Setlist

AI lawsuit warns of “devastating impacts” on human creativity

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 28 Jun 2024 17:15:44 +0000

On this week’s show, we discuss the launch of the record industry’s first major lawsuits against music-generating AI companies - with the RIAA coordinating litigation against Suno and Udio - plus a group of songwriters are suing PRS.

SECTION TIMES
01: Labels v Suno + Udio (00:04:30)
02: News in brief (00:15:20)
03: Songwriters v PRS (00:18:05)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Suno and Udio’s “lawless” behaviour cheapens human creativity with sound-a-likes and knock-offs says watershed RIAA lawsuit
• Suno boss accuses music industry of “reverting to its old lawyer-led playbook”
• Udio responds to record label lawsuit insisting its AI model ‘listens’ rather than ‘copies’
• PRS sued over “unreasonable and unnecessary hurdles” for writers directly licensing their live performances

NEWS IN BRIEF
• UK Music names Tom Kiehl as new CEO
• Live Nation boss Michael Rapino sued by shareholder over DoJ action
• SiriusXM breaches consumer rights by charging an extra music royalties extra fee, says lawsuit
• KKR acquires Superstruct

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

Spotify referred to FTC over “unlawful conduct”

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 14 Jun 2024 18:51:05 +0000

On this week’s show, we discuss the latest escalation in the fight over Spotify’s reclassification of its premium subscription as an audiobook and music bundle in the US, the lawsuit against Drake for putting one of his own song titles on a t-shirt, and the return of the band formerly known as Easy Life, who have nothing to do with easyJet.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:10:22)
02: News in brief (00:17:24)
03: Drake and Hard Life (00:19:28)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Music publishers now fighting Spotify audiobook bundling trick on multiple fronts
• Drake sued over t-shirts referencing his track ‘Members Only’
• Easy Life return as Hard Life following easyGroup legal battle

NEWS IN BRIEF
• The COVID trend of late-in-the-day ticket purchases has continued, says Eventbrite
• Musicians now see success from a more long-term perspective, study finds
• Martin Shkreli ordered to hand over copies of Wu-Tang album

ALSO MENTIONED
• Touting, touring and AI in the spotlight in election manifestos

It’s been a bad week to be Live Nation

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 31 May 2024 16:42:12 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the US government’s legal action against Live Nation that seeks to force it to sell off Ticketmaster, ticket touts’ plans to fight the Labour Party’s proposed 10% price cap on the resale of tickets, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: Live Nation (00:06:40)
02: News in brief (00:23:07)
03: Ticket resale lobbying (00:26:52)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Live Nation monopoly is “anticompetitive” and must be broken up says DoJ lawsuit
• Live Nation faces class action that could involve millions of ticket buyers
• Hackers claim to have accessed personal data about 560 million Ticketmaster customers
• Campaigners respond to “astounding” report on the “sinister” lobbying plans of ticket touts

NEWS IN BRIEF
• US court agrees to fast-track legal challenge over TikTok ban
• Parklife founder Sacha Lord under pressure as Arts Council and GMCA launch investigations into COVID funding
• Queen deal
• Government confirms it has issued drug-testing licences to “some of the leading festivals in the UK”

ALSO MENTIONED
• Spotify sued over decision to stop supporting Car Thing
• Spotify price hike in France
• Revealed: how touts drew up secret plans to sabotage Labour’s ticket reforms (The Guardian)

“Spotify is not a business partner”, says NMPA boss

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 24 May 2024 16:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the battle between the music publishers and Spotify as it ramps up another gear, Sony Music's lawsuit accusing the Marriott hotel chain of “rampant” copyright infringement, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:04:39)
02: News in brief (00:22:15)
03: Sony Music (00:25:13)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Spotify’s conduct proves US compulsory licence isn’t working, says NMPA boss
• Sony sues Marriott over social media posts

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Leadmill eviction battle in court
• Live industry welcomes ticket tout prison sentences
• TikTok wants its legal case against US “sell-or-be-banned” law fast-tracked
• Scarlett Johansson accuses ChatGPT of stealing her voice

ALSO MENTIONED
• Live Nation monopoly is “anticompetitive” and must be broken up says DoJ lawsuit

Music publishers go to war with Spotify

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 17 May 2024 17:36:34 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the battle between music publishers and Spotify over its plans to reclassify its subscriptions as bundles of music, audiobooks and podcasts, and commercial media companies hit out at the BBC’s plan to sell advertising on its podcasts.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:03:48)
02: News in brief (00:15:20)
03: BBC (00:17:48)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• The MLC is suing Spotify over audiobook bundling
• Publishers accuse Spotify of licensing gaps in letter the streaming service has dubbed a “misleading press stunt”
• US music publishers ramp up the rhetoric against Spotify's royalty reducing bundling trick
• Media companies hit out at plan for BBC to sell ads alongside its podcasts

NEWS IN BRIEF
• TICKET Act passed by US House Of Representatives
• Universal removed as defendant on explosive Diddy lawsuit
• TikTok creators file lawsuit against US sell-or-be-banned law
• Utopia swings the axe again with significant job losses across remaining non-UK operations
• ATC takes majority stake in Raw Power

ALSO MENTIONED
• Sony Music tells 700+ AI companies to respect its copyrights

Arena ticket levy by September, MPs demand

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 11 May 2024 10:36:50 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee recommending that a levy on ticket sales for large scale shows be implemented by September and that the government should instigate a VAT cut for grassroots music venues, plus the concerns surrounding the launch of a new SXSW festival in London.

SECTION TIMES
01: Grassroots venues report (00:06:50)
02: News in brief (00:14:18)
03: SXSW London (00:17:38)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• MPs set September deadline for ticket levy to support grassroots venues and shows
• SXSW London could disrupt delicately balanced music ecosystem and should reconsider its date

NEWS IN BRIEF
• TikTok sues the US government over sell-or-be-banned law
• Goldman Sachs analysts upbeat about music industry after a “turning point” year
• Lucian’s lunch money under threat as shareholder pressure mounts over “excessive” pay packet
• Nine of the ten wrongful death Astroworld lawsuits now settled, says Live Nation
• OfCom should use Online Safety Act powers to force Facebook to act on ticket scams, says Which?
• Music Venue Properties announces purchase of The Ferret in Preston
• Apple finds out the hard way that not everyone thinks destruction is a form of creation

Calls for urgent new AI laws in UK and US

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 04 May 2024 09:34:50 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the calls on both sides of the Atlantic for new AI laws to protect creators, the big love-in between Universal and TikTok as they finally resolve their differences, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: AI laws (00:07:00)
02: News in brief (00:20:29)
03: Universal x TikTok (00:23:20)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• MPs call on UK government to create “a pro-creative industries AI bill”
• FKA Twigs and Warner boss tell Senators about the urgent need for a US-wide law to regulate deepfakes
• Universal and TikTok are best buds again
• Universal boss Lucian Grainge talks up the new TikTok deal which “will protect the integrity and value of human artistry”

NEWS IN BRIEF
• EU TikTok ban “is not excluded” says European Commission President, as FCC Commissioner says US ban won’t be scuppered in the courts
• CEO of NewJeans label Ador refuses to convene board meeting as parent company HYBE tries to push her out
• R Kelly fails to overturn Chicago conviction
• Astroworld victims want first trial to be livestreamed
• Taylor Swift and Record Store Day push UK vinyl sales reach highest level since 1994

ALSO MENTIONED
• Could Co-op Group terminate Manchester arena naming rights deal? Fury mounts as safety incident forces yet more Co-op Live show cancellations

Hipgnosis v Hipgnosis - the saga continues…

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 16:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the bidding war compounding the latest in a long line of dramas at Hipgnosis, the faltering start for Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: Hipgnosis (00:04:59)
02: News in brief (00:18:48)
03: Co-op Live (00:12:15)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Hipgnosis debacle might be over as Concord offers to acquire entire share capital of SONG - but there’s a catch…
• Blackstone tops Concord offer for SONG, hints at invoking call option
• The state of Hipgnosis
• To the moon! Concord reaches for the high notes as it ups its SONG bid to $1.25
• Co-op Live GM says grassroots venues are “poorly run”, before cancelling thousands of tickets to test event at the very last minute
• Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena cancels launch shows as power issues delay opening

NEWS IN BRIEF
• The clock is now TikTokking as US Senate votes through sell-or-be-banned law
• Amazon AI employee claims she was told to breach copyright rules because “everyone else is doing it”
• Moving BBC radio to an ad-funded model would be a disaster, says Radiocentre
• Drake threatened with legal action over AI Tupac in Kendrick diss track

ALSO MENTIONED
• AI and music one year later: What happened? And where are we at? (Spot Festival, 3 May, 1pm)
• Dissecting The Digital Dollar: What’s changed? (Spot Festival, 4 May, 11.45am)
• The new pay-out models: What are the consequences for you as an artist and as a songwriter? (Spot Festival, 4 May, 1.15pm)
• The great streaming swindle: That’s how much money is swindled every year in the music industry (Spot Festival, 4 May, 2.15pm)

MPs want to see action on musicians’ income

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 16:32:31 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the warning from UK politicians that there need to be “tangible steps to improve musicians’ remuneration and performer rights” by this time next year, and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree’s class action lawsuit against PRS For Music over songwriter royalties, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: Performer remuneration report (00:05:39)
02: News in brief (00:14:53)
03: Dave Rowntree v PRS (00:19:23)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• “Fundamental reform of music streaming” must come soon, say MPs
• Blur’s Dave Rowntree leads class action lawsuit against PRS For Music seeking “hundreds of millions of pounds” for songwriters

NEWS IN BRIEF
• WIN renews shared values of the independent music community
• GEMA says German song right income is booming, but digital growth is lacking
• Timeline for TikTok law in Senate still to be confirmed, though Minority Leader says its deserves "urgent attention"
• Universal relaxes TikTok boycott - but only if your name is Taylor Swift
• Have a playlist idea but don’t know what songs to put on it? Spotify’s AI bot can help with that
• Spotify planning tools to allow users to remix tracks

ALSO MENTIONED
• Westway Lab

Make big shows fund grassroots music, politicians told

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 29 Mar 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss UK Parliament's Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee's hearing on the grassroots live music crisis, and the Nirvana logo legal battle's return to court.

SECTION TIMES
01: Grassroots live music crisis (00:08:13)
02: News in brief (00:17:09)
03: Nirvana logo (00:21:43)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• MPs hear about the crisis in grassroots live music - a ticket levy might help, but how would that work?
• Nirvana ‘smiley face’ copyright dispute back in court

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Rapper ordered to pay $800,000 to Sony over TikTok hit with unlicensed sample
• Sean Combs properties raided in federal sex trafficking investigation
• Discrimination, lower pay and shorter careers are the norm for female musicians in the UK, study shows
• RIAA 2023 Year-End Music Industry Revenue Report

ALSO MENTIONED
• As BMG’s 2023 numbers show continued growth, could a merger with Warner Music or Believe be on the cards?

Is Manchester's nightlife at risk?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 24 Mar 2024 19:30:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the ruling in the long-running noise dispute involving Manchester's Night & Day that allows the venue to continue running club nights but potentially puts other nearby venues at risk, plus the BPI’s legal threats against a service that uses AI to create cover versions of songs in seconds.

SECTION TIMES
01: Night & Day (00:08:13)
02: News in brief (00:15:15)
03: Voicify (00:19:57)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Night & Day ruling makes it “open season” on Manchester’s night-time economy says Music Venue Trust boss
• BPI threatens to sue voice cloning site Voicify

NEWS IN BRIEF
• More performers seeking specialist health support, says BAPAM
• Music and visual arts organisations back new climate change charity Murmur
• Black Eyed Peas sued for licensing interpolation but not sample of Scatman
• IFPI report shows 10.2% growth in global recorded music market
• MIDiA shows $35.1 billion in global recorded music revenues - but what does that number actually mean?

ALSO MENTIONED
• Spotify publishes new Loud & Clear, says the focus now is artists “dependent on streaming as part of their livelihood”
• Thom Yorke calls Spotify 'the last desperate fart of a dying corpse' (The Guardian)

US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 15 Mar 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss proposals voted through the US House of Representatives this week to force TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the video-sharing app or face a ban in country, and the UK Labour Party's pledge to introduce a cap on ticket resale prices if it wins the next election.

SECTION TIMES
01: TikTok ban (00:03:20)
02: News in brief (00:14:21)
03: Ticket resale (00:17:00)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Selling TikTok would be last resort for ByteDance, sources say as House votes through sell-or-be-banned law
• TikTok insists it isn't forcing Americans to phone politicians as ban proposal gets fast-tracked in Congress
• Labour commits to UK ticket touting price cap, as Ed Sheeran's team welcomes guilty verdict in ticket tout court case

NEWS IN BRIEF
• EU AI Act “world-first” say music trade bodies as European Parliament votes it into law
• Texas governor tells SXSW boycotters “don’t come back”
• Joe Rogan is back on Apple and Amazon - so Neil Young is back on Spotify
• Bad Bunny sues fan over unofficial concert recordings on YouTube
• Glastonbury announces headliners, as UK festival cancellations pass 20

ALSO MENTIONED
• Believe x WMG takeover dance warms up as financial regulator is called in

Apple blames Spotify for €1.8 billion fine

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 08 Mar 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the €1.8 billion fine Apple has been ordered to pay by the EU following an investigation into claims of anti-competitive behaviour made by Spotify, and Live Nation's explanation of why everyone else in the music industry is to blame for rising ticket prices.

SECTION TIMES
01: Apple v Spotify (00:06:26)
02: News in brief (00:20:48)
03: Live Nation (00:25:33)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• EU fines €1.8 billion at end of Spotify initiated competition law investigation
• Apple hits out at EU competition ruling that “ignores the realities of a market”
• Live Nation says rising ticket prices definitely not its fault

NEWS IN BRIEF
• WMG is toying with an offer for Believe that would wipe out Warner’s cash reserves - but is it serious, would Believe shareholders sell and can WMG afford to bet the farm?
• Hipgnosis Songs Fund takes a haircut - and might have bigger problems to come
• New US-wide TikTok ban proposed in Congress
• Mean Millennials scrap streaming subscriptions, mail order music is booming - and Apple Music might be making £500 million or more in the UK
• Raye wins record-breaking six BRIT Awards

ALSO MENTIONED
• Tidal phases out HiFi Plus tier, makes higher quality audio part of its standard subscription product
• The Truth About Ticket Pries (Live Nation)

UK music revenues are back to their CD peak (sort of)

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 01 Mar 2024 17:23:34 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the news that UK music retail revenues are back to where they were at the peak of the CD era in 2001. So long as you imagine that no time has passed in between. Plus, the brewing legal battle of Kanye West’s “shameless” interpolation of a Donna Summer track.

SECTION TIMES
01: UK music revenues (00:06:47)
02: News in brief (00:15:20)
03: Kanye West (00:20:38)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• UK music retail revenues reach record high, according to ERA stats
• Donna Summer estate sues Kanye West over “shameless” uncleared sample

NEWS IN BRIEF
• €111 million in TikTok revenue is nothing when you’re Lucian Grainge - but, he says, “my phone is always open” if Shou Zi Chew wants to be friends again
• Warner boss teases superfan app that will be "a cross-platform solution"
• Spotify vs Apple name-calling kicks off again after EU mega-fine rumours
• UK Music again calls for VAT cut on tickets ahead of budget statement
• And Finally! Ed Sheeran has let British music down, and now everyone only likes K-pop
• Miley Cyrus tops IFPI singles list
• Seventeen top IFPI albums list

ALSO MENTIONED
• Trademark dispute over Earth, Wind & Fire tribute shows back in court

The music business in 2024

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 26 Feb 2024 08:00:00 +0000

In this special edition of Setlist, Andy Malt and Chris Cooke dive into topics covered in CMU's latest series of masterclasses, which look at the music business in 2024. We talk through key trends in streaming, copyright, AI and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: The music business in 2024 (00:04:58)
02: Music streaming in 2024 (00:12:51)
03: News in brief (00:19:55)
04: Music copyright in 2024 (00:22:51)
05: Music and AI in 2024 (00:33:01)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

CMU'S 2024 MASTERCLASS SESSIONS
Get an expert overview of the topics that will define the music business in 2024, including copyright, streaming and AI, as well as economics of streaming developments.

The four sessions discussed on this edition of Setlist are available to watch on demand, with four more still to come.

Find out more and book all eight sessions for just £299 including VAT here

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Apple faces €500 million fine after Spotify-prompted EU competition investigation
• EU to investigate TikTok over online safety concerns
• Universal splurges almost quarter of a billion dollars to buy KKR out of Chord Music
• Music industry’s billion dollar damages win in Cox case overturned
• Sam Mendes’ Beatles biopics

When arts funding and politics collide

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 16 Feb 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss questions and potential legal action over the politicisation of arts funding, as Kneecap are denied money by the British government and Arts Council England issues new guidance for anyone thinking of being controversial, plus the legal battle over royalties currently brewing between MLC and Pandora, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: Arts funding (00:04:23)
02: News in brief (00:14:54)
03: MLC v Pandora (00:16:46)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• UK Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch’s decision to block MEGS funding for Kneecap “unlawful” says band as it prepares legal action
• Arts Council says free speech and controversy is fine, but please follow a detailed risk assessment first
• MLC sues Pandora over unpaid royalties

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Tributes pour in as BBC radio presenter Steve Wright dies
• Musicians' Union reluctantly reaches deal with English National Opera over orchestra cutbacks
• NTIA says nightlife faces cultural crisis after 400 club closures since 2020
• As another grassroots venue closes, MVT renews calls for a ticket levy

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music industry welcomes German ruling holding TikTok liable for unlicensed content

AI developments cause celebration and concern

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 09 Feb 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss new developments on AI in the EU and UK that have given the music industry cause for both celebration and concern, and the commercial radio industry's anger as BBC Radio looks to give music fans more choice.

SECTION TIMES
01: AI regulation (00:05:24)
02: News in brief (00:15:52)
03: BBC Radio (00:19:11)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Music industry welcomes EU member states agreeing AI Act
• Planned UK code of practice on copyright and AI shelved
• Government needs to "urgently reconsider" approach to copyright and AI, says culture committee Chair
• Commercial radio sector calls on OfCom to block BBC's plans for four new radio stations

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Spotify CEO slams Apple in earnings calls and hints at more job cuts
• Warner Music’s Kyncl goes big on importance of major labels and data, says he is confident UMG TikTok dispute will be resolved
• Michelle Jubelirer stands down as Capitol CEO as Universal Music restructure goes into effect
• Indie labels say Apple's new payment model will take money from their artists to benefit the majors
• Megan Thee Stallion marks “beginning of a new chapter” with Warner deal

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music mogul Irving Azoff and Apple exec Eddy Cue build their ultimate golf course (Golf Digest)
• And Finally! Irving Azoff and Eddy Cue’s new golf course is open for business. And no, you can’t join

Universal and TikTok accuse each other of “bullying” and “greed”

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 17:37:14 +0000

On this week's show we discuss Universal and TikTok’s big bust up that has seen the major label’s music removed from the social network, the damning report on the “boys’ club” music industry and how it holds women back, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: UMG v TikTok (00:02:49)
02: News in brief (00:13:57)
03: Misogyny In Music report (00:17:20)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Universal Music is going to war with TikTok, accusing the social media giant of bullying and intimidation
• TikTok accuses Universal of “greed” and “false narrative”, begins removing tracks
• Misogyny remains “endemic” in “boys’ club” music industry says UK parliamentary report

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Lords committee calls on government to clarify copyright obligations of AI companies
• 71% of music creators fear multi-billion dollar music AI business could stop songwriters from earning a living, says new report
• Music industry celebrates YouTube passing 100 million premium subscribers
• UK government publishes new UK streaming transparency code

ALSO MENTIONED
• RIAA welcomes US government's latest piracy reports, but urges a "close look" at voice cloning sites
• Read the full 'Misogyny In Music' report
• The F-List’s Vick Bain on UK Parliament’s Misogyny In Music report and the industry’s next steps

Apple Music’s “spatial audio bonus” favours major labels

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 26 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss how Apple Music's "spatial audio bonus" will benefit major labels to the detriment of independent labels and creators, the report finding that on average two grassroots music venues per week closed down in the UK in 2023, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: Apple Music (00:04:23)
02: News in brief (00:11:43)
03: Music Venue Trust report (00:14:26)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Apple Music’s “spatial audio bonus” will favour major labels at the expense of small labels and creators
• Two grassroots venues close down every week, according to new report from Music Venue Trust

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Madonna and Live Nation will "vigorously" defend late show start lawsuit
• American musicians' union begins talks over AI and streaming with the Hollywood studios
• Spotify uses EU Digital Market Act blog post to take potshots at Apple, announces superfan clubs
• Publishers hit back at Anthropic's claim that AI copyright cases should be filed in "its Silicon Valley backyard"
• Hipgnosis Song Management “cherry picked assets” for proposed sale to Blackstone says latest briefing from Hipgnosis Songs Fund

ALSO MENTIONED
• BRIT Awards nominations finally balance gender, genre and independence
• MVT Annual Report

The new certification for “respectful” AI companies

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the new certification for "respectful" generative AI companies that get permission before training their models on copyrighted content, redundancies at Pitchfork as its team is merged with men's magazine GQ, and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: AI certification (00:05:15)
02: News in brief (00:15:16)
03: Pitchfork (00:18:29)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Former Stability exec Ed Newton Rex launches Fairly Trained AI certification
• Job cuts at Pitchfork as its team is merged in with GQ

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Council Of Music Makers sets out its five key priorities ahead of ministerial review of economics of streaming work
• Council Of Music Makers memo
• UK’s IPO to look at neighbouring rights and reciprocal payments to foreign performers
• UK's largest nightclub operator heading into administration
• Universal Music to lay off hundreds says Bloomberg: company responds and says it will create “efficiencies”
• Apple changes App Store rules following Supreme Court announcement, but Epic vows more legal action
• Spotify hits out at Apple's "outrageous" new App Store rules

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music data white paper

Major label bosses put the spotlight on superfans

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss the start-of-year memos from the bosses of Universal Music and Warner Music, both of whom put the spotlight in super-serving superfans, plus the ASA ruling against Viagogo's advertorial pieces in the NME, and lots of stats about the music market in 2023.

SECTION TIMES
01: New year memos (00:04:45)
02: News in brief (00:18:37)
03: Viagogo (00:25:01)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Universal “most successful company in the history of the music industry” hoots Grainge in 2024 memo
• Lucian Grainge's 2024 memo to Universal Music Group staff
• Warner Music boss talks streaming model and super-fans in start-of-year memo
• UK’s Advertising Standards Authority raps Viagogo over NME paid editorial

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Vinyl sales grow, cassettes slump; streaming now 87.7% of UK music consumption
• UK music retail brought in £2.2 billion in 2023 says ERA
• India’s streaming growth explodes to hit over one trillion streams, Gen Z pull back on streaming subscription spend

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music industry welcomes proposed new laws to help performers protect their voices and likeness from AI clones
• Artificial Intelligence and the music industry in 2023
• CMU's 2024 Masterclass Sessions
• Sony Music chief talks streaming, short-form, gaming and AI in investor presentation (May 2023)

Spotify’s about-turn on threats to quit Uruguay

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 15 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we discuss Spotify’s change of heart on shutting down in Uruguay, the latest easyJet lawsuit against a musician - this time PC Music-signed producer Easyfun - and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:04:45)
02: News in brief (00:13:37)
03: Easyfun (00:18:29)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Spotify won't exit Uruguay following clarification to new ER rule in copyright
• easyGroup sues PC Music producer Easyfun

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Music consumption at an all time high, IFPI reports, though "unlicensed music is still an issue"
• Music industry cautiously welcomes outcome of last week's EU AI Act talks
• European Commission set to force changes to Apple's rules around in-app payments
• Hipgnosis Songs Fund confirms sale of catalogue of "non-core songs"
• Vinyl sales of two 1980s classics may decide who is Christmas number one in 2023

ALSO MENTIONED
• Taylor Swift's record breaking tour topped a billion dollars

Grassroots venues need ticket levy to survive

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 08 Dec 2023 17:00:00 +0000

On this week's show we look at calls for government support for the grassroots live music industry following the closure of music venue Moles and the announcement that the Nozstock festival will shut down after its 2024 edition, plus the next evolution of Kiss as superhero holograms.

