UNLIMITED SUPPLY with Digital Music News UMG throws a Curve, getting paid by the piper, and VCs on AI.
Dec 16, 2025
Universal Music Group is considering divesting Curve to satisfy EU regulations. Imogen Heap's innovative Auracle tech partners with SoundCloud for better creator attribution. A VC panel draws entertaining parallels between AI's current phase and the early days of iPhone apps. Spotify tests a unique, prompt-driven playlist feature, hinting at a future 'music button.' Meanwhile, Disney invests a whopping $1 billion in OpenAI, all while battling Google over character rights violations. A lively discussion on the evolving landscape of AI and music ensues!
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UMG's Partial Divestiture Still Gives Advantage
- Universal proposes divesting Curve's customer data while keeping code and engineers to appease EU regulators.
- Lars Murray warns this still leaves UMG advantaged versus indie labels and artists.
Imogen Heap's Auracle Joins SoundCloud
- Imogen Heap built Auracle to track human creations so AI-generated music can be attributed and paid.
- Heap's Auracle just struck a deal with SoundCloud for integration into creator tools.
AI Is In Its Awkward Teenage Phase
- VCs describe the current AI phase as awkward teenage years with many niche apps that aren't killer products.
- The meaningful action is in B2B AI and in embedding AI into existing products rather than standalone apps.