New plaques have been installed in US President Donald Trump’s ‘Presidential Walk of Fame’ at the White House that attack many of his predecessors and make questionable claims about his own achievements.
MBW’s Stat Of The Week is a series in which we highlight a data point that deserves the attention of the global music industry. Stat Of the Week is supported by music data analytics firm Chartmetric.
The world’s independent music publishers saw a 5.1% year over year increase in revenue in 2024, according to a new report from the Independent Music Publishers Forum (IMPF).
The IMPF’s Global Market Viewreport, released on Wednesday (December 17), found indie publishers collected EUR €2.7 billion globally in 2024, or USD $2.9 billion at the average exchange rate for the year.
By comparison, the global recorded music market grew 4.8% YoY in 2024, according to data from IFPI, reaching $29.6 billion. Music publishing revenues in the US – including majors and indie publishers – grew 13.4% YoY in 2024 to $7 billion, according to data from the RIAA.
The IMPF, which represents more than 300 indie music publishers worldwide, based its estimates for indie publisher revenue on data from CISAC, noted music industry economist Will Page, and Music & Copyright.
Indie music publishers have seen overall revenue growth every year since IMPF started tracking the data in 2018. In that time, overall revenue grew 116%, the report found.
Source: IMPF
Europe remains the largest source of indie music publisher revenue, accounting for 51.2% of global collections in 2024, with €847.5 million ($917.2 million) going to indie publishers. The vast majority of that (€785.6 million, or $850.2 million) came from Western Europe, with Central and Eastern Europe bringing in €61.9 million ($67.0 million). However, the CEE region had “by far” the highest growth rate in collections, up 17.9% YoY, the IMPF report noted.
Far behind in second place is North America (the US and Canada), delivering €461.4 million ($499.4 million) to indie publishers.
Source: CISAC, IMPF
“Europe’s position as the world’s leading region for music royalties is no coincidence. It is the result of strong copyright protection, robust licensing frameworks and well-developed collective management infrastructures that ensure creators and rightsholders are properly rewarded,” said Claudia Mescoli, General Manager at Edizioni Curci and an IMPF Board member.
“This foundation allows European repertoire to thrive at home and around the world, giving independent publishers and songwriters the confidence to invest, innovate and grow. Europe shows what is possible when the value of creativity is backed by a solid and reliable rights ecosystem.”
Marta Zgrzywa, COO, Schubert Music Publishing, noted that Eastern Europe “is becoming one of the most exciting regions for independent music publishers. We are seeing rapid growth, stronger local markets and a new generation of creators who are ready to reach global audiences.”
She added: “With improving licensing structures and increasing professionalism across societies, the region is finally unlocking the value of its incredible repertoire. For independents, Eastern Europe represents both opportunity and momentum, a place where investment, collaboration and long-term commitment can make a real difference.”
Other parts of the world are showing notable improvement in publishing royalty collection, with the report singling out India.
“The dramatic transformation of IPRS [the Indian Performing Right Society], now surpassing €80 million in annual collections, is a case study in how improved licensing conditions, data accuracy, governance and international cooperation can rapidly increase income for publishers and songwriters,” the IMPF report stated.
Source: Music & Copyright, IMPF
In terms of market share, indie music publishers held steady at 26.3% of global music publisher revenues. That excludes indie publishers with more than 5% market share, namely BMG and Kobalt.
“Taken collectively, the independent music publishing community is still larger than the biggest major music publisher,” noted Annette Barrett, President of IMPF and an executive at Reservoir, in her preamble to the report.
Barrett was referring to Sony Music Publishing, which slightly increased its market share in 2024 to 25.2% from 24.9% a year earlier. That places Sony ahead of its major competitors, Universal Music Publishing Group and Warner Chappell Music, with the three major publishers combined holding 60.6% of the global music publishing market in 2024.
Source: CISAC, IMPF
Indie music publishers have had a larger market share than the largest of the majors for the entire time that data has been tracking the data, Music & Copyright Editor Simon Dyson said.
“The sector topped the 40% mark in 2015 and stayed above this level until 2023. However, the tussle at the top between Sony and Universal has put the squeeze on the independents,” he said.
“Moreover, smaller publisher acquisitions by the majors will almost certainly see the gap narrow further. The bigger indies like Kobalt and BMG have held steady, but there are concerns for the smaller players, particularly given the increasing dominance of digital.”
“Europe’s position as the world’s leading region for music royalties is no coincidence. It is the result of strong copyright protection, robust licensing frameworks and well-developed collective management infrastructures that ensure creators and rightsholders are properly rewarded.”
