This week, BMG and Harmony accomplished their long-awaited merger, making a mixed music firm with Bob Valentine confirmed as CEO.
In the meantime, the Trump administration sided with OpenAI in a key honest use case, arguing that AI firms can use copyrighted works to coach their fashions — a place with probably vital implications for the music business’s authorized battles with AI firms.
Elsewhere, Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music sued Anthropic in a multi-billion-dollar copyright lawsuit, accusing the AI firm of illegally utilizing copyrighted songs to coach its Claude fashions.
Additionally this week, Jason Isbell, David Lowery and different musicians filed a class-action lawsuit in opposition to Suno, alleging the AI music firm is unlawfully exploiting artists’ identities and likenesses.
Plus: Canada’s SOCAN sued AI music firm Suno for copyright infringement, alleging that the platform has generated outputs which might be similar or considerably just like songs in its repertoire, together with Joni Mitchell’s “Each Sides Now” and Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.”
Listed here are a number of the largest headlines from the previous few days…
1. The BMG and Harmony merger is full; Bob Valentine begins function as CEO of latest firm
BMG and Harmony have on Tuesday (September 1) confirmed the profitable completion of their merger.
The mixed firms say the deal will “create a brand new international music firm with the dimensions, experience, and capabilities to unlock larger alternatives for creators.”
The transaction, first introduced on April 28, 2026, has obtained “all required regulatory approvals”, in line with a press launch. The corporate’s international headquarters will likely be positioned in Nashville, with Berlin serving as its European headquarters. (MBW)
2. Donald Trump’s administration simply sided with OpenAI in a key ‘honest use’ case. Right here’s what it means for music’s combat with Anthropic and Suno.
The US Authorities has informed a courtroom that AI firms don’t break copyright regulation once they practice their fashions on written work and not using a license.
The Division of Justice set out that place on Tuesday (September 1), in a submitting within the copyright lawsuit introduced in opposition to OpenAI by The New York Instances.
It seems to be the primary time Washington has intervened in any of the copyright instances now stacked up in opposition to AI firms. (MBW)
3. Now Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell sue Anthropic in multi-billion greenback lawsuit: ‘One of many largest and most blatant ongoing thefts of mental property in historical past.’
Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music have joined forces to sue Anthropic, house of Claude, over what the publishers name “one of many largest and most blatant ongoing thefts of mental property in historical past.”
The grievance – obtained by MBW, and which you’ll be able to learn in full right here – additionally names Anthropic Co-Founder and Chief Government Officer Dario Amodei and Co-Founder Benjamin Mann as particular person defendants.
It was filed on Friday (August 28) within the US District Courtroom for the Northern District of California. (MBW)
4. Jason Isbell and David Lowery are suing Suno in a category motion swimsuit. Importantly, they’re hitting Mikey Shulman’s firm with id claims – not copyright.
Jason Isbell is suing AI music firm Suno over the alleged business use of his id.
The six-time Grammy winner filed a proposed class motion on Monday (August 31) in Boston federal courtroom, alongside Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven frontman David Lowery, Texas blues musician Man Forsyth, and Florida saxophonist Eduardo Calle.
Apparently, the 84-page lawsuit incorporates no copyright declare. (MBW)
5. Now Canada’s SOCAN sues Suno, claiming it illegally copied hits like ‘Each Sides Now’ and ‘Sk8er Boi’
Canada’s SOCAN has sued Suno for copyright infringement.
The amassing society filed its assertion of declare within the Federal Courtroom of Canada on Wednesday (September 2).
SOCAN is the third amassing society to take Suno to courtroom, and the primary to file since certainly one of them gained. (MBW)
Accomplice message: MBW’s Weekly Spherical-up is supported by BMI, the international chief in performing rights administration, devoted to supporting songwriters, composers and publishers and championing the worth of music. Discover out extra about BMI right here. Music Enterprise Worldwide
