This week, gearing up for Back to school season, the music industry hits a familiar trio: money, power, and public pressure. As major players go for legal battles, equity firms are going after iconic catalogs, and rights organizations roll out long-awaited improvements, we’re simply witnessing current affairs moving at a steady pace.
#1. UMG and Drake’s Legal Battle Escalates
UMG has officially responded to the lawsuit involving Drake, slamming his legal team’s attempt to get their hands on CEO Lucian Grainge’s emails as “absurd” and “harassment.” This is part of an ongoing defamation case tied to Kendrick Lamar’s track “Not Like Us,” which Drake claims was released with malicious intent. Grainge issued a formal declaration denying any involvement in the release, confirming UMG’s financial support of Drake over the years, and reiterating that UMG acquired ownership of both Drake’s recording and publishing catalogs. Of course, this ongoing (and tedious) dispute is more about a public narrative and soft power in the music industry, rather than about a song itself.
#2. PRS for Music Speeds Up Streaming Royalties
PRS for Music is moving toward faster, fairer payments. Starting August 15, members will receive monthly royalty distributions from streaming platforms, up from quarterly. This acceleration follows major updates to data processing and distribution systems and marks a win for songwriters and publishers seeking quicker, clearer payment cycles. PRS says the change will offer members greater visibility into income trends and will expand to other income streams in 2026.
#3. Slipknot Nears $120M Catalog Deal
Slipknot may be the next big act to cash in on catalog value. According to reports, the band is close to a deal with HarbourView Equity Partners for a reported $120 million covering both master and publishing rights. The catalog includes material across multiple labels and members, and it’s worth noting that it does not include new releases. As genre-diverse catalogs continue to rise in valuation, this deal reflects the long-tail value of aggressive fanbases and streaming consistency.
#4. Spotify Criticism Gets Louder
A deep dive from Vice revisits long-standing criticisms of Spotify, this time supported by both fans and artists. With creator royalties under ongoing criticism, the piece points out how general sentiment around the platform is shifting from silent frustration to vocal dissatisfaction. Yet as some call for change or alternatives, the article raises the question: Is the music world too entrenched in Spotify’s infrastructure to pivot?
#5. The FTC Moves Against Ticket Scalpers
To close out the week, politics and music policy intersect again. Donald Trump has unveiled a policy proposal aimed at banning ticket scalping practices, citing high-profile examples like Taylor Swift and Bruce Springsteen tours. If re-elected, Trump’s plan would target resale markups and require transparency in ticket pricing. Although such a declaration doesn’t bring anything concrete to the table, for now, no need to bring out new strategies yet.
