CMU | the music business explained (Page 103)

“Misleading rhetoric and “deceitful buzzwords” not good enough, says Council Of Music Makers in call for creator consent, control and compensation in AI deals

Axing of controversial EBacc is a “step in the right direction” for music education says Ed Sheeran

Former Guns N Roses manager sues band over autobiography blocker clause

Judgement in Getty’s UK lawsuit against Stability “underscores growing gap” between copyright and tech, says leading lawyer

Spotify’s streaming fraud initiatives are “nothing more than window dressing” says rapper RBX as he files class action lawsuit

Streaming services don’t want French language quotas in Québec

Universal has settled its lawsuit with Udio, and signed AI deals with Udio and Stability

Spotify questions MLC’s “motivations” in pursuing audiobook bundling dispute lawsuit

Lizzo is being sued over an uncleared sample - on a track she never released

Viagogo is unfair, opaque and violates EU law, consumer group tells regulator

Bobby Vylan says he has no regrets about “death to the IDF” chant at Glastonbury

Ticketmaster says FTC allegations it colluded with touts “nonsensical”, but it is changing some of its rules and shutting down TradeDesk

New Udio lawsuit hones in on the “significant and unequal harm” inflicted on independent musicians by music AI

Majors tell US Supreme Court to ignore ISP’s doom and gloom predictions and uphold billion dollar piracy ruling

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

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

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

Suno tells court to reject stream-ripping “gambit” by major labels in AI legal battle

As indie labels ramp up campaign for EU to block the UMG x Downtown merger, a French music lawyer says concerns around data are “fantasy or paranoia”

As FT says major labels are close to “landmark” AI licensing deals, is a new battle royale going to kick off within the music industry?

No one seems to know if Kneecap are still banned from Canada - or whether they were ever actually banned at all

Don’t say gruesome twosome: Ek steps sideways at Spotify to make way for not one but two new CEOs

‘Something Inside’ songwriter goes legal over Tommy Robinson’s use of his anti-apartheid anthem

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

Tabloid claims that Dua Lipa sacked agent over Glasto Kneecap letter are “categorically false” and “deliberately inflammatory”

Major labels add piracy claims to Suno lawsuit after $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement

Live Nation colludes with ticket touts, says US government as it launches legal action

Cornwall Council will hold meeting about ‘safety risks’ of Bob Vylan’s August Boardmasters performance - even through there weren’t any

Spotify finally adds lossless audio to premium

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

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

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

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

Yet another senior exec out at Warner Music as UK boss Tony Harlow quits

Billion dollar piracy win for majors “defies common law and common sense” says Cox

Court dismisses Dave Rowntree’s black box lawsuit against PRS

Supertramp songwriter must continue to share publishing royalties with bandmates, US appeals court concludes

FTC sues ticket touting business that claims it is endorsed by Ticketmaster

Drake’s claims are “farcical” says Lucian Grainge as defamation battle rumbles on

Drake wants to trawl through Papa Grainge’s emails in ‘Not Like Us’ libel battle

Sony sues Napster over $9.2 million in unpaid royalties

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

Increasing number of artists join Spotify boycott over CEO’s AI weapon investments

If China blocks TikTok deal app will “go dark” says US Commerce Secretary, but hints deal “coming soon”

Blackstone bails on consortium bidding to buy TikTok US - will a deal still be done by September deadline?

Anthropic’s ‘fair use’ win in AI copyright case could turn into a trillion dollar loss

No copyright exception for AI training in European law, says new report

Full scale anticompetition investigation on the cards after UMG’s Virgin Music fails to allay EU fears over Downtown merger

Suno AI’s faulty guardrails mean its ‘ReMi’ lyric model will spit out entire lyrical works with basic prompting

Did Ticketmaster’s UK boss Andrew Parsons mislead MPs at a select committee hearing?

Trump must “weigh in” on AI copyright debate and pressure “less innovative countries” on copyright rules, says OpenAI

Everyone’s making loads of money but don’t point the finger at us if you’re not, says Spotify’s updated Loud & Clear

Andrew Tate course on ‘pimping’ and exploiting women remains on Spotify as petition passes 25,000 signatures

Universal will spend billions to dominate emerging markets, says Grainge during Q4 earnings call as major sets out its “eat the world” strategies

Liverpool “new heart of music business” says Sound City as major label execs and industry heavyweights head north

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

Spotify wants to be “the best in the world at building AI products” and is focused on “accelerated execution”... but still no super-premium launch

Judge throws out MLC’s audiobooks bundle lawsuit, says Spotify can keep cutting songwriter royalties through its “cynical trick”

Universal Music’s new Spotify deal could be a knock-out blow for streaming platform’s audiobook bundling trick

Universal put “corporate greed” before Drake’s safety, says defamation lawsuit filed over Kendrick Lamar diss track

Beware the “wolf under the cape” in Universal’s Downtown land grab, warns Beggars boss as IMPALA calls for regulators to block the deal

EU AI Act can only provide a “temporary fix” to the “darker aspect” of AI’s “profound disruption” to creative industries says open letter

AI generated music will suck €4 billion a year away from music creators by 2028 says CISAC

Village People founder loves Trump using YMCA, but hates people calling it a gay anthem

Executives from BMG, Absolute Label Services, Mahogany Music, Punch Records and more to join award winning female entrepreneurs in Liverpool as first Sound City+ 2025 speakers unveiled

AIF makes desperate call for government to “step up, and step up now” to get festivals through “devastating period”, as MVT launches new Liveline fund

New AI transparency proposal in US Congress will “pave the way” for creator compensation says ASCAP boss

SXSW ditches weapons sponsors to burnish brand - so why won’t it ditch its ties to Saudi Arabia?

