The pan-European trade group for the independent music community, IMPALA, has urged European countries seeking to address concerns around fair remuneration in the digital music sector to follow the French approach, not the Belgian approach. In France a voluntary agreement has been reached within the industry setting a number of new standards, whereas in Belgium a new performer equitable remuneration right has been added into copyright law.
Category: news
Domino comments on Four Tet settlement, insists no precedent set
Domino Records has issued a statement following the news earlier this week that it had reached a settlement with Four Tet ending an on going legal battle over digital royalties. The label was keen to stress that it had made various previous efforts to settle the dispute, while also adding that – because the matter was settled out of court – no precedent has been set regarding how old record deals should be interpreted when it comes to sharing streaming money.
Domino Records settles Four Tet dispute, commits to pay 50% royalty on digital
Domino Records has settled its legal battle with Four Tet over what royalty rate he should be paid on streams. The label has agreed to pay a 50% royalty, which is what the musician argued he was due under his 2001 record deal. It had previously been paying him 18% of any streaming income generated by his Domino released records.
Ed Sheeran awarded £900,000+ costs following win in Shape Of You song-theft case
Ed Sheeran and his ‘Shape Of You’ co-writers have been awarded more than £900,000 in legal costs following their win in the headline-grabbing song-theft case in the London high court in relation to that work.
Four Tet wins royalty battle over streaming music
Pioneering electronic artist Four Tet has reached a settlement in the legal battle against his former record label.
The musician, whose real name is Kieran Hebden, sued Domino Records last year over the royalties he gets paid when his music is downloaded or streamed.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61871547
Jimi Hendrix Experience dispute should happen in New York, says Sony
Sony Music last week told the high court in London that a dispute over the rights in the Jimi Hendrix Experience recordings should be heard in the New York courts, because the legal battle centres on agreements signed in the 1970s in the US. And a separate lawsuit in relation to this dispute has already been filed with the courts in New York.
Warner Music sued again over international deductions
Two members of American rock band Orleans have sued Warner Music over a common gripe in the artist community: record companies allowing their foreign subsidiaries to make deductions on digital income and then calculating the artist royalty based on what is received by the label in the artist’s home country after those deductions.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/warner-music-sued-again-over-international-deductions/
Belgium introduces ER right on streams
Belgium’s Parliament yesterday updated the country’s copyright laws to bring them in line with the 2019 European Copyright Directive and in doing so added a performer equitable remuneration right for streaming. It means that performers in the country will receive at least some of their streaming royalties directly from the services, most likely via the collective licensing system.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/belgium-introduces-er-right-on-streams/
Cost of living: Music subscriptions cancelled to save money
Over one million music streaming subscriptions have been cancelled in the UK, with the cost of living crisis forcing households to make savings.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-61825677
Long walk to copyright reform #4: South Africa’s Parliamentary Committee approves a revised Copyright Amendment Bill
Some progress has been made on the legislative front in terms of South Africa’s journey to amend its copyright statute. On Friday last week (10 June 2022), South Africa’s Portfolio Committee on Trade and Industry adopted its report on the Copyright Amendment Bill (CAB) and the Performers’ Protection Amendment Bill and approved both bills for second reading. This opens the way for the next step in the reform process…
Read More: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2022/06/long-walk-to-copyright-reform-4-south.html
Ten things to know about NFTs
Recently, I spoke in the PRS London Members’ Day panel about NFTs, alongside Cliff Fluet (Lewis Silkin) and Mike Walsh (Serenade). There has obviously been a considerable amount of excitement around non-fungible tokens (NFTs) over the last few years and some interesting developments in the last few months. Here is a roundup of the key things to know and keep an eye on.
Read More: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2022/06/ten-things-to-know-about-nfts.html
As David Zaslav Reshapes Warner Bros., Are His New Film Execs on the Same Page?
Michael De Luca and Pam Abdy built their reputations with a relationship-driven, filmmaker-friendly approach — but that style might be at odds with the imperative to save money.
WME Fraud Lawsuit From ‘La La Land’ Composer Gets 2023 Jury Trial Date – Update
A Los Angeles Superior Court judge this morning set May 8, 2023 as the date the court battle between Justin Hurwitz and the Endeavor-owned talent agency and the now divested Endeavor Content. The almost certain to be juicy jury trial in DTLA will be overseen by Judge Barbara Scheper.
John Wells Says Industry “Will Have To Return To More Shared Rights Agreements” In Response To Jeff Sagansky’s Speech About Vanishing Backend – HRTS
It became the speech heard around Hollywood — Jeff Sagansky’s blistering comments last week about the adverse impact the proliferation of the streaming-driven “cost plus” business model has had on profit participation struck a chord in the industry. A week after Deadline wrote about the media investor and producer’s speech at a NATPE event, the discussion over the issue continues, with agencies and unions mulling ways to step in and help the creative talent they represent.
New board and Chair for global collecting society grouping SCAPR
SCAPR – the global organisation for performer collecting societies – has a new board following an election at its General Assembly in Rome last week.
Mariah Carey sued for copyright over ‘All I want for Christmas is You’
Singer Mariah Carey is being sued for copyright infringement over her 1994 Christmas mega-hit, All I Want for Christmas is You.
Songwriter Andy Stone says he co-wrote a song with the same name five years earlier, arguing that Ms Carey exploited his “popularity” and “style”.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61688826
After Michael Jordan: a new typical case on what is the right of likeness under the Civil Code of China
On the topic of unauthorized use of a celebrity’s image, readers might recall the IPKat post covering the high-profile Michael Jordan case in China in 2017. Regarding the monochrome red-coloured silhouette of, let’s say, an unspecified person, this Kat commented as follows:
Read More: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2022/06/after-michael-jordan-new-typical-case.html
Robbie Williams: Fame ‘intoxicating but isolating’
Singer Robbie Williams has said fame “should come with a health warning” as he gears up for a homecoming gig.
The star, who has had a string of hits since joining Take That at 16 years old in 1990, returns to his native Stoke-on-Trent later for the one-off concert.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-61683092
Animation Guild Organizer Outlines Renewed Push to Build Labor Power
Organizer Ben Speight discusses bringing production workers back into IATSE Local 839, expanding its jurisdiction beyond L.A. County for the first time and how workers today are showing they “are not the animation workers of the recent past.”
How Hollywood May Be Sabotaging Profits With New Push to Pay Talent Upfront | Charts
Studios and streamers believe they’re saving money in the long run, but they could actually be hurting quality and the bottom line
Read More: https://www.thewrap.com/hollywood-talent-compensation-streamers-analysis/
Hong Kong – Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2022 Gazetted
Readers may recall that the Government of Hong Kong launched a 3-month consultation on updating Hong Kong’s copyright regime on 24 November 2021.
Following this consultation, the Government reported that the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2022 was gazetted on 27 May 2022 (last Friday). A copy of the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2022 (“the Bill”) can be found here. As expected, the Bill covers the following five key areas covered in the amendment bill 2014:-
Read More: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2022/06/hong-kong-copyright-amendment-bill-2022.html
Live Concerts Are Back, But Small Venues Face Longer Road to Recovery
While ticketing giants offer bullish forecasts for the return of concertgoers this year, indie operators who have relied on federal grants to stay afloat amid COVID-19 are more measured: “There’s so much more to do, and the pain is very real.”
Behind Netflix’s Leaner Movie Mandate: Bigger, Fewer and Better
The Scott Stuber-run division is adjusting to a new set of realities as it readies a $200 million-plus ‘The Gray Man’ from the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ helmers and a pricey set of ‘Knives Out’ sequels.
Behind Netflix’s Leaner Movie Mandate: Bigger, Fewer and Better
The Scott Stuber-run division is adjusting to a new set of realities as it readies a $200 million-plus ‘The Gray Man’ from the ‘Avengers: Endgame’ helmers and a pricey set of ‘Knives Out’ sequels.
Jeff Sagansky Slams Streaming-Driven TV Business Model: “We Are In A Golden Age Of Content Production And The Dark Age Of Creative Profit Sharing”
Jeff Sagansky, a media investor and producer and former top entertainment executive, is sounding the alarm on the adverse impact the now prevalent “cost plus” business model has had on profit participation. The setup, originally introduced by Netflix and subsequently adopted by most major streamers and TV studios, reverses a decades-long practice of above-the-line talent on hit series being handsomely rewarded with a cut of the profits that continues to generate income for decades after the show’s creation.
Austrian Supreme Court finds YouTube not responsible for copyright infringements by users
The Austrian Supreme Court held that YouTube – as a host service provider – was not responsible for copyright infringements by its users as long as it was not put on notice of the infringements (17. 9. 2021, 4 Ob 132/21x).
Anita Baker thanks Chance The Rapper for helping out in her recent masters dispute
Anita Baker has publicly thanked Chance The Rapper for helping her regain control of her master recordings after spotting him in the audience at a show in Las Vegas this weekend.
Round Hill sues B.o.B in royalty rights dispute
Round Hill Music has sued the rapper B.o.B claiming that he owes them $3 million after reneging on a past royalty rights agreement.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/round-hill-sues-b-o-b-in-royalty-rights-dispute/
Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos Defends Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais Free Speech: “It Used To Be A Very Liberal Issue”
In a wide-ranging interview published today in the New York Times, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has doubled down on his prior defenses of artistic freedom, backing comedians Dave Chappelle and Ricky Gervais.
