Labels & Publishers - CMU | the music business explained

HYBE denies wrongdoing over pre-IPO deals that netted founder Bang Si-hyuk $285 million

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Hybe • 3 min read

HYBE denies wrongdoing over pre-IPO deals that netted founder Bang Si-hyuk $285 million

HYBE has denied any wrongdoing after it emerged South Korea’s Financial Supervisory Service is investigating deals done between founder Bang Si-hyuk and investors before the K-pop company’s IPO in 2020. The regulator is investigating whether those deals should have been declared ahead of the IPO…

Chris Cooke • 03 Dec 2024

Sony Music commits “blatant and massive piracy”, says a former business partner

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Sony Music • 2 min read

Sony Music commits “blatant and massive piracy”, says a former business partner

Ultra Music Publishing has sued Sony Music over allegations of copyright infringement. Sony now owns the Ultra record label, but not the publishing company. It says Sony has infringed rights in compositions it controls by uploading, selling and synchronising them without the necessary licences…

Chris Cooke • 03 Dec 2024

BMG announces restructure to "future proof" the business

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BMG • 1 min read

BMG announces restructure to "future proof" the business

BMG yesterday announced a restructure of its operations because, says CEO Thomas Coesfeld, “new ways of creating and consuming music and looming changes in streaming economics are challenging us to do even better for our clients”…

Chris Cooke • 01 Dec 2023

“Name, image, likeness and voice” should be “afforded the same protection as copyright” says Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl, as major labels look set to hit $30 billion in combined annual revenues

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Warner Music • 2 min read

“Name, image, likeness and voice” should be “afforded the same protection as copyright” says Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl, as major labels look set to hit $30 billion in combined annual revenues

Warner Music has confirmed its figures for the last quarter and financial year, with annual revenues of over $6 billion - CEO Robert Kyncl also discussed with investors the opportunities and challenges around music and AI…

Sam Taylor • 17 Nov 2023

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BMG • 1 min read

BMG restructure results in job losses

BMG last week announced a restructure that will result in a number of job losses, impacting on international marketing, theatre and film projects, and the Modern Recordings label…

Chris Cooke • 30 Oct 2023

Blue Raincoat announces charity partnership with Attitude Is Everything

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Blue Raincoat Music • 1 min read

Blue Raincoat announces charity partnership with Attitude Is Everything

Blue Raincoat Music has announced a wide-ranging partnership with accessibility charity Attitude Is Everything…

Chris Cooke • 04 Oct 2023

Universal Music ordered to hand over R Kelly royalties to pay fines and restitution

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Artist News • 3 min read

Universal Music ordered to hand over R Kelly royalties to pay fines and restitution

US judge directs Universal Music Publishing to hand over $500k to federal prosecutors to settle fines and restitution claims after Kelly was found guilty of running a criminal enterprise to sexually and physically abuse women and teenagers.…

Chris Cooke • 25 Aug 2023

YouTube sets out three principles for the development of AI music

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umg • 3 min read

YouTube sets out three principles for the development of AI music

YouTube and UMG team up to unleash AI, with Lucian Grainge saying there's a "promising upside" but music industry needs to set "rules of the road" which include "responsibly embracing" AI and "appropriate protections".…

Chris Cooke • 23 Aug 2023

Songwriter groups demand information about a newly for-profit BMI's plans and possible sale

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Business News • 4 min read

Songwriter groups demand information about a newly for-profit BMI's plans and possible sale

Various groups representing songwriters in the US have written to the boss of American collecting society BMI asking a number…

Chris Cooke • 21 Aug 2023

Cox Communications • 3 min read

Music industry wins billion dollar damages as jury rules in Cox case

In August 2018 the major record companies sued US ISP Cox Communications for copyright infringement, following previous legal action by BMG. The jury is now back - and has decided against Cox, meaning they are now on the hook for a billion dollars in damages.…

Chris Cooke • 20 Dec 2019

Cox Communications • 2 min read

Major labels sue Cox Communications

After BMG's legal action against Cox - which was one of the big safe harbour copyright cases in the US - the major labels are now suing the US ISP, saying that the internal procedures the company has for dealing with repeat infringers is a "sham".…

Chris Cooke • 02 Aug 2018