Sample Creators Will Get Payouts From Splice’s New GenAI Tools
Splice announced three generative‑AI tools—Variations, Craft, and Magic Fit—designed to let musicians remix, convert, and adapt catalog samples in real time. The company emphasized that original sample creators will receive a royalty each time their sound is used as a source or when a generated variation is downloaded. Variations reshapes key, structure and BPM; Craft turns samples into playable instruments; Magic Fit matches any sound to a track’s harmonic and rhythmic context. The rollout follows Splice’s acquisition of Kits AI and its partnership with Universal Music Group to embed ethical AI practices.
Label Vets Reveal New Ventures: 26.2, Joan of Arc, Cofvnders
Industry veterans Julie Greenwald and Max Lousada launched 26.2, Cindy Mabe founded Joan of Arc Music, and RCA president Mark Pitts announced Cofvnders. All three are independent‑styled ventures that emphasize an art‑first philosophy while securing distribution partnerships with Sony Music,...
India to Holds Its Largest Record Store Day Celebrations to Date
Sony Music India is reviving its Vinyl Pop‑Up event in Mumbai on April 18, marking the largest Record Store Day celebration in the country with over 5,000 records, limited‑edition box sets, cassettes and merchandise from iconic artists such as AC/DC,...
Synclicity Sees More Sync Opportunities for Emerging Artists
James Lloyd has launched Synclicity, a boutique sync‑licensing agency that debuted this week with a roster of 18 emerging artists spanning alt‑rock, indie pop, punk and folk. The firm targets placement opportunities across television, film, advertising, sports and the rapidly...
Report Explores ‘Streaming Paradox’ for Artists in Five Countries
A new Oxford Internet Institute and University of Groningen study surveyed 1,200 musicians in the Netherlands, Nigeria, South Korea, Brazil and Chile. While artists across all five markets consider streaming vital for visibility and promotion, they report uniformly low satisfaction...
Danish Jazz Artists Rage at AI Tracks Released Under Their Names
Danish jazz musicians, including Carsten Dahl, Thomas Blachman, Chris Minh Doky, Lennart Ginman and Mikkel Ploug, discovered AI‑generated tracks falsely listed under their names on Spotify. The artists complained that the fake releases cluttered their profiles and received little assistance...
Rethinking European Music Exports: It’s Not Just About Copying South Korea
K‑Pop became the world’s fourth‑largest music exporter in 2025, trailing only the US, UK and Canada. South Korea’s rise stems from a coordinated blend of long‑term public policy, industry‑led training pipelines and export‑focused infrastructure, rather than heavy‑handed state direction. European...
EY-IMI Survey Reveals What It Will Take for Indians to Pay for Music (and Why some Won’t)
A new EY‑IMI survey of over 5,000 Indian digital content consumers shows that 96% of smartphone users listen to music, with 77% using licensed streaming platforms. Yet only 58% of those users have ever paid for a subscription. Among the...
Hybe India’s Girl Group Auditions Expand to Five International Cities
Hybe India announced a nationwide audition tour to form its first Indian girl group, adding five international cities to the schedule. The auditions will run from early May through late July across ten Indian metros and will also be held...
Behind The Campaign: Fcukers
New York electronic duo Fcukers, consisting of Shanny Wise and Jackson Walker Lewis, released their debut EP Baggy$$ on Ninja Tune in September 2024. The pair, formed in 2022, caught the attention of manager Simon Parsons, who first met Jackson at the...
Brands and Music: KFC Single and Leon Thomas’s Delta Show
KFC has entered the music arena with "Finger Lickin’ Machine," a track released on streaming services and accompanied by a YouTube video to promote its latest menu deal. The video gathered 2.8 k views on its first day, while Spotify play...
Influencer Collabs Account for 50% of an Indian Soundtrack’s Promotional Budget, Says Report
Indian film soundtrack promoters are allocating roughly half of their promotional budgets to influencer collaborations, according to a recent Economic Times report. Paid YouTube advertising has slipped to about 30% of spend, while the remaining budget supports audio‑streaming discoverability. Promotion...
Two Amicus Briefs Weigh in for UMG in Its Battle with Drake
Universal Music Group (UMG) has secured two amicus briefs supporting its defense in Drake’s defamation lawsuit over the 2025 single “Not Like Us.” The Floyd Abrams Institute for Freedom of Expression at Yale Law School and a coalition of social...
YouTube’s Coachella 2026 Coverage Includes a 24/7 TV Station
YouTube is expanding its Coachella 2026 partnership by launching a 24/7 linear TV channel, Coachella TV, alongside its traditional livestream. The platform will stream seven stages, offering 4K feeds for three main stages and a vertical video feed for the Quasar stage....
The Album Is Back
The album format is experiencing a cultural resurgence, driven by artists such as Charli xcx, Lily Allen, Bad Bunny and Rosalía. Music strategist Keith Jopling argues that albums remain the cornerstone of lasting careers despite streaming’s single‑track focus, citing Charli xcx’s 2024 release ‘Brat’ as a...
