Celebrity Copyright Controversies: Miley Cyrus and Global Music Rights

Welcome to the weekly music business chronicle, where we distill the cacophony of headlines into the five most riveting tales from the past week. Thanks to our friends at Centtrip, who are working tirelessly to ensure that over 500 of the world’s best-selling artists both maximize their income and minimize their touring expenses — it’s a bit like trying to squeeze a diamond into a sugar cube, but hey, they’re giving it a shot.

This week has been like a game of musical chairs in the industry — so many personnel changes that we might as well have called it the 'Shake It Up' special. Just when we thought we had our head wrapped around the news, it seemed like executives were practicing their exit strategies in droves. First up, we heard that Kevin Liles, CEO of 300 Elektra Entertainment, is waving goodbye at the end of this month. Wait a day, and then Kaz Kobayashi, the President and CEO of Warner Music Japan, has a similar farewell plan lined up for later this year. Coincidence? This is starting to sound like a plot twist in a daytime soap opera!

But hold on! Randy Goodman, the Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Nashville—because, yes, Nashville has not been immune to this whirlwind—is taking his leave too. As if that wasn’t enough, we learned of layoffs at Warner Music Group’s Atlantic Music, a part of the grand reshaping under incoming CEO Elliot Grainge. It’s like watching a once-stoic music industry transform into a dramatic reality show.

In more somber news, we dispensed the last of our popcorn to discover that Irving Azoff's U.S.-based PRO, Global Music Rights (GMR), has teamed up with a private equity partner in a deal that makes a splash — to the tune of $3.3 billion. I mean, that’s not just loose change we’re talking about here! While Azoff is sticking around, TPG, his longtime partner, has decided to cash out in a fashion that can only be described as ‘retirement fund goals.’

And just when you thought we were done with blockbuster news, Universal Music Group put on its fanciest suit for its Capital Markets Day in London, showcasing UMG’s triumphs, positioning, and opportunity maps — all that jazz, right at Abbey Road Studios. Sir Lucian Grainge began the festivities with tales of this iconic location, home to legends from The Beatles to Amy Winehouse. Meanwhile, the audience may have been secretly wondering if they get a bonus for not crying while he spoke.

On a different note (pun intended), Tempo Music decided that they were going to sue Miley Cyrus, claiming her hit song "Flowers" is reminiscent of Bruno Mars’ earlier work "When I Was Your Man." With their legal papers served up to Miley, Sony Music, and a smorgasbord of other music publishers, it seems they just might have taken the phrase “sharing is caring” a step too far. Add to this a North Carolina man, Michael Smith, who’s caught in a $10 million streaming fraud net, pledging his innocence and raising a brow along the way. He’s in a bit of a pickle, though; one not even the fanciest of lawyers could easily untangle.

And finally, in the world of heavy-hitters, Pink Floyd has entered the chatter, flirting with Sony Music to sell their catalog for around £400 million. Or is it $500 million? Either way, a number so big one might wonder if they’re handing over a treasure chest filled with gold doubloons. The question remains: What makes this iconic band worth that staggering price? Perhaps it’s not just the music — it’s everything that comes with it, nostalgia included.

So, as the week winds down, we’re left to ponder what chaos might come next in this captivating, ever-perplexing landscape of the music business. Stay tuned — you just never know when the next dance in the personnel shuffle will begin.