Digital services and platforms news - CMU | the music business explained

Another blow for Apple’s in-app payments as company loses £1.5 billion competition lawsuit

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Apple • 3 min read

Another blow for Apple’s in-app payments as company loses £1.5 billion competition lawsuit

Apple has lost a class action before the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal over its App Store fees, which have long been criticised by Spotify. The tribunal ruled Apple exploited its market dominance to charge excessive fees, which impacted on consumers. It could now face damages of £1.5 billion…

Chris Cooke • 24 Oct 2025

Universal Music beats artists in three separate streaming royalty lawsuits

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Universal Music beats artists in three separate streaming royalty lawsuits

A Dutch court has ruled on three lawsuits filed against Universal by artists who claimed that the major was incorrectly interpreting old record contracts and paying excessively low royalties on streaming income as a result. Judges concluded that the artists had failed to establish that was happening…

Kaya Robertson • 24 Oct 2025

UK regulator now empowered to consider changing in-app payment rules in Spotify’s favour

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Apple • 2 min read

UK regulator now empowered to consider changing in-app payment rules in Spotify’s favour

Apple and Google’s mobile platforms have both been designated as having ‘strategic market status’ by the CMA, which could result in the UK regulator forcing changes to the two companies’ app store rules, including the in-app payment rules that have long been criticised by Spotify…

Kaya Robertson • 23 Oct 2025

Spotify promises “artist-first AI music products” as it announces alliance with majors, Merlin and Believe

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify promises “artist-first AI music products” as it announces alliance with majors, Merlin and Believe

Spotify has pledged to “put artists and songwriters first” when developing music AI products, committing to work in partnership with the music industry and ensuring that its AI ventures are fully licensed. The three majors, Merlin and Believe are all on board for some Spotify-led AI experimentation…

Chris Cooke • 17 Oct 2025

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

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Cox Communications • 3 min read

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

The majors have urged the US Supreme Court to uphold their billion dollar win in a piracy lawsuit against ISP Cox. It argues that that ruling will result in mass internet disconnections, but the majors say that’s not true, and that Cox was simply held liable after saying ‘fuck copyright law’…

Chris Cooke • 16 Oct 2025

BMG is the latest publisher to agree direct licence with Spotify in the US

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BMG • 2 min read

BMG is the latest publisher to agree direct licence with Spotify in the US

BMG has agreed a direct licensing deal with Spotify covering its songs catalogue in the US. It follows the majors and Kobalt in agreeing a direct deal that circumvents the MLC-administered compulsory licence in the US market, in response to Spotify exploiting a bundling discount in that MLC licence…

Chris Cooke • 09 Oct 2025

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?

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Artificial Intelligence • 7 min read

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?

An FT report says that Universal and Warner are close to agreeing “landmark” AI licensing deals that will result in ongoing payments to the music industry. If true, that poses some big questions within the music community about how that income will be shared and whose consent will be sought…

Chris Cooke • 02 Oct 2025

Paramore’s Hayley Williams says she “doesn’t know” why tracks are available in Israel after joining No Music For Genocide pledge

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Paramore • 2 min read

Paramore’s Hayley Williams says she “doesn’t know” why tracks are available in Israel after joining No Music For Genocide pledge

Last week Paramore joined No Music For Genocide, pledging to remove their music from streaming services in Israel. That seemed to happen, but then the music returned. The band’s Hayley Williams says she doesn’t know why, but she hopes label Atlantic will ensure the music is geo-blocked again…

Chris Cooke • 30 Sep 2025

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

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Spotify • 2 min read

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

Spotify is getting two new CEOs, with co-Presidents Alex Norström and Gustav Söderström being promoted to co-CEO roles as founder Daniel Ek steps aside to become Executive Chairman. Ek says the change in job titles more or less reflects the roles the three men are already performing at the company…

Chris Cooke • 30 Sep 2025

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

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TikTok • 3 min read

Donald Trump signs executive order “saving TikTok”

Donald Trump has formally endorsed the plan to sell TikTok’s US operations to a new business majority owned by American investors. The President signed an executive order yesterday which says that plan complies with the sell-or-be-banned law passed by Congress last year over data security concerns…

Chris Cooke • 26 Sep 2025

Oracle will control TikTok algorithm in US, say White House officials

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TikTok • 3 min read

Oracle will control TikTok algorithm in US, say White House officials

The White House has revealed more details about the deal to allow TikTok to continue operating in the US. It will involve a bigger role for Oracle, run by Trump ally Larry Ellison, whose son now also leads CBS and MTV. If Oracle controls the TikTok algorithm, that will be quite the media empire…

Chris Cooke • 23 Sep 2025

Meta seeks dismissal of Eminem copyright lawsuit

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Eminem • 2 min read

Meta seeks dismissal of Eminem copyright lawsuit

Earlier this year Eminem publisher Eight Mile Style filed a lawsuit against Meta, claiming that the rapper’s music appeared in videos on Facebook and Instagram without the necessary licences. Meta wants the lawsuit dismissed, arguing it lacks substance, and that it did - in fact - have a licence…

Chris Cooke • 22 Sep 2025