SECTION TIMES
01: Grassroots live music (00:03:13)
02: News in brief (00:10:44)
03: Kiss (00:14:53)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Music Venue Trust calls for law forcing live industry support for grassroots venues, as Bath Moles closes after 45 years
• Nozstock festival to end after 2024 edition, prompting new call for government support for festival sector
• Kiss preview new avatar show at final human performance

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Spotify confirms the cost of its dramatic downsizing, cancels two in-house podcasts
• Indie labels suggest delaying Spotify’s royalty payout revamp to allow proper consultation
• CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus calls on EU to keep clear transparency obligations in AI Act
• Record industry tells US Copyright Office training AI with existing music is “rarely, if ever, fair use”
• BBC Sound Of 2024 longlist revealed

ALSO MENTIONED
• Blackpink renew deal with YG, but uncertainty over group’s future remains
• IMPALA’s questions for Spotify over the changes it is making to its model

Sony Music tells US politicians to act on AI loopholes

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 01 Dec 2023 21:25:31 +0000

On this week's show we have a good old chat about Sony Music exec Dennis Kooker's call for a US-wide publicity right through which artists can protect their voices and identity in order to stop the unauthorised cloning of their vocals by AI, plus the big bust up between Hall & Oates over “the ultimate partnership betrayal” and more.

SECTION TIMES
01: AI loopholes (00:06:54)
02: News in brief (00:16:53)
03: Hall & Oates (00:20:14)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Sony Music digital chief asks Congress to close “legal loopholes” to ensure artists can stop authorised AI voice clones
• Hall & Oates both make court filing as the legal dispute over their joint venture company continues

NEWS IN BRIEF
• Shane MacGowan dies
• UK government pauses the blocking of the proposed London MSG Sphere - even though MSG has given up on the plan
• BMG announces restructure to “future proof” the business
• European Parliament committee calls for new EU rules to regulate streaming
• Caity Baser, The Last Dinner Party and Sekou named BRITs Rising Stars

ALSO MENTIONED
• Spotify unwraps Wrapped - assigns everyone a Sound Town

Spotify insists royalty changes will help emerging artists

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 24 Nov 2023 17:04:30 +0000

On this week's show we've got a big round-up of Spotify news, in particular the company's confirmation of changes to the way it pays out (or doesn't pay out) royalties. We also discuss plans for an MSG Sphere venue like the one recently opened in Las Vegas being bounced out of London. Oh, and we've spruced up the format of the show a little, including the introduction of a news in brief section to bring you even more music industry news.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:03:30)
02: News in brief (00:16:37)
03: MSG Sphere (00:20:35)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES
• Spotify confirms changes to its payment process - including the 1000 plays a year threshold
• Specifics of Spotify’s deal with Google on in-app payments revealed in Epic court case
• Spotify says it will exit Uruguay next year because of new performer ER right in copyright law
• London mayor blocks MSG’s grand plan to build a Sphere venue next to the Olympic Park

NEWS IN BRIEF
• BMI confirms deal to sell to New Mountain Capital
• US Senate committee subpoenas Live Nation to access documents for its investigation into “abusive consumer practices”
• Council Of Music Makers criticises lack of music-maker representation at government roundtable on AI and the creative industries
• Shakira strikes deal with Spanish prosecutors to avoid €14.5m tax fraud trial
• LadBaby bow out of Christmas number one race

ALSO MENTIONED
• Monkey Week
• O. - ATM

Stability AI exec resigns over fair use claim

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 17 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, the resignation of Stability AI's VP Of Audio Ed Newton-Rex over the tech company's position that the training of generative AI models constitutes fair use under American copyright law, and YouTube’s plans to get AI generated clones both off and onto its platform.

SECTION TIMES
01: Stability AI (00:06:04)
02: YouTube (00:14:08)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Stability AI's VP Of Audio resigns over its position that training AI with copyright works is 'fair use'
• YouTube to allow labels to remove AI-generated voice clones
• YouTube begins piloting voice cloning tool to provide AI-generated vocals for creator videos

ALSO MENTIONED
• Edith Piaf to narrate her own life story through AI

Competition law concerns over Spotify’s royalty plans

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 10 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, competition law expert (as well as musician and label owner) Amelia Fletcher's letter to Spotify boss Daniel Ek about the streaming service's plan for a two-tier royalty system, and the rickrolling takedown battle between two stream-ripping platforms.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:04:27)
02: Stream-ripping (00:19:56)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Spotify two-tier payment “discriminatory and exploitative” says competition law expert
• Stream-ripper gets court order to identify who is behind rick-rolling Google takedown notices

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music industry contributes £6.7 billion GVA to British economy
• Download the UK Music This Is Music 2023 report
• Amelia Fletcher's full letter to Daniel Ek

Tech companies say fair use trumps copyright in AI

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 17:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, big tech companies' insistence that training AI on existing content constitutes fair use under US copyright law, and the Grammy Awards' insistence that Christians do not swear.

SECTION TIMES
01: AI fair use (00:03:55)
02: Grammy Awards (00:15:02)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Tech companies insist training AI models with existing content is fair use in Copyright Office submissions
• There is no swearing in Christian music, says Grammys

ALSO MENTIONED
• Eminem launches Mom's Spaghetti pasta sauce

Spotify plots changes to the way it pays out royalties

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 27 Oct 2023 16:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, Spotify's plans to change the way it allocates revenues to individual tracks and catalogues each month, and the confirmation that digital is now the biggest driver of revenue for the song rights collecting societies.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:04:35)
02: CISAC (00:18:27)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK

• Spotify also in talks with industry to change track allocation process
• Digital now biggest revenue generator for song right collecting societies, CISAC confirms

ALSO MENTIONED

• Hipgnosis vote shock: 83.2% of shareholders vote against continuation
• Read CISAC's Global Collections Report 2023

Managers criticise Universal's Pandora royalty switch

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 20 Oct 2023 19:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, artist managers criticise Universal Music over a change it made to the way it pays Pandora royalties to artists, and new Bandcamp owner Songtradr making 50% of the direct-to-fan platform's staff redundant.

PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded before the settlement between Megan Thee Stallion and her former label 1501 Certified Entertainment was announced.

SECTION TIMES
01: Universal (00:05:13)
02: Bandcamp (00:21:35)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Universal Music criticised over unannounced change to Pandora payments
• Half of Bandcamp’s staff made redundant as Songtradr acquisition is completed

ALSO MENTIONED
• Megan Thee Stallion has "no label right now" and that's how she wants it

Easy Life agree to change their name for an easyLife

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 14 Oct 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, British band Easy Life agree to change their name following legal action from owner of the easyJet airline easyGroup, and Coldplay’s ongoing legal battle with their former manager Dave Holmes.

SECTION TIMES
01: Easy Life (00:05:32)
02: Coldplay (00:20:08)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Easy Life concede defeat in EasyGroup battle, will change name
• Coldplay countersue former manager Dave Holmes in £14 million lawsuit

Musicians and songwriters draw AI red lines

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, the call for "consent, respect and remuneration" to be central to the development of music AI platforms and tools, and the RIAA’s latest stats on US recorded music revenues.

SECTION TIMES
01: AI red lines (00:03:18)
02: RIAA (00:20:41)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• "Consent, respect and remuneration" crucial as music AI evolves, say UK music-makers
• BPI boss responds to the five AI fundamentals published by the Council Of Music Makers
• Premium streaming and vinyl continue to power growth in US recorded music market

ALSO MENTIONED
• AMG allowed to re-open Brixton Academy subject to meeting 77 conditions

You can read a full transcript of this episode on our website here.

The call for a UK ticket touting ban

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including a call from the FanFair Alliance campaign group against ticket touting for the introduction of legislation to ban the for-profit resale of tickets in the UK, and criticism of Deezer’s new proposals for ‘artist-centric’ royalty payments.

SECTION TIMES
01: Ticket resale (00:04:13)
02: Deezer (00:11:41)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• FanFair Alliance calls for ban of for-profit ticket touting in the UK
• Believe criticises ‘reverse Robin Hood’ elements of Deezer's new artist-centric model for payments

ALSO MENTIONED
• MMF publishes AI guide
• Download the MMF AI guide
• The revenue politics of streaming - Chris's session at the Reeperbahn conference, Friday 22 Sep, 12.30pm
• Silvia Montello speaking about user-centric royalties on Setlist

Is Deezer’s new streaming model really artist-centric?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Deezer’s announcement that it is making changes to the way it allocates revenues to tracks later this year, and claims that organised criminals are using streaming services to launder money.

SECTION TIMES
01: Deezer (00:04:22)
02: Streaming fraud (00:18:58)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Deezer set to roll out Universal Music endorsed "artist centric" model to royalty payments in France next month
• Swedish tabloid alleges streaming fraud organised crime gang link
• Key stakeholders say industry has shared responsibility to tackle crime links to streaming fraud

ALSO MENTIONED
• Ezra Collective become first ever jazz band to win Mercury Prize

The looming decision on Brixton Academy’s future

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 04 Sep 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the newly announced licensing hearing to decide the future of London’s Brixton Academy venue nine months after it was closed down when two people were killed in a crowd crush incident, plus Eminem’s battle with US presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy.

SECTION TIMES
01: Brixton Academy (00:05:33)
02: Eminem (00:11:48)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Lambeth Council to consider future of Brixton Academy at two day hearing this month
• Eminem tells Republican presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy to stop using his music

ALSO MENTIONED
• ASCAP takes advantage of growing controversy over imminent BMI sale

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

YouTube’s three principles for music and AI

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 29 Aug 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including YouTube’s three new AI music principles published alongside the launch of a new YouTube Music AI Incubator, plus questions from various songwriter groups to the boss of American collecting society BMI about the organisation’s decision last year to become a for-profit enterprise.

SECTION TIMES
01: YouTube (00:05:11)
02: BMI (00:15:15)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• YouTube sets out three principles for the development of AI music
• Songwriter groups demand information about a newly for-profit BMI’s plans and possible sale
• BMI reportedly considering acquisition offer from New Mountain Capital

ALSO MENTIONED
• Sheffield City Council says it “cannot directly intervene” in ongoing Leadmill dispute

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Were the 1975 right to speak out in Malaysia?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the debate surrounding comments made by The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy on stage in Malaysia regarding the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and the latest developments in the battle over who will run the Leadmill music venue in Sheffield.

SECTION TIMES
01: The 1975 (00:12:00)
02: The Leadmill (00:24:58)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• The 1975 cancel performances in Asia after being banned from Malaysia
• Ten artists and vendors set to sue The 1975 over Good Vibes Festival cancellation
• Save The Leadmill campaign ramps up ahead of September licensing committee meeting

ALSO MENTIONED
• Mercury Prize shortlist announced
• Save The Leadmill video (Facebook)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

The questions raised by TikTok's Warner deal

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including TikTok and Warner Music’s “first-of-its-kind partnership” – a licensing agreement that involves both the Warner Music record company and music publishing business Warner Chappell and covers various platforms run by TikTok owner Bytedance – and the NME’s return to print.

SECTION TIMES
01: TikTok (00:03:04)
02: NME (00:18:53)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Warner Music announces new deal with TikTok, as TikTok Music arrives in three more markets
• NME announces return to print

ALSO MENTIONED
• Parklife founder and NTIA boss hit out at Home Office’s “demonstrably untrue” statement on festival drug testing policy
• Setlist episode on drug testing policy
MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

FAC steps up its campaign against music venue merch commissions

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 Jul 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the stepping up of the Featured Artists Coalition’s 100% Venues campaign, which encourages music venues to allow artists to sell merchandise at their shows without being charged any commission on sales, and the new legal challenge to the UK government’s festival drug testing policy.

Apologies for the sound issues in this episode. As you’ll hear, we have a new recording set up. After some great sounding test recordings, one of us (see if you can guess who) managed to record through their laptop mic instead of their studio mic.

SECTION TIMES
01: 100% Venues (00:09:42)
02: Drug testing policy (00:20:08)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• FAC steps up its 100% Venues campaign against merch commissions
• NTIA seeks judicial review on government’s “reckless” festival drug testing policy

ALSO MENTIONED
• UK Music sets out proposals for AI regulation in letter to government
• Sarah Silverman joins authors in suing ChatGPT for copyright infringement
• Universal Music calls for federal publicity right and more transparency in latest AI hearing in US Congress
• FXR and CMU put the spotlight on music royalty reporting – provide your input now
• 100% Venues petition (Change.org)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

The music industry finally sues Twitter

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Twitter being sued by a consortium of music publishers for hosting “countless” videos that contain unlicensed music, and the alliance of music distributors that has come together with Spotify and Amazon Music to form Music Fights Fraud, a new initiative described as “a global task force aimed at eradicating streaming fraud”.

SECTION TIMES
01: Twitter (00:04:48)
02: Music Fights Fraud (00:07:23)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Music publishers accuse Twitter of “massive copyright infringement” in $250 million lawsuit
• Music distributors ally to fight streaming fraud

ALSO MENTIONED
• Ed Sheeran gets a giant bear tingly for his hot sauce

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Just how eco-friendly is Coldplay's world tour?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Coldplay’s update on their work to reduce the environmental impact of their live shows during the first year of their Music Of The Spheres Tour, and the unveiling of Apple’s Vision Pro headset and what it might mean for the music industry.

SECTION TIMES
01: Coldplay (00:04:48)
02: Apple Vision Pro (00:13:51)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Coldplay provide update on their environmentally sustainable touring efforts
• Apple unveils its Vision Pro headset

ALSO MENTIONED
• Culture Secretary insists new music-maker remuneration working group will not become a mere talking shop
• Coldplay emissions update (coldplay.com)
• Craig Charles’ 1993 VR gameshow CyberZone (YouTube)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

How a 1980s Prince photo impacts on AI

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 29 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the US Supreme Court ruling on a long-running copyright dispute between the Andy Warhol Foundation and the photographer Lynn Goldsmith, and Universal getting into bed with AI music company Endel.

SECTION TIMES
01: Prince (00:06:30)
02: AI Music (00:23:37)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Music industry welcomes US Supreme Court ruling in Prince artwork copyright case
• Universal Music allies with music AI company Endel to create some “science-backed soundscapes”

ALSO MENTIONED
• TikTok sues Montana over ban
• CMU Podcast: Sound Of 2017, AI in music, Kate Bush (December 2016)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Fans and bands rally to save London’s Brixton Academy

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 22 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including news that more than 20,000 people have made representations to Lambeth Council in support of the Brixton Academy as the local authority considers a request by London’s Metropolitan Police to revoke the licence of current operators Academy Music Group, plus the latest round in the ongoing battle between the Village People and Donald Trump.

SECTION TIMES
01: Brixton Academy (00:06:38)
02: Village People (00:15:39)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• More than 20,000 representations submitted in support of Brixton Academy ahead of licence review
• Village People hit out at lookalike performance at Donald Trump event

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Ed Sheeran wins another song-theft legal battle

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 09 May 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Ed Sheeran’s victory in another high-profile headline-grabbing song-theft legal battle – this time over whether or not he ripped off Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ when he wrote his 2014 song ‘Thinking Out Loud’ – plus two sets of proposals for better regulating the sale of tickets put forward in US Congress late last month and another industry-led campaign launched last week that says it will advocate for “a ticketing experience better than the nightmare many fans and artists currently navigate”.

SECTION TIMES
01: Ed Sheeran (00:05:36)
02: US tickets (00:18:52)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Non-idiot (allegedly) Ed Sheeran testifies on first day of Thinking Out Loud song-theft trial
• Ed Sheeran gets his guitar out in court as song-theft case continues
• Ed Sheeran calls musicologist’s actions “criminal” in Thinking Out Loud song-theft trial
• Ed Sheeran losing will remove “an essential element in every songwriter’s toolkit”, argues lawyer in song-theft case
• Ed Sheeran did not rip off Let’s Get It On says jury in song-theft case
• Live Nation responds to proposed new ticketing regulations in the US

ALSO MENTIONED
• The Great Escape conference

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Universal hits out at AI generated music

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Universal Music latest call for streaming platforms to play their part in ensuring that generative AI tools are not infringing the copyrights of the music industry, plus the news that cassette sales are booming and driving chart success in the UK.

SECTION TIMES
01: AI (00:05:49)
02: Cassettes (00:27:31)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Universal Music again demands streaming platform support over AI-created music as fake Drake goes viral
• Drake says AI generated Ice Spice cover is “the final straw”
• Liam Gallagher says AI version of himself sounds “mega”
• Idiots rejoice! The cassette revival continues

ALSO MENTIONED
• The Great Escape conference
• Download the TGE app

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Live at Wide Days 2023

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 Apr 2023 06:00:00 +0000

A special edition of the show recorded live at Wide Days in Edinburgh. CMU’s Chris Cooke is joined on stage by Clara Cullen from Music Venue Trust, Toni Malyn from EmuBands and Silvia Montello from AIM. As Setlist returns after a short break, our guests dissect three topics that have been big talking points within the music industry in recent months: the ongoing challenges in the live sector, the debate around making streaming more “artist-centric”, and the increasingly urgent discussions about music-making AI.

SECTION TIMES
01: Live sector (00:04:25)
02: Streaming (00:23:40)
03: AI (00:43:15)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Music Venue Trust annual report says grassroots venues are “operating on razor thin margins” and often “struggling to survive”
• Own Our Venues initiative to move onto venue-buying phase, MVT confirms
• Universal boss says streaming needs to shift to an “artist-centric” model
• Universal Music announces alliance with Tidal to shake up the streaming business model
• Universal and Deezer’s alliance to find “potential new economic models for streaming” officially announced
• Music industry organisations back Human Artistry Campaign putting the spotlight on generative AI debates

ALSO MENTIONED
• An edition of Setlist where we explained user-centric royalty distribution

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU events
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Hybe defends buying into K-pop rival SM Entertainment

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Hybe CEO Park Ji-won’s defence of his company’s recent acquisition of shares in rival SM Entertainment after its management hit out at the deal, plus concerns raised by two more US senators about TikTok and its Chinese parent company Bytedance and what access the Chinese government has to users and user-data on the video sharing platform.

SECTION TIMES
01: Hybe (00:06:51)
02: TikTok (00:19:11)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Hybe CEO defends his company’s bid to control rival SM Entertainment
• Hybe boss sets out vision for SM alliance
• Two more US senators hit out at TikTok over data concerns
• European Commission bans staff from using TikTok on work devices over data concerns

ALSO MENTIONED
• David Bowie archive acquisition (V&A press release)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Scottish festival boss hits out at proposed alcohol sponsorship ban

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 20 Feb 2023 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the boss of Scottish live music firm DF Concerts' proclamation that any ban on alcohol brands sponsoring shows and festivals would be “nothing short of disastrous for Scotland’s live music industry”, plus the Australian record industry’s anger at TikTok over its ongoing experiment in the country to test the role music plays on the video-sharing platform.

SECTION TIMES
01: Alcohol ban (00:05:28)
02: Merch fees (00:20:14)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• DF Concerts chief says that alcohol sponsorship ban in Scotland would be “nothing short of disastrous” for the country’s live sector
• TikTok is working super hard on tackling harmful content and data concerns, says TikTok

ALSO MENTIONED
• CMU at SXSW, MENT and Liverpool Sound City

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
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Live Nation faces tough questions in US Congress

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 30 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Live Nation and Ticketmaster coming under fire from both sides of the political spectrum, as the US Senate Judiciary Committee staged a session looking at ticketing following the problems that occurred last year when tickets for Taylor Swift’s upcoming tour went on sale via Ticketmaster’s Verified Fan system, plus one US venue company’s decision to stop taking a cut of income when artists sell merch at gigs.

SECTION TIMES
01: Live Nation (00:07:53)
02: Merch fees (00:29:12)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Live Nation’s market dominance in the spotlight at Congressional hearing
• US venue owner axes merch commissions following artist’s testimony in Congress
• Artists welcome progress on venue merch commissions, but call for more venues to drop their merchandise fees

ALSO MENTIONED
• Rick Astley says Yung Gravy track infringed his publicity rights
• Clyde Lawrence’s full statement to US Congress (judiciary.senate.gov)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
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Music industry hits out at BBC Introducing cuts

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the campaign against proposed cuts to BBC Music Introducing, which gained momentum last week after a plethora of music industry organisations published an open letter to the board of the BBC seeking reassurance that the service does not become an “unintended victim” of any changes being made to ensure the “future stability and viability” of the broadcaster.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Music industry groups say cuts to BBC Introducing local radio shows would be “fundamental blow to the health of the entire grassroots sector”
• Tom Robinson urges artists and music fans to communicate their appreciation for the local BBC Introducing shows
• BBC provides update on local radio cutbacks
• BBC execs defend local radio cuts to MPs (December 2022)
• BBC boss Tim Davie talks about an internet-centric future with fewer TV channels and radio stations (December 2022)

ALSO MENTIONED
• PRS announces new funding model for PRS Foundation, securing current levels of support
• Full transcript of Tim Davie's Royal Television Society speech (BBC)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
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Universal boss calls for “artist-centric” streaming model

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Universal Music boss Lucian Grainge's confirmation that a big old rejig of the way streaming monies are allocated to individual tracks by the digital platforms each month is a key priority for the biggest music rights company in the world, plus Dr Dre’s legal run-in with US Congress member Marjorie Taylor Greene.

SECTION TIMES
01: Lucian Grainge (00:06:51)
02: Dr Dre (00:32:03)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Universal boss says streaming needs to shift to an “artist-centric” model
• Dr Dre sets lawyers on Marjorie Taylor Greene over copyright infringement
• Marjorie Taylor Green responds to Dr Dre

ALSO MENTIONED
• Public Image Ltd vying to represent Ireland at Eurovision
• Eurovision hopeful John Lydon brands competition “disgusting”

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
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Top five artist gripes in 2023

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 09 Jan 2023 07:00:00 +0000

In the first episode of the Setlist podcast for 2023, CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke look at the five key complaints that musicians have about the modern music industry as we go into the new year, including streaming royalties, venue merch commissions, the difficulties getting music playlisted on streaming services, the pressure to always be active on social media, and a frustration that the music that is popular isn’t always of the highest quality.

SECTION TIMES
01: Streaming services screw us over (00:07:39)
02: Venues take a cut of our merchandise income (00:18:09)
03: Spotify won’t playlist my music (00:26:02)
04: There’s too much pressure to always be on social media (00:37:05)
05: People like shit music (00:47:41)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

MORE FROM CMU
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The music business review of the year 2022

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Dec 2022 07:00:00 +0000

In this final edition of the Setlist podcast for 2022, CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last year.

That includes: the ongoing economics of streaming debate, the resurgence (or not) of the live music industry, the continued increase in song-theft lawsuits, the growing trend of interpolation in pop, and the licensing of music on social media platforms.

Apologies for the slight sound issues on some of this episode - one of us (naming no names) managed to record themselves through a microphone that wasn't the one pointing at their face.

SECTION TIMES
01: Economics of streaming (00:06:47)
02: Live industry (00:12:46)
03: Song-theft lawsuits (00:18:45)
04: Interpolation (00:24:59)
05: Licensing on social media (00:32:17)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Artist remuneration remains a key sticking point as MPs return to the economics of streaming debate (November 2022)
• CMA concludes that competition issues are not creating challenges for music-makers in the streaming economy (November 2022)
• Goldman Sachs 'Music In The Air' report 2022 (June 2022)
• Live Nation Q3 2022 results (November 2022)
• Santigold cancels US tour: “I will not continue to sacrifice myself for an industry that has become unsustainable” (September 2022)
• Animal Collective cancel European shows after concluding that international touring in 2022 isn’t economically viable (October 2022)
• Lorde is the latest artist to discuss the challenges of touring in 2022 (November 2022)
• Ed Sheeran discusses impact of ‘Shape Of You litigation after winning song-theft battle (April 2022)
• Beyonce samples Show Me Love on first Renaissance single (June 2022)
• Beyonce removes ‘Milkshake’ interpolation from new track following criticism from Kelis (August 2022)
• Beyonce denies interpolating Right Said Fred track without permission (October 2022)
• Universal Music wants Bang sanctioned over deleted TikTok videos (August 2022)
• Bang infringed Sony Music’s rights in social media videos, court confirms (September 2022)
• Now Warner Music sues Bang over the unlicensed music in its TikTok videos September 2022)
• YouTube launches new music micro-licensing service for its video creators (September 2022)

ALSO MENTIONED
• The battle for Christmas number one has commenced

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
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MPs ask for an update on the "complete reset of streaming”

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 21 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including last week's Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee hearing, which saw music industry experts and representatives updating MPs about the work that has been ongoing within the music community since the committee published its report last year on the economics of music streaming.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Artist remuneration remains a key sticking point as MPs return to the economics of streaming debate
• DCMS Economics Of Streaming Inquiry timeline

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music consumption at all time high powered by streaming and video apps
• IFPI Engaging With Music report 2022 (ifpi.org)
• MMF Song Royalties Manifesto (themmf.net)
• Watch the DCMS select committee hearing (parliamentlive.tv)
• CMU Podcast: Spotify mechanicals, BBC pay, BBC music show with guest presenter Becky Brook (July 2017)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Drake and 21 Savage ordered to destroy fake Vogue cover

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Drake and 21 Savage being sued by magazine publisher Condé Nast for trademark infringement over a fake Vogue cover that formed part of the promotional campaign for their new collaborative album ‘Her Loss’, plus Lorde's discussion of the challenges facing the live music sector at the moment and how for an increasing number of artists the economics of touring currently don’t add up.

