CMU | the music business explained (Page 173)

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

UK’s IPO to look at neighbouring rights and reciprocal payments to foreign performers

The Intellectual Property Office is seeking opinions on when performance royalties generated in the UK should flow to foreign labels and performers - the current rules treat labels and performers differently…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jan 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: BRITs Week, 6 Music Festival, Idles + more

Linkfire renews Universal deal; appointments at Kartel and DistroDirect; stats on independent artists and vinyl; Elton John wins an Emmy; BRITs Week and 6 Music Festival line-ups; Eivør UK shows; new music from Idles, James, Yard Act, Enter Shikari, My Life Story and Hafdís Huld…

Andy Malt • 16 Jan 2024

Tramlines • 1 min read

Tramlines agrees new deal to use Sheffield park after washout 2023 edition

Sheffield’s Superstruct-owned Tramlines festival has signed a new agreement to use the city’s Hillsborough Park after torrential rainfall during its 2023 edition resulted in damage to the council-owned space…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jan 2024

NTIA • 4 min read

The year ahead: Michael Kill, CEO of NTIA

NTIA CEO Michael Kill looks ahead to 2024 in the latest of our series of interviews with the music industry’s trade bodies. He discusses the organisation’s wide-randing lobbying work, plus projects like the Listen For Life Campaign and the upcoming Night Time Economy Summit…

CMU • 16 Jan 2024

Rekom UK • 2 min read

UK's largest nightclub operator heading into administration

Rekom UK, the largest operator of nightclubs in the UK, has called in administrators as it faces an assortment of issues, including higher energy costs, minimum wage increases and poor midweek trading…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jan 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

Approved: The Narcotix

Set to release their debut album later this year, The Narcotix return today with ‘The Lamb’, their first new music since 2021. An intricate mix of layered vocal harmonies and syncopated guitar parts, it shows absolute confidence in their sound and ability…

Andy Malt • 16 Jan 2024

Johnny & Associates • 1 min read

Victims of Japanese talent agency Johnny & Associates criticise handling of compensation claims

Dozens of alleged victims of late Japanese talent manager Johnny Kitagawa say that they have been denied compensation due to a lack of evidence. 939 people have now made claims under a scheme set up last year, with 125 so far receiving compensation…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jan 2024

Council Of Music Makers • 3 min read

“Educate yourselves” about industry changes to help address streaming issues, says Council Of Music Makers to major label employees

Responding to new year memos from the bosses of Universal Music and Warner Music, the UK’s Council Of Music Makers has published its own memo speaking directly to employees of major music companies urging them to help tackle issues around data, transparency and remuneration.…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jan 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: Drake, Music Mudder, Dizzee Rascal + more

Confetti London partners with Tileyard; new appointments at Arista, Interval Records and TuneCore; Drake asks court to dismiss sampling lawsuit; AEG discusses Edinburgh arena plans; Music Mudder to return; PJ Harvey wins Best Art Vinyl Award; new music from Dizzee Rascal and Faye Webster…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 15 Jan 2024

Annie Nightingale • 2 min read

BBC leads tributes to Annie Nightingale

BBC bosses have lead the tributes to Annie Nightingale, who died last week, with Director Of Music Lorna Clarke noting that Radio 1’s longest serving DJ was a “fierce pioneer for new music and supporting female talent”…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jan 2024

MPA (Music Publishers Association) • 2 min read

The year ahead: Paul Clements, CEO and Ornella Nsio, Chief Policy & Public Affairs Officer of MPA

MPA CEO Paul Clements and Chief Policy & Public Affairs Officer Ornella Nsio look ahead to 2024 in the latest of our series of interviews with the music industry’s trade bodies. They discuss the organisation’s lobbying regarding AI in 2023 and how that work will continue in the year ahead.…

CMU • 15 Jan 2024

AI • 2 min read

No copyright exception for AI reiterates UK government - but tech companies still lobbying for more change

The UK government has again confirmed it is no longer planning to introduce a new data mining exception in copyright law to benefit the AI sector, but it remains under intense lobbying from tech companies that want easy access to copyright protected works to train AI models…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jan 2024