CMU | the music business explained (Page 42)

Proper Music saved as Drew Hill and Artone conclude strategic acquisition deal to buy the assets of Proper Music Group

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

Barry Manilow • 4 min read

Hipgnosis “fraudulently induced” Barry Manilow to sell his artist royalties with “false promises”

Hipgnosis promised it could spark a “Copacabana dance trend” on TikTok - one of many “false promises” the company made when it snapped up rights to revenues from Barry Manilow’s recordings - and now owes Manilow $1.5 million in bonus payments, according to a lawsuit filed by the singer…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 02 Sep 2024

Playboi Carti • 3 min read

Playboi Carti didn’t issue malicious takedown in beat beef, court rules

Playboi Carti and Universal Music did not break US copyright rules when they issued a takedown against a track that used the same beat as one of the rapper’s songs. The takedown was invalid - because the artist behind the other track had licensed the beat - but it was not malicious, says the court…

Chris Cooke • 30 Aug 2024

Releases & Tours • 2 min read

⏩ Releases & Tour News Friday 30 Aug

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Tommy Richman, Paris Paloma, Bree Runway, Coco & Clair Clair, Rizzle Kicks + more…

CMU • 30 Aug 2024

Live Nation • 3 min read

Michael Rapino knew about Travis Scott’s “dangerous concert antics” says court filing as Live Nation desperately tries to avoid CEO’s deposition in Astroworld case

Although Live Nation has settled lawsuits filed by the families of those who died at the 2021 Astroworld festival, legal action continues involving those who were injured. CEO Michael Rapino has been ordered to sit for a deposition, but the live giant is working hard to stop that from happening…

Chris Cooke • 30 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 10 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, digital, legal and live news including CKay’s Boyfriend Music; Sheeran’s Tingly Ted’s partnership; Brazilian stats, GR6 deal; Harry Styles railway viaduct; Morrissey’s moan; blockchain wakes up with PIP Labs and Aptos x Mereo deals

Today: CKay + Salubi’s Boyfriend Music Ltd, Tingly Ted’s x Toikido, Kobalt, Prescription Songs, Reservoir Media, Picklejar x Thompson Square, Virgin Music Group, Warner Music Nashville, GR6 x Sonar, Warner Chappell, TEG Dainy x acta, Pip Labs, Aptos Labs x Mereo, Fancircles, new ERA chair + more…

CMU • 30 Aug 2024

Spotify • 3 min read

The MLC’s lawsuit is “nonsensical”, “meritless and wasteful” and “denigrates” authors and the entire audiobooks industry, says Spotify’s latest filing in bundling dispute

Spotify has asked a US court to dismiss the lawsuit filed against it by The MLC as part of the big bundling discount dispute. By claiming that the audiobooks access that is now part of Spotify Premium doesn’t have more than token value, the MLC is disrespecting book authors, Spotify argues…

Chris Cooke • 29 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 11 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, streaming and digital news including funding rounds for Turntable Labs, Seat Unique; Warner’s Brazilian shuffle, ADOR CEO exits, ABBA v Trump

Today: Turntable Labs, Inc., Seat Unique, Nickleby Capital, The Black Label, Notting Hill Music, Roblox, IMG Artists, Warner Music Brazil, ADOR, OpenSea, YG Entertainment, fabric, Primary Wave, James Brown Estate, End Of The Road Festival + more…

CMU • 29 Aug 2024

RIAA • 3 min read

US recorded music revenues continue to grow, latest RIAA stats confirm

The RIAA has published revenue figures for the US recorded music market in the first half of the year. Retail revenues were up 4% to $8.7 billion. Premium streaming accounts for the majority of that revenue, though vinyl sales are seeing the fastest growth at the moment…

Chris Cooke • 29 Aug 2024

The Scottish Music Industry Association • 3 min read

Crisis for Scottish music industry as government pauses critical funding schemes

The Scottish government is under fire over funding for the music community following the closure of Creative Scotland’s Open Fund for individuals and delays in the reopening of other music funds. An open letter organised by the SMIA warns of a “cultural catastrophe” unless urgent action is taken…

Sam Taylor • 29 Aug 2024