CMU | the music business explained (Page 44)

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

Pandora • 3 min read

Pandora is “scrambling” for “meritless” defences to “bury” comedians in “exorbitant legal costs”, says latest filing in comedy streaming lawsuit

Comedians involved in a legal battle with Pandora have criticised the streaming service’s latest arguments. They say it streamed recordings of their performances without licensing the rights in their jokes. Pandora argues its deals from the majors covered those rights - the comedians disagree…

Chris Cooke • 23 Aug 2024

Massive Attack • 3 min read

Music industry needs to stop writing endless impact reports and “pledging” on climate change, says Massive Attack’s Del Naja

Impact reports are a way for large live music companies to park climate change issues, say Massive Attack, and there are too many NGOs taking public money but achieving little. “We don’t need more pledging”, adds Robert Del Naja, “just put it into action”…

Chris Cooke • 23 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 7 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, digital and legal music industry news round-up including Zomato gobbles up ticketing app, Jackson estate deal ruling, Take That documentary plus releases & tours

Today: Fortë, UTA + Downtown deals; Ditto launches AI-powered mastering; court clears Sony’s Michael Jackson catalogue deal; Vans settles trademark battle over Tyga’s sneakers; Mercury Prize schedule; new Take That documentary; plus latest releases + more…

CMU • 22 Aug 2024

Beyoncé • 3 min read

Beyoncé warns Trump off lemonade: Walz asks Neil Young for personal favour

Beyoncé’s people issued a cease and desist after the Donald Trump campaign used her track ‘Freedom’ in a campaign ad without permission. The Kamala Harris campaign has been using the same song, but with permission. It has also got the all clear from Neil Young to play ‘Rockin In The Free World’…

Chris Cooke • 22 Aug 2024

Google • 3 min read

UK competition regulator closes investigation but warns Apple and Google: we will use new powers to make app ecosystem fair

UK competition regulator the CMA has closed ongoing investigations into Apple and Google’s rules around in-app payments. Though mainly because recently passed laws boost the power of the CMA and it therefore believes any investigation would be better done in the context of enforcing those new laws…

Chris Cooke • 22 Aug 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Fcukers

New York band Fcukers blend old-school house, breakbeat, electro-indie and cutting-edge production into club-worthy bangers. Their latest single, ‘Tommy’, moves with the confidence of a band fully in command of their sound, beckoning in a new generation wanting to get lost in live dance music…

Kaya Robertson • 22 Aug 2024

Cox Communications • 4 min read

The majors also want the US Supreme Court to intervene in the Cox case

The major record companies have asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in their dispute with Cox Communications. They had been set to receive a billion dollars in damages, but an appeals court ruling could see that figure slashed. The majors want the appeals ruling reversed…

Chris Cooke • 21 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 12 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, digital and live news from across the music industry including Beyoncé’s whisky adventures, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast heads to SiriusXM in $150m deal, keyTikTok UK execs promoted plus releases, tours and more

Today: Beyoncé’s whisky deal with Moët Hennessy, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy SiriusXM podcast deal, Create Music Group x Cheat Codes, HarbourView x James Fauntleroy, Warner Records + Rusia IDK x Rusowsky, ADA x FTS Global Management, Benztown Production Music; plus streaming, AI + more…

CMU • 21 Aug 2024

Rachel Chinouriri • 5 min read

Rachel Chinouriri cancels US support shows, putting the spotlight back on the ‘cost of touring crisis’

Rachel Chinouriri was due to support Remi Wolf on her US tour later this year, but she has pulled out because the economics of the shows just don't work. Touring is a challenge for many artists, with increases in US visa fees not helping what is already a precarious situation for many…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 21 Aug 2024

Live Nation • 2 min read

Ten more states join US government’s Live Nation lawsuit, which now seeks treble damages

The US government has filed an amended version of its lawsuit against Live Nation, which accuses the company of anticompetitive conduct. Attorneys General from ten more states have joined the litigation, which has been amended to say that states can claim ‘treble damages’ on behalf of their citizens…

Chris Cooke • 20 Aug 2024