Jottings of note:
Settled
Universal Music Group (UMG) has settled its lawsuit against Udio, an AI music generation company. The conflict was about how Udio trained its AI music software — by feeding it UMG-owned music. All three major labels (Sony Music Group and Warner Music Group included in that echelon) were and are involved in that legal argument, which UMG now exits. While settlement details are private, the major outcome is a ollaborative agreement. The two companies will work together to develop a new AI music generation and streaming platform. This is somewhat startling and certainly newsworthy; UMG’s declaration of the news calls it an “industry-first strategic agreement.” UMG promises that the new licensing agreements “will provide further revenue opportunities for UMG artists and songwriters.” Launch: 2026.
Junkie to Tubi
The #2-ranked podcast Crime Junkie (on the Edison Reserch Top 50 U.S. Podcasts), produced by Audiochuck, will appear on Tubi, the free ad-supported streaming video platform. Tubi is a Fox Corp property. This deal is reportedly valued at $150 million. Crime Junkie might be the most reognized show in the Audiochuck stable, but all of its other podcasts in the Ashley Flowers-funded platform are included. That includes The Deck, Supernatural, Anatomy Of Murder, Strangeland and several more. RELATED: Tubi CEO Lachlan Murdoh announced that Tubi reached profitability for the first time in Q3.
October 30, 2025
