Chris Cooke: Last News

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the ruling that Lizzo can keep the $5 million fee she was paid to play the 2020 LA Virgin Fest that never happened because of COVID, and YouTube’s announcement that it handed more than $6 billion over to the music industry in the twelve months to June this year.

The Artist:Entrepreneur Day from the Featured Artists Coalition and CMU:DIY is returning to Manchester next month in partnership with English Folk Expo.Once again three FAC artist entrepreneurs will talk about their individual artist businesses, explaining how music-makers go about building a fanbase, and generating revenues from their music rights, shows and fan relationships.They will be joined by CMU’s Chris Cooke and a team of music industry experts to provide insights, ideas and lots of practical advice for early-career music-makers looking to build a business around their music.This is all happening on Saturday 15 Oct at Home in Manchester. Info and tickets here.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the claims of racism that saw ‘virtual’ rapper FN Meka dropped by Universal’s Capitol label, and the controversy surrounding the discovery that digital processes have been used by a supposedly analogue reissues label for more than a decade.SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Capitol drops ‘virtual’ rapper FN Meka after claims of racism• Human voice of ‘AI’ rapper FN Meka says he was cut out of the project• FN Meka spokesperson Anthony Martini quits project, admits there was less AI involved than claimed• Audiophile label sued over misleading statements regarding its mastering processALSO MENTIONED• Michael Jackson’s nephew says Harry Styles cannot be the ‘new king of pop’• Capitol Drops ‘Virtual Rapper’ FN Meka After Backlash Over Stereotypes (New York Times)• This robot rapper and 9m following on TikTok.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Timbaland and Swizz Beats suing video sharing platform Triller over $28 million they say the company owes them from a deal relating to the popular livestream DJ battle series Verzuz, Snoop Dogg’s new breakfast cereal, and the legal battle over the name of Nicki Minaj’s Barbie-Que Honey Truffle potato chips.SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Timbaland and Swizz Beats sue Triller• Snoop Dogg launches breakfast cereal, Snoop Loopz• Mattel sues over Nicki Minaj’s Barbie-Que snacksALSO MENTIONED• HitPiece back from the deadMORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Taylor Swift’s statement to a US court as part of the long-running song-theft legal battle over her 2014 hit ‘Shake It Off’ in which she explains how she came up with the lyrics for her track, while also insisting there was no way she could have been exposed to the song she is accused of ripping off before creating ‘Shake It Off’, plus some interesting new stats comparing consumer spending in the UK on recorded music and live music – and the impact of COVID-19 on all that.SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Taylor Swift submits statement to court in ongoing Shake It Off song-theft legal battle• From Suffering to Recovering: The stats that explain why the UK music industry is set for a dramatic post-lockdown comeback (Music Business Worldwide)ALSO MENTIONED• UK label spend on A&R and marketing reach almost £500 million last yearMORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including ruling that rapper Youngboy Never Broke Again’s lyrics cannot be used as evidence during his trial on firearms charges, and how that fits into the wider Rap On Trial debate in the US.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Four Tet and Domino’s settlement of their legal battle over what royalty rate the musician should be paid on streams and what it could mean for other artists, plus Belgium’s decision to add equitable remuneration to streams and IMPALA’s plea to other European countries not to follow suit.SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Domino Records settles Four Tet dispute, commits to pay 50% royalty on digital• Domino comments on Four Tet settlement, insists no precedent set• Belgium introduces ER right on streams• IMPALA calls for French style agreements on fair digital remuneration instead of ERALSO MENTIONED• French performer and label groups reach voluntary agreement regarding digital remunerationMORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin• Listen to the full Setlist theme tune

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including BTS’s announcement that they are going on break to focus on solo projects – but whatever you do, don’t call it a hiatus – plus Goldman Sachs’ big predictions for music industry growth to the end of the decade.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the UK’s Music Managers Forum new report on the topic of digital burnout and the wider debate around pressures being placed by the music industry on artists – particularly female artists – to be heavily active on TikTok, plus the petition calling on UK song rights collecting society PRS to reconsider its decision to reduce the funding it provides to the PRS Foundation.

