CMU | the music business explained (Page 112)

“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

UK Music • 2 min read

“Significant improvements” in UK music industry diversity, report shows

Since 2022, the UK music industry has seen “significant improvements” in the diversity of its workforce, UK Music’s latest research shows. However, there is still more to be done, and the trade body is now calling on political parties to pledge support ahead of next month’s General Election…

Andy Malt • 19 Jun 2024

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

One Liners: !K7, Tones And I, Fontaines DC + more

Warner Records appointments; !K7 certified B Corp; ASCAP London Music Awards; new releases from Tones And I, Fontaines DC, Laurie Anderson, Mette, Torres x Fruit Bats, Flohio, Rebecca & Fiona, Why?, Tindersticks, Julia Raye…

Andy Malt • 19 Jun 2024

Apple • 2 min read

Apple could be fined under EU Digital Markets Act over app rules

Apple could be the first tech giant to be fined under the EU’s Digital Markets Act in relation to its App Store rules around in-app payments. There has been a change to those rules since the DMA went into effect, but the FT’s sources say officials still reckon Apple is not compliant with the new law…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jun 2024

RAJAR • 2 min read

Radio still dominant in UK audio consumption, except for the under 25s

RAJAR has published the results of its latest survey looking at audio consumption, and how music streaming and podcasts compare to live radio. For the under 25s, music services lead, accounting for 46% of listening. In podcasts, comedy programmes are most popular…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jun 2024

NTIA • 2 min read

NTIA says election manifestos offer only “vague promises” as 32 night-time businesses close every week

The Night Time Industries Association has criticised all the major political parties in the UK for failing to commit to any practical solutions in their respective election manifestos that would address the issues currently faced by the night-time economy, a key employer of younger voters…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jun 2024

Scooter Braun • 3 min read

Scooter Braun officially retires as an artist manager

Scooter Braun has officially retired as an artist manager - something everyone thought he did three years ago when he became CEO of HYBE America. In a lengthy statement he said that he could “no longer justify” the sacrifices required to be on call 24/7 for his clients…

Andy Malt • 18 Jun 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

Approved: Manners Manners

Manners Manners team up with Bodega side project $100 Girlfriend for new single ‘Yr Well’, an ode to feeling like you rarely see queer people like you in the media. Featuring some classic 90s jangly guitar, it’s also super catchy and comes from the band’s debut album which is out next month…

Andy Malt • 18 Jun 2024

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

One Liners: Katy Perry, Coldplay, Dirty Hit + more

Symphonic Distribution hire; Warner Music x STYNGER; Dirty Hit dance label; Wireless livestream; TikTok x Adobe; WMG and Gaydio Pride float; Beyond The Music returns; Stefflon Don album launch; new releases from Katy Perry, Coldplay, Jamie XX, JPEGMAFIA, Joe Goddard, TSHA, Bad With Phones, 7ebra…

Andy Malt • 18 Jun 2024

Live Nation • 2 min read

Live Nation’s chosen arbitrator has rules that are “just nuts”

Live Nation is trying hard to get a lawsuit accusing it of anticompetitive conduct sent to arbitration, so that the dispute is settled in private. Last year a judge declined to force arbitration because Live Nation had changed its arbitrator. The case is now in the appeals court…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jun 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: Spotify Creative Lab, Ed Sheeran, Nas + more

Spotify launches in-house creative agency; Ed Sheeran remains UK’s most played artist; Nas to adapt 1984 hip hop movie for Broadway; Paul McCartney, Crowded House, Headie One tour dates…

Andy Malt • 17 Jun 2024

SM Entertainment • 3 min read

Bitter dispute between members of K-pop group EXO and SM Entertainment goes legal

Three members of K-pop boy band EXO and SM Entertainment have been locked in a dispute since last year. Now both sides accuse the other of refusing to honour previously made financial agreements. SM sued last week, with the singers saying that they will launch their own countersuit…

Andy Malt • 17 Jun 2024

Feid • 1 min read

Feid sued after allegedly using producer’s guitar loops without credit and compensation

Producer Sébastien Graux has sued Colombian artist Feid claiming that guitar loops he created were used on three tracks on Feid’s new album without credit. He says that he was told that his loops had been used and promised royalties, but now believes there was never any intention to pay him…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jun 2024