The US Copyright Office Is Hiking Registration Fees by 43%. Independent Music Orgs Say Many Artists Won’t Be Able to...
The U.S. Copyright Office has proposed a 43% increase in registration fees, prompting a coalition of ten music‑industry groups representing more than 600 independent labels to file formal opposition. The groups argue the hike will price out independent creators who already earn only $0.003‑$0.005 per stream and have little pricing power. Registration is the gateway to statutory damages and the Copyright Claims Board, so higher fees could erode legal protections for indie musicians. They urge the Office to reconsider and offer affordable bulk options.
On… Universal, Spotify, Virgin, and the ‘Leakage’ Causing Analyst Discomfort.
Universal Music Group reported $3.39 bn Q1 revenue, up 8.1% YoY, but a modest market‑share dip tied to a light release schedule. The company sold 50% of its Spotify stake for roughly $1.45 bn, earmarking $1 bn for a share‑buyback and planning to...
Udio Admits to Scraping YouTube Audio for AI Training in Answer to Sony Music Lawsuit
AI music startup Udio acknowledged that it scraped audio from YouTube to train its generative models and disclosed its subscription pricing, which starts at $10 per month for 1,200 30‑second clips and goes up to $30 for 4,800 clips. The...
Spotify Wins Motion for Arbitration in ‘Payola’ Lawsuit
A New York federal judge granted Spotify’s motion to compel arbitration, dismissing a class‑action lawsuit that accused the streaming service of running a "modern payola" through its Discovery Mode feature. The plaintiff, Genevieve Capolongo, claimed Spotify boosted certain songs in...
Amy Allen, Sony Music Publishing ,’Die With a Smile’ Among Big Winners at 2026 ASCAP Pop Music Awards
Amy Allen of Warner Chappell Music was named ASCAP Songwriter of the Year, adding a second consecutive Grammy for Songwriter of the Year to her résumé. Lady Gaga and Bruno Mars’ duet “Die With a Smile” earned Song of the Year after...
Warner Music Group Named to TIME’s List of 100 Most Influential Companies for Its Approach to AI
Warner Music Group (WMG) has been added to TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies list, highlighted for its proactive AI strategy. The label balances protection of artists with innovation by forging licensing deals with AI firms such as Suno, Udio and...
Suno Is Now the ‘Controller’ of Songkick User Data – and Is Hiring a GM to Wire It Into Its...
Suno has officially taken over control of Songkick’s user data, including artist and location preferences gathered through its Spotify integration. The move follows Suno’s November acquisition of the concert‑discovery platform from Warner Music Group and is accompanied by a new...
The Orchard Acquires Brazil’s OniMusic, a Prominent Christian Music Distribution Platform
The Orchard has acquired OniMusic, Brazil’s leading Christian‑music label, distributor and digital‑intelligence platform that represents more than 120 artists and administers over 250,000 works. The deal gives The Orchard a foothold in the Latin American gospel market, a segment that...
‘Artists Often Fail when You Give up Too Much Responsibility to Others.’
Alternate Side Management, founded by Evange Livanos and Zack Zarrillo, has grown to a 12‑person team representing over 30 alternative‑rock artists, many of whom are hitting major festivals and selling nearly 100,000 vinyl units. The firm stresses artist self‑ownership of...
‘We’re Finally in a Place Where We Can Win and Retain the Artists and Labels We’ve Always Wanted to Work...
Stem, the Los Angeles‑based music distribution platform, was acquired by Concord in March 2025 for a reported price above $50 million. After abandoning its DIY model in 2019, Stem now curates a selective roster, adding high‑profile acts such as Meek Mill, Big Family and Giant....
Believe Expands Label & Artist Solutions Business Into the US, Led by Thomas Maxwell
Paris‑based music services company Believe has launched its Label & Artist Solutions (LAS) unit in the United States, appointing industry veteran Thomas Maxwell as Vice President, US, Label & Artist Solutions. Maxwell will oversee partnerships with independent labels and expand...
In Q1, YouTube Music and Premium Saw ‘Largest Quarterly Increase’ in Non-Trial Subscribers Since 2018 Launch, Says Alphabet CEO, as...
YouTube’s advertising revenue jumped 11% year‑over‑year to $9.88 billion in Q1 2026, while its subscription business accelerated. The platform reported its largest quarterly increase in non‑trial YouTube Music and Premium subscribers since the service launched in 2018. Alphabet’s total paid subscriptions rose...
Tech Startup Nebula Partners with Ghazi Shami’s Supply Chain to Launch What It Calls an ‘Earn-Before-You-Stream’ Music Distro Service
Music tech startup Nebula has teamed with Ghazi Shami’s white‑label distributor Supply Chain Music to debut an “earn‑before‑you‑stream” service. The platform lets fans buy fractional stakes in unreleased tracks via Nebula’s marketplace; once the song streams on services like Spotify...
