Content is King / Alfons Karabuda
@contentisking.bsky.social
Composer and cultural rights advocate. Honorary President of the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance, Chair of the Polar Music Prize Award Committee, board member Freemuse and former President of the International Music Council and Skap.
If You Don’t Speak the New Gatekeepers’ Language, How Will Anyone Hear You? www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/12/03/i...
If You Don’t Speak the New Gatekeepers’ Language, How Will You Ever Be Heard? - Alfons Karabuda
AI assistants are quietly becoming the new gatekeepers of music discovery. Yet for most of us, creators, it’s as if we simply don’t exist. If AI doesn’t know who we are, it cannot recommend us, cannot...
www.alfonskarabuda.com
December 3, 2025 at 8:00 PM
If You Don’t Speak the New Gatekeepers’ Language, How Will Anyone Hear You? www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/12/03/i...
The Inevitable Arrival and the Rewrite of the Architecture of Creative Ownership www.linkedin.com/pulse/inevit...
The Inevitable Arrival
When Autonomous Agents Rewrite the Architecture of Creative Ownership Thank you for the thoughtful engagement on my previous post on FB. It’s evident that many within the creative and publishing commu...
www.linkedin.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:49 PM
The Inevitable Arrival and the Rewrite of the Architecture of Creative Ownership www.linkedin.com/pulse/inevit...
Today is International Music Day! I cannot think of a better way to honor this day — and the importance of music in our lives — than by highlighting the winner of the Music Rights Award 2025:
Gaza Sings: Voices of Steadfastness and Hope from Palestine. imc-cim.org/imc-honours-...
Gaza Sings: Voices of Steadfastness and Hope from Palestine. imc-cim.org/imc-honours-...
October 1, 2025 at 11:44 AM
Today is International Music Day! I cannot think of a better way to honor this day — and the importance of music in our lives — than by highlighting the winner of the Music Rights Award 2025:
Gaza Sings: Voices of Steadfastness and Hope from Palestine. imc-cim.org/imc-honours-...
Gaza Sings: Voices of Steadfastness and Hope from Palestine. imc-cim.org/imc-honours-...
Great to see collective rights organizations, like Stim, starting to engage with AI. The headlines are exciting, but what really matters is how these licenses can work in practice:
www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/09/10/w...
www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/09/10/w...
What Matters More Than a Headline? - Alfons Karabuda
When STIM announced what they described as the world’s first AI license, it wasn’t surprising that the claim generated a lot of questions. It certainly raised eyebrows. To be fair, it may indeed be th...
www.alfonskarabuda.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Great to see collective rights organizations, like Stim, starting to engage with AI. The headlines are exciting, but what really matters is how these licenses can work in practice:
www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/09/10/w...
www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/09/10/w...
Thrilled to see the Nordic Day programme for Nordic Tech Week published. On Sept 19 = wrap up week in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, with full day dedicated to what makes the Nordics unique and how we can build the future together. Full programme: lnkd.in/dAnJ8m-4
September 8, 2025 at 12:37 PM
Thrilled to see the Nordic Day programme for Nordic Tech Week published. On Sept 19 = wrap up week in Kungsträdgården, Stockholm, with full day dedicated to what makes the Nordics unique and how we can build the future together. Full programme: lnkd.in/dAnJ8m-4
New release! And this one is a true first:
A heartfelt, bittersweet song written and composed entirely in Turkish.
Full of heart and pain—just the way it should be.
open.spotify.com/track/1rcanB...
A heartfelt, bittersweet song written and composed entirely in Turkish.
Full of heart and pain—just the way it should be.
open.spotify.com/track/1rcanB...
September 2, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New release! And this one is a true first:
A heartfelt, bittersweet song written and composed entirely in Turkish.
Full of heart and pain—just the way it should be.
open.spotify.com/track/1rcanB...
A heartfelt, bittersweet song written and composed entirely in Turkish.
Full of heart and pain—just the way it should be.
open.spotify.com/track/1rcanB...
Songwriters suing themselves?
That’s the paradox in Rowntree v PRS, a case about £200M in “Black Box” royalties.
As a creator + witness, I reflect on what the Tribunal’s dismissal reveals—and why the future lies in tech, not endless litigation.
👉 www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/08/28/e...
That’s the paradox in Rowntree v PRS, a case about £200M in “Black Box” royalties.
As a creator + witness, I reflect on what the Tribunal’s dismissal reveals—and why the future lies in tech, not endless litigation.
👉 www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/08/28/e...
