4 Visual AI Platforms Proving That AI Can Thrive with Properly Licensed Content 

The responsible utilization of data in AI development is a critical issue, and a select group of visual AI platforms are leading by example, demonstrating that AI can flourish while respecting intellectual property rights and fairly compensating creators. At the forefront of this movement are four pioneering platforms that have taken proactive steps to ensure their AI models are trained exclusively on properly licensed content.

Source: 4 Visual AI Platforms Proving That AI Can Thrive with Properly Licensed Content – Kaptur

‘Machine Unlearning’ May Be the Solution to Problematic AI Data

With the breakneck speed at which artificial intelligence has been progressing, there have undoubtedly been some stumbles. One of the biggest issues has been the use of copyrighted materials to train AI models as well as images that may be inappropriate or raise privacy issues. But a technique referred to as “machine unlearning” developed by researchers at the University of Texas Austin may offer a solution to those concerns.

Source: ‘Machine Unlearning’ May Be the Solution to Problematic AI Data

Hipgnosis Songs Fund Audit Says Fund ‘Failed to Perform’

Shot Tower Capital has engaged in an independent audit of Hipgnosis Songs Fund’s assets, lowering the valuation of its assets by 26%. This follows a report on March 18 that revealed a double-counting error in Hipgnosis’ accrued revenue, with the board announcing a 7.6% reduction to its operative net asset value (NAV). The report also finds that Hipgnosis Songs Fund’s acquisition underwriting was “below music industry standards.”

Source: Hipgnosis Songs Fund Audit Says Fund ‘Failed to Perform’

SoundExchange Announces $11 Billion Distribution Milestone

SoundExchange, the entity tasked with collecting and distributing royalties for the use of recordings on non-interactive digital services, just recently unveiled this latest milestone via a brief release. SoundExchange towards the beginning of 2024 indicated that it had distributed over $1 billion during 2023, up from about $959 million in 2022. Bearing in mind this growth the $12 billion milestone will presumably arrive within the next year or so.

Source: SoundExchange Announces $11 Billion Distribution Milestone

Music streaming royalties are terrible—these companies may have a fix

Last year was a very good one for music streaming: Audio streams increased 22.3% year over year, according to analytics firm Luminate, accounting for more than two-thirds of global music revenue. It was also the year when the music industry finally started to address the fact that the streaming model doesn’t benefit artists.

Source: Music streaming royalties are terrible—these companies may have a fix

Amazon pours an additional $2.75 billion into AI startup Anthropic

Amazon said Wednesday it is pouring an additional $2.75 billion into Anthropic, bringing its total investment in the artificial intelligence startup to $4 billion. Amazon will maintain a minority stake in San Francisco-based Anthropic, a rival of ChatGPT maker OpenAI. The Seattle-based tech giant made an initial investment of $1.25 billion in Anthropic in September and indicated then it had plans to invest up to $4 billion.

Source: Amazon pours an additional $2.75 billion into AI startup Anthropic

Majority of Americans think generative AI programs should credit sources they rely on

Overall, 54% of Americans say artificial intelligence programs that generate text and images, like ChatGPT and DALL-E, need to credit the sources they rely on to produce their responses. A much smaller share (14%) says the programs don’t need to credit sources, according to a new Pew Research Center survey. About a third say they’re not sure on this question.

Source: Many Americans think generative AI programs should credit the sources they rely on

Audible and Amazon MGM Pact to Develop TV Series Based on Audio Giant’s Originals 

Audible Inc. has pacted with its sibling Amazon MGM Studios unit to develop TV series based on a slew of podcasts and other original audio-only content. The deal brings together two high-profile content operations under the Amazon umbrella in the hopes of hitting a few home runs by by developing series from podcasts and other Audible-produced originals that have been successful with listeners in the U.S. and elsewhere.

Source: Audible and Amazon MGM Studios Pact to Develop TV Series Based on Audio Giant’s Originals (EXCLUSIVE)

Publishers Secure Widespread Support in Landmark Battle With Internet Archive 

Major book publishers continue their legal crusade against Internet Archive’s scan-and-lend library, hoping to shut it down for good. IA’s appeal previously received support from authors and copyright scholars. The publishers, however, have some heavyweight backers too. New amicus briefs are signed by former U.S. politicians, former judges, and legal scholars. Industry groups such as the MPA and RIAA also rally behind the publishers.

Source: Publishers Secure Widespread Support in Landmark Copyright Battle With Internet Archive * TorrentFreak

U.S Recorded Music Revenue Grew by 8% in 2023, Per RIAA Annual Report 

The U.S. recorded music industry grew its revenue by 8% in 2023, reaching an all-time high of $17.1 billion and marking eight consecutive years of growth. However, there’s no question that the streaming boom of the past decade, which produced years of double-digit growth, is leveling off and the industry is reacting with layoffs and talk of a “transformational moment” in the months and years to come.

Source: U.S Recorded Music Revenue Grew by 8% in 2023, Per RIAA Annual Report, but Layoffs and Slowing Growth Are Cause for Concern  

Get the latest RightsTech news and analysis delivered directly in your inbox every week
We respect your privacy.