Village Roadshow’s Lawsuit Against Warner Bros. Over ‘Matrix Resurrections’ Sent to Arbitration
The case highlights escalating tension between talent who stand to profit from theatrical releases and media companies seeking to draw viewers to their streaming services.
‘Rust’ Script Supervisor’s Lawsuit Can Seek Punitive Damages, Judge Rules – Update
UPDATED, 4:14 PM: A Superior Court judge in Los Angeles has ruled that Mamie Mitchell, the script supervisor who was standing next to cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when she was fatally shot with a prop weapon fired by actor Alec Baldwin on the Rust film set, can seek punitive damages from some of the producers who sought to have the damages stricken.
Animation Guild & AMPTP Reach Tentative Deal On Film & TV Contract
The Animation Guild, IATSE Local 839, and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers have drawn up a tentative agreement on a new film and television contract. The deal comes after a month’s worth of total negotiation days since November.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/05/animation-guild-amptp-deal-film-tv-contract-1235034619/
#StopCRBAbuse: Can Songwriters stop Big Tech from demanding your contracts and royalty earnings be handed over to them in Copyright Royalty Board?
As I posted recently (“Google’s Shameful Bullying Tactics on Display Again in CRB“), Google has once again turned its lawyers loose to run roughshod over songwriters in their latest theater of lawfare, this time the Copyright Royalty Board in the rate setting for streaming mechanicals. They are using their bottomless litigation budget to treat the government’s rate-setting agency as though it was a Federal court hearing a copyright case where Google was hell-bent on stealing someone else’s work product (like the widely criticized decision in Google v. Oracle). It’s all the same to Google and their grotesquely maniacal legal crew. File this under News from the Goolag.
Commission sends reasoned opinions to 13 Member States for failure to transpose CDSM Directive into national law
Last week, the European Commission sent reasoned opinions to 13 Member States (Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, France, Latvia, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Finland and Sweden) for failure to notify the Commission of transposition measures on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market (Directive (EU) 2019/790) (CDSM Directive)
How the Publishing World Is Muscling In on Hollywood Deals: For Authors, “The Future Is Multihyphenate”
Books and magazine articles have long provided the IP Hollywood depends on, but until recently, authors played little role in the process. Now, lit agencies and publishers are changing the rules and shortening the page-to-screen pipeline.
How the Publishing World Is Muscling In on Hollywood Deals: For Authors, “The Future Is Multihyphenate”
Books and magazine articles have long provided the IP Hollywood depends on, but until recently, authors played little role in the process. Now, lit agencies and publishers are changing the rules and shortening the page-to-screen pipeline.
U.S. Copyright Office Issues a Supplemental Interim Rule Related to the Music Modernization Act Reports of Usage and Payment
Pursuant to Title I of the Orrin G. Hatch–Bob Goodlatte Music Modernization Act, the Copyright Office has issued a supplemental interim rule updating certain reporting requirements for digital music providers. The updates relate to reports of adjustment and annual reports of usage that digital music providers submit to the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC).
TikTok has changed music — and the industry is hustling to catch up
Tyler Colon played college basketball. He won an MTV reality show. He’s tried podcasting, modeling, and acting. But in 2019, he got serious about pursuing music.
Cannes: Is the Film Industry Really Ready to Embrace NFTs?
From Blockchain to Web 3.0 and DAOs, there are a lot of new buzzwords out there — and plenty of skepticism — but supporters say these new technologies can make filmmaking more accessible, transparent and efficient: “We are just scratching the surface.”
The Unheard Battle Over Social Media Licensing
Last year, the Financial Times captured an amazing detail in its profile of Lucian Grainge, the CEO of Universal Music Group. The story closed with Grainge on the Zoom call giving instructions on how to deal with social media companies in licensing negotiations. An anonymously quoted former UMG employee said: “he has ice in his veins” to describe how the industry-leading boss deals with technology rivals on the other side of the negotiating table.
Read More: https://pennyfractions.ghost.io/the-unheard-battle-over-social-media-licensing/
Google’s Shameful Bullying Tactics on Display Again in Copyright Royalty Board
File this under News from the Goolag. In case you had any illusions that Google has fully lost whatever shred of human decency they may have had, we just got even more confirmation in the CRB of the expense and invasiveness of Google’s lawfare against songwriters.
US court says Toni Basil is sole owner of Mickey masters
The Ninth Circuit appeals court in the US last week ruled that Toni Basil is the sole owner of the recording copyright in her hit song ‘Mickey’ as part of a long-running dispute around the good old termination right in American copyright law.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/us-court-says-toni-basil-is-sole-owner-of-mickey-masters/
Alan Parsons awarded nearly $5 million in dispute with former manager
A US court last week awarded Alan Parsons nearly $5 million in damages as part of a dispute with his former manager, John Regna of World Entertainment Associates Of America. Judge and jury together found that Regna was liable for trademark infringement, unfair competition and breach of fiduciary duty, among other things.
French performer and label groups reach voluntary agreement regarding digital remuneration
Various organisations representing French artists, performers and labels have welcomed an agreement finalised last week regarding the sharing of streaming monies.
Josh Hawley And Other Republicans Want To End Special “Handouts” To Disney And Other Corporations, But As Punishment Not Policy (Analysis)
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) followed up on his attack on Disney last week with an op-ed on FoxNews.com in which he argued that corporations were attacking American values by weighing in on divisive social issues. “Big business is no friend to conservatives — that’s been clear for years. And it’s increasingly no friend to America,” he wrote.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/05/disney-republicans-culture-war-fight-woke-companies-1235022457/
Netflix Stumbles and Hollywood Gloats: “The Days of the Blank Check Are Over”
The streamer’s financial woes have inspired schadenfreude from its competitors and even some of its own showrunners. Here’s where the ill will comes from—and what insiders say the streamer must do next.
Read More: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/05/netflix-stumbles-and-hollywood-gloats
‘What is currently an opaque black box of song royalties, needs to be transformed into a glass box.’
Against a backdrop of the COVID-19 pandemic, the last two years have placed a renewed focus on many of the recorded music market’s glaring dysfunctions.
Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith: The Supreme Court Revisits Transformative Fair Uses
In its landmark 1994 decision Campbell v. Acuff-Rose Music, Inc., 510 U.S. 569 (1994), the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruled that Campbell’s creation of a rap parody version of a popular Roy
Orbison song could be fair use because it transformed the original song by adding something new, with a different purpose, or a new meaning or message. Since then, courts in the U.S. have grappled with how broadly or narrowly to interpret the concept of transformativeness when assessing fair use defenses to charges of copyright infringement. The
Live Nation Should Be Broken Up, Says New Jersey Congressman, Citing Safety Record
Concert promotion giant Live Nation should be broken up, according to New Jersey Democratic Congressman Bill Pascrell, who claims its safety record is disturbing.
Pascrell cited the recent attack on comedian Dave Chappelle and the Travis Scott Astroworld tragedy that resulted in the death of 10 people and numerous inuries.
WGA East Executive Director Lowell Peterson Sets Stage For Showdown With Studios Next Year
The WGA is gearing up for a showdown with the major companies next year. In his annual report, WGA East executive director Lowell Peterson told his members that the WGA East and West “have a lot of work to do at the bargaining table next year … to ensure that our members can sustain meaningful careers as the industry continues its transformation.”
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/05/wga-east-sets-stage-for-showdown-with-studios-1235018388/
New inflation matching settlement on US disc and download song royalty rate welcomed
A plethora of organisations from across the US music industry have welcomed a new proposed settlement regarding the mechanical royalty rate paid on discs and downloads Stateside, after an initial proposal from the National Music Publishers Association and the major labels was widely criticised by songwriter groups.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/new-inflation-matching-settlement-on-us-disc-and-download-song-royalty-rate-welcomed/
SGA, SCL & MCNA ‘Extremely Pleased’ With Mechanical Royalty Rate Increase Decision In the US — Here’s Their Statement
Major label and publishing conglomerates Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, and Warner Music Group, as well as other publishers represented by the NMPA, have tentatively agreed to increase mechanical royalty rates on physical products and downloads in the United States from 9.1 cents to 12 cents per song use. Already, independent music organizations including SGA, SCL and MCNA are reacting to the move — here’s their official statement on the matter as shared with Digital Music News.
‘If the music industry wants to continue its exponential growth, its data backbone needs to become significantly more efficient.’
Verifi Media recently announced the launch of the Verifi Rights Data Alliance (“VRDA”), with partnerships in place with Warner Music Group, Warner Chappell, FUGA, Unison Rights and Deezer.
Together, these inaugural members have committed to using Verifi’s services to enhance, collaborate and share music rights data, with the cumulative aim of improving each of their businesses.
TikTok Will Share Ad Revenue with Creators — Here’s How It Works & Who Is Eligible
TikTok wants to keep its massive influx of new users. It has announced plans to share ad revenue with creators.
Live Nation Revenue Soars As Concert Ticket Sales Recover
The ticketing giant recorded first quarter revenue of $1.8 billion, up from $290 million in the year-earlier quarter impacted by COVID-19.
A New Study Confirms the Obvious: Major Labels Control Spotify Playlists
A Spotify playlist study has found that the Big Three labels (UMG, Warner, Sony) benefit most from curated playlists. In many cases, they practically control them.
Consultancy firm Music Tomorrow published the study, dissecting how playlists impact emerging artists. The study finds that over the last four years, major labels accounted for nearly 70% of the music featured in the ‘New Music Friday’ playlist on Spotify. Of that number, 30% was UMG content, while 19% was for Warner and 19% for Sony.
