Udio Strikes AI Licensing Deal With Merlin for Independent Labels

Generative AI start-up Udio has formed a licensing agreement with Merlin, a popular digital licensing provider for thousands of independent labels and distributors. The announcement — which arrives a few months after Udio signed similar licenses with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group — will now allow independent labels, distributors and artists to earn money by allowing their recordings to be used in AI training.

Source: Udio Strikes AI Licensing Deal With Merlin for Independent Labels

Google IP boss: We shouldn’t pay for AI training on ‘freely available’ content

A leading Google public affairs executive has admitted that the tech giant does not believe it should have to pay to use unpaywalled content for AI training. Roxanne Carter told the Lords Communications and Digital Committee on Tuesday that Google wants to create “wholly new content” and not replicate publishers’ work. “What the AI model is trying to do is analyse huge amounts of data to identify patterns and statistical relationships between words, language concepts. It is not an information retrieval system.”

Source: Google IP boss: We shouldn’t pay for AI training on ‘freely available’ content

Indian publishers urge govt to exempt news from AI copyright regime

News publishers have urged the government to fundamentally reconsider the proposed “hybrid” copyright licensing framework for artificial intelligence (AI) training, recommending that news content be categorically excluded from any mandatory or blanket licensing regime. Publishers argue that journalism warrants a distinct policy treatment given its constitutional role, time-sensitive value, and implications for national security and democratic governance.

Source: Publishers urge govt to exempt news from AI copyright regime, back voluntary licensing

Appeals Court says songwriters can reclaim global copyrights under US law

A federal appeals court ruled on Monday (January 12) that songwriters can use US copyright law to reclaim their songs worldwide, not just in the US, a decision that could change how the music industry handles decades-old agreements between songwriters and publishers. The decision centers on “termination rights,” a provision in copyright law that lets songwriters reclaim songs they sold off years earlier.

Source: In landmark termination rights ruling, Appeals Court says songwriters can reclaim global copyrights under US law

Ingram Lets Publishers Opt Out of Book Sales to Tech Firms

In a note sent last week to client publishers, Ingram Content Group warned of the “growing trend” of AI companies purchasing and scanning print books train their large language models, and said publishers could opt out of selling to these companies. Ingram acknowledged that it may not always be able to identify if the buyer is an AI company, but said it “will make reasonable efforts” to honor the wishes of publishers who don’t wish to sell to them.

Source: Ingram Lets Publishers Opt Out of Book Sales to Tech Firms

Australia Preps 38% Commercial Radio Recordings Royalty Hike

Australia’s Copyright Tribunal finalized this licensing-rate hike in a mid-December decision, and the Phonographic Performance Company of Australia (PPCA) today “acknowledged” the development. At a glance, “acknowledge” might not seem an appropriately enthusiastic verb; a double-digit rate jump is, after all, significant. But the major-label-led PPCA had been pushing for a comparatively sweeping licensing-scheme overhaul.

Source: Australia Preps 38% Commercial Radio Recordings Royalty Hike

Bandcamp Bans AI-Generated Songs in a First for Major Online Music Platforms

Bandcamp is placing a ban on AI-generated songs, the company announced in a Reddit post on Tuesday (Jan. 13). Specifically, Bandcamp is no longer permitting songs that use generative AI in all or a “substantial part” of their process on the platform. It also noted that it does not allow the use of any AI tools “to impersonate other artists or styles.” It is not clear how Bandcamp will determine which songs use AI substantially and which do not.

Source: Bandcamp Bans AI-Generated Songs in a First for Major Online Music Platforms

Introducing: Duetti and Billboard’s Music Finance Index

The industry-first, seminanual benchmark polls artist managers, lawyers and indie executives for their expectations for catalog investment trends. The Index is intentionally centered on the perceptions of music industry stakeholders, rather than buyout funds and financial institutions that can be a few steps removed from the “action” in the space.

Source: Introducing: Duetti and Billboard’s Music Finance Index

MLC vs. Spotify bundle battle intensifies as streamer opposes immediate appeal

Mechanical Licensing Collective is seeking an immediate appeal of a court ruling in its legal battle with Spotify over audiobook bundling and royalty payments. The request triggered a sharp procedural battle. In a 33-page opposition filed January 9 Spotify argued that The MLC waited nearly a year too long to request this type of expedited review and fails to meet the legal requirements for an immediate appeal.

Source: MLC vs. Spotify bundle battle intensifies as streamer opposes immediate appeal

Attribution and Licensing Startup Musical AI Scores $4.5M Raise

Heavybit, the self-described “leading early-stage investor in enterprise infrastructure,” led the newer raise. Also contributing to the $4.5 million tranche were the Business Development Bank of Canada and Halifax-based Build Ventures. Looking ahead to the remainder of 2026, Musical AI intends to keep on building out its core attribution tech. Per the company, the involved tools are “successfully deployed” and “can parse what percentage of a generated output came from which source.”

Source: Attribution and Licensing Startup Musical AI Scores $4.5M Raise

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