Claudia Mescoli, Edizioni Curci
Tatjana Bukvic, Managing Director at Tin Drum Music and an IMPF Board member, said indie publishers managed to maintain their market share “despite strong competition for catalogs and ongoing waves of acquisitions.”
After three years of declining market share, the steady print in 2024 “says a lot about the spirit of entrepreneurship of IMPF’s membership and the hard work put into their businesses by publishers around the world,” she added.
The report also focused on what it sees as a risk to songwriters’ and music publishers’ revenues from the proliferation of AI. The report cited recent studies from SGAE in Spain and KODA in Denmark, which backed up earlier reports that a quarter or more of music revenue could dry up in the age of AI. SGAE’s study specifically estimated that around 28% of copyright revenues in Spain will be at risk from generative AI by 2028.
“Extrapolating these figures from the global market value in 2024, this would mean that €3.5 billion in collections could be at risk, of which €465 million would directly come out of the revenues of independent publishers,” the IMPF report stated.
“If the balance tips too far towards non-human outputs, we risk ending up in a music landscape none of us would wish to be part of.”
Annette Barrett, IMPF
IMPF is “fully alert to this challenge,” Barrett wrote in the report.
“Together with creators and rightsholder organizations, we are pressing policymakers to recognize that unlicensed AI use can have a devastating impact on our livelihoods. Without proper protection, transparency and compensation, a human-centered music ecosystem could quickly erode.”
She added: “As publishers, we believe deeply in human creativity and in the relationships we build with our authors and composers. This relationship is not just the foundation of our business; it is the heart of it. We can embrace innovation while defending the essential role of human creation. But if the balance tips too far towards non-human outputs, we risk ending up in a music landscape none of us would wish to be part of.”
Chartmetric is the all-in-one platform for artists and music industry professionals, providing comprehensive streaming, social, and audience data for everyone to create successful careers in music.Music Business Worldwide
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that will expand access to cannabis, a long anticipated move that would mark the most significant shift in US drug policy in decades.
The order directs the US attorney general to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I narcotic, to a Schedule III drug – placing it under the same category as Tylenol with codeine.
Cannabis will remain illegal at the federal level. But classifying it as a Schedule III narcotic would allow expanded research to be conducted into its potential benefits.
Several Republican lawmakers cautioned against the move, with some arguing it could normalise cannabis use.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency notes that Schedule III narcotics – which also include ketamine and anabolic steroids – have only a “moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence”.
The new classification also has tax implications for state-authorised cannabis dispensaries, as current regulations bar them from some tax deductions if they sell Schedule I products.
In addition to the rescheduling of cannabis, Trump has ordered White House officials to work with Congress to allow some Americans access to to cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD.
As part of a new programme announced as part of the order, some Medicaid recipients will be able to access CBD, at a doctor’s recommendation, at no cost.
Health officials have also been tasked with developing “methods and models” to examine the real-world health benefits and risks of CBD.
A senior administration official said that the order was a “commonsense action that will let us better understand and study” cannabis and CBD.
In recent years, a majority of US states have approved cannabis for some medical use, and nearly half – 24 – have legalised recreational use. But since 1971, cannabis has been a Schedule I narcotic, which means it has no accepted medical use and a high potential to be abused.
The Biden administration proposed a similar reclassification, and in April 2024 the DEA proposed a rule change, but got bogged down under administrative and legal issues.
Trump has long expressed a desire to change US drug policy regarding cannabis.
“I believe it is time to end endless arrests and incarcerations of adults for small amounts of marijuana for personal use,” he wrote on Truth Social last year while running for president.
“We must also implement smart regulations, while providing access for adults, to safe, tested products,” he said.
The reclassification order has met some resistance from Republican lawmakers.
On Wednesday, a group of 22 Republican Senators sent an open letter to the president, arguing that marijuana use would mean that “we cannot re-industrialise America”.
The Senators pointed to lingering concerns over the health impact of cannabis, as well as research suggesting that cannabis can be linked to “impaired judgement” and “lack of concentration”.
“In light of the documented dangers of marijuana, facilitating the growth of the marijuana industry is at odds with growing our economy and encouraging healthy lifestyles for Americans.”
In a separate letter sent to Attorney General Pam Bondi in August, nine Republican representatives argued that “no adequate science or data” exists to support the change.
“Marijuana, while different than heroin, still has the potential for abuse and has no scientifically proven medical value,” the letter said. “Therefore, rescheduling marijuana would not only be objectively wrong, but it would also imply to our children that marijuana is safe. That couldn’t be further from the truth.”
More broadly, polls show that a majority of Americans support efforts to legalise marijuana.
