Less than one month after bolstering support for AI-narrated audiobooks, Spotify has rolled out a publishing program for independent authors looking to sell “bite-sized” works. The diversification-minded service just recently revealed its latest audiobooks expansion. As many who’ve accessed on-platform audiobooks are aware, Spotify already supported self-publishing via Findaway Voices.
Source: Spotify Audiobooks Add Indie Publishing Program for Short Works
Bria, a visual gen AI platform built on what it says is “100% licensed data” has closed $40 million in Series B funding, bringing its total capital raised to $65 million. The company says it will also use the funds to widen the application of its patented attribution engine beyond images to music, video, and text generation.
Source: Bria raises $40m to expand patented attribution engine to AI-generated music content
Spotify updated its annual Loud and Clear report on Wednesday, confirming that for a second consecutive year, the streaming giant paid out half of its royalties to independent artists. Of the $10 billion Spotify doled out to music rights holders last year, it gave about $5 billion to indie labels and artists, the company said, a $500 million increase from 2023. The report comes weeks after Spotify announced its first-ever full year of profit, 18 years after the company was founded in 2006.
Source: Half of Spotify’s Royalties Are Going to Indie Artists
France’s leading publishing and authors’ associations have filed a lawsuit against U.S. tech giant Meta , opens new tab for allegedly using copyright-protected content on a massive scale without authorisation to train its artificial intelligence (AI) systems. This is the first such action against an AI giant in France but there is a wave of lawsuits notably in the United States against Meta and other tech companies.
Source: French publishers and authors file lawsuit against Meta in AI case
Google’s launch last week of a new ‘AI Mode’ on search in the US appears to abandon its previous position as a friend to publishers. The tech giant, which made $265bn (£205bn) in media revenue last year, is introducing an AI information delivery system built entirely on information taken from content creators without their permission, showing disregard for the health of the media ecosystem on which it relies.
Source: With launch of AI Mode Google threatens to bleed news media dry
Catalog management platform OpenPlay has launched OpenPlay Reach, a new service aimed at providing delivery, distribution, and monetization services for music and video assets. The company has appointed Bob Barbiere as Executive Vice President and General Manager to lead the new service. Barbiere brings extensive experience in music technology and rights management from previous executive roles at Dubset Media Holdings and Pex.
Source: OpenPlay launches music distribution and monetization service led by industry veteran Bob Barbiere
Hipgnosis, the catalog company with rights to songs by artists including the Red Hot Chili Peppers that became the face of music-as-an-asset-class for Wall Street investors, is being renamed Recognition Music Group, the company said on Wednesday (March 12). The new name covers Hipgnosis Songs Fund, Hipgnosis Songs Assets, and Hipgnosis Song Management.
Source: R.I.P. Hipgnosis: New Owners Change Influential Catalog Company’s Name to Recognition Music
In a ruling filed on Friday (March 7), US District JudgeVince Chhabriagranted in part and denied in part Meta’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit. The judge ruled that the authors’ claim under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) over alleged removal of copyright management information (CMI) can go forward. “The plaintiffs have adequately alleged that Meta intentionally removed [copyright management information] to conceal copyright infringement,” Judge Chhabria wrote.
Source: Sarah Silverman’s Meta copyright lawsuit advances as judge allows authors’ DMCA claims
The latest revision of the Code is billed as having “a more streamlined structure with refined commitments and measures” compared to earlier iterations, based on feedback on the second draft that was published in December. Further feedback, working group discussions and workshops will feed into the process of turning the third draft into final guidance. And the experts say they hope to achiever greater “clarity and coherence” in the final adopted version of the Code.
Cinelytic, developer of an AI-driven data analytics platform for the entertainment industry, acquired Jumpcut Media, an AI firm that develops IP management and audience analysis tools. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. “With the addition of Jumpcut’s powerful technology, Cinelytic tools become an even more essential tool for studios, producers, and executives looking to make strategic, well-informed content decisions,” said Tobias Queisser, co-founder & CEO of Cinelytic .
Source: Cinelytic Expands AI Entertainment Analytics Platform With Acquisition of Jumpcut (EXCLUSIVE)