CMU | the music business explained (Page 48)

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

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: THUS LOVE

THUS LOVE, a quartet hailing from Vermont, are known for their clangorous yet fabulous post-punk pop sound. Their latest single, ‘Birthday Song’, channels grungy glam rock with a transcendent hook, celebrating the joy of platonic friendship.…

Kaya Robertson • 08 Aug 2024

Anthropic • 3 min read

Anthropic’s “tired arguments” and “scare tactics” should be rejected, say music organisations

Various music industry trade organisations have submitted an amicus brief to the court where music publishers are suing AI company Anthropic for copyright infringement. The new court filing says that Anthropic is relying on tired arguments and scare tactics in its defence of the publishers’ lawsuit…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2024

Taylor Swift • 1 min read

Taylor Swift’s three Vienna shows cancelled after terror attack arrests

Taylor Swift was due to play three shows in Vienna this week, starting this evening, but they have all been cancelled after the authorities confirmed they were investigating a planned terrorist attack at the venue where she was due to play. Two suspects have been arrested…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, legal round-up and earnings update including Sentric’s Cooking Vinyl JV, Gamma’s Africa focus, Believe gobbles up Turkish label plus Sony, Warner and Hybe earnings

What do you do when you get sidelined as top dog at a major? Remind yourself that you’re JULIE FUCKING GREENWALD, pick yourself up and get on with things. Also today: Sentric, Gamma, Believe, Bandlab, ProRata.ai, IPOA, SoundExchange, Paquin, Sony, WMG, Hybe plus Pitbull’s $6m stadium deal + more…

CMU • 07 Aug 2024

Private Copying • 3 min read

Finland slashes private copying compensation, sparking creative industries backlash

Finland’s decision to halve private copying compensation to €5.5 million has drawn the ire of creator groups. Critics argue that the cut violates EU law and jeopardises funding for crucial arts programmes, while demanding a return to €11 million and warning of “harmful and destructive” consequences…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2024

Cox Communications • 3 min read

Majors hit back at Cox’s latest attempt to overturn billion dollar copyright ruling

Cox Communications' latest attempt to overturn a $1 billion copyright infringement ruling has been rebuffed by the major labels. The ISP claims evidence mishandling, but the majors say that Cox “lost this case in a fairly litigated trial", urging the court to reject its attempt to force a retrial…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2024

AI • 3 min read

New digital replica right must not “inadvertently chill” legitimate use of AI in storytelling, say movie studios

The US Patent & Trademark Office yesterday staged a roundtable on the legal protection of likeness and voice in the context of AI. There was support for a new digital replica right, but the movie and gaming sectors cautioned against making that new right too wide-ranging…

Chris Cooke • 06 Aug 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, legal round-up including Beatdapp x MLC, Spotify sued over Group Session and Jam, Vick Bain appointed LIPA companion, Independent Venue Week 2025 plus releases & tours

MLC partners with Beatdapp, Solange Knowles creates glassware line, Lordi create OnePlus song, Spotify sued by BlueJay Technologies, 50 Cent beats drug dealer lawsuit over 'Power', HYBE launches US services business, Independent Venue Week, LIPA Companions, plus latest releases + more…

CMU • 06 Aug 2024