In today's CMU Daily: The Beastie Boys have sued US restaurant chain Chili’s over a promotional video posted to social media that included their track ‘Sabotage’ without permission. It’s a useful reminder of two things brands need to know: social media music licences don’t cover brand content and the Beastie Boys never license music for advertising

One Liners: Deals, appointments and other news including Reservoir, IDOL, Universal Music Publishing, Downtown Music Holdings, Warner Music, Pye Records, Reigning Phoenix Music, Red Bull, Massive Attack, Full Fat + more

Also today: Most subscription websites and apps employ dark patterns, two new reports confirm; New South Wales criticised over new Anzac Day festival restrictions, as Western Australia justifies handing millions to Live Nation 

Plus: Jellyroll v Jelly Roll legal battle is quickly resolved

Ten new CMU Masterclasses launch

Yesterday we launched ten new on-demand CMU Masterclass sessions, tailored for music industry professionals, and based on our many years of experience delivering training and consultancy for a wide range of industry organisations and companies in the UK and Europe.

Developed for practitioners of all levels working within the music industry, the expert-led sessions are delivered by Chris Cooke, CMU co-founder and author of Amazon best-seller music business book ‘Dissecting The Digital Dollar’.

Use the code SUMMER2024 to buy individual sessions at a 50% discount. Buy the bundle of all ten for just £189 with the code SUMMERBUNDLE or get a Masterclass Mega Bundle - which includes these ten sessions, plus the eight masterclasses we released earlier this year - for just £349, with the coupon MEGABUNDLE. 

Each CMU Masterclass provides current and targeted insights to help you navigate the complexities of today’s music business landscape, equipping you with the knowledge you need to make informed decisions and drive success wherever you are in your career.

Want to get a taster before you commit to the full package? Buy Introduction To The Music Industry for just £9 by clicking here and using the code TASTER when you check out.

Designed to deliver up to the minute knowledge on all the different aspects of the modern music industry, our latest series of CMU Masterclasses explores how rights and revenues are managed, how deals are negotiated and structured, and how music professionals and music companies can deliver the most value to the artists, songwriters and business partners they work with.

Each masterclass is structured for efficient learning, split into short sections that allow you to learn on-demand and on your own terms, helping you focus on the areas most relevant to your role. Whether you’re refining your existing knowledge, exploring new topics or consolidating your expertise, these sessions provide the targeted knowledge you need to stay current, whatever your role.

Beastie Boys sue Chili’s over social media video

The Beastie Boys have sued the owner of the Chili’s restaurant chain in the US for copyright infringement over a promotional video posted to social media that used their track ‘Sabotage’ without permission. They also reckon that visual elements of the Chili’s promotional content infringed their trademarks because of similarities with the official video to their 1994 track. 

The Chili’s video, their lawsuit states, featured “three characters wearing obvious 70s style wigs, fake moustaches and sunglasses who were intended to evoke the three members of Beastie Boys”. Those characters were seen “robbing” ingredients from a Chili’s restaurant intercut with fictitious opening credits, “in ways obviously similar to and intended to evoke in the minds of the public the well-known official ‘Sabotage’ video”. 

The fact the group is claiming for both copyright and trademark infringement will impact on damages. They want $150,000 in statutory damages for copyright infringement, twice, once for the recording and once for the song, and additional damages for trademark infringement and false representations, on the basis that, by parodying the original ‘Sabotage’ video, Chili’s were implying the Beastie Boys were endorsing the brand. 

If the dispute gets to court, the group will likely push for maximum damages on the basis they never allow brands to use their music in advertising, and therefore had Chili's sought permission, as they should have done, that permission would have been denied. Indeed, as the new lawsuit notes, the will of late Beastie Boys member Adam Yauch included a provision stating that his music should never be licensed for brand use.

Sentric Music // Revenue Optimisation Manager (London/Liverpool)

Sentric Music // Copyright Manager (Liverpool/London)

Horizon is CMU's new weekly newsletter - published each Friday - that brings you a hand-picked selection of early-stage career opportunities from across the music industry.

Whether you're looking for your first job in music or you're ready to take a step up, Horizon is here to help you find your dream job faster.

