Music IP Holdings (MIH), an entity backed by UMG, has unveiled a portfolio of over 24 patents for AI music creation – with another 50 patents pending. According to a press release from MIH, these licenses will support the development of licensed AI services including covers, remixes, and “a wide range of interactive music experiences”. Crucially, they will also provide “additional protections designed to address the unauthorized redistribution of AI-generated content beyond t

Universal Music Group has successfully priced a EUR €1 billion (USD $1.15 billion) bond offering. The bond sale is split into two tranches of €500 million each, UMG said on Tuesday (June 9). UMG, which trades on the Euronext Amsterdam, confirmed today (June 9) that it “has successfully priced €500m of 3.375% senior unsecured notes due 2030 and €500m of 4.125% senior unsecured notes due 2036″. The offering is expected to close on Tuesday, June 16, subject to customary closing

How many streams does it take to make minimum wage? Streaming platforms like Spotify now dominate the music business. Social media apps like TikTok and Instagram are changing the playing field. And some artists are moving away from traditional record deals and revenue sources in favor of independence. The FT's Don Newkirk Jr asks some of the world's biggest music companies, record labels, and producers how they are adapting to this fast-changing industry. And he follows an up

Apple Music has raised subscription prices in several markets, marking the service’s first major price increase since 2022. The company said the change reflects higher music licensing costs, with the new pricing already in effect in markets where the service is available, including the United States. In the U.S., the individual plan has increased from $10.99 to $11.99 a month, while the family plan has risen from $16.99 to $19.99. The student plan has also moved up, from $5.9

Primary Wave‘s ten-figure acquisition of Kobalt is one of the music biz’s biggest stories of the year. Last we heard, back in March, the two parties had entered into a definitive agreement, subject to customary conditions; the transaction was expected to be finalized in Q3 2026. Just seven days into that Q3 period… it’s closed. MBW sources close to the deal have confirmed that the acquisition closed on Tuesday (July 7) after passing all relevant regulatory scrutiny. Deal size

Comcast is reshaping itself around a simple idea: its media and broadband businesses may be stronger apart than together. In a recent CNBC video report, co-CEO Brian Roberts said the company’s long-standing philosophy has been to “invest for growth,” underscoring the logic behind the planned separation of NBCUniversal and Sky from Comcast’s cable and broadband operations. The move marks one of Comcast’s biggest strategic shifts in years. Rather than keeping its entertainment

Instagram is set to remove end-to-end encryption from its direct messages starting May 8, 2026, meaning private chats on the platform will no longer be fully protected. The change was quietly announced by Meta, and it means the company will be able to access message content that was previously locked between sender and receiver. End-to-end encryption ensures only the people in a conversation can read messages, not even the platform itself. Once removed, that layer of privacy

In a bold move to reclaim dominance in the creator economy, Meta has rolled out the "Creator Fast Track" program, targeting top influencers from rival platforms TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. The initiative promises guaranteed monthly payments and amplified reach on Facebook, aiming to lure social media stars frustrated with algorithm volatility elsewhere. Exclusive to creators with proven audiences, the program offers tiered payouts: $1,000 per month for those with at least

Sony Music has acquired over $200 million in music assets from Blackstone-owned Recognition Music Group. This transaction underscores the maturing music rights market, where private equity firms like Blackstone are pruning portfolios for optimization while majors like Sony consolidate high-value catalogs. Deal Breakdown The package primarily includes publishing rights and select master recording royalties, featuring works by top songwriters such as Jeff Bhasker—co-writer of M

Repost of article Warner Bros. sticks with Netflix merger, calls Paramount’s $108B bid “illusory” by Jon Brodkin arstechnica/ 2026-01-07 The Warner Bros. Discovery board has unanimously voted to rebuff Paramount’s $108.4 billion offer and urged shareholders to reject the hostile takeover bid. The board is continuing to support Netflix’s pending $82.7 billion purchase of its streaming and movie studios businesses along with a separate spinoff of the Warner Bros. cable TV divis

