Slipknot have never owned the dotcom domain that uses their band name, an unknown third party having registered it back in 2001. But the band now claims that that third party is using the domain in bad faith and therefore violating US cybersquatting laws, as well as infringing their trademarks…
Spotify has pledged to “put artists and songwriters first” when developing music AI products, committing to work in partnership with the music industry and ensuring that its AI ventures are fully licensed. The three majors, Merlin and Believe are all on board for some Spotify-led AI experimentation…
Udio has been sued again for copyright infringement, this time by a group of independent artists and songwriters. Although the majors are already suing Udio, the music creators say that their lawsuit “emphasises the significant and unequal harm inflicted on independent musicians by AI”…
The majors have urged the US Supreme Court to uphold their billion dollar win in a piracy lawsuit against ISP Cox. It argues that that ruling will result in mass internet disconnections, but the majors say that’s not true, and that Cox was simply held liable after saying ‘fuck copyright law’…
The Ivors Academy has launched a campaign to ‘End Ghostwriting’ when music is created for film and TV, ending a practice where some contributors go uncredited. Lead composers on such projects are being asked to ensure all contributors are credited, including on cue sheets and award submissions…
Walsall duo Big Special turn post-industrial malaise into something close to gospel, trading in thunderous drums, spoken-word sermons and a humour so black it practically glows. New single, ‘Plaintive Native’, lands somewhere between working-class blues and post-punk sermon…
Last year the High Court in New Zealand ruled that Viagogo had misled consumers and had unfair terms relating to disputes. The secondary ticketing platform is appealing that judgement, arguing that the high number of complaints made against Viagogo is irrelevant but swayed the high court…
Warner Music is combining its Benelux and GSA divisions, which will now operate as one, led by former Benelux boss Niels Walboomers, with GSA Presidents Doreen Schimk and Fabian Drebes exiting. It’s part of the major’s ongoing efforts to find $300 million in cost savings, a lot of it from job cuts…
Formed at university, Bristol quartet My First Time channel the scrappy energy of early Blur, the wry storytelling of The Streets, and a splash of Charli XCX’s pop sleaze. New single ‘Sippy Cup’ crashes like a hurled pint glass…
Legal action in Vietnam has resulted in popular stream-ripping site Y2mate going offline, with the operator of the service agreeing to shut down the site permanently. Meanwhile in Brazil the campaign against stream manipulation continues, with a court ordering that TurbineDigital be blocked…