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There are new moves afoot to avoid some of the negative impacts that creative AI technologies might have on musicians. In the US, this week sees the introduction of a revised version of the Protect Working Musicians Act. In the UK, meanwhile, today’s development comes from the Council of Music Makers, which is the umbrella body for The Ivors Academy, the Featured Artists Coalition, the Musicians’ Union, the Music Producers Guild and the Music Managers Forum.

Source: US and UK see new efforts to ensure AI doesn’t harm musicians – Music Ally

The U.S. music industry continued its robust growth in the first half of 2023, according to the RIAA’s latest mid-year report. Total revenues grew 9.3% at estimated retail value, reaching an all-time first-half high of $8.4 billion; at wholesale value, revenues grew 8.3% to $5.3 billion. Paid streaming subscriptions continued to be the strongest driver of revenue growth, according to the report, increasing by more than $550 million and growing to around 96 million subscriptions during the period.

Source: U.S. Recorded-Music Revenue Grows Almost 10% But Vinyl Sales, Streaming Subscriptions Level Off

Amazon continues to modify how authors and other creators can use its Kindle Direct Publishing self-publishing platform as the use of generative AI spreads throughout publishing. In an update posted in the KDP Community Forum on Monday, the company announced that it is “lowering the volume limits we have in place on new title creations.”

Source: Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing Will Limit Daily Number of New Titles

The subscription-based streaming model proves vastly different than the ad-revenue-fueled traditional TV bundle. High licensing costs and low revenues per subscriber quickly caught up with studios, which had previously placated shareholders with massive subscription growth. Yet streaming remains the focus for all of these companies as consumers rapidly cut the cord and opt for streaming.

Source: Hollywood is paying a steep price for never really figuring out the streaming model

UK management body the MMF’s series of ‘Dissecting the Digital Dollar’ reports have gone down well with managers looking for accessible industry explainers. The guide explains AI technologies relevant to music; looks at the rights and legal issues around them; and the industry campaigns and policy positions. However, we’re most interested in the inclusion of a template letter, provided by the Council of Music Makers, for managers to send to labels, distributors and publishers.

Source: MMF gives managers a template letter on AI-training rights – Music Ally

IMPALA members have flagged that some of the language used in the press in reaction to Deezer’s proposal is “clearly unfortunate.” Impala’s letter reads. “It’s a common thread through the history of recorded music that the great artistic advances and changes have come from, and through, the independent sector. I don’t expect Goldman Sachs to know that, but Deezer and UMG certainly do.”

Source: IMPALA Responds to Deezer & UMG’s Proposal for Streaming

The Executive Vice-President of the Audiovisual Anti-Piracy Alliance recently stated that a basic level, it would like to see the production, marketing, and distribution of any device which can be used to infringe intellectual property rights, made illegal. While that comment should be viewed in context, when taken literally that could

Source: Should Any Device Which Can Be Used to Infringe IP Be Made Illegal? * TorrentFreak

The streaming service is working with some of the largest publishers in the U.S. on the pilot program, which would allow subscribers to listen to up to 20 hours of audiobooks a month at no additional cost, according to people familiar with the matter. Details are still evolving, but the company expects to offer the program for a limited time and aims to gauge customer interest in audiobooks.

Source: WSJ News Exclusive | Spotify to Offer Paying Subscribers Free Audiobook Trial

A collaborative track featuring AI-generated facsimiles of Drake and the Weeknd’s voices titled “Heart on My Sleeve” has been submitted for Grammy consideration. And according to Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. in an interview with The New York Times, “it’s absolutely eligible because it was written by a human.”

Source: Ghostwriter’s ‘Heart on My Sleeve,’ the AI-Generated Song Mimicking Drake and the Weeknd, Submitted for Grammys