SECTION TIMES
01: Drake and 21 Savage (00:05:16)
02: Lorde (00:20:03)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Condé Nast sues over Drake and 21 Savage fake Vogue cover
• New York court orders Drake and 21 Savage to stop distributing their fake Vogue cover
• Lorde is the latest artist to discuss the challenges of touring in 2022

ALSO MENTIONED
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Setlist: Why is touring becoming economically unviable for more artists? (17 Oct 2022)

MORE FROM CMU
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Has music copyright “never had it so good”?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 Nov 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including former Spotify economist Will Page's claim that “music copyright has never had it so good”, with – by his calculations – the value of the wider music rights business now almost $40 billion worldwide, and the changes over at Amazon Prime Music with more music but less functionality.

SECTION TIMES
01: Will Page report (00:09:15)
02: Amazon Music (00:28:04)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Will Page says “music copyright has never had it so good” as global revenues reach almost $40 billion
• Amazon shuffles its Prime Music offer, full 100 million track catalogue now available

ALSO MENTIONED
• BBC celebrates 70 years of singles chart by playing most streamed track released each year
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
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Noise complaints still threatening live music

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 31 Oct 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Manchester music venue the Night & Day Café continuing to fight against a Noise Abatement Notice served by Manchester City Council last year, and 5 Seconds Of Summer’s feelings about winning the Worst Band prize at the NME Awards three years in a row.

SECTION TIMES
01: Night & Day Café (00:09:52)
02: 5 Seconds Of Summer (00:26:14)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Manchester music venue Night & Day Café facing closure as it continues to fight noise complaint
• 5 Seconds Of Summer discuss being voted Worst Band at NME Awards three times

ALSO MENTIONED
• Apple Music increases baseline subscription rate to 10.99
• Night & Day Café petition (Change.org)
• James Blunt demands NME award he won thirteen years ago (May 2019)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

How much will promoters lose from the Festicket collapse?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including confirmation from Festicket's administrators that a number of the promoters who worked with the collapsed ticketing company are insisting that the money it collected for their shows and events was meant to be held in trust although it wasn't, and the news that all seven members of BTS will serve their two years of military service in South Korea after all.

SECTION TIMES
01: Festicket (00:05:32)
02: BTS (00:20:37)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Festicket did not hold promoters’ ticket sale monies in trust, administrators confirm
• BTS confirm that they will carry out military service in South Korea

ALSO MENTIONED
• Little Simz wins 2022 Mercury Prize

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Why is touring becoming economically unviable for more artists?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Animal Collective's announcement that they are cancelling their European tour, which was due to take place next month, explaining that – while preparing for the shows – they realised they were looking at “an economic reality that simply does not work and is not sustainable”, plus Mike Batt’s revelation that he’s destroyed his original multitrack tapes for the music he made as The Wombles to stop anyone remastering his work.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Animal Collective cancel European shows after concluding that international touring in 2022 isn’t economically viable
• Mike Batt destroyed the Wombles master tapes so that they can’t be remixed after he dies

ALSO MENTIONED
• Coachella sues Afrochella for trademark infringement
• Santigold cancels US tour: “I will not continue to sacrifice myself for an industry that has become unsustainable”
• Deezer releases AI tool to split tracks into individual parts (November 2019)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Did the Tories infringe M People's copyright?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including M People's anger at Liz Truss walking on stage at the Conservative Party conference to their song 'Moving On Up' and whether or not her doing so was copyright infringement, plus Apple Music's big brag that it now has over 100 million tracks available for users to listen to.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• M People hit out as Liz Truss walks on stage to Moving On Up
• Apple Music catalogue passes 100 million tracks

ALSO MENTIONED
• CMU Insights copyright training (for any Conservative MPs reading)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Will data developments get songwriters paid?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 03 Oct 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including songs rights data announcements that saw PRS For Music in the UK set out plans to launch a new online portal that will provide easy access to key data linked to the songs catalogue it represents and American collecting society MLC launch a new tool that allows music distributors to easily access data on unclaimed mechanical royalties in the US for over two million recordings, plus Pusha T's latest entry into the world of corporate diss tracks.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• PRS announces plans for new portal offering easy access to song rights data
• MLC launches unmatched royalty identification tool
• Pusha T drops second McDonald’s diss track

ALSO MENTIONED
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune
• The Great Escape announces First Fifty shows and 2023 CMU+TGE themes
• Buy your TGE delegate pass
• Dissecting The Digital Dollar reports
• Pusha T - Spicy Fish Diss Track
• Pusha T - Rib Roast
• Pusha T’s New Diss Track Is an Arby’s Ad. Here’s Why He’s Laughing All the Way to the Bank (Rolling Stone, March 2022)
• The Contentious Tale of the McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” Jingle (Pitchfork, July 2016)
• Pusha T McDonald's advert (2003)
• Arby's x Pusha T merch

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

US recorded music revenues still climbing (slowly)

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the Recording Industry Association Of America’s stats about the US recorded music market in the first half of 2022, and the live music and night-time sectors’ response to the UK government’s energy price cap for businesses and new budget.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• RIAA stats confirm 9% growth in US recorded music market so far this year
• Live sector cautiously welcomes energy price cap, but says more action still needed

ALSO MENTIONED
• Triller Verzuz Timbaland and Swizz Beatz is settled

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
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Lizzo’s keeping her $5 million cancelled festival fee

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the ruling that Lizzo can keep the $5 million fee she was paid to play the 2020 LA Virgin Fest that never happened because of COVID, and YouTube's announcement that it handed more than $6 billion over to the music industry in the twelve months to June this year.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Lizzo can keep $5 million fee from COVID cancelled Virgin Fest, judge rules
• YouTube paid out $6 billion to the music industry over the last year

ALSO MENTIONED
• Worldwide FM to pause new programmes so to “re-organise and re-evaluate”
• Loud & Quiet financial troubles statement (Twitter)
• Loud And Quiet announces subscriptions to help weather COVID-19 crisis (April 2020)
• CMU Podcast: Convergence Sessions Special (March 2016)
• Lyor Cohen blog post (YouTube Official Blog)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Vinyl is now more popular than Playstation games

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including new figures from the UK's Entertainment Retailers Association showing that, so far this year, vinyl albums have risen up the ranks to become the second most successful form of physical media in terms of revenues, plus Taylor Swift's efforts to block two expert witnesses from testifying, and limit the testimony of a third, in the upcoming ‘Shake It Off’ song theft trial.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Vinyl overtakes Playstation games, DVDs and CDs as UK’s second best-selling physical entertainment format
• Taylor Swift asks for expert witnesses to be dropped from upcoming Shake It Off trial due to lack of expertise

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music community pays tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
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Venues and studios face closure as energy prices rocket

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 05 Sep 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including calls from various music industry organisations urging the incoming new UK Prime Minister to provide urgent support for music venues, recording studios and the wider night-time sector as they tackle surging energy bills and the cost of living crisis, plus bad news for people who invested in merch company Awesome after it went into administration.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• UK Music and NTIA call for urgent support for music companies facing surging energy bills
• Awesome Merchandise founder comments on firm’s pre-pack administration

ALSO MENTIONED
• Streaming services and music publishers reach deal on song royalty rates in the US

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

The rise and fall of ‘virtual’ rapper FN Meka

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 29 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the claims of racism that saw 'virtual' rapper FN Meka dropped by Universal's Capitol label, and the controversy surrounding the discovery that digital processes have been used by a supposedly analogue reissues label for more than a decade.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Capitol drops ‘virtual’ rapper FN Meka after claims of racism
• Human voice of ‘AI’ rapper FN Meka says he was cut out of the project
• FN Meka spokesperson Anthony Martini quits project, admits there was less AI involved than claimed
• Audiophile label sued over misleading statements regarding its mastering process

ALSO MENTIONED
• Michael Jackson’s nephew says Harry Styles cannot be the ‘new king of pop’
• Capitol Drops ‘Virtual Rapper’ FN Meka After Backlash Over Stereotypes (New York Times)
• This robot rapper and 9m following on TikTok. The company that created him thinks traditional A&R is 'inefficient and unreliable' (Music Business Worldwide, April 2021)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Timbaland and Swizz Beats sue Triller

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 22 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Timbaland and Swizz Beats suing video sharing platform Triller over $28 million they say the company owes them from a deal relating to the popular livestream DJ battle series Verzuz, Snoop Dogg's new breakfast cereal, and the legal battle over the name of Nicki Minaj's Barbie-Que Honey Truffle potato chips.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Timbaland and Swizz Beats sue Triller
• Snoop Dogg launches breakfast cereal, Snoop Loopz
• Mattel sues over Nicki Minaj’s Barbie-Que snacks

ALSO MENTIONED
• HitPiece back from the dead

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
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Taylor Swift says she didn’t rip off players or haters

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 15 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Taylor Swift's statement to a US court as part of the long-running song-theft legal battle over her 2014 hit ‘Shake It Off’ in which she explains how she came up with the lyrics for her track, while also insisting there was no way she could have been exposed to the song she is accused of ripping off before creating ‘Shake It Off’, plus some interesting new stats comparing consumer spending in the UK on recorded music and live music - and the impact of COVID-19 on all that.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Taylor Swift submits statement to court in ongoing Shake It Off song-theft legal battle
• From Suffering to Recovering: The stats that explain why the UK music industry is set for a dramatic post-lockdown comeback (Music Business Worldwide)

ALSO MENTIONED
• UK label spend on A&R and marketing reach almost £500 million last year

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Streaming market just fine, says UK competition regulator

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 01 Aug 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. Well, this week we are looking at just one of the biggest and most interesting news stories of the last week, because last Tuesday the UK’s Competition & Markets Authority published an interim report based on its market study into the streaming music sector - and given it’s 97 pages long, we figured that was probably enough material to fill an edition of Setlist.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• CMA declines to recommend a full market investigation into music streaming

OTHER LINKS
• Full CMA Music And Streaming report
• Mixed response from music industry to CMA’s decision on streaming investigation
• Full DCMS Economics Of Streaming Inquiry timeline
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

Warner Music goes user-centric with SoundCloud

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Warner Music joining SoundCloud’s user-centric Fan-Powered Royalties initiative, and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s continued, but seemingly futile efforts to avoid giving a deposition in a legal battle with Eminem’s publishing company, Eight Mile Style.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Warner Music signs up to SoundCloud’s user-centric initiative
• US judge again declines to delay Daniel Ek deposition in Eminem v Spotify case

ALSO MENTIONED
• YoungBoy Never Broke Again found not guilty of illegal gun possession in LA
• AIM publishes insights on the artist growth model for streaming royalty distribution (July 2021)
• Deezer steps up endorsement of user-centric approach to digital royalties (October 2019)
• Eminem publisher sues Spotify, declares Music Modernization Act unconstitutional (August 2019)

Youngboy ruling furthers Rap On Trial debate

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the ruling that rapper Youngboy Never Broke Again's lyrics cannot be used as evidence during his trial on firearms charges, and how that fits into the wider Rap On Trial debate in the US. Plus, the ruling that Bang energy drink infringed Universal’s copyright in promotional videos on TikTok.

PLEASE NOTE: This episode was recorded before Youngboy Never Broke Again was found not guilty on firearms charges.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Prosecutors in Youngboy Never Broke Again firearms case can’t use rapper’s lyrics as evidence in court
• 300 and Atlantic chiefs call for wider Rap On Trial legal reforms
• Court says Bang’s own TikTok videos infringed Universal’s rights, but not its influencer content

ALSO MENTIONED
• Triller CEO calls on all Americans to delete rival app TikTok
• CMU Insights music business training

Proposed AI laws “dangerous and damaging”, UK Music warns

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 11 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including UK Music's claim that a proposed new copyright exception in the UK that would cover all and any text and data mining is “dangerous and damaging” and would simply allow AI companies to “launder” music in order to generate new content, plus the removal of three Michael Jackson tracks from streaming services that some (although not the Jackson estate and Sony Music) have said were recorded by an impersonator.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• UK Music calls proposed data mining copyright exception “dangerous and damaging”
• Three posthumous Michael Jackson songs removed from streaming services – although not because they’re fakes, estate insists

ALSO MENTIONED
• US Copyright Royalty Board reconfirms 15.1% streaming rate for songwriters and publishers

Is TikTok just “a sophisticated surveillance tool”?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Brendan Carr of the US Federal Communications Commission calling on Apple and Google to remove TikTok from their app stores claiming that the app is “a sophisticated surveillance tool that harvests extensive amounts of personal and sensitive data” that it then hands over to the Chinese government, plus a round-up of the week's Kanye West legal news.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• FCC Commissioner calls on Apple and Google to block TikTok
• Kanye West sued over uncleared sample on Donda 2
• Kayne West fan forced to change restaurant menu following legal letter from rapper

ALSO MENTIONED
• Logic announces BMG deal, less than two weeks after releasing new major label album

Does Four Tet’s streaming settlement set a precedent?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Jun 2022 13:39:41 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Four Tet and Domino's settlement of their legal battle over what royalty rate the musician should be paid on streams and what it could mean for other artists, plus Belgium’s decision to add equitable remuneration to streams and IMPALA’s plea to other European countries not to follow suit.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Domino Records settles Four Tet dispute, commits to pay 50% royalty on digital
• Domino comments on Four Tet settlement, insists no precedent set
• Belgium introduces ER right on streams
• IMPALA calls for French style agreements on fair digital remuneration instead of ER

ALSO MENTIONED
• French performer and label groups reach voluntary agreement regarding digital remuneration

BTS on a break, but don’t call it a hiatus

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 20 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including BTS's announcement that they are going on break to focus on solo projects - but whatever you do, don't call it a hiatus - plus Goldman Sachs' big predictions for music industry growth to the end of the decade.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• BTS announce hiatus, management insists its not a hiatus
• BTS’s RM insists that group’s break “is not the end for us”
• Goldman Sachs Music In The Air report

ALSO MENTIONED
• Belgium introduces ER right on streams

Spotify tells investors everything’s fine, honest

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 13 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK’s Music Managers Forum new report on the topic of digital burnout and the wider debate around pressures being placed by the music industry on artists - particularly female artists - to be heavily active on TikTok, plus the petition calling on UK song rights collecting society PRS to reconsider its decision to reduce the funding it provides to the PRS Foundation.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Spotify boss says his big ambitions in audio at large will deliver mega-revenues and better margins
• US bank upbeat about Spotify, lumping it in with Netflix is an “overgeneralisation”
• Spotify Shares Our Vision To Become the World’s Creator Platform (Spotify blog post)

ALSO MENTIONED
• 50+ music industry organisations call for a PRS rethink on PRS Foundation funding

Is TikTok causing digital burnout in artists?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 06 Jun 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK’s Music Managers Forum new report on the topic of digital burnout and the wider debate around pressures being placed by the music industry on artists - particularly female artists - to be heavily active on TikTok, plus the petition calling on UK song rights collecting society PRS to reconsider its decision to reduce the funding it provides to the PRS Foundation.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• MMF report proposes new support to help artists avoid digital burnout
• FAC launches petition over cut in PRS funding to PRS Foundation

ALSO MENTIONED
• Download MMF digital burnout report
• Pop Star Complaints About Being Forced to Make Viral TikToks Go Viral On Tiktok (GQ)
• Are record labels holding musicians hostage to post ‘relatable’ TikToks? (Dazed)
• Halsey Gets a Release Date for ‘So Good’ Single That Fueled TikTok Debate, as Label Promises ‘Open Dialogue’ (Variety)
• Bring Me The Horizon’s Oli Sykes interview (Kerrang!)
• Rebecca Lucy Taylor/Self Esteem: Why do female musicians have to fake it on TikTok? (Guardian)
• ‘Do we want music to be a pursuit only of the wealthy?’ Anger grows at PRS Foundation cuts (Guardian)
• PRS Foundation CEO Joe Frankland responds to recent donation reduction announcement (PRS Foundation)

Is it time to #ownourvenues?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 30 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK Music Venue Trust's launch of a new organisation called Music Venue Properties - which is a charitable community benefit society set up to buy the freeholds of properties that currently house grassroots music venues - and its #ownourvenues campaign, plus Sony Music's latest announcement regarding paying royalties to unrecouped artists.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Music Venue Trust launches new initiative to buy freeholds of grassroots venues
• Sony Music expands commitment to pay through royalties to unrecouped heritage artists

ALSO MENTIONED
• Sarah Brightman & Alfie Boe - God Save The Queen
• The Kunts - Prince Andrew Is A Sweaty Nonce

Live at Wide Days

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

A special live edition of the show recorded live at Wide Days in Edinburgh. CMU’s Chris Cooke is joined on stage by Serenade's Mike Walsh and SNM Management's Shikayla Nadine to review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest judgement against Viagogo in Australia, Universal's DIY distribution platform Spinnup going invite-only, and the battle for the top of the singles chart in Jubilee week.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Australian appeals court upholds AUS$7 million judgement against Viagogo
• Universal’s DIY distributor introduces A&R process, drops a chunk of its current artists
• Sarah Brightman and Alfie Boe aiming for jubilee number one with new recording of God Save The Queen

ALSO MENTIONED
• DCMS Economics Of Streaming Inquiry

Live at The Great Escape

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 May 2022 06:00:00 +0000

A special edition of the show recorded live at The Great Escape in Brighton. CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke are joined on stage by music rights consultant Becky Brook and creative entrepreneur Ameena Badley to review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Napster's shift to Web3, the MMF's $ong Royalties Manifesto, and the death of the iPod.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Napster acquired for Web3 fun
• MMF launches $ong Royalties Manifesto at The Great Escape
• Apple discontinues the iPod

ALSO MENTIONED
• STLST - Theme From Setlist

Deezer to go public with €1 billion valuation

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Deezer's announcement that it is going public with a valuation of more than €1 billion, as a result of a deal to merge with French special purpose acquisition company I2PO that will result in the streaming music firm being publicly listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange, plus Tyga’s entry into the torrid world of sports shoe litigation.

SECTION TIMES
01: Deezer (00:05:49)
02: Tyga (00:23:15)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Deezer to go public with €1.05 billion valuation
• Tyga’s MSCHF trainers prompt legal battle with Vans

ALSO MENTIONED
• Deezer announces partnership with German broadcaster RTL Deutschland (November 2021)
• Deezer’s IPO is off (October 2015)
• Setlist: Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes recalled back to Hell (April 2021)
• Tommy Cash has collaborated with Adidas on some really long shoes (NME)

The battle for Sheffield’s Leadmill music venue

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Apr 2022 09:09:37 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the battle over Sheffield's Leadmill venue after its current management were served with an eviction notice with plans for the building's landlord to install their own team, plus the producer suing Justin Bieber for allegedly breaking promises on royalties.

SECTION TIMES
01: The Leadmill (00:10:45)
02: Justin Bieber (00:25:06)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Sheffield Leadmill landlord says building will remain a music venue, despite eviction notice
• Dispute over the future of Sheffield’s The Leadmill rages on
• The Leadmill landlords have already begun registering the trademark for Electric Sheffield
• “The Leadmill will not continue” following landlord takeover, says current General Manager
• Leadmill management petition for suspension of Section 25 of Landlord And Tenant Act as dispute with landlord continues
• Bieber producer sues over points dispute

ALSO MENTIONED
• Industry Takeover Seminars
• Sound + Vision Comedy Conference
• Great Escape Conference schedules published as more keynotes and conversations are confirmed

Did Fortnite rip off a Charlie Puth dance? It’s complicated

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 04 Apr 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the lawsuit launched against Fortnite maker Epic Games by the choreographer behind the dance routine in the video for the Charlie Puth song ‘How Long’ alleging that an 'emote' available within the gaming platform utilises his choreography without licence, and the US Copyright Royalty Board's rejection of industry proposals on royalty rates for discs and downloads.

SECTION TIMES
01: Fortnite dance (00:05:56)
02: Copyright Royalty Board (00:15:57)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Choreographer on Charlie Puth video reignites debate about dance copyright on Fortnite
• US Copyright Royalty Board rejects proposal to keep mechanical royalty on discs and downloads unchanged

ALSO MENTIONED
• Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins dies
• Mira Calix dies
• The Wanted’s Tom Parker dies

Record revenues for the record industry (if you don’t adjust for inflation)

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 28 Mar 2022 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest stats from the IFPI showing that global recorded music revenues grew 18.5% in 2021, plus a whole load more stats from Spotify aiming to fend of criticism about the money artists and songwriters earn from the platform (although possibly not doing that good a job of it).

SECTION TIMES
01: IFPI stats (00:05:50)
02: Spotify stats (00:31:13)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Global record industry revenues grew 18.5% to $25.9 billion in 2021
• Spotify paid $7 billion to the music industry last year - and other fun stat brags

ALSO MENTIONED
• Shape Of You song-theft court case concludes
• The things people get wrong about streaming (Setlist specials, May 2020)
• The things people still get wrong about streaming - dissecting the Economics Of Streaming report (Setlist special, July 2021)

MORE FROM CMU
• Upcoming CMU webinars
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

Spotify says its FC Barcelona deal will be great for musicians

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Spotify's $310 million deal to sponsor Spanish football team FC Barcelona - which the streaming service says will be great for artists - and former chief Brexit negotiator Lord Frost's admission that the deal he secured with the European Union may have messed things up for musicians.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:05:24)
02: Brexit (00:19:00)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Spotify’s $310 million FC Barcelona sponsorship deal confirmed – and it’s great news for artists, says Spotify
• Former Brexit negotiator admits “purist” approach to EU trade deal inflicted excessive paperwork on musicians

ALSO MENTIONED
• UK record industry revenues grew 12.8% in 2021

Ed Sheeran tells the High Court he’s no song thief

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 14 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Ed Sheeran's trip to the High Court in London in a bid to defeat a song-theft lawsuit filed against him and his musical collaborators in relation to his 2017 track 'Shape Of You', and the return of LimeWire - not as a piece of peer-to-peer file-sharing software, but as a music NFT marketplace.

SECTION TIMES
01: Ed Sheeran (00:05:40)
02: LimeWire (00:23:13)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Musical “magpie” Ed Sheeran in court over Shape Of You song theft claims
• Ed Sheeran testifies in Shape Of You song-theft dispute
• Musical “magpie” Ed Sheeran is also a “music squirrel”, says lawyer in Shape Of You song-theft case
• Johnny McDaid takes to the stand in Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You song-theft battle
• Another Ed Sheeran collaborator testifies in Shape Of You song-theft case
• LimeWire to relaunch as NFT marketplace

ALSO MENTIONED
• US recorded music market grew 23% in 2021
• Writers of TLC’s No Scrubs given credits on Ed Sheeran’s Shape Of You (March 2017)
• Ed Sheeran settles Photograph song-theft lawsuit (April 2017)
• LimeWire founder settles out of court for $105 million (May 2011)
• Merlin settles with LimeWire (March 2012)
• So where exactly did the bogus “$72 trillion” claim come from? (May 2012)

Bandcamp bought by Fortnite maker Epic Games

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Epic Games' acquisition of Bandcamp and what a gaming company might want with a direct-to-fan music platform, plus the Entertainment Retailers Association's stats on streaming music in 2021 and what it thinks should happen in the economics of streaming debate.