Kanye West sued over sermon sample on Donda
Kanye West has been sued by a Texas-based pastor who claims that a track on the rapper’s ‘Donda’ album samples one of his sermons without licence. That copyright infringement, the pastor’s lawsuit stresses, has resulted in a “considerable influx of ill-gotten financial gains and other benefits” for West and his label.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/kanye-west-sued-over-sermon-sample-on-donda/
US Court Orders Every ISP in the United States to Block Illegal Streaming Sites
More than a decade after U.S. lawmakers scuttled the controversial SOPA legislation that would’ve required ISPs to block pirate sites, a US court has demonstrated that the ability to block sites has been available all along. Injunctions issued in response to lawsuits against three pirate streaming services require every ISP in the United States to prevent subscribers from accessing them.
Hollywood CEO Pay: The Year of the Nine-Figure Club
Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel is in (to the tune of $300 million) and Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav returns in THR’s annual look at executive compensation.
Hollywood CEO Pay: The Year of the Nine-Figure Club
Endeavor’s Ari Emanuel is in (to the tune of $300 million) and Warner Bros. Discovery chief David Zaslav returns in THR’s annual look at executive compensation.
Netflix’s Big Wake-Up Call: The Power Clash Behind the Crash
As rivals toggle between schadenfreude and fear, top creators and insiders are increasingly becoming vocal about what’s gone wrong with the streaming giant’s culture.
U.K. Eyes Regulation of Streaming Services, Protections for “Distinctly British” Content
A white paper says the government will move ahead with plans for a sale of Channel 4 and promises “a new golden age of programming” for TV and radio lovers and regulations “fit for the streaming age.”
Drake dismissed from song-theft lawsuit over his Chris Brown collab
The songwriters who have accused Chris Brown and Drake of ripping off one of their tracks on the 2019 hit ‘No Guidance’ have dismissed their legal claims against the latter, but not the former. Though it’s not currently entirely clear why.
European Union High Court Upholds Article 17 of Controversial Copyright Directive — Music Industry Organizations React
The Court of Justice has officially upheld Article 17 of the controversial EU Copyright Directive, which makes certain “online content-sharing service providers” (as opposed to users) liable for the unauthorized use of protected media. Music industry organizations including Impala and the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance are reacting to the decision.
Article 17 of the DSM Directive is valid: an early take on today’s Grand Chamber ruling
As The IPKat reported earlier today, nearly 3 years after the Republic of Poland lodged its action (C-401/19) against the European Parliament and the Council requesting that the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) annul Article 17 of the DSM Directive – in part or as a whole – due to an alleged conflict with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and its Article 11 (freedom of expression and information), this morning the Grand Chamber of the CJEU ruled that Article 17 is compatible with freedom of expression/information.
Read More: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2022/04/article-17-of-dsm-directive-is-valid.html
US Supreme Court declines to answer key question for dealing with song-theft disputes
The US Supreme Court has declined to hear a song-theft dispute in relation to ‘You Raise Me Up’, the song made famous by Josh Groban or Westlife depending on where you live.
Cher’s dispute with Sonny Bono estate over termination right continues
The widow of Sonny Bono has urged a Californian court to throw out a recent legal claim made by Cher, which centres on how the pesky termination right in US copyright law impacts on a deal done in the 1970s after Bono and Cher split up both professionally and personally.
Appeal court judges say Jay-Z is owed royalties for former perfume partner
It turns out that Jay-Z may as yet get millions of dollars in allegedly unpaid royalties from the perfume company he collaborated with back in 2013.
Roger Daltrey says the music industry has been “stolen” from artists
Roger Daltrey has said he believes that the music industry has been “stolen” from artists during a recent interview.
Speaking to The Independent, the frontman of The Who claimed that the band’s 2019 studio album ‘WHO’ left him £10,000 out of pocket. “Musicians cannot earn a living in the record industry anymore,” Daltrey told the publication.
Live music revenue fell again in 2021, despite gigs returning
Royalties from live performances of music fell almost 30% in 2021, despite concerts resuming in the summer.
Concert revenues were just £8m, down from £11.3m in 2020 and £54m in 2019, said PRS for Music, the body that collects royalties for songwriters.
Only 19,300 setlists were reported last year, it added, marking a huge decline from the 124,000 reported pre-pandemic.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61187598
How Hollywood Unions Wield “Do Not Work” Orders Against Employers
SAG-AFTRA, the Writers Guild and Actors’ Equity use the missives to try to keep projects they find problematic in line over financing and labor issues — a tactic that may be more effective in today’s environment.
Actors launch campaign against AI ‘show stealers’
Actors’ livelihoods are at risk from artificial intelligence (AI) unless the law changes, a union warns.
Equity, the performing arts workers union, has launched a new campaign, “Stop AI Stealing the Show”.
AI can use samples of an actor’s voice or face, to generate content including so-called “deep fakes”.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-61166272
Alec Baldwin: Rust film producers were indifferent to gun safety – report
The producers of a film whose cinematographer was accidentally shot dead on set by Alec Baldwin have been fined and strongly criticised by authorities for failing to follow safety guidelines.
The makers of Rust showed “plain indifference to recognised hazards associated with use of firearms on set”, according to the New Mexico Environment Department.
The agency has issued the maximum $136,793 (£105,000) fine to Rust Movie Productions.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61169495
New filing in Universal Music’s termination rights litigation
A group of artists suing Universal Music in the US in a dispute over the termination right in American copyright law filed new papers with the court on Friday seeking class certification, so that they can represent any artists who are seeking to enforce that right against the major.
California’s Fair Act, Addressing Seven-Year Rule, Will Separate Issues of Musicians From Actors
The issue of predatory recording contracts, which can tie a musician up for longer than seven years, will be considered separately from its counterpart in the acting world, it was announced on Monday by a coalition of trade groups including SAG-AFTRA, Music Artists Coalition, the Black Music Action Coalition, California Labor Federation and Songwriters of North America.
@RIAA Chief’s Proposal to Settle the Frozen Mechanicals Crisis by Expanding the Songwriters at the Table
The frozen mechanicals crisis points up one of the key problems in administering the statutory mechanical license in the US: Songwriters are a fragmented group. Merely chanting to courts that you represent all songwriters and publishers in the world when you know that is not reflective of reality is not a recipe for successful negotiations. It was only a matter of time until one of these deals imposed on the songwriter community turned sour. Frozen mechanicals turned out to be the black ice on the Nantucket sleigh ride.
Yes, Blockchain might well revolutionise music royalties. No, it’s not going to happen anytime soon.
Whenever we are presented with exciting new technological ideas and advancements, whether it’s self-driving cars, VR or blockchain technology, we often overestimate the effect it may have on our lives in the short term, whilst under-estimating any long term impact.
Judges in the US have hinted that the mechanical royalty rate paid to publishers and songwriters for vinyl sales should rise. The major labels’ lawyers have come out swinging.
It’s a process awash with legalese – to the point of tedium.
But there’s a very important debate going on in the US over certain types of mechanical royalty rates paid to songwriters right now, and you need to know about it.
Bieber producer sues over points dispute
Australian producer and sound engineer Chris ‘Tek’ O’Ryan has sued Justin Bieber’s manager Scooter Braun and the company JRC Entertainment over allegations promises were broken regarding producer royalties on a number of Bieber tracks that he helped produce.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/bieber-producer-sues-over-points-dispute/
SAG-AFTRA Board Overwhelmingly Approves New $1 Billion-A-Year Commercials Contract, Urges Membership Ratification
SAG-AFTRA’s national board voted today to approve a tentative agreement on a new $1 billion-a-year commercials contract and to recommend its ratification to the guild’s members. The deal, which was approved by 93% of the national board members, was reached Tuesday with the Joint Policy Committee of the advertising industry. Bargaining got underway February 16 in New York.
Ed Sheeran: Copyright case was about honesty, not money
Ed Sheeran says his recent High Court copyright case over one of his songs was not about money but honesty and standing up for what was right.
The singer-songwriter told BBC Two’s Newsnight he did not have a choice but to defend his work in court.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-61026308
LA court dismisses foreign royalties lawsuit filed against Universal by former Beach Boy
An LA court has dismissed a lawsuit filed by a former member of the Beach Boys which took issue with the way Universal Music accounts and reports artist royalties for streams in markets other than the US.
Warner Bros. Discovery Megadeal Closes, Creating Scripted and Unscripted Content Giant
Discovery and AT&T’s WarnerMedia have officially closed their merger on Friday, creating a new media and entertainment giant titled Warner Bros. Discovery. The completion comes about 11 months after the $43 billion mega-deal was unveiled, faster than most observers had anticipated at the time.
DGA Forms New Committee To Tackle Set Safety
DGA president Lesli Linka Glatter has appointed a new safety committee “to ensure that safety concerns remain at the forefront of our guild.”
Director Karen Gaviola is the chair of the new committee.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/04/dga-forms-set-safety-committee-1234996667/
Appeals court upholds decision in dispute over Bob Dylan’s mega-bucks song catalogue sale
An appeals court in New York has upheld a lower court ruling in the dispute between Bob Dylan and the estate of one of his former collaborators, which reckons it should get a cut of the money Dylan received from the mega-bucks deal he did with Universal Music around his songs catalogue. The judge in the lower court disagreed with that claim, however, and now the appeals court has concurred on that point.