Believe and TuneCore Are Blocking Distribution of Generative AI Tracks Made on ‘Pirate Studios’ Like Suno – While Inking New...
Believe announced a major update to its generative‑AI policy, automatically blocking distribution of tracks created on unlicensed platforms such as Suno. The company says its detection system can identify the AI model with 99 % accuracy, preventing illegal content from reaching...
Symphonic Targets Catalog Acquisitions and Indie Artist Financing Deals with Launch of Symphonic NEXT
Symphonic, a Tampa‑based music‑technology firm, launched Symphonic NEXT, a program linking independent artists, labels, and managers with catalog financing, royalty advances, and acquisition opportunities. Led by Michelle Garramone, NEXT offers flexible deals ranging from $25,000 in trailing‑12‑month earnings to multi‑million‑dollar...
India’s Times Music Buys Punjabi Record Label Catrack Entertainment — in Third Acquisition Since Striking $100m JV with Primary Wave
Times Music, backed by a $100 million joint venture with Primary Wave, announced the acquisition of Punjabi label Catrack Entertainment. The deal adds a catalog featuring legends such as Babbu Maan, Malkit Singh and other golden‑era artists, though financial terms were...
Sorry, AI Artists. Spotify’s Not Letting You Become ‘Verified’ on Its Platform.
Spotify announced a new “Verified by Spotify” badge that will appear on artist profiles and in search results, signaling that the artist is a real human creator rather than an AI‑generated persona. The badge is unavailable to AI‑only acts at...
The UK’s PRS for Music Paid Out $1.41B to Songwriters, Composers and Publishers in 2025
PRS for Music announced that it distributed £1.07 billion ($1.41 billion) to songwriters, composers and publishers in 2025, a 4.9% increase over the prior year. Total royalty collections rose 7.7% to £1.24 billion ($1.63 billion), led by streaming growth and a record‑high £101.4 million from...
UMG Generated $3.39 Billion in Q1, up 8.1% YoY – Driven by BTS, Olivia Dean, Taylor Swift, and More
Universal Music Group reported Q1 2026 revenue of $3.39 billion, an 8.1% year‑over‑year increase at constant currency. Growth was powered by a 12.5% rise in subscription streaming to $1.52 billion, strong physical sales, and a 15.3% jump in synchronization income. Adjusted EBITDA...
HYBE Posts Record Q1 Revenue of $477M, up 39.5% YoY, Driven by BTS Comeback
HYBE reported a record first‑quarter 2026 revenue of $477 million, a 39.5% year‑over‑year increase, propelled by BTS’s ARIRANG album. Recorded‑music sales nearly doubled to $185 million, while artist‑direct activities generated $276 million, 58% of total revenue. Adjusted operating profit rose 170% to $40 million...
Primary Wave Raises $2.2 Billion for Fourth Music Fund
Primary Wave closed its fourth flagship music royalties fund at $2.225 billion, exceeding both its $1.5 billion target and the $2 billion hard cap. The oversubscribed Fund 4 already deployed $700 million across more than 65 single‑artist catalogs, ranging from The Notorious B.I.G. to Gilberto Gil. Backed...
The Beatles’ Apple Corps Restructures Executive Team with New Hires and Promotions
Apple Corps, the Beatles’ creative and business arm, announced a sweeping executive reshuffle, adding four senior hires and promoting two long‑time staff. Lux Paterson becomes chief strategy and marketing officer, Jonathan Sands leads merchandise and retail strategy, Miranda Langford takes...
BMG+Concord Is the Music Industry’s Biggest Bet in Years. What’s the Plan?
Bertelsmann and Great Mountain Partners announced a merger of BMG and Concord valued at roughly $15 billion, creating the world’s fourth‑largest music company. The combined entity, led by Bob Valentine as CEO and Thomas Coesfeld as chairman, aims to double its EBITDA...
Spotify Co-CEOs Outline AI Ambitions and More on Q1 2026 Earnings Call
Spotify’s Q1 2026 earnings call highlighted a bold AI push, with co‑CEOs comparing the opportunity to the 2009 iPhone launch and detailing increased compute spend despite flat headcount. Revenue rose 14% YoY to $5.30 bn, while monthly active users hit 761 million and...
Primary Wave Strikes Deal with Harry Chapin Estate Covering Singer-Songwriter’s Catalog, Name, Image & Likeness Rights
Primary Wave has entered a partnership with the Harry Chapin estate that covers the late singer‑songwriter’s music catalog, as well as his name, image and likeness rights. The catalog comprises 11 albums, 14 singles and has sold more than 16 million...
