Universal Music Group news

Dismissal of Drake’s ‘Not Like Us’ defamation claim sets “dangerous” precedent, says Drake

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Drake • 2 min read

Dismissal of Drake’s ‘Not Like Us’ defamation claim sets “dangerous” precedent, says Drake

Drake has filed an appeal in his defamation legal battle with Universal Music over Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Not Like Us’. A judge dismissed Drake’s lawsuit last year concluding lyrics in a rap diss track do not constitute ‘statements of fact’. Drake’s lawyers argue that that has set a “dangerous” precedent…

Chris Cooke • 23 Jan 2026

Universal’s Downtown deal likely to be approved by EU regulator, according to sources

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Universal’s Downtown deal likely to be approved by EU regulator, according to sources

Universal’s Downtown deal likely to be approved by EU regulator, according to sources…

Chris Cooke • 21 Jan 2026

Five key developments over the Christmas break

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Music industry legal news coverage • 6 min read

Five key developments over the Christmas break

With the Christmas break now well and truly over and forgotten, here are five key developments in the music business since the last CMU Daily of 2025, including X suing the music publishers, a judge dismissing Salt N Pepa’s UMG lawsuit, Lucian Grainge’s memo, and TikTok and Spotify developments…

Chris Cooke • 12 Jan 2026

As indie community calls again for Universal’s Downtown deal to be blocked, will UMG flog off Curve to get over regulators?

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Universal Music • 3 min read

As indie community calls again for Universal’s Downtown deal to be blocked, will UMG flog off Curve to get over regulators?

Universal Music has proposed a remedy to allay the European Commission’s concerns over its bid to buy Downtown Music. That may involve the major proposing to sell off Downtown’s Curve business. But the indie sector remains adamant that no remedies will work and the EC should block the deal outright…

Chris Cooke • 15 Dec 2025

Taylor Swift hits back at “absurd and legally baseless” claims that she ripped off existing poems when writing her lyrics

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Taylor Swift • 2 min read

Taylor Swift hits back at “absurd and legally baseless” claims that she ripped off existing poems when writing her lyrics

Taylor Swift has been accused of ripping off a set of poems when writing lyrics for songs on four different albums. But in a new court filing, Swift says a lawsuit filed by the writer behind those poems is “absurd”, and no different to an earlier dismissed lawsuit against one of her companies…

Chris Cooke • 08 Dec 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

Indie community welcomes EU’s ‘statement of objections’ over Universal’s Downtown deal

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Indie community welcomes EU’s ‘statement of objections’ over Universal’s Downtown deal

The European Commission yesterday confirmed it has sent a statement of objections to Universal regarding its bid to buy Downtown, raising data concerns, particularly in relation to Downtown’s Curve platform. Indie labels have welcomed the development and continue to argue the deal should be blocked…

Chris Cooke • 25 Nov 2025

European regulators warn Universal’s takeover of Downtown “will likely impede competition”

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Universal Music • 3 min read

European regulators warn Universal’s takeover of Downtown “will likely impede competition”

Competition regulators in the EU investigating Universal’s bid to buy Downtown are about to send the major a ‘statement of objections’ about the deal, which happens if regulators conclude a planned merger will “likely impede competition”. UMG will then have ten days to respond to those objections…

Chris Cooke • 19 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

North American songwriter groups join call for transparency and creator consent as music companies start signing AI deals

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MCNA • 3 min read

North American songwriter groups join call for transparency and creator consent as music companies start signing AI deals

Music Creators North America have called on labels and publishers to commit to deal transparency and creator consent around any agreements they reach with AI companies, such as Universal’s deal with Udio. They join the US Music Artists Coalition and UK Council Of Music Makers in making those demands…

Chris Cooke • 14 Nov 2025

Artists must have creative control in AI deals or risk ending up with “scraps”, says US artist trade body

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Music Artists Coalition • 3 min read

Artists must have creative control in AI deals or risk ending up with “scraps”, says US artist trade body

Last week Universal Music settled its legal dispute with AI company Udio and licensed a new AI-powered music service that Udio will launch next year. While it’s good Udio is engaging with the industry, that deal raises an assortment of concerns and questions, says the US Music Artists Coalition…

Chris Cooke • 03 Nov 2025

Universal has settled its lawsuit with Udio, and signed AI deals with Udio and Stability

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Universal has settled its lawsuit with Udio, and signed AI deals with Udio and Stability

Universal has announced big AI deals with Udio and Stability. The Udio agreement brings to an end the major’s legal battle with the AI start-up which was accused of copyright infringement. As the majors start to do deals like these, the debate around music creator consent in AI will get more heated…

Chris Cooke • 30 Oct 2025