The music business explained: news, analysis, insights and jobs for music industry professionals

Did Ticketmaster’s UK boss Andrew Parsons mislead MPs at a select committee hearing?

With the US record industry officially in recession can superpremium and superfans really save the major labels from streaming’s slowdown?

Record industry’s modest growth should make other industries jealous says IFPI boss, as labels weigh in on growth opportunities and AI threats

Trump must “weigh in” on AI copyright debate and pressure “less innovative countries” on copyright rules, says OpenAI

Everyone’s making loads of money but don’t point the finger at us if you’re not, says Spotify’s updated Loud & Clear

Andrew Tate course on ‘pimping’ and exploiting women remains on Spotify as petition passes 25,000 signatures

Universal will spend billions to dominate emerging markets, says Grainge during Q4 earnings call as major sets out its “eat the world” strategies

Liverpool “new heart of music business” says Sound City as major label execs and industry heavyweights head north

Live Nation boss dismissive of streaming platforms’ superfan ambitions as company reports record year

Spotify wants to be “the best in the world at building AI products” and is focused on “accelerated execution”... but still no super-premium launch

Judge throws out MLC’s audiobooks bundle lawsuit, says Spotify can keep cutting songwriter royalties through its “cynical trick”

Universal Music’s new Spotify deal could be a knock-out blow for streaming platform’s audiobook bundling trick

Universal put “corporate greed” before Drake’s safety, says defamation lawsuit filed over Kendrick Lamar diss track

Beware the “wolf under the cape” in Universal’s Downtown land grab, warns Beggars boss as IMPALA calls for regulators to block the deal

EU AI Act can only provide a “temporary fix” to the “darker aspect” of AI’s “profound disruption” to creative industries says open letter

AI generated music will suck €4 billion a year away from music creators by 2028 says CISAC

Village People founder loves Trump using YMCA, but hates people calling it a gay anthem

Executives from BMG, Absolute Label Services, Mahogany Music, Punch Records and more to join award winning female entrepreneurs in Liverpool as first Sound City+ 2025 speakers unveiled

AIF makes desperate call for government to “step up, and step up now” to get festivals through “devastating period”, as MVT launches new Liveline fund

New AI transparency proposal in US Congress will “pave the way” for creator compensation says ASCAP boss

SXSW ditches weapons sponsors to burnish brand - so why won’t it ditch its ties to Saudi Arabia?

SXSW London could disrupt delicately balanced music ecosystem and should reconsider its date

Secondary Ticketing • 4 min read

Live Nation sucks up to Trump after US president targets ticket scalpers

Donald Trump has issued an executive order instructing the FTC to ramp up its efforts regulating ticket scalpers in the US, including by better enforcing the BOTS Act. Although scalper-centric, the order could also impact on the wider ticketing business, and especially Live Nation and Ticketmaster…

Chris Cooke • 01 Apr 2025

Triller • 3 min read

Merlin gears up for legal rumble with bare knuckle fight championship owner Triller over $2.5 million in unpaid fees

While Triller let many of its music licences lapse a few years ago, indie label digital rights organisation Merlin is still owed $2.5 million from a 2020 licensing deal. The extra payment was due because of a most favoured nation clause in that deal. Merlin has now sued to get its money…

Chris Cooke • 01 Apr 2025

CMU Approved • 1 min read

🎧 Approved: L.A. WITCH

L.A. Witch exude an aura of effortless cool, a fusion of smooth and smoky garage alchemy with a newfound utilisation of post-punk’s disciplined reserve and icy instrumentation. Their new single ‘Icicle’ sees them journeying into the forlorn minimalism of Joy Division and early The Cure…

Kaya Robertson • 01 Apr 2025

Chance The Rapper • 2 min read

Can Chance The Rapper employ a legal technicality to get ex-manager’s lawsuit dismissed? No chance

A long running legal battle between Chance The Rapper and his ex-manager Pat Corcoran will proceed. Corcoran says he is due commissions under a three year sunset clause in an unwritten management deal. The rapper argued the commission claim was invalid under Illinois law, but the judge disagrees…

Chris Cooke • 31 Mar 2025

CMU Selects • 1 min read

CMU Selects - last week’s standout releases

Last week’s releases unfolded with intention - from OFFIE RADIO’s debut to a new DJ-Kicks mix, and Eartheater’s first-ever collab with Shygirl. Here’s what stood out.…

Kaya Robertson • 31 Mar 2025

BBC • 3 min read

BBC abandons controversial plan to sell ads on its podcasts in the UK

Last year the BBC announced it would start putting ads alongside its podcasts on platforms like Spotify within the UK. Commercial media companies argued that that would have a significant adverse impact on the UK podcast market. As a result, the BBC has abandoned its plan…

Chris Cooke • 31 Mar 2025

Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

Creative industries reject the EU’s new AI code of practice saying it sets “dangerous precedents” and undermines copyright law

The EU’s AI Office has been working on a code of practice for how technology companies should comply with the EU AI Act. The creative industries have now strongly criticised the current draft of that code, insisting it undermines the copyright and transparency obligations contained in the act…

Chris Cooke • 28 Mar 2025

Dua Lipa • 3 min read

Dua Lipa triumphs in ‘Levitating’ song-theft lawsuit

Dua Lipa was accused of ripping off a 1979 song when she wrote her hit ‘Levitating’. However, a judge has dismissed the lawsuit filed against her, concluding that the elements shared by ‘Levitating’ and the earlier song are not protected by copyright. Lipa’s song-theft accusers plan to appeal…

Chris Cooke • 28 Mar 2025

Horizon Future Leaders • 6 min read

🌅 Horizon Future Leaders - Mish Nnadi

As part of our Horizon Future Leaders series of interviews, we are connecting with the music industry’s next generation of leaders to gather candid advice and insights into their career journeys. This week, we caught up with Mish Nnadi, Global Asset Coordinator for Warner Music.…

Horizon Music Jobs • 28 Mar 2025

Anthropic • 4 min read

Music publishers’ lawsuit against Anthropic cut down by the judge, though core copyright complaints remain

A judge has dismissed various elements of the lawsuit that the Universal, Concord and ABKCO music publishing companies filed against AI business Anthropic, and declined to issue an injunction stopping it from using their lyrics. However, the publishers’ core copyright infringement claim will proceed…

Chris Cooke • 27 Mar 2025

Kanye West • 2 min read

Alice Merton received “relentless” threats from Kanye fans after she refused him permission to sample her music because of his Nazi views

Kanye West is facing yet another lawsuit over an uncleared sample. The rapper showcased a track sampling Alice Merton’s ‘Blindside’ before seeking permission. As a result, when she declined permission, stopping the release of West’s track, she received relentless online abuse from his fans…

Chris Cooke • 27 Mar 2025