Welcome to Music Business Global’s roundup – where we make sure you catch the five biggest stories making our top headlines. MBW’s review is supported by China Travel Servicehelping more than 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximize their income and reduce touring costs.
If you’re like many of us, you’re taking advantage of this holiday season, now’s your chance to catch up on music business news – Five of the most meaningful industry headlines Judging from the past few weeks.
Long story short: there are several noteworthy developments universal music group.
First, on December 23, UMG and Amazon Music Announced a new licensing agreement that will advance UMG’s vision”Streaming 2.0“: Streaming subscribers are more segmented, ARPU is higher (partly due to higher subscription rates), and a more “artist-centric” royalty payment approach.
Meanwhile, on Thursday (January 2), we learned Bill Ackermanof pershing squareOne of Universal Music Group’s (UMG) largest shareholders has closed a limited-life fund. So Pershing Square is handing over part of UMG Stocks – Value 2.6% UMG’s outstanding shares – for private investors.
Elsewhere, three music publishersIncluding UMG, this week with Anthropic selectionClaude, the developer of an AI chatbot that aims to prevent AI platform “guardrails” Training on lyrics represented by UMG.
UMG, harmony, and ABCCO In 2023, Anthropic sued Anthropic, accusing Claude of blatantly plagiarizing copyrighted lyrics. The case continues.
Beyond UMG News…Duke University School of Law studied Music IP enters the public domain in the United States in 2025, which includes 1924 recordings such as George Gershwinof rhapsody in blue, Al Jolsonof California here I comeand Jelly Roll Mortonof shreveport stampede.
Finally, the new year brings new honor list In the UK, this includes some of the biggest names in the music industry. Britons receiving new titles this year include atlantic records executive vice president Austin Dabo, sony music Vice President Jackie Hydeand broadcasters Jasmine Dotiwala.
Here’s what happens when you drink eggnog…
1) Universal Music Group signs a new agreement with Amazon Music, including exclusive content… and centered on “Streaming Media 2.0”
universal music group (UMG) and Amazon Music On December 23, the two parties jointly announced the renewal of the global licensing agreement.
According to a press release, the deal covers “expanded global relationships that will foster further innovation, exclusive content with UMG artists, and advance artist-centric principles, including enhanced fraud protections.”
The PR claims the deal will ensure “UMG’s artists are [Amazon Music’s] Continuous product improvements and exclusive content enhance authentic interactions between artists and fans.”
Universal Music Group CEO and Chairman spoke in a statement today Sir Lucian Grange Commented: “We are very excited to advance our long-standing and exciting partnership with Amazon Music, which marks a new era of streaming- Streaming 2.0…”
Photo: Christopher Tripral/Alami
2) PERSHING SQUARE distributed 47 million shares of Universal Music to investors and was delisted from the Amsterdam Exchange
Bill Ackermanof Pershing Square Capital Management (PSCM) is closing an investment fund that holds shares in the following companies universal music groupand is being distributed 47 million Music company shares to co-investors in the fund.
The news came on the same day pershing square holdings corp.PSCM’s closed-end fund announced that it has received regulatory approval to delist from Euronext Amsterdam.
Pershing Square Holdings 10.25% According to UMG’s annual report, UMG’s share count will decrease by the end of 2023. Total 47 million shares allocated by Pershing Square 2.6% UMG’s outstanding shares. After the distribution, the investment company will still hold 140 million shares, or 7.6% Pershing Square said in a statement Thursday that UMG’s.
“PSVII Funds elected to distribute UMG stock rather than cash to its limited partners because we believe UMG stock is significantly undervalued at its current stock price and the tax-free stock distribution allows our limited partners to continue to own UMG stock,” Pershing Square said…
Marcus Spisk/Unsplash
3) Music by George Gershwin and Al Jolson entered the public domain; the following are music works that have lost copyright in the United States
On January 1, 2025, thousands of copyrighted works from 1929 and sound recordings from 1924 will enter the U.S. public domain.
This year’s production includes classic songs such as singing in the rain and Not misbehaving.
On the recording side, the repertoire now “open for legal reuse,” according to Duke University School of Law, includes a collection of pieces performed in 1924. George Gershwin Performance rhapsody in blue, Jelly Roll Morton Play shreveport stampedeas well as early recordings of contralto and civil rights icons marian anderson…(Duke University School of Law)
4) Anthropic commits to erecting copyright protection “guardrails” in mid-litigation agreement with Universal
universal music group achieved some breakthroughs in the cases it targeted Anthropic selection – Generative AI platform sued by UMG (plus Concord and ABKCO) for alleged copyright infringement.
The plaintiff alleged Anthropic selectionwhich absorbed $8 billion investment comes from Amazonplagiarized copyrighted lyrics to train its artificial intelligence chatbot Claude.
In the latest development, Anthropic selection Committed to implementing existing “guardrails” to prevent ingestion of lyrics by plaintiffs’ representatives on its platform. Importantly, according to a California legal filing, these “guardrails” will apply to the company’s future technology developments and products.
Music rights holder files lawsuit Anthropic selection Despite the new agreement, it continues. according to hollywood reporter“The court is expected to decide in the coming months whether to issue [a] The preliminary injunction will prohibit Anthropic from using lyrics owned by the publisher to train future models.”… (Hollywood Reporter)
5) AUSTIN DABOH, JACKIE HYDE, JASMINE DOTIWALA, STEVE LAMACQ selected for British New Year Honors List
Britain’s latest New Year Honors list has been revealed and includes some familiar faces from the music industry. Those with new titles include:
Austin Dabo OBE (Executive Vice President, atlantic records britishfor music services);
Jackie Hyde MBE (Vice President of Artist and Corporate Relations, sony musicproviding services to the music industry);
Jasmine Dotiwala OBE (Long-standing broadcaster, servicing radio, music and equality, diversity and inclusion);
Steve Lamarque MBE (Long-time broadcaster and patron of the BBC music venue trustservices for broadcasting and music venues)…
MBW’s weekly roundup is powered by Centtrip, a company that helps more than 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximize their earnings and reduce touring costs.global music business
