 4 min read

Plethora of tech companies and organisations back Cox as Supreme Court considers billion dollar music piracy case

American ISP Cox Communications wants the US Supreme Court to overturn the billion dollar music piracy judgement secured against it by the major labels. Last week loads of tech companies and trade organisations, and the US DoJ, made filings with the top court backing Cox and its legal arguments…

Chris Cooke • 08 Sep 2025

SoundExchange appeals ruling that says it can’t file lawsuits when licensees fail to pay all the royalties that are due

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SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange appeals ruling that says it can’t file lawsuits when licensees fail to pay all the royalties that are due

Last month a US judge threw out a royalties lawsuit filed by collecting society SoundExchange against satellite broadcaster Sirius XM, concluding that society doesn’t actually have the right to sue its licensees. SoundExchange says that ruling was “erroneous” and is now taking the matter to appeal…

Chris Cooke • 08 Sep 2025

Universal’s Downtown deal must be blocked by regulators before “cultural diversity is weakened irreversibly” says Dutch indie label group president

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Universal’s Downtown deal must be blocked by regulators before “cultural diversity is weakened irreversibly” says Dutch indie label group president

The debate over Universal’s bid to buy Downtown continues. Kees van Weijen, President of Dutch indie label group STOMP and board member at IMPALA, has set out why he believes the EU competition regulator needs to step in before market consolidation irreversibly weakens cultural diversity in Europe…

Chris Cooke • 05 Sep 2025

Lyrics giants’ faceoff will proceed in US courts as judge refuses to dismiss LyricFind v Musixmatch lawsuit

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LyricFind • 3 min read

Lyrics giants’ faceoff will proceed in US courts as judge refuses to dismiss LyricFind v Musixmatch lawsuit

Musixmatch has failed to get an antitrust lawsuit filed against it by rival LyricFind dismissed. As a result, the litigation will now proceed. LyricFind claims that an exclusivity deal between Musixmatch and Warner Chappell was anticompetitive and designed to scupper its deal with Spotify…

Chris Cooke • 05 Sep 2025

As EU hits pause on UMG Downtown investigation after “parties fail to provide important info”, Downtown boss whines about “misinformation”

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Downtown Music • 7 min read

As EU hits pause on UMG Downtown investigation after “parties fail to provide important info”, Downtown boss whines about “misinformation”

More Downtown drama as the EU says it has not received an “important piece of information” it needs to investigate UMG’s acquisition, while Downtown’s boss whines about indie “misinformation”. The real question is: why are Universal-aligned execs so scared of IMPALA and other indie trade bodies?…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 04 Sep 2025

UK live music spend reached £6.68 billion last year, but challenges remain

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LIVE • 2 min read

UK live music spend reached £6.68 billion last year, but challenges remain

Trade group LIVE has published its annual report providing stats on the UK live music sector, in which consumer spend rose 9.5% to £6.68 billion last year. However, while the upper end of live is booming, those operating at the grassroots are struggling and need more government support…

Chris Cooke • 03 Sep 2025

More upheaval at Warner Music as UK label chiefs will report directly to US execs

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Warner Music • 3 min read

More upheaval at Warner Music as UK label chiefs will report directly to US execs

Warner Music has announced a big rejig at its UK business, following the news CEO Tony Harlow is standing down. He won’t be replaced, with UK label bosses now reporting into their US counterparts, including Elliot Grainge, while operational teams will report into EMEA President Simon Robson…

Chris Cooke • 03 Sep 2025