TikTok Classical Music Push, Songview Expands With New Data Integrations, Lawsuit Against Suno Escalates
How The Music Business Works - Issue #31
October 2, 2025
Welcome back to How The Music Business Works!
The music industry this week was shaped by key developments spanning tech, rights management, and recognition initiatives.
TikTok deepened its investment in classical music with new partnerships, highlighting social platforms’ growing role in niche genres. U.S. performance rights organizations expanded their joint database to strengthen transparency and accuracy in songwriter and publisher payments.
Meanwhile, lawsuits against AI music startups intensified, with major labels raising claims of widespread scraping. In Australia, APRA AMCOS leadership publicly criticized tech lobbyists for downplaying the need for fair AI licensing, underscoring tensions between creators and Silicon Valley.
And in the UK, the BPI confirmed sponsorship of the Women in Music Awards, reinforcing efforts to promote gender equity and recognition across the sector.
Here are the headlines....
TikTok has launched its Crescendo program in the UK to expand access to classical music content and education on its platform, while also announcing a partnership with Poland’s Chopin Institute to promote the works of Frédéric Chopin. The initiatives aim to support classical artists and connect younger audiences with classical music through social-driven formats. The program builds on TikTok’s earlier experiments in niche music genres and signals its growing influence in cultural education.
Songview expands with new GMR and SESAC data integrations
The Songview database, jointly run by ASCAP and BMI, has expanded to incorporate data from GMR (Global Music Rights) and SESAC, two other U.S. performing rights organizations. The inclusion creates a more unified and transparent rights database, covering millions of compositions and aiming to streamline licensing and royalty tracking. This move addresses long-standing industry concerns over fragmented rights information and makes it easier for music users to identify rights holders and pay royalties more efficiently.
Labels escalate lawsuit against Udio over AI music scraping from YouTube
Following recent stream-ripping allegations against Suno, record labels have strengthened their complaint against AI music startup Udio, accusing it of illegally scraping large amounts of content from YouTube. The updated filing claims systematic copyright infringement through scraping and training practices that undermine rights holders. The case underscores growing friction between AI music companies and labels, as the industry pushes for clear legal boundaries and enforcement in the face of rapidly advancing generative tools.
APRA AMCOS boss criticises tech lobbyists over AI licensing
APRA AMCOS CEO Dean Ormston has criticized tech lobbyists for misrepresenting the role of copyright in AI training and licensing. Speaking at an industry event, Ormston argued that tech companies are pushing narratives that undermine the rights of songwriters and composers, and stressed that fair licensing must be central to AI regulation. His remarks reflect broader global debates on AI and music rights, with collecting societies pushing back against what they see as aggressive lobbying tactics from Silicon Valley.
BPI to sponsor Women in Music Awards
The UK’s BPI (British Phonographic Industry) has confirmed it will sponsor the upcoming Women in Music Awards, an event celebrating female executives, creators, and innovators across the industry. By backing the awards, the BPI aims to highlight its commitment to diversity and gender equity while amplifying recognition of women’s contributions in shaping the music business. The sponsorship aligns with ongoing industry efforts to address representation gaps and create more inclusive pathways for future leaders.