CMU | the music business explained (Page 95)

Axing of controversial EBacc is a “step in the right direction” for music education says Ed Sheeran

Former Guns N Roses manager sues band over autobiography blocker clause

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

Creators Rights Alliance • 3 min read

Creator groups call out copyright infringement in AI sector, demand that creator consent is secured

UK creator groups have sent a letter to various tech firms urging them to respect copyright when developing generative AI models. It also says that, when AI companies negotiate licensing deals with corporate rightsholders, they should seek assurances that those companies have secured creator consent…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2024

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

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, legal round-up and earnings including Downtown x Double P Records, Avex USA, Concord, Peer Music, Defected Records, Featured Artists Coalition, SMIA, Kakao plus Spanish consumer watchdog eyes live music and ticketing

In today’s music business news round-up: Downtown’s deal with Peso Pluma, Nigerian producer Zone signs with Avex USA, FAC reveals Amazon Step Up Fund recipients, Kesha will record Diddy diss, Minelli memoir, SMIA Summit, Kakao & SM Entertainment earnings, plus release and tours news…

CMU • 08 Aug 2024

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: THUS LOVE

THUS LOVE, a quartet hailing from Vermont, are known for their clangorous yet fabulous post-punk pop sound. Their latest single, ‘Birthday Song’, channels grungy glam rock with a transcendent hook, celebrating the joy of platonic friendship.…

Kaya Robertson • 08 Aug 2024

Anthropic • 3 min read

Anthropic’s “tired arguments” and “scare tactics” should be rejected, say music organisations

Various music industry trade organisations have submitted an amicus brief to the court where music publishers are suing AI company Anthropic for copyright infringement. The new court filing says that Anthropic is relying on tired arguments and scare tactics in its defence of the publishers’ lawsuit…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2024

Taylor Swift • 1 min read

Taylor Swift’s three Vienna shows cancelled after terror attack arrests

Taylor Swift was due to play three shows in Vienna this week, starting this evening, but they have all been cancelled after the authorities confirmed they were investigating a planned terrorist attack at the venue where she was due to play. Two suspects have been arrested…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2024

One Liners - quickfire news from the music business • 10 min read

⏩ One Liners: deals, appointments, legal round-up and earnings update including Sentric’s Cooking Vinyl JV, Gamma’s Africa focus, Believe gobbles up Turkish label plus Sony, Warner and Hybe earnings

What do you do when you get sidelined as top dog at a major? Remind yourself that you’re JULIE FUCKING GREENWALD, pick yourself up and get on with things. Also today: Sentric, Gamma, Believe, Bandlab, ProRata.ai, IPOA, SoundExchange, Paquin, Sony, WMG, Hybe plus Pitbull’s $6m stadium deal + more…

CMU • 07 Aug 2024

Private Copying • 3 min read

Finland slashes private copying compensation, sparking creative industries backlash

Finland’s decision to halve private copying compensation to €5.5 million has drawn the ire of creator groups. Critics argue that the cut violates EU law and jeopardises funding for crucial arts programmes, while demanding a return to €11 million and warning of “harmful and destructive” consequences…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2024

Cox Communications • 3 min read

Majors hit back at Cox’s latest attempt to overturn billion dollar copyright ruling

Cox Communications' latest attempt to overturn a $1 billion copyright infringement ruling has been rebuffed by the major labels. The ISP claims evidence mishandling, but the majors say that Cox “lost this case in a fairly litigated trial", urging the court to reject its attempt to force a retrial…

Chris Cooke • 07 Aug 2024

AI • 3 min read

New digital replica right must not “inadvertently chill” legitimate use of AI in storytelling, say movie studios

The US Patent & Trademark Office yesterday staged a roundtable on the legal protection of likeness and voice in the context of AI. There was support for a new digital replica right, but the movie and gaming sectors cautioned against making that new right too wide-ranging…

Chris Cooke • 06 Aug 2024