Ever Felt Like Suing Yourself? - Alfons Karabuda
I didn’t think so either. Yet that is precisely what the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal suggested when it dismissed the landmark case Rowntree v PRS, concerning up to £200 million in so-called Black B...
www.alfonskarabuda.com
August 28, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Songwriters suing themselves?
That’s the paradox in Rowntree v PRS, a case about £200M in “Black Box” royalties.
As a creator + witness, I reflect on what the Tribunal’s dismissal reveals—and why the future lies in tech, not endless litigation.
👉 www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/08/28/e...
That’s the paradox in Rowntree v PRS, a case about £200M in “Black Box” royalties.
As a creator + witness, I reflect on what the Tribunal’s dismissal reveals—and why the future lies in tech, not endless litigation.
👉 www.alfonskarabuda.com/2025/08/28/e...
How to (Re)Claim Creative Rights www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-re...
How to (Re)Claim Creative Rights
A bump on the road toward long-established goals? Or the systematic theft of creative value? The answer depends on how we analyze the situation—and our success in countering the challenges with the ri...
www.linkedin.com
August 18, 2025 at 2:46 PM
How to (Re)Claim Creative Rights www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-re...
The Missing Link Between Capability and Advocacy linkedin.com/pulse/missin...
The Missing Link Between Capability and Advocacy
Recent policy setbacks in the United States and the United Kingdom are exposing a critical gap in how the creative industries advocate for artificial intelligence (AI) regulation. While technology com...
linkedin.com
July 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
The Missing Link Between Capability and Advocacy linkedin.com/pulse/missin...
Just published:
“Spooky Action in Business” — a reflection on how emerging ecosystems are challenging linear value models, especially in the creative industries.
From near-instant royalties to real-time copyright visibility, there is a better way forward.
Read it: www.linkedin.com/pulse/spooky...
“Spooky Action in Business” — a reflection on how emerging ecosystems are challenging linear value models, especially in the creative industries.
From near-instant royalties to real-time copyright visibility, there is a better way forward.
Read it: www.linkedin.com/pulse/spooky...
Spooky Action at a Distance
Albert Einstein famously used the phrase “spooky action at a distance” to describe quantum entanglement—a phenomenon where interconnected particles influence each other instantaneously, regardless of ...
www.linkedin.com
July 20, 2025 at 10:42 AM
Just published:
“Spooky Action in Business” — a reflection on how emerging ecosystems are challenging linear value models, especially in the creative industries.
From near-instant royalties to real-time copyright visibility, there is a better way forward.
Read it: www.linkedin.com/pulse/spooky...
“Spooky Action in Business” — a reflection on how emerging ecosystems are challenging linear value models, especially in the creative industries.
From near-instant royalties to real-time copyright visibility, there is a better way forward.
Read it: www.linkedin.com/pulse/spooky...
Check out my latest article: When Silos Burst and Bridges Are Built – The Fair Music Project and UNESCO’s Vision for Responsible AI linkedin.com/pulse/when-s... via
@LinkedIn
When Silos Burst and Bridges Are Built – The Fair Music Project and UNESCO’s Vision for Responsible AI
Isn’t it great when silos finally burst — not into chaos, but into bridges? As someone who’s spent a career navigating both the creative world and the emerging tech landscape, I’ve become a strong adv...
linkedin.com
July 13, 2025 at 7:46 AM
Check out my latest article: When Silos Burst and Bridges Are Built – The Fair Music Project and UNESCO’s Vision for Responsible AI linkedin.com/pulse/when-s... via
@LinkedIn
The Music World News—brought to you by the International Music Council—is your bi-weekly passport to what’s really happening in music across the globe. From groundbreaking artists and AI breakthroughs to policy shifts and powerful education stories, it´s all here.
Music World News #13/2025 - 2 JULY 2025
From 11 – 12 June 2025, over 100 music sector stakeholders came together in Brussels for the 13th edition of the European Forum on Music with the theme “Celebrating Musical Diversity”.
imc-cim.org
July 2, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The Music World News—brought to you by the International Music Council—is your bi-weekly passport to what’s really happening in music across the globe. From groundbreaking artists and AI breakthroughs to policy shifts and powerful education stories, it´s all here.
Denmark’s EU presidency puts AI & copyright in the spotlight—and it's exactly the momentum we’ve been preparing for in the Fair Music Project.
Here’s my perspective on what’s unfolding and why it’s a defining moment.
🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/alfons...
#FairMusic #DigitalRights
Here’s my perspective on what’s unfolding and why it’s a defining moment.
🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/alfons...
