CMU | the music business explained (Page 169)

Starmer must “honour his pledge” to cap prices in “extortionate and pernicious” secondary ticket market

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

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

⏩ One Liners: Guns N Roses, Scott Weiland, O2 Arena + More

Scott Weiland, Giraffe, Spirit Music, Sleeping At Last and Dean Dillon deals; A2IM appointment; Charmfactory training and scholarship; UMG start up hub; O2 Arena private members club; new music from Guns N Roses, Bullion x Carly Rae Jepsen, Empress Of, Grandaddy, Phosphorescent and USA Nails…

Andy Malt • 25 Jan 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

Approved: Strandz

After a strong end to 2023, South London rapper Strandz is ready for an even bigger 2024. Which a sound that draws on late 90s US hip hop and R&B, he puts a fresh spin on the genres with innovative production and his own distinct lyricism…

Kaya Robertson • 25 Jan 2024

Kat Von D • 2 min read

Copyright dispute over Miles Davis tattoo puts the spotlight on the fair use debate

The fair use principle is being tested again in the US courts in a copyright dispute over a tattoo of Miles Davis - tattoo artist Kat Von D copied a photograph taken by Jeffrey B Sedlik and is accused of copyright infringement…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jan 2024

WIN • 3 min read

The year ahead: Noemí Planas, CEO of WIN

WIN CEO Noemí Planas looks ahead to 2024 in the latest of our series of interviews with the music industry’s trade bodies. She discusses the further global expansion of the organisation, as well as its work around streaming, neighbouring rights, AI and visas, among other issues…

CMU • 25 Jan 2024

Madonna • 1 min read

Madonna and Live Nation will "vigorously" defend late show start lawsuit

Madonna and Live Nation have claimed that the late start of one of her shows last month was the result of technical issues and not bad time keeping. They were responding to a lawsuit in which fans claim that the late start time constitutes false advertising and a breach of contract…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jan 2024

• 4 min read

Full list of artists nominated for BRIT Awards in 2024

See all the artists nominated for BRIT Award in 2024 including Arlo Parks, Central Cee, Dave, Dua Lipa, Fred Again, J Hus, Jessie Ware, Little Simz, Olivia Dean and Raye…

CMU • 24 Jan 2024

Hipgnosis • 5 min read

Hipgnosis Song Management “cherry picked assets” for proposed sale to Blackstone says latest briefing from Hipgnosis Songs Fund

There comes a point where there should be rules about giving three companies near-identical names. There’s more Hipgnosis-Hipgnosis-Hipgnosis drama with memos flying and allegations ramping up…

Sam Taylor • 24 Jan 2024

Anthropic • 1 min read

Publishers hit back at Anthropic's claim that AI copyright cases should be filed in "its Silicon Valley backyard"

The group of music publishers behind a copyright infringement lawsuit against AI firm Anthropic have hit back at its claim that Tennessee is the wrong US state for pursuing the litigation. They point out that Anthropic has both employees and customers in the state…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jan 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: OVO Sound, Ludacris, Johnny Marr + More

OVO Sound, Verve and Tuned Global deals; Emma Banks’ new charity role; Ludacris TV show; Johnny Marr slams Trump; Glastonbury new talent competition; Henley Festival; Wednesday 13 and MØ live; new music from Jada Kingdom, Sekou, Mark Knopfler, Fat White Family, Arab Strap, Pillow Queens, and more…

Andy Malt • 24 Jan 2024

European Music Managers Alliance (EMMA) • 2 min read

The year ahead: Jess Partridge, Executive Director of EMMA

EMMA Executive Director Jess Partridge looks ahead to 2024 in the latest of our series of interviews with the music industry’s trade bodies. She discusses the key challenges facing music managers and the organisation’s lobbying work, as well as initiatives like EMMPower…

CMU • 24 Jan 2024

Music Venue Trust • 2 min read

Two grassroots venues close down every week, according to new report from Music Venue Trust

The Music Venue Trust has published its annual report, finding that in 2023 UK grassroots venues generated £500 million in revenues but just £2.5 million profit. MVT has again called for a levy on the top end of the live industry to provide financial support for small venues and promoters…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jan 2024

Splendour Festival • 2 min read

Nottingham's Splendour festival cancelled because of delays in council tendering process

Nottingham’s Splendour festival will not go ahead this year. Not because of the cost of living crisis or COVID losses, but because the local council made organisers go through a “hugely frustrating” tendering process that took so long there’s now not enough time to organise the event…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jan 2024