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Judge in AI lawsuit rules that humans are essential to copyrightUS District Court Judge Beryl A. Howell has ruled that AI-generated art can’t be copyrighted. In a decision that will have implications for future court cases on copyrights for music. Continue reading
The post Judge in AI lawsuit rules that humans are essential to copyright appeared first on Hypebot.

How does fraudulent streaming affect real artists?Fraudulent streaming is a worldwide problem that takes from hard-working artists around the globe. Here’s what you need to know… from Horus Music Over the last few years, there has. Continue reading
The post How does fraudulent streaming affect real artists? appeared first on Hypebot.

“I’m an engineer first, producer second, performer third”: Deadmau5 follows up on his comments about pre-recorded DJ setsProducer Deadmau5 has followed up on comments he made regarding pre-recorded DJ sets during a live stream.
Deadmau5, whose real name is Joel Zimmerman, has reiterated that he’s not a DJ himself, and has stated that “everyone does shit their own way”.

READ MORE: Deadmau5 on AI music production: “It’s pretty scary in the sense of how stupid music already is”

Discussion online arose from a 2021 livestream from the artist which has recently resurfaced on YouTube. Responding to a comment that asked if he had “ever faked a DJ set”, he confirmed that he had played pre-recorded ones before due to time restraints.
“[At] most major festivals you have to play a pre-recorded set. Like EDC [Electric Daisy Carnival in Las Vegas], I would be surprised if somebody actually played a set that wasn’t pre-recorded to be honest,” he said.
“Because there’s such a big deal to the fucking artist in the production schedule and the timeline and all that stuff that they wouldn’t wanna fuck up.”
A commenter then declared that those who play pre-recorded sets are not real DJs, “Okay. Says who? The fucking DJ police?” Deadmau5 scoffed in reply.
A clip from the livestream was shared to the MusicTech Instagram page, where Deadmau5 responded to backlash: “The fuck do I care. I’m an engineer first, producer second, performer third. Pre-recorded, on the fly, DJs, live PAs… who cares, everyone does shit their own way. So maybe just try to have a good time?”

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He also shared his own post to his page on the platform declaring he’s not a DJ himself, “18 years later I am still being asked to prove I am a DJ,”  he wrote. “Why? I am not a DJ. I do zero jockeying with discs. I don’t know how to use a CDJ. This is not news.”

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DJ Diesel, who many may know as Shaquille O’Neal, also commented under his response joking, “That’s exactly what a DJ would say.”
For the latest information on Deadmau5’s releases and live shows, visit his website.
The post “I’m an engineer first, producer second, performer third”: Deadmau5 follows up on his comments about pre-recorded DJ sets appeared first on MusicTech.

Campaign launched to bring more women into the soundsystem sceneNotting Hill Carnival pioneer Linett Kamala has launched a new campaign to encourage more female DJs to enter the soundsystem scene.

READ MORE: Guitar.com rebrands with a focus on music industry, including a careers section, and a new generation of guitar lovers

Spearheaded in partnership with Guinness, the mentorship programme, titled Original Sounds Collective, has been created specifically for women in the soundsystem scene, will include bespoke training, experiences and access to new equipment.
Besides Kamala – who at 14 became one of the first female DJs at NHC, the mentor lineup will also feature carnival mainstays Dubplate Pearl and Ella Davidson-Smith. Mentees for the first round have been selected, but the programme will open soon for prospective applicants.
“Women have always been around and part of soundsystem culture. It’s just not always been as visible,” Kamala tells Guardian. “So me stepping into the fore as a young woman back then was bringing more visibility to the females who were around, but not as prominent and taking on some of those roles like DJ or MC.”
Explaining how the initiative provides much-needed support for women in the largely male-dominated soundsystem space, Kamala says “People feel like they’re perhaps in isolation. They’re feeling like they’re the only ones doing this or feeling this way, and really want to learn more about it. The first step is about connecting and having that courage.”
“Everyone brings different skills, but it’s a collective and everyone’s going to have different facets to different qualities and personalities that they’ll bring to it as well. So that’s what’s quite exciting, to hopefully find that and connect with other people and other women out there.”