BMG and Concord Confirm Merger, with Bertelsmann as Majority-Owner; Bob Valentine Named CEO of Combined Company
BMG and Concord have confirmed a merger that will create a fully integrated global music company, with Bertelsmann holding roughly 67% and Great Mountain Partners affiliates 33% of the new entity. Bob Valentine will serve as CEO and Thomas Coesfeld as...
Taylor Swift Files to Trademark Her Voice and Likeness Amid Crackdown on AI Deepfakes
The episode explores Taylor Swift's recent move to trademark her voice and likeness as a preemptive strike against AI-generated deepfakes. It explains how the trademark system works, the legal precedent for protecting a performer's vocal identity, and the broader industry...
Tech Startup Tamber Raises $5M to Launch AI Music Tool, Backed by Adobe Ventures, Rackhouse Ventures and More
Los Angeles‑based startup Tamber announced a $5 million Series A round led by Adobe Ventures, Rackhouse, M13 and other investors, ahead of a May product launch. The company’s “sonic intelligence” platform blends text, voice and gesture inputs to retrieve real‑world audio samples,...
HYBE’s Taeho Park on Expanding the Superfan Market via ‘Transmedia’ Content – and Why the Firm’s NEB Unit Is Its...
Taeho Park, head of HYBE NEXT ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS (NEB), is steering the Korean giant’s push into transmedia, linking music with webtoons, anime, soundtracks and experiential programs. The NEB unit’s DARK MOON soundtrack sold over 207,000 copies, while BTS’s ARIRANG album generated 739.1 million...
From 75,000 AI Tracks Hitting Deezer Daily to UMG’s Copyright Lawsuit Against Quince… It’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
Deezer reported that 75,000 AI‑generated tracks are uploaded each day, now making up 44% of new music on the platform. Universal Music Group (UMG) and IP partner Liquidax filed patents outlining AI‑driven copyright enforcement tools, including bots that can issue...
Record Labels’ $2B+ Copyright Lawsuit Against Verizon Jointly Dismissed in Wake of Supreme Court’s Cox Ruling
A joint stipulation filed on April 22 dismissed the $2 billion‑plus copyright lawsuit that Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Music and ABKCO had brought against Verizon. The dismissal, entered with prejudice, bars the labels from refiling and follows the U.S. Supreme...
Katie Mae Miller and Chelsea Cloud Appointed VPs Within Marketing Division at AEG Presents
AEG Presents has elevated Katie Mae Miller to Vice President of Integrated Marketing for its regional division in Atlanta and hired Chelsea Cloud as Vice President of Integrated Marketing at Goldenvoice in Los Angeles. Both executives report to SVP Victoria Torchia and will steer...
YouTube Extends Deepfake Detection Tool Access to Celebrities and Talent Agencies
YouTube has opened its AI likeness‑detection system to celebrities and the talent agencies that represent them, extending access beyond the creator‑only rollout that began in October 2023. The tool performs a one‑time scan of newly uploaded videos to flag facial...
Latin American Dance Label INVERSA Launches with Investors Milk & Honey, ONErpm and M3 Music
INVERSA, a new label dedicated to Latin American electronic dance music, launched on April 22, 2026 with backing from Milk & Honey, ONErpm and M3 Music. The label’s first signing is Colombian producer 19Clouds, who brings over 756,000 monthly Spotify...
Inside the UMG-Backed Patent Portfolio Targeting AI Music Derivatives: A Technical Blueprint for the Walled Garden Model?
Universal Music Group, through its affiliate Music IP Holdings and a partnership with Liquidax Capital, has built a portfolio of more than 60 AI‑music patents aimed at controlling AI‑generated derivatives. The core inventions require artist approval, embed digital watermarks, and...
Tuned Global Launches Streaming Manipulation Detection Tool Aimed at Rightsholders and DSPs
Tuned Global unveiled its Service Manipulation Detection (SMD) system, an integrated tool that spots bot‑driven streaming fraud within its existing data platform. The solution monitors abnormal activity at five granular levels—track, artist, user, network and payment—to flag suspicious plays. Flagged...
Bella Figura Music Acquires Paul Epworth Publishing Catalog, Including Work with Adele, Florence + The Machine and More
Bella Figura Music, the UK‑based rights firm founded in 2022, has acquired the publishing catalog and producer income of Grammy‑winning songwriter‑producer Paul Epworth. The deal adds iconic tracks such as Adele’s “Rolling in the Deep,” the Oscar‑winning “Skyfall,” and multiple Florence + The Machine...
