Best Complete Music Update (CMU Podcasts (2026)

1
AI lawsuit warns of “devastating impacts” on human creativity 25:15

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1+ y ago25:15

25:15

On this week’s show, we discuss the launch of the record industry’s first major lawsuits against music-generating AI companies - with the RIAA coordinating litigation against Suno and Udio - plus a group of songwriters are suing PRS. SECTION TIMES 01: Labels v Suno + Udio (00:04:30) 02: News in brief (00:15:20) 03: Songwriters v PRS (00:18:05) (Tim…

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Spotify referred to FTC over “unlawful conduct” 26:38

1+ y ago26:38

26:38

On this week’s show, we discuss the latest escalation in the fight over Spotify’s reclassification of its premium subscription as an audiobook and music bundle in the US, the lawsuit against Drake for putting one of his own song titles on a t-shirt, and the return of the band formerly known as Easy Life, who have nothing to do with easyJet. SECTION…

1
It’s been a bad week to be Live Nation 34:04

1+ y ago34:04

34:04

On this week's show we discuss the US government’s legal action against Live Nation that seeks to force it to sell off Ticketmaster, ticket touts’ plans to fight the Labour Party’s proposed 10% price cap on the resale of tickets, and more. SECTION TIMES 01: Live Nation (00:06:40) 02: News in brief (00:23:07) 03: Ticket resale lobbying (00:26:52) (T…

1
“Spotify is not a business partner”, says NMPA boss 29:52

1+ y ago29:52

29:52

On this week's show we discuss the battle between the music publishers and Spotify as it ramps up another gear, Sony Music's lawsuit accusing the Marriott hotel chain of “rampant” copyright infringement, and more. SECTION TIMES 01: Spotify (00:04:39) 02: News in brief (00:22:15) 03: Sony Music (00:25:13) (Timings may be slightly different due to ad…

1
Music publishers go to war with Spotify 24:19

1+ y ago24:19

24:19

On this week's show we discuss the battle between music publishers and Spotify over its plans to reclassify its subscriptions as bundles of music, audiobooks and podcasts, and commercial media companies hit out at the BBC’s plan to sell advertising on its podcasts. SECTION TIMES 01: Spotify (00:03:48) 02: News in brief (00:15:20) 03: BBC (00:17:48)…

1
Arena ticket levy by September, MPs demand 26:56

1+ y ago26:56

26:56

On this week's show we discuss the UK Parliament’s Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee recommending that a levy on ticket sales for large scale shows be implemented by September and that the government should instigate a VAT cut for grassroots music venues, plus the concerns surrounding the launch of a new SXSW festival in London. SECTION TIMES…

1
Calls for urgent new AI laws in UK and US 31:40

1+ y ago31:40

31:40

On this week's show we discuss the calls on both sides of the Atlantic for new AI laws to protect creators, the big love-in between Universal and TikTok as they finally resolve their differences, and more. SECTION TIMES 01: AI laws (00:07:00) 02: News in brief (00:20:29) 03: Universal x TikTok (00:23:20) (Timings may be slightly different due to ad…

1
Hipgnosis v Hipgnosis - the saga continues… 29:55

1+ y ago29:55

29:55

On this week's show we discuss the bidding war compounding the latest in a long line of dramas at Hipgnosis, the faltering start for Manchester’s new Co-op Live arena and more. SECTION TIMES 01: Hipgnosis (00:04:59) 02: News in brief (00:18:48) 03: Co-op Live (00:12:15) (Timings may be slightly different due to adverts) THIS WEEK'S MAIN STORIES • H…

1
MPs want to see action on musicians’ income 25:35

1+ y ago25:35

25:35

On this week's show we discuss the warning from UK politicians that there need to be “tangible steps to improve musicians’ remuneration and performer rights” by this time next year, and Blur drummer Dave Rowntree’s class action lawsuit against PRS For Music over songwriter royalties, and more. SECTION TIMES 01: Performer remuneration report (00:05:…

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Make big shows fund grassroots music, politicians told 27:26

2y ago27:26

27:26

On this week's show we discuss UK Parliament's Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee's hearing on the grassroots live music crisis, and the Nirvana logo legal battle's return to court. SECTION TIMES 01: Grassroots live music crisis (00:08:13) 02: News in brief (00:17:09) 03: Nirvana logo (00:21:43) (Timings may be slightly different due to advert…

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Is Manchester's nightlife at risk? 26:30