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The post Campaign launched to bring more women into the soundsystem scene appeared first on MusicTech.

BODHI: Zen Chimes from The Very Loud Indeed Co. The latest tuned percussion library from The Very Loud Indeed Co. offers a warm and mellow sound which they say is ideal for creating soothing and reflective moods.

“They’re making bulls**t records with loops. Everything’s sampled”: Tony Visconti slams modern producersTony Visconti has made it clear he’s not a fan of modern producers because they are – in his words – “making bullshit records with loops”.

READ MORE: “At the end of the day, audio processing is much more important to me than the source”: Techno artist Levon Vincent weighs in on gear

Speaking recently to MOJO, the three time Grammy-winning producer was asked if there were any modern producers he admired, to which he replied: “No. Absolutely not.”
“They’re making bullshit records with loops. Everything’s sampled,” Visconti explained. “I think old-school production with a band is the only way to make great records. Sure, I can make a record on my laptop. No problem. Any 12-year-old with a laptop and GarageBand or Ableton can.”
Visconti, who’s best known for his lengthy involvement in many of David Bowie’s singles and albums – particularly Blackstar – added that there are only two musicians he looks up to due to their ‘rule-breaking’ approach to music-making.
“My generation was very impressed by Phil Spector. We all tried to make records like that when we had a chance,” he said. “But I only have two idols, George Martin and Beethoven.”
“Beethoven because of what he did in his day – everyone was imitating Mozart, the orchestra was 40 pieces, and this son of a gun gets 150 people on-stage for his Ninth symphony. I like that kind of thinking. He was a rule breaker, and so was George Martin. Those two have inspired me throughout my career. Breaking the rules is the only way you’re gonna get somewhere new.”
“A lot of producers put their stinky sound all over a record and the artist doesn’t want to work with them again,” Visconti said, adding that his dream is to “be a better producer”.
“I want to outdo the last time I was in the studio. I still want to get better and better at what I do.” he said.
The post “They’re making bulls**t records with loops. Everything’s sampled”: Tony Visconti slams modern producers appeared first on MusicTech.

Vinfast takes a wild ride, a robotaxi fallout brews and the IRA one year laterThe Station is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here — just click The Station — to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free. 
Welcome back to The Station, your central hub for all past, present and future means of moving people and packages from Point A to Point B.
A year ago, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act, a law loaded with incentives for climate tech and designed to encourage companies like automakers to bring manufacturing back to the United States. We looked into what the effect of the law has had on the automotive industry, relations with Europe and whether startups — a world we pay attention to — have benefited.
The upshot? The battery factory trend might have started before the IRA was signed, but the law has helped accelerate the ramp. And while most funds are headed to infrastructure projects, startups are starting to see more deal flow. Check out our coverage!
For climate tech startups, the IRA is starting to pay off
Tracking the EV battery factory construction boom across North America
The White House’s effort to combat climate change have sparked a tech arms race with the EU

Want to reach out with a tip, comment or complaint? Email Kirsten at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com.
Reminder that you can drop us a note at tips@techcrunch.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps.
Micromobbin’

ElectraMeccanica, previously the maker of the three-wheeled Solo EV, is merging with an electric truck startup Tevva, and the whole deal makes me wonder if there’s a place for such tiny autocycles in the U.S.
The Solo could have been a neat way to get around cities, for both commuters and delivery drivers. But ElectraMeccanica struggled to produce its vehicles in a way that was cost-effective. The company faced adoption issues since three-wheelers were excluded from government rebates and it was too difficult to insure the vehicles. Back in March, ElectraMeccanica dropped the three-wheeled pursuit in favor of a more mainstream form of transport.
I understand why ElectraMeccanica went with electric trucks. Incentives abound, and going for commercial customers is always a good idea. But it’s sad to see such a green and interesting form of transport fail to make it off the ground. Especially when Arcimoto, probably the only other maker of tiny three-wheeled EVs, is also struggling to stay afloat.
Perhaps it’s only the three-wheeled aspect that makes such vehicles difficult for America to love. Electric golf cars appear to be on the rise, with some American families (particularly ones in warm climates like Florida) viewing the vehicles as a “second car.”
— Rebecca Bellan
Deal of the week

