Digital services and platforms news - CMU | the music business explained (Page 15)

Spotify uses EU Digital Market Act blog post to take potshots at Apple, announces superfan clubs

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Spotify • 5 min read

Spotify uses EU Digital Market Act blog post to take potshots at Apple, announces superfan clubs

Spotify is fighting the good fight! Apple is a meanie! The DMA means we can spam everyone! In its latest blog post, Spotify heralds the DMA as a “huge opportunity” for Spotify. And maybe - just maybe - it offers “good things” for artists and labels too…

Sam Taylor • 25 Jan 2024

American musicians' union begins talks over AI and streaming with the Hollywood studios

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AFM • 2 min read

American musicians' union begins talks over AI and streaming with the Hollywood studios

Negotiations are underway in Hollywood over the union contracts of musicians who make music for films and TV programmes, with commitments around AI and new payments from streamed shows among the priorities of the American Federation Of Musicians…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jan 2024

Spotify won’t be launching on Vision Pro and lots of people are surprised - but why would it?

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Apple • 2 min read

Spotify won’t be launching on Vision Pro and lots of people are surprised - but why would it?

Some people are relieved that Spotify won’t be wasting money trying to force a square peg into a round hole with an early Visio Pro app - while other people are outraged that an audio company won’t be launching on a primarily visual platform. There’s no helping some folk.…

Chris Cooke • 22 Jan 2024

Spotify hits out at Apple's "outrageous" new App Store rules

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify hits out at Apple's "outrageous" new App Store rules

Spotify has joined Fortnite maker Epic in criticising Apple over a change to its rules around in-app payments. The change, made to comply with a court order secured by Epic, is meant to help app-makers, but Spotify says it has been implemented in a way that means app-makers are no better off…

Chris Cooke • 19 Jan 2024

MLC planning massive audit of all streaming services - but it’s not as dramatic as it sounds. Yet.

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MLC • 2 min read

MLC planning massive audit of all streaming services - but it’s not as dramatic as it sounds. Yet.

The MLC in the US has announced it will audit streaming services, including those run by Spotify, Apple, Amazon and YouTube - the collecting society has the right to undertake audits under the compulsory licence it administers…

Sam Taylor • 19 Jan 2024

GESAC welcomes European Parliament's adoption of report calling for music streaming reforms

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GESAC • 1 min read

GESAC welcomes European Parliament's adoption of report calling for music streaming reforms

The European Parliament today adopted a report spearheaded by MEP Ibán García Del Blanco that calls on the European Commission to review the music streaming market and how current practices impact on artists and songwriters - a move welcomed by GESAC…

Chris Cooke • 17 Jan 2024

“Educate yourselves” about industry changes to help address streaming issues, says Council Of Music Makers to major label employees

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Council Of Music Makers • 3 min read

“Educate yourselves” about industry changes to help address streaming issues, says Council Of Music Makers to major label employees

Responding to new year memos from the bosses of Universal Music and Warner Music, the UK’s Council Of Music Makers has published its own memo speaking directly to employees of major music companies urging them to help tackle issues around data, transparency and remuneration.…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jan 2024

Bytedance to shut down Resso in India following government ban

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TikTok • 2 min read

Bytedance to shut down Resso in India following government ban

TikTok owner Bytedance is shutting down music service Resso in India after the country’s government demanded it be removed from app stores. In other countries Resso has already been replaced by TikTok Music, but that hasn’t happening in India where the main TikTok platform is banned…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jan 2024

Music industry welcomes proposed new laws to help performers protect their voices and likeness from AI clones

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AI • 2 min read

Music industry welcomes proposed new laws to help performers protect their voices and likeness from AI clones

Proposals have been introduced in the US House Of Representatives - and in the state of Tennessee - that will allow artists to control the use of their voice in the context of AI…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jan 2024

SAG-AFTRA hails “groundbreaking” voice clone agreement with AI company Replica

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AI • 2 min read

SAG-AFTRA hails “groundbreaking” voice clone agreement with AI company Replica

American performer union SAG-AFTRA has announced “a groundbreaking AI voice agreement” with Replica Studios that, it says, “paves the way for professional voice over artists to safely explore new employment opportunities for their digital voice replicas”…

Chris Cooke • 10 Jan 2024

Lucian Grainge's 2024 memo to Universal Music Group staff

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Lucian Grainge • 10 min read

Lucian Grainge's 2024 memo to Universal Music Group staff

Universal Music boss Lucian Grainge has published his traditional new year message to the company’s staff. In it, he highlights successes in 2023 and looks ahead at what’s to come in 2024. Read the whole message in full here…

CMU • 10 Jan 2024

SoundCloud private equity owners mulling $1 billion sale

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SoundCloud • 2 min read

SoundCloud private equity owners mulling $1 billion sale

The owners of SoundCloud are considering selling the company in a deal that could be worth over $1 billion…

Chris Cooke • 08 Jan 2024