Defending Article 13, IMPALA’s Helen Smith Calls Out YouTube’s Lopsided Business Model

Despite YouTube’s opposition, IMPALA’s Helen Smith says the Copyright Directive – and Article 13 – would guarantee a balanced online ecosystem for artists, producers, songwriters, and labels. Last week, in a lengthy op-ed in the Financial Times, Susan …

0 for 3: YouTube Once Again Begs Users To Turn Against Article 13

  Fearful over Article 13’s imminent passing, YouTube’s Susan Wojcicki rails against the EU bill once more.  But, how long will she – and other company executives – continue to neglect paying copyright owners their fair share? Several months ago, in a …

BTS Faces an Immediate Backlash In Japan Over a Pro-Atomic Bomb T-Shirt

A Japanese TV channel abruptly canceled an appearance by Korean pop group BTS over a controversial t-shirt worn by one of the group’s members. BTS, a massively popular K-pop group, may have just alienated a giant fan contingent in Japan. The controvers…

British Musicians Launch a Post-Brexit ‘Save the Music’ Campaign — With a Focus on Two-Year Touring Visas

The reality of Brexit is that it will be a mess for UK recording artists hoping to perform on a global stage. Now, a new campaign called ‘Save Music’ is hoping to change that by maintaining freedom of movement — or at least allowing two-year working vi…

Rihanna Sends Donald Trump a Cease-and-Desist Letter Demanding That He Stop Playing Her Music at His Rallies

Rihanna is the latest artist to send a cease-and-desist letter to President Trump for playing her music at one of his rallies. The letter from Rihanna’s legal team says that the singer isn’t authorizing her music to be played at Trump rallies. The lett…

In Full Panic Mode, YouTube’s Lyor Cohen Warns Article 13 Will Have “Severe Unintended Consequences”

Lyor Cohen continues YouTube’s path of promoting baseless arguments to defeat Article 13. Last week, Susan Wojcicki made a heartfelt plea to YouTube’s neglected creator community. With the Copyright Directive set to the pass in the European Union – eff…

Sixteen Tech Companies – Including Spotify – Slam Proposed Digital Services Tax

Digital revenue keeps growing around the world.  Now, the European Union wants in. Last March, Pierre Moscovi, the Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, along with Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President for the Euro and Social Dialogue, had an i…

Pharrell Williams Threatens to Sue President Donald Trump

Pharrell Williams isn’t too ‘Happy’ with President Donald Trump. At an Indiana rally just hours after the fatal mass shooting at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, President Donald Trump played ‘Happy.’  Now, clearly upset, Pharrell Williams has sent a cease-a…