The VP Rundown

The VP Rundown: Friday 13 November 2026

Fri, 13 Nov 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Weekday briefing

Friday 13 November 2026

More than 300 cultural organisations are pressing for a touring breakthrough at this month's UK-EU summit, Spotify gives listeners more control over Home, and AI music litigation keeps growing.

Needs attention

Entertainment law

PRS will use Soundtrack play data in royalty payouts from December

From December 2026, PRS for Music will use monthly play-by-play records from Soundtrack, a background music streaming service for businesses, when paying out public performance royalties. The data covers about 7,000 UK premises using Soundtrack, such as retail chains and hotels, and only the music streamed through that service. PRS announced the partnership on 28 October.

Why it matters: More exact data on what's played in shops, hotels and bars should mean background music royalties go more accurately to the writers whose songs are actually used. Writers and publishers may want to check their works are registered correctly with PRS before the first payouts based on this data.

Sources: Neon Music

Updates

Live music & touring

300+ organisations urge UK-EU summit to break touring deadlock

The Cultural Exchange Coalition, representing more than 300 music, live performance and cultural organisations across the UK and EU, has written to Prime Minister Andy Burnham and EU leaders ahead of the UK-EU summit later this month. It's asking for a structured plan on moving performers, crews and equipment across borders, and for UK involvement in programmes such as Creative Europe. The letter cites government research estimating £208 million in lost value and 2,490 jobs in UK touring between 2022 and 2024.

Why it matters: The summit is the next real chance for progress on post-Brexit touring rules, which hit small and mid-scale tours hardest. Any agreement on paperwork, carnets or haulage would directly affect the cost of taking productions into Europe.

Sources: UK Music · Music Ally · MUSIC:ED

Music marketing & social

Spotify lets listeners hide items and say 'not interested' across Home

Spotify is rolling out three new Home feed controls worldwide on mobile, for Free and Premium users. Listeners can remove tiles from the top of Home, remove items from the Recents shelf, and use 'Not interested' to hear less from specific shows or authors. Spotify says it builds on its Taste Profile tool, which is in beta in the US and New Zealand.

Why it matters: Home is a major discovery space. As listeners get more say over what appears there, sustained engagement such as saves, follows and repeat listens is likely to count for more than one-off plays when it comes to staying visible.

Sources: Spotify Newsroom · Daily Byte

Music marketing & social

Meta's AI ad tools showed discounts advertisers hadn't approved

Reports say Meta's AI ad tools picked up discount offers from a business's website and showed them in Facebook and Instagram ads, even where promotions had been switched off for that ad. The behaviour is linked to a Commerce Manager setting that lets Meta display offers detected from websites and ads. Advertisers can change that setting to stop offers carrying across campaigns.

Why it matters: For ticket and merch campaigns, a presale code or early-bird price appearing in the wrong ad or to the wrong audience could confuse buyers and cost revenue. It's worth checking Commerce Manager and reviewing AI-generated ad variations before campaigns go live.

Sources: Marketing Dive

Entertainment law

Reservoir expands its AI copyright suits against Suno and Anthropic

Music publisher Reservoir has filed expanded complaints in its US lawsuits against Suno and Anthropic, weeks after the originals. The Suno case now lists 1,368 allegedly infringed works, up from 1,050, and the Anthropic case 1,143, up from 853. Combined, the statutory damages sought are now reported at more than $445 million. The claims have not been tested in court.

Why it matters: Publishers are steadily widening AI training claims, and the scale of damages being sought adds pressure for licensing deals between AI firms and rights holders. The outcomes may shape how songwriters and catalogue owners are paid when their works are used by AI services.

Sources: Digital Music News

Coverage note: Ticket resale stayed in the news, but there was no new government step this week; the draft resale bill still hasn't been published. The PRS and Soundtrack item comes from one secondary source, as the original PRS announcement couldn't be fetched. A Meta Pixel measurement change from 12 November was left out because reports say it doesn't apply to UK or EU users.

The VP Rundown: Thursday 12 November 2026

Thu, 12 Nov 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Weekday briefing

Thursday 12 November 2026

A quieter day. Touring costs are back in the spotlight, YouTube's AI replacement music reaches UK creators with strings attached, and a US case is testing who pays when influencers use unlicensed songs in brand ads.

Updates

Live music & touring

Kate Nash expects to lose about $16,000 on her next tour

Singer Kate Nash said this week that she expects to lose around $16,000 on her coming North American tour, and will keep using subscription content online to help cover it. She has said the losses come from paying a live band and crew rather than using backing tracks. Last month she told MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that she lost £26,000 on her last European tour and £13,000 on her UK run.

Why it matters: It's a high-profile reminder of how tight touring margins are, even for established acts with strong ticket sales. Expect it to feed into the ongoing lobbying on touring costs and post-Brexit rules, and to shape conversations with acts about fees, crew size and production.

Sources: RTÉ · Belfast Telegraph · The Independent

Music marketing & social

YouTube's AI replacement music reaches more countries, for YouTube use only

YouTube has opened the AI music option in its Studio 'Replace song' tool to creators in most countries outside the European Economic Area. When a video gets a music copyright claim, creators can generate four instrumental tracks of about three minutes and swap one in; the claim is lifted once all the claimed audio is replaced. YouTube says the generated music is only for content made on YouTube, the edit can't be undone, and the tool is desktop-only for now.

Why it matters: It's a quick fix for claimed promo videos without re-uploading and losing views. But the tracks aren't cleared for Instagram, TikTok or paid ads, so cutdowns for other platforms still need properly licensed music. Keep the original file before saving an edit.

Sources: PPC Land · ContentGrip

Music marketing & social

Spotify's AI DJ adds a British voice and an option to turn off the chat

Spotify has added nine new voices to DJ, its AI host for Premium listeners, including British, Irish and Australian accents, and a setting that switches off commentary between songs. The changes began rolling out on 10 November in markets where DJ is available.

Why it matters: DJ is one of the ways Premium listeners find music, so it's another discovery route where good playlist placement and complete artist profiles matter. Fewer interruptions may also mean more listening sessions that run uninterrupted through DJ.

Sources: Spotify Newsroom · Music Ally

Entertainment law

Kroger asks court to throw out Sony's influencer ad music lawsuit

US supermarket group Kroger and 17 affiliates have asked a California federal court to dismiss Sony Music's lawsuit over at least 392 alleged unlicensed uses of Sony recordings in social videos by Kroger brands and paid influencers. Kroger argues that Sony hasn't said which label owns which recording, and that where an influencer chose the song, any licence fee was the influencer's responsibility, not the brand's. A hearing is set for 14 January 2027.

Why it matters: This is one of several US cases about music in brand and influencer content, and the outcome may influence how brands, agencies and creators split responsibility for licensing. Brand and influencer briefs that spell out who clears the music are worth a look.

Sources: Music Business Worldwide · Digital Music News

Wider context

Entertainment law

EU adviser says AI chatbots reusing press articles may infringe publishers' rights

In the first generative AI case at the EU's Court of Justice, Advocate General Szpunar said a chatbot that retrieves and reuses press articles in real time to answer users may, in some circumstances, infringe press publishers' rights, particularly where the answer could replace reading the original. He treated questions about AI training as inadmissible in this case. His opinion is not binding; the Court will rule later.

Why it matters: The case concerns news publishers rather than music, but it's an early sign of how EU courts may approach AI tools that reuse protected content, which could shape later arguments over lyrics and recordings.

Sources: Court of Justice of the EU · EUR-Lex

Coverage note: A light news day after the launch edition. Two items (YouTube and the Kroger motion) are from earlier in the month but weren't covered before. No new UK-specific legal rulings or deadlines were found. A report of new court filings by music publishers against Anthropic was left out because its date couldn't be confirmed.

The VP Rundown: Wednesday 11 November 2026

Wed, 11 Nov 2026 08:00:00 +0000

Weekday briefing

Wednesday 11 November 2026

Launch edition. Ticket touting is back in Parliament, AI music faces new likeness-rights lawsuits, and PRS is cutting what it charges to collect live royalties from January.

Needs attention

Entertainment law

PRS cuts its fee for collecting live royalties from 1 January

From 1 January 2027, PRS for Music will lower the administration rate it deducts from public performance royalties, including live, from 23% to 20%. Cinema and broadcast rates are also falling. PRS expects writers and publishers to receive about £30 million more over three years. Separately, the fee for its large-venue live service (MLCS) has become a flat £500 per event.

Why it matters: Anyone earning songwriter royalties from live shows will keep a larger share from next year. It's worth checking that setlists are submitted properly so those royalties are actually claimed.

Sources: Record of the Day

Updates

Live music & touring

MPs reject sport-only resale cap as wider touting ban is prepared

MPs voted 286 to 62 against an amendment capping resale prices for sporting events only. The government argued it would create a two-tier system, with sport protected and music left out, ahead of broader ticket-resale legislation.

Why it matters: A face-value resale cap that covers concerts and theatre would change how tours are priced and sold. Meanwhile StubHub's international boss is publicly lobbying against a cap.

Sources: TicketNews · Hansard · BBC Big Boss Interview

Live music & touring

West End resale investigation points to a single dominant tout

Anti-touting campaigners found that almost nine in ten West End tickets listed on Viagogo for Halloween shows came from one seller, all above face value and some with bogus seat numbers.

Why it matters: Theatre-circuit audiences are the same people who buy tribute and touring-production tickets. Expect pressure for clear official-seller messaging on show pages.

