Universal Music Group spent $459m on catalog acquisitions last year… less than half what it spent in 2020

According to a new investor presentation given by UMG’s EVP/CFO Boyd Muir – that Universal does not consider participation in the catalog buyout gold-rush as “required” to satisfy its core future business objectives. According to that investor presentation handed to shareholders today (March 3), Universal spent €388 million (USD $459m) on catalog rights last year.

Source: Universal Music Group spent $459m on catalog acquisitions last year… less than half what it spent in 2020

RightsTech Extra

AI Companies Get the Picture

By Paul Sweeting

One of the biggest challenges facing copyright owners in grappling with the rapid development of generative AI technology, apart from a murky legal status, has been market failure, as discussed here in previous posts. The amount of existing material needed to train gen-AI models is so great, and so varied, that gauging the value of any one piece of it to establish a market price for it for licensing purposes is often effectively impossible. One group of rights owners is finding willing buyers among AI companies, however. An active, albeit for various reasons mostly sotto voce market has begun to emerge for the use of images held in large photo archives and by photo agencies and social media platforms, complete with per-unit industry and at least a nod toward creator attribution... Read More >>

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