Music industry legal news

ECSA calls for transparency over the major’s AI deals - and confirmation songs and recordings will have parity

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ECSA • 3 min read

ECSA calls for transparency over the major’s AI deals - and confirmation songs and recordings will have parity

ECSA, representing songwriters and composers across Europe, has called for more transparency about the big AI deals now being announced by the majors. Writers need to know various things about those deals, but especially how income will be split between the recording rights and the song rights…

Chris Cooke • 28 Nov 2025

Canadian Prime Minister and border agency not involved in supposed Kneecap ban

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Kneecap • 3 min read

Canadian Prime Minister and border agency not involved in supposed Kneecap ban

Canada’s supposed Kneecap ban was in the spotlight in the Canadian Parliament this week. The country’s Prime Minister and border agency both said they were not involved in a September announcement by MP Vince Gasparro, who claimed the group had been banned from entering the country…

Chris Cooke • 27 Nov 2025

Johnny Cash estate uses ELVIS Act to sue Coke over tribute act ad soundtrack

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Johnny Cash • 3 min read

Johnny Cash estate uses ELVIS Act to sue Coke over tribute act ad soundtrack

The Johnny Cash estate has sued Coke over its use of a tribute act to provide vocals for a new ad campaign earlier this year. It is suing under Tennessee’s new ELVIS Act, which allows performers to stop unauthorised AI voice clones, but also applies when sound-a-like singers are employed…

Chris Cooke • 27 Nov 2025

German courts turn to EU judges to clarify key questions in UMG’s piracy battle with Cloudflare

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Cloudflare • 3 min read

German courts turn to EU judges to clarify key questions in UMG’s piracy battle with Cloudflare

Germany’s top court is reviewing a legal battle between Universal and Cloudflare, which began when the major sought a web-blocking order against piracy site DDL-Music. German judges have now asked the EU courts for guidance, which could impact on the industry’s wider battle with piracy in Europe…

Chris Cooke • 26 Nov 2025

Another class action is filed over the Apple Tax on music streaming, this time in France

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Apple • 3 min read

Another class action is filed over the Apple Tax on music streaming, this time in France

Another consumer rights group is suing Apple over its App Store rules regarding payments within music apps like the Spotify app. France’s CLCV says that Apple’s rules meant some music subscribers suffered “economic and moral harms”, including having to pay higher than necessary subscription fees…

Chris Cooke • 25 Nov 2025

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall ready to reset discussion on AI, but cautions creator friendly legal reform can’t be rushed

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

Technology Secretary Liz Kendall ready to reset discussion on AI, but cautions creator friendly legal reform can’t be rushed

The UK’s new Technology Secretary says she is “resetting the discussion” around copyright and AI, keen to reassure the creative industries their concerns are being heard by the government. Though don’t expect any immediate changes to copyright law, because “there’s a lot of detail to work out here”…

Chris Cooke • 24 Nov 2025

Megan Thee Stallion testifies in Milagro Gramz YouTube defamation battle

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Megan Thee Stallion • 2 min read

Megan Thee Stallion testifies in Milagro Gramz YouTube defamation battle

Megan Thee Stallion’s defamation battle with YouTuber Milagro Gramz has been in court this week. Yesterday the rapper delivered an emotionally charged testimony, explaining that Gramz “created a space for a lot of people to come speak negatively about me”, causing her considerable emotional distress…

Chris Cooke • 21 Nov 2025

Fugee Pras Michel jailed for fourteen years after illegal lobbying

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Pras • 2 min read

Fugee Pras Michel jailed for fourteen years after illegal lobbying

Pras from The Fugees has been jailed for fourteen years after being convicted over illegal lobbying after taking millions from fugitive Malaysian billionaire Jho Low to influence US politicians on his behalf. A legal rep for Pras says the sentence is “completely disproportionate to the offence”…

Chris Cooke • 21 Nov 2025

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Warner Music • 3 min read

Warner Music boss outlines AI strategy of “legislate, litigate and license”, but only commits to artist opt-in on “name, image, likeness and voice”

Warner has followed Universal’s lead and settled its lawsuit with music AI start-up Udio, and entered into a licensing deal covering Udio’s new service. Warner CEO Robert Kyncl has written a blog post on the major’s AI strategy, though his commitment on artist consent is unlikely to placate creators…

Chris Cooke • 20 Nov 2025

Live Nation says DoJ antitrust case is based on “gerrymandered” stats and no real evidence

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Live Nation • 3 min read

Live Nation says DoJ antitrust case is based on “gerrymandered” stats and no real evidence

Live Nation has told the judge overseeing its antitrust legal battle with the US government that he should issue a summary judgment in its favour. The government has failed to provide any evidence of anticompetitive conduct, it claims, and is instead relying on “gerrymandered” market share stats…

Chris Cooke • 20 Nov 2025

StubHub share price craters as UK prepares to announce ticket touting ban

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StubHub • 3 min read

StubHub share price craters as UK prepares to announce ticket touting ban

The UK government is expected to announce a ban of for-profit ticket touting tomorrow, making good on a previous promise to better regulate ticket resale. Reports of the ban in the financial press have already caused the share price of Viagogo’s owner, US-based StubHub, to slump…

Chris Cooke • 18 Nov 2025

Regulators must consider UMG’s AI deals in Downtown case, says IAO President

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Regulators must consider UMG’s AI deals in Downtown case, says IAO President

As EU competition regulators continue to investigate Universal’s bid to buy Downtown, the President of global artist group IAO has written to European Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to stress that the major’s new AI licensing deals must be considered as part of that investigation…

Chris Cooke • 17 Nov 2025

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