Our statement on the Live Nation verdict.

Jury Finds #LiveNation Acts as a Monopoly in a Victory for States

In a verdict that could have far-reaching consequences in the music industry, the live colossus that includes #Ticketmaster was found to have violated #antitrust laws.

👇

Huge congratulations to Helen Smith for her recognition receiving IMPALA's Outstanding Contribution award and inclusion in Billboard's Global Power Players. One of the smartest and hardest working people I know, a true reference for me and an invaluable asset for the independent community. Bravo!

Prosecutors Unable To Attend Live Nation Trial After Scalpers Buy Every Ticket

Prosecutors Unable To Attend Live Nation Trial After Scalpers Buy Every Ticket theonion.com/prosecutors-unable-to-at...

Live Nation loses bid to dismiss DoJ antitrust lawsuit, trial set for March - Music Business Worldwide US District Judge Arun Subramanian granted Live Nation’s motion for summary judgment on some claims while allowing others to proceed.

A judge just allowed key antitrust claims against Live Nation and Ticketmaster to proceed, including allegations they pressured venues and shut out competitors.

Fans deserve transparency — and this case should move forward.

www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-...

Live Nation Entertainment Says Trump Tax Law Drove its 2025 Federal Income Tax Bill to Zero The company paid zero federal income tax in 2025 despite reporting $145 million of U.S. profits.

All while paying no federal income tax.

‘ICE Out’: Protest Songs From Bruce Springsteen, My Morning Jacket, NOFX, and Others

Bon Iver have released a new charity single to benefit the Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota.

✊ www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...

We're not anti-tech, we're anti-theft. If the future of “innovation” depends on stealing creators’ work without asking or paying, that’s not progress - it's stealing, and we shouldn’t accept it. #StealingIsntInnovation www.stealingisntinnovation.com/

Udio strikes another licensing deal – this time with Merlin AI-music firm Udio has signed its third significant licensing deal. Its agreement with indie licensing agency Merlin.

Udio strikes another licensing deal – this time with Merlin

AI-music firm Udio has signed its third significant licensing deal. Its agreement with indie licensing agency Merlin.

VUT lud zur Strategietagung nach Berlin

Das Team von Vorstand und Geschäftsstelle des Verbands unabhängiger Musikunternehmer:innen (VUT) kam jüngst zu einer zweitägigen Strategietagung in Berlin zusammen, um Schwerpunkte der Verbandsarbeit zu erörtern. (Foto: Yasmine-Blanche Werder)

t1p.de/utql6

WIN Elects New Board, Appoints New Chair and Vice Chairs in 20th Anniversary Year - WIN Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the international network that brings together the global More

@winformusic.org has elected new board and chairs, added a new observer seat for Latin America, and welcomed 3 new members. The organiztion also turns 20 this year!

Bandcamp’s Mission and Our Approach to Generative AI We’re articulating our approach to generative AI so musicians can keep making music and fans can trust the music they find on Bandcamp.

We’re articulating our approach to generative AI so musicians can keep making music and fans can trust the music they find on Bandcamp.

AI Licensing | Copyright Alliance AI Licensing for Creative Works The following is a list of existing AI licenses, agreements, partnerships, text-and-data mining (TDM) licenses, collective licensing, and other licensing solutions…

Our #AI Licensing webpage is broken down into three parts: AI Licensing by #copyright owners, AI licensing by AI companies, and organizations that offer AI licenses for creative works. Check out the updated page here:

In April 2024, Spotify implemented a new scheme: songs with less than 1k streams per year would no longer receive royalties.

The data for 2025 was just released via Luminate, and 88% of songs have been demonetized.

Read it again: 88% of songs on Spotify have been demonetized.

UMG’s bid for Downtown deepens a two-tier streaming system.

UMG pushed for new streaming models — ones that sideline new music, diversity and niche genres.

"UMG uses its power to reshape the market. Everyone else gets pushed to the margins." Noemí Planas (WIN)

We urge the European Commission to block this deal.

