Notes from the desk
Industry news, rulings and production trends, covered from a working studio's point of view — updated as the story develops.
UK Music Exports Pass £800m — But Growth Is Slowing
British recorded music exports broke £800m for the first time in 2025 — but the growth rate has now slowed for four years straight.
Read the post →The Government's Long-Awaited Report on Copyright and AI: What Changed
The UK government's Report on Copyright and Artificial Intelligence has finally landed. Here's what it means for studios and independent producers.
Read the post →New Grammy Categories for 2026 — and Why They Matter Behind the Desk
The Recording Academy has confirmed two new categories for the 2026 Grammys — Best Traditional Country Album and Best Album Cover — plus a reworked Best New Artist rule.
Read the post →The UK's Data Bill and What It Means for AI, Copyright and Studios Like Ours
The UK's Data (Use and Access) Bill has passed into law, but the core question — how AI companies should be allowed to train on copyrighted music — remains unresolved.
Read the post →A Big Night for Engineers: Reflecting on the 67th Grammys
This year's Grammys rewarded records that refused to sit inside one genre — which puts extra weight on the engineering that holds them together.
Read the post →UK Recorded Music Exports Hit £775m — What It Means for Independent Studios
UK recorded music exports rose 7.6% to £775m in 2023, driven by British artists breaking through internationally. Here's why that matters at the mixing stage.
Read the post →Why Spatial Audio Is Finding Its Way Onto the Mixing Desk
Apple is now paying higher royalties for Spatial Audio tracks. It's a small change with a big implication for anyone still treating Dolby Atmos as optional.
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