Judge Rules In Ed Sheeran’s Favor In ‘Shape Of You’ Plagiarism Case
After the ruling, Sheeran spoke out about the “pain” he’d felt at having someone “publicly, and aggressively, challenge [his] integrity.”
CJEU rules that private copying also applies in the cloud and warns against thinking that everything is communication to the public
A few days ago the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) rendered its judgment in C-433/20 Austro-Mechana, ruling that the notion of reproduction ‘on any medium’ extends to the cloud and, therefore, that private copying under Article 5(2)(b) of the InfoSoc Directive also applies in that context.
Read More: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2022/04/cjeu-rules-that-private-copying-also.html
EU copyright law round up – first trimester of 2022
Welcome to the first trimester of the 2022 round up of EU copyright law!
We started this rubric back in 2021. In this series, we update readers every three months on developments in EU copyright law. This includes Court of Justice (CJEU) and General Court judgments, Advocate Generals’ (AG) opinions, and important policy developments. You can read the previous round-ups here.
Read More: https://copyrightblog.kluweriplaw.com/2022/04/06/eu-copyright-law-round-up-first-trimester-of-2022/
JOINT RECORD COMPANY PARTICIPANTS’ EMERGENCY MOTION FOR CLARIFICATION AND REQUEST FOR EXTENSION
On March 30, 2022, the Copyright Royalty Judges published in the Federal Register a
notice withdrawing from consideration under Section 801(b)(7)(A) of the Copyright Act a
settlement among certain participants of the royalty rates and terms in 37 C.F.R. Subpart B (such
settlement, the “Settlement,” and such rates and terms, the “Subpart B Rates and Terms”). See 87
Fed. Reg. 18342 (March 30, 2022) (the “Withdrawal Notice”). The parties to the Settlement were
Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Inc., and Warner Music Group Corp. (the “Joint
Record Company Participants”), along with the National Music Publishers’ Association, Inc.
(“NMPA”) and Nashville Songwriters Association International (“NSAI”).
How To Make Money On SoundCloud
As an independent artist, you want to make sure you’re earning revenue everywhere you can. You put a lot of effort into your projects. Don’t let that hard work go unnoticed! If you’re a SoundCloud user, you can make money off of your efforts. Here’s how to monetize your SoundCloud profile…
Directors Guild of Canada B.C. Calls Strike Authorization Vote
The move comes as the Canadian union says yearlong negotiations are at an impasse after the AMPTP resisted the latest contract offer.
EU Court of Justice rules cloud service providers can be subject to the remuneration for private copying
The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has ruled in the Austro-Mechana case that cloud service providers can be subject to the payment of “private copying” royalties.
Universal Music confirms it will start paying royalties to unrecouped heritage artists
Universal Music has, as expected, confirmed it is following the lead of its major label rivals, who in turn followed the lead of certain independent labels, in committing to pay through royalties to unrecouped heritage artists. The mega-major includes its commitment in this domain within its 2021 annual report, which was published yesterday.
VPN ordered to pay $14 million in damages to movie producers in copyright dispute
A court in the US has ordered VPN provider LiquidVPN to pay a group of independent movie producers over $14 million in damages for facilitating copyright infringement.
Comedy copyright claims against Pandora consolidated into one lawsuit
The various comedians who have sued Pandora over unlicensed jokes have consolidated their lawsuits into one action, while arguing that the fact the streaming firm has removed their comedy routines from its platform since they went legal is an “outright admission that they knew they were infringing the copyrights of the works”.
US Copyright Royalty Board rejects proposal to keep mechanical royalty on discs and downloads unchanged
The US Copyright Royalty Board has published a statement on its review of what royalty rate should be paid to songwriters and music publishers when discs and downloads are sold Stateside, concluding that a proposed settlement put forward by the major record companies and the National Music Publishers Association – which would have kept the current rate in force – is not a “reasonable basis” on which to set the rate for 2023 to 2027.
How To Interpret Your TikTok Analytics
Driven by machine learning and a technical algorithm, TikTok thrives on data and metrics. If you want to improve your content’s performance, understanding your profile’s detailed analytics is the first step to improving your efforts. Here’s how to do it…
Swedish Musicians’ Union Calls On Spotify to Investigate ‘Fake Artists’ Amid Playlist Controversy
Yesterday, Swedish newspaper Dagens Nyheter (DN) reported that Firefly Entertainment was allegedly associated with an array of “fake” artist profiles on Spotify – and that the indie label had cashed in on millions of streams, in part by placing the accounts’ tracks on first-party playlists. Now, the Swedish Musicians’ Union is calling on Spotify to launch a full-scale investigation.
Supreme Court Takes Up Copyright Case Involving Andy Warhol’s Prints Of Singer Prince
The Supreme Court announced Monday it will take up a case involving a copyright dispute between the famous late pop artist Andy Warhol and prolific rock photographer Lynn Goldsmith, who claims Warhol violated copyright when he used a photo she took of the deceased singer Prince as the basis for a series of prints.
Writers Guild West, Labor Coalition Push FTC to Challenge Amazon’s MGM Buy (Exclusive)
The Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of unions that includes the Teamsters and CWA, and WGA West sent a letter to the regulatory agency over the $8.45 billion buy. They warn that Amazon will likely shut down MGM’s Epix, harming competition, filmmakers and audiences.
Belgian performer society welcomes proposed new digital remuneration right
The collecting society that represents performers in Belgium has welcomed proposals by the country’s Council Of Ministers to introduce a new digital remuneration right for artists as part of the implementation of the 2019 European Copyright Directive.
US music industry welcomes proposed SMART Copyright Act
The music industry has welcomed proposed copyright reforms in the US that would basically increase the obligations of safe harbour dwelling digital platforms, mainly by empowering the country’s Copyright Office to identify and approve “standardised technical measures” that platforms should utilise in order to stop the distribution of unlicensed copyright protected content.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/us-music-industry-welcomes-proposed-smart-copyright-act/
Lizzo settles Truth Hurts copyright battle with former collaborators
Lizzo has settled her legal battle with former collaborators Justin Raisen, Jeremiah Raisen and Justin ‘Yves’ Rothman over their claim that they contributed to the creation of her hit ‘Truth Hurts’ and should therefore share in the royalties generated by that track. Legal reps for both sides in the dispute informed the court that an agreement had been reached last week.
Animation Guild Members Rally For Fair Contract In Burbank
Several hundred Animation Guild members and their supporters rallied today in Burbank, loudly demanding a fair contract from the Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers.
Carrying signs that say “New deal 4 animation” and “Cartoons are serious business,” the rallygoers chanted, “New contract, new deal,” and “TAG United will never be defeated.” Labor and management last met at the bargaining table on March 2, and will resume talks on Tuesday.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/03/animation-guild-members-rally-burbank-fair-contract-sought-1234982731/
Senators Introduce the Bipartisan ‘SMART Copyright Act,’ Claiming That the Bill ‘Would Hold Tech Accountable’
The “SMART Copyright Act” has officially been introduced into the U.S. Senate, and the bipartisan legislation “would hold tech accountable by developing effective, widely-available measures to combat copyright theft,” according to its authors.
Max Martin, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, and songwriter and producer Niclas Molinder say they’ve invented the solution to the music industry’s ‘black box’. And it’s free.
Each year, royalties worth an estimated $655 million (£500m) globally are not paid to the correct rightsholders due to bad data.
To address the issue of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of royalties landing in the industry’s so-called ‘black box’, rather than in the bank accounts of rightsholders, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus launched the ‘Credits Due’ campaign in 2021 to get creators paid for their work.
The Ineffable Tone-Deafness of Spotify’s Daniel Ek
One might think that, just weeks after his company scraped through the biggest crisis of its existence — its stubborn defense of giving a gigantic international platform, not to mention more than $200 million, to Joe Rogan and his destructive, malignant opinions — Spotify’s Daniel Ek might exercise a little caution and humility.
Spencer Davis Group Beats Another ‘Gimme Some Lovin” Copyright Suit
A pair of Tennessee songwriters say the bass riff to the iconic 1966 hit was lifted from their 1965 song.
Dancers move to copyright choreography online
Future. Choreographer JaQuel Knight (Beyoncé, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion) and attorney David L. Hecht are stepping out how and why dances deserve copyright, showing that the TikTok era is redefining what is considered professional choreography. If they’re able to continue securing copyrights for creators and raise enough awareness in the industry, TikTok may one day create a feature that ensures the original choreographer is both recognized and compensated for the trends they start.
Katy Perry Gets Appeal Win in ‘Dark Horse’ Copyright Case
Katy Perry prevailed again over a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement in her song “Dark Horse,” after the Ninth Circuit said Thursday that a trial judge was right to set aside a jury verdict against the pop singer.
Read More: https://news.bloomberglaw.com/ip-law/katy-perry-gets-appeal-win-in-copyright-case-over-dark-horse
Why YouTube – With Its Deep Pockets – Isn’t the Perfect Fit for All Creators
Content creators these days have a lot of choices in where to build their business, but it’s not always about the money for some of them.
While YouTube has historically paid out the biggest bucks — some $30 billion in recent years — rivals like Facebook, TikTok and Snap are trying to catch up with various incentives, features and bonus programs aimed at getting creators on their platforms. Over time, these could attract creators who want dedicated platforms and tools designed for commerce or livestreaming, for instance. Ultimately, earning creators’ loyalty will come down to their monetization options, earning flexibility and what advantages they can offer over YouTube.
