At ADE 2026, a Top Music Lawyer Talks AI, Independence & What the Biz Can Learn From Radiohead
Lawyer and music industry analyst Cliff Fluet laid out where power in the music industry is moving and who’s positioned to hold it.
On October 16th, Radiohead unveiled its seventh studio album, In Rainbows, and offered listeners the option to pay any amount they desired. This unconventional approach emerged as the music industry grappled with rampant piracy and the decline of the recorded music market. According to Cliff Fluet, co-head of media and entertainment at U.K. law firm Lewis Silkin LLP, the issue was not about price or value, but rather ownership of the relationship between artists and their fans.
Fluet, speaking at ADE 2026, used this historic event as the foundation for his presentation, titled "The State Of Things With Cliff Fluet." Over the course of his talk, Fluet addressed a range of topics, including the impact of AI on the music industry and recent major deals. All of these subjects were connected by the overarching theme of shifting power dynamics within the industry.
Throughout his presentation, Fluet emphasized three key principles that Radiohead championed in 2007: engagement, independence, and going direct. Nearly two decades after the release of In Rainbows, these principles continue to shape the strategies of savvy individuals operating within the music sector. In this article, we delve into five key takeaways from Fluet's insightful presentation.
Written by urgent.news from Billboard's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
