CMU | the music business explained (Page 159)

Downtown accused of planning “calculated destruction” of a short-lived YouTube music client in bombastic new lawsuit

No “self-service buffet” for AI companies says GEMA CEO as OpenAI loses landmark lyrics lawsuit

Manchester Evening News pays damages after incorrectly labelling Bob Vylan’s “sun salutation” as a Nazi salute

Slipknot.com owner hires domain name specialist to fight back against band’s cybersquatting claims

“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

BBC Singers • 2 min read

"Sustainable plan" to save BBC Singers supported by The VOCES8 Foundation

The future of the BBC’s in-house chamber choir - which was facing the axe last year - has been guaranteed via a partnership with the The VOCES8 Foundation. In a joint statement, the BBC and Musicians’ Union said, "We are pleased that we have a strategy which secures the future of the BBC Singers”…

Chris Cooke • 16 Feb 2024

TikTok • 5 min read

Music industry welcomes German ruling holding TikTok liable for unlicensed content

A German court has held TikTok liable for hosting unlicensed content following a lawsuit filed by a Berlin film distributor which relied on changes made to the copyright safe harbour by the 2019 EU Copyright Directive…

Chris Cooke • 15 Feb 2024

Arts Council England • 3 min read

Arts Council says free speech and controversy is fine, but please follow a detailed risk assessment first

Arts Council England has responded to criticism over updates it made to its policies around reputation risk, which includes guidance on political statements made in a personal capacity by people who work with or for funded arts organisations…

Chris Cooke • 15 Feb 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign, Sleep Token, BRIT Awards + more

Sleep Token sign to RCA; Transgressive expands; Kobalt updates client portal; Boardmasters ups capacity; Richard Antwi Scholarship opens; BRITs performers; Northern Music Awards nominations; Kanye West and Ty Dolla $ign v Donna Summer; new music from Idles, Ethel Cain and Kittie…

Andy Malt • 15 Feb 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

Approved: Lambrini Girls

Lambrini Girls have released ‘God’s Country’, their first single for City Slang. A pointed critique of the political landscape in the UK, they question the concept of ‘greatness’ in Great Britain and the rise of unchecked nationalism…

Kaya Robertson • 15 Feb 2024

NTIA • 2 min read

NTIA says nightlife faces cultural crisis after 400 club closures since 2020

The NTIA has again called for government support for the clubbing sector after revealing that nearly 400 clubs have closed since the start of the pandemic - the cost of living crisis and changes in student socialising are putting the sector under pressure…

Chris Cooke • 15 Feb 2024

English National Opera • 2 min read

Musicians' Union reluctantly reaches deal with English National Opera over orchestra cutbacks

An agreement has been reached between the English National Opera and the Musicians’ Union over cutbacks to its orchestra - the MU says that although it has secured an improved deal, the changes remain significant and its members accepted the new agreement with “heavy hearts”…

Chris Cooke • 15 Feb 2024

Russell Simmons • 2 min read

Russell Simmons sued over allegations of rape

A former employee at Def Jam has filed a lawsuit accusing the label’s founder Russell Simmons of rape. It relates to an incident in the 1990s, with the plaintiff relying on a New York City law that allows the filing of lawsuits that would usually be prohibited by the statute of limitations…

Chris Cooke • 14 Feb 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: Kylie Minogue, Neil Young, Defected Records + more

Spotify x Bandsintown; UTA x Kylie; Warner Chappell x Lofi Records; Sony Music Publishing opens Dubai office; Fortnite and ChatGPT legal battles end; Defected launches Afro-house label; Therapy? and Oysterband tours; new music from Neil Young, Pearl Jam, Kim Petras, RiTchie and Narcotix…

Andy Malt • 14 Feb 2024

Steve Wright • 2 min read

Tributes pour in as BBC radio presenter Steve Wright dies

Longstanding BBC radio presenter Steve Wright has died aged 69, his family announced yesterday. Joining Radio 1 in 1980, he wa a popular fixture on the station until the 90s, and later moved to Radio 2 where he continued to present shows up until his death…

Andy Malt • 14 Feb 2024

The Chameleon • 2 min read

As another grassroots venue closes, MVT renews calls for a ticket levy

Nottingham’s Chameleon has become the latest UK grassroots venue to close, following warnings that it was at risk last year. Following the news, the Music Venue Trust has again called on the music industry and politicians took at at a levy on large-scale shows to support small venues…

Chris Cooke • 14 Feb 2024