CMU | the music business explained (Page 91)

Judgement in Getty’s UK lawsuit against Stability “underscores growing gap” between copyright and tech, says leading lawyer

Spotify’s streaming fraud initiatives are “nothing more than window dressing” says rapper RBX as he files class action lawsuit

Streaming services don’t want French language quotas in Québec

Universal has settled its lawsuit with Udio, and signed AI deals with Udio and Stability

Spotify questions MLC’s “motivations” in pursuing audiobook bundling dispute lawsuit

Lizzo is being sued over an uncleared sample - on a track she never released

Viagogo is unfair, opaque and violates EU law, consumer group tells regulator

Bobby Vylan says he has no regrets about “death to the IDF” chant at Glastonbury

Ticketmaster says FTC allegations it colluded with touts “nonsensical”, but it is changing some of its rules and shutting down TradeDesk

New Udio lawsuit hones in on the “significant and unequal harm” inflicted on independent musicians by music AI

Majors tell US Supreme Court to ignore ISP’s doom and gloom predictions and uphold billion dollar piracy ruling

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

Massive Attack • 3 min read

Music industry needs to stop writing endless impact reports and “pledging” on climate change, says Massive Attack’s Del Naja

Impact reports are a way for large live music companies to park climate change issues, say Massive Attack, and there are too many NGOs taking public money but achieving little. “We don’t need more pledging”, adds Robert Del Naja, “just put it into action”…

Chris Cooke • 23 Aug 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, digital and legal music industry news round-up including Zomato gobbles up ticketing app, Jackson estate deal ruling, Take That documentary plus releases & tours

Today: Fortë, UTA + Downtown deals; Ditto launches AI-powered mastering; court clears Sony’s Michael Jackson catalogue deal; Vans settles trademark battle over Tyga’s sneakers; Mercury Prize schedule; new Take That documentary; plus latest releases + more…

CMU • 22 Aug 2024

Beyoncé • 3 min read

Beyoncé warns Trump off lemonade: Walz asks Neil Young for personal favour

Beyoncé’s people issued a cease and desist after the Donald Trump campaign used her track ‘Freedom’ in a campaign ad without permission. The Kamala Harris campaign has been using the same song, but with permission. It has also got the all clear from Neil Young to play ‘Rockin In The Free World’…

Chris Cooke • 22 Aug 2024

Google • 3 min read

UK competition regulator closes investigation but warns Apple and Google: we will use new powers to make app ecosystem fair

UK competition regulator the CMA has closed ongoing investigations into Apple and Google’s rules around in-app payments. Though mainly because recently passed laws boost the power of the CMA and it therefore believes any investigation would be better done in the context of enforcing those new laws…

Chris Cooke • 22 Aug 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: Fcukers

New York band Fcukers blend old-school house, breakbeat, electro-indie and cutting-edge production into club-worthy bangers. Their latest single, ‘Tommy’, moves with the confidence of a band fully in command of their sound, beckoning in a new generation wanting to get lost in live dance music…

Kaya Robertson • 22 Aug 2024

Cox Communications • 4 min read

The majors also want the US Supreme Court to intervene in the Cox case

The major record companies have asked the US Supreme Court to intervene in their dispute with Cox Communications. They had been set to receive a billion dollars in damages, but an appeals court ruling could see that figure slashed. The majors want the appeals ruling reversed…

Chris Cooke • 21 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 12 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, digital and live news from across the music industry including Beyoncé’s whisky adventures, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy podcast heads to SiriusXM in $150m deal, keyTikTok UK execs promoted plus releases, tours and more

Today: Beyoncé’s whisky deal with Moët Hennessy, Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy SiriusXM podcast deal, Create Music Group x Cheat Codes, HarbourView x James Fauntleroy, Warner Records + Rusia IDK x Rusowsky, ADA x FTS Global Management, Benztown Production Music; plus streaming, AI + more…

CMU • 21 Aug 2024

Rachel Chinouriri • 5 min read

Rachel Chinouriri cancels US support shows, putting the spotlight back on the ‘cost of touring crisis’

Rachel Chinouriri was due to support Remi Wolf on her US tour later this year, but she has pulled out because the economics of the shows just don't work. Touring is a challenge for many artists, with increases in US visa fees not helping what is already a precarious situation for many…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 21 Aug 2024

Live Nation • 2 min read

Ten more states join US government’s Live Nation lawsuit, which now seeks treble damages

The US government has filed an amended version of its lawsuit against Live Nation, which accuses the company of anticompetitive conduct. Attorneys General from ten more states have joined the litigation, which has been amended to say that states can claim ‘treble damages’ on behalf of their citizens…

Chris Cooke • 20 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 11 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, singings, appointments and legal round-up including Warner Chappell, Play It Again Music, PPL, UTA, BMG, Prescription Songs, Audio Chateau Records, ProgRock Essentials, Sony Music, TEG and more, plus releases and tours

Today: Warner Chappell x Faith Hopkins, PPL x The Last Dinner Party, UTA x The Calling, BMG x Lanie Gardner, Prescription Songs x Hayley May; new boss at Sony Germany, Australia’s TEG ups Tim McGregor to global role; Elvis estate scam, Kanye copyright settlement, TikTok pixel lawsuit update + more…

CMU • 20 Aug 2024