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CMU Digest
CMU Digest 08.12.17: Eventim, Warner Music, YouTube, safe harbour, Help Musicians
By Chris Cooke | Published on Friday 8 December 2017
The key stories from the last seven days in the music business…
German ticketing giant Eventim said that it intended to go legal over a decision by Germany’s competition regulator in relation to exclusivity clauses in its contracts with venues and concert promoters. Germany’s Federal Cartel Office said that Eventim’s long-term clients should be allowed to sell at least 20% of their tickets via other platforms, because of the ticket firm’s market dominance. Eventim said that the decision ignored increased competition in the ticketing sector from new online players. [READ MORE]
Warner Music in Sweden confirmed it had dismissed a senior executive accused of sexual misconduct. An investigation was launched into allegations against the exec just as nearly 2000 women working in the Swedish music industry signed a letter speaking out about sexual harassment and abuse in the sector. Warner Music Sweden said it was now “conducting a review of our internal code of conduct, reporting procedures and education programmes”. [READ MORE]
Google announced it would take its YouTube app off Amazon’s Fire TV device as part of ongoing feuding between the two web giants. Google isn’t happy that Amazon doesn’t stock many of its devices on its main website, especially those Google devices which compete with Amazon devices. Google said that: “Given this lack of reciprocity, we are no longer supporting YouTube on Fire TV”. An Amazon rep responded that: “Google is setting a disappointing precedent by selectively blocking customer access to an open website”. [READ MORE]
Australian ministers confirmed that the copyright safe harbour there would not be extended to protect services like YouTube. The copyright safe harbour in Australian law is much narrower than in the US and Europe in terms of the kinds of internet services that are protected from liability for their users’ copyright infringement. An upcoming overhaul of Australian copyright law will extend the reach of the safe harbour, but not to user-upload and social media platforms. The music industry reckons the US and European safe harbour should be revised to exclude YouTube. [READ MORE]
Help Musicians UK formally launched its new mental health service Music Minds Matter. The charity first unveiled the service – which has been informed by two research projects with the University Of Westminster and MusicTank – earlier this year. At the heart of the new initiative is a 24/7 helpline for anyone in the music community seeking help or emotional support. [READ MORE]
The big deals from the last seven days in the music business…
• Reservoir formed a JV with writer-producer Warren ‘Oak’ Felder [INFO]
• German label SPV allied with The Orchard on digital distribution [INFO]
• VIP-Booking.com bought Musicverb [INFO]
• Eventbrite announced a partnership with Festicket [INFO]
• Kobalt allied with NetEase in China [INFO]
• Dice became a primary ticketing partner of AEG’s Goldenvoice UK [INFO]
• Kobalt signed Tash Sultana [INFO]
• WME extended its deal with Kings Of Leon to cover the US [INFO]