#FairMusic #DigitalRights
When Friends Lead, Everyone Grows | Alfons Karabuda
When Friends Lead, Everyone Grows
In any group of friends, there's always someone who shines in a particular area—and inspires the rest to level up. That’s the beauty of good collaboration. Over ...
www.linkedin.com
July 1, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Denmark’s EU presidency puts AI & copyright in the spotlight—and it's exactly the momentum we’ve been preparing for in the Fair Music Project.
Here’s my perspective on what’s unfolding and why it’s a defining moment.
🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/alfons...
#FairMusic #DigitalRights
Here’s my perspective on what’s unfolding and why it’s a defining moment.
🔗 www.linkedin.com/posts/alfons...
#FairMusic #DigitalRights
En visselblåsarfunktion specialanpassad för kulturorganisationer och bolag. Följ länk där du kan läsa mer och delta aktivt med din återkoppling i utvecklandet av denna, för kulturen, specialanpassade visselblåsarfunktion. vissel.se
June 25, 2025 at 7:25 AM
En visselblåsarfunktion specialanpassad för kulturorganisationer och bolag. Följ länk där du kan läsa mer och delta aktivt med din återkoppling i utvecklandet av denna, för kulturen, specialanpassade visselblåsarfunktion. vissel.se
Honored to be included in Laurence Cuny’s vital paper on protecting musicians at risk, through the legacy of Pau Casals. A powerful call for action on artistic freedom.
👉 globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/wp-content/u... #ArtisticFreedom #HumanRights #MusicMatters
👉 globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/wp-content/u... #ArtisticFreedom #HumanRights #MusicMatters
May 26, 2025 at 7:44 AM
Honored to be included in Laurence Cuny’s vital paper on protecting musicians at risk, through the legacy of Pau Casals. A powerful call for action on artistic freedom.
👉 globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/wp-content/u... #ArtisticFreedom #HumanRights #MusicMatters
👉 globalfreedomofexpression.columbia.edu/wp-content/u... #ArtisticFreedom #HumanRights #MusicMatters
Who’s With The Band?
While a song might ironically – go viral thanks to the censorship, the musicians — especially women — often suffer severe consequences. This raises the question of what resources are needed to care for the artists? @freemuse.bsky.social www.freemuse.org/whos-with-th...
While a song might ironically – go viral thanks to the censorship, the musicians — especially women — often suffer severe consequences. This raises the question of what resources are needed to care for the artists? @freemuse.bsky.social www.freemuse.org/whos-with-th...
Who’s With The Band?: Labour of Care for Musicians - Freemuse
The case of banned Indonesian punk band Sukatani This music censorship case demonstrates censored artwork’s tenacity: banned music always finds its way to reach its listeners. However, while a song mi...
www.freemuse.org
April 8, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Who’s With The Band?
While a song might ironically – go viral thanks to the censorship, the musicians — especially women — often suffer severe consequences. This raises the question of what resources are needed to care for the artists? @freemuse.bsky.social www.freemuse.org/whos-with-th...
While a song might ironically – go viral thanks to the censorship, the musicians — especially women — often suffer severe consequences. This raises the question of what resources are needed to care for the artists? @freemuse.bsky.social www.freemuse.org/whos-with-th...
Today, we proudly announce this year’s
Polar Music Prize laureates: Queen, Herbie Hancock, and Barbara Hannigan. We look forward to welcoming them to Stockholm on May 27, where they will receive the Prize from His Majesty the King of Sweden. www.billboard.com/music/awards...
Polar Music Prize laureates: Queen, Herbie Hancock, and Barbara Hannigan. We look forward to welcoming them to Stockholm on May 27, where they will receive the Prize from His Majesty the King of Sweden. www.billboard.com/music/awards...
Queen, Herbie Hancock & Barbara Hannigan Named 2025 Polar Music Prize Laureates
British rock band Queen, American jazz great Herbie Hancock and Canadian soprano Barbara Hannigan are the 2025 recipients of the Polar Music Prize.
www.billboard.com
March 18, 2025 at 7:09 AM
Today, we proudly announce this year’s
Polar Music Prize laureates: Queen, Herbie Hancock, and Barbara Hannigan. We look forward to welcoming them to Stockholm on May 27, where they will receive the Prize from His Majesty the King of Sweden. www.billboard.com/music/awards...
Polar Music Prize laureates: Queen, Herbie Hancock, and Barbara Hannigan. We look forward to welcoming them to Stockholm on May 27, where they will receive the Prize from His Majesty the King of Sweden. www.billboard.com/music/awards...
The International Music Council brings you yet another overview of what’s up in the global musical ecosystem. You’ll learn about local news from all over the world instead of just the usual global trends reaching local level.
