The latest record label news

US radio royalties back in the spotlight in Congress

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American Music Fairness Act • 3 min read

US radio royalties back in the spotlight in Congress

The decades long campaign to force US radio stations to pay royalties to artists and labels continues. Representatives for the music industry - including Randy Travis - and the radio sector went back through the arguments for and against such a royalty at a hearing in US Congress yesterday…

Chris Cooke • 27 Jun 2024

Warner Music sued over Tom Petty documentary

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Tom Petty • 1 min read

Warner Music sued over Tom Petty documentary

Film-maker Martyn Atkins has accused Warner Music of using his footage of Tom Petty recording 1994 album ‘Wildflowers’ in the 2021 documentary ‘Somewhere You Feel Free’ without permission. Not only that, but the documentary was originally Atkins idea, it is claimed…

Chris Cooke • 20 Jun 2024

French label and performer collecting societies announce joint venture

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Collective Licensing • 2 min read

French label and performer collecting societies announce joint venture

French record label collecting society SCPP has announced a new joint venture with performer society ADAMI which will see the two organisations pool their databases and royalty distribution systems. They say that the collaboration will increase efficiency and strengthen their respective rights…

Chris Cooke • 28 May 2024

Lucian’s lunch money under threat as shareholder pressure mounts over “excessive” pay packet

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Lucian Grainge • 4 min read

Lucian’s lunch money under threat as shareholder pressure mounts over “excessive” pay packet

Lucian Grainge is inches away from getting a massive bonus as the UMG share price nears €30 per share, while investors are looking for signs that his STIs could be out of control. That’s short-term incentives, you filthy dogs…

Sam Taylor • 07 May 2024

Goldman Sachs analysts upbeat about music industry after a “turning point” year

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Goldman Sachs • 4 min read

Goldman Sachs analysts upbeat about music industry after a “turning point” year

Goldman Sachs has published its annual ‘Music In The Air’ report, reviewing the wider music sector and making predictions through to 2030. Streaming price rises, AI and superfan opportunities, and a resurgent live sector mean analysts have increased their predicted annual growth rate to 7.6%…

Chris Cooke • 07 May 2024

Universal boss Lucian Grainge talks up the new TikTok deal which “will protect the integrity and value of human artistry”

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TikTok • 2 min read

Universal boss Lucian Grainge talks up the new TikTok deal which “will protect the integrity and value of human artistry”

Following the news that Universal Music has agreed a new licensing deal with TikTok, boss man Lucian Grainge has sent a memo out to this staff. He confirms that the new deal addresses the major’s concerns around money and platform safety, and especially AI…

Chris Cooke • 03 May 2024

Believe board backs buyout bid - but company will remain listed on Paris exchange

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Believe • 5 min read

Believe board backs buyout bid - but company will remain listed on Paris exchange

Believe’s move to private equity backing now looks like a done deal. The twist is that shareholders won’t be forced to sell their shares and can participate in Believe’s long term growth through a continued public listing, while sources point to “upcoming consolidation” in music industry…

Sam Taylor • 19 Apr 2024

Twitch “close” to securing major label licensing deals

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Twitch • 3 min read

Twitch “close” to securing major label licensing deals

Twitch CEO Dan Clancy has said that after years of negotiations, the live streaming platform is now “pretty close” to securing licensing deals with the major record labels for the use of their music…

Andy Malt • 15 Apr 2024

Gee Davy to take over as head of indie label trade body AIM as Silvia Montello exits

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Association Of Independent Music (AIM) • 2 min read

Gee Davy to take over as head of indie label trade body AIM as Silvia Montello exits

AIM has announced that Silvia Montello is leaving the organisation, a little over a year after joining. Newly promoted to Chief Policy Officer, Gee Davy will lead the organisation going forward, as the trade body indicates to CMU that it has no plans to recruit a new CEO in the foreseeable future…

Andy Malt • 11 Apr 2024

WIN renews shared values of the independent music community

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WIN • 3 min read

WIN renews shared values of the independent music community

The World Independent Network has updated its Global Independent Values. First published in 2012, these are the ten key principles shared by the international trade body’s members. They have been renewed following a period of consultation with music organisations globally…

Andy Malt • 10 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

Setlist Podcast: Make big shows fund grassroots music, politicians told

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Setlist • 3 min read

Setlist Podcast: Make big shows fund grassroots music, politicians told

UK politicians hear possible solutions to the grassroots venues crisis, Nirvana logo dispute back in court…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 29 Mar 2024

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