The central problem of this desk is that the creative industries do not publish their prices. Union agreements cover unionised film and television; everything else, which is most of what our readers do, is negotiated privately and separately by people who have been told not to discuss it.
So this desk prints what is genuinely published, names the companies that publish it, and is explicit about the size of the gap.

Believe says artists must opt in before their tracks are used by Suno. Suno said in February it had reached $300 million ARR and 2 million paid subscribers (figures checked 2026-09-18).

Judge Jed S. Rakoff sent the proposed class action against StubHub into private arbitration on September 14, 2026; buyers are bound by StubHub’s arbitration clause unless they opt out.

UMG claims DistroKid distributed nearly 12 million tracks and >50% of weekly releases to one DSP; the suit cites accounts putting out 380 tracks a month (UMG filing, checked 2026-09-16).

Curve’s sale to Jamen Capital and Merlin restores vendor-aligned ownership — freelancers should demand the same covenants and clarity on exit terms.

Panic At The Disco LLC is suing anonymous online sellers for counterfeit merchandise and seeks $2,000,000 per use; the court told the band to show shipments to Illinois before a TRO.

UMG sues DistroKid over alleged AI 'slop' and names 1,000 recordings; the filing seeks $150,000 per work. Practical steps for freelancers inside.

UMG licensed ElevenLabs for a fan remix platform; ElevenLabs' $11bn valuation underlines scale, but neither company disclosed commercial terms or a launch date.

Registration for Oasis Live ’27 closes 17 September at 16:00 BST; standard tickets are fixed between £71.50 and £266.60 including fees.

AEG Presents has taken a stake in Greenhouse Talent; terms were undisclosed (AEG Presents and Greenhouse Talent announcement; checked 15 September 2026).

Live Nation’s CFO said 30% of its top 50 tours are by non‑English artists and 47 of 75 international markets lack modern arenas—an opening for freelancers.

IFPI's Streaming Integrity Initiative lists 24 signatories including CD Baby; DistroKid — which claims to distribute roughly 40% of new music — is not listed.

BIGHIT MUSIC opens global male auditions for those born in or after 2008; HYBE reports strong Q2 2026 revenue. Practical steps for freelancers follow.

Warner Music Japan appointed Eitaro Shibasaki EVP & Chief Business Officer, starting Oct 1; IFPI records Japan's recorded market grew 8.9% in 2025 (checked 18 Sep 2026).

ElevenLabs released Music v2.5; ElevenLabs and UMG set out separate platforms and primary launch posts publish no numerical royalty rates.

IFPI's Streaming Integrity Initiative secures distributor commitments to verify uploads and fight fraud; key DIY platforms remain absent.

We went looking for published rates across music PR, music video production and creative freelancing. One agency in the entire sector publishes a starting price on its own website. The silence is not an accident, and it is not neutral.

Weverse reports 422,584 accounts leaked; freelancers using the platform must secure payments, check invoices and contact the operator.

Yoto’s 4th‑gen adds a Green Button and digital cards; prices and dispatch dates are published, but creator rates and licensing terms are not.

beatBread names Andreea Gleeson; Notes·fm launches Stripe Financial Accounts and paid distribution — check fees, custody and Connect enrolment.
$1,000Cyber PR's own campaigns page states that single campaigns start at $1,000, and that it runs four, six, ten and twelve-week publicity campaigns. Its FAQ also lists a self-directed masterclass at $97.

UMG calls the ElevenLabs tie-up licensing plus product development; Kobalt and Merlin have stated a 50/50 split for ElevenMusic (checked 11 Sep 2026).
$7,300From Spotify's own Loud & Clear data, published March 2026: the artist ranked 100,000th by royalties generated roughly $7,300 across the year, against about $350 in 2015.

Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon told Bloomberg he'd leave Sweden 'immediately' if a billionaire wealth tax is introduced; his net worth: over USD 11 billion (checked 11 Sep 2026).

Bandcamp lists a 100 SEK+ price for Forget In Mass; Amuse lists a vinyl date and campaign metrics but not payout splits (checked 2026-09-16).