CMU | the music business explained (Page 27)

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

Music In The Air • 4 min read

Super-premium streaming expected in the next year, says Goldman Sachs, after global music revenues “fell short of expectations”

Goldman Sachs has published its annual ‘Music In The Air’ report, admitting that music sector revenue growth last year was below expectations. Super-premium could be what helps boost future growth in streaming revenues, but getting those services off the ground is “complex”, the bankers concede…

Chris Cooke • 04 Jun 2025

Misogyny In Music • 4 min read

One year on from Misogyny In Music report issues are unaddressed and “appear to be on repeat” say MPs

Parliament’s Women And Equalities Committee has published an update to its 2024 ‘Misogyny In Music’ report confirming much more still needs to be done. The last government declined to implement legal reforms, but this government should, MPs say, including outlawing NDAs in cases of sexual misconduct…

Chris Cooke • 04 Jun 2025

Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

The majors are involved in licensing negotiations with the two music AI companies they sued last year, Udio and Suno. But will they consult music creators before agreeing any deals? Artist and songwriter organisations fear not, but insist that creator consent must be secured before signing any deals…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

Eminem • 3 min read

Eminem publisher sues Meta in “another case of a trillion dollar company” exploiting artists for “obscene monetary benefit”

Music publisher Eight Mile Style has sued Meta for the unlicensed use of Eminem’s songs on Facebook and Instagram. The publisher says that, by including Eminem’s music in its own audio clip libraries without a licence, Meta can’t rely on the copyright safe harbour and is liable for infringement…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Drumfish

Johannesburg’s Drumfish emerged in September 2020 into a local scene still reeling from pandemic-induced silence. Their sound is a mean churn of garage scuzz. It’s jagged, fuzzy and feral in all the right places, capturing a band still very much on the edge, but now with teeth bared…

Kaya Robertson • 03 Jun 2025

Music Publishing • 4 min read

Songwriters and publishers are making over $11 billion across sixteen key markets as digital dominates

A new study on music publishing revenues in sixteen key markets shows that digital now dominates, generating 47.1% of publisher income. The study includes revenues from both direct and collective licensing, and therefore provides a fuller picture of the role digital plays in the wider songs business…

Chris Cooke • 02 Jun 2025

Yout • 2 min read

Yout stream ripper could face prison as Brazil pushes ahead with criminal copyright case

The owner of stream-ripping service Yout has failed to get criminal proceedings against him in Brazil dismissed. A judge says prosecutors have provided sufficient evidence for their criminal copyright infringement case to proceed. If found guilty, the Yout operator could face four years in jail…

Chris Cooke • 02 Jun 2025

CMU Selects • 1 min read

CMU Selects - the last week’s standout releases

Diaristic indie, crystal sharp pop, grime x UKG link-ups and more. Here’s what cut through in the past fortnight’s releases.…

Kaya Robertson • 02 Jun 2025

Streaming • 4 min read

NYC backs plan to hike streaming prices by 50% to pay musicians as much as $40k a year each

A proposal that could see every musician in the US better off to the tune of $40k a year via a 50% levy on music streaming subscriptions has been endorsed by New York City Council. It says Congress should back the proposals which would provide new income for musicians living and working in NYC…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 30 May 2025

Diddy • 2 min read

Sean Combs assistant talks of Diddy’s “violent rages” in trial testimony

The trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs continues, with jurors this week hearing from another of the musician’s alleged victims. A former PA of Combs described the “chaotic” and “toxic” work environment she endured for eight years, and how he physically and sexually assaulted her on multiple occasions…

Chris Cooke • 30 May 2025

Horizon Future Leaders • 6 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Sean Knibb

As part of our Horizon Future Leaders series of interviews, we are connecting with the music industry’s next generation of leaders to gather candid advice and insights into their career journeys. This week, we spoke to Sean Knibb, Production And Conference Manager at Liverpool’s Sound City Festival.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 30 May 2025

Cox Communications • 5 min read

Major labels face setback as Trump’s pet DOJ legal beagle sides with Cox in piracy battle

Trump’s Solicitor General D John Sauer has backed Cox Communications’ bid for a Supreme Court review of its lawsuit with the majors, arguing that the ruling breaks 40 years of precedent and could force ISPs to cut internet access for Americans based on a single copyright complaint…

Chris Cooke • 29 May 2025