Bypass: Music Industry News for Independent Artists

Friday edition • 3 min read

The No Fakes Act: Part III

What's Up

The No Fakes Act is back on the table. Look, we all know the AI deepfake thing is out of hand. We know it. Congress knows it. Everyone knows it, even your grandma who still calls the internet "Facebook."

The No Fakes Act is the bill that will give you the legal right to control how your voice and likeness get used in AI-generated content. It's bipartisan and it's long, long overdue.

So What

Murphy Campbell. Name ring a bell? She's a folk musician from North Carolina who got her songs AI deepfaked, and then the impostors copyright-struck her. The No Fakes Act now specifically covers streaming music platforms, which is going to help artists like Murphy fight anyone using their voice or likeness without permission. And it doesn't stop when you die. It can be passed down to your heirs (pretty royal if you ask us).

Now What

This still has to pass Congress, which is never a guarantee. But we've got Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, and the majors backing it. This is the third time it's been reintroduced, so fingers crossed? Get in touch with your rep and tell them you support it.

[Full story at DMN]

Your Name Is Your Business. Protect It.

What's Up

Come on, people, it takes 30 seconds to Google your artist name before committing.

On the next episode of the Battle of the Twigs, The Twigs, who've been gigging since Clinton, countersued FKA Twigs. And they want the court to perma-ban FKA Twigs from using the name for anything live or recorded.

So What

Funny enough, FKA Twigs emailed The Twigs in 2013 and acknowledged that they had the name first. Her exact words were, "I appreciate that you've been releasing music and performing as The Twigs a lot longer than I have." And it still ended up here.

The Twigs dropped their 2014 case because they couldn't afford to keep going. Moral of the story: even when you're right, you can't prove it without money.

Now What

Google your name before you commit. If everything's clear, go and trademark it. Not after you blow up. Check out uspto.gov. Fair warning: it costs money and takes time. But we're guessing you don't want to spend years (and thousands of dollars) in court battling it out.

[Full story at DMN]

CAA Is Giving Away Free Music Industry Access: Deadline's May 22

What's Up

CAA's taking applications for their free professional development program, The Hubb, until May 22. It's now in its ninth year and has given college kids and recent grads direct access to music execs, agents, and managers. CAA pays for your travel and hotel.

So What

The music biz still runs on networks. It's who you know, not what you know, you know. There's really no catch to this. You get free travel, free hotel, and the opportunity to meet the big shots in the industry.

Now What

Deadline's tomorrow. For any college junior, senior, or recent grad serious about the business side of music, apply now. Application link is in the Hypebot story.

[Full story at Hypebot]