Marketplace

OpenAI, valued at $500bn, reportedly working on generative AI music tool

OpenAI is planning to enter the generative AI music space, according to a report at The Information, which says the company is working on a tool that can create music from text or audio prompts. That would bring OpenAI into an increasingly crowded field of AI music generation platforms, which include Suno and Udio – notorious within the music industry for having been sued by the record majors for alleged widespread copyright infringement in training its AI.

Source: OpenAI, valued at $500bn, reportedly working on generative AI music tool

Spotify raises UK and Switzerland Premium prices as analysts see US hike by early 2026

Spotify is raising subscription prices in the UK for the second time in 18 months. The company is also increasing the price of its Premium plans in Switzerland. In the UK, the music streaming giant will be increasing its Premium individual monthly plan to £12.99from £11.99. The 8.3% increase marks the second time in 18 months that the company has raised UK prices by £1. The previous adjustment took effect in April 2024.

Source: Spotify raises UK and Switzerland Premium prices again as analysts see US hike by early 2026

AI companies steal publisher traffic then undermine trust by getting answers wrong

Research points to a generally corrosive impact of AI answer engines on the news ecosystem, getting answers wrong and undermining trust. It found that the likes of Perplexity and Google AI Overviews are stealing publisher traffic but also contributing to declining trust in the news industry by giving distorted answers. The research concludes: “If AI assistants are not yet a reliable way to access the news, but many consumers trust them to be accurate, we have a problem.”

Source: AI companies steal publisher traffic then undermine trust by getting answers wrong

WGA Says Warner Bros. Merger Would Be a ‘Disaster’ for Writers

The Writers Guild of America came out swinging on Thursday against a merger between Warner Bros. and any other studio, saying such consolidation would be a “disaster” for writers. “Merger after merger in the media industry has harmed workers, diminished competition and free speech, and wasted hundreds of billions of dollars better invested in organic growth,” the WGA East and West said in a statement Thursday.

Source: WGA Says Warner Bros. Merger Would Be a ‘Disaster’ for Writers

YouTube paid out $8B to the music industry in 12 months

YouTube has paid more than $8 billion to the music industry in the 12 months between July 2024 and July 2025, the company announced on Thursday. “Today’s $8 billion payout is a testament to the fact that the twin engine of ads and subscriptions is firing on all cylinders,” said YouTube’s Global Head of Music Lyor Cohen in a statement.

Source: YouTube paid out $8B to the music industry in 12 months | TechCrunch

New Report Urges Publishers to Capitalize on Hidden Strengths

While the use of various digital technologies has drained away many readers, the survey found that 60% of U.S. consumers would like to read more books, and a similar percentage reported that they devote their full attention to reading when they open a book. In both instances, book reading was the only media activity that garnered such a favorable response from the majority of consumers.

Source: New Report Urges Publishers to Capitalize on Hidden Strengths

Why digital natives and data science are key to embracing the creator economy

Social platforms and the creator economy have been re-writing the rules of audience engagement for some time now. Together, they have accelerated the fragmentation of entertainment and made niche the new mainstream. However, the ability to tell stories is only one component of success. In fact, the most adept creators marry storytelling and data science together. This dual role has emerged as much out of necessity as it has because of the features social platforms offer.

Source: Why digital natives and data science are key to embracing the creator economy

U.S. Consumers Vehemently Oppose AI Music, Survey Finds

U.S. consumers vehemently oppose AI music and strongly prefer media made by humans, according to a new survey. And despite (or perhaps because of) the ongoing AI-content avalanche, these respondents were rather united in their opposition to artificial intelligence. At the top level, 82% expressed concerns “about AI’s societal impact,” and roughly 66% confirmed believing “that AI could one day go to war with humans.”

Source: U.S. Consumers Vehemently Oppose AI Music, Survey Finds

Certified organic and AI-free: New stamp for human-written books launches

As machine-made books flood online marketplaces, a new UK initiative is introducing an Organic Literature stamp to help readers identify books created by real authors. The scheme will involve Organic Literature stamps being placed on books written by humans, with only limited AI use permitted for tasks such as formatting or idea generation.

Source: Certified organic and AI-free: New stamp for human-written books launches

Spotify to Develop AI Music Products in Partnership With Major Record Labels

Spotify has announced an extensive partnership with Universal Music Group, Sony Music Group and Warner Music Group, digital licensing company Merlin and distribution services company Believe to develop AI music products. Spotify didn’t specify what specific software or AI tools the company was developing, stating only that was working with the partner companies to create “responsible AI products that empower the artists and songwriters they represent, and connect them with the fans who support them.”

Source: Spotify to Develop AI Music Products in Partnership With Major Record Labels

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