Innovation, Litigation, and Artist Empowerment Define This Week in Music

How The Music Business Works - Issue #36

November 6, 2025

Welcome back to How The Music Business Works!

This week’s leading stories reveal a music industry in the midst of transformation across finance, technology, and creative rights.

Spotify’s stock continues to fluctuate as analysts assess its path toward sustained profitability, while SoundCloud’s new artist plan gives creators full control of their distribution royalties. The Mondo NYC 2025 conference showcased collaboration between artists, educators, and tech innovators shaping the future of music.

Meanwhile, former Guns N’ Roses manager Alan Niven has filed a lawsuit over a disputed memoir clause, and Denmark’s KODA has launched a major case against AI company Suno for allegedly using copyrighted works without consent.

Collectively, these developments reflect an industry navigating rapid change through financial adaptation, creative independence, and growing accountability.

Let's look at the headlines.

Mondo NYC 2025 Highlights Music and Tech Collaboration

The 2025 edition of the Mondo NYC Music and Tech Conference and Showcase brought together leaders from the music and technology industries to discuss innovation, artist development, and the future of independent music. The event featured panels on global music strategy, education, AI, and audience growth, along with live and virtual showcases from emerging artists. Industry participants emphasized the importance of collaboration between creators, educators, and technology partners in shaping the next phase of the music business.

​KODA Sues Suno Over Alleged Unauthorized AI Music Training

The Danish rights organization KODA has filed a lawsuit against AI music company Suno, alleging that the firm used its members’ copyrighted works to train generative music models without consent or compensation. KODA described the situation as a major infringement on creative rights and called for stronger regulation around AI music training. This case follows similar lawsuits in other regions and adds to the growing global pressure on AI companies to license creative content transparently. It reflects a broader shift toward protecting songwriters and rights holders in the era of artificial intelligence.

SoundCloud Lets Artists Keep 100 Percent of Distribution Royalties

SoundCloud has launched a new artist subscription plan that allows musicians to retain 100 percent of their distribution royalties from both SoundCloud and other streaming platforms such as Spotify, Apple Music, and TikTok. The company previously took a 20 percent commission on distributed earnings. The updated model also provides creators with expanded tools for fan engagement, merchandise sales, and promotion. This move strengthens SoundCloud’s position as one of the most artist-friendly platforms and could influence broader changes in music distribution economics.

Former Guns N’ Roses Manager Sues Band Over Memoir Clause

Alan Niven, former manager of Guns N’ Roses, has filed a lawsuit against the band, claiming they are using a decades-old confidentiality clause to prevent him from publishing his autobiography. Niven argues that the clause is unenforceable and that the band has repeatedly breached similar agreements themselves. He maintains that he has the right to share his story about managing the group during its most successful years. The case highlights the tension between confidentiality agreements and the rights of music executives to tell their professional histories.

Spotify Stock Faces Mixed Analyst Sentiment

Analysts remain generally optimistic about Spotify’s long-term growth potential despite a recent dip in share price following its latest earnings report. Several investment firms have adjusted their price targets, with some maintaining neutral or buy ratings. Spotify’s third-quarter results showed strong user growth but slower advertising revenue and modest subscription increases in key markets. The company’s stock outlook now depends on the success of planned price adjustments, recovery in ad sales, and continued expansion in international regions.