Digital services and platforms news - CMU | the music business explained (Page 19)

Spotify vs Apple name-calling kicks off again after EU mega-fine rumours

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Apple • 2 min read

Spotify vs Apple name-calling kicks off again after EU mega-fine rumours

Apple issued a statement last week following rumours it is facing a €500 million fine as a result of an EU investigation prompted by a complaint made by Spotify. It claims that Spotify just wants a free ride, but Spotify issued its own statement arguing it is actually seeking a level playing field…

Chris Cooke • 26 Feb 2024

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Spotify • 1 min read

Spotify launches in-house brand partnerships agency

Still searching for ways to boost revenues towards consistent profit, Spotify has launched its own in-house brand partnerships agency AUX. It will facilitate putting brands and artists together for marketing campaigns, and has kicked things off by pairing up Coca-Cola with Peggy Gou…

Andy Malt • 22 Feb 2024

Jimmy Iovine and Universal-backed NTWRK buys Complex to capitalise on the superfan opportunity

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NTWRK • 2 min read

Jimmy Iovine and Universal-backed NTWRK buys Complex to capitalise on the superfan opportunity

Buzzfeed has sold youth culture media company Complex to NTWRK, which plans to build a digital hub that can capitalise on the superfan opportunity. Universal Music is a backer of NTWRK, and its Interscope Geffen A&M and Capital labels will be the first to utilise the combined NTWRK/Complex platform…

Chris Cooke • 22 Feb 2024

Music industry’s billion dollar damages win in Cox case overturned

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Cox Communications • 2 min read

Music industry’s billion dollar damages win in Cox case overturned

In 2019 the music industry won a billion dollars in damages in a copyright lawsuit against internet company Cox Communications - but that ruling has now been overturned on appeal, even though appeal judges confirmed that the ISP is liable for copyright infringement…

Chris Cooke • 21 Feb 2024

ER report divides industry ahead of first meeting of remuneration working group

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Economics Of Streaming • 4 min read

ER report divides industry ahead of first meeting of remuneration working group

As part of its ongoing work on streaming, the UK government has published a report on the possible impact of applying performer equitable remuneration to streams. It’s one proposal for addressing concerns around artist remuneration that will be discussed by a new government-convened working group…

Chris Cooke • 20 Feb 2024

EU to investigate TikTok over online safety concerns

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TikTok • 2 min read

EU to investigate TikTok over online safety concerns

The European Union has announced it is investigating TikTok for potential breaches of its Digital Services Act - failure to deal with harmful content was one of the concerns cited by Universal Music when it pulled out of licensing negotiations last month…

Andy Malt • 20 Feb 2024

Apple faces €500 million fine after Spotify-prompted EU competition investigation

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Apple • 2 min read

Apple faces €500 million fine after Spotify-prompted EU competition investigation

Nearly five years after Spotify first submitted a formal complaint to the European Union over Apple’s App Store rules regarding in-app payments, EU regulators are reportedly about to fine the tech giant €500 million having concluded that those rules breach competition law…

Chris Cooke • 19 Feb 2024

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Pandora • 3 min read

MLC sues Pandora over unpaid royalties

Pandora has been sued by collecting society MLC in a dispute over whether or not the US streaming service needs to pay mechanical royalties on all the revenues associated with its free tier…

Chris Cooke • 13 Feb 2024

Believe is going private and - backed by hypergrowth investors - has its sights set on being music’s “first global major independent”

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Believe • 6 min read

Believe is going private and - backed by hypergrowth investors - has its sights set on being music’s “first global major independent”

Denis Ladegaillerie is taking Believe private in a deal backed by investors TCV and EQT that could mark the start of an intensely competitive deal landscape for the music industry over the next few years.…

Sam Taylor • 12 Feb 2024

“YouTube isn’t here”, says Yout lawyer in latest from legal battle with RIAA

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Yout • 2 min read

“YouTube isn’t here”, says Yout lawyer in latest from legal battle with RIAA

A lawyer for stream-ripping site Yout argued in court last week that YouTube’s input was required to settle key questions in its ongoing legal battle with the Recording Industry Association Of America…

Chris Cooke • 12 Feb 2024

Setlist Podcast: AI developments cause celebration and concern

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Artificial Intelligence • 5 min read

Setlist Podcast: AI developments cause celebration and concern

The music industry welcomes the final draft of the EU AI Act but sees plans for the UK to develop an AI code of conduct collapse, and allegations that the BBC is going head to head with its commercial rivals by launching new decade and genre specific music radio stations…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 09 Feb 2024

Warner Music’s Kyncl goes big on importance of major labels and data, says he is confident UMG TikTok dispute will be resolved

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Warner Music • 3 min read

Warner Music’s Kyncl goes big on importance of major labels and data, says he is confident UMG TikTok dispute will be resolved

Speaking to investors on a call about Warner Music’s Q4 earnings, CEO Robert Kyncl said that major music companies are only becoming more important as technology advances. He also said that he is “confident” that Universal and TikTok will resolve their current dispute and agree a new licensing deal…

Sam Taylor • 08 Feb 2024