Film and TV Location Managers Vote to Ratify New Contract
Ninety-five percent of eligible voting members supported the deal, while voter turnout was 75 percent, “the highest in the Local’s recent history” for the contract, the union says.
NATO Launches New Non-Profit The Cinema Foundation Dedicated To Advancing Exhibition Industry
The National Association of Theatre Owners today announced the creation of The Cinema Foundation, a new, donor-supported non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the cinema exhibition industry by developing future diverse workforces and growing moviegoing communities through research, education and philanthropy.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/03/nato-launches-new-non-profit-the-cinema-foundation-1234974905/
Copyright case: Kihn v. Bill Graham Archives LLC, USA
Because the artists who would form part of the class had entered into licensing agreements with varying terms, individual issues would prevail over common questions.
Read More: http://copyrightblog.kluweriplaw.com/2022/03/09/copyright-case-kihn-v-bill-graham-archives-llc-usa/
TikTok just launched its own music distribution platform, SoundOn
TikTok is officially a music distributor now.
The ByteDance-owned viral video app has just launched its own promotion and music distribution platform, called SoundOn.
SoundOn is already Live in the UK, US, Brazil and Indonesia, and it lets artists upload their music directly to TikTok and RESSO.
It can also distribute their music to other platforms like Spotify, Apple Music and Instagram.
Ed Sheeran sings Nina Simone during Shape of You copyright case
Ed Sheeran has serenaded London’s High Court in an attempt to prove he did not copy portions of his 2017 hit Shape of You from another artist.
The star is accused of lifting his song’s “Oh I, oh I, oh I” hook from Sami Chokri’s 2015 single Oh Why.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-60661895
Another One Bites the Dust: Bandcamp acquired by Tencent’s Epic Games and still no fairness for session musicians
Bandcamp has been a safe haven for independent artists for years and throughout the pandemic. When asked by fans where fans can go to engage in fair commerce with artists outside of the downward centrifugal force of the big pool maelstrom, many said go to Bandcamp.
Now that Bandcamp is acquired by Epic Games, the cats paw of its 40% owner (that we know of) the Chinese surveillance company Tencent, the bloom may be off the rose. Tencent, like its affiliate Spotify, uses music for data scraping in the music-driven streaming data honeypot.
Post Malone has another go at dismissing Circles song theft claim
Post Malone is having another go at dismissing a legal claim made by a former collaborator who reckons he co-wrote the 2019 hit ‘Circles’. This time the rapper is arguing that the contribution made by Tyler Armes during a recording session in 2018 was not sufficiently original to be protected by copyright.
Dua Lipa sued a second time over Levitating
Dua Lipa is facing a second song theft lawsuit over her 2020 hit ‘Levitating’ which, it’s alleged, rips off not one but two songs. Well, three if you also count the allegations made in the first of the lawsuits filed over ‘Levitating’ last week.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/dua-lipa-sued-a-second-time-over-levitating/
Musical “magpie” Ed Sheeran in court over Shape Of You song theft claims
Ed Sheeran is a musical “genius” but also a musical “magpie” who borrows from other people’s work when he’s writing his pop songs. Sometimes he borrows from the work of superstars, who get their credits. Other times he borrows from lesser known artists, who do not. Or at least, that’s what lawyers working for musicians Sami Chokri and Ross O’Donoghue claimed in the UK high court on Friday.
Jordi Puy (Unison): ‘ In two years, we have managed to get into the full international digital landscape of authors’ rights’
Jordi Puy had a plan. He knew Europe was ripe for a new type of music rights society, one that would be a digital native, and would work with transparency at its core. He rolled out his plan from 2017 and launched Unison, Europe’s new music rights society, in 2020.
BMI Hires Goldman Sachs to Explore New Ways to Make Boatloads of Money on Songs
BMI has hired Goldman Sachs to consult on potential growth opportunities for its business as one of the US’s largest performance rights organizations (PRO).
In a letter obtained by Variety, BMI President & CEO Mike O’Neill outlines why the organization is making the move. The objective is “growth for our songwriters, composers and publishers,” ostensibly beyond the traditional PRO sector – effectively publishing royalties from music played anywhere in public. That sector grew to record setting levels in the 2021 fiscal year, with BMI among the beneficiaries.
When MGM Ruled Hollywood: The Rise (and Fall) of Amazon’s Next Prize
A curtain closing look at the era and moguls that defined the iconic brand as the e-commerce giant aims to seal a $8.5 billion deal to gobble up the studio to feed its streaming ambitions.
Musicians Organize Around DMCA Law, Time’s Up for Spotify
Music Workers Alliance (MWA), a labor empowerment organization for independent musicians, DJs, and sound engineers, has launched a campaign for streaming justice. They are lobbying congress to change a law that has allowed companies like Google and YouTube to make billions off mass copyright infringement; and which enables streaming services like Spotify to pay musicians starvation wages.
Read More: https://observer.com/2022/03/musicians-organize-around-dmca-law-times-up-for-spotify/
Copyright Office Ruling Exposes Artificial Intelligence and NFT Issues
At what point, if any, can Artificial Intelligence be considered “human?” Who is responsible for the art that’s created by technology? Who owns art predominately created by computers? The U.S. Copyright Office tackled these questions in its latest ruling regarding artificial intelligence that will have implications on art and NFTs going forward.
Guest Column: How Easy Is It to Take Down Music From Streaming Platforms?
When and how a creator can remove music from a streaming service varies based on a number of factors — though performers will generally have an easier time than songwriters.
Read More: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/digital/removing-music-from-spotify-1235093457/
20 Questions: An artist’s checklist for an NFT pitch
If you’ve been pitched to lend your name to an NFT platform or promotion, or if you are an NFT promoter who wants to attract artists to your program, there are some issues that should get addressed. Obviously, discuss all this with your lawyers since this isn’t legal advice, but the following are some issues that you may want to consider before you commit to anything.
Read More: https://musictechpolicy.com/2022/03/02/20-questions-an-artists-checklist-for-an-nft-pitch/
David Israelite (NMPA): ‘DSPs are proposing the lowest rates in history’
David Israelite, President and CEO of the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA), has claimed that digital streaming services are proposing the “lowest rates in history” in the current Copyright Royalty Board proceedings, known as CRB IV, which will determine the mechanical rates paid by digital services for the next five years.
The film and TV streaming war empties the coffers
Future. As the entertainment industry pushes all the chips in on streaming, it’s important to note that none of these companies are actually making any real money… yet. But in order to command market share now and score a high stock price, streamers are spending unprecedented amounts on content anyway (great for creators and audiences). It may signal that success in the new Hollywood is more about stock prices than profits.
Appeals Court Revives Copyright Lawsuit Over ‘Servant’
The court found additional evidence is necessary to determine whether M. Night Shyamalan’s AppleTV+ series infringed on Francesca Gregorini’s 2013 movie ‘The Truth About Emanuel.’ It’s the latest in a series of recent appellate decisions in favor of plaintiffs claiming copyright infringement.
“The Minions Do the Actual Writing”: The Ugly Truth of How Movie Scores Are Made
The streaming revolution is changing the way film composers get paid and exposing the flaws of a system where big names farm their scores out to uncredited “ghost composers.” Now, the artists actually writing the music are demanding recognition—and a fair share of the profits.
Read More: https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/02/the-ugly-truth-of-how-movie-scores-are-made
How to Cancel Your Spotify Account
Spotify is one of the top music streaming services, offering free and paid access to more than 82 million songs online at last count. A paid plan adds several useful features, but maybe you don’t use it enough to justify the monthly cost. Perhaps you’ve switched to a rival service like Apple Music, or maybe you object to some of the content and personalities on Spotify and no longer care to give the company your business (like Neil Young). Whatever the reason, here’s how to remove your ties to Spotify.
Radio Industry Strikes Interim Licensing Deal With ASCAP.
The Radio Music License Committee says it has reached an interim licensing agreement with ASCAP while it works on a long-term deal with the performance rights organization. The radio industry’s previous deal covering 2017 to 2021 expired at the end of the year, but the interim deal will keep those terms in place for the time being.
David Crosby On The “Scummy People” At Spotify And His Lack Of Hope For The Music Industry
Crosby’s advice to aspiring musicians: “Don’t become a musician.”
In recent weeks, there has been an ongoing controversy surrounding Spotify and Joe Rogan. First it was about Rogan’s insistence on spreading misinformation about COVID vaccines through his podcast — a Spotify exclusive that, as revealed this week, cost the company $200 million, double the initially reported figure. But then other objectionable elements of Rogan’s show resurfaced, including his recurring use of racial slurs, resulting in the removal of more than 100 episodes from Spotify’s servers. In the first wave surrounding the COVID issues, some artists decided to pull their music from Spotify in response to Rogan’s ongoing affiliation with the platform, igniting debates about censorship along the way.
Read More: https://www.stereogum.com/2176699/david-crosby-spotify-joe-rogan-new-album/interviews/qa/
UK TV Skills Crisis Laid Bare By ScreenSkills Report; Production Managers And Co-Ordinators Almost Impossible To Find
The UK TV skills crisis has been laid bare by research from ScreenSkills showing the vast majority of production companies struggling immensely to find key roles such as Production Manager and Production Co-ordinator on non-scripted shows.