👉 Click through to see the current selection.

ONE LINERS

Deals, Appointments, Legal + Industry news round-ups, plus tours + releases

Reservoir Media has signed a new publishing deal with producer and songwriter Aaron Zuckerman.

IDOL, the digital distributor and artist and label services company, has announced integrations with three royalty processing platforms, Curve, Details and eddy.app.

Universal Music Publishing has signed award-winning composer Jerskin Fendrix to an exclusive, global publishing agreement through its Classics & Screen division.

Downtown Music Holdings, parent of Downtown Music, CD Baby and FUGA, is exploring a potential sale, sources report. 

Warner Music Nashville has promoted Mary Catherine Rebrovick to VP, Publicity after twelve years with the label.

PYE Records, a historic UK label established in 1955, is set to make a comeback after a 44 year hiatus. Broadcaster and record producer Tony Currie has acquired the company name and trademark.

Reigning Phoenix Music has expanded into the UK, launching RPM International in London. 

Red Bull is returning to Notting Hill Carnival with Red Bull Selector, a new interactive music stage at Emslie Horniman’s Pleasance Park on Sunday 25 Aug.

AEG Presents and Monqui Presents in the US have partnered to develop a new 4250-capacity concert venue in Portland’s Lloyd District. 

Massive Attack have announced a comprehensive decarbonisation strategy for their ACT 1.5 event on Bristol Downs this August as part of a plan to significantly reduce the environmental impact of large-scale concerts.

The Night Time Industries Association has introduced a new Listen For Life Charter aimed at protecting the hearing health of staff and patrons in music venues.

AmplifyWorld, a fan engagement platform co-founded by Kasabian’s Ian Matthews, has launched a $500,000 Artist Fund.

Wireless festival has announced an early finish on Sunday to accommodate the Euro 2024 final, with headliner Doja Cat's set moved forward to end at 7pm.

Young Thug has moved for a mistrial in his racketeering case, alleging judicial bias and “constitutionally unfair” proceedings.

AI music companies Suno and Udio have hired law firm Latham & Watkins to defend against copyright lawsuits filed by Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music.

NME and Bose have unveiled their second annual C24 mixtape, featuring exclusive tracks from emerging artists. 

Virgin Radio UK has been named the official radio partner for CarFest, Latitude and Hardwick Festival. 

The annual Ladies Who Rock lunch raised nearly £50,000 for Teenage Cancer Trust.

Creative agency Full Fat has achieved B Corp certification.

The Alternative Conservatoire, a multi-disciplinary accelerator course for young music creators, has announced an open call for its new three-month programme starting 17 Jul. 

The Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences in the US has announced the second year of the Jonas Gwangwa Music Composition Initiative, a programme aimed at fostering broader representation in film music composition.

NewJeans have been named honorary ambassadors for Korean tourism in 2024 by South Korea’s culture ministry.

JPEGMAFIA has announced his ‘LAY DOWN MY LIFE’ world tour. Beginning in North America, the tour will kick off in the UK at Albert Hall in Manchester on 31 Jan and run through to a show at O2 Academy Bristol on 6 Feb. Tickets are on sale now.

Courteeners have announced an autumn UK arena tour, kicking off at Glasgow OVO Hydro on 14 Nov and concluding at Birmingham Utilita Arena on 23 Nov. Tickets went on sale today.

Orlando Weeks has announced a UK tour starting 24 Sep, including a show at London’s Islington Assembly Hall on 3 Oct. Tickets are on sale now.

Action Bronson has released his new album ‘Johann Sebastian Bachlava The Doctor’, alongside the video for track ‘Shadow Realm’.

Katy Perry has released her new single ‘Woman’s World’.

Clairo has released her new album ‘Charm’.

Griff has released her debut album ‘Vertigo’, alongside a visualiser for track ‘Tears For Fun’.

Cat Burns has released her debut album ‘early twenties’. The short film to accompany the album is out next Wednesday, you can watch the trailer here.

Remi Wolf has released her new album ‘Big Ideas’.

DJ Boring has released a ‘DJ-Kicks: DJ Boring’ mix for the DJ-Kicks series. The mix features his new single ‘N15’.

