Before the proliferation of A.I. music generators, before the emergence of Spotify and the advent of the iPod, before Brian Eno had even coined the term “generative music,” Mr. Cope had already figured out how to program a computer to write classical music. It was 1981 and, struggling with writer’s block after being commissioned to compose an opera, he was desperate for a compositional partner. He found one in a floppy disk.
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Taylor Swift buys back master rights to first six albums from Shamrock Capital
The deal brings to a close one of the music industry’s most high-profile ownership disputes. Swift confirmed the news on Friday (May 30) in a handwritten letter to her fans. The transaction involves the master rights to Swift’s albums Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989, and Reputation – recordings that have been at the center of a six-year battle over artist ownership rights.
Source: Taylor Swift buys back master rights to first six albums from Shamrock Capital
Major Labels in Licensing Talks With A.I. Companies Suno & Udio Amid Lawsuit
Universal Music, Warner Music and Sony Music are in talks with Udio and Suno to license their music to the artificial intelligence startups, Billboard has confirmed, in deals that could help settle blockbuster lawsuits over AI music. A year after the labels filed billion-dollar copyright cases against Udio and Suno, all three majors are discussing deals in which they would collect fees and receive equity in return for allowing the startups to use music to train their AI models.
Source: Major Labels in Licensing Talks With A.I. Companies Suno & Udio Amid Blockbuster Lawsuit
Audiobook Sales Rose 13% in 2024, to $2.2 Billion
Audiobook sales returned to a double-digit growth rate in 2024, increasing 13% over 2023, according to the just-released Audio Publishers Association Sales Survey. After a number of years of sales growing at a rate of at least 10% annually, sales rose 9% in 2023. Last year, total sales from the APA members who supply data increased to $2.22 billion; the bump was driven, unsurprisingly, by digital audio.
Rezonate Music Rights launches with $150m to acquire producer catalogs
Rezonate Music Rights has launched with $150 million in backing from Bridgepoint Credit to acquire music producer royalty rights globally. The London-based investment platform was co-founded by Cam Blackwood, the producer behind albums by artists George Ezra, Tom Walker, and Jack Savoretti, and Tom Tyler, who has over 20 years of experience in senior financial roles at the London Stock Exchange Group.
Source: Rezonate Music Rights launches with $150m backing from Bridgepoint to acquire producer catalogs
ICMP: Music publishing brings in $11.1bn annually across 16 major markets
The International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP) has released its first-ever analysis of global music publishing, surveying 16 major music markets. The headline finding? Music publishing brings in a little over $11 billion annually in those markets. The number includes publishers’ direct revenue, plus distributions to publishers and songwriters from collective management organizations (CMOs).
Source: Music publishing brings in $11.1bn annually across 16 major markets, first-ever ICMP survey finds
Perlmutter Seeks Summary Judgement in Copyright Office Battle
Fired Copyright Office head Shira Perlmutter is seeking summary judgement in her lawsuit against the Trump administration. Upon denying Perlmutter’s restraining order ask, the presiding judge also instructed the parties to “submit a joint proposed briefing schedule” concerning a potential preliminary injunction push on the plaintiff’s end, we reported yesterday. Instead, Perlmutter’s legal team has opted to entreat the court to green-light an “expedited briefing schedule” on the summary judgement front.
Source: Perlmutter Seeks Summary Judgement in Copyright Office Battle
Government AI copyright plan suffers fourth House of Lords defeat
The House of Lords has dealt a fourth defeat to the government over its plans to allow tech companies to use copyrighted material to train their models. The Lords, who are looking for more protections for artists from AI, rejected the latest amendment to the Data (Use and Access) Bill on Monday. Peers backed calls for greater transparency after musicians such as Sir Elton John warned of the threat to creative industries.
Source: Government AI copyright plan suffers fourth House of Lords defeat
Labels in licensing talks with AI music generators Suno and Udio (report)
The major music companies are reportedly in licensing talks with controversial AI music generators Udio and Suno. That’s according to Bloomberg, which reported on Sunday (June 1), citing people familiar with the discussions, that Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, and Sony Music Entertainment are seeking license fees from the platforms plus “a small amount” of equity in both Suno and Udio.
Source: Labels in licensing talks with AI music generators Suno and Udio (report)
Round Hill, with $1.1bn music portfolio, strikes flurry of catalog acquisitions
The combined value of the transactions is believed to be upwards of $25 million. Round Hill said on Thursday (May 29) that these transactions bring its total catalog value under management back to over USD $1 billion ($1.1bn), following the $468.8 million sale of its London Stock Exchange-listed fund to Concord in 2023. Round Hill continues to manage five private funds following the sale of the UK-listed fund.
Source: Round Hill, with $1.1bn music portfolio, strikes flurry of catalog acquisitions