REWIND: The New Music Industry’s Week In Review

In this scroll back through happenings in the music industry of the past week, we revisit Spotify’s stock price dip, a massively expensive Beatles Pinball Machine, how the rise of smart speakers has been impacting music consumption (in a good way!) and much more! Spotify Stock Below IPO Day Price,…

Jurisdictional Showdown Continues In UMG v. FLVTO.biz; Defendant Will Remain In Russia

FLVTO.biz founder and owner Turig Kurbanov will not be appearing at an early November hearing in the U.S. against the major labels, according to information shared with DMN. According to Kurbanov’s legal team, the FLVTO.biz operator won’t appear for an…

Kendrick Lamar Must Face a Black Panther Copyright Infringement Suit, Judge Rules

Kendrick Lamar won’t escape so easily from ‘borrowing’ a visual artist’s unique work. A federal judge has ruled against Kendrick Lamar’s request for a win in a copyright infringement lawsuit. At the United States District Court of the Southern District…

FLVTO.biz’s Attorneys Remain on the Counter-Offensive Against the Major Labels — Is This Case Getting Tossed?

Attorneys for YouTube ‘stream ripper’ FLVTO.biz are raising serious jurisdictional questions in their defense against the major labels.  But that’s just one of several counter-attacks. Earlier this year, major labels Universal Music Group, Warner Music…

Tracy Chapman Files Suit Against Nicki Minaj for Copyright Infringement

Tracy Chapman is suing Nicki Minaj for using an unauthorized sample. The Minaj song is perhaps ironically titled “Sorry,” and features rapper Nas.  At this stage, we’re not sure if Nas will also be subject to legal penalties, though a lot could depend …

CD Baby Partners with Cosynd to Streamline Copyright Registration

CD Baby claims it has become the first digital distribution service to “give creators access” to copyright ownership tools. Last week, the US Copyright Office published a Federal Register notice. The branch of the Library of Congress wants creators’ fe…

Philadelphia Songwriter Daniel Marino Awarded $44 Million for Being Left Off of an Usher Publishing Credit

Songwriter Daniel Marino has received more than $44 million in damages from a lawsuit targeting his co-writers. The Philadelphia-based writer alleged that he was cut out of profits and credit from a song written and recorded by Usher. A jury decided on…

The US Copyright Office Wants Your Feedback on a Modern, Digital Copyright System

The US Copyright Office wants to build a new, modern digital registration system.  But it needs your help first. In order to better serve copyright owners in the digital age, the US Copyright Office has an interesting proposal.  And, it wants your feed…

Exclusive: YouTube ‘Stream Ripper’ FLVTO.biz Aggressively Responds to the RIAA’s Lawsuit — Starting With a Motion to Dismiss

After a period of silence, FLVTO.biz and 2conv.com operator Tofig Kurbanov has emerged with an army of lawyers. You can call him a kingpin of YouTube stream rippers.  Now, Russia-based Tofig Kurbanov is aggressively battling back against an RIAA-led la…

Industry Reacts As MMA: AIMP, A2IM, Music Biz, ASCAP, SoundExchange, BMI, Sound Royalties

The Music Modernization Act is finally the law of the land. With Kid Rock at his side, President Trump signed the bill on Thursday in the White House’s Roosevelt Room. Almost universally approved of by the music industry, the multifaceted copyright and royalty legislation passed both Houses of Congress on…