Music Weekly Brief: May 27 – June 2, 2025
This past week in the music industry brought significant developments across artist rights, legislative efforts, and technological advancements. From a landmark reacquisition of master recordings by a global superstar to new laws shaping live event ticketing and crucial updates in music production software, the landscape continues to evolve rapidly. We also saw major legal settlements in copyright and notable achievements on the charts, underscoring the dynamic nature of the industry.
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Taylor Swift Reacquires Master Recordings of First Six Albums
After a six-year battle, global music icon Taylor Swift has successfully reacquired the master recordings of her first six albums from private equity group Shamrock Capital. This landmark achievement, announced on May 30, 2025, via her website, signifies a major victory for artist control and ownership in the music industry. Swift had previously embarked on a highly publicized re-recording project to regain control after her original masters were sold without her consent. She expressed gratitude to her fans for their support, which she credited as instrumental in this outcome, stating, “Thanks to you and your goodwill, teamwork and encouragement, the best things that have ever been mine finally are”.
Published: May 30, 2025
Taylor Swift's bought back the rights to the master recordings of her first six albums | The Line of Best Fit -
U.S. House Passes Ticket Act Aimed at Fairer Pricing
The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the “Ticket Act,” a significant piece of legislation designed to increase transparency and combat hidden fees in live event ticket sales. This act, if signed into law, would mandate clearer pricing structures and crack down on deceptive practices that often inflate ticket costs for consumers. This marks the second time this act has passed the House, reflecting persistent efforts to reform the ticketing industry. The move is widely welcomed by both artists and fans who have long advocated for more equitable and transparent ticketing experiences.
Published: June 1, 2025
https://routenote.com/blog/music-industry-news-may-2025/ -
Metallica Attains Two New RIAA Certifications
Legendary rock band Metallica has achieved two new RIAA certifications, further cementing their enduring legacy in music. Their self-titled fifth album, famously known as “The Black Album,” has been certified 20x platinum, signifying sales in excess of 20 million copies. Additionally, their third full-length album, “Master of Puppets,” reached 8x platinum status, surpassing eight million units sold. These certifications, announced on May 28, 2025, underscore the continued commercial success and cultural impact of their catalog, demonstrating sustained fan engagement decades after their initial release.
Published: May 28, 2025
https://allabouttherock.co.uk/metallica-attain-two-new-riaa-certifications/ -
Apple Logic Pro Amplifies Beat Making on Mac and iPad with Advanced New Capabilities
Apple has released significant updates to Logic Pro for Mac and iPad, introducing advanced capabilities aimed at supercharging beat making and music production. Key enhancements include an improved Stem Splitter, which now offers greater audio fidelity and can separate guitar and piano into stems. A new “Flashback Capture” feature allows artists to recover spontaneous MIDI and audio performances, even if they forgot to hit record. The update also brings new sound packs, including “Dancefloor Rush” for drum-and-bass, and “Magnetic Imperfections” and “Tosin Abasi” for Mac, expanding creative possibilities. These updates were made available on May 28, 2025.
Published: May 28, 2025
Logic Pro amplifies beat making on Mac and iPad with advanced new capabilities - Apple (JO) -
ISP Frontier Settles Major Labels’ Copyright Infringement Lawsuit
Internet service provider (ISP) Frontier has reached a settlement with several major record labels, including Universal Music Group, Sony Music, and Warner Music, in a multi-year copyright infringement lawsuit. The details of the settlement remain confidential, but all parties have agreed to bear their own costs and that the claims cannot be refiled. This resolution, announced on June 2, 2025, follows similar lawsuits filed against ISPs by music and film companies, asserting that providers failed to terminate accounts of repeat infringers, in violation of DMCA requirements. The settlement comes shortly after the U.S. government recommended the Supreme Court hear a similar case involving Cox Communications.
Published: June 2, 2025
ISP Frontier Settles with Major Labels in Copyright Lawsuit
Tools & Tips
- MusicGPT: AI-Powered Music Generation
MusicGPT is an AI music generator that transforms text prompts into full, original songs within minutes. It’s designed for musicians, content creators, and anyone curious about AI’s creative capabilities, offering a seamless music creation experience without requiring musical training. It automates melody, harmony, rhythm, and lyrics, allowing users to describe their desired sound to generate two AI-produced songs on the spot.
10 Best AI Music Generators (June 2025) - Unite.AI
Fun Fact
The World’s Oldest Known Musical Instrument is Over 40,000 Years Old!
Did you know that archaeological discoveries suggest music has been a part of human culture for an astonishingly long time? The oldest known musical instruments are flutes made from bird bone and mammoth ivory, unearthed in a cave in Germany. These remarkable artifacts are estimated to be between 42,000 and 43,000 years old, predating written history and offering a glimpse into the prehistoric origins of human expression through sound. While we can only speculate on the melodies played, their existence confirms music’s deep roots in human society for recreation and ritual.
Music History Facts You Probably Didn't Know — MusicAbility
We’d love to hear from you!
Have you participated in any music industry events or utilized new music production or marketing tools recently? Share your experiences or insights with us—we’re featuring selected community voices in next week’s edition.