Iceland Joins ICMP, ISPs Under Fire, and Indie Creators Push Back on AI
How The Music Business Works - Issue #15
June 12, 2025
Welcome back to How The Music Business Works!
Want to know what Music Admin’s been up to this past week? From welcoming new hires and gearing up for an exciting upcoming project, to digging into finances and evaluating key catalogs, we’ve got plenty to share. Catch all the highlights in this quick video update!
And now, here’s what’s been making headlines across the wider music industry. This week’s stories spotlight the growing tension between tech, rights, and transparency.
Indie songwriters are demanding a seat at the table in AI licensing talks, as debates over transparency and fair compensation heat up. Meanwhile, Musixmatch fires back at LyricFind’s antitrust claims, Grande Communications urges the Supreme Court to clarify ISP liability for piracy, and X may be nearing a $250 million copyright settlement with major publishers.
Let’s dive in.
Iceland’s Music Publishers’ Association Joins Global Trade Body ICMP
The Music Publishers’ Association of Iceland (MPA Iceland) has joined the International Confederation of Music Publishers (ICMP), becoming the organization’s 80th national member. ICMP represents the interests of the global music publishing industry, spanning major and independent publishers and 76 trade associations across six continents. It advocates for the rights behind roughly 90% of the world’s commercially released music—over 160 million tracks. MPA Iceland brings together the country’s music publishing sector and aims to strengthen international ties.
Grande Communications Doubles Down on Repeat-Piracy Questions in Supreme Court Filing
Grande Communications is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to decide whether ISPs can be held liable for contributory copyright infringement based on as few as two notices per user. The case follows a $47 million judgment against Grande for allegedly ignoring repeat infringement. The company argues there’s no clear legal standard for when ISPs must terminate accounts and warns that vague rules could unfairly cut off internet access for many. The Court was set to review the petition on June 12, but the conference has been rescheduled.
Indie Songwriters Bristling Over ‘Closed-Door’ Major Label AI Negotiations
Independent songwriters and composers are speaking out against major labels’ secretive AI negotiations with tech companies, calling the process exclusionary and unfair. Groups like the Songwriters Guild of America and Music Creators North America argue that these closed-door talks echo past deals that sidelined creators and led to low streaming royalties. They demand a transparent, legislative process to ensure fair licensing terms, royalties, and protections for all music creators—not just those affiliated with major labels.
LyricFind Lawsuit Is Meritless Nonsense, Says Musixmatch
Musixmatch has asked a U.S. court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by rival LyricFind, which claims Musixmatch’s exclusive lyrics deal with Warner Chappell is anti-competitive. Musixmatch calls the case “meritless,” arguing LyricFind is simply upset over losing a deal. It says Warner had every right to license its lyrics exclusively and notes LyricFind hasn’t sued Warner directly. Musixmatch also challenges the court’s jurisdiction, pointing out that both companies are based outside the U.S. and the deal was made under UK law. Even if the case proceeds, Musixmatch argues the agreement doesn’t significantly restrict market access or violate antitrust laws.
X and Music Publishers Are Hoping to Settle Their Legal Battle
A potential settlement may be in sight for the $250 million copyright lawsuit filed by a coalition of music publishers against X, formerly known as Twitter. The lawsuit, originally filed in June 2023 by the NMPA, accuses the platform of infringing on approximately 1,700 songs. Although X attempted to have the case dismissed after its rebrand, it moved forward in March 2024. Now, both parties have jointly requested a 90-day pause in proceedings to pursue a possible negotiated resolution. The plaintiffs include all three major publishers and a number of other prominent music publishing companies.