Welcome to our Weekly Headline Roundup!
This week we’re looking at combatting fraud, the new mechanical royalty rates, Spotify’s launch of music videos, and more.
Indie publisher trade body says members should reject AI deals that do not value songs properly
The major labels’ big deals with Suno and Udio have posed a number of important questions for the wider music community – including how AI income will be shared between the song rights and the recording rights. IMPF has now joined ECSA in demanding that the two copyrights are valued equally
– Chris Cooke, Complete Music Update
Beatdapp Launches ‘Trust & Safety Operating System’ to Combat Fraud Beyond Music Streaming
Beatdapp, a tech company that specializes in fraud detection for digital platforms, is launching a trust and safety system aimed at addressing security challenges across multiple industries beyond streaming.
– Mandy Dalugdug, Music Business Worldwide
The new platform, called the Beatdapp Trust & Safety Operating System, combines identity verification, AI music detection, anomaly detection, account takeover detection, and a recommendation engine into a single platform.
2026 U.S. Mechanical Royalty Rates Increase: CRB Sets New Rates
The Copyright Royalty Judges have officially announced the new 2026 U.S. mechanical royalty rates for physical formats and permanent downloads. This decision delivers a modest cost-of-living increase that will affect labels, publishers, and songwriters beginning January 1, 2026.
– Bruce Houghton, Hypebot
Under the final CRB rule, the statutory 2026 U.S. Mechanical Royalty Rates will rise to:
13.1 cents per work (up from 12.7¢ in 2025)
2.52 cents per minute (or fraction thereof) for songs longer than five minutes
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Hit 200M Engaged Users in 24 Hours – A 19% YOY Increase
Spotify Wrapped is becoming an annual tradition for the streaming service’s users – and Spotify has the data to back that up.
– Daniel Tencer, Music Business Worldwide
The Sweden-headquartered company said Thursday (December 4) that Wrapped 2025 was the biggest one yet, reaching 200 million engaged users is approximately 24 hours – a 19% increase year-over-year.
Skyline Artists Agency to Shut Down After 35 Years: ‘An Incredible Run’
Bruce Houghton is closing Skyline Artists Agency after 35 years, the longtime agent announced Wednesday (Dec. 3).
– Dave Brooks, Billboard
Boasting a roster that has included Foghat, Johnny Winter, Rick Danko, George Winston, Solomon Burke, The Von Trapps and Merl Saunders, Houghton said the independent agency prided itself on being a boutique shop that diligently served the needs of its unique roster. One of the agency’s most successful niche genres was Americana, Houghton recalls, working with legacy artists like Roger McGuinn and Tom Rush as well as contemporary stars including the four-person Boston indie folk band Darlingside and hip-hop/bluegrass hybrid Gangstagrass.
Spotify Launches Music Videos in the US and Canada for Premium Users
Music videos are officially rolling out in beta to Premium Spotify users across the US and Canada.
– Mandy Dalugdug, Music Business Worldwide
The feature, which Spotify says is one of the “most anticipated” among its users, will be available to all Premium users in both countries by the end of December, Spotify confirmed in an emailed statement to MBW.