Enjoy!
Emc Imc
imc-cim.org/index.php?pa...
Enjoy!
Emc Imc
imc-cim.org/index.php?pa...
Music World News #2/2025 - 29 JAN
Ghanaian music legend and saxophonist Teddy Osei, who founded the Afro-rock band Osibisa, has died aged 88.
imc-cim.org
January 29, 2025 at 9:48 AM
The International Music Council brings you yet another overview of what’s up in the global musical ecosystem. You’ll learn about local news from all over the world instead of just the usual global trends reaching local level.
Enjoy!
Emc Imc
imc-cim.org/index.php?pa...
Enjoy!
Emc Imc
imc-cim.org/index.php?pa...
Securing Copyright in the wake of recent AI policies in the USA and UK www.linkedin.com/pulse/securi...
Securing Copyright in the wake of recent AI policies in the USA and UK
While I am pleased to see that the future challenges for music and culture, with AI as a top priority, are being widely debated and largely agreed upon in panels around the world, it is likely that po...
www.linkedin.com
January 26, 2025 at 12:36 PM
Securing Copyright in the wake of recent AI policies in the USA and UK www.linkedin.com/pulse/securi...
Equal Economic Opportunity in the Creative Industries www.linkedin.com/pulse/equal-...
Equal Economic Opportunity in the Creative Industries
Background As a creator and cultural rights advocate, I’ve often been struck by how parts of the creative community resist thinking outside the box—even in an industry built on imagination and innovat...
www.linkedin.com
December 27, 2024 at 9:38 PM
Equal Economic Opportunity in the Creative Industries www.linkedin.com/pulse/equal-...
I participated in an in-depth interview for Cisac´s “Study on the Economic Impact of Generative AI in the Music and Audiovisual Industries.”
Existing advanced technology can provide the impact necessary to tackle the challenges and harness the opportunities ahead. www.cisac.org/Newsroom/new...
Existing advanced technology can provide the impact necessary to tackle the challenges and harness the opportunities ahead. www.cisac.org/Newsroom/new...
Global economic study shows human creators’ future at risk from generative AI
Policy makers must safeguard creators’ rights and implement transparency rules
www.cisac.org
December 4, 2024 at 3:49 PM
I participated in an in-depth interview for Cisac´s “Study on the Economic Impact of Generative AI in the Music and Audiovisual Industries.”
Existing advanced technology can provide the impact necessary to tackle the challenges and harness the opportunities ahead. www.cisac.org/Newsroom/new...
Existing advanced technology can provide the impact necessary to tackle the challenges and harness the opportunities ahead. www.cisac.org/Newsroom/new...
Check out my latest article: Double Standard www.linkedin.com/pulse/double... via @LinkedIn
Double Standard
Spotify's recent Web API changes introduce significant restrictions that impact third-party developers, innovation, and the competitive landscape. While these changes are presented as necessary for da...
www.linkedin.com
November 28, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Check out my latest article: Double Standard www.linkedin.com/pulse/double... via @LinkedIn
I’m not sure why this is showing up in my newsfeed now, as the article dates back to 2014…
What I do know is that, among the many titles and positions I’ve held over the years, this was the one I neither expected to assume nor aspired to:
Acting CEO of STIM in 2014.
November 25, 2024 at 8:14 AM
I’m not sure why this is showing up in my newsfeed now, as the article dates back to 2014…
What I do know is that, among the many titles and positions I’ve held over the years, this was the one I neither expected to assume nor aspired to:
Acting CEO of STIM in 2014.
All eyes on deck! www.linkedin.com/pulse/all-ey... #MusicIndustryCybersecurity #AIBlockchainMusic #DigitalAssetProtection #MusicTechInnovation #IntellectualPropertySecurity #CyberThreatPrevention #MusicRoyaltyProtection #DecentralizedLicensing #QuantumSecurityMusic #FutureOfMusicIndustry
All eyes on deck!
Time for another weekly update. This past week, my focus has been on security—particularly cybersecurity.
www.linkedin.com
November 24, 2024 at 9:53 AM
The Law of the Magic Third www.linkedin.com/pulse/law-ma... #music #MagicThird #DigitalRights #Blockchain #CreatorEconomy
The Law of the Magic Third
The Law of the Magic Third, a concept rooted in sociology, proposes that when about one-third of a group adopts a new viewpoint or represents a different demographic, it sparks a notable shift in grou...
www.linkedin.com
November 24, 2024 at 9:52 AM
The Law of the Magic Third www.linkedin.com/pulse/law-ma... #music #MagicThird #DigitalRights #Blockchain #CreatorEconomy