CMU Selects - the last week’s standout releases
Our selection of five releases that cut through the noise last week, from A$AP Rocky, BIG SPECIAL, Slim Soledad, Clementaum, ELIZA + Samm Henshaw…
🎧 Approved: Sassy 009
Sassy 009 thrives in the in-between: a space where distorted vocals, grunge textures, shoegaze swells, 90s beatronica and gauzy hyperpop collide. On new single ‘Mirrors’, she links with Malaysian-Irish producer and singer yunè pinku for a reflective, downtempo shimmer…
Artists from South East Europe at risk of “cultural erasure” as a result of Spotify’s 1000 stream threshold
A new study has put the spotlight on the 1000 stream royalty payment threshold introduced by Spotify last year, concluding that the change in rules disproportionately affects artists and labels in smaller markets like those in South East Europe, with 92% of surveyed indie labels opposing the changes…
Primal Scream festival performance cancelled following criticism of “antisemitic” imagery shown at Roundhouse gig
A Roundhouse show by Primal Scream last week was criticised over controversial images shown during a performance of their song ‘Swastika Eyes’, which critics say were antisemitic. On the back of that criticism, organisers of the Trentham Live festival have now axed the band from their 2026 line-up…
Rights management company says it boosted Dionne Warwick’s royalties “sixtyfold”, then she unilaterally cancelled its contracts
A New York music rights company has sued Dionne Warwick, seeking to enforce past contracts that grant it 25-50% of her royalty income. It says it helped Warwick handle legal and admin issues, boosting her label royalty payments “sixtyfold”, but now she wants to terminate her deals with the company…
As indie community calls again for Universal’s Downtown deal to be blocked, will UMG flog off Curve to get over regulators?
Universal Music has proposed a remedy to allay the European Commission’s concerns over its bid to buy Downtown Music. That may involve the major proposing to sell off Downtown’s Curve business. But the indie sector remains adamant that no remedies will work and the EC should block the deal outright…
UK government must rule out new AI copyright exception after “overwhelming” consensus in consultation
The UK government has published an update on its consultation on copyright and AI, revealing that 88% of respondents said AI companies should be forced to get licences before making use of existing works. Ed Newton-Rex says ministers should now formally abandon plans for a new AI copyright exception…
CMU Selects - the last week’s standout releases
Our selection of five releases that cut through the noise last week, from Together For Palestine, Sasha Keable, Sean Trelford, Deca OTA + Sex Mask…
MIT study “marks a new anchor for meaningful actions” to make live music more environmentally sustainable
MIT has published the results of its study into the carbon emissions of live music in the US and UK, part of an initiative backed by Coldplay. The academics behind the study say their stats and report should be used to inform “a new era of sustainability practices across all of live music”…
Pro Music Rights threatens litigation over Congressman’s letter and BMI’s criticisms
Earlier this week US Congress member Scott Fitzgerald asked the FTC to investigate if collecting society Pro Music Rights was guilty of “deceptive practices”. The rights organisation says it is now considering legal action in relation to that letter and documents it cited, including one from BMI…
Recording studios and music venues face closure if government doesn’t revise business rates, industry tells ministers
The UK music industry wants reforms to business rates to protect studios and venues. In two letters to the government, the industry says studios should be eligible for rates relief, while ministers need to mitigate the negative impact of recent changes made to business rates on venues big and small…
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