Also today: Capacity concerns after Boardmasters crowd surge; plus deals, appointments, legal round-up + more
| We've covered the music business each day since 21 Jun 2002 Today's email is edition #5278 |
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| | | In today's CMU Daily: A group of songwriters who are suing PRS have written an open letter that is scathing of the UK collecting society. The letter is the latest development in a dispute over how PRS handles withdrawal of rights when writers want to do direct licensing deals around the live performance of their songs
One Liners: Today: UMG x Meta, ROXI, The Smashing Pumpkins x Marc Jacobs capsule collection, Redlight Starwood partnership, Warner Chappell promotes David Goldsen, Anthropic vs Publishers not in court till 2026, Jay-Z formalises reversion rights for âReasonable Doubtâ, K-pop merch brands fined, artists vs Trump plus releases and tours news and more
Also today: Organisers of the Boardmasters festival revealed this weekend that seven attendees were hospitalised with minor injuries after a crowd surge incident. Although the injuries were minor, several attendees have spoken about the distress they experienced, with some also criticising festival security
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| PRS âno longer operating in the best interestsâ of songwriter members says open letter in direct licensing dispute | | The songwriters who are suing PRS in a dispute over how the UK collecting society deals with members directly licensing live performances have published an open letter, accusing the society of failing to acknowledge that âtheir own writer members are suing the organisationâ because they feel it no longer operates in their best interests.
The letter is signed by writers like King Crimson founder Robert Fripp and two members of the Jesus & Mary Chain, as well as Pace Rights Management, the agency they work with when direct licensing their songs.
The recent lawsuit - which involves Pace as well as the writers - claimed that PRS has put in place âunreasonable and unnecessary hurdlesâ to make it more difficult for writers to go the direct licensing route. Those hurdles, it added, were designed to âprevent writers from direct licensing their rightsâ. PRS has issued a statement strongly denying those claims.
The open letter is lengthy and breaks down PRSâs statement clause by clause. Among other things, it disputes claims by PRS that its policies around the licensing of live music have been subject to a âthorough and extensive approval and review processâ, and that it has âconsistently sought constructive dialogueâ with Pace Rights Management.
The letter also repeatedly criticises PRS over the lack of transparency around its policies and the fees charged by foreign societies which represent its membersâ rights in other countries.
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| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 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.
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| | Deals Universal Music Group and Meta have announced an expanded global licensing agreement which will include WhatsApp for the first time. Music streaming company ROXi is racing to secure new funding, appointing âthe UKâs leading corporate rescue and recovery practiceâ Begbies Traynor to assist in raising capital amidst an apparent financial squeeze. The Smashing Pumpkins have been featured in a new capsule collection by Heaven by Marc Jacobs. Red Light UK and Starwood have formed a new management partnership, bringing Starwood's clients including Michael Kiwanuka, Wasia Project and Stone under Red Light's umbrella. Appointments Warner Chappell Music has promoted David Goldsen to Senior Vice President, North America A&R. Legal Anthropic's copyright battle with music publishers won't see a courtroom until 2026 according to a joint case management statement. Kanye West has claimed that Atlantic Records is threatening to remove his and Ty Dolla $ign's âVulturesâ albums from streaming services due to a revenue dispute. Jay-Z has filed a legal notice to reclaim ownership of the master recordings for his 1996 debut album âReasonable Doubtâ in 2031, exercising his termination rights under Section 203 of the US Copyright Act. The Korea Fair Trade Commission has fined four major K-pop agencies' online stores for violating consumer rights under the e-Commerce Act. The estate of Isaac Hayes has threatened legal action against Donald Trump's campaign for unauthorised use of the song âHold On, I'm Comingâ at rallies. 50 Cent has secured a legal victory as a New York judge dismissed a $4 million wiretapping lawsuit filed against him by former liquor consultant Michael Caruso. The Young Thug trial has resumed after a nearly two month break, after the recent threat of a mistrial relating to potential issues with key witness testimony was resolved. The trial is now the longest in Georgia history. Which may explain why Young Thug was recently spotted seemingly taking a brief nap during court. Universal Music has issued a copyright strike against Drake after the rapper shared unreleased music on social media. Live Yungblud's inaugural Bludfest festival at Milton Keynes' National Bowl this weekend has faced a backlash over safety and logistical issues relating to entry and crowd control. AAJA has announced the line-up for its second annual Creekside Festival, set to take place on 7 Sep across multiple venues in Deptford, London. Pikes Ibiza has implemented a no-phones policy on its dancefloor for all events, expanding on a trial run for Monday nights that began in April. Other industry news & events Applications have opened for BPI's Grow Music programme, alongside applications for the programme's five-week Angel Investing School, Artist News Nine Inch Nails have been confirmed to score the upcoming film âTron: Aresâ, the third installment in the sci-fi franchise. Celine Dion's management has issued a rebuke to Donald Trump's campaign for playing âMy Heart Will Go Onâ without permission at a Montana rally. Clean Bandit, the British electronic music trio, has suffered a âŹ40,000 theft of equipment and cash in Ibiza. London-based experimental rock band Black Midi has split up⊠or maybe they havenât. Rizzle Kicks, the British hip-hop duo composed of Jordan Stephens and Harley Alexander-Sule, have hinted at a reunion after an eight-year hiatus from releasing music together. Releases & Tours Karen Nyame KG has released her new single 'Rhythm Vol 1â. TORRES and Fruit Bats have collaborated on new EP 'A Decoration'. Innellea has released his new single âI Won't Goâ, featuring Alphadog. Gooseberry have released their new single âBaby Do You?â. Their new album âAll My Friends Are Cattleâ is out 6 Sep. Quivers have released their debut album âOyster Cutsâ. Nate Mercereau has released his new single âSound Within Soundâ. His new album âExcellent Travelerâ is out 11 Oct. Quavo and Lenny Kravitz have collaborated on new single âFLYâ. Lewis Capaldi has released his new single âLove The Hell Out Of Youâ, which features as the lead track for new film âIt Ends With Usâ. Lil Tecca has released his new single âTASTEâ. AP Dhillon has released his new single âOLD MONEYâ, in collaboration with Salman Khan, Sanjay Dutt and Shinda Kahlon. Logic has released his new album âUltra 85â. Tom Waits has released a new rendition of track ââGet Behind The Mule" (Spiritual)â. Daughtry have released their new single âTHE RECKONINGâ. Their new album âShock to the System (Part One)â is out 27 Sep. Marvel have released two remixes of Madonnaâs âLike A Prayerâ featured in new film âDeadpool & Wolverineâ - the Battle Royale Mix and the Choir Version. | | đ Read today's One Liners in full | | | As Sammy Virji set cancelled after crowd surge, some festival-goers criticise Boardmasters capacity increase | | Seven people were taken to hospital following a crowd surge at this weekendâs Boardmasters festival in Newquay, although organisers and local police were keen to stress that those impacted only incurred minor injuries.
Nevertheless, some festival-goers told reporters that they witnessed âcarnageâ, experienced considerable pain when injured during the incident, and subsequently left the event because of the distress they had experienced. All of which has led some ticket-buyers to question the decision of organisers to increase the festivalâs capacity this year.
The crowd surge occurred on Friday evening ahead of a set by DJ Sammy Virji, which was cancelled in response to the incident. In a statement, the local police force confirmed it had been notified about what it dubbed a âcrowd collapseâ at the festival which had âleft a small number of attendees injuredâ.
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