The Price of Music Major label Universal to make AI-music service with Udio; How did Billie Eilish annoy Billionaires?; Spotify under fire over controversial ICE ads; Why are there no rap tracks in the US Top 40?
Nov 5, 2025
This week, a fascinating financial twist reveals Billie Eilish's $11.5 million donations tied to her tour. Universal collaborates with Udio to launch a licensed AI music service, stirring debates about royalties. Meanwhile, Spotify faces backlash over controversial ICE ads. The music scene sees a historic shift with no rap tracks in the US Top 40, prompting speculation about industry changes. Plus, a UK startup introduces a unique tech to protect artists from AI scraping. Dive into the music biz’s latest dynamics!
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Billie Eilish Confronts Billionaires
- Billie Eilish announced she's donating $11.5m from her tour to climate and food equity charities after a Wall Street Journal award.
- She directly challenged billionaires in the room to give money away during her speech, saying "why are you a billionaire".
Major Label Partners With AI Company
- Universal Music settled with AI firm Udio and will build an AI-driven music creation and streaming service.
- The service will train only on licensed music and pay labels and artists for training and generated tracks.
Attribution Can Be Engineered In
- Attribution systems can be built into AI music services to track training influences and pay creators.
- Stuart Dredge notes experts say it's technically possible if designed from the start.