ScreenSkills described a “squeezed middle” of experienced crew after more than 90% of respondents to the Unscripted TV production in the UK: 2021 skills review survey said they find it “Very Difficult” or “Difficult” to find Production Managers and Production Co-ordinators, roles that are crucial to filming.
Universal Music Group Inks Partnership Deal With NFT Platform Curio
Universal Music Group has officially inked a partnership agreement with non-fungible token marketplace Curio, which is set to release NFTs from UMG artists moving forward.
US Copyright Office refuses to register AI-generated work, finding that “human authorship is a prerequisite to copyright protection”
Can a work entirely created by a machine be protected by copyright?
Read More: https://ipkitten.blogspot.com/2022/02/us-copyright-office-refuses-to-register.html
Hollywood’s Return-To-Work Covid Protocols Extended Again; “Fully Vaccinated” Redefined To Include Booster Shots
Hollywood’s Covid safety protocols have been extended to April 30 and updated to redefine “fully vaccinated” to include booster shots, effective March 15.
The updated rules also upgrade mask requirements to include KN95, KF94 or N95 masks that are to be provided by the employer; add a number of additional antigen tests that are authorized for use in testing for Covid-19; and refreshes funding for the Covid-19 sick leave bank for all cast and crew to 10 days.
YouTube is making close to $100m from advertising revenues every day
YouTube‘s ads business is a money-making machine.
According to stats published by the video platform’s (and Google‘s) parent company Alphabet last week, YouTube made $8.63 billion from advertising in Q4 2021 (ended December).
That figure was up 25% compared to Q4 2020, when the platform generated revenues of $6.89 billion from ads.
YouTube Is Officially Getting Into NFTs — New Creator Tools Coming Soon
YouTube is getting into NFTs, according to a new blog post on the platform’s future for creator tools.
YouTube’s Chief Product Officer Neal Mohan detailed some of what to expect. “We believe new technologies like blockchain and NFTs can allow creators to build deeper relationships with their fans,” Mohan writes. “Together, they’ll be able to collaborate on new projects and make money in ways not previously possible.”
Daniel Ek’s Edifice Complex: Millions for tribute, but not one red cent for royalties as Spotify buys naming rights to biggest football stadium in Europe — Artist Rights Watch
If screwups were Easter eggs, Daniel Ek would be the Easter bunny. Right in the middle of Spotify’s crashing stock price, billion-dollar stock buy backs, shenanigans at the Copyright Royalty Board (which grows more chaotic by the day), the Joe Rogan controversy, and an investigation by the UK competition authorities after an investigation by the Digital Culture Media and Sport Committee of the UK House of Commons, here’s another Easter egg that Little Danny missed.
COVID Safety Agreement Between Studios, Guilds Set to Expire Sunday
Sources expect an extension to the agreement with potential revisions as the clock ticks down to the Feb. 13 expiration date.
ODB estate sues Wu-Tang Productions over unpaid royalties
The widow of Ol Dirty Bastard – Icelene Jones – is suing Wu-Tang Productions, claiming that it has “wilfully refused” to pay the ODB estate at least $1 million in royalties stemming from the late rapper’s solo recordings and his work with Wu-Tang Clan.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/odb-estate-sues-wu-tang-productions-over-unpaid-royalties/
How Much Does TikTok Pay You? Unfortunately Not Very Much (Updated for 2022)
Yes, TikTok will pay you money, thanks to a recently-created $200 million fund for creators. You probably won’t get rich, but here’s exactly how much you’ll get paid from TikTok’s ‘Creator Fund.’
Sting Sells Song Catalog to Universal Music Publishing
The deal with the division of Vivendi’s Universal Music Group includes songs like “Roxanne,” “Every Breath You Take” and “Message in a Bottle.”
The MLC Seeking Suggestions for Songwriter Candidates for Seats on Board of Directors and Pair of Advisory Committees
The Mechanical Licensing Collective (The MLC) is now seeking suggestions for songwriter candidates to be considered for seats on its Board of Directors, Unclaimed Royalties Oversight Committee and Dispute Resolution Committee.
Letter to Songwriters On U.S. Streaming Rates
To our Warner Chappell songwriting family,
As your partners and your champions, we wanted to let you know about a crucial fight that will determine what you make from streaming both now and in the years to come.
Read More: https://www.wmg.com/news/letter-songwriters-us-streaming-rates-36171
Digital culture fails to pay artists, says new UNESCO report
The creative industries around the world lost 10 million jobs in 2020, a UNESCO report estimates, with artists’ incomes collapsing even as digital consumption of culture rises.
Warner Chappell: Spotify, Google and Amazon are paying songwriters an ‘appallingly low’ rate in the US
The US Copyright Royalty Board (CRB) is currently conducting proceedings to determine the mechanical royalty rate that music streaming services will pay songwriters for the five years between 2023 and 2027.
Irving Azoff’s Global Music Rights and commercial radio body settle long-running legal dispute
The Radio Music Licensing Committee (RMLC) and Irving Azoff’s performing rights society Global Music Rights (GMR) have reached a final agreement to settle their long-running legal dispute.
The economics of Spotify
Spotify’s recent Joe Rogan controversy has also deepened a rift between the platform and artists over pay.
2021 Income Statements Available
As the media industry continues to rebound from the pandemic, it’s more important than ever we have correct information to accurately assess your union dues. Remember, dues are based on your previous year’s SAG-AFTRA, SAG and AFTRA earnings, and support critical services of the union, such as residuals processing, contract negotiations, legal advocacy and member support services. If we don’t have the right info — perhaps because employers misreported it — you could be assessed the wrong dues amount.
Read More: https://www.sagaftra.org/2021-income-statements-available
The Duchess and the tabloid: copyright, fair dealing and freedom of expression in personal letters
There has been widespread press coverage of Meghan Markle’s (the Duchess of Sussex) recent success in a claim which she brought against the publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and the Mail Online website (“the Mail”). In February 2021, the High Court granted Ms Markle summary judgment on her claim for misuse of private information, and also on the central issues of her copyright claim. The summary judgment procedure allows a judge to reach a decision without the case proceeding all the way to a full trial. The effect of the summary judgment was therefore to dispose of the claim in Ms Markle’s favour. Just before Christmas, the Court of Appeal handed down its decision.
Film/TV Labor Unions Rift in Canada Widens Over Streaming Wars
As Ottawa revives legislation to regulate foreign media players in the local market, IATSE says global studios and video giants already employ most Canadian creative workers, while local actors and directors want more local stories told.
Broadcasters Tell Congress: We Want To Negotiate ‘Holistic’ Royalties Deal.
Broadcasters say they have not had a willing dance partner with which to negotiate a deal to end the long-running battle over a performance royalty for radio. And while a hearing in Congress on Wednesday hit several familiar notes heard countless times through the years, there was at least one member of the music community that said he is willing to get on the proverbial dance floor.
Longtime ‘Simpsons’ Composer Settles Termination Dispute With Fox
The dispute between Alf Clausen and Fox over his firing as the show’s lead musical composer is officially over as two courts issue dismissals following a settlement.
Read More: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/simpsons-composer-settles-dispute-with-fox-1235085719/
Reasons to Abandon Spotify That Have Nothing to Do with Joe Rogan
As welcome as the recent protests are, they do not address the fundamental injustice of the streaming economy.
It is good to see Spotify suffer, at least in the short term. The Swedish streaming service has fostered a music-distribution model that is singularly hostile to the interests of working musicians. It pays out, on average, an estimated four-tenths of a cent per stream, meaning that a thousand streams nets around four dollars. That arrangement has reaped huge profits for major labels and for superstars while decimating smaller-scale musical incomes—as perfect an embodiment of the winner-takes-all neoliberal economy as has yet been devised.
Read More: https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/imagine-a-world-without-spotify
Twitch strikes strategic partnership with indie label agency Merlin
Amazon-owned livestreaming platform Twitch has struck a new agreement with independent label agency Merlin.
Merlin says that the partnership “recognizes the power of independent artists and their impact in the Twitch community”, and will create “revenue earning opportunities for Merlin members and their artists”.
The Collective Rights Management Directive: a positive assessment of the action of CMOs
5-years after the transposition deadline, the European Commission has concluded that the application of the Collective Rights Management Directive has had a positive effect on rightsholders and the licensing market. Therefore, there is no need for a review, said the Commission.
Now Warner scraps unrecouped balances for heritage artists. Will Universal be next?
Last summer, Sony Music Group shocked the global music industry by doing something historic: announcing it was disregarding unrecouped balances for thousands of heritage artists and songwriters who had signed to the company in previous decades.
DGA Urges Senators To Reject Joe Biden’s FCC Nominee Gigi Sohn; Vote Will Be Delayed Because Of Absence Of Sen. Ben Ray Luján
UPDATED, with information on delayed vote: The Directors Guild of America is urging the Senate Commerce Committee to reject Joe Biden’s nominee to the FCC, citing Gigi Sohn’s past stances on copyright.
The committee was scheduled to take up Sohn’s nomination on Wednesday, but it will be postponed because of the absence of Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), whose office announced that he suffered a stroke. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/02/gigi-sohn-fcc-dga-joe-biden-1234924405/
DJs are Phonogram Producers, says Dutch Supreme Court
On December 17, 2021, in a big win for electronic dance music (EDM) artists, the Dutch Supreme Court held that DJs own phonographic rights (neighbouring rights) in their home-produced recordings – not the record labels that commercially release them. The decision comes in a long-running dispute between world-famous Dutch DJ and EDM artist Martin Garrix and his former record label, Spinnin’ Records. Garrix had entered into a record production contract with the label at a very young age. Having become a successful DJ and finding the terms of the contract unfair, Garrix sought annulment for a variety of legal reasons. He also claimed that the phonographic rights that according to the language of the contract belonged to the label, were actually his own.
