Artificial Intelligence - CMU | the music business explained

UK government must rule out new AI copyright exception after “overwhelming” consensus in consultation

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

UK government must rule out new AI copyright exception after “overwhelming” consensus in consultation

The UK government has published an update on its consultation on copyright and AI, revealing that 88% of respondents said AI companies should be forced to get licences before making use of existing works. Ed Newton-Rex says ministers should now formally abandon plans for a new AI copyright exception…

Chris Cooke • 15 Dec 2025

Indie publishers make demands of collecting societies as they start to negotiate AI deals

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Independent Music Publishers Forum (IMPF) • 3 min read

Indie publishers make demands of collecting societies as they start to negotiate AI deals

Indie music publishers are becoming more vocal about AI licensing as the majors start to announce their big AI deals. With collecting societies set to do the deal-making for many song repertories, the IMPF has distributed key principles that it says those societies should adopt when doing the deals…

Chris Cooke • 11 Dec 2025

EU report says statutory licensing is the best way to balance copyright and AI

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

EU report says statutory licensing is the best way to balance copyright and AI

A report on copyright and AI, commissioned by the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee, concludes that the best approach to balance the interests of AI firms and rightsholders would be a statutory licence for AI training, something neither big tech nor rights owners are likely to support…

Chris Cooke • 09 Dec 2025

After King Gizzard boycotted Spotify, tracks by an AI-clone of the band started streaming

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King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard • 2 min read

After King Gizzard boycotted Spotify, tracks by an AI-clone of the band started streaming

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard are among the artists boycotting Spotify, though that didn’t stop AI-generated covers of their songs appearing under the artist name King Lizard Wizard. Those have now been removed, but have prompted more debate over how streaming services deal with AI clones…

Chris Cooke • 09 Dec 2025

Indie publisher trade body says members should reject AI deals that do not value songs properly

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Independent Music Publishers Forum (IMPF) • 2 min read

Indie publisher trade body says members should reject AI deals that do not value songs properly

The major labels’ big deals with Suno and Udio have posed a number of important questions for the wider music community - including how AI income will be shared between the song rights and the recording rights. IMPF has now joined ECSA in demanding that the two copyrights are valued equally…

Chris Cooke • 04 Dec 2025

Stream-ripper Yout says Suno and Udio have criticism “precisely right” over ruling in legal battle with major labels

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Suno • 2 min read

Stream-ripper Yout says Suno and Udio have criticism “precisely right” over ruling in legal battle with major labels

Suno and Udio recently sought to intervene in the major labels’ legal dispute with stream-ripper Yout, because a ruling in that case impacts on their own legal battles with the majors. Yout has now welcomed that intervention, but the majors say the AI companies are wrong about stream-ripping rules…

Chris Cooke • 03 Dec 2025

“Creators are collateral damage” in AI race says Jorja Smith’s label, after AI voice clone track goes viral

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Jorja Smith • 3 min read

“Creators are collateral damage” in AI race says Jorja Smith’s label, after AI voice clone track goes viral

Jorja Smith’s label FAMM has entered the AI debate after a dance track went viral with vocals that had been manipulated by Suno to sound like it was Smith singing. FAMM criticises the artist behind that track, and says guardrails are urgently needed that ensure AI-generated music is clearly labelled…

Chris Cooke • 02 Dec 2025

ECSA calls for transparency over the major’s AI deals - and confirmation songs and recordings will have parity

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ECSA • 3 min read

ECSA calls for transparency over the major’s AI deals - and confirmation songs and recordings will have parity

ECSA, representing songwriters and composers across Europe, has called for more transparency about the big AI deals now being announced by the majors. Writers need to know various things about those deals, but especially how income will be split between the recording rights and the song rights…

Chris Cooke • 28 Nov 2025

Suno picks up Songkick as part of AI licensing deal with Warner Music

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Suno • 4 min read

Suno picks up Songkick as part of AI licensing deal with Warner Music

Warner Music has settled its lawsuit and agreed a licensing deal with Suno. As with Warner’s earlier Udio deal, Suno will now make changes to its platform, while creator consent will be sought for voice clones and song remixes. However, there is one difference with this deal: Suno also gets Songkick…

Chris Cooke • 26 Nov 2025

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall ready to reset discussion on AI, but cautions creator friendly legal reform can’t be rushed

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall ready to reset discussion on AI, but cautions creator friendly legal reform can’t be rushed

The UK’s new Technology Secretary says she is “resetting the discussion” around copyright and AI, keen to reassure the creative industries their concerns are being heard by the government. Though don’t expect any immediate changes to copyright law, because “there’s a lot of detail to work out here”…

Chris Cooke • 24 Nov 2025

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Warner Music • 3 min read

Warner Music boss outlines AI strategy of “legislate, litigate and license”, but only commits to artist opt-in on “name, image, likeness and voice”

Warner has followed Universal’s lead and settled its lawsuit with music AI start-up Udio, and entered into a licensing deal covering Udio’s new service. Warner CEO Robert Kyncl has written a blog post on the major’s AI strategy, though his commitment on artist consent is unlikely to placate creators…

Chris Cooke • 20 Nov 2025

Regulators must consider UMG’s AI deals in Downtown case, says IAO President

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Regulators must consider UMG’s AI deals in Downtown case, says IAO President

As EU competition regulators continue to investigate Universal’s bid to buy Downtown, the President of global artist group IAO has written to European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to stress that the major’s new AI licensing deals must be considered as part of that investigation…

Chris Cooke • 17 Nov 2025