The future of the global #independentmusic community rests on the merits of their music and the power of choice. But that's under threat from growing anti-competitive consolidation. The UMG/Downtown deal must be stopped to ensure every part of the music ecosystem has the best chance to flourish.

What a year at @winformusic.org!

We are excited to welcome Artist Growth as the latest company to join the WIN Supporters program! A leading project and event management software, Artist Growth is purpose-built for the unique demands of artists, labels, and entertainment professionals.

Register by September 7 to participate in the exclusive WINHUB CEE + NA online event connecting professionals from Central Eastern Europe and North America.

🗓️ Event: October 7
⌛ Application deadline: September 7
🎫 Free and exclusive for members of WIN associations

WIN Annual Report Celebrates a Strong and United Independent Music Community - WIN Worldwide Independent Network (WIN), the international network that brings together 37 independent More

We’ve just published our Annual Report! Take a look for an overview of the projects, events, resources, and trips that set the pace for WIN’s year. And it was a busy one... proving that the independent community is stronger than ever in defending what makes music truly diverse and competitive.

Henry Thomas, a long-time contributor to the WIN Performance Rights Group, shares his views on current challenges and the future of performance rights in our recently released 2024-25 Annual Report!
Henry’s piece ⏵ winformusic.org/from-dissona...
WIN Annual Report ⏵ winformusic.org/win-annual-r...

❌ We see the recently published GPAI Code of Practice, the GPAI Guidelines, and the Template for disclosure of a sufficiently detailed summary as a missed opportunity to provide real protection of IP rights in the context of #genAI. This outcome does not deliver on the promise of the EU AI Act.

❗ Together with a broad coalition of rightsholders active across the EU’s cultural and creative sectors, we express our strong concerns about the EU AI Act implementing package, which does not provide a meaningful implementation of the GPAI obligations under the AI Act.

➡️ Read: bit.ly/3H8lCsC

JOINT STATEMENT BY A BROAD COALITION OF RIGHTSHOLDERS ACTIVE ACROSS THE EU’S CULTURAL AND CREATIVE SECTORS REGARDING THE AI ACT IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES ADOPTED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION - IMPALA Representing a broad coalition of European and global authors, performers, publishers, producers and other rightsholder organisations, we wish to formally express our dissatisfaction with the publishe...

A broad coalition of rightsholders calls on the @ec.europa.eu to revisit the #AIAct implementation package and enforce article 53 dealing with transparency of training data in a meaningful way.

Entrevista a Noemí Planas, CEO de Worldwide Independent Network: "Necesitamos reglas de mercado que permitan que todas las empresas tengan un campo de juego justo" Si has estado siguiendo las últimas novedades dentro de la industria musical, seguramente estarás al tanto de la anunciada compra que Universal Music

Noemí Planas: "Necesitamos reglas de mercado que permitan que todas las empresas tengan un campo de juego justo"

Charlamos con Noemí, CEO de @winformusic.org, con motivo de la operación de compra de Downtown orquestada por Universal Music.

✍️ www.dodmagazine.es/entrevista-n...

We are pleased that the European Commission is responding with a full and much-needed investigation into this acquisition and call on other regulators to follow suit. This deal must be stopped to ensure every part of the global music industry has a fair chance to grow and succeed.

European Commission to open detailed investigation into UMG/Downtown acquisition - WIN In recent weeks, the global independent community has come together to express More

WIN welcomes the 🇪🇺 European Commission’s decision to open a detailed investigation (phase two) into the proposed merger between Universal Music Group (UMG) and Downtown Music Holdings.

Report: EC to launch full probe into UMG Downtown acquisition An official announcement has yet to be made, but it seems Universal Music Group may be facing a full-scale investigation.

Report: EC to launch full probe into UMG Downtown acquisition

An official announcement has yet to be made, but it seems Universal Music Group may be facing a full-scale investigation.

Save the date!