CMU | the music business explained (Page 13)

Drake’s Super Bowl gripes in amended lawsuit show defamation action is really an attack on Kendrick Lamar’s success, says Universal

“I just don't understand how that can be fair use”, says judge in Meta AI trial

Pressure mounts for Universal Music Group’s $775 million Downtown acquisition as MEP highlights UMG’s “unprecedented control” of music ecosystem

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?

With the US record industry officially in recession can superpremium and superfans really save the major labels from streaming’s slowdown?

Record industry’s modest growth should make other industries jealous says IFPI boss, as labels weigh in on growth opportunities and AI threats

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 Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: lullahush

Ivor Novello Rising nominee and Athens-based Dublin artist lullahush blends folk and electronica into a striking vision of modern Irish identity. His latest single, ‘Maggie na bhFlaitheas’, twists a Celtic reel into a beautifully unclassifiable hybrid…

Kaya Robertson • 06 Mar 2025

Google • 3 min read

Search engines like Google make it too easy for consumers to discover pirated content say BBC and Sky

The UK’s Competition & Markets Authority has new powers to force ‘conduct requirements’ on big internet companies as a result of last year’s Digital Markets, Competition And Consumers Act. The BBC and Sky have told the CMA it should use those powers to force Google to do more to combat online piracy…

Chris Cooke • 05 Mar 2025

Drake • 3 min read

Drake wins key ruling in attempt to expose Universal Music marketing practices in Kendrick Lamar track dispute

Drake continues to push his defamation lawsuit against Universal Music, which also alleges that the major employed dubious marketing tactics when promoting Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’. Universal’s attempt to delay the case has failed, and Drake wants to depose one of the major’s marketing execs…

Chris Cooke • 05 Mar 2025

The Leadmill • 3 min read

Leadmill landlord will offer staff new jobs when it takes over running the venue, but timeline for the change in management remains uncertain

The current operator of The Leadmill in Sheffield has until 12 Mar to appeal a court ruling in his eviction battle with landlord The Electric Group. It plans to offer jobs to current Leadmill employees when it takes over operating the venue, though it’s still not clear how quickly that will happen…

Chris Cooke • 04 Mar 2025

Jay-Z • 5 min read

Jay-Z sues ‘Jane Doe’ rape accuser for defamation

The woman who added Jay-Z as a co-defendant on a Diddy sexual assault lawsuit dismissed her litigation last month. Now Jay-Z is suing her - and her lawyer Tony Buzbee - for defamation. Meanwhile yet more lawsuits have been filed against Diddy, including one by former business partner Kirk Burrowes…

Chris Cooke • 04 Mar 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Ryder

From viral sensation to Skepta collaborator, Ryder brings a fresh perspective to production - one that thrives on reinvention and unpredictability. His new single ‘WTF’ with BXKS pulses with the bass-heavy bounce of Brazilian funk, built for movement and mayhem…

Kaya Robertson • 04 Mar 2025

CMU Selects • 1 min read

CMU Selects - last week’s standout releases

From Viagra Boys’ vet visits to celestial duets from Sampha and Florence Welch, last week’s releases had plenty to offer. Whether you're in the mood for atmospheric soundscapes, flirty club bangers or boundary-pushing mixes, here’s a look at the tracks that stood out.…

Kaya Robertson • 03 Mar 2025

TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok’s use of children’s personal data to be investigated by UK data regulator

How TikTok uses the personal data of children is being investigated by the UK's Information Commissioner’s Office, which will also review how Reddit and Imgur interact with children. It's part of work to ensure digital platforms are meeting legal obligations to safeguard users aged under eighteen…

Chris Cooke • 03 Mar 2025

Ador • 3 min read

K-pop relies on “mutual trust between agencies and artists” says KMCA as NewJeans v Ador bust-up heads to court

The NewJeans v Ador dispute is due to arrive in court this week, putting the spotlight on the K-pop business model. To that end, the big K-pop agencies last week held a press conference defending their artist deals, and insisting that artists must respect those deals for the industry to thrive…

Chris Cooke • 03 Mar 2025

IMPALA • 3 min read

Universal “juggernaut” is crushing everything in its path says IMPALA as it asks regulators to see through “indie washing” of Downtown deal

IMPALA has again criticised Universal’s acquisition of Downtown, as well as confirming it is now in touch with multiple competition regulators in its bid to get the deal blocked. Those regulators, it adds, need to understand the impact the acquisition will have on access to market for indie labels…

Chris Cooke • 28 Feb 2025

Horizon Future Leaders • 4 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Sope Soetan

As part of our Horizon Future Leaders series of interviews, we are connecting with the music industry’s next generation of leaders to gather candid advice and insights into their career journeys. This week, we caught up with Sope Soetan, a music publicist, journalist, writer and speaker.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 28 Feb 2025

Proper Music Distribution • 12 min read

Proper Music saved as Drew Hill and Artone conclude strategic acquisition deal to buy the assets of Proper Music Group

Drew Hill has announced that Proper Music Distribution will be acquired by Artone, the Dutch physical music specialists, in a triumph for the future of independent physical music in the UK…

Sam Taylor • 28 Feb 2025

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