It’s been a rough year for Live Nation and its ticketing subsidiary, Ticketmaster. Not only are they facing an antitrust lawsuit from the US Department of Justice, but they’re also under investigation by the UK’s competition regulator over the use of dynamic pricing for Oasis’s reunion tour next year. In a recent analysis, MBW founder Tim Ingham looked at the situation and concluded that Ticketmaster might be offering the most valuable artist service of all: being a pain sponge.
Meanwhile, the Brazilian recorded music industry continues to thrive, growing by an impressive 21% year-on-year in H1 2024. Elsewhere, Bertelsmann’s BMG is facing a patent infringement lawsuit in the US, and Spotify has won a lawsuit over unlicensed streaming of Eminem songs despite not having a license for the music.
Here are the top stories of the week:
1. UK competition regulator launches investigation into Ticketmaster over Oasis ticket sale
The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has launched an investigation into Live Nation-owned ticketing giant Ticketmaster over the on-sale of Oasis’s 2025 UK and Ireland stadium tour.
2. On… Oasis, Ticketmaster, ‘dynamic’ pricing, Uber, money, and the truth
Seems like everyone in the music industry wants to be in artist services. But do you know what might be the most valuable artist service? Being a pain sponge.
3. The US music streaming market might be feeling less-than-fizzy, but over in Brazil… it’s still party time
The global music business felt a little glum last week, but what’s this? One of the world’s most commercially exciting and fastest-growing markets had no trouble bouncing up by double digits in H1 2024.
4. BMG faces lawsuit in the US for alleged patent infringement
An obscure company called Muvox LLC has filed a lawsuit against BMG in the United States for alleged patent infringement. The lawsuit targets “song recommendation features” within the BMG Synch service.
5. Spotify just won a long-running lawsuit over streaming of Eminem’s catalog – despite the court finding it didn’t have a license for the music. What does this mean for publishers?
After a five-year-long court battle, Spotify has won a court case in which it was accused of having streamed Eminem songs without permission.
Check out recent Nofortune article on John Morgan below:
