YouTube - CMU | the music business explained

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

Apple won’t be forced to let Musi back into its app store, rules judge

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Musi • 2 min read

Apple won’t be forced to let Musi back into its app store, rules judge

Apple kicked music app Musi out of its App Store last September. Musi has sued and wants a preliminary injunction forcing Apple to immediately reinstate its app. A judge has declined to issue that injunction, saying Apple’s terms clearly say it can remove any apps at any time “with or without cause”…

Chris Cooke • 03 Feb 2025

Apple colluded with music industry while pretending to be neutral in app dispute, claims Musi

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Musi • 3 min read

Apple colluded with music industry while pretending to be neutral in app dispute, claims Musi

Music streaming app Musi is still working hard to get itself reinstated on Apple’s App Store, having been kicked out in September following complaints by YouTube and the music industry. In a new filing, Musi says Apple failed to follow its own process for dealing with app disputes…

Chris Cooke • 11 Dec 2024

Musi sues Apple over its App Store banishment

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Musi • 3 min read

Musi sues Apple over its App Store banishment

Last month the free music streaming app Musi - which pulls its content from YouTube - disappeared from Apple’s App Store. The music industry welcomed that development, but Musi has now sued Apple over its decision, criticising both Apple and YouTube…

Chris Cooke • 07 Oct 2024

YouTube and SESAC kiss and make up as renewed deal sees blocked videos return

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YouTube • 2 min read

YouTube and SESAC kiss and make up as renewed deal sees blocked videos return

This weekend music videos featuring songs by writers allied with American collecting society SESAC were blocked on YouTube in the US, because its SESAC licence was about to expire and no new deal had been agreed. But, at the very last minute, a deal was done and the videos are back…

Chris Cooke • 01 Oct 2024

Music videos blocked on YouTube after SESAC licensing talks stall

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SESAC • 3 min read

Music videos blocked on YouTube after SESAC licensing talks stall

YouTube’s negotiations to agree a new licensing deal with American collecting society SESAC have stalled and its existing deal is now expiring. As a result, videos featuring songs written by SESAC member writers - including Bob Dylan, Adele and Burna Boy - have been blocked on the video platform…

Chris Cooke • 30 Sep 2024

Free music app removed from Apple App Store, seemingly after YouTube intervention

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Musi • 2 min read

Free music app removed from Apple App Store, seemingly after YouTube intervention

Apple has removed the free music app Musi from its App Store. IFPI has been calling for the app to be removed since last year, because Musi pulls in music from YouTube rather than negotiating licensing deals with labels. However, it is possible that an intervention by YouTube prompted Apple to act…

Chris Cooke • 27 Sep 2024

YouTube cracks down on AI deepfakes: new rules allow takedowns of unauthorised vocal clones

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YouTube • 3 min read

YouTube cracks down on AI deepfakes: new rules allow takedowns of unauthorised vocal clones

YouTube has updated its privacy policies to allow the removal of AI-generated deepfakes and vocal clones, responding to growing concerns about unauthorised use of likeness and voice…

Chris Cooke • 03 Jul 2024

YouTube in talks with all three majors about the next phase in its AI experimentation

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YouTube • 3 min read

YouTube in talks with all three majors about the next phase in its AI experimentation

YouTube last year piloted a generative AI tool called Dream Track that generates vocals in the style of ten specific artists. The company is now plotting its next AI experiment and is in talks with all three major record companies, with the aim of involving dozens of artists next time…

Chris Cooke • 27 Jun 2024

And Finally! Cotton Eye Joe is the world’s most popular song - this is not the future I asked for

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And Finally • 6 min read

And Finally! Cotton Eye Joe is the world’s most popular song - this is not the future I asked for

Rednex this week proclaimed themselves to be record breakers, having racked up more than three billion listens of their song ‘Cotton Eye Joe’ in under a month. Sure, people were actually listening to a few seconds of a cover version in various viral videos, but maybe this is what success is in 2024…

Andy Malt • 26 Apr 2024

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

US politicians vote in favour or proposals to ban TikTok in the country, Labour commits to cap secondary ticket prices, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 15 Mar 2024

Bad Bunny sues fan over unofficial concert recordings on YouTube

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Bad Bunny • 2 min read

Bad Bunny sues fan over unofficial concert recordings on YouTube

A Bad Bunny fan who uploaded recordings of full songs from a recent US concert to YouTube has claimed his videos constitute fair use and therefore can’t be blocked by the rapper. That has prompted Bad Bunny’s team to sue the YouTuber for copyright and trademark infringement…

Chris Cooke • 12 Mar 2024