Talk about a wild ride!
Vietnamese EV maker Vinfast made its debut on the Nasdaq exchange with a bang. The company, which went public via a merger with special purpose acquisition company Black Spade Acquisition, saw shares shoot up 68% to close at $37.06 and a valuation of $86 billion. To put that into perspective, GM, Ford and Stellantis have market caps that are in the $45 billion to $50 billion range.
The celebrations didn’t last long. VinFast’s stock has plummeted in the days since. VinFast shares closed Friday at $15.40, which perhaps isn’t suprising considering the young EV upstart delivered just 11,300 vehicles in the first half of 2023 — not to mention its fundamentals show a company with costly ambitions that far outweigh revenue.
Other deals that got my attention …
Assembly Ventures, an early-stage venture capital firm that invests in mobility technologies, closed its inaugural $76 million Assembly Ventures Fund I.  Some of investors in the fund include strategic corporates such as Arbor Bancorp Inc. and Stellantis Ventures. A number of automotive, AV tech and VC veterans also invested in the fund, including Wolfgang Bernhart, Matt Cullen, Calvin Ford, Dan Gilbert (DVP), Philipp von Hagen, Joe Hinrichs, Karl Iagnemma, Jody Kelman, Tim Lalonde, Kathleen Ligocki, John Moavenzadeh, Stephen Polk, Tony Posawatz and Dug Song .
General Motors led a $60 million Series B round into battery materials startup Mitra Chem.
Helm.ai, startup that developed software for autonomous driving and automation of robotics, raised $55 million in its Series C round led by Freeman Group. Venture capital firms ACVC Partners and Amplo as well as strategic investors Honda Motor, Goodyear Ventures and Sungwoo Hitech also participated. Helm.ai has now raised $102 million to date.
JetZero, a commercial aerospace startup, was awarded a $235 million contract from the U.S. Air Force to build a jet with a blended wing body.
Pono Capital Three, a special purpose acquisition company, agreed to merge with Robinson Aircraft Ltd., Canadian company doing business as Horizon Aircraft that is developing an electric hybrid eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft).
Notable reads and other tidbits

Autonomous vehicles
When the California Public Utilities Commission voted to approve final permits allowing Cruise and Waymo to expand robotaxi operations and charge for driverless rides, I made a comment that not all newsletter readers appreciated. I wrote: “Cruise and Waymo may have won this battle, but the war to win over the public is hardly over.”
The past week has proven my point. Cruise experienced several embarrassing snafus in the few days following the vote, including videos showing vehicles blocking traffic and one driving into wet cement. It was enough to prompt the San Francisco City Attorney’s office to file motions with the CPUC to rollback that approval.
And that was before Thursday night, when Cruise collided with a fire truck that was responding to an emergency. A day after that crash, the California Department of Motor Vehicles, the agency that regulates the testing and deployment of autonomous vehicles in the state, asked Cruise to immediately reduce its robotaxi fleet in San Francisco by 50% while it investigates the incident.
Cruise has complied with the request.
Electric vehicles, charging & batteries
A 75MW solar farm backed by Electrify America is up and running.
Ford partnered with South Korean battery manufacturers SK On and EcoPro BM to build a cathode manufacturing facility in Quebec, Canada. The CAD $1.2 billion (USD $890 million) joint investment will provide battery materials to supply future Ford electric vehicles.
Tesla launched cheaper Model X and Model S options with less range.
Software and in-car tech
Ford will make its hands-free driving hardware — BlueCruise — standard in many of its future vehicles and charge owners a subscription, which can be activated any time, to access the tech.
Monterey Car Week typically centers on giving homage to the past. But a number of companies at the events scattered around the area had their sights very much set on the future of high-end motoring, including speed, tech and electrification. Check out our roundup from contributor Tim Stevens.
People
Ford hired former Apple executive Peter Stern to lead its newly formed Ford Integrated Services unit. The unit will create and market software-enabled customer experiences across the automaker’s three business units: Ford Blue, for gas and hybrid vehicles, Model e for connected EVs, and Ford Pro for commercial products.
Disrupt!

