June 2026

Ah yes, that time ten years ago this week when my copyright teaching took me all the way to Barbados – somehow the photos are still on my iPhone. I often think about this trip when discussing AI voice clones and how unique any one voice might be – because that’s where I met a singer who’d been told by US music industry execs to “stop doing a Rihanna impression”, when she was simply singing with a Bajan accent.

Yesterday, Facebook was mainly reminding me of where I was the morning after the night Michael Jackson died. Was it too soon to be going on the telly and discussing the insurance implications of this dramatic sudden passing of a pop legend? Turns out it wasn’t. After the two spots on the BBC, I had the exact same conversation with the Associated Press, who were also desperately looking for another angle to keep their rolling Jackson coverage going. Rest assured, this was the peak of my very brief career in “a pop star’s died, what are the commercial ramifications?” punditry.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for the MPG Deep Dive Webinar providing an overview of the Producer Deals Guide we published last month. And many thanks to my laptop for not melting and my Dyson super fan for not breaking – neither of which was assured!

I took part in a very interesting roundtable on ‘artificial intelligence and the creative economy’ with Duke University and Virtual Routes on Wednesday. Then yesterday’s CMU Daily was a bit of an AI special, with NO FAKES Act developments in the US and APRA’s latest AI campaigning in Australia. And who knows, maybe there’ll be another big AI story on Monday? But after that, I’m going to focus on just natural intelligence. That’s all I’m going to write and talk about. For at least a few hours.

If you saw my conversation with lawyer Tim Kappel at the Ivors Academy Summit last month about the big termination rights ruling in the Vetter v Resnik case – which interprets the termination right in US copyright law in a much more songwriter-friendly way – well, there’s been another development in that case, and here’s my CMU report on it.

Somehow (not sure how) I’d never been to the Royal Albert Hall before. I may know more than most about the Royal Albert Hall Act and what it says about the venue’s 1256 privately-owned seats – and who doesn’t love a venue with its own act of Parliament? – but I’d never got round to seeing a show there. So many thanks to RAH CEO James Ainscough for helping me correct that oversight by inviting me and my Pathways colleague Phil to the grandest of the tiers to see the one and only Elvis Costello with support from Chris Difford.

It was the annual Leyton ASDA flypast yesterday, which is always enjoyable, and this year with added sunshine. It was a suitably grand celebration of this esteemed retail establishment and its current offer on Summer Grill barbecue meats (three packs for just twelve pounds!)

Every time I get my hair cut – whatever day of the week, whatever time of the day – the TV in my barbers is always showing documentaries about killer fish. That’s what’s been on the telly for four consecutive hair cuts. Does that mean there’s a cable TV channel that just plays 24/7 documentaries about killer fish? Anyway, me and my new haircut are at Rich Mix for the UD Industry Takeover.

You might think I’ve already posted this UD Industry Takeover promo image, but you’d be wrong. Yesterday’s post was promoting the panel ‘Get Played, Get Paid’, while this one is obviously promoting the totally separate and equally brilliant panel ‘Growing Real Fanbases’. Basically I’m moderating two sessions at the UD Industry Takeover on Friday – looking forward to it!

The copyright debate around music and AI was always going to be in two phases. Phase One: labels, publishers, artists and songwriters ally to ensure they don’t get screwed over by multi-billion dollar AI companies. Phase Two: artists and songwriters ally to ensure they don’t get screwed over by the major labels who have just done a load of mega-bucks AI deals. This latest lawsuit is very much part of Phase Two. Here’s my CMU report.

I’m still in Paris. Today I’m meeting with the CISAC data people, because the one thing this trip has lacked so far is a proper metadata geek out. And then back to London. Meanwhile, here’s my CMU report on the big ‘Paris Commitment’ that was announced during yesterday’s CISAC General Assembly.

One of my favourite events – UD’s Industry Takeover – returns next week at Rich Mix. I’ll be moderating two sessions, one all about building and engaging a long-term fanbase, and one on how to make sure you’re not missing out on any royalties when your music is broadcast or performed in public. Get more info about the full day here.

Still a bit annoyed Ed Sheeran parted company with Warner Music on such amicable terms, you know how much I love a messy pop dispute. But surely they’ll fall out once Warner is just paying royalties on his catalogue – what do you reckon will do it, international deductions? Anyway, hurrah for M.I.A. – who knows how to pursue a proper pop dispute – and it’s with another pop star, all the better! Here’s my CMU report.