StubHub UK fined for ticket pricing; Artists' AI training pressure; Suno gives artists money; James Blake vs journalists; Artists' open letter for Fossil Fuel Treaty.

<p><strong>Your weekly guide to the music biz and how it all works. This week, Stu and Joe get ready for their summer holidays and punt a beachball at this week&#39;s music biz news:</strong></p><p>How much has controversial secondary-ticketing firm StubHub has just been <a href="https://musically.com/2026/06/24/uk-competition-watchdog-levies-900k-fine-on-stubhub-uk-and-orders-additional-590k-refund-to-customers/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">fined in the UK for illegal ‘drip pricing’</a>? (Also, what is that?)</p><p>The news seems bit <strong>AI-</strong>heavy this week, but it&#39;s actually all about <strong>artists</strong>:</p><p>→ 31 groups representing artists and managers have written an open letter about AI music… <a href="https://musically.com/2026/06/22/open-letter-musicians-must-not-be-pressured-into-ai-deals-by-rightsholders/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">but it’s not AI companies who it’s addressed to</a>…</p><p>→ AI-music company Suno is <a href="https://musically.com/2026/06/26/suno-launches-grants-mentorship-and-support-for-indie-artists-who-use-the-platform/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">giving some money to musicians at last!</a> But there are some strings attached…</p><p>→ Meanwhile, streaming service Tidal isn’t giving ANY money to wholly AI-generated music, according to its new policies on this area.</p><p><strong>ANY OTHER BUSINESS?</strong></p><p>→ James Blake has been making friends in the world of music journalism. Hasn’t he? <a href="https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/why-james-blake-is-right-about-the-industry-and-wrong-about-critics/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Oh.</a></p><p>→ And talking of good causes, more than 200 artists have signed <a href="https://musically.com/2026/06/25/brian-eno-coldplay-massive-attack-and-others-join-over-200-artists-calling-for-fossil-fuel-treaty/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">an open letter calling for a Fossil Fuel Treaty</a>. So who’s signing, and what exactly do they want? (and there is some new advice on how we as music fans can <a href="https://musically.com/2026/06/26/music-climate-pact-partners-with-deezer-to-publish-sustainable-music-streaming-tips/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">reduce the impact our streaming has on the planet</a>.)</p><p><strong>AND FINALLY…</strong></p><p>→ Recommendations of classic, influential hip-hop bangers from a maker of fizzy, lemonade-adjacent drinks.</p><p><strong>And in the special post-show lock-in section just for our </strong><a href="https://www.patreon.com/12218634/join" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">⁠⁠<strong>Patreon Superfans</strong>⁠⁠</a><strong>, Stu and Joe prop themselves up at the bar – in this week&#39;s bonus material:</strong> </p><ul><li><p>Can you make money by investing on things mentioned in a <strong>Kraftwerk</strong> song?</p></li><li><p>A <strong>Little Grandad Update</strong> - a segment that now has its own jingle! </p></li><li><p>In a section recorded before England get knocked out on penalties / gloriously proceed on penalties against DR Congo, Stu and joe take a look at the successful use of the much-mocked &#39;hydration break&#39; as a massive singalong</p></li><li><p>They also venture further into the <strong>Official FIFA World Cup Album™</strong> and dare to ask the question: who is iShowSpeed anyway, and why does he have a song?</p></li><li><p><u><strong>Assorted football songs discussed:</strong></u></p></li><li><p><strong>IShowSpeed - World Cup (Champions) </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrY1THC_NQE&list=OLAK5uy_nsOacWtSBM2kV8c_yjosYwk3hQq1A7-JY&index=19" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow"><strong>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrY1THC_NQE&amp;list=OLAK5uy_nsOacWtSBM2kV8c_yjosYwk3hQq1A7-JY&amp;index=19</strong></a></p></li><li><p><strong>Alejandro Fernández - Mi Mexico Lindo </strong><a href="https://www.youtube.c