SECTION TIMES
01: Bandcamp (00:02:57)
02: ERA stats (00:17:43)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Epic Games buys Bandcamp
• ERA publishes positive stats galore about streaming, but says industry needs to be “bold” in responding to economics of streaming debate

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music Export Ukraine: How to support the people of Ukraine
• Ukrainian musicians urge streaming services to allow political messaging on their platforms in response to Russian invasion
• Spotify and Live Nation make announcements regarding Russian activities following the invasion of Ukraine

Megan Thee Stallion in album definition dispute

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Megan Thee Stallion’s legal dispute over the definition of an album – and specifically whether her 2021 release ‘Something For Thee Hotties’ is one or now – plus the eventful rollout of Kanye West's latest record, 'Donda 2'.

SECTION TIMES
01: Megan Thee Stallion (00:06:14)
02: Kanye West (00:18:14)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

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STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Megan Thee Stallion goes back to court to dispute label’s definition of “album”
• Kanye West says he sold more than $2 million worth of Donda 2 players in 24 hours
• Kanye West misses Donda 2 release date
• Kanye West releases four Donda 2 tracks
• Kanye West releases Donda 2 (or at least a version of it)

ALSO MENTIONED
• Live Nation upbeat as it publishes its 2021 figures
• Storm Eunice: Record wind gust amid disruption (BBC News)

Comedians sue Pandora over joke copyrights

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 14 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the lawsuits filed against Pandora by three comedians - and the estates of comedy legends Robin Williams and George Carlin - over allegations the American streaming service is streaming comedy routines by those performers without all of the proper licences in place, and the RIAA's legal letter to music NFTs website HitPiece that was both a cease-and-desist on behalf its members and a demand for information about all of the outfit’s activities and revenues to date.

SECTION TIMES
01: Pandora (00:10:22)
02: HitPiece (00:23:12)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Comedians sue Pandora in dispute over literary work licences
• RIAA sends stern legal letter to controversial music NFTs site HitPiece

ALSO MENTIONED
• AWAL
• BRITs power up for fully-fledged return

HitPiece NFTs spark a cease and desist frenzy

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the controversy sparked by a company called HitPiece after it appeared to be selling NFTs related to a plethora of musicians without permission, plus accusations by Lil Yachty that another music-focussed NFT Company, Opulous, used his name and brand as part of its launch communications, even though - he claims - he had not agreed to get involved in the venture.

SECTION TIMES
01: HitPiece (00:08:37)
02: Lil Yachty (00:20:55)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Artists and labels hit out at unofficial NFTs site that allows people to “own a song”
• Lil Yachty sues music NFT start-up Opulous for trademark infringement
• Opulous says Lil Yachty lawsuit is “meritless”

ALSO MENTIONED
• Joe Rogan and Daniel Ek commit to beefed up and more transparent content polices in response to Neil Young boycott
• Spotify science podcaster hits out at Spotify’s response to Rogan backlash
• Spotify boycott grows as Young v Rogan fallout continues

Spotify chooses Joe Rogan over Neil Young

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 31 Jan 2022 09:56:58 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this episode we’re discussing just one story that dominated the headlines over the last seven days – Neil Young’s protest against the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Spotify. Saying that Rogan is “spreading fake information about [COVID-19] vaccines”, Young issued an ultimatum – ditch Rogan, or remove all of his music from its platform. Spotify chose Rogan.

Please note: This episode was recorded prior to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek and Joe Rogan’s latest statements on Neil Young’s protest.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Over 250 scientists and medics hit out at Spotify over Joe Rogan podcast
• Management looking into Neil Young’s request to boycott Spotify in Joe Rogan protest
• Spotify confirms it is removing Neil Young’s music following his Joe Rogan podcast protest

ALSO MENTIONED
• CMU Insights & Friend MTS White Paper – Building Trust #02: Harmful Content

Artists go to war over venue merch commissions

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the artist backlash against venues that charge a commission on any merchandise they sell at gigs and the Featured Artist Coalition's new directory of '100% venues' that don't take any cut at all, plus the battle between the estates of former Jimi Hendrix Experience drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Noel Redding with the Hendrix estate and Sony Music over alleged unpaid royalties.

SECTION TIMES
01: Venue merchandise commissions (00:07:47)
02: Jimi Hendrix (00:19:01)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• FAC launches campaign against venue merch commissions, urges ‘100% Venues’ to sign up to new directory
• Jimi Hendrix estate goes to court following royalty claim from former Experience collaborators

ALSO MENTIONED
• SOPA/PIPA and the MegaUpload shutdown (Chris' blog)
• The FAC's '100% Venues' directory
• Upcoming CMU webinars

Yet another song theft case? You got it!

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the US Ninth Circuit appeals court judges’ skeptical approach to an attempt to have the song-theft case over Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ reinstated and other song-theft lawsuits currently working their way through the courts, plus Spotify’s successful bid to block a trademark application for legal marijuana selling platform, Potify.

SECTION TIMES
01: Katy Perry (00:06:00)
02: Spotify (00:23:56)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Dark Horse litigation back in court, but judges cautious of over-extending copyright
• Taylor Swift has one last go at getting the Shake It Off song-theft lawsuit dismissed
• Chris Brown and Drake hit back over No Guidance song-theft claim
• Spotify successfully blocks Potify trademark application

ALSO MENTIONED
• Over 250 scientists and medics hit out at Spotify over Joe Rogan podcast
• Chris Brown & Drake – No Guidance (YouTube)
• Mr Cooper – I Love Your Dress (YouTube)
• Burger King – You Got It Your Way advert 1992 (YouTube)
• Roy Orbison – You Got It (YouTube)
• Jack Dee Burger King routine (YouTube)

Five music controversies to expect in 2022

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 Jan 2022 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss five companies likely to find themselves involved in big music industry controversies in 2022. They span the economics of streaming debate, the major label system, the live industry, digital licensing and more. Some of these companies will be more used to finding themselves the focus of people’s anger than others, and some more willing to fight back than others.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify (00:04:29)
02: Universal (00:19:48)
03: Viagogo (00:28:13)
04: Twitter (00:35:13)
05: Live Nation (00:43:56)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

FURTHER READING
• Streaming services push for pre-2018 song royalty rate in US Copyright Royalty Board proceedings (October 2021)
• Songwriter groups make final submission to review of US royalty rates on discs and downloads (November 2021)
• Artist Rights Alliance calls Spotify’s Discovery Mode “exploitative and unfair” (May 2021)
• Believe, TuneCore and DistroKid formally endorse Spotify’s controversial Discovery Mode (July 2021)
• Universal Music shares surge 38% on day one of trading (September 2021)
• MPs again call for performer ER on streams as Universal boss’s £150 million pay packet is compared to songwriter earnings (November 2021)
• Ed Sheeran secures injunction against Viagogo over touted tickets in Germany (December 2021)
• NMPA chief says Twitch’s music licensing blog post contains some “astounding admissions” (December 2020)
• DistroKid announces partnership with Twitch (February 2021)
• Warner Music and Twitch announce new deal (September 2021)
• Congress members hit out at Twitter over rights management systems and lack of music licences (August 2021)
• Congressional committee demands documents and information from Live Nation in relation to Astroworld tragedy (December 2021)

Review of the music business year 2021

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 20 Dec 2021 07:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last year. For this edition of Setlist we’re doing things a bit differently. It's our final episode of 2021, so we're going to look back at the big five stories of the last twelve months in the music business. It's been a while since we last did this, because last time we recorded a 'review of the year' edition it took so long we nearly missed Christmas. This time we've come up with a plan though, we only have five minutes to talk about each story. Can it be done? And what were the five big music industry stories of 2021 anyway? Find out here.

SECTION TIMES
01: Streaming economy debate (00:05:54)
02: Brexit (00:12:25)
03: NFTs (00:19:39)
04: Apple Tax (00:25:57)
05: Music rights boom (00:33:41)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

FURTHER READING
• CMU reports on the streaming economy debate
• CMU reports on Brexit
• CMU reports on NFTs
• CMU reports on Epic Games v Apple

There’s only room for one Republic in music, says Universal

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 22 Nov 2021 08:06:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Universal’s lawsuit against investment platform Republic over its move into music (there already being music company called Republic, which Universal has owned for more than 20 years), and Tidal’s big shift to user-centric royalties.

SECTION TIMES
01: Republic (00:06:51)
02: Tidal (00:20:38)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Universal Music goes legal over investment platform Republic moving into music
• Tidal adds free tier – and announces artist bonuses and user-centric plans

ALSO MENTIONED
• Conference themes and lead country partner announced for Great Escape 2022
• Submit conference speakers for The Great Escape 2022

The legal fall out from the Astroworld tragedy

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 15 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss the tragedy that occurred at Travis Scott's Astroworld festival in Houston Texas on Friday 5 Nov. Ten* people were killed and hundreds more injured after a dangerous crowd-surge occurred during Scott's headline set at the festival. A criminal investigation is now underway to ascertain the sequence of events that led to the injuries and deaths, and to what extent poor planning or bad decision making on the ground contributed to the tragedy. Meanwhile, over 100 lawsuits have been filed by victims of the event, with many more expected.

*This episode was recorded before the death of nine year old Ezra Blount.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Travis Scott's Astroworld festival subject to criminal investigation and civil action, after eight people killed during crowd surge
• Astroworld lawsuits mount up, as further statements are issued over festival tragedy
• Lawyers for Astroworld victims get access to the festival's site, as calls for independent investigation increase
• Travis Scott's attorney criticises Houston officials for inconsistent statements and "finger-pointing" in wake of the Astroworld tragedy
• Travis Scott urges Astroworld victims to get in touch as another festival-goer dies from her injuries

ALSO MENTIONED
• Astroworld promo video (Instagram)
• Travis Scott sued over balcony fall at New York gig
• Travis Scott's attorney says rapper didn’t know about deadly crowd chaos (Good Morning America/YouTube)
• Rapper’s rowdy past raises red flags in Astroworld lawsuits (Associated Press)
• Gwen Stefani sued for encouraging fans to rush forward at gig
• Gwen Stefani still faces injured fan lawsuit, but Live Nation is off the hook

Jay-Z in court over "crappy, lazy" perfume launch

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 08 Nov 2021 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Jay-Z claim in court that his fragrance launched in 2013 failed not because he didn't live up to his agreement regarding promoting it but because of perfume company Parlux's "crappy, lazy work", plus the All Party Parliamentary Group On Music's demand for "urgent action" from the UK government to tackle the crisis facing British musicians and crew planning to tour Europe as a result of the Brexit shambles.

SECTION TIMES
01: Jay-Z (00:04:31)
02: Brexit (00:18:16)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Jay-Z takes to the witness stand in ongoing perfume promo dispute
• Jay-Z lays into perfume company’s “crappy, lazy work” in ongoing legal battle
• Cross-party group of MPs calls for urgent action on post-Brexit touring bureaucracy

ALSO MENTIONED
• Big Sean leaves GOOD Music “to start getting a bigger cut”
• Kanye West says signing Big Sean to GOOD Music was “the worst thing I’ve ever done”
• Submit to APPG On Music's inquiry into EU touring

COVID-19 wipes nearly $1 billion off song royalties

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 01 Nov 2021 08:14:17 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the 10.7% (or 775 million euros) drop in royalties collected by the song right collecting societies across the world as a result of COVID-19 in 2020, and the leaked UK government report that suggests that COVID passports might be counterproductive.

SECTION TIMES
01: CISAC stats (00:03:39)
02: COVID Passports (00:20:50)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• COVID caused 775 million euro drop in song royalty collections in 2020, CISAC confirms
• Leaked government report warns that COVID passports could drive up infections

ALSO MENTIONED
• Dave Grohl comments on Nirvana baby lawsuit: “He’s got a Nevermind tattoo. I don’t”

Counting the impact of COVID on the UK music industry

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including UK Music stats revealing that the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out 69,000 music industry jobs in the UK and caused the economic contribution made by the music industry to slump by 46%, plus IFPI music stats showing that free services dominate how people consume music around the world.

SECTION TIMES
01: UK Music stats (00:06:37)
02: IFPI stats (00:19:44)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• COVID-19 cost the UK music industry 69,000 jobs and caused a 46% slump in economic impact
• Free, social and video platforms online account for 45% of music consumption, according to IFPI

ALSO MENTIONED
• UK competition regulator announces market study into music streaming
• Artists and songwriter groups welcome Competition & Market Authority’s streaming market study
• Streaming services push for pre-2018 song royalty rate in US Copyright Royalty Board proceedings

Coldplay's plans to make touring eco-friendly

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Coldplay’s plans to employ various technological solutions to reduce the environmental impact of their world tour next year, plus the music publishers' plans to push for the mechanical royalty rate on streaming in the US to be increased again in 2023.

SECTION TIMES
01: Coldplay (00:07:52)
02: Copyright Royalty Board (00:23:48)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Coldplay announce plans for environmentally friendly world tour
• US music publishers to push for new streaming rate of 20%

ALSO MENTIONED
• That song that almost got to Christmas number number one

Tina Turner's big money brand and rights deal

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Tina Turner’s wide-ranging deal with BMG in which she has given up her recordings, songs and brand for a reported $50 million, plus Friendly Fires’ anger after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson walked onto the stage at the Conservative Party’s annual conference to the sound of their song, ‘Blue Cassette’.

SECTION TIMES
01: Tina Turner (00:06:02)
02: Friendly Fires (00:22:34)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• BMG announces wide-ranging rights deal with Tina Turner
• Friendly Fires hit out after their track is used at start of ‘Boris’ Johnson speech

ALSO MENTIONED
• Kanye West accepting admissions for his new school

Donald Trump's Electric Avenue fair use failure

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 04 Oct 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Donald Trump's failed attempt to have a copyright infringement case brought against him by Eddy Grant dismissed on the grounds of fair use, and the attempt by the man who (as a baby) appeared on the cover of Nirvana's 'Nevermind' album to have the artwork on the record's 30th anniversary reissue censored.

SECTION TIMES
01: Electric Avenue (00:02:19)
02: Nevermind (00:18:13)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• New York judge declines to dismiss Eddy Grant’s copyright case against Donald Trump
• Nevermind baby demands that the album’s artwork be edited on all future re-releases

ALSO MENTIONED
• R Kelly is guilty
• Britney Spears’ father removed from conservatorship role

The government responds to Parliament’s streaming report

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. This week we focus on just one story – because there’s a lot to say about it – the British government’s response to Parliament’s big ‘Economics Of Music Streaming’ report published by Parliament’s Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee in July.

SECTION TIMES
01: Economics of streaming response (00:03:52)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Government responds to Parliament’s economics of streaming report
• Responses to the UK government’s response to Parliament’s Economics Of Streaming Report
• Merck Mercuriadis responds to NMPA chief and UK government on impact of majors on song royalties
• MU and #brokenrecord welcome government’s economics of streaming response, but want more commitment on copyright reforms
• Intellectual Property Office publishes report on music-makers’ earnings

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music Copyright Explained (IPO & CMU Insights)
• Dissecting The Digital Dollar (MMF & CMU Insights)
• Good 4 Who? How Music Copyright Has Gone Too Far (The Verge’s Decoder podcast)

Live from Spot+

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 20 Sep 2021 06:00:00 +0000

Setlist’s Chris Cooke presents a live version of the programme at the Spot+ conference in Aarhus, Denmark. He is joined by a panel of industry experts to review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the RIAA’s latest stats, Portishead’s user-centric royalties on SoundCloud, Epic Games and Apple, COVID passports, and why Ed Sheeran hates American awards ceremonies.

PANEL
• Maria Borg, Digital Partners & Export Manager at discowax / Sony Music
• Helienne Lindvall, songwriter + board director at Ivors Academy
• Daniel Nordgård, Associate Professor in music business at University Of Agder
• Josh Greenberg, Creative Strategy Consultant at Green Mountain Lodge
• Stein Bjelland, President at Stein70000 + Chair of Music Norway

SECTION TIMES
01: RIAA (00:04:37)
02: SoundCloud (00:26:05)
03: Epic v Apple (00:35:00)
04: COVID passports (00:48:28)
05: Ed Sheeran (00:55:46)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• US record industry scores 27% growth in first half of 2021
• SoundCloud says user-centric boosted the royalties for Portishead’s SOS by 500%
• Epic v Apple ruling favours the tech giant, but forces big concession on the App Store’s payment rules
• COVID Passports remain in UK government’s Plan B for tackling the next phase of the pandemic
• American awards ceremonies are “horrible”, says Ed Sheeran

Anarchy in the High Court - it's the Sex Pistols!

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 26 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including The Sex Pistols’ appearance in the High Court in a dispute over a sync deal to include the band’s music in a new show directed by Danny Boyle based on the memoir of guitarist Steve Jones, plus Sony Music’s lawsuit against sportswear brand Gymshark accusing it of using unlicensed music in social media promos for years.

SECTION TIMES
01: Streaming royalties (00:12:49)
02: Sainsbury’s (00:28:51)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Sex Pistols in court over sync deals and a 1988 band agreement
• John Lydon is a “total dick”, former bandmate confirms in court
• Sex Pistols are probably “gone for good” following sync deal bust up, Paul Cook confirms
• John Lydon says he doesn’t remember signing “terrifying” Sex Pistols band agreement as sync deal dispute continues
• John Lydon lawyer says he wasn’t aware of 1988 band agreement until a previous licensing dispute

ALSO MENTIONED
• The Mercury Prize shortlist has only gone and been announced
• Danny Boyle to direct Sex Pistols TV series
• John Lydon calls Sex Pistols TV series “disrespectful”
• Sony Music sues Gymshark over unlicensed recordings in its social media videos

The things people still get wrong about streaming – dissecting the Economics Of Streaming report

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

Taking a break from the usual format, on this week’s Setlist CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss the culture select committee of the UK parliament’s newly published report based on its inquiry into the economics of the music streaming business, including the key findings, what the committee got wrong, and an important question that should probably get answered before anyone instigates the “complete reset” of the entire music streaming business that the committee called for.

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Listen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• UK Parliament calls for “complete reset” of music streaming, including ER for performers and competition investigation into the majors

ALSO MENTIONED
• The full Economics Of Streaming report
• Setlist: The ten things people get wrong about streaming (part one)
• Setlist: The ten things people get wrong about streaming (part two)
• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon

Let's fix streaming by taxing the superstars

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Jul 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the new research from the UK’s Association Of Independent Music’s arguing that paying popular tracks on streaming services lower royalties and less popular track more might be the key to a fairer system, and the news that supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is freeing up shelf space in its stores by ditching CDs and DVDs.

SECTION TIMES
01: Streaming royalties (00:12:56)
02: Sainsbury’s (00:30:41)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• AIM publishes insights on the artist growth model for streaming royalty distribution
• Sainsbury’s confirms it is phasing out CDs and DVDs from its stores

ALSO MENTIONED
• John Barnes, Gazza and (please make it stop) Peter Beardsley rap on previously unheard World In Motion tapes
• Jacob Rees-Mogg raps in Parliament

Brexit negotiator says touring issues aren't his problem

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 05 Jul 2021 05:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including chief Brexit negotiator Lord David Frost’s less than reassuring answers to questions about how he failed to deliver visa-free touring in the EU for British musicians and what is being done about it, plus the music companies going on the record to say positive things about Spotify’s controversial Discovery Mode.

SECTION TIMES
01: Brexit (00:5:38)
02: Discovery Mode (00:25:00)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Chief Brexit negotiator finally speaks to culture select committee about new bureaucratic barriers for touring artists, reassures no one
• Elton John says the government “tossed away” the arts when negotiating Brexit trade deal
• #LetTheMusicMove campaigns for resolution to UK touring musicians’ “no deal Brexit”
• Believe, TuneCore and DistroKid formally endorse Spotify’s controversial Discovery Mode

ALSO MENTIONED
• Fabric to ban unauthorised photography

Damon Dash and the court-blocked Jay-Z NFT

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 28 Jun 2021 05:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the court order barring Damon Dash from auctioning an NFT that the Roc-A-Fella record label claims is an attempt to sell off copyright in Jay-Z’s ‘Reasonable Doubt’ album that he does not own, and the private Universal Music share deal that edges it closer to a public stock market listing.

SECTION TIMES
01: Jay-Z NFT (00:7:38)
02: Universal Music (00:23:57)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Damon Dash sued over Reasonable Doubt NFT
• New York court blocks Damon Dash from selling Reasonable Doubt NFT – for now
• Vivendi finalises $4 billion deal to sell 10% of Universal Music ahead of stock market listing
• Vivendi shareholders approve plan for spinning off Universal Music

ALSO MENTIONED
• Andrew Lloyd Webber says he will not defy COVID-19 rules to open his new musical at full capacity this week
• UK ministers refusing to published Events Research Programme results for PR reasons is causing more cancellations, says Kendal Calling
• MPs join industry in criticising delay in publishing findings of UK government’s Events Research Programme
• UK government now says Events Research Programme findings “likely” to be published “shortly”

Could this bold new law finally fix streaming?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 21 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the new private members bill proposed by MP Kevin Brennan to change UK copyright law to provide musicians with guaranteed income when their music is streamed, and Sony Music’s announcement that it will start paying royalties to unrecouped artists on 20th century record contracts.

SECTION TIMES
01: Private members bill (00:5:23)
02: Sony Music (00:24:24)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Kevin Brennan MP proposes “a new right to fair remuneration” from streaming for musicians in private members bill
• Artist and management community welcome Sony Music’s decision to pay royalties to artists on unrecouped pre-2000 record deals

ALSO MENTIONED
• With lifting of COVID restrictions set to be delayed, live sector calls for more data and financial support

The music publishers' $200 million lawsuit against Roblox

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 14 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the $200 million lawsuit against Roblox from a consortium of music publishers led by the US National Music Publishers Association, plus Brexit negotiator David Frost’s big no-show at a parliamentary inquiry into how the UK-EU trade deal messed things up so badly for touring musicians and what, if anything, is being done about it.

SECTION TIMES
01: Roblox (00:3:36)
02: Brexit (00:15:90)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

SUBSCRIBE TO SETLIST
Listen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Music publishers sue Roblox for $200 million, pile more pressure on Twitch
• UK’s Brexit negotiator criticised over no-show at Parliamentary session on the bureaucratic barriers faced by touring musicians
• Culture Secretary mocked over “ambitious” visa-free touring agreement with Liechtenstein

ALSO MENTIONED
• Live industry warns against delayed reopening, calls on government to release Events Research Programme findings
• Andrew Lloyd Webber promises “mother of all legal cases” if government pushes back lifting of COVID restrictions on venues

YouTube's four billion dollar stats brag

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 Jun 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including YouTube Global Head Of Music Lyor Cohen’s brag that the Google division has paid out over $4 billion to the music industry over the last year, and the last minute pleas for the government to save the festival season by offering state-backed cancellation insurance.

SECTION TIMES
01: YouTube (00:4:27)
02: Festival insurance (00:24:50)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• YouTube paid $4 billion to the music industry last year and is still finding new sources of revenue for artists, says Lyor Cohen
• Culture select committee says government inaction on insurance will result in another “lost summer” for the festival sector

ALSO MENTIONED
• Robert Smith says he’s working on an album of “just noise”
• Lyor Cohen’s blog post
• Latest report from IMPALA’s One Step Ahead

The music industry's "war on the internet"

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 31 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including US ISP Cox Communication's claim that the music industry is "waging war on the internet" as it appeals the 2019 safe harbour ruling against it, plus a new survey from the Musicians' Union and the Incorporated Society Of Musicians showing that 77% of UK music-makers expect their income to fall as a result of new post-Brexit touring bureaucracy.

SECTION TIMES
01: Cox Communications (00:5:44)
02: Brexit (00:19:49)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Cox Communications files appeal against billion dollar copyright ruling
• 77% of musicians expect earnings to be hit by new post-Brexit touring bureaucracy

ALSO MENTIONED
• Culture Secretary “very hopeful” for full return of live music, as Download Festival added to Events Research Programme

High quality audio goes mainstream

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Apple and Amazon's announcements that users of their streaming services will now be able to enjoy some super enhanced audio action via their respective music platforms at no extra cost, plus the UK's competition regulator the Competition & Markets Authority's announcement that it has launched an investigation into the recent acquisition by Sony Music of Kobalt's recordings division.

