Digital services and platforms news - CMU | the music business explained

Music industry, movie studios and tech companies welcome reintroduction of digital replica right creating NO FAKES Act in Congress

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Artificial Intelligence • 4 min read

Music industry, movie studios and tech companies welcome reintroduction of digital replica right creating NO FAKES Act in Congress

The music industry has welcomed the reintroduction of the NO FAKES Act in US Congress, which will introduce a new right allowing performers to control their voice and likeness in the context of AI. Some tech and digital companies are supportive too, though others still have some concerns…

Chris Cooke • 10 Apr 2025

Orchestral players call on UK culture minister to ensure all musicians earn when their music is streamed

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Musicians’ Union • 3 min read

Orchestral players call on UK culture minister to ensure all musicians earn when their music is streamed

Musicians from over 20 UK orchestras have backed a letter to culture minister Chris Bryant asking him to ensure that any performers who appear on a recording that is streamed share in the revenue that is generated. Achieving that will require an industry-wide agreement or changes to copyright law…

Chris Cooke • 08 Apr 2025

Yet another reprieve for TikTok as Trump pauses ban after tariffs up-end deal to sell US operations

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TikTok • 4 min read

Yet another reprieve for TikTok as Trump pauses ban after tariffs up-end deal to sell US operations

The latest deadline for ByteDance to sell TikTok in the US was this weekend. It was not met, because officials in China were in no mood to approve a deal after Trump ramped up the tariff on Chinese imports. But Trump has extended the deadline by another 75 days in the hope a deal can still be done…

Chris Cooke • 07 Apr 2025

Korean collecting society says AI-assisted works cannot be registered

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KOMCA • 2 min read

Korean collecting society says AI-assisted works cannot be registered

Korean collecting society KOMCA has told its members that songs and compositions created using AI cannot be registered with the organisation. Which means if AI has played any role in the creation of a song, it can’t be registered or earn royalties. At least for the time being…

Chris Cooke • 02 Apr 2025

As the next TikTok ban approaches in the US, is a revamp of Oracle’s 2020 deal likely to save the app?

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TikTok • 3 min read

As the next TikTok ban approaches in the US, is a revamp of Oracle’s 2020 deal likely to save the app?

TikTok is set to be banned in the US on 5 Apr unless it is sold by China-based owner ByteDance. Negotiations for a sale are very much underway in the White House, including a deal involving Oracle, though it’s not clear that deal will be approved by China, or supported by Republicans in Congress…

Chris Cooke • 18 Mar 2025

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

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Spotify • 6 min read

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

Spotify has updated its Loud & Clear website with lots of stats for 2024, including that it paid the music industry more than $10 billion last year. Spotify also uses Loud & Clear to counter negative narratives about streaming, and the updates in that domain are just as interesting as the stats…

Chris Cooke • 12 Mar 2025

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

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Spotify • 5 min read

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

Spotify has removed two Andrew Tate courses that were published on its platform instructing men on how to exploit women, but a third, called ‘Andrew Tate PHD (Pimping Hoes Degree)’, remains. A petition calling for all three courses to be removed has now passed 25,000 signatures…

Chris Cooke • 10 Mar 2025

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

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Universal Music • 6 min read

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

On yesterday’s Universal Music earnings call CEO Lucian Grainge revealed plans to spend billions on global acquisitions, targeting emerging markets where “massive piracy” previously prevented investment, in an extension to UMG’s recent, continuing and aggressive acquisition and investment strategy…

Sam Taylor • 07 Mar 2025

YouTube expands Premium Lite pilot to the US - the premium package that excludes ad-free music

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YouTube • 2 min read

YouTube expands Premium Lite pilot to the US - the premium package that excludes ad-free music

YouTube is expanding the pilot of its lower-priced Premium Lite tier. The expansion was announced as the total number of subscribers for YouTube Premium and YouTube Music passed 125 million, something YouTube Music boss Lyor Cohen says is “an incredible milestone"…

Chris Cooke • 06 Mar 2025

TikTok’s use of children’s personal data to be investigated by UK data regulator

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TikTok • 2 min read

TikTok’s use of children’s personal data to be investigated by UK data regulator

How TikTok uses the personal data of children is being investigated by the UK's Information Commissioner’s Office, which will also review how Reddit and Imgur interact with children. It's part of work to ensure digital platforms are meeting legal obligations to safeguard users aged under eighteen…

Chris Cooke • 03 Mar 2025

Radio royalties back on US Congressional agenda - including a bizarre “do nothing” bill

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Radio royalties • 3 min read

Radio royalties back on US Congressional agenda - including a bizarre “do nothing” bill

The music industry has been campaigning for decades to end a quirk of US copyright law that means AM/FM radio doesn’t pay royalties to artists and labels. Proposals for ending the quirk have been reintroduced in Congress, as have rival proposals backed by the radio sector that promote the status quo…

Chris Cooke • 17 Feb 2025

Spotify super premium will offer better audio, remixing tools and pre-sale tickets according to latest rumours

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Spotify • 2 min read

Spotify super premium will offer better audio, remixing tools and pre-sale tickets according to latest rumours

Spotify has been promising a higher priced subscription product for ages. With both the majors and Spotify boss Daniel Ek now regularly talking up the potential of super-premium, sources say it will arrive later this year offering better audio, remixing tools and access to pre-sale tickets…

Chris Cooke • 17 Feb 2025