Digital services and platforms news - CMU | the music business explained (Page 10)

Apple says Spotify should stay out of its ongoing Epic legal battle

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Apple • 3 min read

Apple says Spotify should stay out of its ongoing Epic legal battle

Spotify recently filed an amicus brief in support of Epic Games in the Fornite maker’s ongoing legal battle with Apple over its App Store rules. But in a new legal filing this week, Apple said that Spotify is just “parroting” Epic’s own arguments and its intervention should be rejected…

Chris Cooke • 05 Apr 2024

Spotify planning another price rise in five markets

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify planning another price rise in five markets

The price of a Spotify subscription is set to increase again in some markets this month, although users will reportedly be able to avoid the price rise if they opt out of audiobook access. It might all be a move by Spotify to create a separate revenue stream to fund its audiobook ambitions.…

Chris Cooke • 04 Apr 2024

IMPALA says “huge value gap” when it comes to TikTok

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IMPALA • 2 min read

IMPALA says “huge value gap” when it comes to TikTok

IMPALA has issued a new statement about the digital music market, expressing concerns about TikTok undervaluing music, and urging music streaming services to deal with the “unintended negative consequences” of the changes they have made to their royalty models…

Chris Cooke • 04 Apr 2024

ICMP launches rights reservations portal setting out the legal and moral obligations of AI companies

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ICMP • 2 min read

ICMP launches rights reservations portal setting out the legal and moral obligations of AI companies

A new portal has been launched by the music publishing sector collating ‘rights reservations’ from music publishers which clearly state that those companies’ rights have been reserved from any data and text mining exceptions in copyright law, in particular the exception in European law…

Chris Cooke • 04 Apr 2024

200+ artists sign letter urging tech companies to stop using AI to "devalue the rights of human artists"

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AI • 3 min read

200+ artists sign letter urging tech companies to stop using AI to "devalue the rights of human artists"

The Artist Rights Alliance in the US has organised an open letter signed by more than 200 artists calling on tech companies to pledge that they will only use generative AI responsibly, and that they will not infringe upon or devalue the rights of music creators…

Chris Cooke • 03 Apr 2024

George Carlin's daughter calls for "appropriate safeguards" after settling lawsuit over AI-generated fake comedy special

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George Carlin • 2 min read

George Carlin's daughter calls for "appropriate safeguards" after settling lawsuit over AI-generated fake comedy special

A lawsuit filed by the estate of George Carlin over an AI-generated fake comedy special has been settled. Commenting on the legal battle, Carlin’s daughter said the case should “serve as a warning” and that “appropriate safeguards” are needed to allow people to protect their likeness and voice…

Chris Cooke • 03 Apr 2024

Napster dispute with British photographer puts the spotlight on the music industry’s artwork deals

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Napster • 2 min read

Napster dispute with British photographer puts the spotlight on the music industry’s artwork deals

A legal dispute between Napster and a British photographer over a photo of reggae artist Sugar Minott was in court last week. It raises some interesting questions about the licences record labels secure around artwork images and what they allow digital platforms to do with those photos…

Chris Cooke • 02 Apr 2024

Upsetting the Apple cart: app developers including Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz welcome US Justice Department lawsuit

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Apple • 3 min read

Upsetting the Apple cart: app developers including Spotify, Deezer, Qobuz welcome US Justice Department lawsuit

Last week the US Department Of Justice announced that it is suing Apple over allegations of anticompetitive conduct, including in relation to its App Store rules. That litigation has been welcomed by an organisation representing numerous app developers, including Spotify, Deezer and Qobuz…

Chris Cooke • 25 Mar 2024

TikTok data to be discussed in UK Parliament, as ‘be -sold-or-be-banned’ proposals continue to work their way through US Congress

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TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok data to be discussed in UK Parliament, as ‘be -sold-or-be-banned’ proposals continue to work their way through US Congress

The FT has spoken to British MPs about TikTok and its Chinese owner ByteDance following the passing in the US House Of Representatives of the ‘be-sold-or-be-banned’ bill. UK politicians have similar concerns about TikTok user data, and also the possible influence of China over the TikTok algorithm…

Chris Cooke • 21 Mar 2024

Mood music maker scores fifteen billion streams, and prompts yet another 'fake artists' debate

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Spotify • 3 min read

Mood music maker scores fifteen billion streams, and prompts yet another 'fake artists' debate

‘Fake artists’ have become a talking point again after a Swedish newspaper highlighted how one musician is scoring billions of streams by recording tracks targeted at Spotify’s mood music playlists under 656 different names.…

Chris Cooke • 20 Mar 2024

Spotify publishes new Loud & Clear, says the focus now is artists “dependent on streaming as part of their livelihood”

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Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify publishes new Loud & Clear, says the focus now is artists “dependent on streaming as part of their livelihood”

Spotify has published loads more stats as part of an update to its Loud & Clear website. Although the stats are interesting, this site is partly about countering criticism of Spotify, and it’s interesting to see what criticism is clearly being dealt with among the facts and figures…

Chris Cooke • 19 Mar 2024

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

US politicians vote in favour or proposals to ban TikTok in the country, Labour commits to cap secondary ticket prices, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 15 Mar 2024