"The Defiant Ones" is a gripping four-part HBO documentary series that chronicles the extraordinary partnership between music moguls Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine. Series Overview Directed by Allen Hughes, the series aired on HBO from July 9 to 12, 2017, exploring the duo's rise from humble beginnings—Dre from Compton and Iovine from Brooklyn—to shaping modern music and culture through ventures like Interscope Records, Aftermath, and Beats by Dre. It frames their story against key

Repost of article Goldman Sachs reshapes TMT investment group to focus on digital infrastructure and AI deals, memo says by Milana Vinn Reuters / 2025-12-16 Dec 15 (Reuters) - Goldman Sachs (GS.N), opens new tab is restructuring its influential technology, media, and telecom (TMT) investment banking group with an eye toward infrastructure deals and artificial intelligence, creating two new teams with new leaders, according to the internal memo seen by Reuters. The bank is com

Repost of article Texas AI data centers drain water supply as residents face drought restrictions and shower limits By Cassie B. NewsTarget / 02-08-25 While Texas residents endure severe drought conditions and strict water conservation measures—including limiting showers and lawn watering—massive AI data centers are guzzling millions of gallons daily with little oversight. A recent investigation reveals that Texas data centers, led by Microsoft’s sprawling Stargate campus in

Jeff Bezos, Amazon's founder, has re-entered the operational landscape as co-CEO of Project Prometheus, a new artificial intelligence (AI) startup. This venture, backed by $6.2 billion in funding, marks Bezos's first formal operational role since stepping down as Amazon CEO in 2021. Project Prometheus aims to revolutionize manufacturing and engineering through advanced AI, focusing on "physical AI" and "world models" that understand the physical world, moving beyond current l

Repost of article Goldman Sachs Gets Into the Talent Agency Business by Alex Weprin The Hollywood Reporter / 2025-11-11 The giant investment bank is acquiring a majority stake in Excel Sports Management, which reps clients like Tiger Woods, Caitlin Clark and Nikola Jokic, in a nearly $1 billion deal. One of the biggest investment banks in the country is getting into the talent agency business. Goldman Sachs on Tuesday announced a deal that will see it acquire a majority stake

“Leave the World Behind” is a compelling music documentary that chronicles the iconic Swedish House Mafia during their monumental “One Last Tour,” which remains the largest global electronic music tour in history, with over one million tickets sold in just a week. Directed by Christian Larson, the film offers an intimate, fly-on-the-wall perspective on the trio—Axwell, Steve Angello, and Sebastian Ingrosso—as they grapple with the bittersweet decision to end their collaborati

This episode of Bloomberg Originals follows power lawyer Alex Spiro as he tackles high-stakes litigation for some of the most famous and controversial figures today, including Elon Musk, Jay-Z, Megan Thee Stallion, and Alec Baldwin. Hosted by Emily Chang and filmed in Miami, it offers a rare glimpse into Spiro’s strategic mind and his approach to defending and managing public perception for his clients. With a unique blend of legal prowess and deal-making skills, Spiro has ne

Humain, a Saudi Arabia-based AI startup backed by the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, is set to unveil a groundbreaking voice-controlled operating system called Humain 1 this week, aiming to be the first to officially launch such a comprehensive system to the public​. The new operating system allows users to control their devices entirely through voice commands rather than traditional mouse clicks and icon-based interfaces, with CEO Tareq Amin stating users can now "speak yo

Repost of article Elon Musk says he needs $1 trillion to control Tesla’s robot army. Yes, really. by Jameson Dow Electrek / 2025-10-22 Summary Elon Musk stated on Tesla 's Q3 earnings call that he needs a $1 trillion compensation package to maintain control over what he called a "robot army" of Optimus humanoid robots, saying his fundamental concern is whether he could be ousted after building this robotic workforce.​ Major proxy advisory firms ISS and Glass Lewis have recomm

In his TEDx Academy talk, George Logothetis, renowned entrepreneur and founder of the Libra Group, explores the transformative power of uplifting those often overlooked by society—the underdogs. Drawing from his rich experience leading a global conglomerate known for its diverse investments and commitment to long-term value, Logothetis delivers inspiring insights on how empowering the marginalized can ignite innovation, resilience, and social change. “Empower the Underdog” is