On March 25, 2026, as the pink cherry blossoms drifted down from their trees in the nation’s capital, so too did an industry-changing judgment from the Supreme Court of the United States. The question: “Can an internet service provider be …
Did Darrin Henson’s exclusive rights to his choreography just go “Bye Bye Bye”?
In January 2000, the release of NSYNC’s hit song “Bye Bye Bye” and its music video became a defining moment in pop culture. Today, more than twenty-five years later, the choreography associated with the song is at the center of …
Can Songwriters Survive the Suno Tsunami?
It’s no secret that I’m a musician – in fact, a songwriter/producer. I’ve invested late nights bringing my ideas to life, as well as thousands in technology (and Berklee tuition). It was worthwhile because I knew I would, in return, …
A Riddim’s Riddle: From the Sound System to the Court System
The Caribbean is a melting pot of heritage. The region was inhabited by Indigenous Americans, followed by Europeans who brought enslaved people from China, India, and Africa to grow crops in the colonies for shipment back to their respective countries. …
They’ll give you Wrapped, We’ll give you Their Rap Sheet: An Overview of the Legal Issues Behind Spotify
As we head into the end of November, Spotify Wrapped 2025 is due to be released any day now. Discussed among friends and shared across social media, Wrapped is generally perceived by subscribers as a celebration of their own year …
From Infringement to Innovation: How UMG’s Udio Settlement Reframes Fair Use and AI in Music
In an attempt to coevolve with the new age of technology, Universal Music Group (“UMG”), the world’s biggest music label, announced on October 29, 2025, that they settled a copyright infringement case with Udio, an artificial intelligence (“AI”) music company. …
Songwriting 2.0: Responding to AI-Assisted Musical Compositions
Songwriting is a revenue engine of the music industry. In 2023, Taylor Swift generated an estimated $75 million from streaming and radio airplay from her songwriting catalogue.[1] Music publishers have structured the songwriting subindustry by organizing songwriting sessions, grouping songwriters …
Tilly Norwood: Hollywood’s Synthetic Starlet
Tilly Norwood, Hollywood’s new emerging technological sensation, has quickly become a focal point of widespread media attention. According to actor and Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (“SAG-AFTRA”) President, Sean Astin, Norwood isn’t a human actor, but …
All Together Now: How Songview is Changing the Tune on Transparency
Before the Internet and technological advances, licensing musical compositions and sound recordings was difficult. Intellectual property rights, like reproduction, creating derivatives, distribution, and public performance, were often owned by entities like music publishers, record labels, or independent distributors, who were …
Free for You, But Fair to Me?
As living costs rise, consumers must choose carefully how they spend their disposable income, especially since these purchases can affect factors adjacent to living costs. A young professional may want to invest in a class to build her skills and …