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Content licensing for publishers: Five key questions answered

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As publications fight for increasingly thin slices of advertising budgets and the subscription model for news sites slowly stagnating, it’s more important than ever to maximize your publication’s content to bring in every bit of revenue possible. Many content creators and publications in Europe are overlooking the potential of content licensing to support their brands. The truth is, your existing content can – and should – generate income long after you publish it.

Source: Content licensing for publishers: Five key questions answered

Freepik releases an ‘open’ AI image generator trained on licensed data

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Freepik, the online graphic design platform, unveiled a new “open” AI image model on Tuesday that the company says was trained exclusively on commercially licensed, “safe-for-work” images. The model, called F Lite, contains around 10 billion parameters — parameters being the internal components that make up the model. F Lite joins a small and growing collection of generative AI models trained on licensed data.

Source: Freepik releases an ‘open’ AI image generator trained on licensed data | TechCrunch

Udio and Audible Magic team up to tackle rights management in AI-generated music

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Udio, an AI music startup facing ongoing litigation from major record labels alongside its competitor Suno, has struck a new partnership with content identification platform Audible Magic. The move creates what the companies call a “content control pipeline” that allows streaming services and distributors to identify AI-generated tracks from Udio’s platform and apply appropriate licensing rules.

Source: Udio and Audible Magic team up to tackle rights management in AI-generated music

UMG Posts Strong Revenue for First Quarter, But Streaming Growth Continues to Level Off

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Universal Music Group posted robust revenue of €2.901 billion — around $3.309 billion, an increase of 11.8% year-over-year, or 9.5% in constant currency — in its earnings report for the quarter ended on March 31, 2025, although streaming growth continues to level off and impact the company’s bottom line. While Universal’s recorded music’s subscription revenue grew 11.5% year-over-year, or 9.3% in constant currency, streaming revenue grew just 2.9% year-over-year, or 0.3% in constant currency.

Source: Universal Music Group Posts Strong Revenue for First Quarter, Although Streaming Growth Continues to Level Off

Spotify on superfan plans: ‘We do need the partners to come to the table’

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A couple of comments in its earnings call suggested the details are still being worked out with rightsholders. “Of course we need alignment and support from our industry partners to offer these kinds of new experiences to our users,” said co-president and chief business officer Alex Norstrom. “We do need the partners to come to the table and be part of this journey,” added CEO Daniel Ek.

Source: Spotify on superfan plans: ‘We do need the partners to come to the table’

Epidemic Sound acquires AI startup Song Sleuth to tackle music’s ‘black box’ problem

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Sweden-headquartered Epidemic Sound has acquired Song Sleuth, an AI music recognition startup, betting on AI to solve one of the music industry’s most persistent challenges: tracking and monetizing songs used in user-generated content online. Epidemic Sound said the acquisition paves the way for the launch of a new service called Aentidote aimed at identifying unclaimed and undistributed royalties from remixes, covers, and live recordings.

Source: Epidemic Sound acquires AI startup Song Sleuth to tackle music’s ‘black box’ problem

Japanese lawmakers are coming for your AI-generated, Studio Ghibli-style images

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In a House of Representatives Cabinet Committee that took place on April 16th, 2025, in Japan, lawmakers brought up and weighed in on the issue of copyright compliance when it comes to these AI-generated photos. The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology Strategy Officer Nakahara Hirohiko says that the final decision of whether these users have violated copyright infringement depends on the country’s courts, reports state.

Source: japanese lawmakers are coming for your AI-generated, studio ghibli-style images

BeatStars Partners With Sureel to Provide AI Training Opt-Outs for Creators

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To date, AI music companies in the United States are not required to honor opt-outs, but through this partnership, Sureel and Beatstars, the world’s largest music marketplace, hope to create clarity for AI music companies that are wishing to avoid legal and reputational risks and create a digital ledger to keep track of beatmakers’ wishes regarding AI training.

Source: BeatStars Partners With Sureel to Provide AI Training Opt-Outs for Creators

Splice acquires Spitfire Audio for a reported $50m as it bets on AI music creation

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Financial terms of the acquisition were not disclosed, but according to the Financial Times, which cited a person familiar with the matter, the deal is worth about USD $50 million. The acquisition marks Splice’s entry into the plugin sector, which it notes is valued at $640 million, and aligns with its existing subscription and rent-to-own businesses.

Source: Splice acquires Spitfire Audio for a reported $50m as it bets on AI music creation

Only 17% of Music Creator College Students Familiar With MLC

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MusicAnswers has spent two years conducting a survey of college student music creators to better understand their experience with song registration agencies—specifically the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC). The results are pretty grim, with a majority of college students being unaware of the MLC’s purpose or what they do in the industry.

Source: Only 17% of Music Creator College Students Familiar With MLC

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