Music industry legal news

Downtown deal part of Universal strategy to “undermine vitality and viability” of indie sector, cautions competition law expert

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Downtown Music • 4 min read

Downtown deal part of Universal strategy to “undermine vitality and viability” of indie sector, cautions competition law expert

The European Union is in the process of assessing Universal’s deal to buy Downtown, and whether it should undertake a more in-depth investigation. Competition law expert Amelia Fletcher says it definitely should, because the deal threatens competition, choice and innovation in the music industry…

Chris Cooke • 16 Jun 2025

Major labels “bewildered” by why Trump appointee would meddle in Cox Communications piracy case

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Cox Communications • 2 min read

Major labels “bewildered” by why Trump appointee would meddle in Cox Communications piracy case

Donald Trump’s Solicitor General recently urged the US Supreme Court to intervene in the major labels’ legal battle with ISP Cox, expressing concerns that precedent set in the case could lead to millions of internet disconnections. The majors now say that intervention is “bewildering” and wrong…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jun 2025

Talent agency CAA accuses founders of rival company Range of “spy novel” plot to launch competing business

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CAA • 2 min read

Talent agency CAA accuses founders of rival company Range of “spy novel” plot to launch competing business

The already dramatic legal battle between agency CAA and rival company Range - set up in 2020 by a team of former CAA agents - ramped up this week. CAA says it has new evidence that shows Range’s founders employed spy-novel type tactics to steal confidential information from their former employer…

Chris Cooke • 13 Jun 2025

AI platform Midjourney is “bottomless pit of plagiarism” say Hollywood studios as they join legal battle against AI

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Artificial Intelligence • 3 min read

AI platform Midjourney is “bottomless pit of plagiarism” say Hollywood studios as they join legal battle against AI

Film studios Disney and Universal have sued Midjourney claiming that its image-generating AI is “a bottomless pit of plagiarism”. Although a movie industry case, it’s relevant to the music business too, with the RIAA stating that the studios’ lawsuit is “a critical stand for human creativity”…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jun 2025

Don’t gaslight MPs warns Caroline Dinenage as she says ministers have got into a “terrible pickle” over AI

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

Don’t gaslight MPs warns Caroline Dinenage as she says ministers have got into a “terrible pickle” over AI

The House Of Lords is now expected to pass the Data Bill without the provisions on AI transparency it has been trying hard to include. The government says it has listened to the Lords and in response committed to publish some reports. But, that’s just “pushing the can down the road”, say critics…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jun 2025

What does ‘egregious infringement’ even mean, asks Grande as it ridicules majors’ latest piracy filing

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Grande Communications • 3 min read

What does ‘egregious infringement’ even mean, asks Grande as it ridicules majors’ latest piracy filing

Grande Communications wants the US Supreme Court to overturn a $47 million judgement against it in a piracy case pursued by the major record companies. The majors recently argued that judgement was sound because it related to “egregious copyright infringement”. In a new filing, Grande disagrees…

Chris Cooke • 11 Jun 2025

Campaigners say second round of legal action should stop “misuse of planning powers” that allowed Brockwell Park festivals to go ahead

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Brockwell Live • 3 min read

Campaigners say second round of legal action should stop “misuse of planning powers” that allowed Brockwell Park festivals to go ahead

While the 2025 edition of Brockwell Live is over, the legal battle over the use of London’s Brockwell Park as a festival venue continues. Local campaigners have launched a second judicial review which they say should stop the “misuse of planning powers” that allowed the 2025 festivals to proceed…

Chris Cooke • 09 Jun 2025

LyricFind lawsuit is meritless nonsense from bitter jilted rival with messy paperwork, says Musixmatch

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Musixmatch • 3 min read

LyricFind lawsuit is meritless nonsense from bitter jilted rival with messy paperwork, says Musixmatch

Earlier this year LyricFind filed a lawsuit in California claiming an exclusivity deal negotiated between its competitor Musixmatch and Warner Chappell was anticompetitive. Musixmatch says that’s simply not the case - and, anyway, the Californian courts don’t have jurisdiction in this dispute…

Chris Cooke • 06 Jun 2025

If Congress forces AM radio into every car, it should also force AM radio to pay artists, says open letter to US lawmakers

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Radio royalties • 3 min read

If Congress forces AM radio into every car, it should also force AM radio to pay artists, says open letter to US lawmakers

Proposals are moving through US Congress that would force car manufacturers to ensure that every vehicle still has an AM radio in it. The automotive sector has now joined with the music industry to argue: if that is going to happen, US radio should be forced to pay royalties to artists and labels…

Chris Cooke • 05 Jun 2025

One year on from Misogyny In Music report issues are unaddressed and “appear to be on repeat” say MPs

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Misogyny In Music • 4 min read

One year on from Misogyny In Music report issues are unaddressed and “appear to be on repeat” say MPs

Parliament’s Women And Equalities Committee has published an update to its 2024 ‘Misogyny In Music’ report confirming much more still needs to be done. The last government declined to implement legal reforms, but this government should, MPs say, including outlawing NDAs in cases of sexual misconduct…

Chris Cooke • 04 Jun 2025

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

“History repeating itself” say music creators as majors start negotiations with Suno and Udio

The majors are involved in licensing negotiations with the two music AI companies they sued last year, Udio and Suno. But will they consult music creators before agreeing any deals? Artist and songwriter organisations fear not, but insist that creator consent must be secured before signing any deals…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

Eminem publisher sues Meta in “another case of a trillion dollar company” exploiting artists for “obscene monetary benefit”

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Eminem • 3 min read

Eminem publisher sues Meta in “another case of a trillion dollar company” exploiting artists for “obscene monetary benefit”

Music publisher Eight Mile Style has sued Meta for the unlicensed use of Eminem’s songs on Facebook and Instagram. The publisher says that, by including Eminem’s music in its own audio clip libraries without a licence, Meta can’t rely on the copyright safe harbour and is liable for infringement…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jun 2025

Music industry legal news coverage