CMU | the music business explained (Page 48)

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

Releases & Tours • 2 min read

⏩ Releases & Tours: Oct-Nov 2024 (Week 44)

Each week CMU rounds up standout releases and tour announcements from the last seven days. This week: Jon Hopkins, Kanii, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Four Tet, The Weeknd, Mogwai + more, while tour announcements include Maribou State, ALESSI ROSE + more…

Kaya Robertson • 04 Nov 2024

Digital services and platforms news • 3 min read

Streaming inequalities should be resolved via Creator Remuneration Working Group says UK government, renewing commitment to cross-industry dialogue

The UK government has formally responded to the ‘Creator Remuneration’ report published by Parliament’s culture select committee. Its response includes a renewed commitment to the Creator Remuneration Working Group as “the best way” to address concerns raised by music creators about streaming income…

Chris Cooke • 01 Nov 2024

Nirvana • 2 min read

Nirvana baby lawsuit takes new turn as RIAA files amicus brief saying litigation could have chilling effects

The man who, as a baby, appeared on the cover of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ is suing the band and their label claiming that the artwork breached US laws against child pornography. RIAA has come out in support of the band, saying a ruling against them would have a “chilling” effect on artistic expression…

Chris Cooke • 01 Nov 2024

Young Thug • 3 min read

Shock development sees Young Thug walk free after chaotic 22 month-long trial

Having been incarcerated ever since his arrest in May 2022, Young Thug was yesterday freed from jail after pleading guilty to gang related charges. It brought to a sudden end a long-running and chaotic trial that also caused controversy because of prosecutors using the rapper’s lyrics against him…

Chris Cooke • 01 Nov 2024

Horizon Future Leaders • 6 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Saskhia Menendez Q&A

As part of our new 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 caught up with Saskhia Menendez.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 01 Nov 2024

Piracy • 3 min read

Internet companies say anti-piracy web-blocks “can fragment the global internet”

Web-blocking is an anti-piracy tactic of choice for the music industry with music companies now seeking web-blocks against DNS resolvers as well as ISPs. This move has been criticised by a group of internet companies in a submission to the US government, which say it “fragments the global internet”…

Chris Cooke • 31 Oct 2024

Megan Thee Stallion • 2 min read

Megan Thee Stallion sues YouTuber over false statements, malicious content and deepfake pornography

A lawsuit has been filed in Florida against YouTuber Milagro Gramz, who is accused of publishing false statements about, and promoting deepfake pornography depicting, Megan Thee Stallion. It’s claimed Gramz is a “mouthpiece and puppet” of Tory Lanez, the rapper jailed for shooting at Megan in 2020…

Chris Cooke • 31 Oct 2024

Tidal • 1 min read

Tidal to make up to a quarter of its employees redundant

Having laid off about 10% of its workforce late last year, streaming service Tidal is about to instigate a more significant downsizing, with up to a quarter of its 400 employees facing redundancy. This was announced to staff by Jack Dorsey, CEO of parent company Block, yesterday…

Chris Cooke • 31 Oct 2024

Budget 2024 • 8 min read

NTIA lashes out against minimum wage increase for hospitality sector workers as music industry comments on the budget’s impact

If you thought you’d managed to tune out the endless droning of budget coverage and analysis, think again. CMU tells you (almost) everything you need to know about this year’s budget, announced yesterday by the UK government…

Sam Taylor • 31 Oct 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: JAGGED BAPTIST CLUB

LA band JAGGED BAPTIST CLUB masterfully traverse the chaotic intersection of abrasive grit and catchy hooks. Their latest single, ‘Blow Dry Nation’, strips away any pretense of polish, embracing a lo-fi, aggressive ethos that demands to be heard loud…

Kaya Robertson • 31 Oct 2024

Kanye West • 1 min read

Adidas draws line under Kanye dispute with “no money going either way”

A two year legal dispute between Adidas and Kanye West has come to an end. The sportswear brand canceled its incredibly profitable partnership with West in 2022 in response to his anti semitic rants. There has been legal wrangling ever since, but Adidas’s CEO says a settlement has now been reached…

Chris Cooke • 30 Oct 2024