Vroom vroom! TechCrunch Disrupt 2023, taking place in San Francisco on September 19–21, is where you’ll get the inside scoop on the future of mobility. Come and hear from today’s leading mobility entrepreneurs on what it takes to build and innovate for a more sustainable future. Save up to $400 when you buy your pass now through September 18, and save 15% on top of that with promo code STATION. Learn more.

Friend.tech generates over $1M fees in 24h, surpassing Uniswap, Bitcoin networksThe platform was launched in beta version on Aug. 11 and allows users to tokenize their social network by buying and selling “shares” of their connections.

ETI Roads: Free electric piano Kontakt library ETI Roads is a Kontakt-based sample library that meticulously captures the sound of a 1980 Rhodes Mark II electric piano. It has been built as part of a thesis project, and is being offered as a free download.

SEC seeks appeal over Ripple, crypto prices plunge and EU debuts Bitcoin ETF: Hodler’s Digest, Aug. 13-19SEC files motion for appeal on Ripple’s case, Bitcoin and Ether prices plunge and Europe welcomes first spot Bitcoin ETF.

Apple devices spoofed, Musk eggs on Zuckerberg and Better.com goes publicWelcome, friends, to Week in Review (WiR), TechCrunch’s regular newsletter covering the major events in tech over the past few days. Haven’t had your eyes glued to the headlines? Not to worry. That’s our job, and we’ve compiled them in the nifty little digest that is WiR.
In this week’s edition of WiR, we cover a $70 device that can spoof an Apple device, hackers stealing Americans’ health data from an IBM system, and Elon Musk pledging to fight Mark Zuckerberg in a proper cage match. Elsewhere, we spotlight X, the social network formerly known as Twitter, slowing down access to rival websites; Better.com going public; and TC’s impressions of Baldur’s Gate 3.
It’s a lot to get to, so buckle up. Oh, and if you haven’t already, sign up here to get WiR in your inbox every Saturday.