Sam Hu Named Managing Director at Universal Music China
Universal Music Group has appointed Sam Hu as Managing Director of Universal Music China and Senior Vice‑President of Universal Music Greater China, effective April 22, 2026. Hu brings over two decades of experience, having led Sony Music Entertainment China, Warner...
Warner Chappell Launches in India; Jay Mehta to Lead Recorded Music and Publishing for WMG in India & Neighboring South...
Warner Chappell Music has opened a direct‑to‑market publishing operation in India, appointing Jay Mehta to run both recorded‑music and publishing across India and neighboring South‑Asian markets. The new WCM India unit gives local songwriters access to Warner’s global creative network, AI‑driven royalty tools,...
Soccer Legend Ronaldinho Launches Tu Música Record Label in Partnership with Brazil’s Sua Música Group
Brazilian football icon Ronaldinho has launched a new record label, Tu Música, in partnership with distribution firm Sua Música Group, talent‑management company ASJ, and his brother Roberto de Assis. The label will debut with a FIFA World Cup‑inspired compilation and...
Bang Si-Hyuk, Chair of BTS Company HYBE, Faces Arrest Warrant Bid From Seoul Police in IPO Probe (Report)
Seoul police have filed for an arrest warrant for HYBE chairman Bang Si‑hyuk over alleged fraudulent share trades tied to the company’s 2020 IPO. The investigation centers on improper transactions valued at roughly 200 billion won (about $136 million), including claims Bang...
Drake Pushes Back on UMG at Appeals Court, Says Judge Improperly Dismissed ‘Not Like Us’ Case
Drake’s attorneys filed a reply brief with the Second Circuit, contending that the district court erred in dismissing his defamation suit over Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us.” The brief argues the judge relied on evidence outside the complaint, misapplied the...
In the Age of Generative AI, It’s High Time for Artists to Organize.
In 2026 experts warn that generative AI is reshaping the music business and that U.S. artists must finally organize to capture its value. Major labels have taken equity stakes in AI platforms and Spotify, amassing roughly $3 billion in equity while...
Matt Gralen Promoted to CEO of Beatport, Helen Sartory Upped to President & COO, as Longtime Chief Exec Robb McDaniels...
Beatport announced a leadership transition effective July 1, with CFO Matt Gralen stepping up as CEO and Chief Revenue Officer Helen Sartory promoted to President and COO. Outgoing CEO Robb McDaniels, who drove a revenue quadruple and grew the user base to...
‘To Create From a Genuine Place, You Have to Be Open, Vulnerable and Sensitive and when You Put Music Out,...
Delphine Seddon, former COO of September Management—the label behind Adele—has left the music industry to become a novelist. Her debut, "Darkening Song," published by Saturday Books/Macmillan in the US and Blue Neon Books in the UK, draws on her two‑decade...
Chord Music-Linked ABS Vehicle Plans $500M Deal, Backed by $830M Catalog Led by Suicideboys, Morgan Wallen, and Ryan Tedder Rights
Universal Music Group‑backed Chord Music Partners is launching a new ABS vehicle, Canon Music Issuer Trust, to raise $500 million of debt. The notes are secured by an $830 million royalty pool covering 3,750 works, with Suicideboys, Morgan Wallen and Ryan Tedder accounting for...
Reservoir-Backed PopArabia Acquires MENA Label and Distributor Viral Wave
PopArabia, Reservoir Media’s MENA‑focused partner, has acquired Cairo‑based label and digital‑distribution firm Viral Wave. The deal adds a full‑service distribution operation and expands PopArabia’s staff to over 30 across Egypt, Morocco and the UAE, bringing its catalog to nearly 100,000 Arabic...
75,000 AI-Generated Tracks Now Flood Deezer Daily, Representing 44% of All New Music Uploaded to the Platform, Says Streamer
Deezer reports that it now receives roughly 75,000 AI‑generated tracks each day, accounting for 44% of all new uploads. The daily influx has risen from 60,000 in January and 50,000 in November, pushing monthly AI uploads past 2 million. While AI...
From Live Nation’s Antitrust Trial Loss to Max Lousada and Julie Greenwald’s 26.2 Launch… It’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
A federal jury ruled that Live Nation and Ticketmaster illegally monopolized the U.S. ticketing market, delivering a landmark antitrust win for a coalition of 33 states. Warner Music Group announced a minority investment and distribution partnership with Latin‑focused platform TuStreams....
Akhila Shankar Promoted to Director of Artist Services for India and South Asia at Believe
Believe has promoted Akhila Shankar to Director of Artist Services for India and South Asia, while she continues to lead TuneCore in the region. The new role expands her remit to artist development, label partnerships, and building pathways for regional and international...