Frozen Mechanicals Crisis: Twelve Songwriter Groups Reject Majors Position that Copyright Royalty Board MUST Ignore Songwriter Objections
While Congress may have expressed enthusiasm for joint rate setting proposals being developed through arms-length, independent negotiations among the parties to a CRB rate-setting proceeding (which clearly may not have been what transpired in the present case among vertically integrated parties),[1] Congress was also crystal clear in another of its related statutory directives. Namely, that the CRB also has a duty to ensure that interested, non-participating parties who would be bound by the terms of the negotiated agreement are given the full opportunity to comment upon the proposal as part of the record of the proceeding prior to the proposal’s adoption or rejection by the CRB.
How to Report Earnings and Pay Dues Online
Dear [DGA] Members:
We have made it easy and convenient to securely report your earnings and pay your dues online. To learn more, please visit our step by step tutorial by clicking here.
Read More: https://www.dga.org/News/Guild-News/2022/EvergreenHomepageItems/How-to-Pay-Dues-Public.aspx
Joni Mitchell wants songs off Spotify in Covid row
Singer Joni Mitchell has joined Neil Young in asking for her music to be removed from Spotify over Covid misinformation concerns.
“Irresponsible people are spreading lies that are costing people their lives,” the Canadian singer said in a post on her official website.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-60177933
Joint statement: DSA – Missed opportunity to make the Internet safer
The undersigned organisations representing the creative and business communities of the film and audiovisual sector in Europe regret that the European Parliament plenary vote on the Digital Services Act failed to achieve the stated goal of making internet intermediaries more accountable and creating a safer, better-functioning online environment for everyone. Although the European Parliament intended to broaden the KYBC provision to apply to all online intermediaries, the due diligence obligations remain too weak and narrow. Critical elements, such as the immediate removal of illegal content and an enforceable trusted flagger mechanism should be improved in the upcoming trilogue negotiations.
TikTok under fire for how it pays creators
The Future. TikTok is facing the heat for its creator payment model. Although its $1 billion Creator Fund sounds generous, it’s a static fund, meaning that platform growth actually undermines creator earnings. In other words, when viewership goes up (which increases TikTok’s revenue), TikTok creators actually make less money. Now, high-profile creators like MrBeast and Hank Green are calling out TikTok… the platform may soon be forced to change its ways.
Concerns for Hollywood Megadeals Emerge Amid Justice Dept. Posturing
Federal antitrust enforcers are signaling they will increasingly challenge mergers, jeopardizing proposed deals between major media companies, studios and talent firms.
Cardi B awarded over £2m in damages in defamation case win
Cardi B has been awarded over £2 million in damages after winning a defamation lawsuit against a YouTuber.
The rapper and songwriter, known for songs including I Like It, Money and WAP, was subjected to a “malicious campaign” of false accusations by Latasha Kebe, known online as Tasha K.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-60124769
The Beatles and John Lennon memorabilia to be sold as NFTs
John Lennon’s eldest son Julian is selling several pieces of music history from his personal collection.
However, he will keep the physical items as each piece of memorabilia will be sold as a non-fungible token (NFT).
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-60121538
France’s Revamped Windowing Gives Netflix Earlier Access to Fresh Movies
After months of heated debates and clashes, the French film industry has set new windowing rules for movies that are released in local theaters.
The rules will apply to exhibitors, pay and free TV channels and subscription-based services. They’re expected to be signed by France’s Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot later on Monday (Jan. 24)
Three judges decide what Spotify, Apple, and YouTube Music pay songwriters in the US. One of those roles is now up for grabs.
In US, the mechanical royalty rate that music streaming services including Spotify and Apple Music pay songwriters, is set by the Copyright Royalty Board.
The CRB is currently in the midst of proceedings to determine songwriter streaming royalty rates for the five years between 2023 and 2027.
Spanish competition regulator launches new investigation into collecting society SGAE
The Spanish competition regulator, the CNMC, has launched new proceedings against the country’s big song rights collecting society SGAE following another complaint submitted by rival rights management organisation Unison.
European Parliament approves draft of Digital Services Act which is a mixed bag for the music industry
The European Parliament last week approved a version of the new EU Digital Services Act, which will bring in a bunch of new regulations in relation to digital platforms across Europe.
Various amendments to the initial European Commission drafted version of the DSA that were supported by the music and wider copyright industries were knocked back. Though so were various amendments about which the music and copyright industries had raised concerns. So, all in all, it was a mixed bag.
Entertainment Industry Coalition Urges Congress To Approve Tax Break For Performing Artists & Creative Professionals
A coalition of entertainment industry unions and associations is urging Congress to include the Performing Artist Tax Parity Act in any omnibus legislation that may come before the House and Senate for fiscal year 2022.
Jimi Hendrix estate goes to court following royalty claim from former Experience collaborators
The Jimi Hendrix estate and Sony Music have filed legal papers with the courts in New York seeking a declaratory judgement that agreements reached with other members of the Jimi Hendrix Experience in the early 1970s are still in force. The move follows threats in the UK by the estates of those former Experience members – Noel Redding and Mitch Mitchell – to sue for supposedly unpaid royalties.
Performing Arts Reps Warn House Hearing Not To Let “Creative Infrastructure Of Our Economy Vanish” As Covid Continues But Aid Doesn’t
Advocates for the creative economy — from the head of a performing arts center to a venue owner, an actor and an Actors’ Equity exec — lobbied Congress today to shore up the industry before it’s too late amid an ongoing Covid-19 crisis.
Department Of Labor Finds No Basis To Overturn SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher’s Election
Following a routine investigation, the U.S. Department of Labor has found no basis to overturn last year’s election of Fran Drescher as president of SAG-AFTRA. In rejecting protesters’ claims, the union’s own national election committee came to the same conclusion in October.
Britney Spears’ Fight Against Her Father Allegedly Feathering His Nest & Spying On Her Going To Mini-Trial
Britney Spears may be free of the restrictive conservatorship that ruled her life for 13 years, but the Toxic singer’s ongoing battle with her father is about to go to a whole other level.
At a hearing Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court, Judge Brenda Penny agreed with attorneys on both sides that an evidentiary hearing is needed to decide whether Jamie Spears spied on his daughter in her bedroom and elsewhere, and if he plundered the one-time Princess of Pop’s multimillion-dollar fortune.
Disney CEO Bob Chapek Earned $32M In FY2021; Former Chief Bob Iger’s Package At $46M
Walt Disney’s chief executive Bob Chapek’s compensation totaled $34.46 million in fiscal 2021, up from $14.16 million the year before.
Disney’s fiscal year ends in September. Chapek succeeded Bob Iger as CEO in February of 2020.
The current CEO’s package includes a salary of $2.5 million; stocks and option awards for, respectively, $10.2 million and $3.75 million; and non-equity incentive plan compensation of $10.3 million.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/01/disney-ceo-bob-chapek-bog-iger-compensation-executive-pay-1234915735/
CAA’s ICM takeover on hold due to antitrust investigation
Talent agency CAA’s acquisition of rival ICM Partners has reportedly been delayed due to an investigation by the US Department Of Justice’s competition law division.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/caas-icm-takeover-on-hold-due-to-antitrust-investigation/
Yet another legal filing in the long-running Shake It Off song-theft legal battle
The back and forth continues in the ‘Shake It Off’ song-theft legal battle, with the songwriters who accuse Taylor Swift of ripping off their work insisting their litigation should now head to a jury trial.
Nevermind baby re-files child pornography lawsuit against Nirvana
The man who appeared, as a baby, on the famous cover of Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ album has re-filed his litigation in relation to the artwork. And with the band arguing that Spencer Elden has left it too late to sue because of a statute of limitations, the new filing goes to great lengths to stress that Elden has continued to suffer as a result of the ongoing distribution of the artwork over the last decade.
Chris Brown and Drake hit back over No Guidance song-theft claim
Chris Brown and Drake have hit back at a song-theft claim which, they say, is “baseless”. Not only is there no credible explanation for how the two stars would have accessed the “obscure” song they are accused of ripping off on their 2019 hit ‘No Guidance’, there is no plausible case for suggesting their track infringes the earlier work. After all, the main similarity is the lyric “you got it”. Which Roy Orbison surely got to first.
Travis Scott sued over artwork used on unofficial compilation
As Travis Scott’s legal team continue to plough through the plethora of litigation in relation to last year’s Astroworld festival, another entirely unrelated lawsuit has landed in their in tray. The rapper is accused of using a French artist’s artwork for a compilation release without permission.
Nicole Scherzinger brands Pussycat Dolls lawsuit “meritless”
Following Nicole Scherzinger’s announcement last week that the Pussycat Dolls reunion tour was cancelled, the singer has now filed new court documents in the ongoing legal battle over her involvement in said tour.
Read More: https://completemusicupdate.com/article/nicole-scherzinger-brands-pussycat-dolls-lawsuit-meritless/
Disney, ‘Predator’ Screenwriters Settle Copyright Dispute
The screenwriters behind the original 1987 movie and Disney’s 20th Century Studios have agreed to drop dueling copyright lawsuits over the rights to the script in a confidential settlement.