Most read

A cheap Apple spoofer: Attendees at Def Con, one of the world’s largest hacking conferences, observed that their iPhones were showing pop-up messages prompting them to connect their Apple ID or share a password with a nearby Apple TV. Turns out it was a part of a research project — a $70 device that can spoof an Apple device and trick unsuspecting users into sharing their password.
Americans’ health records stolen: Millions of Americans had their sensitive medical and health information stolen after hackers exploited a zero-day vulnerability in the widely used MOVEit file transfer software raided systems operated by tech giant IBM. The Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, which is responsible for administering Colorado’s Medicaid program, confirmed on Friday that it had fallen victim to the MOVEit mass hacks, exposing the data of more than 4 million patients.
Musk versus Zuckerberg: In June, X CEO Elon Musk challenged Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, a practitioner of Brazilian jiujitsu, to a cage fight — for charity. After repeated delays on Musk’s end, last week, Musk promised that the fight was still happening. But shortly afterward, Zuckerberg said that he and Musk couldn’t agree to terms, including a venue and date, and that it was time to “move on.”
X slows down access: X was found to have throttled traffic to websites that the social network’s owner, Elon Musk, publicly dislikes. The platform slowed down the speed it takes when accessing links to a handful of websites, including The New York Times, Instagram, Facebook, Bluesky, Threads, Reuters and Substack.
Better.com goes public: Digital mortgage lender Better.com’s proposal to combine with Aurora Acquisition Corp. via a SPAC (special purpose acquisition) has been approved by shareholders. The company had originally begun making plans to go public in May 2021 but was plagued with layoffs, high-profile executive resignations, a housing market slowdown and negative publicity that forced it to push back its IPO.
Baldur’s Gate 3, reviewed:  Baldur’s Gate 3 is a Dungeons & Dragons game through and through, Taylor reports in her first impressions piece, but you needn’t be familiar with that world or those systems to enjoy it. Whether you want to smooch vampires or watch the world burn, the game’s a role-playing experience like no other, she writes.
A smart ring to compete with Oura: Indian fitness and nutrition tracking startup Ultrahuman has fast-followed its debut smart ring last year with a second generation of the device, which officially launched in June. Natasha, who reviewed it for TC, found it to be an improvement upon the original in several ways, including (very importantly) in the form-factor department.
An EV battery with greater range: CATL, the Chinese battery giant and a major supplier to Tesla, has unveiled its latest product that aims to solve electric vehicles’ charging and range limitations. Dubbed Shenxing, or “god-like movement,” the battery is able to refuel up to 400 kilometers (250 miles) of range in 10 minutes.
Audio
In need of some listening material to entertain and inform? Look no further than TechCrunch’s growing stable of podcast episodes.
On Equity, the crew kicked off with an update on former FTX exec Sam Bankman-Fried heading to jail, then got into Better.com going public, Monday.com’s growth, Vinfast adding to the SPAC list, the Inflation Reduction Act’s anniversary and two bright spots in 2023’s venture landscape.
Meanwhile, Found spotlighted Marco Zappacosta, the co-founder and CEO of Thumbtack, a startup that runs a marketplace for home services and beyond. Zappacosta talked about his unusual path to entrepreneurship, which included almost getting a degree in neuroscience before deciding to start a company without having an existing idea.
And Chain Reaction spoke with Eric Balchunas, senior ETF analyst at Bloomberg, alongside TechCrunch+ editor in chief Alex Wilhelm. Among other things, they dove into what’s going on with the bitcoin spot ETFs in the U.S., why it matters and the odds of the SEC approving one in the near future.
TechCrunch+
TC+ subscribers get access to in-depth commentary, analysis and surveys — which you know if you’re already a subscriber. If you’re not, consider signing up. Here are a few highlights from this week:
A surprisingly strong jobs market: After the big companies conducted mega layoffs at the beginning of this year, it would be natural to think that the tech unemployment rate would skyrocket. But Ron writes about how — if we think about tech jobs as comprising purely IT, engineering and developer kinds of roles — then those jobs are definitely still in demand and less affected than you might imagine.
What do CTOs do, exactly?: Haje writes about how technical blind spots mean investors are guiding founders in the wrong direction. Premature optimization isn’t helpful to anyone. But having a CTO with the right experience, knowledge and expertise for the stage a company is at appears to be examined only rarely in the investment process.
A room-temperature superconductor? Not so fast: If there was any hope remaining that LK-99 might be a room-temperature superconductor, it’s pretty much dead now. Tim writes that dozens of studies published in the last week or two have coalesced around this conclusion, less than a month after a sensational preprint paper was published by a team at the Quantum Energy Research Centre.

Get your TechCrunch fix IRL. Join us at Disrupt 2023 in San Francisco this September to immerse yourself in all things startup. From headline interviews to intimate roundtables to a jam-packed startup expo floor, there’s something for everyone at Disrupt. Save up to $400 when you buy your pass now through September 18, and save 15% on top of that with promo code WIR. Learn more.

OCTO8R The Monolith Atmosphere inspired by the 1968's Space Odyssey and transmitted by Cherry Audio's Memorymode. 85 (+11) presets include: Ambience - 16 (+1). Atmo - 10. Brass - 5 (+1).... Read More