2y ago26:30

26:30

On this week's show we discuss the ruling in the long-running noise dispute involving Manchester's Night & Day that allows the venue to continue running club nights but potentially puts other nearby venues at risk, plus the BPI’s legal threats against a service that uses AI to create cover versions of songs in seconds. SECTION TIMES 01: Night & Day…

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US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned 23:33

2y ago23:33

23:33

On this week's show we discuss proposals voted through the US House of Representatives this week to force TikTok owner ByteDance to sell the video-sharing app or face a ban in country, and the UK Labour Party's pledge to introduce a cap on ticket resale prices if it wins the next election. SECTION TIMES 01: TikTok ban (00:03:20) 02: News in brief (…

1
Apple blames Spotify for €1.8 billion fine 33:03

2y ago33:03

33:03

On this week's show we discuss the €1.8 billion fine Apple has been ordered to pay by the EU following an investigation into claims of anti-competitive behaviour made by Spotify, and Live Nation's explanation of why everyone else in the music industry is to blame for rising ticket prices. SECTION TIMES 01: Apple v Spotify (00:06:26) 02: News in bri…

1
UK music revenues are back to their CD peak (sort of) 26:27

2y ago26:27

26:27

On this week's show we discuss the news that UK music retail revenues are back to where they were at the peak of the CD era in 2001. So long as you imagine that no time has passed in between. Plus, the brewing legal battle of Kanye West’s “shameless” interpolation of a Donna Summer track. SECTION TIMES 01: UK music revenues (00:06:47) 02: News in b…

1
The music business in 2024 40:44

2y ago40:44

40:44

In this special edition of Setlist, Andy Malt and Chris Cooke dive into topics covered in CMU's latest series of masterclasses, which look at the music business in 2024. We talk through key trends in streaming, copyright, AI and more. SECTION TIMES 01: The music business in 2024 (00:04:58) 02: Music streaming in 2024 (00:12:51) 03: News in brief (0…

1
When arts funding and politics collide 23:11

2y ago23:11

23:11

On this week's show we discuss questions and potential legal action over the politicisation of arts funding, as Kneecap are denied money by the British government and Arts Council England issues new guidance for anyone thinking of being controversial, plus the legal battle over royalties currently brewing between MLC and Pandora, and more. SECTION …

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AI developments cause celebration and concern 26:31

2y ago26:31

26:31

On this week's show we discuss new developments on AI in the EU and UK that have given the music industry cause for both celebration and concern, and the commercial radio industry's anger as BBC Radio looks to give music fans more choice. SECTION TIMES 01: AI regulation (00:05:24) 02: News in brief (00:15:52) 03: BBC Radio (00:19:11) (Timings may b…

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Universal and TikTok accuse each other of “bullying” and “greed” 23:12

2y ago23:12

23:12

On this week's show we discuss Universal and TikTok’s big bust up that has seen the major label’s music removed from the social network, the damning report on the “boys’ club” music industry and how it holds women back, and more. SECTION TIMES 01: UMG v TikTok (00:02:49) 02: News in brief (00:13:57) 03: Misogyny In Music report (00:17:20) (Timings …

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Apple Music’s “spatial audio bonus” favours major labels 18:51

2y ago18:51

18:51

On this week's show we discuss how Apple Music's "spatial audio bonus" will benefit major labels to the detriment of independent labels and creators, the report finding that on average two grassroots music venues per week closed down in the UK in 2023, and more. SECTION TIMES 01: Apple Music (00:04:23) 02: News in brief (00:11:43) 03: Music Venue T…

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The new certification for “respectful” AI companies 22:55

2y ago22:55

22:55

On this week's show we discuss the new certification for "respectful" generative AI companies that get permission before training their models on copyrighted content, redundancies at Pitchfork as its team is merged with men's magazine GQ, and more. SECTION TIMES 01: AI certification (00:05:15) 02: News in brief (00:15:16) 03: Pitchfork (00:18:29) (…

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Major label bosses put the spotlight on superfans 30:29

2y ago30:29

30:29

On this week's show we discuss the start-of-year memos from the bosses of Universal Music and Warner Music, both of whom put the spotlight in super-serving superfans, plus the ASA ruling against Viagogo's advertorial pieces in the NME, and lots of stats about the music market in 2023. SECTION TIMES 01: New year memos (00:04:45) 02: News in brief (0…

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Spotify’s about-turn on threats to quit Uruguay 23:19

2y ago23:19

23:19

On this week's show we discuss Spotify’s change of heart on shutting down in Uruguay, the latest easyJet lawsuit against a musician - this time PC Music-signed producer Easyfun - and more. SECTION TIMES 01: Spotify (00:04:45) 02: News in brief (00:13:37) 03: Easyfun (00:18:29) (Timings may be slightly different due to adverts) THIS WEEK'S MAIN STOR…

