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

Streaming services celebrate as Canadian government scraps streaming levy plan and announces alternative $600 million cultural funding package

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Online Streaming Act • 3 min read

Streaming services celebrate as Canadian government scraps streaming levy plan and announces alternative $600 million cultural funding package

The Canadian government seems to have scrapped the controversial streaming levy which would have seen a 5% levy charged on music and video streaming services. Instead it is committing to introduce “federal investments” of $600 million a year to support Canada’s audio and audiovisual sectors…

Chris Cooke • 04 Jun 2026

Music streaming platforms team up for new pan-Asian K-pop super chart

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Global-K Chart • 2 min read

Music streaming platforms team up for new pan-Asian K-pop super chart

Regional streaming services in Korea, China, Japan and a number of other Asian markets - including Melon, QQ Music and LINE MUSIC - are coming together to launch a new multi-territory K-pop chart. Melon announced yesterday that the chart, called the Global-K Chart, will launch next month…

Chris Cooke • 27 May 2026

Spotify’s transformation into an AI slop factory commences as it announces Universal “superfan” remix gimmick and Live Nation ticketing wheeze

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Spotify • 4 min read

Spotify’s transformation into an AI slop factory commences as it announces Universal “superfan” remix gimmick and Live Nation ticketing wheeze

Spotify has announced partnerships with Universal and Live Nation to get two new features off the ground. Universal is partnering on an AI-powered covers and remixes tool, while Live Nation is involved in a pre-sale tickets scheme. It remains to be seen if Spotify users want either of those things…

Chris Cooke • 22 May 2026

Music industry welcomes revised NO FAKES Act, but Spotify says “still work to do”

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

Music industry welcomes revised NO FAKES Act, but Spotify says “still work to do”

A new version of the NO FAKES Act, which will help performers and creators protect their voice and likeness in the context of AI, has been introduced in Washington. Spotify, which previously expressed concerns about the act, says the latest draft is an improvement, but there’s “still work to do”…

Chris Cooke • 21 May 2026

Spotify increases subscription prices in Canada, but rolls back previous price increases in India

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify increases subscription prices in Canada, but rolls back previous price increases in India

Spotify is making changes to its pricing in both Canada and India. Prices are going up in Canada but, surprisingly, they are coming down in India, where a Lite tier only introduced last year is being abandoned and the price of a standard premium subscription will return to 139 rupee a month…

Chris Cooke • 18 May 2026

Music industry welcomes inclusion of AI concerns in US government’s latest piracy report

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

Music industry welcomes inclusion of AI concerns in US government’s latest piracy report

The US government has published its annual report on global IP concerns, adding a short section on AI, much to the delight of the music industry. The report also notes that a proposal in India to introduce statutory licensing for AI training “has raised deep concerns” among US rightsholders…

Chris Cooke • 05 May 2026

YouTube to let video creators swap out Content ID tracks for royalty-free AI substitutes

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YouTube • 2 min read

YouTube to let video creators swap out Content ID tracks for royalty-free AI substitutes

A new feature on YouTube will make it easy for video creators dealing with Content ID copyright claims to replace copyright protected music in their videos with royalty free AI-generated instrumentals. Innovations like this could negatively impact on YouTuber-centric production music companies…

Chris Cooke • 05 May 2026

Music streaming services targeted as Texas Attorney General launches payola investigation

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Payola • 2 min read

Music streaming services targeted as Texas Attorney General launches payola investigation

The Attorney General of Texas has launched an investigation into payola in music streaming. He wants to know if any music companies have “undisclosed financial arrangements” with the streaming services that result in their music being unfairly prioritised, and which violate Texas state law…

Chris Cooke • 24 Apr 2026

X says Cox ruling means music publishers’ copyright litigation must now be dismissed

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X • 4 min read

X says Cox ruling means music publishers’ copyright litigation must now be dismissed

X is hoping the US Supreme Court ruling in the majors v Cox case can help it win a legal battle with a group of music publishers. They argue X is liable for copyright infringement by hosting videos that contain unlicensed music, but X says in the wake of Cox that argument “fails as a matter of law”…

Chris Cooke • 31 Mar 2026

Spotify wants $300 million in damages from Anna’s Archive, and for court to go after piracy site’s service providers

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Anna's Archive • 4 min read

Spotify wants $300 million in damages from Anna’s Archive, and for court to go after piracy site’s service providers

Piracy group Anna’s Archive have done a good job of ignoring the lawsuit filed by Spotify and the majors after they hacked the streaming service and grabbed 86 million music files. As a result, the music companies want a default judgement in their favour, with Spotify seeking $300 million in damages…

Chris Cooke • 27 Mar 2026

Cox Communications celebrates as US Supreme Court overturns critical music piracy judgement

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Cox Communications • 8 min read

Cox Communications celebrates as US Supreme Court overturns critical music piracy judgement

Yesterday the US Supreme Court overturned the major labels’ billion dollar copyright win against ISP Cox. The ruling not only costs the majors $1 billion dollars, it also affects their ability to combat online piracy. The RIAA says policymakers should “look closely at the impact of this ruling”…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2026

TikTok and X “neutral” on social media ban for under-sixteens, as UK government tests options for restricting access

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• 3 min read

TikTok and X “neutral” on social media ban for under-sixteens, as UK government tests options for restricting access

The debate over banning younger UK teens from using social media continues. The House Of Lords supports a ban, but the government wants more time to review the matter and is now testing possible options for restricting access. Meanwhile, TikTok and X say they are “neutral” on any possible ban…

Chris Cooke • 26 Mar 2026