Chris Cooke

CISAC has published a new report looking at the impact generative AI will have on music creators’ earnings. It estimates that 24% of those earnings could be at risk, resulting in annual losses of €4 billion by 2028, while the value of AI-generated music will surge to €16 billion a year

It's the TW Backstage Round-Up – once a month we select and summarise three key developments in the culture business… STEREOPHONIC COPYRIGHT CASE SETTLED

DNS resolver Quad9 has been hit with a web-blocking injunction in France, forcing it to block access to sports piracy sites following legal action by Canal+. However, Quad9 previously successfully appealed web-blocks requested by Sony Music in Germany and says it intends to do the same in France

Universal Music and marketing agency group WPP have announced a big old partnership that will see them working together on “cutting-edge audience engagement strategies” for brand clients, using data, technology and “the power of music” along the way

A Californian court has declined to dismiss a sexual assault lawsuit filed against Garth Brooks. He has also sued his accuser through the courts in Mississippi and says she should make her allegations in a counterclaim to that lawsuit. She argued that that amounted to unfair “forum shopping”

A truly outstanding-mid 2024 release, The Haas Company's Galactic Tide Vol. 1 is a recording that immediately grabs the listener's attention. Drummer and bandleader Steve Haas has brought together an outstanding studio band to explore the frontiers of jazz rock. He features noted rock & pop guitarist Andy Timmons in a date which is high octane to be sure. It starts with the explosive "Leather Pajamas" which leaves the listener amazed. Other disc highlights include "Stockholm Syndrome" which features the late trumpeter Wallace Roney.

Universal is buying Downtown Music for a whopping $775 million, via its Virgin Music Group stalking horse. The transaction will greatly boost the major’s distribution market share, and is almost certain to get mired in regulatory scrutiny with opposition already being voiced by AIM and other indies

The current operator of The Leadmill in Sheffield says he will gut the venue, including demolishing its toilets, if forced to leave by landlord Electric Group, which wants to run the venue itself. Electric Group’s legal bid to evict current operator Phil Mills is back in court in Leeds this week

Jay-Z has again hit out at the attorney leading on a lawsuit that accuses the rapper of rape, saying an interview by his accuser shows the litigation “has no factual basis”. Meanwhile Diddy, co-defendant on that lawsuit, has given up trying to get bail as he awaits trial on criminal charges

TikTok has turned to both the US Supreme Court and Donald Trump as it seeks to stop a ban that is due to come into effect in the US on 19 Jan. Meanwhile the EU is investigating if TikTok did enough to stop its platform being used to spread disinformation in the recent Romanian elections