Sources: The Stage · The Telegraph

Live music & touring

UK Artist Touring Fund backs 49 more acts

The second phase of the UK Artist Touring Fund gives 49 artists up to £8,000 each in top-up tour support. The money comes from voluntary ticket donations at arena and stadium shows, and the fund was boosted by an extra £300,000.

Why it matters: It's a sign that the arena-levy model is paying out to grassroots touring. Worth watching for future rounds and eligibility rules.

Sources: Musicians' Union · Music Ally

Live music & touring

Budget skips touring relief for theatres

The autumn Budget did not extend Theatre Tax Relief to cover the real cost of touring (travel, accommodation, freight and labour). Theatres also missed out on the business-rates cut given to live music venues and pubs.

Why it matters: Theatre promoters facing higher touring costs may push more risk onto visiting productions through deal terms and guarantees.

Sources: LSi Online

Music marketing & social

Spotify plans paid AI remix tool for early 2027

The Financial Times reports that Spotify is aiming to launch an AI covers and remix add-on in the first quarter of 2027, costing about $4–5 a month. Artists would have a veto, and royalties would flow back to the original song. Spotify has not confirmed the plan, and artists have already pushed back strongly.

Why it matters: Fan-made versions of catalogue songs could become a new kind of content. Rights holders will need to decide early whether to opt in.

Sources: MusicRadar · Paste · Digital Music News

Music marketing & social

Wrapped season: get artist profiles ready now

Wrapped is a few weeks away. Advice from Spotify for Artists and the trade press: update bios, images and Artist Pick, add Canvas visuals, and make sure every gig is listed with a ticket link. The video-message deadline was 6 November.

Why it matters: Wrapped is one of the biggest moments in the year for fan engagement. Listing tour dates turns streams into ticket sales at very little cost.

Sources: MusicRadar · RouteNote

Music marketing & social

Users get more control over their social feeds

Meta, TikTok and YouTube are expanding tools that let users reset or tune their recommendations. That makes saves, DM shares, reposts and keyword-friendly captions more important for staying in someone's feed.

Why it matters: Campaigns that rely on reaching people through the algorithm get less reliable. It's worth building owned channels, such as mailing lists and fan groups, alongside social.

Sources: Interspace Music

Entertainment law

Elvis rights holders and Eminem's publisher sue Suno

Two new US lawsuits were filed against the AI music generator Suno on 6 November. Elvis Presley's rights holders claim Suno misused his name, image, likeness and voice, in one of the first big tests of Tennessee's ELVIS Act. Eminem's publisher, Eight Mile Style, claims Suno trained on 269 of its songs without permission and is seeking more than $40 million. None of the claims has been proven yet.

Why it matters: The cases test how far the law protects an artist's voice and identity, not just their recordings and songs. That question matters to anyone whose work is built around presenting a well-known act's music and image.

Sources: Charlotte Observer · Music Ally · Digital Music News

Entertainment law

Suno argues artist names are just shorthand for genres

Suno has asked a Boston federal court to dismiss a proposed class action brought by Jason Isbell and three other musicians. It argues that their right-of-publicity claims fail and that artist names in user prompts are converted into style descriptions. Suno has also confirmed that, since January 2026, users can type artist names into prompts.

Why it matters: If courts accept that an artist's name can stand for a style, that would weaken artists' control over how their name is used. Watch how the court rules.

Sources: Music Business Worldwide

Entertainment law

Publishers' lyrics claims against Anthropic dismissed for now

A California federal judge dismissed music publishers' claims that Anthropic and its CEO copied lyrics from more than 20,000 songs. The publishers have been allowed to amend their complaint and try again.

Why it matters: The main US legal fight over AI training and song rights is still unsettled. Any final ruling will shape licensing terms across the industry.

Sources: Law360

Entertainment law

Dua Lipa settles 'Levitating' remix copyright case

Dua Lipa has settled a copyright lawsuit brought by producer Bosko Kante over remixes of her 2020 hit 'Levitating', according to a court filing on 9 November.

Why it matters: It's another reminder to get clear written agreements on remix and production contributions before a track is released.

Sources: Law360

Wider context

Live music & touring

Veteran acts step back from touring

NME looks at why established artists are cutting back on touring, citing costs, Brexit friction, venue closures and health. Garbage is moving to a 'different model' of touring.

Why it matters: Fewer heritage acts on the road leaves room for well-run tribute and catalogue productions in theatres.

Sources: NME

Entertainment law

EU touring rules for UK artists still vary country by country

A European Parliament briefing published on 4 November notes that 24 of the 27 EU member states offer some visa-free or permit-free route for short tours. The rules and time limits vary widely, and carnets and haulage restrictions still apply. Bectu is campaigning for an EU-wide cultural work permit and a carnet exemption.

Why it matters: For productions touring Europe, each country still needs its own checks. No EU-wide fix has been agreed yet.

Sources: European Parliament briefing · Bectu