CMU | the music business explained (Page 7)

Drake vows to appeal after judge throws out defamation lawsuit against Universal

High profile songwriters express concern about PRS transparency, accuracy and admin costs

Anthropic’s own guardrails revive full copyright lawsuit from litigious music publishers

Suno tells court to reject stream-ripping “gambit” by major labels in AI legal battle

As indie labels ramp up campaign for EU to block the UMG x Downtown merger, a French music lawyer says concerns around data are “fantasy or paranoia”

As FT says major labels are close to “landmark” AI licensing deals, is a new battle royale going to kick off within the music industry?

No one seems to know if Kneecap are still banned from Canada - or whether they were ever actually banned at all

Don’t say gruesome twosome: Ek steps sideways at Spotify to make way for not one but two new CEOs

‘Something Inside’ songwriter goes legal over Tommy Robinson’s use of his anti-apartheid anthem

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

Tabloid claims that Dua Lipa sacked agent over Glasto Kneecap letter are “categorically false” and “deliberately inflammatory”

Major labels add piracy claims to Suno lawsuit after $1.5 billion Anthropic settlement

Live Nation colludes with ticket touts, says US government as it launches legal action

Cornwall Council will hold meeting about ‘safety risks’ of Bob Vylan’s August Boardmasters performance - even through there weren’t any

Spotify finally adds lossless audio to premium

Anthropic will pay authors $1.5 billion to settle AI copyright case

Universal’s Downtown deal must be blocked by regulators before “cultural diversity is weakened irreversibly” says Dutch indie label group president

As EU hits pause on UMG Downtown investigation after “parties fail to provide important info”, Downtown boss whines about “misinformation”

More upheaval at Warner Music as UK label chiefs will report directly to US execs

Yet another senior exec out at Warner Music as UK boss Tony Harlow quits

Billion dollar piracy win for majors “defies common law and common sense” says Cox

Court dismisses Dave Rowntree’s black box lawsuit against PRS

Supertramp songwriter must continue to share publishing royalties with bandmates, US appeals court concludes

FTC sues ticket touting business that claims it is endorsed by Ticketmaster

Drake’s claims are “farcical” says Lucian Grainge as defamation battle rumbles on

Drake wants to trawl through Papa Grainge’s emails in ‘Not Like Us’ libel battle

Sony sues Napster over $9.2 million in unpaid royalties

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

Increasing number of artists join Spotify boycott over CEO’s AI weapon investments

If China blocks TikTok deal app will “go dark” says US Commerce Secretary, but hints deal “coming soon”

Blackstone bails on consortium bidding to buy TikTok US - will a deal still be done by September deadline?

Anthropic’s ‘fair use’ win in AI copyright case could turn into a trillion dollar loss

No copyright exception for AI training in European law, says new report

Full scale anticompetition investigation on the cards after UMG’s Virgin Music fails to allay EU fears over Downtown merger

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?

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

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Genesis Owusu

Genesis Owusu debut album ‘Smiling With No Teeth’ was a transcendent blueprint for modern hip hop; a fearless exploration of identity, experimenting with funk, punk and rap. On new single ‘PIRATE RADIO’ he once again refuses to assimilate and redraws the boundaries of his own sound…

Kaya Robertson • 11 Sep 2025

RIAA • 2 min read

CD sales in the US plunge in first half of 2025 as paid streaming subscriptions hit 105 million users

The RIAA has published stats for the US recorded music market for the first half of 2025, with paid streaming subscriptions in the country now exceeding 105 million. Streaming income was up 5.7%, but physical sales - especially CD - declined, so that overall recorded music revenues are up just 0.9%…

Chris Cooke • 10 Sep 2025

Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify finally adds lossless audio to premium

Spotify is finally adding lossless audio to its platform, something it has been promising since 2021, and which rival Tidal first offered in 2013. Despite rumours lossless audio might be part of Spotify’s planned higher price subscription product, it’s being rolled out to all premium subscribers…

Chris Cooke • 10 Sep 2025

StubHub • 2 min read

StubHub pushes ahead with $9.2 billion IPO

StubHub is proceeding with its Initial Public Offering on the NYSE, after various previous delays, seeking a valuation of up to $9.2 billion. That’s significantly down on previous valuations. Live music is booming, but StubHub is facing increased regulation of ticket touting in key markets…

Chris Cooke • 09 Sep 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Max Baby

A self-taught multi-instrumentalist with synaesthesia guiding his ear, Paris-born polymath Max Baby has a sound that is both shadowy and luminous, defiantly singular. New single ‘Feet’ finds him leaning into obsession and surrender, that messy zone where pain and pleasure overlap…

Kaya Robertson • 09 Sep 2025

Spotify • 3 min read

Yet more artists announce Spotify boycott over demonetised music, AI fakes and Daniel Ek's defence investments

The number of artists boycotting Spotify continues to increase, with 30+ Seattle music creators signing an open letter criticising the streaming service. They hit out at Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in the defence sector, but set out other grievances too, including over thresholds and AI…

Chris Cooke • 09 Sep 2025

Anthropic • 3 min read

Anthropic will pay authors $1.5 billion to settle AI copyright case

Last month a US judge threw out a royalties lawsuit filed by SoundExchange against satellite broadcaster Sirius XM, concluding that the collecting society doesn’t actually have the right to sue its licensees. SoundExchange says that ruling was “erroneous” and is now taking the matter to appeal…

Chris Cooke • 08 Sep 2025

CMU Selects • 1 min read

CMU Selects - the last week’s standout releases

Our selection of five releases that cut through the noise last week, from Kneecap and Paul Hartnoll, Big Thief, Celeste, Tame Impala and NewDad…

Kaya Robertson • 08 Sep 2025

Cox Communications • 4 min read

Plethora of tech companies and organisations back Cox as Supreme Court considers billion dollar music piracy case

American ISP Cox Communications wants the US Supreme Court to overturn the billion dollar music piracy judgement secured against it by the major labels. Last week loads of tech companies and trade organisations, and the US DoJ, made filings with the top court backing Cox and its legal arguments…

Chris Cooke • 08 Sep 2025

SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange appeals ruling that says it can’t file lawsuits when licensees fail to pay all the royalties that are due

Last month a US judge threw out a royalties lawsuit filed by collecting society SoundExchange against satellite broadcaster Sirius XM, concluding that society doesn’t actually have the right to sue its licensees. SoundExchange says that ruling was “erroneous” and is now taking the matter to appeal…

Chris Cooke • 08 Sep 2025