CMU | the music business explained (Page 52)

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 • 2 min read

TikTok criticised over missing safety features in its Lite app

A new report from the Mozilla Foundation raises concerns about the TikTok Lite app, claiming that it does not contain many of the safety features found in the main TikTok app, including the labelling of AI-generated content. TikTok says the report is misleading…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jul 2024

Music Canada • 3 min read

Major label trade group criticises Canada’s 5% streaming levy

Music Canada, which represents the major record companies, has issued a statement about the 5% streaming levy being introduced in the country. Whereas the indie labels have welcomed the plan for how that levy will work, Music Canada is critical, calling the levy “staggering” and the plan “outdated”…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jul 2024

Spotify • 4 min read

It’s “common sense” that audiobooks have “more than token value” says Spotify in MLC lawsuit response letter

Spotify has sent a letter to the court where it has been sued by the MLC in the ongoing dispute over its decision to classify its premium subscription as a music + audiobooks bundle. That centres on whether audiobook access has “more than token value”. Spotify argues that common sense says it does…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jul 2024

Manchester Arena • 3 min read

Victims of Manchester Arena bombing in court battle with conspiracy theorist

A lawsuit pursued by two victims of the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing against a conspiracy theorist who claims that the terrorist attack was an “elaborate hoax” is in court this week. The man promoting the conspiracy theory is accused of harassment, and breaches of privacy and data protection laws…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jul 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: Deals, Legal & Digital including Quicket, HYBE and Audiomack, plus latest new releases

Ticketmaster x Quicket, Tunespotter x What-song.com, Ador v HYBE dramas continue, TikTok fined by OfCom, Eminem gets a BRIT Billion Award, Audiomack launches Sponsored Songs, Burna Boy x YouTube, Alison Goldfrapp launches label + more, plus new releases including Rosie Lowe and Blossoms…

CMU • 24 Jul 2024

Tim Westwood • 1 min read

BBC provides update on Tim Westwood investigation, report should be published this autumn

The BBC has said that the report it commissioned into the past conduct of Tim Westwood should be published this autumn. It instigated an investigation after allegations of sexual misconduct were made against the DJ, with many of the alleged incidents occurring while he worked for the broadcaster…

CMU • 24 Jul 2024

Ador • 4 min read

Ador publishes long letter about song-theft dispute, berates HYBE and warns anyone spreading “nasty rumours”

The feud between K-pop label Ador and its parent company HYBE continues to gain momentum. Ador has published a long open letter about the allegations of song-theft made against its artist NewJeans, but much of the letter is used to further berate HYBE…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jul 2024

Spotify • 4 min read

Spotify’s Q2: Cost cutting is paying off, Ek teases Supremium launch, hints at secret features beyond hi-res audio

Spotify's latest earnings are a mixed bag. Subscriber numbers are up, but user growth is still slow. Cost-cutting is paying off and ad revenue is slowly bouncing back. Meanwhile, the company is rethinking how to attract and keep users in different markets. The big news? Supremium is coming…

Sam Taylor • 23 Jul 2024

Kobalt • 2 min read

NBA basketball teams sued by Kobalt over unlicensed music in social media posts

Kobalt is the latest music company to file a lawsuit over a brand using its music in social media posts without licence. Kobalt has actually filed lots of lawsuits, all targeting NBA basketball teams, and making more or less the same claims of copyright infringement.…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jul 2024

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

One liners: Deals, Legal & Digital including Orfium, Kakao and Apple Music, plus latest new releases

ONErpm x Sick Puppies, Orfium x Pony Canyon, Kakao founder Kim Beom-su arrested, SoundExchange sues AccuRadio, Apple’s new classical chart, UK Music tourism report, Venues Day, Metallica’s All Within My Hands Foundation + more, plus new releases including LSDXOXO, JADE and Yannis & The Yaw…

CMU • 23 Jul 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Lia Pappas-Kemps

Toronto’s Lia Pappas-Kemps blends alt-pop and alt-rock in her new single ‘Switchblade’, crafting a sound that could perfectly soundtrack a coming-of-age film.…

Kaya Robertson • 23 Jul 2024

NTIA • 2 min read

NTIA calls for local authorities and law-makers to help as increase in noise complaints reaches "crisis level"

NTIA has published a study into noise complaints against night-time businesses in London, which are up 53% since the pandemic. Disputes between clubs and venues and local residents are putting pressure on those businesses, and could be avoided with better licensing and planning regimes…

Chris Cooke • 22 Jul 2024