CMU | the music business explained (Page 14)

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: 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

Sound City • 3 min read

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

The Sound City+ Conference in Liverpool has announced more details about its 2025 edition, including BPI bringing its In Tune With Tomorrow Summit to Liverpool for the first time. A wide range of high profile speakers and senior executives will be joining the conversation on Friday 2 May…

CMU • 27 Feb 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Mappe Of

Mappe Of operates at the fringes of folk, threading organic instrumentation through intricate, electronic textures. His latest single, ‘Happiness In The Singularity’, pushes that fusion further, layering glitchy synths over wistful melodies in a meditation on digital permanence…

Kaya Robertson • 27 Feb 2025

Ultra Music Publishing • 3 min read

Ultra boss says “nothing changes but the name” as he downplays Sony trademark face-off defeat

A judge has ruled on Sony’s legal battle with former business partner Patrick Moxey over his continued use of the Ultra brand. Sony now owns the Ultra label Moxey founded and insisted he can’t use the brand for his publishing company. The judge agreed, meaning Ultra Music Publishing needs a new name…

Chris Cooke • 27 Feb 2025

The Cranberries • 3 min read

Universal uses Vevo and unfair international deductions to the “detriment of artists” alleges lawsuit filed by The Cranberries

The Cranberries have sued Island Records for allegedly under-paying digital royalties by allowing foreign subsidiaries to take 40% of streaming revenue as it flows through their bank accounts and using Vevo to reduce payments on YouTube streams. The band are suing for more than $5 million in damages…

Chris Cooke • 27 Feb 2025

Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

UK government to offer additional concessions to creative industries as it proceeds with AI copyright exception plan

The deadline for a government consultation on copyright and AI passed yesterday. Ministers want to introduce a new copyright exception for AI companies but, sources say, now plan to propose additional concessions for the creative industries after a high profile campaign against the new exception…

Chris Cooke • 26 Feb 2025

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