Music Business
AI-generated virtual actor Tilly Norwood is releasing music
While the music industry was getting its pants in a twist last year about AI project The Velvet Sundown, similar unrest was afoot in the film and TV world over the unveiling of AI-generated ‘actor’ Tilly Norwood. Actors and their unions protested vociferously, and the first project featuring Norwood
Yamaha launches a ‘Creator Pass’ for music and podcast tools
2026 appears to be all about the bundles – although thankfully for music publishers, we’re not talking about the controversial Spotify kind. We’re talking about bundles of creative tools. Apple launched its ‘Creator Studio’ subscription earlier this year, which included its Logic Pro and MainStage m
PRS for Music Sues Valve, Accusing Steam of Hosting Unlicensed Music
The U.K. collecting society says it has spent "many years" attempting to negotiate a licensing agreement with the gaming platform.
“Spotify is the highest-paying retailer globally - paying the music industry more than $11 billion in 2025”: Spotify reveals how much it actually pays out to musicians in its new Loud & Clear report
The numbers might be a surprise to those who have previously bemoaned the financial dynamics of the streaming giant
‘An Important Step’: European Parliament Adopts Report on Copyright and Generative AI
MEPs have adopted the resolution on “Copyright and generative artificial intelligence – opportunities and challenges” with an overwhelming majority of 460 votes to 71, and with 88 abstentions.
Stromae’s Mosaert label renews global deal with Warner Chappell Music
The renewed agreement keeps WCM as the global representative for Stromae's catalog. Source
Spotify Says Over 13,800 Artists Generated $100,000 on the Platform Last Year: Loud & Clear Report
In its latest annual report, the streaming giant calls itself "the largest driver of the industry’s continued growth."
Signed: Beartooth Finds a Fearless New Record Label; Skylar Grey Inks With New Management
Also: The K's, The Struts, Alexander Stewart, Mohamed Ramadan, Sophia Stel and more.
Dionne Warwick Claims Rights Firm Stole Millions in Royalties
The singer’s lawyers describe AREC as “Aesop’s proverbial Wolf, cloaking itself in professional credibility while concealing its own self-interest”
Bad Bunny Wins Dismissal of Lawsuit Claiming Uncleared Sample on ‘Un Verano Sin Ti’ Track
A Nigerian artist claimed the superstar ripped him off, but the battle is now over after the accuser split with his lawyers and abandoned his own case.
Billboard's Music Industry Events Calendar
A complete rundown of the most important events across the music business.
Avicii’s former manager defamation lawsuit dismissed by Swedish court
Arash “Ash” Pournouri plans to file an appeal against the late DJ’s estate following the decision
Royalties Administrator // Snapper Music (London)
Snapper Music are seeking a Royalties Administrator to join their London office.
MuZiKa Records, New Música Mexicana Label, Launches With BMG Partnership
The Texas-based record label is led by industry veterans Meyber Santos, Alan E. Baxter, and Fernando Sanchez.
Travis Scott, SZA and Future Can't Dismiss ‘Telekinesis’ Copyright Lawsuit Linked to Ye Demo
A judge says the trio of hitmakers “have come nowhere near shouldering their burden” to toss the case.
Live Nation antitrust trial judge says individual US states should seek direct settlement with live music giant
The US government settled its antitrust lawsuit with Live Nation yesterday, but 27 US states, which also accuse the live giant of anticompetitive behaviour, are not part of that deal. The judge has told the states to see if they can agree their own settlement. If not, the antitrust trial will resume
Google had every opportunity to train its AI legally, but chose to do it on the cheap instead, say indie musicians in new lawsuit
Another AI copyright lawsuit, this time a group of indie artists are suing Google over its Lyria model. Like all AI companies, the lawsuit says, Google infringed copyright when training its model. But Google’s “conduct is different”, because it has the infrastructure in place to train AI legally
Dionne Warwick Sues Rights Firm For Allegedly Stealing Millions In Her Royalties
In a scathing countersuit, the famed singer says Artists Rights Enforcement quietly stole her royalties and defrauded her for decades.
Apple Music to give AI-generated music option to be labelled with new Transparency Tags
Record labels and music distributors can choose to disclose whether published music and artwork was made with artificial intelligence in the new metadata category
Calvin Harris & Kasabian's 'Release the Pressure' Tops WARM Global Dance Radio Chart
The chart, now publishing on Billboard.com, ranks the top dance tracks worldwide, based on monitored airplay across 200-plus dance stations in more than 150 countries.