SECTION TIMES
01: High quality audio (00:3:51)
02: Sony Music (00:21:05)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Apple Music and Amazon Music offering higher quality audio at no extra cost
• UK competition regulator to investigate Sony’s AWAL purchase
• Sony confirms AWAL acquisition completed, acknowledges regulator investigation in the UK

ALSO MENTIONED
• Flo Rida arrives in Rotterdam to join San Marino’s Eurovision performance
• Iceland withdraw from live Eurovision shows, PRS announces 2020’s most played UK entries
• Duncan Laurence will not reprise winning Eurovision performance following positive COVID test
• Italy wins Eurovision, UK comes last
• Apple's $549 AirPods Max can't play lossless Apple Music - even when plugged in (The Verge)

Are iPhone users the real victims of the Apple Tax?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the new class action legal claim in London on behalf of the millions of iOS users in the UK, presenting consumers rather than app-makers as the bigger losers when Apple adds a 30% commission onto in-app purchases, plus Believe’s first step towards its IPO.

SECTION TIMES
01: Apple Tax (00:12:27)
02: Believe (00:26:00)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Apple’s App Store rules now subject to £1.5 billion class action claim before UK tribunal
• Believe confirms first step completed towards IPO on Paris stock exchange

ALSO MENTIONED
• BRITs goes ahead with audience of keyworkers, but makes Coldplay stay outside

PRS livestreaming rates: the controversy continues

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the new controversy over PRS For Music’s new livestreaming licence after it was revised to address previous controversy, plus media regulator Ofcom’s consultation on its view that BBC Sounds is no threat to anyone in commercial radio and podcasting.

SECTION TIMES
01: PRS livestream tariff (00:05:15)
02: BBC Sounds (00:31:07)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• PRS proposes revised livestream licence after ‘call for views’, but still criticised by artists and managers
• OfCom opens consultation on its view BBC Sounds is not a threat to commercial radio

ALSO MENTIONED
• Buy delegate passes for The Great Escape Online 2021

The EU takes a stand against the Apple Tax

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 03 May 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the European Commission’s ‘statement of objections’ to Apple saying that it believes it has distorted competition in the music streaming market by enforcing the mandatory use of its own payment system, plus Tencent’s likely fine for alleged anti-competitive behaviour in the music streaming market.

SECTION TIMES
01: EU v Apple (00:02:58)
02: China v Tencent (00:21:49)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Apple’s App Store rules back in spotlight in both Europe and the US thanks to Spotify and Fortnite
• Tencent likely to be fined in Chinese competition law crackdown, could be force to sell music apps

ALSO MENTIONED
• Bjorn Ulvaeus confirmed as final keynote interviewee for Great Escape 2021
• Buy delegate passes for The Great Escape Online 2021

Artists call on Boris Johnson to fix streaming

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 26 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the letter to UK Prime Minister 'Boris' Johnson from 156 musicians demanding that he fix music streaming, and another letter sent by an alliance of copyright industry trade groups to the European Union demanding that it beef up an element of its proposed Digital Services Act.

SECTION TIMES
01: Letter to 'Boris' Johnson (00:06:59)
02: Letter to the EU (00:30:05)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• 156 artists call on UK government to add ER to streams and launch competition investigation into the majors
• Copyright groups say European Union’s Digital Services Act should do more to stop piracy sites operating anonymously

ALSO MENTIONED
• CMU+TGE 2021 Panel: Learning By Doing – Young Guns Artist Campaign Team
• CMU+TGE 2021 Panel: Getting Rights Data Right
• CMU+TGE 2021: Thursday’s Keynote In Conversations
• Buy delegate passes for The Great Escape Online 2021

Live Nation prepares venues for the livestreaming future

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Live Nation's announcement that it is kitting out more than 60 US music venues with equipment to offer any artist performing in them the option to also broadcast their shows online, and Ofcom's decision not to take action over a Capital Xtra DJ taking money in exchange for airplay.

SECTION TIMES
01: Livestreaming (00:04:31)
02: Capital Xtra (00:19:59)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Live Nation and Veeps begin equipping US venues for post-pandemic livestreaming
• OfCom declines to take action against Capital Xtra following DJ Tiiny payola scandal

ALSO MENTIONED
• TikTok’s Ole Obermann, BBC’s Lorna Clarke and Ghostpoet join TGE Conference line-up

Lil Nas X's Satan Shoes recalled back to Hell

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including a legal settlement that will see 666 pairs of Nike trainers that were turned – without the sportswear brand’s permission – into Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes recalled, plus the merger of Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Holdings with the South Korean music company formerly known as Big Hit Entertainment, HYBE.

SECTION TIMES
01: Satan Shoes (00:06:41)
02: HYBE and Ithaca (00:21:13)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Nike launches lawsuit over Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes
• Satan Shoes maker responds to Nike lawsuit – it’s all just “conceptual art”
• Nike and MSCHF reach settlement over Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes
• BTS and Bieber among the artists welcoming the big HYBE Ithaca merger
• HYBE x Ithaca Holdings deal announcement video (YouTube)

ALSO MENTIONED
• Lordi to release seven albums (all at once) in 2021
• Taylor Swift to release new version of Fearless album “soon” (February 2021)
• Sufjan Stevens announces five volume album (Pitchfork)
• South Korean politician suggests BTS members should be offered “special alternative” to mandatory military service (October 2020)
• Korea Music Content Association files complaint about ‘unfair’ mandatory military deferment (Korea Joongang Daily)
• Scooter Braun acquires Big Machine in Taylor Swift’s “worst case scenario” (July 2019)
• Taylor Swift planning to re-record old songs to spite former label (August 2019)
• Scooter Braun sells Taylor Swift’s first six albums to private equity firm for $300 million (November 2020)
• Universal and Big Hit widen partnership, set to launch “global” K-pop group (February 2021)

Songwriters call time on pop stars’ unearned credits

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 05 Apr 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the new songwriter campaign seeking to stop famous artists from grabbing a cut of the copyright in songs that they help make famous but don’t actually co-write, plus Ice Cube’s lawsuit against the “unscrupulous and predatory” Robinhood app.

SECTION TIMES
01: Songwriters v Pop stars (00:03:58)
02: Ice Cube (00:21:14)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Songwriter group pushes back on superstar artists demanding a copyright cut on songs they didn’t co-write
• Ice Cube sues “unscrupulous and predatory” Robinhood app for posting his photo on its website

ALSO MENTIONED
• FAC, MPA, MU and Sentric Music join Music Copyright Explained debate next Tuesday

How record labels kept the money flowing in 2020

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 29 Mar 2021 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including new stats from trade bodies the IFPI and BPI showing that streaming kept the record industry in growth in 2020, despite COVID-19, plus the new campaign launched by the Ivors Academy calling on labels to better compensate songwriters for their work.

SECTION TIMES
01: Stats! Stats! Stats! (00:05:15)
02: #PaySongwriters (00:21:40)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Global record industry revenues grow 7.4% to $21.6 billion in COVID year
• BPI stats show slowed growth for UK record label revenues in 2020
• Wider music copyright market grew by 7% to $31.6 billion in 2019
• Ivors Academy calls on labels to #PaySongwriters

DIRECT LINKS TO REPORTS
• IFPI Global Music Industry Report 2021
• UK recorded music revenues grew 3.8% in 2020 (BPI)
• Music needs to know how much it’s worth (Will Page/Tarzan Economics)

ALSO MENTIONED
• Initial artists and keynote interviewees confirmed for The Great Escape Online
• All about the TGE Conference
• Buy delegate passes for TGE Online 2021

Spotify gets in on the economics of streaming debate

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 22 Mar 2021 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Spotify’s new website formally laying out its positions on the different aspects of the economics of streaming debate, and calls for the Recording Academy to support publishing contract reform.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify on the streaming economics (00:03:15)
02: The campaign against ‘minimum delivery and release commitment’ (00:28:23)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Spotify formally enters the economics of streaming debate with new Loud & Clear website
• Songwriter groups call on Recording Academy to support campaign against minimum release commitments in publishing deals

ALSO MENTIONED
• Music Copyright Explained – download the new guide from the Intellectual Property Office and CMU Insights
• Music Copyright Explained – sign up for free webinars
• Setlist: Deezer’s big push to get support for user-centric royalty distribution (September 2019)
• NMPA boss hopeful streaming rate increases will stay despite appeals court forcing a review (August 2020)

The music business year so far

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 15 Mar 2021 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from 2021 so far, including UK parliament’s inquiry into the economics of streaming, the debate around user-centric streaming royalties, and the issues facing UK musicians who want to tour Europe post-Brexit.

SECTION TIMES
01: Economics of streaming (00:07:33)
02: User-centric royalties (00:17:15)
03: Brexit and live music (00:23:31)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• UK parliament’s economics of streaming inquiry
• SoundCloud announces shift to user-centric royalty distribution for its 100,000 independent creators
• MU and ISM call for more urgency from government over post-Brexit touring issues

ALSO MENTIONED
• Spotify confirms launch in 85 new markets, plus new tools galore and high quality audio, in big announcements splurge
• Jay-Z sells “significant majority” of Tidal to Jack Dorsey’s Square
• Get the lowdown on the CMU+TGE programme at The Great Escape Online
• New series of white papers on Building Trust puts the spotlight on the copyright safe harbour
• CMU Insights: Copyright webinars on artist rights, piracy and US copyright law

Artists say PRS fees could cause livestream losses

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 14 Dec 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK’s Music Managers Forum and Featured Artists Coalition anger at PRS For Music's “unworkable” proposed royalty rates for livestreamed shows, plus our favourite music of 2020.

SECTION TIMES
01: Livestream rates (00:04:43)
02: Tracks of 2020 (00:23:57)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• MMF and FAC hit out at proposed PRS royalty rate for livestreamed shows
• On The CMU Stereo 2020 playlist

ALSO MENTIONED
• Taylor Swift releases her second surprise album of 2020
• Rina Sawayama barred from entering this year’s Mercury Prize for not being British enough (July 2020)

Can the Grammy Awards ever escape controversy?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 Dec 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the accusations of corruption levelled at the Grammy Awards by The Weeknd and Halsey (among others) and whether the big US music industry awards show can ever escape criticism, plus the $3 million lawsuit launched by Chance The Rapper's former manager that calls his last album a “freestyle-driven product of sub-par quality”.

SECTION TIMES
01: Grammy Awards (00:05:35)
02: Chance The Rapper (00:19:32)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Grammys fail to avoid controversy with 2021 nominations
• Halsey says getting Grammys nominations is about “knowing the right people”
• Ellie Goulding weighs in on music awards
• Chance The Rapper sued for $3 million in commission by former manager

ALSO MENTIONED
• Culture select committee chair says he will name and shame anyone trying to stop artists from speaking out about streaming
• Ousted Recording Academy CEO goes nuclear in legal filing alleging sexual harassment, rape claims, corruption, misogyny and vote fixing (January 2020)

Artists tell MPs streaming is "threatening the future of music"

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 30 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the first parliamentary hearing in the culture select committee inquiry into the economics of streaming, plus Instagram's insistence that no one would ever confuse its Reels feature with US cable TV channel Reelz.

SECTION TIMES
01: Streaming inquiry (00:05:36)
02: Reels/z (00:28:35)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Performer ER in the spotlight at first parliamentary hearing on the economics of music streaming
• No one would confuse Reels with Reelz, says Instagram

ALSO MENTIONED
• Setlist: Parliament probes the economics of streaming (from October 2020)

300 million reasons why Taylor Swift still hates Scooter Braun

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Taylor Swift's anger upon learning that the master rights in her first six albums have been sold without her knowledge for a second time, plus music publisher Wixen's lawsuit against TikTok rival Triller.

SECTION TIMES
01: Taylor Swift (00:08:24)
02: Triller (00:23:37)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Scooter Braun sells Taylor Swift’s first six albums to private equity firm for $300 million
• Wixen sues Triller for copyright infringement

ALSO MENTIONED
• Warner Music creates new radio edit of Fairytale Of New York, to the annoyance of homophobia fans
• Def Leppard re-record their old songs

Are we headed for a live music dystopia?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Ticketmaster's proposal to use its app to verify that ticketholders have had a COVID-19 vaccination or negative test before attending shows, and the latest twist in the copyright infringement battle between Nirvana and fashion designer Marc Jacobs.

SECTION TIMES
01: Ticketmaster (00:03:51)
02: Nirvana (00:18:04)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Ticketmaster planning to use app to verify COVID status, in hopes of return to full capacity shows in 2021
• Ticketmaster says it won’t be barring people from entering shows based on their COVID status (that’ll be the promoter’s job)
• Nirvana company files another lawsuit over the band’s smiley face

ALSO MENTIONED
• Twitch responds to music takedown frenzy, says music licences will take time or may never happen
• Boris Johnson gives cautious welcome to COVID-19 vaccine news (Sky News)

Spotify opens up its algorithm... for a fee

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Spotify's new pilot scheme allowing artists and labels to influence its music-selecting algorithm in return for a lower royalty rate, plus Live Nation's beaming positivity in the face of another round of definitely not positive financial results.

SECTION TIMES
01: Spotify algorithm (00:07:01)
02: Live Nation finances (00:27:39)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Spotify to allow artists and labels to influence its curation algorithm – in return for a royalty discount
• Live Nation summer revenues down 95%, but company talks of cautious optimism and being prepared

ALSO MENTIONED
• IMPALA and CMU partner to launch digital intelligence facility One Step Ahead

Songwriters fear 35% royalty drop in 2020

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 02 Nov 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including global collecting society grouping CISAC's positive revenue stats for 2019 and very gloomy predictions for 2020, and the news that Harry Styles has invested in a new arena venue in Manchester.

SECTION TIMES
01: CISAC figures (00:04:45)
02: Harry Styles (00:20:16)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Song right societies saw collections grow 8.4% in 2019, but fear a 35% drop in 2020 due to COVID
• Harry Styles invests in new Manchester arena Co-op Live

ALSO MENTIONED
• Spotify boss discusses price rise strategies in latest investor report
• US musicians group calls for cent-per-stream payouts in Justice At Spotify campaign

Could Viagogo's StubHub merger be on the verge of collapse?

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK competition regulator's conclusion that a merged Viagogo and StubHub would likely result in a “substantial lessening of competition in the online secondary ticketing market” and proposal that the whole thing be called off, plus the new report that warns that 170,000 live industry jobs are at risk as a result of the UK government's response to COVID-19.

SECTION TIMES
01: Viagogo/StubHub on the rocks (00:09:48)
02: Live music jobs in doubt (00:25:03)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• UK competition regulator remains opposed to Viagogo/StubHub merger after phase two investigation
• Nearly 170,000 UK live sector jobs will be lost by the end of the year, industry warns in new report

ALSO MENTIONED
• Fyre Festival’s Billy McFarland launches podcast from prison to tell his side of the story
• Rishi Sunak forced to offer multibillion-pound job package as Covid fears mount (The Guardian)

Parliament probes the economics of streaming

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the announcement that the culture select committee of the UK Parliament is opening an inquiry into the economics of music streaming, and the music industry's positive response to the number of venues, festivals and other music organisations who will receive support from the Culture Recovery Fund.

SECTION TIMES
01: Streaming inquiry (00:05:38)
02: Culture Recovery Fund (00:27:44)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Parliament’s culture select committee to investigate the economics of music streaming
• UK music industry welcomes Culture Recovery Fund support for numerous venues and festivals, though COVID challenges remain
• The Lexington still in perilous position despite receiving Culture Recovery Fund grant

ALSO MENTIONED
• BTS management company Big Hit proves a big hit on the South Korean stock market
• CMU and MMF's 'Dissecting The Digital Dollar' project
• UK govt advert encouraging re-skilling for cyber jobs implodes spectacularly (The Register)
• Government job retraining recommendations website offers little hope for musicians

BMG moves to make record contracts fairer

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including BMG's announcement that it is eliminating a controversial, artist unfriendly clause from its record contracts and whether other labels might follow suit, plus what the members of BTS serving military service could mean for both the band and the South Korean economy.

SECTION TIMES
01: BMG’s contracts (00:04:26)
02: BTS’s conscription (00:18:22)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• BMG to eliminate ‘controlled composition’ deductions in all record contracts
• South Korean politician suggests BTS members should be offered “special alternative” to mandatory military service

ALSO MENTIONED
• Kickass founder disappears halting US extradition attempts
• BTS are on the brink of enrolling in a major military nightmare (Wired)

Travis Scott's thumbs get him into trouble

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 05 Oct 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Travis Scott being sued by gaming accessory company KontrolFreek over some (allegedly) dodgy thumbsticks that (allegedly) rip off the company's designs, and why John Lennon's former personal assistant is being sued for speaking publicly about his time as John Lennon's personal assistant.

SECTION TIMES
01: Travis Scott sued over thumbsticks (00:08:08)
02: John Lennon's former PA sued for talking (00:18:13)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Travis Scott sued over his Cactus Jack thumbsticks
• Yoko Ono sues former John Lennon assistant over recent interview

ALSO MENTIONED
• Capital launches new 24/7 dance music radio station
• McDonald’s recruits Travis Scott to sell burgers to The Kids
• Bill Murray responds to Doobie Brothers’ copyright infringement claim
• 'Good Ol Freda' trailer (YouTube)

Commerical radio hits out at BBC Sounds

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including OfCom's announcement that it intends to investigate whether the BBC Sounds app is competing with commercial media, and YouTube hitting back at a lawsuit arguing that it should not enjoy protection under the copyright safe harbour because it doesn’t make its Content ID rights management system available to everyone.

SECTION TIMES
01: OfCom to investigate BBC Sounds (00:05:19)
02: YouTube defends Content ID access policy (00:20:42)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• MPs call for OfCom review of BBC Sounds app after new dance music service added
• OfCom allows Radio 1 24/7 dance stream launch to go ahead, but will look at market position of BBC Sounds app
• YouTube hits back against lawsuit over Content ID access

ALSO MENTIONED
• Kanye West says he'll give GOOD artists back their masters; Big Sean, Desiigner & 070 Shake rejoice (Billboard)

Kanye West puts record deals in the spotlight

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 21 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Kanye West's big dispute over the structure of record company deals with artists (and the contents of the deals he dumped on Twitter), and Facebook's deals with the music industry to include music in video game livestreams on its Twitch rival Facebook Gaming.

SECTION TIMES
01: Kanye v Universal (00:05:19)
02: Facebook Gaming (00:29:51)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Kanye West hits out at Universal and Sony in latest Twitter rant
• Kanye West publishes his Universal Music contracts as anti-label Twitter rant continues
• Facebook secures music deals for its gaming app
• SACEM announces licensing deal with Twitch

ALSO MENTIONED
• Nicki Minaj wins one element of her Tracy Chapman copyright dispute, but the wider case will go to a jury

Music industry numbers - the week in stats

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 14 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the increase in US record revenues, the cost of ‘Boris’ Johnson’s ‘Operation Moonshot’, the boost in users of Fender’s guitar tuition app, the settlement reached in the legal battle between Sony Music and the estate of 1950s pop star Ricky Nelson, and the festivals people have most been pining for on Spotify.

SECTION TIMES
01: RIAA figures (00:06:32)
02: Operation Moonshot (00:15:50)
03: Fender sale boom (00:22:48)
04: Ricky Nelson (00:26:50)
05: Spotify festival playlists (00:31:05)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• RIAA stats show record industry mainly COVID immune thanks to streaming
• UK government’s Operation Moonshot could get full-capacity gigs back up and running – but experts question how realistic the plans really are
• Everyone is playing guitar now
• Sony Music settles dispute over deductions on foreign streaming royalties

ALSO MENTIONED
• Hipgnosis buys independent publisher Big Deal

Ford v Freeplay: When free doesn't mean free

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 Sep 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the Ford motor company's accusation that production music library Freeplay Music intentionally chose a name to make it seem like its music was free to use in order to sue it (and others) for copyright infringement, plus the crackdown on the boom in illegal raves during the pandemic.

SECTION TIMES
01: Ford v Freeplay Music (00:04:59)
02: Crackdown on illegal raves (00:22:29)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Ford accuses music library Freeplay of "bait-and-switch", because its free music isn't always free
• UK police have a go at cracking down on some COVID-rule-busting illegal raves

ALSO MENTIONED
• BBC backtracks on wordless Rule, Britannia plan

Nicki Minaj and the case of the sorry sample

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 31 Aug 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Tracy Chapman's accusation that Nicki Minaj is ignoring both the facts and the law in their sampling legal battle, plus the row over the inclusion of 'Rule, Britannia' and 'Land Of Hope And Glory' in this year's BBC Proms.

SECTION TIMES
01: Tracy Chapman v Nick Minaj (00:03:13)
02: Rule, Britannia (or don’t) (00:20:35)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Nicki Minaj’s Sorry claims ignore both the facts and the law, reckons Tracy Chapman
• Wordless performances of Rule, Britannia and Land Of Hope And Glory to be included in Last Night Of The Proms

ALSO MENTIONED
• Apple hits back in Epic Games dispute, as Microsoft takes sides
• Judge unlikely to force Fortnite back into App Store while Epic v Apple battle continues
• Judge confirms Apple can ban Fortnite but not cut off the Unreal Engine in Epic dispute
• Bytedance expected to sue over US TikTok ban this week
• Donald Trump’s TikTok ban is unconstitutional, says TikTok
• TikTok’s new American CEO quits amidst the app’s political drama
• Walmart teams up with Microsoft in TikTok US bid, as Bytedance puts shutdown contingencies in place

Fortnite goes to battle with Apple

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the escalation of ‘Fortnite’ video game maker Epic Games’ legal battle against Apple over its App Store rules, plus two copyright cases that weren’t copyright cases which failed because they were copyright cases.

SECTION TIMES
01: Epic v Apple (00:04:18)
02: 50 Cent v Rick Ross and Genius v Google (00:17:46)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Fortnite maker ramps up anti-Apple rhetoric in new legal filing
• 50 Cent can’t sue over uncleared sample on publicity right grounds

ALSO MENTIONED
• Beats 1 rebrands as Apple Music 1
• Setlist: Genius accuses Google of stealing lyrics from its website (June 2019)

Top ten legal battles - Procul Harum take it to the Lords

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 Aug 2020 06:00:00 +0000

It’s the eighth in our series of special editions of Setlist looking at some of our favourite music industry legal battles of all time. This time, CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke look back at the copyright battle over authorship of Procul Harum's 1967 single, 'A Whiter Shade Of Pale', which was fought all the way up to the appellate committee of the UK's House Of Lords. Organist Matthew Fisher argued that he should have been given 50% stake in the song, but by taking 38 years to go legal, had he left it too long?

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• Check out all Setlist specials

What Donald Trump's TikTok ban means for the music industry

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 Aug 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including what Donald Trump's pending ban on TikTok and messaging app WeChat means for the music industry, and Live Nation's optimism for the future despite seeing revenues fall by 98%.

SECTION TIMES
01: Donald Trump's TikTok ban (00:04:39)
02: Live Nation's optimism, despite everything (00:19:50)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Donald Trump begins the process that could effectively ban TikTok in the US
• Live Nation stresses optimism about 2021 as it reports 98% revenue slump during COVID-19 shutdown

ALSO MENTIONED
• Neil Young sues Donald Trump

Wiley, Twitter and the online censorship debate

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 03 Aug 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Wiley’s antisemitic social media posts and what responsibilities the social media platforms have when their users offend, plus the call from various big name musicians for politicians to stop using their music (or any music) without permission.

SECTION TIMES
01: Wiley antisemitic social media posts (00:07:39)
02: Musicians’ letter to politicians (00:25:11)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Wiley condemned over antisemitic social media outburst
• Wiley insists he’s not racist despite his antisemitic Twitter tirade
• Musicians call on politicians to stop using their music without permission

ALSO MENTIONED
• Socially-distanced gig pilot didn’t provide a commercially viable model
• Return of indoor shows delayed (BBC News)
• Setlist 6 Jul 2020: Rolling Stones threaten to sue Donald Trump if he plays their music at another campaign rally

Taylor Swift's secret folklore and shaken off lawsuits

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Taylor Swift’s surprise new album and latest legal win, plus Spotify’s new deal with Universal and TikTok’s litigation-avoiding agreement with the US National Music Publishers Association.

SECTION TIMES
01: Taylor Swift new album (00:03:44)
02: Taylor Swift lawsuit (00:10:34)
03: Spotify’s Universal deal (00:17:33)
04: TikTok’s NMPA deal (00:22:31)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Taylor’s swift new album
• Californian court dismisses one of the Shake It Off plagiarism lawsuits, again
• Universal signs new licensing deal with Spotify
• US publishers agree licensing deal framework with TikTok

ALSO MENTIONED
• Q magazine to close
• Setlist w/c 6 Jul 2020: Music magazines stay off the shelves
• Ryan Adams on His Full-Album Taylor Swift Cover: ‘You Just Have to Mean It’ (Rolling Stone)
• Mercury Prize shortlist announced – what a list (apart from that one act)!
• Believe and TuneCore sign licensing deal with TikTok

Migos say they were “robbed” and “cheated” out of millions

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 20 Jul 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Migos suing their former layer over claims that he “robbed” and “cheated them out of millions of dollars, and Billboard’s amazing ability to make some seemingly simple updates to its chart rules incredibly complicated.

