From Bolloré Urging UMG to Reject Ackman’s $64B Bid to Gamma’s Lawsuit to Unmask the Creators of Two Smear Sites…...
Bolloré’s chief urged Universal Music Group to reject Bill Ackman’s $64 billion takeover offer, saying the price falls far short of value. Gamma filed a New York lawsuit to unmask the creators of two defamatory “SCAMMA” sites targeting its founder. UMG and Sony asked a court to add more than 61,000 recordings to their copyright suit against AI music generator Suno after discovering extensive unauthorized training data. YouTube announced automatic labeling of realistic AI‑generated videos, and former Spotify executive Sulinna Ong left to join U2’s management team.
Downtown Music Publishing Strikes Deal to Represent Biz Markie Catalog and Name, Image & Likeness Rights
Downtown Music Publishing has signed a deal to administer the catalog, sync licensing, and name‑image‑likeness (NIL) rights of hip‑hop legend Biz Markie. The agreement, overseen by his widow Tara Hall, routes publishing through Surrey Lane Publishing and partners with Revilo Records,...
Reservoir Deployed $120m on Acquisitions and Advances in Latest Fiscal Year, as Its Annual Revenues Grew 11% YoY to $175.7m
Reservoir Media posted fiscal 2026 revenue of $175.7 million, an 11% increase on a combined organic and acquisition basis, and lifted operating income 9% to $38.2 million. The company deployed roughly $120 million toward publishing and recorded‑rights acquisitions, adding high‑profile catalogs such as...
Jay Moore Appointed Chief Investment Officer at Too Lost
Too Lost, the New York‑based indie distribution and services platform, has hired Jay Moore as Chief Investment Officer. Moore arrives from Position Music, where he led catalog acquisitions such as Gesaffelstein’s publishing and masters, and previously served as CIO at Ditto...
Grupo Frontera Launch Indie Label BorderTown Records in Partnership with The Orchard
Grupo Frontera has launched its own indie label, BorderTown Records, in partnership with Sony Music’s The Orchard. The label, headquartered in the band’s McAllen, Texas complex YUMA, will debut with the group’s norteño EP "Con Dolor" on May 28. BorderTown...
Estate of Blues Pioneer Lead Belly Sues Group of Publishers in Copyright Dispute over 49 Compositions
The Huddie Ledbetter Family Trust filed a federal lawsuit in Nashville against The Richmond Organization and nine affiliated music publishers, alleging infringement of 49 Lead Belly compositions. The complaint references termination notices served in 2013‑2014 under Section 304 of the Copyright Act,...
Julie Swidler, Sony Music’s EVP Business Affairs and General Counsel, to Leave Company After 18 Years
Julie Swidler, Sony Music’s Executive Vice President of Business Affairs and General Counsel, will depart the company at the end of June after an 18‑year tenure. Since 2008 she has overseen global legal, business and governmental affairs, guiding major talent...
YouTube Will Now Automatically Detect and Label AI Videos – Even when Creators Don’t Disclose It
YouTube announced that, beginning in May 2026, it will automatically apply AI content labels to realistic, photorealistic AI‑generated videos, even when creators do not disclose AI usage. The label will appear directly below the player for long‑form videos and as an...
Bolloré Urges Universal Music Group to Reject Bill Ackman’s $64B Takeover Bid
Chairman Cyrille Bolloré, who controls 28% of Universal Music Group, publicly urged the company’s management to reject Bill Ackman’s $64 billion takeover proposal. Ackman’s Pershing Square bid values UMG at about $64.4 billion, a 78% premium, and would merge the label into...
HYBE’s Weverse Appoints Zooil Yang as President as Superfan Platform Enters ‘Next Phase of Growth’
HYBE’s Weverse Company announced the appointment of Zooil Yang as its new President, effective June 1. Yang, who previously led AXZ after its spin‑off from Kakao, brings extensive experience in platform operations, digital commerce and music streaming. The move comes...
Sony Music Moves to Add More than 30,000 Copyrighted Recordings to Its Lawsuit Against Udio
Sony Music has moved to expand its copyright‑infringement lawsuit against AI music generator Udio by adding 30,442 sound recordings identified during discovery. The motion, filed in the Southern District of New York, positions Sony as the sole remaining major‑label plaintiff...
The Black Label, the Studio Behind the KPop Demon Hunters Soundtrack, Just Raised $80M with Investment From Tencent Music
South Korean label The Black Label announced a $80 million Series B round, with Tencent Music Entertainment Group and gaming firm Krafton as co‑lead investors. The funding follows the label’s breakout success on the Netflix‑backed *K‑Pop Demon Hunters* soundtrack, which produced a...
Stability AI’s Julian Parker, a Key Researcher Behind Stable Audio, Joins Spotify’s ‘Artist-First AI’ Team – Days After Streamer’s Landmark...
Julian Parker, a senior researcher behind Stability AI’s Stable Audio models, has joined Spotify to bolster its artist‑first AI program. His move follows Spotify’s landmark licensing agreement with Universal Music Group that will let fans create paid AI‑generated covers and...
Udio’s Licensed AI Music App Will Be Called Starstruck, with Four Creation Modes for Fans (Report)
Udio is launching Starstruck, a mobile‑first AI music app that lets fans generate covers, reimagined tracks, remixes, or original songs using licensed artist vocals. The platform operates on a subscription model with Standard and Pro tiers, limiting the number of...
Activist Artists Management Promotes Anna Kolander to Partner
Activist Artists Management announced that Anna Kolander has been promoted to Partner, marking her 13‑year tenure with the firm. Kolander, who rose from an assistant role in 2013 to senior manager and head of A&R, oversees the day‑to‑day operations for...