From Universal’s AI fightback to Primary Wave’s $100m deal in India… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up

Welcome to Global Music Businessour weekly roundup – where we make sure you’ve captured our five biggest headlines over the past seven days. MBW rounding is supported by Centtrip, helping more than 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximize their income and reduce their touring expenses.

There are a lot of important numbers to be announced this week. Did you catch them all?

MBW reports on Popular music groupnewly announced Q1 2023 revenue of ($2.62 billion), as well as sonymusic copyright revenue of the same quarter (2.18 billion dollars).

We also have insurance TrustQ1 result of (213 million USD), as well as new financial figures from the likes of audio translation And YouTube.

This week begins with one of the most important quarterly results: Spotify announced on Tuesday (April 25) that, as of the end of Q1, it counts 210 million paying subscribers worldwide, as well as 515 million monthly active users.

Aside from the Q1 digits and the dollar sign, there’s a lot more going on this week that deserves your attention.

For one thing, Universal Music Group used its quarterly earnings call on Wednesday (April 26) to clarify its stance that using AI to mimic superstars’ vocals through recordings Their existing sound (example: ‘fake Drake’) is against the law.

Universal EVP, and Chief Digital Officer Michael Nash, told analysts: “Specifically, the sounding likeness is intended to mislead the public as to origin or provenance, or to constitute commercial appropriation of similarity in the form of a distinctive voice, obviously illegal.”

Elsewhere this week, Primary wave made a big move in India, investing in local rights holder Times Music in a $100 million deal.

More, Triller admit liability in a breach of contract lawsuit filed against it by Music Sony. Triller is currently paying $4.57 million to the music company.

Here are the biggest headlines of the past few days…

1) POPULAR MUSIC GROUP: YES, RECOVERING DRAKE’S VOICE BECAUSE IT IS ILLEGAL TO SEE ANYONE

Sir Lucian GraingeCEO and President, Universal Music Group, said: “Unlike its predecessors, much of the latest generation AI [i.e. ‘fake Drake’ and ‘fake Bad Bunny’] trained in copyrighted material, which clearly violates the rights of artists and trademarks, and would put the platforms completely at odds with their partnership with us and our artists me as well as the platforms that drive success.

“If platforms traffic this type of music, they will face the additional responsibility of dealing with a large volume of AI-generated infringing content.”

2) PRIMARY WAVE MAKES INVESTMENT IN INDIAN Era MUSIC WITH 100M MONEY

Primary wave Music has just made a significant move in the Indian music business.

The company has partnered with popular Indian record label and music publisher, Times Music, a subsidiary of media giant, Times of India Group.

The deal will see Primary Wave invest what it says is “substantial capital” in the company and provide resources for “portfolio investment” in the marketplace.

3) Triller pays Sony Music $4.57 million as video platform admits liability for breach of contract

Short form video service Triller agreed to pay Music Sony $4.57 million in a lawsuit brought by the major music company last year for breach of contract.

The Sony Music lawsuit claims that Triller missed multiple payments agreed throughout 2022 to license the major label’s music.

4) Ed Sheeran fights Marvin Gaye song plagiarism charges in NY court: ‘If I did what you’re accusing me of, I’d be an idiot.’

In court on Tuesday, Sheeran defended herself against the charges. The Townsend family’s attorney, Ben Crump, played a video to the jury showing Sheeran performing. Think big in a live show and converted to lyrics from Start.

Later, under questioning by attorney Keisha Rice, also representing members of the Townsend family, Sheeran said: “If I did what you are accusing me of, [i.e. copying elements of Let’s Get It On for Thinking Out Loud, then switching between both songs while playing live]I would be an idiot if I stood on stage in front of 20,000 people and did that.”

5) SPOTIFY ADDED 5M PREMIUM REGISTRATIONS IN Q1, Elevating 210M GLOBAL REGISTERS

SpotifyThe results for the first quarter of 2023 are available.

The music streaming company added 5 million net Premium subscribers to its user base in Q1 2023 (three months to the end of March), bringing its total global paid viewership to 210 million .

That 210 million subscribers marked a Paid Subscriber growth of 15% YoY and 3 million above company guidance for the quarter.

MBW’s weekly summaries are powered by Centtrip, helping over 500 of the world’s best-selling artists maximize their earnings and reduce their touring expenses.Global Music Business