CMU | the music business explained (Page 2)

Did Ticketmaster’s UK boss Andrew Parsons mislead MPs at a select committee hearing?

With the US record industry officially in recession can superpremium and superfans really save the major labels from streaming’s slowdown?

Record industry’s modest growth should make other industries jealous says IFPI boss, as labels weigh in on growth opportunities and AI threats

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

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: M(h)aol

Emerging from the creative confluence of Dublin, Belfast and London, M(h)aol (pronounced ‘male’) don’t just make post punk they wield it. Their new single, ‘DM:AM’, is a blistering one-take shot at the entitled men who clog women’s inboxes with unsolicited, aggressive messages…

Kaya Robertson • 27 Mar 2025

Ticketmaster • 4 min read

Did Ticketmaster’s UK boss Andrew Parsons mislead MPs at a select committee hearing?

Ticketmaster’s UK boss told a committee of MPs the company “does not change” ticket prices during checkout. Ticketmaster’s legal terms and conditions said the exact opposite. Within days of that committee hearing, the company had quietly changed the wording to mirror what MPs had been told…

Sam Taylor • 26 Mar 2025

Streaming Fraud • 2 min read

Streaming fraud in the spotlight again as charges brought over scam using tracks stolen via WhatsApp

A record industry-backed operation seeking to tackle streaming fraud in Brazil has resulted in charges being pressed against an individual who generated $65,000 in Spotify royalties by manipulating the streams on over 400 tracks, including music stolen from other artists via a WhatsApp group…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2025

Diddy • 3 min read

Lil Rod lawyer says “I know where the bodies are buried” as judge strips back Diddy lawsuit

The Diddy lawsuit filed by a producer who worked on the musician’s ‘The Love Album’ has been stripped back by the judge, but core sexual assault allegations will proceed. The producer’s lawyer says the ruling is a win, adding “I know where all of the bodies are buried and I have a huge shovel”…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2025

MIDiA • 7 min read

MIDiA’s Mark Mulligan talks changing industry dynamics, bifurcation and the superfan ecosystem

MIDiA’s Mark Mulligan talks changing industry dynamics, bifurcation and the superfan ecosystem…

Sam Taylor • 25 Mar 2025

Secondary Ticketing • 4 min read

UK regulator backs plan for ticket tout price cap

The UK government’s consultation on its proposal to introduce a price cap on tickets resold by touts is ongoing. The Competition & Markets Authority, which has a role in regulating the secondary ticketing market, has made its submission coming out in support of the price cap proposal…

Chris Cooke • 25 Mar 2025

Universal Music • 4 min read

Lucian Grainge’s megabonus and Streaming 2.0 under scrutiny in Fred Durst’s latest lawsuit

Last week a federal judge in the US told Fred Durst that he needed to pursue his breach of contract claims against Universal Music in a state court. He has already done that, filing a new lawsuit in California which, like his earlier lawsuits, is scathing about Universal’s royalty payment practices…

Chris Cooke • 25 Mar 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: SALMA

Spanish singer SALMA’s sound retains the passion of flamenco, but it’s enveloped in modern production that shifts between footwork and reggaeton. Her new single ‘na te debo’ is the sound of tension and resolve - heartbreak, but with its back straight.…

Kaya Robertson • 25 Mar 2025

NewJeans • 3 min read

NewJeans on enforced hiatus after court says no activity without Ador’s involvement

NewJeans are on hiatus after HYBE’s Ador secured an injunction from the courts last week preventing the group from pursuing any projects without its involvement. The hiatus was announced at a show in Hong Kong where the group performed under their new name NJZ, much to the annoyance of Ador…

Chris Cooke • 24 Mar 2025