Warner Music Group and AI music generator Suno stunned the global music industry this week with the announcement of a “landmark” deal, which also settled previous litigation between the companies.
Meanwhile, Spotify is reportedly planning to raise its Premium prices in the US as soon as Q1 2026, as the streaming giant works to demonstrate sustained profitability.
Elsewhere, Universal Music Group received a Statement of Objections from the European Commission over its proposed $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings.
Also this week, the estate of Johnny Cash sued Coca-Cola over the alleged use of a sound-alike singer in a nationwide advertising campaign.
Here are some of the biggest headlines from the past few days…
1. WARNER MUSIC GROUP STRIKES ‘LANDMARK’ DEAL WITH SUNO; SETTLES COPYRIGHT LAWSUIT AGAINST AI MUSIC GENERATOR
Warner Music Group and AI music generator Suno have struck what they call a “first-of-its-kind partnership”.
They claim the deal will “open new frontiers in music creation, interaction, and discovery, while both compensating and protecting artists, songwriters, and the wider creative community”.
The deal also settles previous litigation between the companies.
The deal, according to a press release, “brings together Suno’s best-in-class AI capabilities with WMG’s artist development leadership and expertise at the intersection of music and technology”. (MBW)
2. SPOTIFY PLANS TO HIKE US SUBSCRIPTION PRICES IN Q1 2026 (REPORT)
Spotify plans to raise its Premium prices in the US as soon as the first quarter of 2026.
That’s according to the Financial Times, which reported on Monday (November 24), citing three people familiar with the matter, that the move comes as Spotify works to demonstrate sustained profitability.
A US Spotify Premium subscription currently costs $11.99 per month, up from $9.99 when the service launched in the country 14 years ago. The US, the world’s largest recorded music market, last saw a price rise from Spotify in July 2024… (MBW)
3. UMG RECEIVES STATEMENT OF OBJECTIONS FROM EU REGULATOR OVER $775M DOWNTOWN DEAL
The European Commission has officially sent a Statement of Objections to Universal Music Group over its proposed $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings.
The Statement of Objections (SO) issued on Monday (November 24) represents a formal escalation in the EC’s investigation into the transaction, which UMG’s Virgin Music Group announced in December 2024.
The arrival of the SO confirms reports from last week that the EC was preparing to issue a ‘formal warning’ over the proposed deal.
The EC opened its in-depth Phase II investigation into the proposed acquisition in July, following a 25-day initial Phase I review… (MBW)
4. JOHNNY CASH ESTATE HITS COCA-COLA WITH ELVIS ACT LAWSUIT OVER SOUND-ALIKE SINGER IN AD
The estate of Johnny Cash has sued Coca-Cola, accusing the beverage giant of using an impersonator who mimicked the late singer’s voice in a nationwide advertising campaign without permission.
The complaint, filed in US District Court in Nashville, alleges Coca-Cola hired a tribute singer to record vocals for a college football-themed commercial that started airing in August 2025. The John R. Cash Revocable Trust, which controls the singer’s publicity rights, is seeking damages and an injunction to stop Coca-Cola from “exploiting the infringing ad.”
The trust alleges in the lawsuit that Coca-Cola commissioned the Go the Distance commercial as part of its Fan Work Is Thirsty Work campaign for the NCAA football season… (MBW)
5. RESERVOIR LAUNCHES CATALOG-BUYING JOINT VENTURE WITH JAMAICA’S SKATTA BURRELL AND PUBLISHER ABOOD MUSIC
Reservoir Media has struck up a new joint venture with Jamaican star Cordell “Skatta” Burrell and reggae and dancehall publisher Abood Music. Together, they plan to both acquire catalogs and sign and develop Jamaican artists and songwriters, aimed at “further advancing the new generation of Jamaica’s music scene”.
Started by Jamdown Records founder Othman Mukhlis in 2001, Abood Music is a long-established publisher of Jamaican and international music.
With a catalog spanning “decades”, Abood Music has an extensive history of global hits, with more than 220 million albums sold and over 120 Jamaican clients… (MBW)
Partner message: MBW’s Weekly Round-up is supported by BMI, the global leader in performing rights management, dedicated to supporting songwriters, composers and publishers and championing the value of music. Find out more about BMI here. Music Business Worldwide
