In today's CMU Daily: OpenAI wants to peek behind the curtain of the New York Times’ journalism, demanding to see reporters’ sources as a copyright legal battle heats up. The AI company is questioning what elements of the newspaper’s output are actually protected by copyright, exploiting some legal technicalities that could be used in other AI cases

One Liners: BBC invests in Condense; BMG boss joins Bertelsmann board; charts of 2024 so far; Michael Bibi to raise awareness for stem cell transplant charity; Ed Sheeran and Kasbian shows; 6 Music at All Points East; New music from The Streets, Ragz Originale, HNNY, Jake Bugg, Bklava and Jim Legxacy

Also today: The music industry responds to the UK General Election, setting out some demands for the new government; Diddy is facing yet another sexual assault lawsuit

Plus: One last Tory v artists bust up over musical misappropriation

New York Times rejects Open AI’s unreasonable demand for journalists’ sources in copyright case

The New York Times has hit back at efforts by Open AI to force it to hand over source materials used in the creation of its articles as the high-profile copyright infringement dispute between the two companies enters the discovery phase.

The newspaper accuses Open AI of infringing its copyrights by training Chat GPT with its content without permission. OpenAI’s demand to see source materials used by journalists writing for the Times suggests that its defence may rely heavily on copyright technicalities as it fights the infringement lawsuit.

This may include opening up a debate about whether or not the works it has used to train its AI meet the threshold to be protected by copyright. If that approach is successful, that may set a precedent for technology companies involved in other AI related copyright cases, including those filed by the music industry, to engage a similar defence.

In a letter to the judge, Open AI argues that copyright protection extends “only to those components of a work that are original to the author”, citing American legal precedent.

The AI company goes on to contend that the Times “cannot pursue a claim for infringement” in relation to any parts of an article that were not original to the newspaper, including where press releases statements, third-party quotes or newswire content was used.

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ONE LINERS

Charts of 2024 so far, Michael Bibi, Ed Sheeran + more

DEALS

The BBC’s investment arm, BBC Ventures, has invested £500,000 into Condense, a Bristol-based company whose technology powers virtual immersive gigs and is already being used by the broadcaster for its New Music Portal. The head of BBC Ventures, Jeremy Walker, says, “The New Music Portal enables the BBC to bring the best of our performances to younger audiences who are increasingly spending time in these sorts of game-like online environments”. He adds, “We have invested £500,000 in Condense to ensure that as they grow and build on their success the BBC stands to benefit”.

APPOINTMENTS

BMG boss Thomas Coesfeld has been appointed to the Executive Board of the music firm’s parent company Bertelsmann. Says Bertelsmann CEO Thomas Rabe, “As CEO of BMG, Thomas has made important decisions for the future of the business, for example by bringing digital distribution in-house and using artificial intelligence in various areas of the music business. Thomas will enrich the work of the management board as well. I look forward to working even more closely with him”.

CHARTS

With the first half of 2024 now done and dusted, the Official Charts Company has published charts for the biggest songs and biggest albums of the year in the UK so far. Noah Kahan’s ‘Stick Season’ tops the songs chart, followed by Teddy Swims’ ‘Lose Control’ and Benson Boone’s ‘Beautiful Things’. Taylor Swift has the biggest album of the year so far with ‘The Tortured Poets Department’. The Weeknd is at number two with ‘The Highlights’ and Noah Kahan is at number three with ‘Stick Season’.

GIGS & FESTIVALS

DJ Michael Bibi has announced that he will be raising awareness for stem cell transplant charity Anthony Nolan at his sold-old show in London’s Finsbury Park this weekend. Bibi had to cancel concerts last year when he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. He says, “advancements in medical treatments like stem cell transplants gave me a second chance at life and are crucial in battling these conditions. Together, our community can make a difference. That’s why Anthony Nolan staff and volunteers will be at my homecoming show, ready to sign people up to the stem cell register”. He will also be selling merchandise to raise money for the Royal Marsden hospital in London where he received treatment.

Ed Sheeran has announced another run of Mathematics European shows from May to September 2025. The tour will take in Spain, France, Italy, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Belgium, Poland, Sweden and Denmark. Tickets go on sale 10 Jul.

