Music Business
Atlantic Music Group enters ‘multi-level partnership’ with Fader Label, including 50/50 joint venture
The deal includes a 50/50 joint venture to sign and develop new and established artists Source
TikTok’s SoundOn is using ACRCloud to crack down on music fraud
An announcement last week by TikTok’s distribution arm SoundOn sounds dry, but it’s part of the bigger debate about distributors’ role in the spread of fake or infringing music on streaming services. SoundOn is now using ACRCloud’s ‘Derivative Works Detection’ tool to identify any copyrighted tracks
Two amicus briefs weigh in for UMG in its battle with Drake
Last week we reported on Universal Music Group’s sharp response to Drake appealing the dismissal of his ‘Not Like Us’ defamation lawsuit against the major label. Now it has some backup. The Floyd Abrams Institute for Freedom of Expression at Yale Law School and a group of other social scientists and
US music-market trends in 2025: ‘America streams American…’
Music-industry economist Will Page’s world tour continues: he appeared at the recent Vanderbilt Music Law Summit in Nashville with a presentation on ‘The Global (and American) Value of Music Copyright’. Page shared details of his session with Music Ally, including key data points. ‘America streams A
Gorillaz’ 2001 debut album had its biggest Spotify year in 2025
Readers of a certain age may wish to cover their eyes and scream for a bit now: the self-titled debut album by Gorillaz is now 25 years old. Spotify has published some startling stats about the album’s streaming performance to celebrate the quarter-century anniversary. The album has racked up 1.85bn
UMG settles copyright-infringement lawsuit with Believe and TuneCore
While we’re on a ‘majors suing companies’ tip… Universal Music Group locked horns with Believe and TuneCore late in 2024, accusing them of “industrial-scale copyright infringement”. The case focused on “fraudulent ‘artists’ and pirate record labels” who were releasing tracks via Believe and TuneCore
Impala has mixed feelings about WMG’s acquisition of Revelator
We wondered what independent music bodies would make of Warner Music Group’s announcement last week that it is buying B2B firm Revelator, whose services are used by a number of indie artists. Now European body Impala has offered its response, with mixed feelings on what the acquisition represents, a
The Verge criticises Suno’s copyright-infringement guardrails
AI-music firm Suno may have settled the lawsuit filed against it by Warner Music Group, but it remains locked in litigation with the other two majors. Their lawyers will be eagerly reading The Verge’s latest investigation, which claims that the guardrails in the Suno Studio software designed to prev
Pershing Square submits bid to buy UMG in a $63.5bn deal
Yes, you read that right: for once Universal Music Group is part of a corporate-acquisition story as the company that is potentially being acquired. The buyer? Hedge fund Pershing Square, owned by billionaire Bill Ackman. The price? Potentially €55bn ($63.5bn at current exchange rates). That’s accor
Music publishers tell judge X’s antitrust lawsuit is ‘retaliation’ against their 2023 copyright lawsuit
The publishers claim X never attempted to secure an individual license and that X cannot cite an example of a music publisher rejecting such a request. Source
Zakk Wylde on Musical Identity and Black Label Society's Return
The maestro of the pinched harmonic and pentatonic blitzkrieg sits in to talk Engines Of Demolition, Randy Rhoads' greatness, and the origin of his style
Zakk Wylde on Musical Identity and Black Label Society
The maestro of the pinched harmonic and pentatonic blitzkrieg sits in to talk Engines Of Demolition, Randy Rhoads' greatness, and the origin of his style
Billboard’s Music Industry Events Calendar
A complete rundown of the most important events across the music business.
Neal Schon Says Journey Had “Contractual Obligations” After Arnel Pineda Reveals He Wanted to Quit
In a recent interview, Pineda said he tried to quit the band twice before their ongoing "Final Frontier Tour." Neal Schon Says Journey Had “Contractual Obligations” After Arnel Pineda Reveals He Wanted to Quit Eddie Fu
How to Get a Music Industry Internship Today, According to People on the Inside
Professionals across the music business discuss how applicants can give themselves an edge.
Billboard’s Music Industry Events Calendar provides a comprehensive list of key music business events.
A complete rundown of the most important events across the music business.
From Access to Infrastructure: How Managers Can Win at Streaming
For the first decade of streaming, success was largely about access. The industry focused on getting music onto digital service providers as quickly and widely as possible, and solving distribution […] The post is from Music Ally.
A folk musician had her voice cloned by AI – and her recordings claimed by a copyright troll. Welcome to 2026.
Gamma-owned Vydia caught in controversy over musician whose videos were claimed against Source
IMPALA was unhappy about UMG’s purchase of Downtown. Now it says WMG’s Revelator acquisition is ‘bad news for artists, fans, and Europe’s diversity’.
IMPALA, the European trade body representing over 6,000 independent music companies, has criticized Warner Music Group‘s agreement to acquire Revelator, calling the deal “bad news for artists, fans, and Europe’s diversity as [a] whole.” The statement, published on Thursday (April 2), came one day af
Pooh Shiesty Arrested on Robbery, Kidnapping Charges Over Alleged Gucci Mane Label Dispute
The rapper was arrested on April 1 along with seven other suspects