CMU | the music business explained (Page 41)

Budweiser boasts of “$0 spent on music rights” in “iconic songs” campaign, wins ad-land’s biggest prize

EU regulators formally launch investigation into Universal Music’s Downtown deal

Did Sony’s Rob Stringer just hand regulators the case to tank Universal’s Downtown dreams?

Ticketmaster offered touts meetings with Live Nation’s top lawyer

Don’t gaslight MPs warns Caroline Dinenage as she says ministers have got into a “terrible pickle” over AI

As another festival falls, AIF proposes new tax relief scheme

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

We are just another victim in the shameful lineage of Apple intimidation and bullying, cries Musi

SoundCloud’s amended AI clause still “fundamentally terrible for artists” says Ed Newton-Rex

Guardrails aren’t proof of infringement says Anthropic as judge spanks AI company for “hallucinated” filin

Drake’s Super Bowl gripes in amended lawsuit show defamation action is really an attack on Kendrick Lamar’s success, says Universal

“I just don't understand how that can be fair use”, says judge in Meta AI trial

Pressure mounts for Universal Music Group’s $775 million Downtown acquisition as MEP highlights UMG’s “unprecedented control” of music ecosystem

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?

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

Piracy • 2 min read

Music piracy in Europe down 75% in seven years, and significantly behind TV piracy

The EU’s Intellectual Property Office has published its latest report on piracy across Europe. Although music piracy in 2023 was up slightly, it’s down significantly compared to 2017. Europeans are also illegally accessing unlicensed TV services much more frequently than they are pirating music…

Chris Cooke • 02 Dec 2024

Sound City • 2 min read

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

Liverpool’s Sound City+ conference has unveiled the first batch of speakers for its eighteenth edition in May 2025. The line-up includes award winning female entrepreneurs Karen Emanuel and Olivia Hobbs in conversation with Rosanna Connolly plus ten more high profile speakers…

Sam Taylor • 02 Dec 2024

Releases & Tours • 2 min read

⏩ Releases & Tours: Dec 2024 (Week 48)

Each week CMU rounds up standout releases and tour announcements from the last seven days. This week: James Blake, Brian Nasty, Sally C, Eliza Rose + more, while tour announcements include My Bloody Valentine, 808 State + more…

Kaya Robertson • 02 Dec 2024

NewJeans • 3 min read

NewJeans ditch deal with Ador to avoid “mental distress”, but Ador says contract “remains in full effect”

Earlier this month NewJeans demanded that their label Ador address a list of grievances. It having failed to do so, the K-pop group says their deal with the company has been terminated. Unsurprisingly, Ador does not agree…

Chris Cooke • 29 Nov 2024

Digital services and platforms news • 3 min read

Australia passes social media ban for under sixteens

A new law in Australia will ban under sixteens from using social media. The country’s Parliament has backed the ban despite criticisms that it will be hard to enforce and that young people themselves haven’t been properly consulted…

Chris Cooke • 29 Nov 2024

Horizon Future Leaders • 6 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Ben Magee Q&A

As part of our Horizon Future Leaders series, we’re connecting with the music industry’s next generation of leaders to gather candid advice and insights into their career journeys. This week, we caught up with Ben Magee, founder and owner of New Champion Management.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 29 Nov 2024

Live Nation • 2 min read

Live Nation expands venues business in South Africa and Portugal

Live Nation continues to expand its venues business, this week announcing the launch of its first permanent venue in Africa, The Dome in Johannesburg, and the acquisition of a majority stake in Lisbon’s MEO Arena…

Chris Cooke • 29 Nov 2024

Ador • 3 min read

Ador tells fellow HYBE label to apologise to NewJeans’ Hanni over “ignore her” remark

HYBE division Ador is working hard to placate its artist NewJeans, who are big supporters of the label’s ex-CEO Min Hee-jin. As part of those efforts it has urged another HYBE label, Belift Lab, to apologise to member Hanni for comments allegedly made by one of its executives earlier this year…

Chris Cooke • 28 Nov 2024

Piracy • 3 min read

More anti-piracy web-blocks issued in France against Cloudflare and Google DNS resolvers

Earlier this year French broadcaster Canal+ secured a web-blocking order forcing three DNS resolvers to block access to sports piracy websites. On the back of that win it has secured yet more web-blocks, despite the tech companies insisting that forcing web-blocking on DNS resolvers is a bad idea…

Chris Cooke • 28 Nov 2024

Diddy • 2 min read

Diddy’s latest bail attempt denied by judge because of “serious risk of witness tampering” - despite $50 million bond

Diddy’s third attempt to get bail has failed, despite him offering to pay a $50 million bond. The judge said there is a serious risk of witness tampering if Diddy is allowed to await trial on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking under house arrest rather than in jail…

Chris Cooke • 28 Nov 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Cosmic Crooner

Cosmic Crooner evokes a bygone sophistication while sidestepping nostalgia, carving out his own space in the lounge-pop lineage. His latest single channels the golden age of bossa nova, weaving layered percussion, the playful rhythm of the cuica, and influences reminiscent of Jorge Ben Jor…

Kaya Robertson • 28 Nov 2024

Live industry news including ticketing, venues, festivals and more • 4 min read

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

The Association Of Independent Festivals has again called for more government support for the sector now that 72 events have cancelled or ceased operating this year. Meanwhile the Music Venue Trust has announced a new scheme to support grassroots live music backed by Coldplay and Sam Fender…

Chris Cooke • 27 Nov 2024