CMU | the music business explained (Page 57)

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

Youth Music • 2 min read

Government should invest in long-term strategy to support young music creators, says Youth Music

Youth Music has published the results of a new survey that concludes that “young people’s relationship with music is changing”. The charity calls on government to invest in a new strategy to support young music creators and on the industry to remove barriers for those pursuing a music career…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jul 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: Management deals, Sonicbids acquisition, streaming fraud detection + more

Champ, Red Light and Vector Management deals; Sonicbids acquired; Reed Smith, Cinq and PPL PRS appointments; Dean Guitars vs Gibson; Nirvana lawsuit; Young Thug update; YouTube Music’s AI radio; Spotify podcast comments; streaming fraud detection tools, venue closures and latest releases…

CMU • 10 Jul 2024

BBC • 2 min read

OfCom delays launch of golden oldies service on BBC Sounds

The BBC’s plan to add a golden oldies service to its BBC Sounds app is on hold after regulator OfCom said the proposal represents a material change to output and therefore requires a public interest test. This has been welcomed by the commercial radio sector which has been critical of the BBC’s plan…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jul 2024

US Copyright Office • 3 min read

Songwriters welcome Copyright Office clarity on termination rights and streaming royalties

The US Copyright Office has issued a final ruling regarding how collecting society MLC handles the payment of digital royalties when songwriters exercise the termination right and end old publishing deals. Previously publishers continued to get those royalties, but that shouldn’t have been the case…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jul 2024

Digital services and platforms news • 2 min read

Streaming giants sue to block Canada's 5% revenue levy

Spotify, Apple and Amazon are taking legal action against Canada’s new 5% streaming levy. The music industry welcomes the cash injection, but platforms argue it’s “unsustainable” and may hike prices. Meanwhile, Netflix and Disney+ are fighting the levy’s use for local news funding. Legal drama ahoy!…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jul 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 4 min read

⏩ One Liners: IMRO, Believe, Primary Wave, BMI, Warner Music + more

IMRO ICE deal; Believe’s Global Records stake; Primary Wave acquires Keith Forsey rights; FKP Scorpio and BMI appointments; Warner Music Balkans launch; BPI Grow Music programme; FORWARDS partners with Channel 4; Festivals For Ukraine toolkit; New music from Felix Jaehn, Confidence Man, Jon Hopkins…

CMU • 09 Jul 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

Approved: Mya Mehmi

Mya Mehmi, a London-based Punjabi trans artist, DJ and community builder, possesses a hypnotic sound. As co-producer of Pxssy Palace, she’s a vital presence in London’s queer scene and is now poised to leave her mark as an artist…

Kaya Robertson • 09 Jul 2024

Universal Music • 3 min read

Universal Music UK announces restructure, creating two big label groups

Following the restructure of Universal Music in the US, the UK division of the major has announced similar changes, with most of its frontline labels reorganised into two groups. There will also be a new Audience & Media division. The restructure will mean job losses, though we don’t know how many…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jul 2024

Hipgnosis • 4 min read

The votes are counted, and the Hipgnosis deal is done… there’s just one more thing

Sam Taylor • 09 Jul 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 2 min read

⏩ One Liners: O2 Silver Clef Awards, Sault, deadmau5 + more

Ministerial appointments in the new UK government of relevance to the music industry; O2 Silver Clef Awards presented; Barrie Marshall gets NAA award; Apple’s Eddy Cue interview; Stevie Nicks postpones shows; new music from Sault, Will Young, Cassyette and deadmau5…

CMU • 08 Jul 2024

Prince • 2 min read

Court rules against Prince family members in dispute over running of estate

A Delaware court has backed two executives involved in the Prince estate after a dispute with family members over the running of Prince Legacy LLC, which manages the musician’s lucrative legacy. That centered on an operating agreement which, a judge said, was “unambiguous” and favoured the execs…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jul 2024

Ticketmaster • 2 min read

Ticketmaster denies data breach could result in replicated tickets for Taylor Swift shows

Hackers behind the Ticketmaster data breach last week said they had barcode data connected to tickets sold by the company. That led to speculation tickets could be replicated and that the ticketing company was being held to ransom by the hackers. But Ticketmaster has denied tickets can be replicated…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jul 2024