Chris Cooke - CMU | the music business explained (Page 83)

Endeavor shareholders goes legal over proposed $13 billion deal to take the business private

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WME • 1 min read

Endeavor shareholders goes legal over proposed $13 billion deal to take the business private

Earlier this month the owner of the WME talent agency, Endeavor Group Holdings, announced a plan to delist from the New York Stock Exchange via a deal led by its biggest shareholder Silver Lake Capital. However, another investor is now seeking to block that plan through the US courts…

Chris Cooke • 16 Apr 2024

Apple says it is compliant with App Store injunction, judge should reject Epic's latest objections

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Apple • 2 min read

Apple says it is compliant with App Store injunction, judge should reject Epic's latest objections

The US legal battle led by Epic Games over Apple’s App Store rules continues. Epic argues that Apple has failed to properly comply with a court order that forced it to change its rules around sign-posting alternative payment options within an app. In a new filing, Apple denies that claim…

Chris Cooke • 16 Apr 2024

Viagogo boss does the UK media rounds, insists touting price cap won't work

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Viagogo • 4 min read

Viagogo boss does the UK media rounds, insists touting price cap won't work

The boss of Viagogo spoke to UK media last week insisting that the Labour Party’s plan to introduce a price cap on ticket touting won’t work. It won’t work for Viagogo, of course, but Cris Miller argues it will also result in an increase in ticket fraud, a claim anti-touting campaign FanFair denies…

Chris Cooke • 15 Apr 2024

Universal seeks dismissal from another Diddy lawsuit

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Universal seeks dismissal from another Diddy lawsuit

A lawsuit filed under New York’s Adult Survivors Act accusing Diddy of sexual assault named Universal Music as a defendant. In a new filing, the major disputes that it had the necessary connection to Diddy to be liable, and also argues that the lawsuit doesn’t even qualify under the ASA…

Chris Cooke • 15 Apr 2024

SAG-AFTRA says “clear and conspicuous consent” required for vocal clones as part of “groundbreaking” new agreement with labels

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AI • 2 min read

SAG-AFTRA says “clear and conspicuous consent” required for vocal clones as part of “groundbreaking” new agreement with labels

The major labels have made a number of commitments around AI to artist and musician members of US performer union SAG-AFTRA via a new code of fair practice. They are, says artist manager, Irving Azoff, “a great first step to make sure artists have creative control and get paid”…

Chris Cooke • 15 Apr 2024

Universal relaxes TikTok boycott - but only if your name is Taylor Swift

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Taylor Swift • 2 min read

Universal relaxes TikTok boycott - but only if your name is Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift has a new album to promote and would presumably like her fans to help by posting TikTok videos aplenty. But she works with Universal Music, which is boycotting TikTok. Worry not, however, because Universal’s big boycott no longer applies to Swift…

Chris Cooke • 12 Apr 2024

⏩ One Liners: Dua Lipa, Drake, Lisa + more

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One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 3 min read

⏩ One Liners: Dua Lipa, Drake, Lisa + more

Lisa, Maeta deals; Drake removed from Astroworld litigation; Warner Music South Asia launches; PRS Foundation’s Early Career Promotion Fund; new music from Dua Lipa, Perrie, Zayn, Mimi Web, Kasabian, Nick Cave, Kerry King, Bugzy Malone, Dagny, Charlotte De Witte, Darkthrone, Joe & The Shitboys, UTO…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 12 Apr 2024

Superstruct owner could start taking bids for the company this month

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Superstruct Entertainment • 1 min read

Superstruct owner could start taking bids for the company this month

Superstruct, which operates festivals including Sonar, Benicàssim, Bluedot and Boardmasters, is up for sale - with current owner Providence reportedly getting ready to take bids for the company. Investment funds Blackstone, CVC, KKR and EQT could be among those who make a bid…

Chris Cooke • 12 Apr 2024

Live Nation sued over shooting at 2023 Beyond Wonderland festival

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Live Nation • 1 min read

Live Nation sued over shooting at 2023 Beyond Wonderland festival

A lawsuit has been filed in relation to a shooting that occurred at the US music festival Beyond Wonderland last summer. Families of two festival-goers who were killed in the shooting incident accuse promoters Live Nation and Insomniac of having lax security protocols at the festival…

Chris Cooke • 12 Apr 2024

Spotify planning tools to allow users to remix tracks

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify planning tools to allow users to remix tracks

The Wall Street Journal has reported that Spotify plans to provide remixing tools within its app that will allow users to speed up, mash up and otherwise tweak tracks in a legitimate and licensed way. There’s a logic to that plan, but it also raises some copyright questions…

Chris Cooke • 12 Apr 2024

Apple and Travis Scott companies remain as defendants in Astroworld litigation

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Astroworld • 3 min read

Apple and Travis Scott companies remain as defendants in Astroworld litigation

A number of companies have been removed as defendants on the Astroworld litigation, including Sony Music's Epic Records. However, Apple, two businesses owned by Astroworld founder Travis Scott and a number of security companies will remain as defendants as the first cases get to trial next month…

Chris Cooke • 11 Apr 2024

Hollywood movie studios aim to put web-blocking back on the agenda in US Congress

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Piracy • 3 min read

Hollywood movie studios aim to put web-blocking back on the agenda in US Congress

Web-blocking is now the music industry’s anti-piracy tactic of choice in countries where it is available. However, web-blocking is still not an option in the US, where attempts to add it to copyright law in 2012 resulted in a major backlash. Hollywood thinks it is time for Congress to reconsider…

Chris Cooke • 11 Apr 2024