‘Rust’ Armorer Sues Ammo Supplier Over Live Rounds That Killed Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
The police investigation into what really went down on the set of Rust in October 2021 when Alec Baldwin shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is still ongoing, but today the armorer in the spotlight of the troubled indie Western has launched her own legal action against the man she says supplied the fatal ammunition.
Elvis Costello to stop performing Oliver’s Army due to lyric controversy
Elvis Costello has said that he will no longer perform his song ‘Oliver’s Army’ live, due to controversy over use of the N-word in the song’s lyrics. He has also urged radio stations to stop playing the song at all, rather than playing a censored version.
Dark Horse litigation back in court, but judges cautious of over-extending copyright
Judges in the US Ninth Circuit appeals court maintained their skeptical position yesterday regarding extending copyright protection to short segments of music. Or at least that’s how it seemed as Christian rapper Marcus Gray tried to persuade them to overturn a lower court judgement in his song theft legal battle with Katy Perry.
Is it time to go back to the future on internet content regulation?
It’s no secret that governments are actively trying to manage internet content. Committees of the Congress, the EU, as well as democratic and authoritarian governments everywhere have been seeking new laws directly controlling internet content.
Here Are The Legal Issues Affecting Content Creators In 2022
For internet creators, the year 2021 brought a wide range of legal issues and opportunities, many of which will have a lasting impact into 2022 and beyond.
Read More: https://www.tubefilter.com/2022/01/11/content-creators-legal-cases-copyright-infringement/
Radio Music License Committee Reaches ‘Conditional’ Settlement With Global Music Rights
The RADIO MUSIC LICENSE COMMITTEE (RMLC) has reached a conditional settlement agreement with IRVING AZOFF’s GLOBAL MUSIC RIGHTS (GMR), ending long-running lawsuits between the parties. GMR will send each broadcaster a direct communication about the settlement, which it says will be confidential and should not be discussed outside the station’s radio group.
WME Hit With Fraud Suit By ‘La La Land’ Composer Over Concert Packaging Deal; Agency Says Claims “Without Merit”
EXCLUSIVE: A stinging lawsuit filed Monday by the composer of La La Land may leave WME wishing they’d been slipped the wrong envelope.
However, unlike the Academy Awards’ Best Picture debacle of 2017, the breach of contract, negligence and fraud complaint by Oscar and Grammy winner Justin Hurwitz against the agency and its now-divested production arm Endeavor Content over a touring “live-to-film concert” of the Damien Chazelle-directed movie seems much more than a mere sleight of hand.
Bob Dylan urges court to uphold ruling in dispute with former collaborator’s estate
Bob Dylan would like it to be known that judge Barry Ostrager was dead right when he dismissed a lawsuit filed by the estate of one of his former collaborators. And given just how dead right Ostrager undoubtedly was, why allow that estate to have a second go at grabbing a cut of Dylan’s big pay day from his 2020 Universal catalogue deal?
China Prohibits All Music Platforms From Inking Exclusive Copyright Deals Following Tencent Music Crackdown
About four months after Tencent Music (NYSE: TME) officially canceled its exclusive-music deals to comply with an order from the Chinese government, a copyright-oversight agency has barred all domestic streaming platforms from signing the agreements.
The streaming royalty wars return
A LANDMARK YEAR FOR STREAMING MUSIC — The Copyright Royalty Board is set to return to the spotlight as it decides the rates that digital music services like Apple Music and Google must pay songwriters and music publishers for their work through 2027. The board, part of the Library of Congress, determines the rates for five-year periods if the groups can’t reach agreement on their own.
John Legend Sells Music Catalog to BMG and Investment Firm KKR
Grammy and Oscar-winning singer/songwriter John Legend is the latest to cash in and has sold his music catalog to record label BMG and investment firm KKR, according to an insider with knowledge of the deal.
Top Disney Lawyer To Become Top Copyright Office Lawyer, Because Who Cares About The Public Interest?
People at the Copyright Office seem to get mad at me every time I suggest that the Copyright Office is captured by Hollywood, and pointing out how top officials there all seem to bounce back and forth between the Copyright Office and Hollywood.
Catch ’22: A Complete* List Of Absolutely Everything The Music Business Needs To Fix Or Get Rid Of In 2022 (*Almost)
Fans of chronology will almost certainly have noticed by now that it is a new year.
This is traditionally a time for ablution, scouring the past and treating the calendar as a palimpsest where one can set some goals (some noble, some not always achievable) for the 12 months ahead.
In keeping with that fine convention, here are 22 things the music business really needs to stop doing or to fix before the calendar flips over into 2023.
Nipsey Hussle Estate Wins Restraining Order Against Counterfeit Merchandisers
Back in September, the estate of Nipsey Hussle filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against a number of merchandisers for allegedly selling unauthorized products bearing the late rapper’s name and likeness. Now, the presiding judge has granted the plaintiff’s motion for a temporary restraining order.
Read More: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/01/04/nipsey-hussle-counterfeit-merch-order/
Are You Up To Date Online?
DGA Members,
Start the new year off right by making sure the Guild has your updated contact information in order to keep you fully informed about the latest Guild news and events. Also, take advantage of our newly-added ability to customize your email preferences to receive information tailored to your interests and learn how to utilize the website’s “Remember Me” function and more.
Read More: https://www.dga.org/News/Guild-News/2022/Jan2022/AreYouUpToDateOnline-PB.aspx
Will Streaming Peak and 10 More Questions for Hollywood in 2022
2022 figures to be another year of massive change in Hollywood.
Three major deals — Amazon’s purchase of MGM, CAA’s merger with ICM, Discovery’s takeover of WarnerMedia — all are on track to become a reality in 2022 (more on that below). That means more reorganizations, more layoffs and more consolidation from others seeking to compete in a content-based industry undergoing massive change.
David Bowie: Singer’s estate sells rights to his entire body of work to WCM
David Bowie’s estate has sold the publishing rights to his “entire body of work” to Warner Chappell Music, including hundreds of songs such as Space Oddity, Changes and Let’s Dance.
WCM now has global music publishing rights to his song catalogue, the singer’s estate told the BBC.
Read More: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-59860096
Now the voice dubbing industry is being disrupted by AI
The Israeli startup DeepDub claims that it can dub films, television shows, and video games while retaining the pitch and tone of the original actors in any given process. This allows them to recreate the voices of famous actors in other languages, as well as provide an efficient alternative to hiring voice actors to dub individual films or television shows.
Read More: https://analyticsindiamag.com/now-the-voice-dubbing-industry-is-being-disrupted-by-ai/
Nirvana ‘Nevermind’ Baby Album Cover Lawsuit Dismissed by Judge
The lawsuit over Nevermind’s album art that Spencer Elden lobbied against Nirvana was dismissed by a judge on Monday (Jan. 3) after Elden, the 30-year-old man photographed for the album cover when he was a baby, missed a deadline to file an opposition in the case.
Elden (pictured above) had until Dec. 30 to refile after members of the defunct grunge band and their related business entities sought a dismissal two weeks ago. They said Elden had spent the last three decades profiting from his celebrity as the “Nirvana Baby” and that the suit was past the statute of limitations.
Read More: https://loudwire.com/nirvana-nevermind-baby-lawsuit-dismissed/
Lou Reed Album Stealthily Dropped Before Christmas — Then Quickly Withdrawn
A 17-track album of Lou Reed demos dropped in Europe right before Christmas — before disappearing days later.
The album was titled “I’m So Free: The 1971 RCA Demos” and was released by RCA/Sony Music on iTunes in Europe. It was not available in the United States and just a few days later, the entire collection was pulled. The Lou Reed album was part of a copyright dump on RCA’s part to keep the copyright in their hands.
Read More: https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2022/01/03/lou-reed-album-copyright-dump-2021/
Music Publishers Win Major Copyright Fight Over Streaming of Legendary Rock Concerts
A federal judge concludes that Wolfgang’s Vault lacked requisite license to stream hundreds of iconic songs.
The Wall Street Journal once called Wolfgang’s Vault, a collection of thousands of live concert performances, “the most important collection of rock memorabilia and recordings ever assembled.”
On Monday, however, in a case that went into the finer details of music licensing and featured depositions from Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Keith Richards, David Byrne and Michael Stipe, a federal judge concluded that the owners of Wolfgang’s Vault had committed massive copyright infringement by streaming the collection to the public.
TV Ratings And Box Office Numbers Grow Increasingly Fuzzy As Nielsen And Rivals Grapple With Streaming Boom
Numbers, those longtime pillars of the entertainment business, determiners of pay scale and quantifiers of the hot and the not, are vanishing from public view.
Read More: https://deadline.com/2022/01/streaming-tv-ratings-movie-box-office-measurement-outlook-1234903058/
How Unions Saved Hollywood During The Pandemic And What’s In Store For 2022
Hollywood’s guilds and unions saved the film and TV business in 2021. Working cooperatively with the industry’s companies, they adopted Covid-19 protocols that got production booming and their members safely back to work, all the while averting strikes that would have crippled recovery efforts.
The 5 Worst Copyright Decisions of 2021
I don’t know about you, but my 2021 actually made 2020 look pretty, prettay, prettaay good by comparison. This was the year we actually had to try to pretend everything was back to normal when, frankly, it was anything but. So, forget all the “best of” lists that I’m sure are clogging up your feeds right now. Here are