Tesla’s Dashboard Now Includes Spotify Premium — Plus ‘Caraoke’

Tesla Software Version 10 is rolling out now with access to Spotify Premium, Netflix, YouTube, and Hulu. The latest update for the software is rolling out now to Model S, Model X, and Model 3 owners. Video services can only be viewed when the vehicle i…

King Crimson’s Robert Fripp Is Battling David Bowie’s Estate Because He’s Listed as a ‘Contributor’ Not a ‘Featured Player’ on Two Bowie Albums

English musician, songwriter, producer, and King Crimson founder Robert Fripp has become involved in a hairy dispute with David Bowie’s estate. The dispute concerns the unwillingness of Bowie’s estate to acknowledge Robert Fripp as a Featured Player on…

Placido Domingo Officially Leaves the Metropolitan Opera

Earlier today, New York’s Metropolitan Opera announced that opera legend Placido Domingo was withdrawing from all his scheduled performances. Domingo himself said that he would never perform at the Met again. This comes after a slew of women had accuse…

Music Piracy Rates are Plunging In 2019 — That’s Good News, Right?

The International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), which represents the recorded music industry worldwide, has issued a ‘music listening’ report for 2019.  Buried in all the bad news about piracy is a lot of very good news. The report ex…

The Black Keys Were Selling $500+ ‘Premium Tickets’ to Last Thursday’s Wiltern Show

The high-priced, exclusive tickets to the Black Keys opening tour date were sold alongside $25 fan club tickets. The Black Keys have been coming under fire for refusing entry to hundreds of fans who purchased aftermarket tickets for last Thursday’s sho…

Bonnaroo, Electric Forest, ACL Officially Ban Facial Recognition — SXSW, Coachella Still Undecided

Under stepped-up pressure from numerous artists and activists, a number of major music festivals are disavowing facial recognition at their events. Digital rights advocacy group Fight for the Future has revealed which music festivals have committed to …

Led Zeppelin “Stairway to Heaven” Appeal Begins — The Judges Don’t Seem to Be Buying It

  On September 23rd, the full 11-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco held a hearing to determine if a new trial is necessary in the copyright infringement lawsuit against Led Zeppelin and “Stairway to Heaven,” which th…

U.S. Judiciary Committee Urges the Removal of DMCA-Style Safe Harbor Provisions from Global Trade Treaties

Earlier today (September 23rd), the U.S. House Judiciary Committee wrote a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, who is currently negotiating a new free trade agreement between the United States, Mexico and Canada. The letter expressed concerns abou…

The Clash Sue Wilson for Trademark Infringement Over Its ‘Clash’ Tennis Rackets

Copyright infringement lawsuits in the music industry have been all the rage lately.  Now, it’s time for a trademark challenge. Late last week, The Clash filed suit claiming theft of its trademark.   The band has filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superi…

Two Members Abruptly Depart the Mechanical Licensing Collective (MLC)

Earlier this week, the recently-named Mechanical Licensing Collective requested $66.25 million — just to get off the ground. That included a $37.25 million tranche of cash before the MLC’s opening day.  Another $29 million was requested for the first y…