DIVER.G.ENT

Criticism continues to build of Universal Music’s deal to buy Downtown Music. The World Independent Network has today published a lengthy statement including comments from labels and trade organisations based all over the world

Jay-Z has again hit out at the attorney leading on a lawsuit that accuses the rapper of rape, saying an interview by his accuser shows the litigation “has no factual basis”. Meanwhile Diddy, co-defendant on that lawsuit, has given up trying to get bail as he awaits trial on criminal charges

TikTok has turned to both the US Supreme Court and Donald Trump as it seeks to stop a ban that is due to come into effect in the US on 19 Jan. Meanwhile the EU is investigating if TikTok did enough to stop its platform being used to spread disinformation in the recent Romanian elections

The UK government has formally proposed introducing a new copyright exception for AI companies that use existing content to train their models, but with an opt-out for copyright owners. The music industry will oppose that proposal via a consultation that the government has just opened

The independent music sector has called on competition regulators to investigate and block Universal’s Downtown Music deal, which is a “huge market share” grab according to IMPALA’s Helen Smith and part of the major’s bid for “utter dominance and control” according to Beggars boss Martin Mills