On this week’s show, we discuss the latest escalation in the fight over Spotify’s reclassification of its premium subscription as an audiobook and music bundle in the US, the lawsuit against Drake for putting one of his own song titles on a t-shirt, and the return of the band formerly known as Easy Life, who have nothing to do with easyJet.
Section times
01: Spotify (00:10:22)
02: News in brief (00:17:24)
03: Drake and Hard Life (00:19:28)
(Timings may be slightly different due to adverts)
This week’s main stories
Spotify’s audiobooks bundle referred to FTC
The music publishers have written to the US Federal Trade Commission accusing Spotify of unlawful conduct over the way it bundled audiobooks into its main subscription product. It means the music industry is now fighting that big bundle, which reduces royalties to songwriters, on multiple fronts
Drake sued over ‘Members Only’ t-shirts
Drake has been sued for trademark infringement by American clothing company Members Only. The musician has been selling t-shirts that feature the words Members Only on them. They are referencing a Drake track of that name, but the fashion firm says that consumers might think it is somehow involved
Easy Life? No, Hard Life. easyGroup’s least favourite band return
Easy Life found themselves in a legal battle with easyGroup last year. The result was that the band were forced to change their name. Now, somewhat inevitably, they’re back as Hard Life with new single ‘Tears’. And the reviews are in – easyGroup says it’s “disparaging and defamatory”
News in brief
Music fans buying tickets later
Eventbrite last week shared some market insights based on the sale of tickets to US music events on its platform in the first four months of this year. Fans are still buying tickets later than they used to – a trend that began during the pandemic – while more promoters are offering VIP packages
Musicians now see success from a more long-term perspective, study finds
New research shows that traditional metrics of success like chart positions and radio airplay are no longer of concern to most musicians. Instead, finding an audience of any size and building a sustainable career are the highest priorities for artists in the streaming age
Hand over copies of Wu-Tang album, Martin Shkreli told
Convicted fraudster Martin Shkreli has been ordered to hand over copies of the single-copy Wu-Tang album he was forced to give up to the US government in 2021. Its current owner claimed that he had boasted online about having multiple copies and played portions of it in livestreams
Also mentioned
Touting, touring and AI in the spotlight in election manifestos
The UK political parties have published their manifestos ahead of next month’s General Election. Most make commitments around culture and music, including pledges to tighten regulation of ticket touting, address issues around post-Brexit touring and protect creators in the context of AI