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Grassroots venues need ticket levy to survive 20:33

2y ago20:33

20:33

On this week's show we look at calls for government support for the grassroots live music industry following the closure of music venue Moles and the announcement that the Nozstock festival will shut down after its 2024 edition, plus the next evolution of Kiss as superhero holograms. SECTION TIMES 01: Grassroots live music (00:03:13) 02: News in br…

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Sony Music tells US politicians to act on AI loopholes 24:54

2y ago24:54

24:54

On this week's show we have a good old chat about Sony Music exec Dennis Kooker's call for a US-wide publicity right through which artists can protect their voices and identity in order to stop the unauthorised cloning of their vocals by AI, plus the big bust up between Hall & Oates over “the ultimate partnership betrayal” and more. SECTION TIMES 0…

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Spotify insists royalty changes will help emerging artists 25:44

2y ago25:44

25:44

On this week's show we've got a big round-up of Spotify news, in particular the company's confirmation of changes to the way it pays out (or doesn't pay out) royalties. We also discuss plans for an MSG Sphere venue like the one recently opened in Las Vegas being bounced out of London. Oh, and we've spruced up the format of the show a little, includ…

1
Stability AI exec resigns over fair use claim 24:40

2y ago24:40

24:40

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, the resignation of Stability AI's VP Of Audio Ed Newton-Rex over the tech company's position that the training of generative AI models constitutes fair use under American copyright law, and YouTube’s plans to get AI generated clone…

1
Competition law concerns over Spotify’s royalty plans 26:09

2y ago26:09

26:09

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, competition law expert (as well as musician and label owner) Amelia Fletcher's letter to Spotify boss Daniel Ek about the streaming service's plan for a two-tier royalty system, and the rickrolling takedown battle between two strea…

1
Tech companies say fair use trumps copyright in AI 22:23

2y ago22:23

22:23

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, big tech companies' insistence that training AI on existing content constitutes fair use under US copyright law, and the Grammy Awards' insistence that Christians do not swear. SECTION TIMES 01: AI fair use (00:03:55) 02: Grammy Aw…

1
Spotify plots changes to the way it pays out royalties 28:08

2y ago28:08

28:08

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, Spotify's plans to change the way it allocates revenues to individual tracks and catalogues each month, and the confirmation that digital is now the biggest driver of revenue for the song rights collecting societies. SECTION TIMES …

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Managers criticise Universal's Pandora royalty switch 30:26

2y ago30:26

30:26

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, artist managers criticise Universal Music over a change it made to the way it pays Pandora royalties to artists, and new Bandcamp owner Songtradr making 50% of the direct-to-fan platform's staff redundant. PLEASE NOTE: This episode…

1
Easy Life agree to change their name for an easyLife 29:27

2y ago29:27

29:27

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, British band Easy Life agree to change their name following legal action from owner of the easyJet airline easyGroup, and Coldplay’s ongoing legal battle with their former manager Dave Holmes. SECTION TIMES 01: Easy Life (00:05:32)…

1
Musicians and songwriters draw AI red lines 26:54

2+ y ago26:54

26:54

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this edition, the call for "consent, respect and remuneration" to be central to the development of music AI platforms and tools, and the RIAA’s latest stats on US recorded music revenues. SECTION TIMES 01: AI red lines (00:03:18) 02: RIAA (00:20…

1
The call for a UK ticket touting ban 22:21

2+ y ago22:21

22:21

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including a call from the FanFair Alliance campaign group against ticket touting for the introduction of legislation to ban the for-profit resale of tickets in the UK, and criticism of Deezer’s new proposals for ‘artist-centric’ royalty payments. S…

1
Is Deezer’s new streaming model really artist-centric? 31:57

2+ y ago31:57

31:57

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Deezer’s announcement that it is making changes to the way it allocates revenues to tracks later this year, and claims that organised criminals are using streaming services to launder money. SECTION TIMES 01: Deezer (00:04:22) 02: Streami…

1
The looming decision on Brixton Academy’s future 24:42

2+ y ago24:42

24:42

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the newly announced licensing hearing to decide the future of London’s Brixton Academy venue nine months after it was closed down when two people were killed in a crowd crush incident, plus Eminem’s battle with US presidential hopeful Viv…

