This week, Danish music rights organization Koda sued US-based AI music generator Suno, claiming the company trained its AI model on copyrighted music without permission.
Meanwhile, Live Nation reported another record third quarter, driven by surging global stadium activity and robust fan spending across all segments.
Elsewhere, Spotify saw its global Premium Subscriber base grow to 281 million paying users in Q3, and the company also achieved strong operating profitability in the three months to the end of September.
Also this week, Cinq Music‘s parent company, GoDigital, secured USD $230 million in a new capital raise.
Here are some of the biggest headlines from the past few days…
1. SUNO SUED AGAIN, AS DANISH CMO KODA ACCUSES COMPANY OF STEALING ITS MEMBERS’ MUSIC TO TRAIN AI MODEL
Danish music rights organization Koda is suing US-based AI music generator Suno, claiming the company trained its AI model on copyrighted music without permission or payment.
Koda, which has over 52,000 members, comprising composers, songwriters, and music publishers, is accusing Suno of what it calls “the biggest theft in music history”.
The “landmark” case, brought before Copenhagen City Court on Tuesday (November 4), marks the first time a Danish rights organization has sued an AI music service… (MBW)
2. LIVE NATION’S REVENUE JUMPS 11% TO RECORD $8.5BN IN Q3 ON STRONG STADIUM ACTIVITY, FAN SPENDING
Live Nation reported another record third quarter, driven by surging global stadium activity and robust fan spending across all segments.
The concert giant’s revenue climbed 11% YoY in Q3 2025 to $8.5 billion from $7.65 billion in Q3 2024, according to its latest quarterly report published on Tuesday (November 4).
Operating income jumped 24% YoY to $792.5 million, while adjusted operating income (AOI) rose 14% to $1.03 billion in the three months ended September 30.
Revenue growth was powered by an 11% YoY increase in the concerts segment to $7.28 billion from $6.58 billion, alongside a 15% YoY rise in ticketing revenue to $797.6 million… (MBW)
3. SPOTIFY SUBSCRIBER BASE GREW BY 5M TO 281M IN Q3; COMPANY POSTED $680M OPERATING PROFIT FOR THE QUARTER
Spotify saw its global Premium Subscriber base grow to 281 million paying users in Q3. The company also achieved strong operating profitability in the three months to end of September.
That’s according to the company’s latest financial results (for Q3 2025), filed on Tuesday (November 4).
Spotify’s Premium Subscriber base at the close of Q3 was up by +5 million net subs on the 276 million that the firm counted at the end of the prior quarter (Q2 2025)… (MBW)
4. CINQ MUSIC PARENT COMPANY REBRANDS, RAISES $230M IN FRESH FUNDING VIA NEW GODIGITAL MUSIC DIVISION
Cinq Music’s parent company, GoDigital, has secured USD $230 million in a new capital raise.
GoDigital has confirmed that the funding was led by Bank of America, with participation from Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, East West Bank, First Horizon, Fifth Third, and Flag Star.
The company said on Monday (November 3) that the funding brings its total capital raised to date to over USD $1 billion. The funding news arrives alongside a revamp of the GoDigital brand… (MBW)
5. SM ENTERTAINMENT’S OPERATING PROFIT SOARS 261% AMID STREAK OF HIT K-POP ALBUMS, GROWTH AT FAN PLATFORM DEARU
South Korea’s SM Entertainment, known for K-pop acts such as NCT 127, EXO, Riize, and aespa, has reported a massive increase in revenue and profit, driven by a streak of hit albums, rising concert revenue and growth at fan platform DearU.
The company reported a 261.6% year-over-year increase in operating profit for the third quarter of 2025, to 48.2 billion won, or USD $34.8 million at the average exchange for the quarter.
Revenue came in at KRW 321.6 billion ($232 million), up 32.8% YoY. The higher revenue, combined with gains in non-operating income and lower corporate taxes, propelled the company to a 1,107.0% YoY increase in net income, to KRW 44.7 billion ($32.3 million)… (MBW)
Partner message: MBW’s Weekly Round-up is supported by BMI, the global leader in performing rights management, dedicated to supporting songwriters, composers and publishers and championing the value of music. Find out more about BMI here. Music Business Worldwide
