CMU | the music business explained (Page 179)

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

Michael Jackson • 1 min read

Michael Jackson estate successfully blocked auction of allegedly stolen master tapes

The Michael Jackson estate last week successfully blocked the sale of a set of master tapes featuring unreleased recordings made by the late musician in 1994 - the estate claimed that the tapes up for auction had been stolen…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2023

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 1 min read

⏩ One Liners: Music Venue Trust, Tom Gray, European Music Managers Alliance + more

New MVT board members; EMMA expands YouTube Music Partnership; Croydon music business event NXTGEN announced; Gomez’s Tom Gray beats Eddie Izzard to stand as Labour candidate in Brighton…

Andy Malt • 18 Dec 2023

Live Nation • 1 min read

Live Nation buys Margate's Dreamland

Live Nation has taken a controlling stake in the Dreamland amusement park and music venue in Margate with a promise to “enhance … this much-loved resort”…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2023

Night Time Industries Association • 1 min read

NTIA welcomes moves to strengthen laws against drink and needle spiking

The Night Time Industries Association has welcomed moves by the UK government to clarify and strengthen laws against drink and needle spiking…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2023

Eurovision Song Contest • 2 min read

Olly Alexander confirmed as UK's Eurovision contender for 2024

Olly Alexander - who is now performing as Olly Alexander, please note, there’ll be no more Years & Years - has confirmed that he will represent the UK at Eurovision 2024…

Chris Cooke • 18 Dec 2023

CMU Digest • 5 min read

CMU Digest: Spotify abandons its plan to exit Uruguay, UK Music calls for summit on ticket touting + more

In this week's digest: Spotify abandons its plan to exit Uruguay but says it might "disinvest" from France, UK Music calls on government to convene a summit on ticketing touting, a new call for witnesses to the Brixton Academy crowd crush to come forward + more…

Chris Cooke • 16 Dec 2023

Spotify • 3 min read

Setlist Podcast: Spotify’s about-turn on threats to quit Uruguay

Spotify’s change of heart on shutting down in Uruguay, the latest Easyjet lawsuit against a musician, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 15 Dec 2023

Brixton Academy • 2 min read

New call for witnesses to come forward one year on from Brixton Academy crowd crush

The families of the two people who died during a crowd crush at an Asake show at the Brixton Academy last year have renewed their calls for witnesses to come forward on the one year anniversary of the tragedy…

Chris Cooke • 15 Dec 2023

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

⏩ One Liners: Killer Mike, The Veronicas, BEAT Music Fund + more

BEAT Music Fund, Omnivore Music, Mick Jones, Josh Ramsey and Nooks Recordings deals; Eddy Temple-Morris moves to drivetime on Virgin Radio Anthems; new music from Killer Mike, The Veronicas, AJ Mitchell, Awich, TR/ST and Club 8…

Andy Malt • 15 Dec 2023

Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify France says streaming tax to support artists is "monumental error", may "disinvest" from France

The French government has confirmed a new tax will be applied to music streaming services from next year to fund the Centre National De La Musique - a move strongly opposed by Spotify and the other digital music companies…

Chris Cooke • 15 Dec 2023

Ticketmaster • 2 min read

Taylor Swift fan dismisses lawsuit filed of Eras Tour ticketing meltdown

One of the Taylor Swift fans who sued Live Nation and Ticketmaster after the debacle around ticket sales for The Eras Tour has dismissed her case - it’s not clear if an out-of-court settlement was reached with the live giant…

Chris Cooke • 15 Dec 2023

Luke Combs • 1 min read

Luke Combs steps in to financially support fan he accidentally sued for $250,000

Country singer Luke Combs has said that he felt “sick to my stomach” when he learned that a fan could not pay her medical bills after being sued for trademark infringement. Who sued her? He did…

Andy Malt • 15 Dec 2023