SECTION TIMES
01: Migos sue their lawyer (00:04:31)
02: Billboard updates its chart rules (00:14:36)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Migos accuse their longtime lawyer of betrayal and incompetence, sue for millions
• Quality Control Music boss responds to Migos lawsuit
• Billboard updates album bundle rules (again), and cuts off CD single chart boost ruse

ALSO MENTIONED
• MMF launches Third Edition of Dissecting The Digital Dollar
• Watch Chris’ short presentation from the ‘Digital Dollar’ launch
• Read Chris’ short presentation from the ‘Digital Dollar’ launch
• Switched On Pop – Rosie: Investigating a Crime at the Heart of the Music Industry

Lady A sue Lady A over who is the real Lady A

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Lady A suing Lady A over who really owns the name Lady A, and the UK government's latest concessions to the live music industry as the COVID-19 shutdown begins to lift.

SECTION TIMES
01: Lady A sue Lady A (00:04:18)
02: UK government's support for live music (00:18:35)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Lady A sue Lady A over the name Lady A
• UK government announces £1.57 billion support package for creative industries
• Music industry calls for clarity on government’s £1.57 billion COVID support scheme for the creative sector
• Government gives the go ahead for open-air live shows to resume in England this weekend
• COVID-19 VAT break will apply to live music, culture minister confirms

ALSO MENTIONED
• Dissecting The Digital Dollar third edition book launch
• Get the new Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

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Music magazines stay off the shelves

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 06 Jul 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the announcements that Mixmag and Kerrang! will keep their print editions on hiatus for the foreseeable future, and the Rolling Stones' threat to sue Donald Trump if he plays their music at another campaign rally.

SECTION TIMES
01: Music magazines stay off the shelves (00:03:45)
02: Rolling Stones threaten to sue Donald Trump (00:21:19)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Mixmag’s print edition will remain paused until 2021, publisher confirms
• Kerrang! remains on indefinite hiatus in print
• Planet Rock magazine to close, Q could survive under new ownership
• Loud And Quiet announces subscriptions to help weather COVID-19 crisis
• The Rolling Stones team up with BMI to stop Trump’s use of their songs

ALSO MENTIONED
• More than 1500 artists call on UK government to step up and ensure the live music industry can survive COVID-19
• Fraggle Rock to be revived by Apple TV+ after 33 years (BBC News)

The COVID crisis pushes the live industry to the brink

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 29 Jun 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including fears that with lockdown lifting and the economy getting started again that live music industry will be left to collapse without much needed government support, and the two house music pioneers suing the Trax record label.

SECTION TIMES
01: The COVID crisis pushes the live industry to the brink (00:01:43)
02: House music pioneers sue Trax Records (00:23:18)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• With relaxed social distancing rules not helping live music, UK live industry again calls for extra government support
• Government needs to make a £50 million cash injection to save the UK’s grassroots venue network, says MVT
• Hundreds of grassroots music venues back call for £50 million cash injection from government
• NTIA says revisions to UK lockdown rules unworkable even for businesses who qualify
• Glastonbury “would seriously go bankrupt” if forced to cancel in 2021 too
• Backed by TaP Music, Chicago house pioneers sue Trax Records

ALSO MENTIONED
• UK regulator launches more in-depth investigation into Viagogo’s StubHub acquisition

Post-COVID pay cuts and Jay-Z's love chat

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 22 Jun 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Live Nation's planned changes to artist agreements post-COVID that will mean performers receiving lower fees and taking on more risk, plus Jay-Z and Beyonce being sued for allegedly using a spoken word recording on their track 'Black Effect' without permission.

SECTION TIMES
01: Artists face lower pay, higher risks for live shows post-COVID (00:02:59)
02: Jay-Z and Beyonce sued of ‘Black Effect’ spoken word section (00:18:31)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Live Nation memo confirms promoters want artists to share the risk when the live industry swings back into action
• Beyonce and Jay-Z sued over Black Effect monologue

ALSO MENTIONED
• EMI Records is “reborn”
• The 40 year old Virgin announces birthday plans (2013 report)

The 'urban' music debate and takedowns on Twitch

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the debate about the use of the word ‘urban’ to categorise music that has seen Republic Records and the Grammys drop or cut back the use of the term, and Twitch’s latest run-in with the music industry. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

SECTION TIMES
01: The ‘urban’ music debate (00:02:20)
02: Twitch takedowns (00:17:05)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Republic stops using the word ‘urban’ to describe music
• Grammys update award names and nomination rules in a bid to address racism and corruption accusations
• Twitch reports sudden “influx” of takedown requests as prolific users hit out a copyright claims and channel ban threats

ALSO MENTIONED
• CMA demands “clear-cut solution” from Viagogo for its concerns over StubHub deal
• Black Music Coalition sets out five priorities to tackle discrimination in the UK music industry
• One Little Indian changes name due to “harmful stereotyping and exploitation of indigenous peoples’ culture”
• Colston Hall provides update on rebrand after its controversial namesake becomes headline news
• Lady Antebellum change name due to association with slave trade
• Gamers debate copyright claims as labels issue takedowns against Twitch (2018 report)
• Amazon upgrades digital locker service (2012 report)

Black Out Tuesday, Eight Mile Style

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the music industry's Black Out Tuesday shutdown in solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement, and the latest twist in the legal battle between Spotify and Eminem's publishing company Eight Mile Style. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

SECTION TIMES
01: Black Out Tuesday (00:02:22)
02: Eight Mile Style (00:20:23)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Music community rallies around Black Out Tuesday initiative amid global Black Lives Matter protests
• Black Out Tuesday was just Act One, campaigners insist
• Universal Music sets out the agenda of its Taskforce For Meaningful Change
• Spotify pulls Kobalt into its legal spat with Eminem’s publisher

ALSO MENTIONED
• Share price surges after Warner Music’s $1.9 billion IPO

StubHub and blanket licences for the whole internet

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest lawsuit against StubHub over its COVID-19 refund policy and the departure of its president, and the proposal by the Electronic Frontier Foundation for a compulsory licence covering all uses of music online. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

SECTION TIMES
01: StubHub lawsuit and deaprture of its president (00:04:37)
02: Blanket licence for the internet (00:16:57)

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• StubHub faces class action in Canada too over its COVID-19 refunds policy
• StubHub President stands down
• A Plan to Pay Artists, Encourage Competition, and Promote Free Expression (EFF.org)

ALSO MENTIONED
• Warner Music officially launches its IPO
• Worst. Deal. Ever. (Forbes)
• Dissecting The Digital Dollar

Safe harbours and 6ix9ine's chart battle battle

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 May 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the publication (finally) of the US Copyright Office's report based on its review of the safe harbour that sits in America’s Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and 6ix9ine’s beef with Ariana Grande over her US chart position. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

SECTION TIMES
01: US Copyright Office safe harbour report (00:03:38)
02: 6ix9ine v Ariana Grande (00:24:00)

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STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• US Copyright Office finally publishes its safe harbour report, music industry sets out its copyright gripes
• Billboard denies 6ix9ine’s claims that Ariana Grande fraudulently beat him to number one in the Hot 100
• Ariana Grande and Justin Bieber deny 6ix9ine’s claims they bought US number one position

ALSO MENTIONED
• ERA boss on the #FixStreaming debate: “You don’t mend a #BrokenRecord by smashing the record player”
• You don’t mend a #BrokenRecord by smashing the record player (ERA blog post)
• Full US Copyright Office report
• Setlist: Charity chart battles
• Nicki Minaj v Travis Scott (and his baby)
• DJ Khaled could sue Billboard over chart position
• Peter Hook admits forging Ian Curtis’s signature (The Guardian)

The ten things people get wrong about streaming - part 2

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 May 2020 06:00:00 +0000

In the second part of this special edition of the show, this week CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke again examine the debate around the fairness of streaming royalties for artists and songwriters, which has been growing during the COVID-19 shutdown. We discuss the second half of our ten point list of things people often misunderstand or don't know about streaming, and what they need to know in order to win the argument. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

SECTION TIMES
00:12:24 There has already been a re-slicing of the pie – the song share on a stream is often double that on a CD. The fact many songwriters aren’t seeing the benefit is a major concern
00:19:19 With the artist share, we probably need to consider new artists, heritage artists and session musicians separately
00:24:40 Applying ER to streams sounds good but would be complicated
00:28:40 User-centric royalty distribution probably wouldn’t have as big an impact as everyone thinks – though it’s still attractive
00:34:10 Bad music rights data makes fixing these issues so much harder

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Musicians’ Union and Ivors Academy call for government intervention to “fix streaming”
• The ten things people get wrong about streaming – Part One

ALSO MENTIONED
• Digital Dollar Guide: Song Royalties Guide
• Setlist: Deezer user-centric royalties episode
• Setlist: Streaming scams episode
• Get notified with the new ‘Dissecting The Digital Dollar’ book is out
• CMU’s Lockdown Webinars
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

The ten things people get wrong about streaming - part 1

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 11 May 2020 06:00:00 +0000

In a deviation from the normal format, this CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke examine the debate around the fairness of streaming royalties for artists and songwriters, which has been growing during the COVID-19 shutdown. Over the next two episodes, we'll be discussing the ten things people often get wrong about streaming, and what they need to know in order to win the argument. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

SECTION TIMES
00:09:37 There are no per-stream rates
00:18:06 A million streams isn't as much as it sounds
00:21:09 It is almost certainly time to review subscription prices - though probably not in the middle of a global pandemic
00:33:37 Re-slicing the pie so songwriters get more is complicated
00:37:17 The US is different, because it's always different

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• IFPI confirms recorded music market grew 8.2% in 2019

ALSO MENTIONED
• Tom Gray, Gomez (Twitter thread)
• Tim Burgess, The Charlatans (Twitter thread)
• Spotify should pay musicians more? Let’s talk more about how (Stuart Dredge - Music Ally)
• BrokenRecord? Using the COVID-19 crisis to re-evaluate streaming shares (Annabella Coldrick, MMF - Medium)
• CMU’s Lockdown Webinars
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

The future of live music, charity chart battles

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 04 May 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including new research into what the future music look like for live music after lockdown, plus the ressurgence of charity singles as the Live Lounge Allstars knock Captain Tom off number one in the UK singles chart. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

00:03:56 Live music research
00:18:57 Charity singles

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Only 40% of American sport and music fans say they’ll rush back to live events once COVID-19 restrictions are lifted
• New interest in livestreamed gigs looks likely to outlive COVID-19 shutdown, says UTA
• Captain Tom goes to number one following Weeknd intervention – Stay Home Live Lounge on course for top spot this week
• Chris Martin, Dua Lipa and more contribute to BBC’s Stay Home Live Lounge
• Foo Fighters donate Stay Home Live Lounge royalties to charity, while BBC’s drumming weatherman forms a virtual band
• Dave Grohl thanks BBC, as Times Like These charity cover battles with The Weeknd for number one

ALSO MENTIONED
• Saudi Arabia buys 5% of Live Nation
• Justin Bieber walking into a door
• CMU's Lockdown Webinars
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Ticketmaster refunds, Mixcloud livestreaming

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the class action lawsuit against Ticketmaster over allegations it changed its terms on refunds after the COVID-19 shutdown began, and Mixcloud’s new livestreaming option and the complicated copyright questions all these online performances raise. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

00:07:21 Ticketmaster
00:22:24 Mixcloud

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Ticketmaster sued over COVID-19 refunds policies
• Mixcloud unveils new live streaming functionality

ALSO MENTIONED
• Reed Smith’s guide to live streaming
• CMU’s Lockdown Webinars
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band, lockdown radio listening

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band vow to close what they see as a loophole in UK trademark law that can result in bands losing control of their brands, and the positive and negative effects of COVID-19 on the commercial radio industry. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band want change in the law after winning “emotionally charged” trademark dispute
• Commercial radio listening enjoys huge ‘working from home’ boost during coronavirus lockdown (Radiocentre)
• Commercial radio stations could close without extra government support

ALSO MENTIONED
• Weather presenter goes viral drumming to BBC News theme
• Bonzo Dog Band full court judgement
• CMU’s Lockdown Webinars
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

StubHub Refunds, You Raise Me Up

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including StubHub being sued over changes to its refund policy as the COVID-19 crisis wreaks havoc on the live industry, and the dismissal of a song-theft lawsuit over ‘You Raise Me Up’. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• StubHub sued over COVID-19 change to its FanProtect guarantee scheme
• US court dismisses You Raise Me Up song-theft case, criticises musicologist report

ALSO MENTIONED
• CMU's Lockdown Webinars
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

COVID-19, Paradigm, Public Enemy

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including former Paradigm agent Debbee Klein suing her now ex-employer over redundancies – specifically her redundancy – made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, plus Public Enemy’s big hoax or non-hoax. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Ousted Paradigm agent files explosive lawsuit against her former employer
• Public Enemy reveal Flavor Flav dispute was just a very confusing hoax
• Flavor Flav says Public Enemy hoax is a hoax

ALSO MENTIONED
• Universal Music announces COVID-19 support initiatives
• Sony Corp's $100 million COVID-19 relief fund
• Live Nation launches COVID-19 relief fund for live industry practitioners
• Crew Nation website
• Night-time businesses team up with landlords to call for additional government measures to save venues, clubs, bars and restaurants
• Music Venue Trust says a million in emergency funding is needed to ensure grassroots venues can survive the COVID-19 shutdown
• K-Pop star sorry for coronavirus April fool's joke (BBC News)
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

COVID-19, lockdown, Lizzo

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the music business and the financial support available to musicians and others who work in the industry, and the latest filing in the dispute over who owns a stake in Lizzo's 'Truth Hurts'. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Self-employed who make up 72% of the music industry being let down by government as COVID-19 crisis grows, say trade bodies
• Ivors Academy proposes using unallocated streaming royalties to support music-makers hit by COVID-19 crisis
• Spotify, PRS and Help Musicians launch financial support initiatives for music-makers struggling amid COVID-19 outbreak
• Music industry welcomes UK government’s COVID-19 support for self-employed

ALSO MENTIONED
• Coronamusicians.info
• Musicians' Union Hardship Fund
• Spotify COVID-19 Music Relief
• PRS Emergency Relief Fund
• Help Musicians Coronavirus Financial Hardship Fund
• MMF Song Royalties Guide
• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

COVID-19, Led Zepplin, Katy Perry

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 Mar 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including how the COVID-19 outbreak is affecting the music industry and the many freelancers who work in it, and the latest rulings in the song-theft cases against Led Zeppelin and Katy Perry. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Top ten legal battles - The Jay-Z moral rights case

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 Mar 2020 07:00:00 +0000

It’s the seventh in our series of special editions of Setlist looking at some of our favourite music industry legal battles of all time. CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss the case filed against Jay-Z by the family of Baligh Hamdy, who argued that the rapper had infringed the the late Egyptian film composer's moral rights - an element of copyright law that we rarely have the opportunity to talk about but opens up some interesting debates. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

MORE
Listen to more Setlist specials here

Lizzo, Coronavirus, Journey

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 09 Mar 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest twist in the dispute over who wrote Lizzo's hit 'Truth Hurts', how the coronoavirus is affecting the live music industry, and the bust up between the current members of Journey resulting in a $10 million lawsuit. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Please note: This episode was recorded shortly before this year's SXSW was cancelled.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Lizzo collaborators hit back in Truth Hurts copyright dispute
• Miami’s Ultra Music Festival postponed over coronavirus concerns
• Journey bust up results in $10 million lawsuit

ALSO MENTIONED
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Touts, US record stats, Brexit

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 02 Mar 2020 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the two British ticket touts jailed for fraud, how the continued rise in record industry income in the US, and how the UK government’s post-Brexit immigration policy could affect the music industry. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Fraudulent ticket touts jailed for more than six years
• Streaming now 80% of the $11.1 billion US recorded music market
• Music industry criticises UK government’s new immigration plans
• UK Music responds to government’s Brexit talks ‘negotiating mandate’

ALSO MENTIONED
• Speakers and topics announced for this year’s CMU+TGE conferences
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Top ten legal battles - Suing the filesharers

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 07:00:00 +0000

It’s the sixth in our series of special editions of Setlist looking at some of our favourite music industry legal battles of all time. CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss the period in music history where the major labels attempted to curb illegal file-sharing by suing individual music fans. We look in particular at the cases of Jammie Thomas and Joel Tenenbaum who carried on fighting back long after anti-piracy tactics had moved on. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

MORE
Listen to more Setlist specials here

Top ten legal battles - Morrissey v the NME

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 Feb 2020 07:00:00 +0000

It’s the fifth in our series of special editions of Setlist looking at some of our favourite music industry legal battles of all time. CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss the libel proceedings Morrissey launched against the NME in 2011, four years after the magazine published an article he claimed called him racist. But with an album and plenty of tour dates under his belt in the interim, could he claim that his reputation had been damaged? Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

MORE
Listen to more Setlist specials here

Top ten legal battles – The Kraftwerk sampling case

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 Feb 2020 07:00:00 +0000

It’s the fourth in our series of special editions of Setlist looking at the top ten music industry legal battles of all time. CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss a lengthy battle launched by Kraftwerk, which asked the important question, “can a two second sample possibly constitute copyright infringement?” Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Listen to more Setlist specials here

European Copyright Directive, German digital pie, tax cuts for music venues

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 03 Feb 2020 07:00:00 +0000

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• UK government confirms it won’t implement the European Copyright Directive
• German managers call for “urgent” meeting with the labels over the slicing of the digital pie
• Music Venue Trust welcomes 50% business rates cut for small music venues

ALSO MENTIONED
• Back and forth continues between the US Recording Academy and its ousted CEO as the Grammy Weekend goes through the motions
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Grammy Awards special

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Jan 2020 07:00:00 +0000

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Boss of US Recording Academy put on “administrative leave” after allegations of misconduct
• Ousted boss promises to expose what happens when you “step up” at the Recording Academy
• Recording Academy says CEO demanded millions to go quietly
• Ousted Recording Academy CEO goes nuclear in legal filing alleging sexual harassment, rape claims, corruption, misogyny and vote fixing
• Former Grammy Awards boss Neil Portnow and others respond to allegations made by Deborah Dugan
• Aerosmith drummer sues his bandmates ahead of Grammy Weekend appearances

ALSO MENTIONED
• Grammys boss says women need to “step up”, following criticism of awards gender balance
• Neil Portnow backtracks on claim that women in the music industry need to “step up”
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

TV music, Tencent, Soundgarden

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0000

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Discovery, Netflix and Epidemic Sound in the spotlight as the debate around audio-visual royalties gains momentum
• Tencent’s Universal Music stake could go up to 30%
• Dispute between Soundgarden and Chris Cornell’s widow goes legal

ALSO MENTIONED
• 20 Years Of CMU series
• Top Ten Music Industry Legal Battles series
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Top ten legal battles – Prince v Warner

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0000

It’s the third in our series of special editions of Setlist looking at the top ten music industry legal battles of all time. CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss Prince’s long-running battle with Warner Bros Records. Not strictly a legal battle, because no legal papers were filed (at least during the musician’s lifetime), but over the years numerous legal questions were raised and Prince’s actions shaped the way future record contracts were written. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Massive Attack, banned songs, doughnuts

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 09 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0000

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Massive Attack taking climate scientists on tour to study carbon footprint of live music
• Massive Attack to stage “super-low carbon emissions show” in Liverpool
• Blue Mink’s Melting Pot causes another radio station reprimand from OfCom
• BBC presenter kicks off Christmas tradition of banning Fairytale Of New York
• Robin Richards to release new EP in doughnut form
• JME releases new album on physical formats only

ALSO MENTIONED
• Genius goes legal in lyrics dispute with Google and LyricFind
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Viagogo, Billboard, Jay-Z

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 07:00:00 +0000

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Viagogo buys StubHub for $4 billion
• Viagogo has Google Ads ban lifted
• Billboard updates album chart bundling rules following criticism
• Jay-Z sues over hip hop themed AB(Jay)Z kids book

ALSO MENTIONED
• New American collecting society announces initial partners, including HFA
• Nicki Minaj wanted to punch Travis Scott “in his fucking face” over chart result
• DJ Khaled could sue Billboard over chart position
• AB To Jay-Z (Amazon)
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Apple Music, Coldplay, Taylor Swift

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 10:46:30 +0000

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• Apple unveils its B2B streaming product
• Coldplay will not tour until they can make it environmentally “beneficial”
• Taylor Swift says her Borchetta/Braun beef is stopping award shows and Netflix projects
• Artists and politicians intervene in Taylor Swift v Big Machine beef
• Taylor Swift’s AMA medley is all cleared insists Big Machine
• Scooter Braun comments on Taylor Swift beef, insists disputes should be settled behind closed doors

ALSO MENTIONED
• Value of UK music industry tops £5.2 billion, says UK Music
• Ninja Tune boss uses AIM AGM speech to call on music community to do more to tackle climate change
• Artists and music companies come together to demand action on the climate emergency
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

Distribution Revolution, Lizzo, X Factor

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Nov 2019 16:46:50 +0000

00:05:23 - Distibution Revolution
00:23:41 - Lizzo
00:39:12 - X Factor

STORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK
• AIM launches new report on the revolution in music distribution
• Lizzo goes legal as debate continues over who the “truth” should hurt
• Simon Cowell declares war on Little Mix (apparently)
• Sinitta says she invented pop group TV show format, not Simon Cowell or Little Mix

ALSO MENTIONED
• Get the Distribution Revolution report here
• Artists “unlikely” to receive any money from PledgeMusic liquidation, says official receiver
• Owner of Kurt Cobain’s MTV Unplugged cardigan says he’s selling it because it’s too powerful
• Kurt Cobain’s cardigan sells for over $330,000
• Buy the Dissecting The Digital Dollar book

US radio royalties, Lil Peep, Apple

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 28 Oct 2019 11:19:39 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from recent weeks, including new calls to make FM and AM radio in the US pay performance royalties, the lawsuit accusing Lil Peep's management team of being liable for his death, and Apple's plans to bundle music and TV subscriptions together. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Robert Fripp, Notorious Markets, Tegan & Sara

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 08:19:59 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from recent weeks, including Robert Fripp of King Crimson's dispute with the David Bowie estate and collecting society PPL about how his contributions to Bowie’s ‘Heroes’ and ‘Scary Monsters’ albums have been classified, the US record industry’s latest piracy gripe list, and Tegan & Sara’s new way to fight back against touts. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Deezer, consent decrees, YouTube

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 19:35:52 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Deezer’s big push to get support for user-centric royalty distribution, all 877 submissions to the Department Of Justice’s new review of the consent decrees that regulate BMI and ASCAP, and US Congress’s questions about YouTube’s Content ID. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Top ten legal battles - Prince and the dancing baby

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 09 Sep 2019 06:36:28 +0000

It's the second in a series of special editions of Setlist looking at the top ten music industry legal battles of all time. CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss Prince v The Dancing Baby – or Lenz v Universal Music Corp, to give it it’s official if less fun sounding name. This long running case tested the obligations of takedown issuers to consider whether unlicensed use of their copyright material is in fact ‘fair use’. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Tencent, Tents, Baby Shark

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 04 Sep 2019 07:15:53 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including China’s competition regulator investigating Tencent’s exclusivity deals with the major labels, a proposed tax on tents at festivals and a lawsuit claiming that Baby Shark is a rip-off. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Eminem, Tidal, the Universal fire

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 27 Aug 2019 07:25:12 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Eminem’s publishing company Eight Mile Style suing Spotify and claiming that the recently passed Music Modernization Act is unconstitutional, Tidal threatening to sue Norway and a Universal fire update. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Top ten legal battles – the Blurred Lines song-theft case

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 09:55:54 +0000

The first in a new series of special editions of Setlist – looking at the top ten music industry legal battles – this week we tell the story of the Blurred Lines song-theft case. CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss how pre-emptive litigation by Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams against the Marvin Gaye Estate back-fired, kick-starting a high profile and entertaining court battle that centred on some tricky copyright technicalities. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Tencent, TikTok, Katy Perry

