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

As Trump extends TikTok timeline yet again, will a ban or sale ever actually happen?

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TikTok • 4 min read

As Trump extends TikTok timeline yet again, will a ban or sale ever actually happen?

The latest deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US, or face a ban, was today. But the White House has confirmed Donald Trump is pushing the deadline back for a third time. It makes you wonder if the law passed by Congress ordering a change in ownership or a ban will ever actually be enforced…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jun 2025

Major labels “bewildered” by why Trump appointee would meddle in Cox Communications piracy case

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Cox Communications • 2 min read

Major labels “bewildered” by why Trump appointee would meddle in Cox Communications piracy case

Donald Trump’s Solicitor General recently urged the US Supreme Court to intervene in the major labels’ legal battle with ISP Cox, expressing concerns that precedent set in the case could lead to millions of internet disconnections. The majors now say that intervention is “bewildering” and wrong…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jun 2025

Industry and policymakers should work together to stop two-tier streaming market taking hold, says new IMPALA report

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IMPALA • 3 min read

Industry and policymakers should work together to stop two-tier streaming market taking hold, says new IMPALA report

IMPALA has published a new report on the streaming business, criticising recent trends that are creating a two-tier market that favours the majors. It calls on industry and policymakers to work together to ensure a steaming ecosystem that “supports innovation, inclusivity and sustainable growth”…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jun 2025

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

The majors are involved in licensing negotiations with the two music AI companies they sued last year, Udio and Suno. But will they consult music creators before agreeing any deals? Artist and songwriter organisations fear not, but insist that creator consent must be secured before signing any deals…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

NYC backs plan to hike streaming prices by 50% to pay musicians as much as $40k a year each

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Streaming • 4 min read

NYC backs plan to hike streaming prices by 50% to pay musicians as much as $40k a year each

A proposal that could see every musician in the US better off to the tune of $40k a year via a 50% levy on music streaming subscriptions has been endorsed by New York City Council. It says Congress should back the proposals which would provide new income for musicians living and working in NYC…

Chris Cooke & Sam Taylor • 30 May 2025

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Apple • 2 min read

Forced change to Apple App Store rules has resulted in more Spotify Premium sign-ups

A US court has agreed to fast-track Apple’s appeal of an injunction that forces it to allow developers to link to external payment options from within their apps, but declined to pause the injunction in the short term. Spotify says the injunction has already resulted in an uplift in premium sign-ups…

Chris Cooke • 23 May 2025

SoundCloud’s amended AI clause still “fundamentally terrible for artists” says Ed Newton-Rex

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SoundCloud • 2 min read

SoundCloud’s amended AI clause still “fundamentally terrible for artists” says Ed Newton-Rex

SoundCloud boss Eliah Seton has responded to concerns about an AI clause in the platform’s terms of service, insisting that the company will use AI for discovery and not various generative uses. The AI clause has been amended, but still isn’t clear enough according to Ed Newton-Rex of Fairly Trained…

Chris Cooke • 15 May 2025

House Of Lords puts transparency obligation for AI companies back into Data Bill, after the government got it removed

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

House Of Lords puts transparency obligation for AI companies back into Data Bill, after the government got it removed

The Lords have again added a section to the Data Bill that would force AI companies to declare what copyright protected works they have used when training models. The government previously removed copyright and AI measures from the bill, arguing they should be dealt with in standalone legislation…

Chris Cooke • 13 May 2025

SoundCloud says it’s not training AI with users’ content, despite its terms and conditions saying it can

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SoundCloud • 2 min read

SoundCloud says it’s not training AI with users’ content, despite its terms and conditions saying it can

Last week there was a flurry of debate online about a term on the SoundCloud website that says users agree that their content may be used to “inform, train or develop” AI. In response, SoundCloud insists that it isn’t using tracks uploaded to its platform to train music-making generative AI models…

Chris Cooke • 12 May 2025

Spotify welcomes Epic ruling ending the Apple Tax in the US

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Apple Music • 3 min read

Spotify welcomes Epic ruling ending the Apple Tax in the US

A US judge has ordered Apple to let developers link to alternative payment options from within their iOS apps without restrictions or fees. The ruling comes in the legal battle between Apple and Epic Games, but also benefits Spotify, which has welcomed the news…

Chris Cooke • 02 May 2025

Brazilian authorities crackdown on prominent “boosting” service JustAnotherPanel that sells streams, followers and likes

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Streaming Fraud • 3 min read

Brazilian authorities crackdown on prominent “boosting” service JustAnotherPanel that sells streams, followers and likes

The record industry has welcomed the latest crackdown on streaming fraud in Brazil where authorities have secured a web blocking order against stream manipulation service JustAnotherPanel. Though, just as with music piracy, tackling streaming fraud requires a multi-layered, multi-country approach…

Chris Cooke • 16 Apr 2025

Bundling antics in the spotlight again as YouTube is hauled over the coals by South Korean regulators

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YouTube • 3 min read

Bundling antics in the spotlight again as YouTube is hauled over the coals by South Korean regulators

YouTube might roll out its Premium Lite product in South Korea as part of a settlement with the country’s Fair Trade Commission, which last year criticised YouTube for bundling its music service as part of Premium, saying that marginalised rival platforms. The Lite product doesn’t include music…

Chris Cooke • 16 Apr 2025