A BLOG OF SORTS FROM CHRIS COOKE
May 2026
Ivors Summit pics
Do you think I’m making a very insightful point here – is that why I’m pointing upwards? Can we all just agree it was definitely something very insightful? After all, it is my birthday today. Anyway, here are some photos from this month’s Ivors Academy Summit, with thanks to photographer Ed Hill and The Ivors Academy.
Back from Dublin
Successful trip to Dublin. Though on the way out I had a window seat with no window and on the way back the most scratched airplane window in the history of civil aviation – so I didn’t really get any new photos for my Random Pictures Of Clouds Collection. In other news, still looking for a gallery interested in exhibiting my Random Pictures Of Clouds Collection.
AIM Connects
Fun day yesterday at AIM Connects talking about music rights and revenues in the morning, and then all things AI in the afternoon, and also listening to this very interesting conversation between Tracy Clifford and the current Chair of MMF UK, Niamh Byrne from Eleven Management. Now heading back to London optimistically assuming you can still get a carvery dinner at Dublin Airport.
I’m in Dublin
Nice sunny morning here in Dublin. I asked for porridge in the breakfast room at this hotel and they brought me eggs – and now I’m trying to think of what egg dish sounds a bit like ‘porridge’. As a non-egg eater, I don’t really know about these things. Anyway, I better proof read these slides ahead of my first AIM Connects session at 11.20am.
Heading to Dublin
I’m heading to Dublin later today which – the weather people assure me – is just as sunny as London is right now, but not quite so flipping hot. Tomorrow I’ll be at AIM Connects, leading a session on music rights and revenues at 11.20am and joining a discussion on AI at 3.20pm. Hope to see some of you there.
Edinburgh things
Here’s a random photo of Edinburgh I found on my phone. I asked the Canva AI to make it sharper and brighter, and now it kind of looks like a 1970s postcard, which is nice. Anyway, I’ll be back in Edinburgh in August reviewing some Fringe shows – and if you’re planning on being there and would also like to review some Fringe shows, why not apply to the join the ThreeWeeks review team? Info here.
Ivor Novello Awards
Many thanks to the Ivors team for inviting me to their rather magnificent awards yesterday – lots of inspirational speeches and memorable moments, not least Damon Albarn welcoming International Songwriter Of The Year Rosalía to the stage with a fine little tune on the melodica. I’m not usually a big fan of awards, but it was a very impressive show!
AIM Connects
I’ll be in Dublin next week for the rather marvellous AIM Connects, providing a speedy but comprehensive overview of music rights + revenues, running through all the ways music creators make money in 2026. I’ll then be joined by some guests to discuss how artists can ensure they aren’t leaving any money on the table – and how we can better educate future talent on how to protect their rights. Hope to see some of you there.
Ivors insights
Very insightful and entertaining day at The Ivors Academy Summit at the BFI IMAX yesterday. I especially enjoyed my on-stage conversation with Tim Kappel, the lawyer leading on the Vetter v Resnik legal battle that could dramatically alter the termination right under US copyright law to the songwriter’s advantage. Tomorrow, I’ll be heading to the Ivor Novello Awards.
28 years of CMU
28 years ago today. Inside, we were speculating what the then recent Capital takeover might mean for the future of Xfm. If I remember rightly, it went quite rubbish, then pretty good, then very good, then slightly less good, then very Radio X. I’ve also just noticed that the first ever CMU Single Of The Week was Gomez ‘Get Myself Arrested’, which I can only assume was a massive memorable moment for the band. I’ll check with Tom Gray at tomorrow’s Ivors Academy Summit.
Upcoming conferences
Fun couple of days at The Great Escape this week expertly networking (aka aimlessly gossiping) with lots of great people. Here are two more conferences where I will be popping up this month – The Ivors Academy Summit in London this coming Tuesday and AIM Connects in Dublin on Wednesday 27 May. Hope to see some of you there for more networking (by which I obviously mean gossiping).
Great Escape
I’m at The Great Escape! Great panel first thing providing the music-maker perspective on the big issues around streaming, AI, studios, media and touring. Tomorrow we’ll be launching an exciting new Producer Deals Guide I’ve been working on with MPG and the MMF, at 1pm at the H.O.M.E Hub at Horizon.
Catalog(ue) deals
I notice that in yesterday’s Sony/Recognition deal announcement, Rob Stringer’s quote went with “catalogue” but Jon Platt’s with “catalog”. I wonder if that’s an oversight, or maybe it’s policy at Sony HQ that American execs can go with “catalog” in their statements providing any quote credited to British boss Rob Stringer uses the correct spelling. I could get behind that policy. Anyway, here’s my CMU report on what is basically the final chapter in the big Hipgnosis saga.
TGE dreams
I no longer have the recurring dream where it’s the first day of The Great Escape Conference and we’ve forgotten to organise EVERYTHING – presumably because I no longer have to organise ANYTHING. Although I will be there on Thursday at 10.45am moderating a panel with the Council Of Music Makers and I guess I should do some planning for that. Maybe I’ll dream about the questions I need to ask tonight!
At the palace
So we had our slightly bizarre Pathways Into Music trip to Buckingham Palace on Friday, which required dressing a bit smart, which required buying a suit (with the help of CMU’s in-house suit picker Sam Taylor). Kind of think I need another reason to wear the suit now. A court appearance maybe? Are there any copyright cases where I could provide an expert testimony? Failing that, I guess I could just libel someone.
Royal day out
Phil and I have a Pathways Into Music day out today to Buckingham Palace for a Royal Garden Party. So, that should be interesting. Kind of disappointed I don’t have any chains of office to wear – I always knew I should have taken the job title of Mayor Of CMU.
CMM at TGE
I may no longer work on The Great Escape, but I will be popping up on stage next Thursday to host this session for the Council Of Music Makers, providing the music-maker perspective on some key issues relating to AI, streaming, media and touring. It’s in the big old conference room at the Leonardo hotel, hope to see some of you there.
ThreeWeeks interviews
August may seem like it’s a long way off, but we’re already interviewing performers who are staging shows at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe on the ThreeWeeks website – plus if you’re interested in joining the ThreeWeeks review team this year, apply for a place right now.
Rightsbridge Q&A
I put lots of questions to Jamie from Rightsbridge at the FAC Artist Days last year – and now the Rightsbridge team have asked me a few questions in return. You can check out my answers over on the Rightsbridge blog right now, if you’re interested.
AI + fair use
The music industry’s arguments against AI companies that claim AI training in the US is ‘fair use’ – meaning they don’t need to buy music licences – are evolving. It now comes down to two things: where the AI company sourced its training data from and what kind of ‘market dilution’ weighs against a fair use defence under US copyright law. This CMU report from Thursday puts the spotlight on the second point.
Albert Dock sunset
Great day at Liverpool Sound City+ yesterday interviewing Sopio, Joe, Becky, Kat, Shira and Gee – and then dinner overlooking the Albert Dock and these rather marvellous sunset clouds over the Mersey. Now heading for a short stop in Cheshire – home of the superior cheese – before heading back to London tomorrow.
On the Mersey
A fun time on the boat last night as Liverpool Sound City got underway for 2026. This morning in the Spanish Caravan I’ll be talking to Sopio Toroshelidze from Georgia about her country’s music industry and building international connections as a music creator. This afternoon at The Clubhouse, I’m in conversation with Shira Gans from the New York City Mayor’s Office Of Media & Entertainment and AIM CEO Gee Davy.