One Gallup poll released in November found that 64% of Americans believe that it should be legalised, although support had drifted slightly from previous years because of a 13-point drop among Republicans.
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new video loaded: Fans in Tokyo Visit Twin Pandas Before They Head to China
Thousands of people have flocked to Ueno Zoo in Tokyo to see two giant pandas before they leave for China. There were fears in Japan that the twins would not be replaced amid political disputes between the countries.
Thousands protest as EU leaders clash over trade pact farmers fear will flood Europe with cheaper South American goods.
Published On 18 Dec 202518 Dec 2025
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Hundreds of tractors have clogged the streets of Brussels as farmers converged on the Belgian capital to protest against the contentious trade agreement between the European Union and South American nations they say will destroy their livelihoods.
The demonstrations erupted on Thursday as EU leaders gathered for a summit where the fate of the Mercosur deal hung in the balance. More than 150 tractors blocked central Brussels, with an estimated 10,000 protesters expected in the European quarter, according to farm lobby Copa-Cogeca.
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It made for a twin-tracked day of febrile tension outside and inside at the EU summit as leaders were perhaps more focused on a vote to determine whether they are able to use nearly $200bn in frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine over the next two years.
Outside the gilded halls on the streets, farmers hurled potatoes and eggs at police, set off fireworks and firecrackers, and brought traffic to a standstill.
Authorities responded with tear gas and water cannon, setting up roadblocks and closing tunnels around the city. One tractor displayed a sign reading: “Why import sugar from the other side of the world when we produce the best right here?”
“We’re here to say no to Mercosur,” Belgian dairy farmer Maxime Mabille said, accusing European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen of trying to “force the deal through” like “Europe has become a dictatorship”.
A protester throws an object, as farmers protest against the EU-Mercosur free-trade deal in Brussels, Belgium [Yves Herman/Reuters]
Protesters fear an influx of cheaper agricultural products from Brazil and neighbouring countries would undercut European producers. Their concerns centre on beef, sugar, rice, honey and soya beans from South American competitors facing less stringent regulations, particularly on pesticides banned in the EU.
“We’ve been protesting since 2024 in France, in Belgium and elsewhere,” said Florian Poncelet of Belgian farm union FJA. “We’d like to be finally listened to.”
France and Italy now lead opposition to the deal, with President Emmanuel Macron declaring that “we are not ready” and the agreement “cannot be signed” in its current form.
France has coordinated with Poland, Belgium, Austria and Ireland to force a postponement, giving critics sufficient votes within the European Council to potentially block the pact.
However, Germany and Spain are pushing hard for approval. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz warned that decisions “must be made now” if the EU wants to “remain credible in global trade policy”, while Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez argued the deal would give Europe “geo-economic and geopolitical weight” against adversaries.
The agreement, 25 years in the making, would create the world’s largest free-trade area covering 780 million people and a quarter of global gross domestic product (GDP).
Supporters say it offers a counterweight to China and would boost European exports of vehicles, machinery and wines amid rising US tariffs.
Despite provisional safeguards negotiated on Wednesday to cap sensitive imports, opposition has intensified. Von der Leyen remains determined to travel to Brazil this weekend to sign the deal, but needs backing from at least two-thirds of EU nations.
Brazil’s President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva issued an ultimatum on Wednesday, warning that Saturday represents a “now or never” moment, adding that “Brazil won’t make any more agreements while I’m president” if the deal fails.
IT service was built to bring structure to chaos. But for many organizations today, it’s become a source of it. The ticket queues keep growing. Processes feel rigid. And employees often feel frustrated by systems that seem stuck a decade behind.
Today’s businesses are agile. Customers expect instant fixes, and artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining how work gets done. The problem? Many IT processes haven’t kept up. They’re still burdened by manual, outdated workflows that slow everyone down, with a recent report citing that 45% of organizations consider repetitive tasks as their top IT service challenge in 2025. To stay relevant, IT must evolve from a back-office function into a strategic driver of business growth.
Here are the three biggest challenges holding IT service back and how forward-thinking teams can help solve them:
1. The manual workload trap
For most IT teams, the day begins and ends with manual tasks: logging incidents, assigning tickets, documenting fixes, and updating records. These repetitive processes drain time and productivity. In fact, 90% of IT leaders say manual, repetitive work contributes to low employee morale.
The impact runs deep. Skilled analysts are pulled away from strategic work. Projects stall. Employee burnout rises. And IT ends up perceived as a cost center, not an enabler.