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Aug 2019 20:09:48 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last few weeks, including Chinese web giant Tencent taking a 10% stake in Universal Music Group, TikTok taking ICE to the copyright tribunal and the big Katy Perry song theft case. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Live Nation, Woodstock, Ja Rule

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 21 Jul 2019 08:40:54 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including UK competition regulator concerns about the takeover of Irish concert promoter MCD Productions by Live Nation, the latest roadblock in the story of the surely doomed Woodstock 50 festival, and how Ja Rule wormed his way out of an ongoing Fyre Festival lawsuit. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Taylor Swift, Spotify, Sam Fender

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 14 Jul 2019 06:56:17 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the sale of US indie label Big Machine to Scooter Braun (aka Taylor Swift's "worst case scenario"), Spotify cancelling plans to allow artists to upload music directly, and how autoplaying promo videos on social media are affecting people with epilepsy. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Universal, stream scamming, Apple

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 05 Jul 2019 06:01:08 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the inevitable lawsuits over the Universal archive fire and the New York Times' response to the major label's criticism of its reporting, efforts to stop record labels artificially boosting their streaming figures, and Apple’s claim that Spotify is barely paying any App Store fees. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Lyrics, Krept & Konan, Vivendi

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 29 Jun 2019 08:04:37 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Genius accusing Google of stealing lyrics from its website, publishing company Wixen accusing Pandora of displaying lyrics from its catalogue without permission, Krept & Konan appearing in Parliament to discuss drill, and when the hell Vivendi is going to sell half of its Universal shares. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

FTC, Universal, DJ Khaled

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 22 Jun 2019 10:51:14 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the FTC's all-day session on the American ticketing market and the new proposals in US Congress that followed, allegations about how many Universal masters were actually lost in a big fire a decade ago, and DJ Khaled's beef with the Billboard charts. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU – The Pirate Bay, the piracy site that refuses to sink

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 Jun 2019 08:59:52 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is the last in our series of episodes marking CMU’s 20th birthday, in which we have been looking back at the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This time we look at what was once the biggest piracy site on the internet, and how it has survived where so many others have sunk. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

SGAE, RIAA, Richard Ashcroft

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 03 Jun 2019 07:28:21 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including CISAC's expulsion of Spanish collecting society SGAE, the RIAA’s latest moves against piracy sites, and how Richard Ashcroft reclaimed his most famous song from the Rolling Stones. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU – The rise and rise and rise of Live Nation

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Thu, 30 May 2019 08:08:16 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the penultimate in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This time we turn to the live industry. Not the whole sector, but one company that makes up an increasingly large chunk of it - the ever expansive Live Nation. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

PledgeMusic, song royalties, Woodstock

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Thu, 23 May 2019 07:27:57 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the collapse of PledgeMusic, how songwriters’ royalties are being lost in the system, and Woodstock 50’s rapid descent into becoming 2019’s Fyre Festival. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital

20 years of CMU – The saga of MegaUpload and Kim Dotcom

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 14 May 2019 20:49:39 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the sixteenth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This time we go all the way back to the dramatic takedown of MegaUpload in 2012 and run through everything that has happened in the subsequent seven years. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - How web-blocking became the anti-piracy tool of choice

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 07:39:15 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the fifteenth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This time we look at the various strategies the music industry has employed to combat online piracy during that time, and how it ultimately settled on web-blocking as a preferred method. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Ticketmaster, online harms, Donald Trump

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 20 Apr 2019 15:03:40 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the £5 million lawsuit over Ticketmaster’s data breach, the UK government’s new proposals for tackling online harms and what it means for music piracy (spoiler: nothing), and Donald Trump’s clash with Batman. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

IFPI stats, iHeart, The Weeknd

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 06:55:14 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the latest IFPI stats which confirmed that the record industry had a fourth year of growth in 2018, iHeart's plan to come out of bankruptcy and straight into an IPO, and the new song-theft lawsuit against The Weeknd. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU – The record industry's love affair with DRM

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 07:08:32 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the fourteenth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This time we look at the record industry's love affair with digital rights management technology in the early years of the digital music revolution and how DRM hindered the growth of legit download stores, but ultimately made the streaming proposition more attractive. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Live Music Report, Apple, Stats

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 08:53:05 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Parliament's live music report and its blunt warning about Viagogo, the ongoing Apple v Spotify spat, and the BPI's latest stats on UK record industry revenue streams. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

CRB Appeal, Closing Venues, Kanye West

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Mar 2019 07:47:34 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Spotify's appeal of the US Copyright Royalty Board's new mechanical royalties rate, ongoing challenges for grass roots music venues in the UK and EMI's counter-suit in its contract battle with Kanye West. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, Michael Jackson, Universal Music

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 15 Mar 2019 09:21:44 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Spotify’s big legal spat with Warner in India, the reaction to the new Michael Jackson documentary ‘Leaving Neverland’ and the favourite bidders to buy half of Universal Music. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - The business of talking about artists

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 08 Mar 2019 09:55:33 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the thirteenth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This time we discuss how CMU has always covered the big artist news stories as well as reporting on the business side of things. We then review three artists stories we followed particularly closely, including the Phil Spector murder trial, the tragically short career of Amy Winehouse and the many exploits of Justin Bieber.

20 years of CMU – The battle against secondary ticketing

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 01 Mar 2019 03:00:00 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the twelfth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. In this edition we look at the rise of and debate over online ticket touting and the various efforts over the years to regulate the secondary ticketing market. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

HMV, Spotify, Terminators

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 13 Feb 2019 11:03:47 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the deal to rescue HMV in the UK, Spotify becoming briefly profitable and then buying a couple of podcast companies, and new moves to make labels give back old artists their recording rights in the US. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU – Spotify and streaming revolution

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 10 Feb 2019 12:23:24 +0000

This week’s episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the eleventh in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. In this edition we look at the history of Spotify, from plucky young upstart to the thing propping up the entire recorded music industry. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Pitchfork, Viagogo, Spotify

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 30 Jan 2019 04:03:46 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the paywall about to go up around Pitchfork, the Competition And Markets Authority’s “serious concerns” over Viagogo’s lack of compliance with UK law and Spotify’s new artist blocking feature. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

R Kelly, HMV, Rihanna

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 21 Jan 2019 05:14:29 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last couple of weeks, including reactions to the latest documentary on abuse allegations against R Kelly and the pressure on Sony to drop him (which they subsequently did), plus HMV going into administration for a second time and Rihanna suing her dad for fraudulently exploiting her brand. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU – The music industry v YouTube

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 14 Jan 2019 11:23:32 +0000

This week's episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the tenth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. In this edition we look back at the rapid rise and subsequent evolution of YouTube and the music industry's love hate love hate relationship with it. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Tencent, Kraftwerk, Neil Young

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 23 Dec 2018 16:27:12 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last couple of weeks, including Tencent Music's IPO and legal woes, what the EU Advocate General has to say about the copyright implications of uncleared sampling and Neil Young's bid to stop Barclaycard sponsoring his London show. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Ticketmaster, WINTEL, Spice Girls

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 11 Dec 2018 06:43:56 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Ticketmaster's plan to kill a class action lawsuit by employing a ts+cs technicality, the World Independent Network's latest report on indie label market share, and the very slight possibility of the Spice Girls headlining Glastonbury. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - iTunes and the download boom

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 01 Dec 2018 11:19:20 +0000

This week's episode of Setlist is another marking CMU's 20th birthday, the ninth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. Here we tell the story of the iTunes Store and how it kickstarted the digital music revolution, dominating the market for a number of years and posing all sorts of questions about how the industry sold, marketed and charted its recordings. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Ed Sheeran, NetEase, Spotify

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 21 Nov 2018 06:51:23 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Kilimanjaro Live chief Stuart Galbraith's claim that the touts have got the message and aren't hoovering up tickets for Ed Sheeran's next tour, Tencent rival NetEase raising $600 million of funding to boost its streaming music service, and Spotify's new analytics for publishers. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Anti-piracy, indie festivals, social prescribing

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 16 Nov 2018 10:08:42 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Google's latest anti-piracy bragging, new figures about the independent festival market and the argument that NHS doctors should be prescribing gig tickets instead of drugs. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

UK Music, Sony, SoundCloud

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 09 Nov 2018 10:23:37 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including recent growth of the UK music industry and how the government could ruin it all, Sony's EMI Music Publishing deal getting waved through in Europe, and SoundCloud taking some heat for the wording of its agreement with DIY artists looking to monetise their music. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube, Wireless, BBC

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 02 Nov 2018 09:00:21 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki's latest intervention on the article thirteen debate, new licensing restrictions on the Wireless festival and high profile departures from BBC Radio. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Business streaming, Distrokid, Fender

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 26 Oct 2018 07:23:06 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including new research on how much money the music industry is losing to businesses illegally using personal streaming services, Spotify buddying up with digital distribution set-up Distrokid, and new research that shows that half of new guitar players are women. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - A brief history of Napster

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 07:54:23 +0000

This week's episode of Setlist is another marking CMU's 20th birthday, the eighth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. Here we discuss how Napster turned the music industry upside down, and how both the service and the legal battle it sparked set the agenda for the next decade as the music industry struggled to adapt to the digital era. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

NAFTA, BASCA, Live music industry stress

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 09 Oct 2018 06:14:01 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including why the RIAA is not happy about Donald Trump's replacement for NAFTA, BASCA's opposition to Sony's proposed acquisition of EMI Music Publishing, and the worrying levels of stress in the live music industry. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Ticketmaster, Bestival, Spotify

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 01 Oct 2018 07:08:42 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Ticketmaster's push back against an exposé surrounding secondary ticketing in the US, Bestival’s financial troubles, and Spotify’s new option for artists to upload their music direct. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - The rise and fall of MySpace

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 28 Sep 2018 09:17:40 +0000

This week's episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the seventh in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. Here we discuss the rapid rise and protracted fall of MySpace, from king of social media to Justin Timberlake-fronted flop and (amazingly) on to the present day. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - The impact of the death of Michael Jackson

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 18 Sep 2018 06:46:12 +0000

This week's episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the fifth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. Here we discuss the events that preceded and immediately followed the death of Michael Jackson and the resulting criminal and civil action, leading to the big legal battle between the Jackson family and AEG Live. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Viagogo, BPI, Chris Evans

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 Sep 2018 07:04:35 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the very many things that Viagogo did (or didn't) do, the BPI’s latest stats on UK music exports, and Chris Evans’ departure from BBC Radio 2 for Virgin Radio. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - The digital royalty lawsuits

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 03 Sep 2018 05:34:02 +0000

This week's episode of Setlist is another marking CMU’s 20th birthday, the fifth in a series of special editions reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. Here we discuss the debate around how digital royalties should be shared out and legal action by pre-internet artists who reckoned they were due a bigger cut of the pie. In particular the landmark litigation pursued by FBT Productions – aka the Bass Brothers – against Universal Music in relation to their work on the early Eminem releases. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Grande, Apple, The Eagles

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 29 Aug 2018 18:46:19 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Grande Communications accusing the record industry of trying to make internet service providers their "de facto copyright enforcement agents", how Spotify has given up on using Apple to sell subscriptions, and why Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' is no longer the biggest-selling album of all time in the US. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Ticketmaster, Frank Sinatra, Cliff Richard

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 21 Aug 2018 16:19:54 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Live Nation's Ticketmaster shutting down its ticket resale sites in Europe, Warner/Chappell going legal in a dispute over some Frank Sinatra songs, and the BBC’s decision not to appeal the court ruling over its coverage of a police raid on Cliff Richard’s home. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube, Viagogo, Guvera

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 14 Aug 2018 05:17:40 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the latest YouTube backlash from brands who’ve had their adverts placed next to controversial content, the doubt suddenly appearing over Ireland’s new anti-touting laws, and the private equity firm ordered to hand millions of dollars back to a Guvera investor. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Universal, Brexit, The Beatles

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 06 Aug 2018 06:59:09 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Vivendi's plan to sell off up to 50% of Universal Music, fears for UK artists touring Europe after Brexit, and researchers’ claims that Paul McCartney is wrong about which Beatles songs he wrote. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Mercury Prize, MMA, Taylor Swift

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 30 Jul 2018 06:45:58 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the Mercury Prize and National Album Day announcements, fears that last minute lobbying on the Music Modernization Act might kill it, and claims that noted protector of her own trademarks Taylor Swift might have infringed someone else’s. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Cliff Richard, ICE, Ed Sheeran

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 Jul 2018 05:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Cliff Richard's legal win against the BBC over its coverage of a police raid at his Berkshire home in 2014, more indie publishers direct licensing streaming services, and Ed Sheeran’s record breaking tour. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Copyright Directive, Childish Gambino, Rage Against The Machine

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 Jul 2018 05:29:30 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business in recent weeks, including the European Parliament voting down the latest draft of the new copyright directive, Glassnote’s legal battle with Childish Gambino, and Rage Against The Machine against Nigel Farage. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU – The evolution of NME

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 09 Jul 2018 06:00:42 +0000

To celebrate CMU’s 20th birthday, over the next year we will present 20 special editions of Setlist, between them reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This week, the evolution of the NME from a traditional newsstand publication to a freebie mag to an online-only media brand. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - The collapse of HMV

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 05:00:00 +0000

To celebrate CMU’s 20th birthday, over the next year we will present 20 special editions of Setlist, between them reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This week, the collapse of HMV in 2013 after several years of financial trouble on the high street and attempts to diversify into other areas of music and entertainment. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Copyright, Touts, Prince

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Jun 2018 05:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the European Parliament's JURI Committee passing article thirteen of the new copyright directive, FanFair calling on Google to stop taking Viagogo's pound, and the latest squabbling among Prince's heirs. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, SGAE, Ryan Adams

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Jun 2018 05:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Spotify's rumoured offer of direct deals and cash advances to artists, the music publishers' ultimatum to Spain's song rights collecting society, and Ryan Adams presenting the weather. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - The rise and fall of Grooveshark

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 11 Jun 2018 04:57:45 +0000

To celebrate CMU’s 20th birthday, over the next year we will present 20 special editions of Setlist, between them reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This week, the rise and fall of Grooveshark, which had big plans to take on the streaming market by becoming "the YouTube of audio", but ended up being sued into oblivion by the major labels. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Viagogo, Apple Music, Michael Jackson

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 06 Jun 2018 07:09:28 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Viagogo's failure to meet a deadline to respond to demands set by the Advertising Standards Agency, Apple’s non-move into music publishing, and the Michael Jackson estate’s lawsuit against Disney. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

EMI, Spotify, Nine Inch Nails

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 30 May 2018 09:09:07 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Sony's plans to become the majority shareholder in EMI Music Publishing, the official settlement of one of the big mechanical royalty lawsuits against Spotify, and how streaming is changing the definition of an album. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

20 years of CMU - The end of EMI

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 21 May 2018 08:07:57 +0000

To celebrate CMU’s 20th birthday, over the next year we will present 20 special editions of Setlist, between them reviewing the 20 biggest stories CMU has covered over the last two decades. This week, the end of EMI, which began with Terra Firma’s acquisition of the British major music company in 2007. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Tidal, RIAA, Dr Dre

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 15 May 2018 15:58:48 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Tidal's denial that it fiddled the listening figures for its exclusive albums from Kanye West and Beyonce, the RIAA’s latest moves against US ISP Grande Communications, and the legal ruling that no one thinks of Dr Dre when they think of sexual health. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, Canada, Kanye

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 May 2018 19:09:44 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Wall Street's panic at Spotify's first financial report as a publicly listed company, the USA’s copyright beef with Canada, and Kanye West’s attempts to alienate all of his fans. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Viagogo, IFPI, royal vinyl

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 30 Apr 2018 06:43:05 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including indication that the UK Competition & Markets Authority intends to take Viagogo to court, yet more exciting and/or depressing growth for the record industry, and the royal twelve-inch. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Festival plastic, Hits Radio, Mariah Carey

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 07:45:33 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including over 60 independent festivals' commitment to ban single-use plastic, Bauer's brand new national/local radio station Hits Radio, and Mariah Carey’s ex-manager's threat to launch a “blockbuster expose lawsuit”. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

MMA, Spotify, BPI

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 Apr 2018 05:05:38 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the return of the Music Modernization Act, new double figure growth for the UK record business, and what it’s like being a shareholder in Spotify. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Blurred Lines, The Loop, Guvera

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 31 Mar 2018 13:54:09 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the appeal ruling in the 'Blurred Lines' song-theft case, The Loop's Night Lives report, and new revelations about the collapse of defunct streaming service Guvera. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Lyor Cohen, iHeartMedia, Miley Cyrus

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 09:01:55 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Lyor Cohen's SXSW keynote, iHeartMedia’s long-awaited bankruptcy filing, and the $300 million lyric-theft lawsuit against Miley Cyrus. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

NME, Spotify, Viagogo

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Thu, 15 Mar 2018 09:03:03 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the closure of the NME magazine, Spotify's impending stock market listing, and the latest Viagogo dissing. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

BRITs, Amazon, Toni Basil

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 26 Feb 2018 06:57:55 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including whether efforts by the BRIT Awards to avoid the same criticisms as The Grammys were successful, Amazon's decision to get out of ticketing (at least for now), and new hurdles for 'Mickey' singer Toni Basil’s legal battle with Disney. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Ticketing, SGAE, Prince

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Feb 2018 08:22:13 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the UK government's clarification of rules for secondary ticketing sites and what data they must display when reselling tickets, calls for sanctions against Spain’s performing rights collecting society, and your chance to own a bit of a Prince song. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Best Buy, Apple, Spice Girls

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 06:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the news that US retailer Best Buy plans to stop selling CDs and reports that Apple Music will have more American subscribers than Spotify by the summer, plus the possible Spice Girls reunion and how holograms might be a more practical solution. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Education, Grammys, Biggest Weekend

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 07:40:43 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including calls for the government to review its education policies after schools admit cuts to creative subjects, the poor representation of women at this year's Grammy Awards, and the BBC's plans to screw over the festival sector this summer. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Enrique Iglesias, Little Mix, The Smiths

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 29 Jan 2018 08:11:50 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the latest sales v licence litigation launched by Enrique Iglesias against Universal Music, an interesting legal case testing the responsibilities of concert promoters under the Equalities Act, and the very short lived almost Smiths reunion. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Songkick, Notorious markets, Nando’s

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 08:01:29 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including the disappointing end to Songkick's long-running legal battle with Live Nation, the US government's latest Notorious Markets report on online piracy, and how you can find musical inspiration by watching some people eat chicken. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Lana Del Rey, American Idol, Jimmy Iovine

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 16 Jan 2018 07:46:05 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last seven days, including Radiohead's lawsuit (or not) against Lana Del Rey, Sony's settlement with some American Idols, and Jimmy Iovine's long term plans at Apple Music. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, Universal, UK music consumption stats

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 08 Jan 2018 07:06:28 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from over the Christmas break, including Wixen Music Publishing's $1.6 billion lawsuit against Spotify, Universal's new deals with YouTube and Facebook, plus stats on what UK music consumers were streaming and buying in 2017. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Review Of The Music Business Year 2017: Part Two

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 01 Jan 2018 06:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last twelve months in the second of two Review Of The Year editions of Setlist. In this New Year's Day edition, the music industry's ongoing feud with YouTube is dissected, we revisit two festivals that spectacularly failed, and we countdown the Top Five And Finally Stories Of 2017. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Review Of The Music Business Year 2017: Part One

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 25 Dec 2017 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last twelve months in the first of two Review Of The Year editions of Setlist. In this Christmas Day edition, all the key developments in the secondary ticketing debate and SoundCloud’s drama-filled year, plus we begin the countdown of the Top Ten And Finally Stories Of 2017. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Shazam, Spotify, Touts

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 18 Dec 2017 09:47:42 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Apple’s acquisition of Shazam, Spotify and Deezer calling on the EU to restrict tech giant “gatekeepers”, and the latest crackdown on illegal secondary ticketing. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube, YouTube, and YouTube

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 13 Dec 2017 18:43:19 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including YouTube’s plans for (another) subscription-based music streaming service, why YouTube is disappearing from Amazon Fire TV devices, and the booming popularity of music on YouTube in 2017, despite everything. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Rainbow Venues, Steely Dan, Slush Music

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 17:33:35 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Birmingham City Council’s decision to revoke Rainbow Venues’ licence over drug-related deaths, the legal battle over who should own the late Walter Becker’s half of Steely Dan, plus a round up of interesting things Chris learned at this year’s Slush Music conference in Finland. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Universal, Google, Wu-Tang Clan

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Nov 2017 07:16:06 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Universal Music Group's shiny new (kind of out of nowhere) $40 billion valuation, Google's new rules for ticket touts, and the Wu-Tang Clan's trademark beef with a New York dog walking business. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

CISAC stats, Ryanair, UnitedMasters

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 20 Nov 2017 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including new stats on the billions in royalties the songwriting industry is bringing in around the world, Ryanair and YouTube's new dalliances with ticketing, and new saviour of the record business UnitedMasters. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Taylor Swift, Thekla, Tidal

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 06:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Taylor Swift's cease-and-desist to a blog that published an article discussing the alt-right’s love of her music, why Bristol's floating venue Thekla is under threat of closure, and how Tidal is leading the way in telling you who played bassoon on your favourite tracks. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Apple HomePod, YouTube, Sainsbury's

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 06 Nov 2017 09:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including why Apple's new attempt to control your home won't stretch to your music (unless you're an Apple Music customer), YouTube's denial that it wants to block anti-YouTube adverts, and supermarket chain Sainsbury's announcement that it is launching a vinyl-only record label.

Eminem, WINTEL, Kid Rock

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 30 Oct 2017 09:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Eminem's legal win against New Zealand's ruling political party, the World Independent Network's latest stats on indie label market share and why they matter, plus Kid Rock's departure from the political arena (which he was never in). Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Section times:

Intro - 00:00 Eminem - 08:02 WINTEL - 18:18 In brief - 27:59 Kid Rock - 31:53 Outro - 36:25

Songkick, Ticket Touts, The Pirate Bay

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 08:33:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest sparring between Songkick and Live Nation as they get closer to their anti-trust trial, New South Wales in Australia's tough new laws on ticket touting, plus the end of an era for The Pirate Bay. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Section times:

Intro: 00:00 Songkick: 07:34 New South Wales: 19:40 In Brief: 26:28 The Pirate Bay: 30:38 Outro: 37:52

Cloudflare, Grime, Radiohead

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 16 Oct 2017 08:06:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the upcoming deposition of Cloudflare CEO Matthew Prince on the company's piracy policies, Ticketmaster's new report on the grime industry, and the legacy of Radiohead's 'In Rainbows' - and it's pay-what-you-want release - ten years on. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Takedown-stay-down, Spotify, pop politics

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 09 Oct 2017 08:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including new European Commission guidelines supporting web services that offer takedown-stay-down copyright protection systems, Spotify's ongoing mechanical royalties woes, and a turbulent week in pop politics. Setlist is sponsored by 7digital.

Enemies Of Music, Stats, Zappa

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 03 Oct 2017 09:28:49 +0000

In the first edition of our new podcast Setlist, CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Dweezil Zappa's legal battle with his siblings over the use of his own name, plus his views on plans for his father Frank Zappa to return to the stage as a hologram. They also look through key music industry stats published over the podcast's summer break, and decide the music industry's Public Enemy Number One. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Music sales, mental health in music, and the Mercury Prize

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 31 Jul 2017 07:00:00 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including figures showing that UK music retail sales were up 11.2% in the first half of 2017 (all thanks to streaming), Help Musicians' latest initiative to improve mental health in the music industry and this year's Mercury Prize shortlist. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify mechanicals, BBC pay, BBC music show

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 24 Jul 2017 07:59:00 +0000

CMU's Chris Cooke and guest presenter Becky Brook review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest mechanical right lawsuits against Spotify in the US and what they reveal about the complexities of digital licensing, plus the BBC's big pay reveal and its plan for a new prime-time music show. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Fake artists! Fake t-shirts! Fake radio!

