News Microsoft’s $69bn takeover of Activision Blizzard blocked by UK regulator over cloud gaming concerns The UK’s antitrust regulator has blocked Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard
News Sony Music Entertainment UK relaunches Epic Records in the UK, led by Sarah Lockhart Epic Records UK will operate alongside other Sony Music labels in the UK including RCA, Columbia, and Ministry of Sound
Analysis News Universal generated $2.6bn in Q1, as subscription streaming revenues jumped over 10% YoY Top sellers for the quarter included releases from King & Prince, Morgan Wallen and Taylor Swift
News TuneCore and Beatport strike partnership to extend self-releasing artists’ reach to DJs, dance music producers Tunecore artists using Unlimited distribution plans will be able to send their music to the Beatport platform for an add-on fee of $7.99 a month
News Ed Sheeran fights accusations of copying Marvin Gaye song in NY court: ‘If I’d done what you’re accusing me of doing, I’d be quite an idiot.’ Sheeran defended himself in court on Tuesday (April 26)
Analysis The music industry freaked out over ‘fake Drake’. But are these AI tracks just the latest take on remixing? Jessica Powell, CEO of stem music company Audioshake, offers a different perspective on the music biz story of the moment
News Peter Gabriel and Chris Stapleton weigh in on debate around the use of generative AI in music Two prominent artists chime in on the controversy around AI-generated music
News The Gap Band heirs drop lawsuit against BMG over ‘Uptown Funk’ royalties The case was dismissed "without prejudice" in Manhattan Federal court on April 18
News Reservoir forms JV with American Idol producer, 19 Entertainment to sign publishing deals with contestants Companies to sign publishing deals with contestants featured on the longstanding series
News Tricia Arnold promoted to EVP, Global Artist/Label Services and Sales at The Orchard Exec has served as The Orchard’s SVP, Global Label Management and Sales since 2019
Analysis Bill Ackman thinks there’s a lot of growth ahead for Universal Music Group. These analysts agree. Ahead of Universal's Q1 results tomorrow, a number of Wall Street watchers are reiterating their faith in music's biggest company
Analysis News Spotify confirms it’s working with labels to quell copyright threat from AI music Spotify is taking concerns about the impact of AI-generated music on entertainment rightsholders seriously, says Daniel Ek
Analysis Deezer is ‘supportive’ of helping labels battle deluge of AI music… while also making its own AI music for its ‘Zen by Deezer’ app Jeronimo Folgueira, CEO of France-based Deezer, discusses the music industry's biggest hot topic on call with analysts
News 50% of vinyl buyers in the US don’t own a record player, data shows Luminate survey reveals surprising stat about what happens to format after it's purchased in world's biggest music market
News Apple wins antitrust court battle against Fortnite maker Epic Games over app store policies The US Court of Appeals sided with Apple in the case
News Italy’s competition watchdog orders Meta to resume negotiations with collecting society SIAE Italy’s competition watchdog has taken interim measures against Facebook Meta over a dispute with songwriter licensing body SIAE
News UK-listed Round Hill Music Royalty Fund posts 32% YOY revenue jump to $32.4m in 2022 Fund has invested in over 120,000 songs across 51 catalogs
News Warner Music UK Announces Joint Venture with Gilles Peterson’s Brownswood Recordings The first release under the new partnership will be Yussef Dayes’ debut album Black Classical Music