Kasbian have announced four UK arena shows in November with special guests The Streets. Tickets go on sale 10 Jul.

BBC Radio 6 Music has announced the line up for its stage at the All Points East Festival in London next month. Various BBC presenters will be in attendance, plus DJ sets are promised from ANNA, DEADLETTER, Deena Abdelwahed, Kelly Lee Owens, Lambrini Girls, LCY b2b YAZZUS, Los Bitchos, Not Bad For A Girl, Self Esteem, Tim Reaper and Yyre.

RELEASES

The Streets curated fabric mix series, ‘fabric Presents The Streets’, is out today.

Ragz Originale has collaborated with Bambii on new single ‘Ice’.

HNNY has released his new album ‘Light Shines Through’.

Jake Bugg has released new single ‘All Kinds of People’. His new album ‘A Modern Day Distraction’ is out 20 Sep.

Bklava has released her new fourteen track mixtape ‘c u l8r’.

Jim Legxacy has released new single ‘nothings changed (!)’.

Labour’s landslide: UK music industry sets ambitious agenda for new government

The UK music industry has responded to the Labour Party’s decisive victory in the General Election, after Keir Starmer’s party secured 412 seats in the House Of Commons. The dramatic if predictable result is a landslide victory in Parliamentary terms, with the Conservative Party well and truly kicked out of power, losing a huge number of seats, leaving them with just 121, down 250 from the 2019 election.

As the industry prepares to engage with the new government, a new set of ministers and the wider Parliamentary community, various trade organisations have outlined their priorities. Those include areas where they are looking for more support, more investment, greater awareness, and - inevitably in some cases - changes to the law.

Key issues uniting the industry include the need for increased investment in music education, tax breaks for independent music companies, greater support for grassroots venues and the night-time economy, and addressing post-Brexit touring barriers.

Labour’s pledge to introduce a price cap on ticket resale has also been welcomed, particularly by anti-touting campaigners, including FanFair. With Starmer vowing that “change begins immediately” in his first speech as Prime Minister earlier today, adding that actions are more important than words, there is a chance that Labour might make good on its ticket resale pledge relatively quickly.

Diddy faces new sexual assault lawsuit from former White Party dancer

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is facing yet another sexual assault lawsuit. In a new filing with the New York courts, dancer Adria English claims that she was the victim of sex trafficking orchestrated by Combs and an employee at his Bad Boy Entertainment company, Tamiko Thomas.

Numerous allegations of sexual harassment and assault, and other misconduct, have been made against Combs over the last year. The rapper continues to deny all the allegations, with his lawyer, Jonathan Davis, responding to the latest litigation in a statement saying, “No matter how many lawsuits are filed it won’t change the fact that Mr Combs has never sexually assaulted or sex trafficked anyone”.

English says that she first met Combs in 2004 when her then boyfriend Anthony Gallo attended an audition to model for the musician’s fashion company Sean John. At the audition, Gallo was allegedly told to perform oral sex on Combs to get the job. After he refused, Gallo was told that he could still get the modeling contract if he persuaded English to work as a go-go dancer at one of Combs’ White Party events.

English agreed, partly to help Gallo, and partly because she believed it was legitimate employment. Once at the event, she was told to give lap dances and be “sexually flirtatious” with guests, and was forced to consume alcohol and drugs. After that first party, she was asked to perform at subsequent events. This, she alleges, is how Combs and Thomas were able to “groom” her into sex trafficking.

And Finally! MGMT last band to get a Tory track-theft diss in before they were sent packing

As the UK’s Conservative Party packs its bags for the political wilderness, let’s - for old time’s sake - indulge in one last Tories vs musicians showdown, where politicians have yet again managed to enrage musicians by using their music without permission.

MGMT have called out now-former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for using their track ‘Little Dark Age’ in an election campaign video. The video, which was posted last weekend on social media, included a slowed-down version of the MGMT track, accompanying footage of the UK’s armed forces with Sunak speaking about the country’s support of Ukraine.

The American duo told NME, “How many times do we have to remind you jokers that this song is not fair game for your utter garbage? Let’s all laugh at this dingus. Clock’s ticking, mate. Happy Independence Day”.