From BMG and Harmony’s accomplished merger to Anthropic’s multi-billion-dollar lawsuit… it’s MBW’s Weekly Spherical-Up

This week, BMG and Harmony accomplished their long-awaited merger, making a mixed music firm with Bob Valentine confirmed as CEO.

In the meantime, the Trump administration sided with OpenAI in a key truthful use case, arguing that AI firms can use copyrighted works to coach their fashions — a place with doubtlessly vital implications for the music business’s authorized battles with AI firms.

Elsewhere, Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music sued Anthropic in a multi-billion-dollar copyright lawsuit, accusing the AI firm of illegally utilizing copyrighted songs to coach its Claude fashions.

Additionally this week, Jason Isbell, David Lowery and different musicians filed a class-action lawsuit in opposition to Suno, alleging the AI music firm is unlawfully exploiting artists’ identities and likenesses.

Plus: Canada’s SOCAN sued AI music firm Suno for copyright infringement, alleging that the platform has generated outputs which are similar or considerably much like songs in its repertoire, together with Joni Mitchell’s “Each Sides Now” and Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.”

Listed below are a few of the largest headlines from the previous few days…

1. The BMG and Harmony merger is full; Bob Valentine begins function as CEO of latest firm

BMG and Harmony have on Tuesday (September 1) confirmed the profitable completion of their merger.

The mixed firms say the deal will “create a brand new international music firm with the dimensions, experience, and capabilities to unlock better alternatives for creators.”

The transaction, first introduced on April 28, 2026, has acquired “all required regulatory approvals”, based on a press launch. The corporate’s international headquarters might be positioned in Nashville, with Berlin serving as its European headquarters. (MBW)

2. Donald Trump’s administration simply sided with OpenAI in a key ‘truthful use’ case. Right here’s what it means for music’s struggle with Anthropic and Suno.

The US Authorities has informed a courtroom that AI firms don’t break copyright regulation once they practice their fashions on written work with no license.

The Division of Justice set out that place on Tuesday (September 1), in a submitting within the copyright lawsuit introduced in opposition to OpenAI by The New York Instances.

It seems to be the primary time Washington has intervened in any of the copyright circumstances now stacked up in opposition to AI firms. (MBW)

3. Now Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell sue Anthropic in multi-billion greenback lawsuit: ‘One of many largest and most blatant ongoing thefts of mental property in historical past.’

Sony Music Publishing and Warner Chappell Music have joined forces to sue Anthropic, residence of Claude, over what the publishers name “one of many largest and most blatant ongoing thefts of mental property in historical past.”

The grievance – obtained by MBW, and which you’ll be able to learn in full right here – additionally names Anthropic Co-Founder and Chief Govt Officer Dario Amodei and Co-Founder Benjamin Mann as particular person defendants.

It was filed on Friday (August 28) within the US District Court docket for the Northern District of California. (MBW)

4. Jason Isbell and David Lowery are suing Suno in a category motion go well with. Importantly, they’re hitting Mikey Shulman’s firm with identification claims – not copyright.

Jason Isbell is suing AI music firm Suno over the alleged industrial use of his identification.

The six-time Grammy winner filed a proposed class motion on Monday (August 31) in Boston federal courtroom, alongside Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven frontman David Lowery, Texas blues musician Man Forsyth, and Florida saxophonist Eduardo Calle.

Apparently, the 84-page lawsuit accommodates no copyright declare. (MBW)

5. Now Canada’s SOCAN sues Suno, claiming it illegally copied hits like ‘Each Sides Now’ and ‘Sk8er Boi’

Canada’s SOCAN has sued Suno for copyright infringement.

The accumulating society filed its assertion of declare within the Federal Court docket of Canada on Wednesday (September 2).

SOCAN is the third accumulating society to take Suno to courtroom, and the primary to file since one among them received. (MBW)