1
YouTube’s three principles for music and AI 24:27

2+ y ago24:27

24:27

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including YouTube’s three new AI music principles published alongside the launch of a new YouTube Music AI Incubator, plus questions from various songwriter groups to the boss of American collecting society BMI about the organisation’s decision las…

1
Were the 1975 right to speak out in Malaysia? 35:26

2+ y ago35:26

35:26

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the debate surrounding comments made by The 1975’s frontman Matty Healy on stage in Malaysia regarding the country’s anti-LGBTQ+ laws, and the latest developments in the battle over who will run the Leadmill music venue in Sheffield. SECT…

1
The questions raised by TikTok's Warner deal 29:06

2+ y ago29:06

29:06

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including TikTok and Warner Music’s “first-of-its-kind partnership” – a licensing agreement that involves both the Warner Music record company and music publishing business Warner Chappell and covers various platforms run by TikTok owner Bytedance …

1
FAC steps up its campaign against music venue merch commissions 29:24

2+ y ago29:24

29:24

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the stepping up of the Featured Artists Coalition’s 100% Venues campaign, which encourages music venues to allow artists to sell merchandise at their shows without being charged any commission on sales, and the new legal challenge to the …

1
The music industry finally sues Twitter 35:16

2+ y ago35:16

35:16

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Twitter being sued by a consortium of music publishers for hosting “countless” videos that contain unlicensed music, and the alliance of music distributors that has come together with Spotify and Amazon Music to form Music Fights Fraud, a…

1
Just how eco-friendly is Coldplay's world tour? 27:27

2+ y ago27:27

27:27

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Coldplay’s update on their work to reduce the environmental impact of their live shows during the first year of their Music Of The Spheres Tour, and the unveiling of Apple’s Vision Pro headset and what it might mean for the music industry…

1
How a 1980s Prince photo impacts on AI 36:32

2+ y ago36:32

36:32

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the US Supreme Court ruling on a long-running copyright dispute between the Andy Warhol Foundation and the photographer Lynn Goldsmith, and Universal getting into bed with AI music company Endel. SECTION TIMES 01: Prince (00:06:30) 02: AI…

1
Fans and bands rally to save London’s Brixton Academy 26:58

2+ y ago26:58

26:58

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including news that more than 20,000 people have made representations to Lambeth Council in support of the Brixton Academy as the local authority considers a request by London’s Metropolitan Police to revoke the licence of current operators Academy…

1
Ed Sheeran wins another song-theft legal battle 33:44

2+ y ago33:44

33:44

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Ed Sheeran’s victory in another high-profile headline-grabbing song-theft legal battle – this time over whether or not he ripped off Marvin Gaye’s ‘Let’s Get It On’ when he wrote his 2014 song ‘Thinking Out Loud’ – plus two sets of propos…

1
Universal hits out at AI generated music 39:05

2+ y ago39:05

39:05

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Universal Music latest call for streaming platforms to play their part in ensuring that generative AI tools are not infringing the copyrights of the music industry, plus the news that cassette sales are booming and driving chart success i…

1
Live at Wide Days 2023 54:27

2+ y ago54:27

54:27

A special edition of the show recorded live at Wide Days in Edinburgh. CMU’s Chris Cooke is joined on stage by Clara Cullen from Music Venue Trust, Toni Malyn from EmuBands and Silvia Montello from AIM. As Setlist returns after a short break, our guests dissect three topics that have been big talking points within the music industry in recent month…

1
Hybe defends buying into K-pop rival SM Entertainment 30:40

3y ago30:40

30:40

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Hybe CEO Park Ji-won’s defence of his company’s recent acquisition of shares in rival SM Entertainment after its management hit out at the deal, plus concerns raised by two more US senators about TikTok and its Chinese parent company Byte…

1
Scottish festival boss hits out at proposed alcohol sponsorship ban 29:51

3y ago29:51

29:51

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the boss of Scottish live music firm DF Concerts' proclamation that any ban on alcohol brands sponsoring shows and festivals would be “nothing short of disastrous for Scotland’s live music industry”, plus the Australian record industry’s …

1
Live Nation faces tough questions in US Congress 38:35

3y ago38:35

38:35

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Live Nation and Ticketmaster coming under fire from both sides of the political spectrum, as the US Senate Judiciary Committee staged a session looking at ticketing following the problems that occurred last year when tickets for Taylor Sw…

1
Music industry hits out at BBC Introducing cuts 32:22

3y ago32:22

32:22

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the campaign against proposed cuts to BBC Music Introducing, which gained momentum last week after a plethora of music industry organisations published an open letter to the board of the BBC seeking reassurance that the service does not b…