“AI Music Licensing Talks, Goldman Sachs Report & Industry Updates – MBW Weekly Round-Up”
The Wild World of AI Music & Industry Shakeups: What You Need to Know
Alright, let’s talk about the wild stuff happening in the music biz right now—because wow, it’s a lot. AI is shaking things up, money’s flying around, and the big players are making moves that could change everything. Buckle up.
AI vs. Major Labels: Who’s Winning?
So, you’ve probably heard about AI music tools like Suno and Udio. These platforms let you type in a prompt like “90s punk rock song about a robot breakup” and—boom!—you’ve got a full track in seconds. Cool, right? Well, the major labels (Universal, Sony, Warner) aren’t exactly throwing confetti.
They’re suing these AI companies for copyright infringement, claiming they trained their models on copyrighted music without permission. But here’s the twist: they’re also in talks to license their music catalogs to these same AI platforms. Yeah, it’s messy.
What’s the big ask from the labels? A Content ID-style system (like YouTube’s) to track when their music’s used in AI-generated tracks. That way, they get paid. Smart? Sure. Complicated? Absolutely.
Goldman Sachs Says Music’s Still a Goldmine
Even with all the chaos, the money folks at Goldman Sachs just dropped their Music in the Air report, and the takeaway? Music’s still a killer investment.
They predict the global music market (streaming, publishing, live) will nearly double by 2035, hitting $196.8 billion. That’s huge. But—and there’s always a but—they did dial back some growth forecasts after a slower 2024.
Key takeaways:
– Superfans are the future: Think VIP merch, exclusive content—artists will lean hard into this.
– Prices are going up: Streaming subscriptions won’t stay cheap forever.
– Emerging markets matter: Places like India and Africa are the next growth frontiers.
Believe’s Billion-Dollar Drama
Remember Believe, that digital music company? Their founder, Denis Ladegaillerie, is leading a consortium to buy out the remaining public shares—and they just upped their offer, valuing Believe at almost $2 billion.
Why? Because independent artists and labels are big business, and Believe’s got a solid foothold there. If you’re an indie musician, this kind of move could mean more (or fewer) options down the line.
DICE Gets Swallowed by Fever
If you’ve bought tickets for shows lately, you’ve probably used DICE. Well, they just got acquired by Fever, a live-events discovery platform. Oh, and Fever also scooped up $100 million+ in funding the same week.
What’s the play here? Live events are booming, and companies want to own the whole experience—from discovery to ticketing. For fans, hopefully this means fewer scalpers and smoother bookings.
New Player Alert: Rezonate’s $150M Bet on Producers
Ever wonder who gets paid when a producer’s beat blows up? Rezonate Music Rights just launched with $150 million from Bridgepoint Credit to buy up producer royalty rights.
Co-founded by producer Cam Blackwood (George Ezra, Tom Walker), Rezonate’s betting that producer catalogs are the next big asset class. If you’re a beatmaker, this could mean more ways to cash in on your work.
So… What’s Next?
This industry moves fast. AI’s rewriting the rules, money’s pouring in, and the big guys are scrambling to stay on top. For musicians, it’s a double-edged sword: more opportunities, but more complexity.
My advice? Stay curious, stay flexible, and maybe—just maybe—dabble in that AI music tool everyone’s fighting over. Who knows? You might make the next viral robot breakup anthem.
Links & Resources:
– Suno’s AI Song Editor
Got thoughts? Drop ’em below. Let’s geek out over this crazy industry together. 🎵