CMU | the music business explained (Page 43)

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

IMPALA • 1 min read

As COP29 reaches its conclusion, IMPALA urges music companies to lead the way in addressing climate challenges

IMPALA, the pan-European organisation for the independent music community - prompted by this week’s COP29 - has again urged music companies to assess their environmental impact, using IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator, and implement measures to make their businesses more sustainable…

Chris Cooke • 22 Nov 2024

Eddy Grant • 2 min read

Donald Trump settles Eddy Grant copyright lawsuit after fair use defence fails

In September a US court said that Donald Trump’s unapproved use of Eddy Grant’s ‘Electric Avenue’ in a 2020 campaign video was not fair use, meaning it infringed copyright. Trump has now settled Grant’s lawsuit, meaning that ruling won’t be challenged on appeal…

Chris Cooke • 22 Nov 2024

Horizon Future Leaders • 7 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Emma Wiggin 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 artist manager, Emma Wiggin.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 22 Nov 2024

Ticketing • 4 min read

Massachusetts hobbles touts as Barcelona pledges to combat “illegal resale” of tickets

Live Nation has welcomed a new law in Massachusetts that restricts the resale of tickets, despite some consumer rights groups criticising the move. Meanwhile in Spain, the City Council in Barcelona has signed an official declaration pledging to fight against “illegal ticket resale”…

Chris Cooke • 21 Nov 2024

Hybe • 4 min read

Min Hee-jin resigns from Ador alleging “numerous illegal activities” at HYBE

The very public feud between the co-founder and former CEO of K-pop label Ador and its parent company HYBE continues, with Min Hee-jin resigning from the label’s board and publishing a scathing resignation letter. She also promises legal action against her former business partners…

Chris Cooke • 21 Nov 2024

Young Thug • 2 min read

AEG keen to reignite Young Thug breach of contract case, but needs time to do more copyright investigations

AEG is looking to resume a legal battle with Young Thug now that the rapper is out of jail. It previously sued over a breached contract and unreturned $5 million advance. AEG says that advance is secured on the rapper’s copyrights and it’s currently working out who is in control of those rights…

Chris Cooke • 21 Nov 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: L-Vis 1990

After six years away from the alias, L-Vis 1990 is back with new energy - and a renewed mission to champion the culture that shaped him. His new single ‘Good Vibes’, with Newham’s MC Eklipse, serves up heavy bass, low-end pressure and that grimey edge that cuts through…

Kaya Robertson • 21 Nov 2024

UK Music • 3 min read

UK music industry's economic impact up 13% to £7.6 billion, but this is no time to be complacent, says UK Music

The UK music industry’s economic impact increased last year, with the sector’s ‘gross value added’ rising 13% to £7.6 billion. That’s according to a new report from UK Music which says that, although the industry is growing, it still needs more support from the government…

Chris Cooke • 20 Nov 2024

Amazon • 3 min read

Amazon adds audiobooks access to its music service, though won’t rely on bundling discount in the US

American music publishers say they are “optimistic” that Amazon adding audiobooks to its music subscription service won’t impact on the royalties received by songwriters. Unlike with Spotify, which used the addition of audiobooks to claim a discount on what it pays under the US compulsory licence…

Chris Cooke • 20 Nov 2024

Ed Sheeran • 3 min read

Ed Sheeran song-theft case should be reconsidered because of fishy Supreme Court ruling, says SAS

The Second Circuit Appeals Court recently ruled that Ed Sheeran’s ‘Thinking Out Loud’ doesn’t rip off Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’. But the company involved in that lawsuit says a recent US Supreme Court ruling impacts on a copyright technicality that could change that judgement…

Chris Cooke • 20 Nov 2024

TikTok • 3 min read

Trump nominates outspoken TikTok critic for top FCC position

Despite previously trying to ban TikTok when he was President, Donald Trump vowed to save the app during the recent election campaign by overturning the sell-or-be-banned law passed by US Congress earlier this year. But now Trump has nominated a very outspoken TikTok critic to chair the FCC…

Chris Cooke • 19 Nov 2024

Musi • 2 min read

Labels told Apple six times to kick Musi out of App Store, new legal filing reveals

In September, Apple kicked music app Musi out of its App Store following a complaint from YouTube. Musi then sued Apple. In response, Apple says that it also received numerous complaints from the record industry, and that Musi knows what the issues are with its repurposing of YouTube content…

Chris Cooke • 19 Nov 2024