SoundExchange - CMU | the music business explained

SoundExchange boss says all EU countries must change copyright rules so European radio royalties flow to American performers

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SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange boss says all EU countries must change copyright rules so European radio royalties flow to American performers

Ireland last week changed its copyright laws so that radio royalties can now flow to American performers when their music is played on Irish radio. SoundExchange has celebrated the change, caused by an EU court ruling, but some European industry groups say the European Commission should intervene…

Chris Cooke • 18 Mar 2026

With US radio stations making $14 billion, it’s time for them to stop robbing musicians, says Gene Simmons

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Gene Simmons • 3 min read

With US radio stations making $14 billion, it’s time for them to stop robbing musicians, says Gene Simmons

The fact AM/FM radio stations in the US do not have to pay royalties to artists and labels was back in the spotlight in Washington yesterday. Gene Simmons told Congress members that a $14 billion radio industry not paying artists who make the recordings its stations play is basically “robbery”…

Chris Cooke • 10 Dec 2025

Sonos wants courts to dismiss SoundExchange lawsuit after controversial Sirius ruling

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SoundExchange • 2 min read

Sonos wants courts to dismiss SoundExchange lawsuit after controversial Sirius ruling

Last month a US judge threw out a lawsuit filed by SoundExchange against Sirius XM on the basis the collecting society isn’t empowered to file litigation over royalty disputes. Sonos, also fighting a lawsuit from the society, says its litigation should now be dismissed as well on the same grounds…

Chris Cooke • 11 Sep 2025

SoundExchange appeals ruling that says it can’t file lawsuits when licensees fail to pay all the royalties that are due

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SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange appeals ruling that says it can’t file lawsuits when licensees fail to pay all the royalties that are due

Last month a US judge threw out a royalties lawsuit filed by collecting society SoundExchange against satellite broadcaster Sirius XM, concluding that society doesn’t actually have the right to sue its licensees. SoundExchange says that ruling was “erroneous” and is now taking the matter to appeal…

Chris Cooke • 08 Sep 2025

SoundExchange can’t sue Sirius in federal courts, says judge in royalties dispute

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SoundExchange • 3 min read

SoundExchange can’t sue Sirius in federal courts, says judge in royalties dispute

A US judge has said that collecting society SoundExchange doesn’t have the right to file lawsuits in order to enforce its members’ rights. Which isn’t ideal. That ruling has been made in SoundExchange’s ongoing royalties dispute with satellite broadcaster Sirius, which it sued in 2023…

Chris Cooke • 08 Aug 2025

SoundExchange sues Sonos Radio over missing royalties apparently caused by departure of key Napster employee

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Sonos • 2 min read

SoundExchange sues Sonos Radio over missing royalties apparently caused by departure of key Napster employee

SoundExchange has sued Sonos over $3.3 million in unpaid royalties stemming from its Sonos Radio service in 2022 and 2023. Royalties went unpaid after Napster, which used to power Sonos Radio, was acquired. But SoundExchange insists it’s still Sonos’s responsibility to pay the money that’s owed…

Chris Cooke • 18 Jun 2025

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

Performer remuneration should actually be paid to performers, confirms US appeals court

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El Gran Combo • 3 min read

Performer remuneration should actually be paid to performers, confirms US appeals court

A dispute involving Puerto Rican group El Gran Combo asked who should get the featured artist payments due from collecting society SoundExchange when a band is owned by a company and not the performers in that band. An appeals court has concluded the performers should get paid, not the company…

Chris Cooke • 21 Jun 2024

Setlist Podcast: Managers criticise Universal's Pandora royalty switch

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Setlist Podcast: Managers criticise Universal's Pandora royalty switch

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss criticism of a change to the way Universal Music pays out Pandora royalties and redundancies at Bandcamp…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 20 Oct 2023

Sirius XM responds to SoundExchange lawsuit

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Sirius XM • 2 min read

Sirius XM responds to SoundExchange lawsuit

US satellite broadcaster Sirius XM has responded to a lawsuit filed against it by SoundExchange over allegedly underpaid royalties, accusing the collecting society of making “misguided allegations”…

Andy Malt • 25 Sep 2023