Dylan Smith

Cherry Red Records Acquires Soul and R&B Label Dome Records: ‘It’s Time to Hand Over the Reins to a New Custodian’

May 20, 2025

(l to r) Cherry Red Records MD Adam Velasco; Korda Marshall (a consultant on today's deal); Cherry Red founder and chairman Iain McNay; Dome Records founder Peter Robinson; Dome GM Santosh Robinson; and Cherry... Read More...

Podcasts With a Side of Drugs: Spotify Faces Criticism Over Uploads Promoting Illegal Substance Sales

Dylan Smith

May 19, 2025

Spotify is facing criticism for allegedly hosting a number of 'podcasts' promoting illegal drug sales. Photo Credit: Joshua Coleman Audio entertainment with a side of drugs: Spotify has reportedly booted a nu... Read More...

Ed Sheeran Legal Team Petitions Against Supreme Court Review in ‘Thinking Out Loud’ Case Appeal

Dylan Smith

May 19, 2025

A live performance from Ed Sheeran, whose legal team is urging the Supreme Court to reject a cert petition in a marathon 'Thinking Out Loud' copyright dispute. Photo Credit: Mark Kent Ed Sheeran is firing bac... Read More...

UMG’s Global Talent Services (GTS) Acquires Latin Music Management Company RLM

Dylan Smith

May 19, 2025

Global Talent Services head Narcís Rebollo and Rosa Lagarrigue, who's now GTS' global EVP. Photo Credit: Universal Music Universal Music’s little-discussed Global Talent Services (GTS) Latin artist services a... Read More...

Live Nation and AEG Reportedly Face Criminal Antitrust Probe Over Alleged Ticket-Refund Collusion

Dylan Smith

May 16, 2025

The Robert F. Kennedy Building, which serves as the DOJ headquarters. Photo Credit: ajay_suresh Live Nation is reportedly grappling with yet another wave of Justice Department scrutiny. Now, a reported crimin... Read More...

Spotify India, Other Services Reportedly Remove ‘All’ Pakistani Releases Following Government Order

Dylan Smith

May 16, 2025

Connaught Place, New Delhi. Photo Credit: Kabi1990 DSPs including Spotify India have reportedly removed “all” Pakistani music in response to a related government advisory. The Ministry of Information and Bro... Read More...

Anthropic Counsel Apologizes for Citation ‘Hallucination’ in Music Publishers Lawsuit — Pinning Most of the Blame on Claude

Dylan Smith

May 16, 2025

Anthropic counsel has apologized for a citation 'hallucination' in an expert testimony submitted as part of a copyright battle with music publishers. Photo Credit: Igor Omilaev Time to lay off the use of AI i... Read More...

Reservoir Musicraft Entertainment acquisition

Reservoir Kicks Off India Expansion by Acquiring ‘Entire’ Musicraft Entertainment Catalog

Dylan Smith

May 15, 2025

Reservoir exec Spek, who oversees the operations of Musicraft Entertainment purchaser PopIndia. Photo Credit: Reservoir Media One month after launching a Mumbai-based subsidiary called PopIndia, Reservoir Med... Read More...

Universal Music Expands Deutsche Grammophon and Blue Note Into China, Reveals Initial Signings and Releases

Dylan Smith

May 15, 2025

A live performance from Yuja Wang, who's signed on as an artistic advisor at the newly launched Deutsche Grammophon China. Photo Credit: Quincena Musical Universal Music Group’s aggressive China expansion isn... Read More...

Royalties Rift Resolved: Snoop Dogg and Spotify Patch Things Up Just in Time for ‘Iz It a Crime?’ Release

Dylan Smith

May 15, 2025

Snoop Dogg, who seems to have put his Spotify dispute in the rearview. Photo Credit: gcardinal Just in time for today's release of a surprise album entitled Iz It a Crime?, Snoop Dogg looks to have put his lo... Read More...

Sony Music Reports Double-Digit Full-Year Revenue Jump — And 4.8% Streaming Growth for Q1 2025

Dylan Smith

May 14, 2025

SZA, whose SOS Deluxe: Lana generated the most recorded revenue of any Sony Music release during Q1 2025 as well as the 12 months ended March 31st. Photo Credit: Erin Cazes Sony Music Entertainment (SME) achi... Read More...

SoundCloud Announces Terms Update Amid AI Training Controversy — IP-Rights Advocate Says ‘The Change Doesn’t Go Nearly Far Enough’

Dylan Smith

May 14, 2025

SoundCloud CEO Eliah Seton, who's responded to the ongoing controversy about his platform's AI training policies. Photo Credit: SoundCloud Amid pushback targeting an AI-focused update to his platform’s terms ... Read More...

Author Dylan Smith