A BLOG OF SORTS FROM CHRIS COOKE
September 2025 Updates
TW:Backstage
Recent developments in the culture business over on ThisWeek Culture – it’s a red logo special: Comedians criticised for performing at Saudi Arabia comedy festival; Sadler’s Wells under increased pressure over Barclays sponsorship; Equity and Musicians’ Union make demands of government at Labour Party Conference. Read it here.
Station views
My favourite station platform view once again. Heading down to Brighton to do more planning for this year’s MIME Conference, which takes place on 22 Nov in Manchester. Get your tickets now! Info here – make sure you use the discount code mime50.
Nice room, good room
I can report that Room 124 at Belfast’s Bullitt hotel was very nice indeed, but I’m still wondering what extras I’d have got had I’d stayed down the corridor in “The Good Room”. At least I have something to aspire to for the next time I visit. And now, back to London.
Output thanks
A really great day here at Output in Belfast, as is always the case! Thanks to Naomi, Jude, Sarah and Tom for joining me at my two sessions, and to everyone who came along to listen. And unlike my Output trip last year, I don’t now have an overnight bus/flight to Berlin – hurrah for that!
Belfast bound
On my way to Belfast for the magnificent Output – I’m hosting two sessions this year, including ‘Get Played, Get Paid: How Music Streaming Really Works’, where I will be joined by Sarah Johnston from EmuBands, and Tom Gray wearing many hats I’m sure, but officially on stage as Ivors Academy Chair.
Pathways advisory board
Earlier this year we put together a Pathways Into Music advisory board made up of twelve brilliant people who have been providing insights and ideas to inform our various programmes that are connecting music industry and music education, including our MIME Conference that is coming up in November. Meet them here.
More MIME 2025
Another quick reminder about our Music Industry + Music Education Conference that is taking place in Manchester on 22 Nov. Find out about this year’s big topics here – and if you think you could support the event as a sponsor, info on that here.
No ghosts
Great time in Newcastle for the FAC Artist Day. Never figured out what this little pot of water above the door of my hotel room was for – maybe it keeps the ghosts at bay. I mean, I didn’t see any ghosts the whole time I was there.
I’m in Newcastle!
I’m in Newcastle! For the first time since a trip to the Gateshead Garden Festival in 1990. Which I guess was technically in Gateshead, but I’m assuming we crossed the river at some point. Obviously I’ve gone through Newcastle Station countless times heading to Edinburgh, but this time I got off the train! I’m here for the next FAC Artist Day, happening tomorrow at The Cluny.
AI at Output
Next Thursday I’ll be in Belfast for this year’s Output. There are two CMU sessions this year, including: ‘Music + AI: What The F*ck Is Going On Right Now?’ – I’ll present a CMU speed briefing and then dissect the big AI debates with Naomi Pohl from the Musicians’ Union and Jude Copeland from Cleaver Fulton Rankin. See you there!
Artist Day Newcastle
We had a great FAC Artist Day in Bristol last weekend – thanks to everyone who joined us. The next edition is this weekend in Newcastle, on Saturday, where I’ll be dissecting the business of being an artist in music with Geoff Kirkwood, Ruth Lyon and Jaff from The Futureheads. Info here.
TW:Backstage
Over on ThisWeek Culture we select + summarise recent developments in the culture business. This week: Equity to appeal Spotlight ruling; Creative UK highlights ‘worrying underrepresentation’ in sector; Royal Court launches Young Playwrights Award – read it here.
Bristol bound
Currently on my way to Bristol (well, I’m at Paddington, but that’s definitely on my way) for the first of four FAC Artist Days tomorrow. I’ll be joining Kelli-Leigh, Guvna B and Ollie Judge from Squid – and a plethora of brilliant music industry guests – to discuss the business of being an artist in music in 2025. Hope to see some of you there!
TW:Backstage
Over on ThisWeek Culture we select + summarise recent developments in the culture business. This week: the $1.5 billion settlement in the authors v Anthropic case; Equity responds to dismissal of Spotlight fees litigation; new culture minister. Read it here.
Busy news day
Busy day for music and copyright legal news, with the big Anthropic settlement; a plethora of amicus briefs supporting ISP Cox in its billion dollar battle with the major labels; and SoundExchange appealing the ruling that say’s it can’t sue. Read all my reports at completemusicupdate.com.
EEMA 2025
Earlier today I got to deliver the first online lecture for the very latest programme from the Eastern European Music Academy, all about making money from music. Lots of great questions as always – too many in fact – but we have another session on Thursday to go through the rest.
MIME 2025
Our Music Industry + Music Education Conference returns in November alongside the brilliant Un-Convention. It’s on 22 Nov at Band On The Wall in Manchester. We’ve just announced details of our key themes for this year on the website plus I have a discount code you can use to still get tickets at the early bird rate of £25 (it’s mime50).
Artist Day Bristol
Looking forward to joining Ollie later this month for the first of four FAC Artist Days, this one happening in Bristol on 13 Sep. Please do spread the word to any artists you know in or around the city, it’s going to be a great day. Get more info here.
TW:Backstage
Over on ThisWeek Culture we regularly select and summarise recent developments in the culture business. In the latest round-up: ACE Grantium crash, author AI case, Capital Theatre – read it here.
Majors v Cox
I’ve been reporting on this legal dispute for a very long time indeed and now it’s heading to the US Supreme Court – the big question: how proactive should ISPs be in policing music piracy? Read my CMU report on Cox Communications’ latest doom and gloom submission to the court here.