CMU | the music business explained (Page 49)

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

TikTok • 3 min read

TikTok forced to ditch “addictive” Lite rewards scheme in the EU

TikTok has permanently withdrawn its TikTok Lite rewards programme in Europe following criticism from EU officials. The EU has made the move legally binding. Over in the US, TikTok has criticised the redactions in a government submission justifying the sell-or-be-banned law…

Chris Cooke • 06 Aug 2024

Viagogo • 3 min read

PR push shows Viagogo is “rattled” by UK government’s price-cap pledge, say campaigners

The new UK government has pledged to introduce a price cap on ticket resale. This is bad news for Viagogo, which has ramped up its PR efforts, including publishing stats on fananomics and having MD Cris Miller provide Olympic-themed criticism of any new regulations…

Chris Cooke • 05 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 8 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, legal updates, artist news including Meta's AI voice deals and 'Vultures 2' sample criticism, plus latest releases

Meta negotiating AI voice deals, IMPEL allies with AMRA, Portishead criticise 'Vultures 2' sample, Daniel Bedingfiled is AI fan, Jarvis Cocker is a dog breed says Gen Z, Aerosmith retire from touring, NSYNC reunion discussions, latest releases + more…

CMU • 05 Aug 2024

TikTok • 5 min read

US TikTok ban addresses “grave national-security threats” and is a “triumph for human rights” say new court filings

The deadline for submitting amicus briefs to the court considering legal challenges to the TikTok-targeting sell-or-be-banned law was Friday. Among those supporting the law are former national security chiefs, Congress members, state attorneys general, human rights groups and free speech experts…

Chris Cooke • 05 Aug 2024

CMU Digest • 6 min read

📑 CMU Digest: Suno and Udio file fair use defence + The 1975 sued by Malaysian festival

CMU Digest is a weekly round-up of the most interesting music business news stories from the last seven days.…

CMU • 05 Aug 2024

Roc-A-Fella • 2 min read

Damon Dash’s Roc-A-Fella stake to be auctioned off by US authorities, but buyers may be bidding against Jay-Z

33% of Roc-A-Fella Records will be up for auction later this month. The US Marshals Service is selling off Damon Dash’s stake in order to pay debts stemming from past legal action. However, the company will still be controlled by Jay-Z and Kareem ‘Biggs’ Burke, who may also bid to acquire the stake…

Chris Cooke • 02 Aug 2024

Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

Suno and Udio’s training admission is a “major concession” says RIAA

Suno and Udio yesterday filed responses to the lawsuits filed against them by the major record companies, presenting a fair use defence and accusing the majors of anticompetitive conduct. The RIAA has responded, saying the responses contain a “major concession”, but mainly continue to mislead…

Chris Cooke • 02 Aug 2024

Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner Music overhauls recordings division: Max Lousada out, Elliot Grainge promoted

Warner Music is the latest major record company to announce a significant restructure of the business. It involves a flattening of its corporate hierarchy and more execs reporting directly into CEO Robert Kyncl. The major’s current CEO of Recorded Music, Max Lousada, is stepping down…

Chris Cooke • 02 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 9 min read

One Liners: deals, appointments, legal & industry news round-up including Britney biopic, Journey spat, Juice WRLD, Apple vs Bytedance plus latest releases

Universal Pictures planning Britney biopic, new B-unique label, SM Entertainment unveil British boy band, Believe financials, legal dispute between Journey members, Garbage cancel rest of tour, latest releases + more…

CMU • 02 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 6 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, appoints, legal round up and industry news including Hybe revamp, Rimas scouting deal, Internet Archive lawsuit plus releases & tours

Wise Music signs Dobrawa Czocher, Secretly Canadian signs Brandon, Rimas teams up with Wild Company in Chile, Sony Music Publishing ups Rob Stratton, majors agree to private mediation in Internet Archive lawsuit, Live Nation’s lawyer problem, Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom still fighting extradition + more…

CMU • 01 Aug 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Miso Extra

Enter the Misoverse with Miso Extra’s blend of dynamic synths and sharp beats. ‘Slow Down’, her new single with DJ Boring, embodies end-of-night euphoria…

Kaya Robertson • 01 Aug 2024

Suno • 3 min read

Suno admits it trained on major-owned music, accuses labels of misusing copyright

Suno has admitted it used music owned by the major record companies to train its music AI in its response to the lawsuit filed by the majors, but insists that doing so is fair use under American copyright law. It then claims that the majors are just trying to shut down new competition…

Chris Cooke • 01 Aug 2024