September 2026

If you thought my diagrams showing how streaming royalties flow were complicated, just wait until I start doing diagrams for AI royalties. Though there are still lots of questions about how the music industry’s AI deals are going to work – starting with: will the recording and song earn the same? IMPF and IMPEL say the song must be valued “at least equally with the recording” in AI deals – that’s “non-negotiable”. Read my CMU report on that here.

When they nationalise the Avanti West Coast line, can they keep Standard Premium tickets? ie first class seat but without the sandwiches I don’t eat and the alcohol I don’t drink. That way I can continue to book my favourite seat without having to pay extortionate first class prices.

Fun time here in Belfast at Output – chatting to Cameron Craig and Jill Hollywood about our new Producer Deals Guide, plus a great panel to inform our ongoing Pathways Into Music work helping music educators to help young people pick up industry and entrepreneurial skills and knowledge. And lots more interesting conversations off stage too!

As well as writing about key music business developments each weekday, every Tuesday I also report on two developments in the wider cultural industries from the previous seven days. This week: Equity has again called on the UK government to introduce a new publicity right to protect performers in the context of AI, plus more on the Leicester Comedy Festival collapse. Check both at thisweekculture.com.

I know I’m posting about conferences all the time at the moment – but it’s that time of year! And I always really enjoy my trips to Belfast for Output – this year I’m moderating sessions on our new Producer Deals Guide and our latest Pathways Into Music work. Hope to see you there!

As well as writing about key music business developments each weekday, every Tuesday I also report on two developments in the wider cultural industries from the previous seven days, with both of today’s stories theatre-focused. You can check those out on the ThisWeek Culture website – or sign-up to our TW Weekly bulletin to get those articles plus Caro’s latest London culture tips and interviews.

I’m in Aberdeen, which is the furthest north I’ve ever been in this United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Though I’ve been to Bergen in Norway a few times and assume the Bergensere think of Aberdeen as “down south”. Anyway, glad to be this far north to attend Aberdeen Music Week with the in-person conference sessions later today!

I was updating one of my music rights slides this week and noticed I still had ‘metaverse’ listed as a category of digital platforms that use music. Which I added back when people were constantly talking about the metaverse. Which no one does anymore. But what to replace it with to avoid having to redesign the boxes on my slide? I went with ‘B2B streaming services’ – they should probably be on there right? Or is there another category of digital platforms I should have added? Do these new fangled AI mash-up services deserve a box?

I know if feels like we’re reporting on music industry lawsuits against AI companies every day of the week at the moment – most of which are in the US courts and involve more or less the same arguments – but this one is totally different. Instead of accusing Suno of copyright infringement, it alleges that Suno is violating the publicity rights of musicians by exploiting their names and “identifying attributes”. Read my CMU report here.