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 17 Jul 2017 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Spotify's 'fake' artist 'scandal', Kylie and Kendall Jenner's legal battle over what constitutes copyright infringement when printing t-shirts, and the Mansfield radio station battling repeated unwanted intrusions by a wanker. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Kanye v Tidal, AEG v MSG, Everyone Else v Ed Sheeran

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 10 Jul 2017 07:00:00 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Kanye West falling out with Tidal just as Jay-Z releases his new album, AEG’s very public spat with MSG and Live Nation, and Ed Sheeran quitting Twitter while planning an 8 Mile-style biopic. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Google, Prince, Charts

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 02 Jul 2017 12:30:06 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the music industry's joy at a landmark ruling in Canada ordering Google to delist an entire website from its search results worldwide, Universal's renewed bid to cancel its Prince recordings deal, and new rules in the UK singles chart designed to stop Ed Sheeran hogging it all. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Apple Music, The Slants, Morrissey

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 25 Jun 2017 12:39:27 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Apple Music reportedly looking to reduce the royalties it pays the labels, US band The Slants getting American trademark law rewritten, and Morrissey's silly spat with HMV. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital

Pandora, Merlin, Bob Dylan

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 19 Jun 2017 05:33:21 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Pandora selling Ticketfly to Eventrbite and nearly a fifth of itself to Sirius XM, the latest indie label streaming stats from Merlin, and Bob Dylan borrowing from a school book in his Nobel lecture. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, Safe Harbours, Theresa May

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 05 Jun 2017 13:23:30 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Spotify settling the big mechanical royalties class action lawsuit that has been hanging over its plans to list on the stock market, arguments from both sides of the safe harbours debate in Europe hotting up, and Theresa May’s assault on the charts. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

The General Election, Prince, Festival Republic

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 28 May 2017 21:36:06 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the upcoming General Election in the UK and what it might mean for music, a round-up of all the latest Prince legal news, and plans for Festival Republic to introduce facilities for ticketholders to test the safety of drugs at its events. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Pre-Event Mini-Seminar

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 17 May 2017 13:54:17 +0000

Ahead of this year’s CMU@TGE conference, CMU MD and Business Editor Chris Cooke talks through the key developments in the music business since last year’s Great Escape, and explains where some of those trends will be considered in this year’s programme.

YouTube, Amazon, Fyre Festival

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 14 May 2017 08:40:12 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Warner Music's new licensing deal with YouTube and the ongoing safe harbours debate, Amazon's latest moves in live music and its all new Echo device, plus an astonishing amount of Fyre Festival legal news. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Fyre Festival, Eminem, The Great Escape

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Tue, 09 May 2017 07:52:31 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the spectacular collapse of Ja Rule’s Fyre Festival and the many-layered fallout from it, Eminem’s song-theft lawsuit against New Zealand’s ruling National Party getting to court, and the launch of the CMU Insights @ The Great Escape programme. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Record industry growth, Digital Economy Act

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 01 May 2017 11:21:10 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest stats from the IFPI that reveal that global record industry revenues grew 5.9% in 2016 (despite flippin YouTube), and how new legislation to combat ticket touting just skated into UK law before Parliament broke up for a pointless election. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

BPI stats, Dailymotion, Kate Bush

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 14 Apr 2017 09:17:50 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest stats from the BPI that reveal that UK record industry revenues grew 5.1% in 2016, the upcoming revamp of Dailymotion that will see it move away from UGC, and why Coachella didn't book Kate Bush in 2015, even though booking her was never actually an option. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, US Radio, Google

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 09 Apr 2017 12:41:52 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including what we know and what we think is in Spotify's new licensing deal with Universal Music, the latest attempts in Washington to try and get American radio stations to pay royalties to labels and artists for airplay, and Google’s cool funding of extremism. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Viagogo, Spinrilla, Talking To The Media

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 10:02:57 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Viagogo's no-show at the latest parliamentary select committee hearing on secondary ticketing, Spinrilla’s irritable response to the major record labels’ lawsuit against the mixtape sharing platform, and how new acts should approach journalists. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

SXSW, Pandora, Deadmau5

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sat, 18 Mar 2017 17:35:25 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including US customs officials' refusal to allow a number of international acts into the country to perform at SXSW, the launch of Pandora's premium on-demand streaming service and what (apparently) makes it different, plus Deadmau5 being sued over the name of his cat. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

The Great Escape, Access v Ownership, Ed Sheeran

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 12 Mar 2017 10:51:17 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest announcements about the CMU Insights @ The Great Escape conferences, ERA's new stats showing access overtook ownership in terms of revenue in 2016, and how Ed Sheeran is ruining the charts for everyone. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

SoundCloud, Transparency, Spinal Tap

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 05 Mar 2017 15:57:14 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including SoundCloud's new mid-price streaming option, the music industry's failure to agree on transparency and Parliament's views on the matter, plus Vivendi's stern response to Spinal Tap's $400 million lawsuit. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Transparency, Spinrilla, PRS

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 10 Feb 2017 08:36:56 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the parliamentary debate over Liberal Democrat lord Tim Clement-Jones' proposal for more transparency in the digital music domain and the RIAA's legal action against mixtape service Spinrilla, plus we answer the age-old question, does PRS need a PRS licence? The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

HMV, Enemies Of Music, Facebook

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 03 Feb 2017 07:54:18 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the collapse of HMV Canada and what it might mean for music retail worldwide, the top five contenders for the music industry's enemy number one in 2017, and the quirks of Facebook's music video takedown system. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Tidal, Piracy, Madonna

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 27 Jan 2017 08:58:07 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Tidal's bid to boost subscriber numbers by selling out to US tel co Sprint, a bid to answer all of your questions about piracy, and why Madonna's thoughts about the White House could (definitely won't) land her in prison. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Paul McCartney, Donald Trump, videos on Facebook

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 20 Jan 2017 09:35:12 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Paul McCartney suing Sony/ATV over his rights to the Lennon/McCartney catalogue and a round-up of the many music-related Donald Trump stories. We also answer a listener question about the value of putting music videos on Facebook - should artists being focussing on this or not? The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Prince, Team Rock, rebooting copyrights

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 13 Jan 2017 08:11:54 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including all the many Prince-related news stories from deals to no deals, how Metal Hammer and Classic Rock magazines have been saved by the company that sold them off four years ago, and why a load of rare Motown tracks from 1966 have suddenly appeared on music services. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Review Of The Music Business Year 2016

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 23 Dec 2016 10:38:48 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last year in this bumper double edition of the CMU Podcast. We discuss the continued growth of the streaming market, the increasingly proactive campaign against secondary ticketing, the safe harbours debate, and our five favourite ‘and finally’ stories of 2016. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

SoundCloud, Sony Music, Gig licensing

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 18 Dec 2016 12:11:42 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including what the future may hold for SoundCloud now that talks for Spotify to buy it are off, the latests revamps and possible revamps at Sony Music, and the government's opposition to adding the consideration of "cultural benefits" to live music licensing rules. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube, SFX, Irving Azoff

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 12 Dec 2016 06:15:57 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including YouTube and the IFPI’s disagreement over whether $1 billion is ‘a lot’ or ‘not nearly enough’, SFX Entertainment’s big post-bankruptcy rebrand as LiveStyle, and Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights accusing the US radio industry of being anti-competitive. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Sound Of 2017, AI in music, Kate Bush

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 02 Dec 2016 09:24:52 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the BBC's Sound Of 2017 list, the future of artificial intelligence in music, and the distressing news that Kate Bush is a massive Tory. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Fabric, Amazon Tickets, OK Go

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 25 Nov 2016 10:21:31 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Fabric getting its licence back, Amazon's plans to ramp up its ticketing business, and the new OK Go video. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Ticket touts, Duran Duran, Prince

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 18 Nov 2016 09:18:09 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the Culture Select Committee session on ticket touting in Parliament, Duran Duran testing the reach of America's copyright reversion rule, and Prince's label suing Tidal. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

KickassTorrents, US Copyright Office, BRITs

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 13 Nov 2016 11:13:15 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest developments in the legal case against the alleged owner of KickassTorrents, responses to a change in management at the US Copyright Office, and efforts to make the BRITs more diverse. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube, Avenged Sevenfold, The Smiths

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 07 Nov 2016 05:50:13 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including GEMA’s licensing deal YouTube in Germany after a seven year stand off, Avenged Sevenfold’s potential legal problems if their new album is a success, and the narrowly averted Smiths reunion now being blocked by Nigel Farage. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Music Venue Trust, virtual reality, Justin Bieber

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 30 Oct 2016 14:30:43 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the Music Venue Trust’s open letter calling for an end to PRS For Music’s minimum fee for live shows, the latest developments in virtual reality for music, and Justin Bieber’s campaign against screaming. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Ticket touts, cheap streams, Spinal Tap

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 05:31:57 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including moves by MP Nigel Adams to get ticket-buying bots banned, how the cost of streaming is putting off mainstream consumers, and Harry Shearer’s $125 million lawsuit over royalties from ‘This Is Spinal Tap’. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Amazon, Isle Of Wight Festival, Insane Clown Posse

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Thu, 13 Oct 2016 23:26:55 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Amazon's new on-demand streaming music service, warnings that the Isle Of Wight Festival may be cancelled in 2017, and Inane Clown Posse's take on the sinister clown craze taking over the US and now the world. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Dissecting The Digital Dollar, FanFair Alliance

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 12 Oct 2016 09:48:34 +0000

On the CMU Podcast this week, Andy Malt and Chris Cooke are joined by Music Managers Forum CEO Annabella Coldrick to discuss part two of the ‘Dissecting The Digital Dollar’ report. She also tells us more about the Fanfair Alliance campaign, and we run through some of the biggest music industry stories of the last week. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube, not YouTube, YouTube-mp3

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Mon, 03 Oct 2016 03:58:22 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the appointment of Lyor Cohen as YouTube's Global Head Of Music, various rumours of streaming service acquisitions, and the record industry's new campaign against stream ripping and legal action against YouTube-mp3. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Fabric, FanFair, Frank Ocean

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 11 Sep 2016 18:19:18 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from this summer, including the closure of Fabric, the launch of the FanFair campaign against secondary ticketing, and Frank Ocean's two new albums and how they contributed to the debate over streaming exclusives. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Publishers v America, audio v video, Spotify v Apple

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 19:14:43 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including music publishers' dismay at the US Department Of Justice's decision on the 'consent decrees' that govern collective licensing in the country, a new report on the state of music consumption in the US at 2016's mid-point, and the public slanging match between Spotify and Apple. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

David Lowery interview

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 03 Jul 2016 19:55:00 +0000

In this special edition of the CMU Podcast, CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke chats to musician and vocal artist rights advocate David Lowery about the digital music market, his criticisms of the streaming sector, his lawsuit against Spotify, and whether he's optimistic about the future of the music business.

The Value Gap, ATP, Guvera, Take That

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 24 Jun 2016 08:44:15 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including lots of letters about the value gap, the closure of ATP, Guvera's IPO being blocked, and the recruitment of Take That v2. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Led Zeppelin, Apple Music, Foo Fighters, Brexit

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 17 Jun 2016 05:51:56 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the Led Zeppelin song-theft court case, Apple Music's revamp, Foo Fighters' insurance litigation and some pop referendum news. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Ed Sheeran, The Pirate Bay, WIN, Axl Rose

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 10 Jun 2016 06:49:18 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the song-theft lawsuit filed against Ed Sheeran, the RIAA's attempt to suspend thepiratebay.org, WIN's new indie music market research and Axl Rose's photo woes. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Guvera, Kraftwerk, Ellie Goulding

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 07:17:14 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Guvera's IPO and the current challenges facing the streaming music market, the latest twist in Kraftwerk's legal battle over a two second sample of 'Metal On Metal', and Ellie Goulding's defiant political stance on Donald Trump. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

The Great Escape, secondary ticketing, Bpoplive

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 27 May 2016 08:26:44 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including key take-aways from the CMU Insights @ The Great Escape conference, the UK government's new report on secondary ticketing, and Bpoplive's line up problems.

Sony/ATV, ATP, YouTube, Kanye West

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 07:58:29 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Warner Music and the indie labels’ opposition to Sony/ATV becoming wholly owned by Sony Corp, ATP’s latest cancellation, the continued question over YouTube’s position in hell, and the man taking Kanye West to court over a tweet. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

IFPI stats, Facebook, We Shall Overcome, NWA

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 15 Apr 2016 10:12:49 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the key stats from the IFPI's latest Global Music Report and what they mean, Facebook's new Content ID system, the legal battle to prove that 'We Shall Overcome' is in the public domain, and Gene Simmons' attempts to prove that NWA aren't rock n roll. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Rdio, Radiohead, MCPS, Beyonce

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 08 Apr 2016 08:16:37 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Sony Music's lawsuit against former Rdio execs, Radiohead's catalogue seemingly shifting over to XL, MCPS putting its operations up for tender, and Beyonce and Deadmau5's latest trademark squabbles. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

SoundCloud, Tidal, BPI, Kanye West

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 01 Apr 2016 07:00:22 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the launch of SoundCloud's subscription service, Tidal's stats, brags and potential lawsuits, BPI's 200 million takedowns and Kanye's ever evolving album. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

RIAA, Songkick, Spotify, Justin Bieber

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 25 Mar 2016 11:34:43 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including US record industry figures published by the RIAA, Songkick's litigation against Live Nation, Spotify's stats and settlements, and Justin Bieber calling time on meets and greets. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Convergence Sessions Special

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Sun, 20 Mar 2016 13:43:05 +0000

Last Thursday, CMU Insights presented a session at the Convergence festival considering the challenges facing the media sector in 2016. This special edition of the CMU Podcast includes highlights from the session, with CMU Business Editor Chris Cooke considering media about music, and interviewing the people behind some of our favourite music magazines and websites.

Mechanicals, Record Shops, SoundCloud, 50 Cent

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 11 Mar 2016 07:05:51 +0000

CMU’s Chris Cooke and guest Brittney Bean review the week in music and the music business, including the latest developments in the mechanical rights dispute in the US, recent figures on entertainment retail in the UK, SoundCloud's latest hire and 50 Cent's unwise Instagram snaps. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

ATP, Red Essential, Tidal, Boyzlife

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 04 Mar 2016 06:59:39 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the confusion around whether or not ATP has been cancelled, Sony’s acquisition of Essential, Tidal’s mechanical rights lawsuit and the all important Boyzlife venture. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Kesha, Piracy, Attitude Is Everything, Eurovision

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 07:47:33 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the latest developments in the Kesha v Dr Luke legal battle, new stats on piracy in the US, Attitude Is Everything's State Of Access report and latest Eurovision news. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, Bandpage, In-car listening, Morrissey

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 08:57:12 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Daniel Ek's claims that streaming is turning around the record business's fortunes and Spotify's attempt to stop David Lowery's lawsuit from becoming a class action, YouTube's acquisition of Bandpage, new research on the popularity of in-car radio listening, plus Morrissey's ill-fated move into modelling. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, Bloc, SoundCloud, Martin Shkreli

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 12 Feb 2016 10:22:39 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Warner Music and Sony Music's commitments to share any cash from selling Spotify shares with their artists, Bloc's move out of the festival market, SoundCloud's make or break year, and (for some reason) Martin Shkreli. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

SFX, RIAA, PRS/PPL, Rita Ora

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 05 Feb 2016 07:29:43 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the SFX bankruptcy and its potential knock on effects, the RIAA adding streams into its Gold and Platinum sales awards, the PRS/PPL joint venture on performance rights licensing, and Rita Ora's legal battle with Roc Nation. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital

Spotify, T In The Park, Cür Music, B.o.B

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 08:09:36 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Spotify adding video and raising more money, T In The Park's "teething problems", the launch of Cür Music and B.o.B's scientific beef. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube, Life Or Death, Deezer, J-Pop

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 22 Jan 2016 07:22:40 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including PRS's new deal with YouTube, the dramatic events at Life Or Death PR, Deezer's new money and some big developments in J-Pop this week. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

David Bowie, SoundCloud, Spotify, Live Nation

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 15 Jan 2016 07:51:03 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including David Bowie, Universal finally doing a licensing deal with SoundCloud, Spotify’s mechanical royalty disputes in the US, and Songkick suing Live Nation. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

America's streaming royalties, Spotify, Review of 2015

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 18 Dec 2015 11:41:42 +0000

In the final CMU Podcast of the year, CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review both the week and the year in music and the music business, including the Copyright Royalty Board ruling in the US and Spotify's latest hire, plus the key developments and stories, and artists and releases, from 2015. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Spotify, European copyright review, Agent Of Change, Wu Tang Clan

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 11 Dec 2015 08:21:52 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Spotify considering windowing, the European Commission's Digital Single Market review, the agent of change principle, and Wu Tang Clan's one-copy album buyer. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

New Order, Web-blocks, Elastic Artists, Sound Of 2016

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 04 Dec 2015 09:11:58 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Peter Hook's lawsuit against his former New Order bandmates, the latest development's in web-blocks, the social media hijack at Elastic Artists, and all those ones to watch lists. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Adele, Cox Communications, Paul Weller, Dancing Jesus

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 27 Nov 2015 07:50:48 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Adele's record-breaking week, Cox Communications' dispute with BMG and Round Hill, Paul Weller's dispute with the Daily Mail, and Noisey's interview with the guy behind Dancing Jesus. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Rdio, Spotify, Secondary Ticketing, Zayn Malik

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 08:37:34 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Rdio shutting down as Pandora buys its assets, Spotify's new artist data platform, the secondary ticketing debate and Zayn Malik's Fader interview. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Victory Records, Apple Music, Sony/ATV, Busted

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 13 Nov 2015 12:19:10 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Victory Records’ victorious return to Spotify in the US, Apple Music’s Android app and Apple’s motivations for creating it, more on Sony/ATV’s direct licensing deal with Pandora, and the unlikely but really happening reunion of Busted. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Pandora, MegaUpload, Measuring Music, Justin Bieber

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 06 Nov 2015 08:54:27 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Pandora’s “unprecedented” licensing deal with Sony/ATV, MegaUpload’s lawyers finally defending rather than delaying in the long drawn out extradition case, UK Music’s ‘Measuring Music’ report on just how much money the music industry is pumping into the UK economy, and a week in the life of the world’s greatest human being Justin Bieber. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Deezer, Radiohead, Get It Right, Adele

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 30 Oct 2015 09:40:45 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Deezer abandoning its IPO, Radiohead suing Parlophone, the Get It Right campaign and Adele's return. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

YouTube Red, Victory Records, Venue Day, Mercury Prize

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 23 Oct 2015 07:43:14 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the unveiling of YouTube's subscription service, Victory Records' mechanical rights dispute with Spotify, the debates around Venue Day and the Mercury shortlist. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Dissecting The Digital Dollar, Aurous, Donald Trump, Kanye West

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 16 Oct 2015 06:30:18 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the Dissecting The Digital Dollar report we published this week with the MMF, the RIAA's speedy lawsuit against new music app Aurous, Steven Tyler's cease and desist against Donald Trump, and Barack and Hillary's tips for future US President Kanye West. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Pandora, Modular, Streaming royalties, George Osborne

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 09 Oct 2015 09:08:45 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Pandora's acquisition of Ticketfly, Modular's legal disputes with Universal Music and BMG, the US Copyright Royalty Board's review of SoundExchange royalties and George Osborne's love of NWA. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Digital music transparency, T In The Park, YouTube, Justin Bieber

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 02 Oct 2015 07:47:49 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including France's new government-led initiative on transparency in digital music deals, controversy over the funding of T In The Park, rumours on YouTube's music streaming plans, Amazon Prime Music's Universal Music deal, and Justin Bieber's thoughts on life, the universe and everything. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Happy Birthday, The Charts, Deezer, Ryan Adams

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 09:05:29 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the ruling that 'Happy Birthday' is out of copyright in the US, record sales at gigs being included in album chart data, Deezer beating Spotify to become the first European streaming service to announce an IPO, and the fate of Father John Misty's covers of Ryan Adams' covers of Taylor Swift. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Dancing babies, Aretha Franklin, Nielsen stats, Elton John

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 18 Sep 2015 07:18:26 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including what the long-running dancing baby case tells us about takedowns and fair use, Aretha Franklin's film woes, what Nielsen's latest stats tell us about the streaming music sector, and Elton John not chatting to the Russian president. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Radio X, Google, consent decrees, Sam Smith

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 11 Sep 2015 07:57:42 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the relaunch of Xfm and the BBC’s streaming ambitions, more on the safe harbours debate and Google's takedowns, Sony/ATV’s concerns about one particular consent decree reform in the US, and Sam Smith being a big fat liar. And recording a Bond theme. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Vinyl Revival, EMI's sample amnesty, The Beatles, Kanye West

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 10:00:25 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Tesco and Technics joining the much hyped vinyl revival, EMI Production Music's sample amnesty, the Canadian company accusing the majors of anti-competitive behaviour over public domain recordings, and Kanye West's bid to be President of the USA. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

PRS v SoundCloud, MegaUpload, Tyler The Creator, One Direction

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 28 Aug 2015 08:51:13 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including PRS suing Soundcloud, more recent developments in the dispute over the lost MegaUpload data, Tyler, The Creator being refused a visa by the UK government, and One Direction’s upcoming hiatus. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Baboom, MegaUpload, SFX, The Voice

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 08:51:39 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the long-awaited launch of Baboom, the longer awaited deletion of MegaUpload, the further protracted buy-back of SFX, and unexpected departure of Tom Jones from 'The Voice'. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

The MPAA, Dr Luke, iTunes, Prince

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 14 Aug 2015 11:03:17 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including big tech hitting out as the MPAA attempts to get web-clocking through the US courts, Dr Luke being sued over an alleged drum sample, why every should stop freaking out over iTunes being 'illegal', and Prince comparing record deals to slavery. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Apple Music, Universal, SFX Entertainment, Dr Dre

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 07 Aug 2015 11:39:54 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including facts, figures, rumours and deals at Apple Music, Universal's new playlist marketing boss Jay Frank, the latest on Robert Sillerman's attempts to buy back SFX Entertainment and the knock on effects for Beatport, plus the surprise new album from Dr Dre. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

The Digital Pie, Amazon Prime Music, vKontakte, Zayn Malik

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 31 Jul 2015 07:55:04 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the latest on the digital pie debate, Amazon Prime Music's UK launch, Russian social network vKontakte's "goodwill agreement" with Sony Music, and Zayn Malik's contract signing frenzy. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Apple, Universal, Spotify, One Direction

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 24 Jul 2015 11:14:08 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the FTC's investigation into Apple's 'tax' on in-app purchases, the race to improve songwriting royalty reporting, Spotify's new Discover Weekly playlists, and the pains of trying to get your One Direction remix competition entry heard on SoundCloud. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Blurred Lines, BBC iPlayer Radio, MIC Coalition, Foo Fighters

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 17 Jul 2015 08:27:27 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the latest in the Marvin Gaye's family's legal battle with Pharrell Williams and Robin Thicke over 'Blurred Lines', the BBC banning Neil Young and others from its radio stations, NPR's withdrawal from the MIC Coalition, and why a cartoonist was sent to a Foo Fighters show. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

NME, Sony Music, PRS For Music, 65daysofstatic

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 10 Jul 2015 05:15:49 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the NME's announcement that it will become free later this year, Sony Music's response to 19 Entertainment on its equity in Spotify, PRS For Music's new campaign on safe harbours, and 65daysofstatic's response to receiving money from the government's Music Export Growth Scheme. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

19 Entertainment, Taylor Swift, Sirius XM, Amy Winehouse

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 03 Jul 2015 09:30:04 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the latest developments in 19 Entertainment’s litigation against Sony Music, the latest photographer rage against Taylor Swift, why 1972 is a key year in American copyright law and why there won’t be any more posthumous albums from Amy Winehouse. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Apple Music, Ed Sheeran, UK Music, Deadmau5

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 26 Jun 2015 05:48:07 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Taylor Swift causing a u-turn on Apple Music's royalties policy, Ed Sheeran's 'Thinking About You' spending a year in the Top 40, the music industry's win against the government on the private copy right, and Deadmau5's latest legal escapades. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Apple Music, Blinkbox, Beastie Boys, Foo Fighters

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 19 Jun 2015 10:14:58 +0000

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including the indie label backlash against Apple Music, Blinkbox going into administration, Beastie Boys' latest legal win against Monster Energy Drink, and Dave Grohl's gammy leg. The CMU Podcast is sponsored by 7digital.

Apple Music, The Arches, Kobalt, Walmart

Complete Music Update (CMU) — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 09:57:59 +0000

CMU's Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review the week in music and the music business, including Apple's big music announcement, The Arches in Glasgow closing down, Kobalt's new collecting society, and why Walmart hates Justin Bieber.