RIAA - CMU | the music business explained

CD sales in the US plunge in first half of 2025 as paid streaming subscriptions hit 105 million users

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RIAA • 2 min read

CD sales in the US plunge in first half of 2025 as paid streaming subscriptions hit 105 million users

The RIAA has published stats for the US recorded music market for the first half of 2025, with paid streaming subscriptions in the country now exceeding 105 million. Streaming income was up 5.7%, but physical sales - especially CD - declined, so that overall recorded music revenues are up just 0.9%…

Chris Cooke • 10 Sep 2025

RIAA urges Donald Trump to instigate pro-copyright AI Action Plan

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Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

RIAA urges Donald Trump to instigate pro-copyright AI Action Plan

The RIAA has set out its arguments regarding copyright and AI as part of the consultation that will inform Donald Trump’s AI Action Plan. It insists that AI innovation and strong copyright protection are not “mutually exclusive”, urging the US government to take a pro-copyright approach…

Chris Cooke • 21 Mar 2025

Record industry welcomes Notorious Markets Report putting spotlight on bulletproof ISPs

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Piracy • 2 min read

Record industry welcomes Notorious Markets Report putting spotlight on bulletproof ISPs

The US Trade Representative last week published its annual Notorious Markets Report, running through key piracy gripes of the American IP industries. Although counterfeit medicines are a particular focus this year, music industry concerns are also summarised, including those pesky bulletproof ISPs…

Chris Cooke • 14 Jan 2025

Nirvana baby lawsuit takes new turn as RIAA files amicus brief saying litigation could have chilling effects

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Nirvana • 2 min read

Nirvana baby lawsuit takes new turn as RIAA files amicus brief saying litigation could have chilling effects

The man who, as a baby, appeared on the cover of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ is suing the band and their label claiming that the artwork breached US laws against child pornography. RIAA has come out in support of the band, saying a ruling against them would have a “chilling” effect on artistic expression…

Chris Cooke • 01 Nov 2024

“Bulletproof” ISPs in the spotlight as RIAA submits annual piracy gripes to US government’s ‘notorious markets’ report

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Piracy • 2 min read

“Bulletproof” ISPs in the spotlight as RIAA submits annual piracy gripes to US government’s ‘notorious markets’ report

The US government is putting together its annual notorious markets report, which lists piracy sites of concern. The record industry has made its submission. Whereas last year concerns about AI vocal clones were included, this year’s contribution focuses on more conventional types of music piracy…

Chris Cooke • 14 Oct 2024

US recorded music revenues continue to grow, latest RIAA stats confirm

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RIAA • 3 min read

US recorded music revenues continue to grow, latest RIAA stats confirm

The RIAA has published revenue figures for the US recorded music market in the first half of the year. Retail revenues were up 4% to $8.7 billion. Premium streaming accounts for the majority of that revenue, though vinyl sales are seeing the fastest growth at the moment…

Chris Cooke • 29 Aug 2024

Suno and Udio’s training admission is a “major concession” says RIAA

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Artificial Intelligence • 2 min read

Suno and Udio’s training admission is a “major concession” says RIAA

Suno and Udio yesterday filed responses to the lawsuits filed against them by the major record companies, presenting a fair use defence and accusing the majors of anticompetitive conduct. The RIAA has responded, saying the responses contain a “major concession”, but mainly continue to mislead…

Chris Cooke • 02 Aug 2024

Udio responds to record label lawsuit insisting its AI model ‘listens’ rather than ‘copies’

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Udio • 3 min read

Udio responds to record label lawsuit insisting its AI model ‘listens’ rather than ‘copies’

Udio has responded to the lawsuit filed by the record companies earlier this week. It insists that its AI model only ‘listens’ to existing recordings, learning the art of music-making just like a human creator. The record industry maintains that that listening involves unlicensed copying…

Chris Cooke • 26 Jun 2024

Suno boss accuses music industry of “reverting to its old lawyer-led playbook”

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Suno • 3 min read

Suno boss accuses music industry of “reverting to its old lawyer-led playbook”

The US record industry yesterday sued AI companies Suno and Udio for copyright infringement. Suno’s CEO says that the labels are just coming out guns blazing without first having a proper conversation. The RIAA says that labels are quite happy to do that with people who don’t first steal their stuff…

Chris Cooke • 25 Jun 2024

Suno and Udio’s “lawless” behaviour cheapens human creativity with sound-a-likes and knock-offs says watershed RIAA lawsuit

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AI • 6 min read

Suno and Udio’s “lawless” behaviour cheapens human creativity with sound-a-likes and knock-offs says watershed RIAA lawsuit

Suno and Udio are evasive about how they trained their AI models and have infringed copyright at “an almost unimaginable scale” says the RIAA. Music generated by the platform will flood the market with such speed and scale that the impact will be devastating for human creators…

Chris Cooke • 24 Jun 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

Internet Archive’s crackle based ‘fair use’ defence in copyright case is perverted, say labels

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Internet Archive • 2 min read

Internet Archive’s crackle based ‘fair use’ defence in copyright case is perverted, say labels

The Internet Archive recently filed a motion to dismiss the copyright lawsuit filed against it by the record industry over its Great 78 Project. The record labels have now responded, with a fun debate over whether crackles in a recording makes copying it fair use on historical preservation grounds…

Chris Cooke • 23 Feb 2024