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AI streaming scammer potential sentencing

America’s Most Notorious Streaming Music Scammer Now Faces Four Years In Prison

September 29, 2026

Streaming fraudster Michael Smith could get 46 months of prison time plus the $8 million in restitution he owes for his AI-driven streaming fraud. Michael Smith, whose AI-driven music scams stole over $8 mil... Read More...

IFPI Urges the EU to Include X on Its 2027 ‘Counterfeit and Piracy Watchlist,’ Says the Platform ‘Remains a Significant Concern for the Music Industry’

Dylan Smith

September 29, 2026

As X (formerly Twitter) continues to successfully fend off music-sector infringement claims, the IFPI is urging the European Union to include the social platform on its 2027 “Counterfeit and Piracy Watchlist.... Read More...

Jermaine Dupri, Jacquees, and Mass Appeal Face ‘Pick It Up’ Infringement Suit from 90s Duo Home Team

Dylan Smith

September 28, 2026

One month after dropping his multimillion-dollar Sony Music infringement lawsuit, Jermaine Dupri is staring down a copyright complaint for allegedly lifting from a decades-old work to create 2023’s “Pick It U... Read More...

Rapid-Fire Site Blocking? Federal Lawmakers Target Foreign Piracy Platforms With the Bipartisan ‘Defend IP Act’

Dylan Smith

September 28, 2026

With an eye on curbing “foreign digital piracy,” federal lawmakers have introduced the Defend IP Act, which would enable rightsholders to petition district courts for ISP-level site-blocking orders. The 17-... Read More...

streaming fraud is it a victimless crime?

Is Streaming Fraud a Victimless Crime? Facing Prison Time, Streaming Fraudster Michael Smith Argues Fake Streams ‘A Drop in the Ocean’ for Artist Royalties

Ashley King

September 25, 2026

Attorneys for streaming fraudster Michael Smith request probation rather than prison time for their client, downplaying the severity of his crimes. Michael Smith, the man who generated millions by mass-uploa... Read More...

A Tale of Two Industries: Music AI 2.0

Michael Whalen

September 25, 2026

AI music is not going away. It is separating into a transient synthetic economy and an artist-centered business built around identity, ownership, relationships and fans. Something fundamental is happening in... Read More...

The ‘Frankenstein’ Reggaeton Suit Isn’t Finished — Plaintiffs Return Fire Following Summary Judgment Setback, Say Bad Bunny’s ‘Motion for Reconsideration Was a Red Herring’

Dylan Smith

September 24, 2026

The “Frankenstein” reggaeton lawsuit against Bad Bunny and a multitude of others isn’t finished yet. Weeks after suffering a serious setback in the marathon case, the plaintiffs are urging the presiding judge... Read More...

Site-Blocking Push Continues With ‘Operation Lumen’ — Nearly 300 Stream-Ripping Domains Targeted in Brazil and Peru

Dylan Smith

September 23, 2026

Another site-blocking initiative has officially commenced – this time in Latin America, where Operation Lumen has targeted over 300 stream-rippers across Peru, Paraguay, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Ec... Read More...

Suno Blasts Latest UMG/Sony Lawsuit As ‘Fundamentally Flawed on Both the Facts and the Law’

Ashley King

September 22, 2026

UMG and Sony file another copyright lawsuit against Suno, and the AI company claps back with a statement that the suit is "fundamentally flawed." Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment continue t... Read More...

Suno Faces Another Copyright Suit from Universal Music and Sony Music Despite Its Recent Licensing Deals: ‘v6 Is Not a Fresh Start; It Is the Fruit of the Same Poisoned Tree’

Dylan Smith

September 18, 2026

How many lawsuits is that now? Universal Music and Sony Music have fired off another complaint against Suno for allegedly training on an “enormous number of copyrighted sound recordings” without authorization... Read More...

Congressional Bill to Block ‘Foreign Piracy Sites’ Introduced

Ashley King

September 18, 2026

Rep. Darrell Issa introduced a bill aimed at creating an expedited process to block foreign piracy sites. But already, it's getting slammed by critics. On Monday, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) introduced a bill a... Read More...

Cyril Vetter Formally Opposes the Major Labels’ ‘Off Base’ Supreme Court Appeal Amid High-Stakes Copyright Recapture Showdown

Dylan Smith

September 16, 2026

Songwriter Cyril Vetter is firing back against the major labels’ aggressive push to bring their high-stakes copyright recapture case before the Supreme Court. The Louisiana-born “Double Shot (Of My Baby’s L... Read More...

WNXP Director of Partnerships & Projects
Company: Nashville Public Radio
Location: Nashville, Other / Non-US, 37201, United States
Senior Marketing Manager
Company: Sound Credit
Location: Drivable to Memphis, TN preferred, but open to remote for the right candidate. Southeastern, US OK
Social Media & Content Manager
Company: SoundStock
Location: Las Vegas HQ
Director of Marketing
Company: Musixmatch
Location: Bologna or Remote
Vice President, Global Head of Fraud Prevention
Company: UMG, the Universal Music Group
Location: Full Time Remote, California and New York

SRR Capital Launches With a VC-Style Approach to Music Investing

What Is Attribution?

So Busy With "The Quiet Time..."

Netflix Won the Streaming Wars. YouTube Changed the Rules.

Indonesia: One of the World’s Most Promising Digital Music Markets

What Politicians Could Learn from the Music Business: A Midterm Election Primer

Kroger Moves to Toss Sony Music-Led Infringement Lawsuit, Arguing Cox v. Sony Invalidates Everything

JYP Entertainment Sues Distributor OneSync Over the Alleged Infringement of Stray Kids Member Han’s ‘Back to Life’

The Music Industry Litigation Tracker — Cases Bubbling Right Now: Sony Music v. Kroger, SoundExchange v. Music Choice, Suno v. Apple (Round II), Penske Media v. Google, More

Billboard Owner Penske Media Officially Appeals AI-Focused Google Antitrust Lawsuit Dismissal

BTS Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over ‘Swim’ Abruptly Dropped After a Few Months

America’s Most Notorious Streaming Music Scammer Now Faces Four Years In Prison

Jermaine Dupri, Jacquees, and Mass Appeal Face ‘Pick It Up’ Infringement Suit from 90s Duo Home Team

Rapid-Fire Site Blocking? Federal Lawmakers Target Foreign Piracy Platforms With the Bipartisan ‘Defend IP Act’

Is Streaming Fraud a Victimless Crime? Facing Prison Time, Streaming Fraudster Michael Smith Argues Fake Streams ‘A Drop in the Ocean’ for Artist Royalties

A Tale of Two Industries: Music AI 2.0

The ‘Frankenstein’ Reggaeton Suit Isn’t Finished — Plaintiffs Return Fire Following Summary Judgment Setback, Say Bad Bunny’s ‘Motion for Reconsideration Was a Red Herring’

Site-Blocking Push Continues With ‘Operation Lumen’ — Nearly 300 Stream-Ripping Domains Targeted in Brazil and Peru

Suno Blasts Latest UMG/Sony Lawsuit As ‘Fundamentally Flawed on Both the Facts and the Law’

Suno Faces Another Copyright Suit from Universal Music and Sony Music Despite Its Recent Licensing Deals: ‘v6 Is Not a Fresh Start; It Is the Fruit of the Same Poisoned Tree’

Congressional Bill to Block ‘Foreign Piracy Sites’ Introduced

Cyril Vetter Formally Opposes the Major Labels’ ‘Off Base’ Supreme Court Appeal Amid High-Stakes Copyright Recapture Showdown