Up until now, Spotify has had no policy explicitly banning AI-generated music. In 2023, Daniel Ek said that tools that mimic artists were not acceptable; these may be forbidden under the company’s Deceptive Content policy (the wording isn’t entirely clear). But, in the same interview, Ek specifically called out AI music that didn’t directly impersonate artists as something they would not ban at this stage.
Newton-Rex: It’s time for streaming services to act on AI music
Sony is excited about its new blockchain platform, Soneium – and music could play a big part in its future
Sony has announced plans to launch a new blockchain platform, Soneium, with plans to integrate the company’s various businesses and intellectual property, potentially including its music catalog. Developed by Sony’s Singapore-headquartered joint venture with Startale Labs, Sony Block Solution Labs, Soneium is described as the “infrastructure network that forms the basis of Web3“.
TIDAL launches tool for US songwriters to claim and manage their work
Within TIDAL Artist Home, songwriters will be able to organize their IPI, PRO and publisher information in one place. They’ll also be prompted to sign up for mechanical royalties through The Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC). Artists signing up with a PRO for the first time will be able to register with AllTrack. Songwriters will be able to view and manage their writing credits and metadata to ensure all their works are correctly matched and registered, helping them to earn money, TIDAL said.
Source: TIDAL launches tool for US songwriters to claim and manage their work
Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses
When Apple won a bidding war in 2021 for the rights to make the action comedy “Wolfs” with George Clooney and Brad Pitt, it did so in part because it promised the stars it would put the movie into a large number of movie theaters. But this month, just six weeks before the film was set to show up in thousands of theaters around the United States, Apple announced a significant change in plans.
Source: Apple Rethinks Its Movie Strategy After a String of Misses
What’s next for artists suing StabilityAI and Midjourney
The class action lawsuit filed by several visual artists against AI image and video generation platforms StabilityAI, Midjourney, Runway and DeviantArt moved forward to the discovery stage last week. The lawsuit is one of the first legal challenges to AI platforms to reach this stage and could set the tone for other cases filed against AI companies.
Source: What’s next for artists suing Stability AI and Midjourney
Meta and Spotify CEOs criticize AI regulation in the EU
In joint statements published to both companies’ respective websites on Friday, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Spotify CEO Daniel Ek complain that EU privacy regulations around AI are holding back innovation. Meta, for instance, points out that it has been prevented from being able to train its AI models on public data across Facebook and Instagram because regulators haven’t crafted legislation to address how this should be handled as of yet.
Source: Meta and Spotify CEOs criticize AI regulation in the EU
California announces new deal with tech to fund journalism, AI research
California will be the first U.S. state to direct millions of dollars from taxpayer money and tech companies to help pay for journalism and AI research under a new deal announced Wednesday. Under the first-in-the-nation agreement, the state and tech companies would collectively pay roughly $250 million over five years to support California-based news organization and create an AI research program.
Source: California announces new deal with tech to fund journalism, AI research
Condé Nast Inks Multiyear OpenAI Deal for Its Magazine Brands
As part of the partnership, content from Vogue, The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, GQ, Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Wired, Bon Appétit and more will be used within OpenAI products, including ChatGPT and the company’s Search GPT prototype, a new search feature which offers direct links to news stories. The company plans to eventually integrate it directly into ChatGPT.
Source: Condé Nast Inks Multiyear OpenAI Deal for Its Magazine Brands
Symphonic Opens Up Catalog to Train AI Models Through Musical AI Partnership
Symphonic Distribution has forged a partnership with AI attribution and license management company, Musical AI, that will allow its users to become part of a licensed dataset used in AI training. Joining the dataset is a choice that Symphonic users must opt-in to and participating artists can earn additional income for their contribution.
Source: Symphonic Opens Up Catalog to Train AI Models Through Musical AI Partnership
How Much Should AI Giants Pay Hollywood?
Why haven’t any of Hollywood’s major studios pulled the trigger yet on a licensing deal with the tech giants looking to train their AI models? It turns out there are many reasons. Factors range from considerable legal risks to fears of repeating a grave strategic error Hollywood made in its first dealings with Netflix. But one of the biggest concerns is a simple one: price.
Source: How Much Should AI Giants Pay Hollywood? What Insiders Say Has Stalled Any Licensing Deals