Musi has faced legal issues in the past regarding its business practices. In 2019, the company filed a lawsuit against an online ad network for withholding payments for ads displayed within the Musi app. In response, the ad network filed a counter-complaint, accusing Musi of fraudulent practices related to music content stolen from YouTube. Despite these allegations, a judge dismissed the case in 2020.
Cherie Hu, founder of music-business research network Water & Music, criticized Musi’s interface as basic and lacking features typically found in music streaming apps. Musi relies on YouTube for music videos and users are greeted with video ads upon opening the app. Users can remove ads for a fee, but the app does not offer a download function for offline listening.
Legal experts like James Grimmelmann and David Herlihy have raised concerns about the legality of Musi’s operations. The app’s reliance on YouTube for music content raises questions about copyright infringement and potential violations of YouTube’s terms of service. Despite these concerns, Musi continues to operate within the boundaries of the law by linking to licensed content on YouTube.
Overall, Musi’s business model allows it to thrive in the streaming music industry without the need to negotiate deals with music labels and distributors. Some critics, like Herlihy, view Musi as a “bottom feeder” for exploiting YouTube’s content without facing significant legal repercussions.
