CMU | the music business explained (Page 18)

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

Viagogo • 5 min read

FanFair Alliance says “industrial level” touting fraud rife on Viagogo with touts selling thousands of tickets they don’t own

FanFair Alliance has identified thousands of tickets listed by supposedly ‘trusted sellers’ on resale platform Viagogo for seats that are still available on primary sites, meaning touts don’t own the tickets they are selling - a practice banned by Viagogo, and which possibly breaks the law in the UK…

Chris Cooke • 13 Nov 2024

Spotify • 5 min read

Spotify’s Ek puts a damper on ‘super premium’ hype, bigs up AI and innovation as the future

The super premium opportunity maybe isn’t as exciting as some people would have you believe, and no one can really agree what it would even be anyway. That was a key takeaway from yesterday’s Spotify earnings call, as Daniel Ek doubles down on AI and innovation as the future of streaming…

Sam Taylor • 13 Nov 2024

GEMA • 3 min read

GEMA sues OpenAI

German collecting society GEMA has sued OpenAI for copyright infringement, saying generative AI poses “fundamental legal questions that we absolutely must clarify” through litigation. It’s the first music industry lawsuit against an AI company within Europe rather than the US…

Chris Cooke • 13 Nov 2024

Grande Communications • 3 min read

Major labels vs ISPs rumbles on as labels ask appeals court to reconsider latest Grande ruling

A US appeals court recently upheld a copyright ruling secured against Grande Communications by the major labels. However, it also ordered for the ISP’s damages bill to be recalculated in a way that would mean the labels get less cash. The majors want that element of the decision to be reconsidered…

Chris Cooke • 12 Nov 2024

Hipgnosis • 3 min read

Hipgnosis is back, groaning with cash and looking to go shopping

Everyone’s favourite elephant is back in town. Ditching the denim, Hipgnosis has put on a suit, brushed its hair and sat down with the big boys of finance, resulting in an investment grade megabond issue where a bunch of music rights will pay out your pension in years to come…

Sam Taylor • 12 Nov 2024

Live Nation • 3 min read

“Hurrah for Trump!” hoots Live Nation’s CFO Joe Berchtold - sort of - as he ponders the future of the DoJ’s antitrust lawsuit

Trump’s victory in last week’s US election is likely good news for Live Nation, as it continues to fight an antitrust lawsuit filed by the Department Of Justice. Under Trump, the DoJ is expected to be much less interventionist on antitrust issues. Certainly that’s what Live Nation is expecting…

Chris Cooke • 12 Nov 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: HONESTY

HONESTY, the Leeds-based collective, bring a fluid, immersive energy to the stage, embracing a refreshingly genre-less, expectation-free ethos. They create soundscapes that feel both introspective and expansive - a careful balance between the personal and the cinematic.…

Kaya Robertson • 12 Nov 2024

Universal Music • 3 min read

Pershing Square’s Ackman wants Universal Music to ditch Dutch stock market

Universal Music board member Bill Ackman says he wants the major to move its stock market listing from Amsterdam to New York. Although prompted by unrest in Amsterdam last Thursday, he argues there are sound business reasons to move the listing. Universal says Ackman’s position has been noted…

Sam Taylor & Chris Cooke • 11 Nov 2024

BookMyShow • 2 min read

BookMyShow must do more to stop touting after Coldplay controversy, say Indian police

BookMyShow says all stakeholders in the Indian live sector should “come together” to tackle ticket touting. The Indian primary ticketing company was last week ordered by police to put more restrictions in place when selling tickets to indemand events following the recent Coldplay touting controversy…

Chris Cooke • 11 Nov 2024

Diddy • 2 min read

Diddy’s gagging order denied as judge says alleged victims must be free to speak

Diddy has been denied a gagging order that would have prohibited everyone who has accused him of assault of speaking to the media while he awaits trial on charges of sex trafficking. He’s also having another go at getting bail while he awaits that trial, proposing extensive house arrest restrictions…

Chris Cooke • 11 Nov 2024