A special live edition of the show recorded live at Wide Days in Edinburgh.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Deezer’s announcement that it is going public with a valuation of more than €1 billion, as a result of a deal to merge with French special purpose acquisition company I2PO that will result in the streaming music firm being publicly listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange, plus Tyga’s entry into the torrid world of sports shoe litigation.SECTION TIMES01: Deezer (00:05:49)02: Tyga (00:23:15)(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Deezer to go public with €1.05 billion valuation• Tyga’s MSCHF trainers prompt legal battle with VansALSO MENTIONED• Deezer announces partnership with German broadcaster RTL Deutschland (November 2021)• Deezer’s IPO is off (October 2015)• Setlist: Lil Nas X’s Satan Shoes recalled back to Hell (April 2021)• Tommy Cash has collaborated with Adidas on some really long shoes (NME)MORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the battle over Sheffield’s Leadmill venue after its current management were served with an eviction notice with plans for the building’s landlord to install their own team, plus the producer suing Justin Bieber for allegedly breaking promises on royalties.SECTION TIMES01: The Leadmill (00:10:45)02: Justin Bieber (00:25:06)(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Sheffield Leadmill landlord says building will remain a music venue, despite eviction notice• Dispute over the future of Sheffield’s The Leadmill rages on• The Leadmill landlords have already begun registering the trademark for Electric Sheffield• “The Leadmill will not continue” following landlord takeover, says current General Manager• Leadmill management petition for suspension of Section 25 of Landlord And Tenant Act as dispute with landlord continues• Bieber producer sues over points disputeALSO MENTIONED• Industry Takeover Seminars• Sound + Vision Comedy Conference• Great Escape Conference schedules published as more keynotes and conversations are confirmedMORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the lawsuit launched against Fortnite maker Epic Games by the choreographer behind the dance routine in the video for the Charlie Puth song ‘How Long’ alleging that an ’emote’ available within the gaming platform utilises his choreography without licence, and the US Copyright Royalty Board’s rejection of industry proposals on royalty rates for discs and downloads.SECTION TIMES01: Fortnite dance (00:05:56)02: Copyright Royalty Board (00:15:57)(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Choreographer on Charlie Puth video reignites debate about dance copyright on Fortnite• US Copyright Royalty Board rejects proposal to keep mechanical royalty on discs and downloads unchangedALSO MENTIONED• Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins dies• Mira Calix dies• The Wanted’s Tom Parker diesMORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the latest stats from the IFPI showing that global recorded music revenues grew 18.5% in 2021, plus a whole load more stats from Spotify aiming to fend of criticism about the money artists and songwriters earn from the platform (although possibly not doing that good a job of it).SECTION TIMES01: IFPI stats (00:05:50)02: Spotify stats (00:31:13)(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Global record industry revenues grew 18.5% to $25.9 billion in 2021• Spotify paid $7 billion to the music industry last year – and other fun stat bragsALSO MENTIONED• Shape Of You song-theft court case concludesMORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Ed Sheeran’s trip to the High Court in London in a bid to defeat a song-theft lawsuit filed against him and his musical collaborators in relation to his 2017 track ‘Shape Of You’, and the return of LimeWire – not as a piece of peer-to-peer file-sharing software, but as a music NFT marketplace.

May is now appearing on the horizon, which means this year’s Great Escape will be with us very soon. Yesterday 120 more artists were added to the bill, including Alfie Templeman, Blackhaine, Chrissi, MUNA, Spill Tab, STONE, Bru-C, Casisdead, Kid Kapichi, Lido Pimienta and many more.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including Megan Thee Stallion’s legal dispute over the definition of an album – and specifically whether her 2021 released ‘Something For Thee Hotties’ is one or now – plus the eventful rollout of Kanye West’s latest album, ‘Donda 2’.SECTION TIMES01: Megan Thee Stallion (00:06:14)02: Kanye West (00:18:14)(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Megan Thee Stallion goes back to court to dispute label’s definition of “album”• Kanye West says he sold more than $2 million worth of Donda 2 players in 24 hours• Kanye West misses Donda 2 release date• Kanye West releases four Donda 2 tracks• Kanye West releases Donda 2 (or at least a version of it)ALSO MENTIONED• Live Nation upbeat as it publishes its 2021 figures• Storm Eunice: Record wind gust amid disruption (BBC News)MORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the controversy sparked by a company called HitPiece after it appeared to be selling NFTs related to a plethora of musicians without permission, plus accusations by Lil Yachty that another music-focussed NFT Company, Opulous, used his name and brand as part of its launch communications, even though – he claims – he had not agreed to get involved in the venture.SECTION TIMES01: HitPiece (00:08:37)02: Lil Yachty (00:20:55)(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Artists and labels hit out at unofficial NFTs site that allows people to “own a song”• Lil Yachty sues music NFT start-up Opulous for trademark infringement• Opulous says Lil Yachty lawsuit is “meritless”ALSO MENTIONED• Joe Rogan and Daniel Ek commit to beefed up and more transparent content polices in response to Neil Young boycott• Spotify science podcaster hits out at Spotify’s response to Rogan backlash• Spotify boycott grows as Young v Rogan fallout continuesMORE FROM CMU• Upcoming CMU webinars• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week. On this episode we’re discussing just one story that dominated the headlines over the last seven days – Neil Young’s protest against the Joe Rogan Experience podcast on Spotify.

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke review key events in music and the music business from the last week, including the US Ninth Circuit appeals court judges’ skeptical approach to an attempt to have the song-theft case over Katy Perry’s ‘Dark Horse’ reinstated and other song-theft lawsuits currently working their way through the courts, plus Spotify’s successful bid to block a trademark application for legal marijuana selling platform, Potify.SECTION TIMES01: Katy Perry (00:06:00)02: Spotify (00:23:56)(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)SUBSCRIBE TO SETLISTListen to Setlist and sign up to receive new episodes for free automatically each week through any of these services…Acast | Amazon Music | Apple Podcasts | audioBoom | CastBox | Deezer | Google Podcasts | iHeart | Mixcloud | RSS | Spotify | Stitcher | TuneInSTORIES DISCUSSED THIS WEEK• Dark Horse litigation back in court, but judges cautious of over-extending copyright• Taylor Swift has one last go at getting the Shake It Off song-theft lawsuit dismissed• Chris Brown and Drake hit back over No Guidance song-theft claim• Spotify successfully blocks Potify trademark applicationALSO MENTIONED• Over 250 scientists and medics hit out at Spotify over Joe Rogan podcast• Chris Brown & Drake – No Guidance (YouTube)• Mr Cooper – I Love Your Dress (YouTube)• Burger King – You Got It Your Way advert 1992 (YouTube)• Roy Orbison – You Got It (YouTube)• Jack Dee Burger King routine (YouTube)MORE FROM CMU• Buy MMF and CMU Insights’ Dissecting The Digital Dollar book on Amazon• Sign up to receive the CMU Daily news bulletin

CMU’s Andy Malt and Chris Cooke discuss the tragedy that occurred at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival in Houston Texas on Friday 5 Nov. Nine people were killed and hundreds more injured after a dangerous crowd-surge occurred during Scott’s headline set at the festival.