Digital services and platforms news - CMU | the music business explained (Page 2)

King Gizzard frontman on Spotify boycott: “I don’t really want our music to be there, at least right now”

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Spotify • 3 min read

King Gizzard frontman on Spotify boycott: “I don’t really want our music to be there, at least right now”

After Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in the arms sector were back in the news recently a number of artists announced they were boycotting the platform in protest. That included King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard who have now discussed their decision in a new interview with the LA Times…

Chris Cooke • 15 Aug 2025

Kobalt strikes US direct licensing deal with Spotify

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Kobalt • 3 min read

Kobalt strikes US direct licensing deal with Spotify

Kobalt has signed a direct deal with Spotify in the US. It means Kobalt will be paid mechanical royalties on bespoke terms rather than at rates set by the US compulsory licence. Universal and Warner have also done direct deals since Spotify started applying the compulsory licence’s bundling discount…

Chris Cooke • 14 Aug 2025

Australian music industry says proposed AI copyright exception would be “a dangerous step backwards”

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

Australian music industry says proposed AI copyright exception would be “a dangerous step backwards”

Last week the Australian government’s Productivity Commission invited feedback on the proposal that a new exception be added to the country’s copyright law to benefit AI companies. The music industry has hit back at that proposal, with indie label group AIR calling it “a dangerous step backwards”…

Chris Cooke • 11 Aug 2025

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Streaming Levy • 3 min read

US Republicans want Trump to use trade talk pressure to kill Canada’s streaming levy

US politicians are going after the new Canadian streaming levy. After pressure from Donald Trump prompted Canada to drop its Digital Services Tax, Republicans have now urged the White House to similarly pressure the Canadian government over the separate 5% levy on streaming services…

Chris Cooke • 11 Aug 2025

Spotify announces more price increases, boosting share price

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify announces more price increases, boosting share price

Spotify is putting up its prices again in multiple markets, including - for the first time - India. In some European markets, a monthly subscription will increase from €10.99 to €11.99. Investors have responded positively to the news, with the company’s share price increasing yesterday…

Chris Cooke • 05 Aug 2025

Sony sues Napster over $9.2 million in unpaid royalties

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Sony Music • 2 min read

Sony sues Napster over $9.2 million in unpaid royalties

Following reports earlier this year that Napster wasn’t paying all the royalties that were due to the music industry, Sony Music has now sued the streaming service. It says Napster hasn’t been paying its bills for over a year now and new owner Infinite Reality hasn’t fixed the problem…

Kaya Robertson • 05 Aug 2025

YouTube now the second most watched media platform in the UK, behind only the BBC

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YouTube • 3 min read

YouTube now the second most watched media platform in the UK, behind only the BBC

YouTube is now second only to the BBC when it comes to at-home video consumption, according to a new report from OfCom. The regulator considers what that means for traditional public service broadcasters like the BBC, having recently suggested new laws to force YouTube to sign-post their content…

Chris Cooke • 31 Jul 2025

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

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Spotify • 3 min read

Spotify age-checks could result in accounts being deleted, but only if you’re twelve

Last week age-check requirements contained in the UK’s Online Safety Act went into force, meaning platforms must check a user’s age before they access content that is deemed harmful to children. That includes Spotify, where new age-check rules led to fears some users might see their accounts deleted…

Chris Cooke • 31 Jul 2025

Implementation of EU AI Act “solely benefits” AI companies say creator groups who demand a complete rethink

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Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

Implementation of EU AI Act “solely benefits” AI companies say creator groups who demand a complete rethink

The European Commission has now published various documents setting out how AI companies should comply with copyright and transparency obligations in the EU AI Act. However, creator groups say their concerns were ignored when those documents were being compiled and they should therefore be rewritten…

Chris Cooke • 30 Jul 2025

Increasing number of artists join Spotify boycott over CEO’s AI weapon investments

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Spotify • 3 min read

Increasing number of artists join Spotify boycott over CEO’s AI weapon investments

Last month it emerged that Spotify boss Daniel Ek had put more money into - and was now Chair of - AI defence tech company Helsing. That has prompted criticism from a number of artists, with King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard now joining Deerhoof in pulling their music from Spotify in protest…

Chris Cooke • 28 Jul 2025

‘Implied jokes licence’ no laughing matter says comedy lawyer in stand-up streaming stand off

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Pandora • 2 min read

‘Implied jokes licence’ no laughing matter says comedy lawyer in stand-up streaming stand off

A group of comedians sued Pandora for copyright infringement on the basis that, although it had permission to stream recordings of their performances, it never got licences covering their comedy material. But a judge who has reviewed the case says Pandora had an implied licence for all the jokes…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jul 2025

If China blocks TikTok deal app will “go dark” says US Commerce Secretary, but hints deal “coming soon”

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TikTok • 2 min read

If China blocks TikTok deal app will “go dark” says US Commerce Secretary, but hints deal “coming soon”

TikTok’s future in the US remains uncertain. Although Donald Trump has now postponed three times the deadline for ByteDance to sell the app in order to avoid a ban, his Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said the sale must happen, and if China blocks the deal “TikTok is going to go dark”…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jul 2025