One unexpected news item this week was the announcement that artist and producer Timbaland is joining generative AI company Suno as a strategic advisor, despite Suno being embroiled in a legal battle with the record majors over alleged unauthorized use of copyrighted music.
AI music generator Suno is one of the most controversial entities in the music business today.
In June, the $500 million company was sued by the major record companies, along with fellow AI firm Udio, for allegedly training their systems using the majors’ recordings without permission – an accusation they pretty much admitted to in court filings in August.
The legal headache and negative perception in the record industry don’t seem to have stopped one Grammy-winning artist and producer from working with the company.
Timbaland has formed an official partnership with Suno, joining the platform as a strategic advisor after what it says were “months” of him “being a top user of the platform”…
TikTok has announced that it has struck a multi-year direct deal with prominent indie artist services and distribution platform UnitedMasters.
One interesting aspect of this story: UnitedMasters is a Merlin member. MBW understands that UnitedMasters was licensed through Merlin until this deal.
The current blanket licensing deal between social media giant TikTok and independent music licensing group Merlin officially expires on October 31.
As reported earlier this month, TikTok recently scrapped re-licensing discussions with Merlin, blaming “operational challenges with Merlin in the past where music that is not quality controlled for copyright is delivered”…
SESAC Music Group has acquired HAAWK, a media software and services company specializing in copyright management and monetization for independent music, film, television, and video catalogs.
HAAWK (which stands for Helping All Assets With Knowledge) provides ‘full-service’ administration of YouTube’s Content ID system and Facebook’s Rights Manager platforms (including Instagram), and works with a number of record labels, publishers, and music rightsholder clients.
The company also operates a distribution service called Diistro and a Micro Sync Music Licensing platform called Keyframe Audio.
The deal for HAAWK marks the latest in a series of acquisitions for SESAC Music Group in recent years…
UMPG says that in her elevated position, Knoepfle will expand the company’s US A&R team and lead its executives in “identifying, signing and nurturing new and developing songwriters, artists and producers, as well as creating and providing opportunities for legacy talent to enhance their artistry and careers”.
Knoepfle will also focus on growing UMPG’s “catalog of contemporary hits and iconic songs”…
Stringer further confirmed that Sony recently acquired a stake in Michael Jackson’s catalog, a deal which is thought to encompass 50% of the King of Pop’s music rights portfolio.
If you believe industry whisperers (MBW included), Sony — backed by cash from Apollo — has cumulatively spent over $2 billion combined on MJ, Queen, and Pink Floyd.
So why did Stringer and Sony lay down such vast sums on these vintage catalogs? And, Jackson aside, why has Sony bet so big on ‘classic rock’ in an age when it’s far from the dominant genre on streaming services?
Here are three good reasons…
MBW’s Weekly Round-Up is supported by Centtrip, which helps over 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximise their income and reduce their touring costs.Music Business Worldwide
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