SXSW London could disrupt delicately balanced music ecosystem and should reconsider its date

CMU Masterclass • 3 min read

CMU launches new CMU Masterclass series

Strengthen your professional skillset and invest in your professional growth with CMU’s latest series of ten on-demand masterclasses, available as individual sessions, or great value bundles.…

CMU • 12 Jul 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 9 min read

⏩ One Liners: Deals, Appointments, Legal + Industry news round-ups, plus tours + releases

Deals, Appointments and other news including Reservoir, IDOL, Universal Music Publishing, Downtown Music Holdings, Warner Music, Pye Records, Reigning Phoenix Music, Red Bull, Massive Attack, Full Fat + more…

CMU • 12 Jul 2024

Beastie Boys • 2 min read

Beastie Boys sue Chili’s over social media video

US restaurant chain Chili’s has been sued by the Beastie Boys over a promotional video posted to social media that featured their track ‘Sabotage’ without permission. The rap group says Chili’s infringed the copyrights in their song and the band’s trademarks in its social media marketing…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jul 2024

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

Australian industry criticises plan to restrict festivals on Anzac Day in New South Wales

New trading restrictions on Anzac Day in New South Wales could stop festivals from going ahead, a development criticised by the Australian Festivals Association as “a complete overreach” - plus Western Australia’s financial support of Live Nation is in the spotlight…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jul 2024

Digital services and platforms news • 2 min read

Majority of subscription websites and apps employ ‘dark patterns’, says two new reports

Two new reports say that most subscription websites and apps employ dark patterns, design techniques that manipulate consumers when making buying or data decisions. The reports are published as criticism mounts over how Spotify is currently hiding its 10.99 audiobook free subscription product…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jul 2024

And Finally • 4 min read

And Finally… The world is big enough for two musical Jellyrolls

A recently filed Jellyroll v Jelly Roll lawsuit has been settled. The Jellyroll Band from Philadelphia argued that country singer Jelly Roll was infringing their trademark. But the dispute is already over, with everyone seemingly able to comprehend that there might be more than one musical Jellyroll…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jul 2024

Mechanical Copyright Protection Society (MCPS) • 2 min read

MCPS looks back at a century of music licensing as it celebrates its 100th anniversary

UK mechanical rights collecting society MCPS is celebrating its 100th anniversary. Speaking at an event in London, Chair Jackie Alway discussed all the changes in the mechanical rights business over the last century, but said the aim of MCPS remains the same, standing up for copyright…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jul 2024

AI • 4 min read

Hong Kong eyes AI boost with proposed copyright shake-up

Hong Kong is considering introducing a new copyright exception that would allow AI companies to train their models with existing content without getting permission from copyright owners. The proposal is likely to be opposed by the music industry…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jul 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Whitelands

Leading the new wave of black British shoegaze, London’s Whitelands showcase their mastery of atmospheric allure in new single ‘Cheer’.…

Kaya Robertson • 11 Jul 2024

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

📣 One Liners: Artist News - SAGA Festival drama for Hardwell, Nicki Minaj; Cat Burns short film, Doja Cat hack + more

Cat Burns short film; Hardwell mouths off over SAGA Festival technical problems; Hypersoft label debut will support trans youth organisations; Nicki Minaj cancels SAGA Festival show; crypto hacker hijinx as Doja Cat’s twitter hijacked; plus Empathy for the Devil podcast + release news…

CMU • 11 Jul 2024

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

🤝 One Liners: Deals including Ticketmaster x Shazam, RA x Soundcloud, Beatport x Beatdapp + more

Ticketmaster’s integration with Shazam stops fans missing out; Resident Advisor and SoundCloud team up to connect artist and fans; Beatdapp inks deal with Beatport to combat stream manipulation; plus Virgin Music Group, HYBE’s virtual boyband deal, Cash Cobain, and TAIT…

CMU • 11 Jul 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 2 min read

💡 One Liners: Appointments including BPI, Red Street Records, Artista + more

Jake Hills joins BPI; Lenzo Yoon to leave HYBE; Red Street Records promotes Cambria Sojka, hires Gianna Robinson; Arista promotes Nick Petropoulos; Warner Music Japan COO Kazuhiro Shimada to depart; Big Loud Records promotes Stacy Blythe…

CMU • 11 Jul 2024