The fix starts with automation, but not just rule-based automation. The next generation of IT service is built on intelligence, context-aware systems that can actually understand what someone needs. For example, when an employee messages IT about a problem, the system can pick up the key details, create a ticket, and send it to the right person automatically. Instead of humans chasing data, the system does it for them.
This shift doesn’t replace people; it refocuses them. Analysts can now spend time on important work like diagnosing complex issues or improving processes, not copy-pasting tickets.
2. The employee experience gap
The modern workplace runs on collaboration platforms like Slack and Teams. Yet most IT service tools still live outside of where people actually work. Employees have to leave their workflow, open a portal, fill out forms, and wait. Often, they do this without any visibility into what happens next.
The result? Low engagement. In many companies, a large number of IT issues go unreported because the process feels too painful. In fact, 62% of employees say they avoid their service desk altogether, and 58% admit they’re living with ongoing problems that IT hasn’t been able to fix, according to a recent survey.
IT analysts feel this friction, too. The conversations that matter (troubleshooting, context gathering, updates) happen in chat threads, while the official records live in a different system. That constant switching between tabs slows everything down.
Modern IT leaders are closing this gap by bringing IT service into the collaboration layer. When employees can request help and track issues directly in the places where they collaborate and work, like Slack or Teams, context stays intact and work keeps moving. With AI agents now built into these platforms, they can simply ask for what they need in natural language, just like chatting with a colleague or a ChatGPT-style interface. The result: IT becomes an active part of daily work, not a separate system to avoid.
It’s a cultural shift as much as a technical one, aligning IT with how employees actually communicate. And it pays off: 71% IT leaders believe that AI or intelligent automation will improve employee and customer satisfaction in IT service.
3. Rigid processes in a dynamic world
If there’s one phrase that frustrates every IT leader, it’s this: “This is just how the system works.”
Traditional IT service frameworks often lock teams into fixed workflows. Need to adjust an approval process for a new compliance rule? Add a custom step for a high-priority change type? Often, it takes weeks of development or costly consultants to make even minor updates.
The irony is that IT service, meant to bring flexibility to operations, has become one of the least agile systems in the enterprise stack.
What’s changing now is the rise of low-code and adaptive workflows. Platforms like Salesforce, ServiceNow, and other modern ITSM tools let teams design and modify processes without deep coding expertise. Instead of rigid, hard-coded systems, IT can define dynamic lifecycles where each stage has its own rules, tasks, and access controls. Approvals can adapt automatically based on risk or impact. And integrated analytics help teams see what’s working and where bottlenecks form.
Rethinking IT service for what’s next
The IT service of the future won’t just manage incidents and changes. It will orchestrate intelligent workflows across the enterprise. Employees will interact with IT the same way they use any modern app — conversationally, contextually, and instantly. IT teams will focus less on maintaining systems and more on improving outcomes.
We’re already seeing the blueprint: automation reducing manual load, Slack-first collaboration improving experiences, and flexible frameworks enabling adaptation. Together, these shifts are redefining what IT service can be, turning it from a support function into a strategic partner for every department.
The challenge isn’t technology anymore. It’s the mindset. Modern IT service isn’t about keeping the lights on. It’s about lighting the way forward.
The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune.
Nigeria’s Foreign Minister Yusuf Tuggar has formally apologised to Burkina Faso for the unauthorised entry of a Nigerian military jet into Burkinabè airspace, an incident that led to the detention of 11 Nigerian servicemen.
Tuggar’s spokesperson told the BBC that the detained personnel had been released and were due to return to Nigeria, without saying when.
The plane was flying to Portugal when it developed a technical problem and had to land in Burkina Faso, according to the Nigerian Air Force.
The unauthorised landing sparked a diplomatic row with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) made up of Burkina Faso and its neighbours, Mali, and Niger.
In a statement, AES characterised it as an “unfriendly act” and said member states‘ respective air forces had been put on maximum alert and authorised to “neutralise any aircraft” found to violate the confederation’s airspace.
The three AES states, all run by the military, have withdrawn from the West African regional bloc, Ecowas, and moved closer to Russia, while most Ecowas members remain allied to the West.
Tuggar led a delegation to the Burkinabè capital, Ouagadougou, on Wednesday, to discuss the incident with military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré.
“There were irregularities concerning the overflight authorisations, which was regrettable, and we apologise for this unfortunate incident,” Tuggar said on national TV.
It remains unclear when the military personnel, said to be in “high spirits”, and the aircraft will return to Nigeria.
According to Nigeria’s foreign ministry, both sides agreed to “sustain regular consultations and pursue practical measures to deepen bilateral cooperation and regional integration”.
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Target age group: 13-14 years old, 15-18 years old, 9-12 years old
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IM & Free Base Loading.
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