Kafka’s Hypothetical Market Strikes Again: The DSPs’ Latest Move to Silence Songwriters by Throwing GMR Out of Phonorecords V
Streaming platforms Spotify, Apple, Amazon, Pandora and Google have filed a joint motion to exclude Global Music Rights (GMR) from the Phonorecords V proceeding that sets compulsory mechanical royalty rates. GMR represents marquee songwriters such as Drake, The Weeknd and Bruno Mars, giving them a rare voice in the rate‑setting process. The services argue GMR lacks a “significant interest” because it licenses performance rights, not mechanical rights. The move comes as Texas’ attorney general probes the platforms for alleged payola schemes, raising questions about fairness in royalty calculations.
Mýa Backs AMFA as Momentum Builds for Fair Pay for Radio Play
The American Music Fairness Act (AMFA) seeks to extend digital performance royalties to terrestrial radio, ensuring artists are paid for broadcast use. Singer‑songwriter Mýa publicly backed the bill, highlighting growing congressional momentum led by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and SX CEO...
@RonanFarrow and @AndrewMarantz: Sam Altman May Control Our Future—Can He Be Trusted?
Ronan Farrow and Andrew Marantz examine Sam Altman's stewardship of OpenAI, drawing on internal documents and over 100 interviews. The investigation highlights a tension between Altman's public framing as a guardian of humanity’s most powerful technology and internal accusations of...
Inside Royalty Audits with Keith Bernstein: Lessons From Chris Castle’s Music Contracts & AI Class at UT Law
In a recent ARI Artist Financial Education session recorded for Chris Castle’s music‑business and AI class at UT Law, veteran royalty auditor Keith Bernstein shared practical insights on digital‑streaming platform (DSP) audits. Bernstein, founder of the Royalty Review Council, Crunch...
@Hypebot: Jay Gilbert, Ryan Vaughn, & Benji Stein Share Expert Tips for Artist Growth in 2026
In a Hypebot panel featuring Jay Gilbert, Ryan Vaughn and Benji Stein, the trio dissected the evolving toolkit for independent artists heading into 2026. They warned that streams and follower counts are vanity metrics, urging creators to focus on "actionable"...
Universal Should Say No to Bill Ackman
Pershing Square, led by activist investor Bill Ackman, has tabled a $64 billion offer to acquire Universal Music Group, the world’s largest recorded‑music company. The proposal, announced in early April 2026, would merge two of the industry’s biggest catalog owners and...
California Takes a Step Toward Ending Speculative Ticketing
Speculative ticketing—selling tickets before the seller actually possesses them—has long plagued resale platforms, inflating prices and creating false scarcity. The practice was highlighted in a recent Capitol Hill hearing featuring Kid Rock, underscoring consumer frustration. California’s Assembly Bill 1349 proposes...
Is It Still Windowing if We Never Stream? Or Is It a Strike?
An emerging debate questions whether the traditional "windowing" model applies when music is never streamed, as artists and unions push back against streaming platforms' royalty structures. Dr. David C. Lowery highlights growing concerns over AI‑generated music, opaque royalty calculations, and...