Russia is a market with great potential for digital music (i.e. one in its very early days, legally-speaking), but a row that has broken out between 14 Russian rightsholders and phone-makers Nokia and Samsung may put a brake on innovation. The labels and publishers claim the two companies owe them 1.2bn rubles (just under $41m) in fees based on their devices’ ability to play and download music. TheNextWeb reports that the rightsholders are threatening to withhold access to their catalogues from these companies – and 18 other consumer electronics firms (although the $41m is just for Nokia and Samsung). Note, these claims have come in statements to the media with threats to launch a lawsuit, rather than an actual lawsuit just yet. Nokia and Samsung have yet to provide an official response to the claims.
Tools: platforms to help you reach new audiences
Tools: Kaiber
In the year or so since its launch, AI startup Kaiber has been making waves,…