Creative Industries
Main stories — Week 35, 2022
Here’s a list of the main stories published by Creative Industries News in the past week.
LEAD STORY
> BMI hails ‘an exceptionally strong year’ with record revenue ($1.573bn) and distributions ($1.471bn) in 2021-2022
> Analysis: A good omen for the future of music rights
COPYRIGHT & REGULATION
> China is cracking down on online infringement with a focus on NFTs and digital collectibles
> MEPs and media companies urge EU Commission to introduce a legislative proposal to fight the piracy of live content
> Sony and Zee offer concessions to appease regulators about plans to merge their television operations in India
LITIGATION
> Appeals court overturns a ruling awarding $1.4 million to rapper Rackboy Cam
> Voltage Holdings sues Verizon for enabling copyright infringement via BitTorrent sites
CMOs & LICENSING
> PRS for Music joins forces with KOMCA to ensure that Korean OTT services secure licenses and remunerate creators
> Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) confirms MCSN as the sole CMO for music works and sound recordings
CREATIVE INDUSTRIES
> Sony Music re-brands Kobalt Neighbouring Rights as Kollective Neighbouring Rights with Ann Tausis named CEO of KNR
> Universal Music Group launches a new stand-alone division — Virgin Music Group
> ANote Music ventures into metal with the catalogue listing of Machine Head’s guitarist and songwriter Logan Mader
> Cineworld files for bankruptcy in the US
> Norway’s FONO receives IMPALA’s Outstanding Contribution Award
> Sony Music exits the Russian market
> IMPALA launches new Climate Training and Standards project IMPACTS
DIGITAL ECONOMY
> YouTube paid $6bn to the music industry in 2021-22 and pledges to be the sector’s #1 contributor of revenue by 2025
> Beatstar has generated $73m in revenue with $16m paid to labels and publishers
> Gaana switches to a subscription model
> Spotify to launch audiobooks offer
DEALS
– Utopia acquires distributor Cinram Novum
– PopArabia and Reservoir Media acquire Lebanese music company Voice of Beirut
– Chris Stapleton renews global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music
– Public Enemy’s Chuck D sells song catalogue to Reach Music Publishing
– Position Music signs Brandyn Burnette to a worldwide publishing deal
– Prescription Songs and Linear Management sign Dominique Sanders to a global publishing deal
IN THE NEWS
– PIXELYNX introduces advisory board
– Spirit Music Group promotes Frank Rogers to Chief Creative Officer
– Tuned Global appoints Rick Gleave as SVP, Head of Europe & MENA
– Believe has named Béatrice Dumurgier as the Group’s Chief Operating Officer
INTERVIEWS
In case you missed it, Creative Industries News published recent Q&As with:
– Bruno Guez (Revelator)
– Andrea C Martin (PRS for Music)
– Cécile Rap-Veber (SACEM)
– Molly Neuman (Songtrust)
– Jordi Puy (Unison)
– Olivier Chastan (Iconoclast)
– Ken Umezaki (Verifi)
– Paul Pacifico (AIM)
– Spek (PopArabia)
– Merk Mercuriadis (Hipgnosis) (Part 1)
– Merk Mercuriadis (Hipgnosis) (Part 2)
OPINION
In case you missed it, Creative Industries News published recent opinion pieces from:
– Susan Cotchin (Good Neighbour Rights): ‘Australia’s decision to limit the application of Art. 15 of WIPO’s WPPT has impacted Australian artists in a big way’
– Helen Smith (IMPALA): ‘We don’t believe equitable remuneration is equitable at all’
– Jonathan Reichman and Jeremy King (Hunton Andrews Kurth): ‘Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith is an opportunity for US Supreme Court to clarify fair use’
– Kevin Casini: ‘Stakeholders need to take a long-term view with the Copyright Royalty Board’s rate-setting proceedings’
– Barry Scannell (IMRO): ‘Royalty-based NFTs have limited fungibility’
Copyright & Regulation
WIN calls on EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to “block” the acquisition of Downtown by Universal Music Group
WIN calls on EU Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis to “block” the acquisition of Downtown by Universal Music Group
Jeff Toig promoted to CEO of US rights society Global Music Rights as Randy Grimmett becomes Executive Chairman
Kobalt seals a global publishing partnership with India’s Madverse music
The MLC plans webinars to show members how to use tools to manage song data
Six takeaways from The MLC’s first annual report for 2021: distributions, membership, matching rates, processed works, historical unmatched works and expenditures
Cécile Rap-Veber (SACEM): ‘We are a solutions provider to create value, a tech company, and we are less and less seen as some sort of cultural institution’
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Collective Management Organisations3 years agoThe MLC plans webinars to show members how to use tools to manage song data
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Collective Management Organisations3 years agoSix takeaways from The MLC’s first annual report for 2021: distributions, membership, matching rates, processed works, historical unmatched works and expenditures
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Collective Management Organisations4 years agoCécile Rap-Veber (SACEM): ‘We are a solutions provider to create value, a tech company, and we are less and less seen as some sort of cultural institution’
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Interview4 years agoOlivier Chastan (Iconoclast): ‘Name, image and likeness will be as important as music rights in the future’