This week is marked by high tensions in the music industry. With the rules still unclear, legal actions are being taken over copyright issues as well as allegations of sexism. Justice is moving forward, and the industry is beginning to question the existing system. Let’s take a look at what’s happening!
#1. Fever Raises $100M and Acquires DICE
Well, that was the operation of the week! Experience tech company Fever just raised $100 million in fresh funding and acquired DICE, the fan-friendly ticketing app. The move positions Fever as a heavyweight in reshaping live music experiences, aiming to digitize everything from event discovery to fan engagement while competing with traditional ticketing giants.
#2. Goldman Sachs Warns: Streaming Growth Is Slowing
Goldman Sachs’ latest music industry forecast paints a mixed picture. While overall revenue is still growing, global streaming is nearing a plateau, especially in mature markets. The report urges companies to diversify income streams, looking beyond monthly subscriptions and exploring new monetization layers like superfans, direct artist engagement, and global expansion.
#3. End of the dispute between the labels and Frontier Communications
Universal, Sony, Warner, and ABKCO have ended their legal standoff with internet provider Frontier Communications, accused of allowing rampant piracy to thrive on its network. After three years of litigation and the threat of hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, a settlement has been reached. The terms remain confidential, but the case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning it cannot be reopened.
At the heart of the dispute: more than 20,000 ignored takedown notices and thousands of songs allegedly pirated via BitTorrent, according to the labels. Frontier was accused of knowingly turning a blind eye to repeat offenders to avoid losing subscribers. The settlement marks a key moment in the broader fight against companies accused of overlooking large-scale piracy.
#4. TikTok doubles down on artists with a new analytics platform
TikTok is rolling out TikTok for Artists, a tool for musicians looking to break through on the platform. After a limited beta phase, the new dashboard is now available in 26 countries, including France. It provides artists with detailed data on how their songs and videos are performing, along with a pre-release tool to boost upcoming releases on Spotify or Apple Music.
Designed for artists at any stage of their career, the platform also lets users share access with their teams and labels, making it easier to coordinate promo campaigns. For TikTok, already multiplying partnerships with major stars, this marks a key step in strengthening its role as the global leader in music discovery. A big win for artists, even as TikTok’s future in the U.S. remains uncertain.
#5. Eight Mile Style Sues Meta
After losing its lawsuit against Spotify, Eight Mile Style, the publisher of 243 Eminem tracks, is now targeting Meta. In a complaint filed in late May, the company accuses Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp of streaming Eminem’s music without proper licensing, across millions of videos viewed billions of times. The publisher describes the use of its works as “blatant and profitable” copyright infringement, seeking up to $150,000 per song, potentially over $100 million in damages. While Meta has removed some tracks following a warning, alternate versions remain available. The case once again highlights growing tensions between tech platforms and rights holders over music usage in user-generated content.