OneRepublic have released their new album ‘Artificial Paradise’.

Andrea Bocelli has released his new single ‘Da Stanotte in Poi (From This Moment On)’ featuring Shania Twain. His new album ‘Duets’ is out 25 Oct.

Larkin Poe have released their new single ‘Bluephoria’.

Alison Moyet has released a reworked version of her single ‘So Am I’. Her new album ‘Key’ is out 4 Oct.

Mustafa has released his new single ‘SNL’. His debut album ‘Dunya’ is out 27 Sep.

NLE Choppa has released his new single ‘Catalina’ featuring Yaisel LM.

Girl Ultra has released her new EP ‘blush’, alongside the video for track ‘bruce willisss’.

Majority of subscription websites and apps employ ‘dark patterns’, says two new reports

Two new studies have revealed that the majority of websites and apps that offer subscription services use ‘dark patterns’, which are design techniques that can manipulate consumers into paying more than they need to for a product, keeping a product they no longer need, or allowing a platform to harvest more data. 

The first study, by the International Consumer Protection And Enforcement Network, reviewed 642 websites and apps and found that 76% of those services employed at least one dark pattern, while 67% employed more than one. The other study, from the Global Privacy Enforcement Network, found that the majority of websites and apps employ dark patterns to encourage individuals to provide more personal information than they intended.

These studies have been published as the way Spotify presents its different subscription products is increasingly in the spotlight. In some markets Spotify now offers a 10.99 subscription that provides access to music and podcasts, and a 11.99 subscription that also includes audiobooks. Except, for new subscribers, only the 11.99 product is available. 

Audiobooks were automatically added to the main Spotify premium product last year, initially for free. Then the extra one pound a month was added to the subscription price. Existing users who have no interest in accessing audiobooks from Spotify - which is likely most existing users - now need to login to the Spotify website and find the ‘available plans’ page in order to switch to the 10.99 option.

Australian industry criticises plan to restrict festivals on Anzac Day in New South Wales 

The Australian Festivals Association this week criticised the Premier of New South Wales after he implied that new trading restrictions in the Australian state on Anzac Day each April could stop festivals from being staged on that day. Meanwhile, in Western Australia, government officials defended paying millions of dollars to Live Nation to support the live music giant’s events in the state, including two Coldplay concerts. 

NSW Premier Chris Minns confirmed this week that trading restrictions were being increased on Anzac Day, the national day of remembrance in Australia that commemorates the country’s military veterans. Previously supermarkets and other retailers in the state were not allowed to open until 1pm on that day, but under the new rules they won't be able to open at all. 

Discussing the changes, Minns said, “Anzac Day is a day for Australians to come together and if it is in a social environment, at a pub, at a club, as long as it’s part of an RSL club or a pub” that is fine. RSL is the Returned And Services League Of Australia, a support organisation for people who served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force.

He then added, “there is a distinction, and I think it’s reasonable for the government to draw this distinction, between a for-profit major rock concert that has nothing really to do with Anzac Day, that hasn’t been done in co-operation or consultation with the RSL”. 

That seemed to be the premier saying that concerts and festivals would be covered by the new trading restrictions on Anzac Day. Responding, the Australian Festivals Association said any move to stop festivals on that day would be “a complete overreach”. 

And Finally… The world is big enough for two musical Jellyrolls

How many musical Jellyrolls can the world accommodate at any one time? Well, in the context of the US trademark system, apparently at least two. Though I'm hoping it's three, given there’s also a British jazz band we need to factor in. 

But let’s start in the US. Earlier this year the Jellyroll Band - the “best wedding band in Philadelphia”, no less, according to their website - sued country singer Jelly Roll for trademark infringement. The band argued that they’d been using the name Jellyroll since 1980 and registered it as a trademark in the US in 2010. 

Therefore country singer Jelly Roll, who started releasing music in 2011, was infringing on the band’s trademark and causing “confusion in the marketplace”. When it comes to musical Jellyrolls, the Jellyroll Band were adamant, the world can accommodate just one. 

👉 Read the full story and more of this week's funniest music news