Universal Music Group Launches Everything Jazz, a New Global Digital Platform for Jazz Music and Culture
Universal Music Group’s Global Classics & Jazz division launched Everything Jazz, a new digital platform and online store dedicated to jazz music and culture. Developed with major labels including Blue Note, Verve, Impulse! and ECM, the service combines catalog and new releases, premium vinyl reissues, and editorial storytelling. The rollout spans Europe, Japan, Australia, Canada and the United States, coinciding with a month‑long (Re)Discover Jazz lesson series for Jazz Appreciation Month. Festival partnerships extend the brand’s presence beyond the digital storefront.
As K-Pop Concert Revenues Rise, HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP, and YG Plot Music Festival Joint Venture
South Korea’s four K‑pop powerhouses—HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment—have filed a joint‑venture proposal with the Fair Trade Commission to launch a global music festival dubbed Fanomenon. The venture, which will be equally owned by the four firms,...
How Mrs. GREEN APPLE’s Dominance in Japan Is Driving a Global Breakthrough for the UMG-Signed Band
Mrs. GREEN APPLE became the only Japanese act to appear on Universal Music Group’s global top‑seller list for four straight quarters, landing at No. 13 on the IFPI Global Artist Chart for 2025. Their greatest‑hits album *10* entered the IFPI Global...
Warner Chappell Music Signs Grammy Winner Claudia Brant to Global Publishing Deal
Warner Chappell Music has inked a global publishing agreement with Argentine Grammy‑winner Claudia Brant, formalizing a partnership that already includes her Cha Cha Cha Publishing joint venture. Brant brings a catalog of more than 4,000 songs spanning Latin pop and crossover hits, and her venture...
Streaming Fraud Doesn’t Respect Silos. Neither Should We.
Merlin’s licensing deal with TikTok ended in October 2024, prompting the rights collective to double down on fighting streaming fraud. The company has shifted to a proactive, automated approach, building a cross‑platform database to flag illegitimate activity. Over the past...
UMG’s Michael Nash Takes Aim at ‘False Narrative of Artist Replacement’ by AI – and 3 Other Things We Learned...
Universal Music Group’s EVP and chief digital officer Michael Nash joined Splice CEO Kakul Srivastava at the HumanX AI conference to outline UMG’s AI strategy. He highlighted a growing roster of AI partners—including BandLab, Nvidia and the newly announced Splice...
Spotify Strikes Deal with National Independent Venue Association to Boost Indie Venues in the US
Spotify has teamed up with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) for a year‑long program that will spotlight independent music venues on its platform throughout 2026. The deal adds the Certified Live Independent seal to venue pages, promotes venues via...
Chris Marking Appointed Executive Vice President, International Venue Sponsorship at Live Nation
Live Nation announced the appointment of Chris Marking as Executive Vice President of International Venue Sponsorship, a role that will steer naming‑rights, founding partnerships, and broader sponsorship strategy for venues outside North America. Marking, a veteran of AEG with experience...
India Added Nearly 4m Paid Music Streaming Subscriptions in 2025, Taking Its Total to 14.4m, According to New Report
India’s paid‑music streaming market added nearly 4 million new subscribers in 2025, lifting paid users to 14.4 million and generating ₹10.3 billion ($118 million) in subscription revenue. Overall online music listeners grew to 178 million, but only about 8% are paying. The broader music‑industry revenue...
Pirate Site Anna’s Archive Hit with $322M Default Judgment over Music Scraping — but Will Spotify and Record Labels Ever...
A New York federal judge granted a $322 million default judgment against the shadow library Anna’s Archive for scraping millions of Spotify tracks and distributing them via BitTorrent. The lawsuit, filed by Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment...
Mark Pitts Exits as President of RCA Records, Launches New Management Venture COFVNDERS
Mark Pitts announced his departure as President of RCA Records, transitioning to a consultancy role with RCA and Sony Music while retaining ties to artists he helped develop, such as Chris Brown and Miguel. He simultaneously launched COFVNDERS, a New‑York and...
Concord Forms Strategic Venture with Steven Victor’s Victor Victor Worldwide, Expands Hip-Hop Footprint
Concord announced a multi‑year strategic venture with Steven Victor’s Victor Victor Worldwide, aiming to expand its hip‑hop footprint and tap new audiences for VVW’s culturally defining catalog, which includes Pop Smoke and Ski Mask the Slump God. The partnership combines Concord’s global distribution...
Larry Mestel to Receive City of Hope’s 2026 Spirit of Life Award
Larry Mestel, founder and CEO of Primary Wave Music, has been named the 2026 recipient of City of Hope’s Spirit of Life award. The honor will be presented at a gala on October 27, 2026 at Los Angeles’ Pacific Design...
Tim Miles Appointed EVP of BMG’s Global SYNC+ Division
BMG has named former Warner Music Group executive Tim Miles as EVP of its newly launched Global SYNC+ division. Miles, who oversaw WMG’s sync operations in more than 25 markets, will report to Chief Strategy Officer Johannes von Schwarzkopf and lead...
Meet the Swiss Distro Company Banking on Agentic AI to Power the ‘Next Generation’ of Indie Labels.
Swiss tech firm iGroove, founded by former rapper Dennis Hausammann, has rebuilt its platform from the ground up to embed agentic AI in a product called Label OS. The AI‑driven system automates core label functions—distribution, royalty accounting, payments, contracts and recoupments—while...
Canada’s SOCAN Paid Out USD $366m to Rightsholders in 2025, Warns AI Is ‘Placing Mounting Pressure’ on Livelihoods
SOCAN reported CAD 587.1 million (≈ $420 million) in 2025 revenue, a 5 % rise driven by digital streaming. The society distributed CAD 511.9 million (≈ $366 million) in royalties, slightly below the previous year, with $131 million for domestic use, $90 million from international rights, and $8.4 million from reproduction. SOCAN...
BTS Label BigHit Music Asks US Court to Unmask X User Who Leaked ‘ARIRANG’ Before Release
HYBE’s BigHit Music has petitioned a California federal court to subpoena X Corp. for the identity of the anonymous @jwngkcck account that leaked BTS’s "ARIRANG" album ahead of its March 20 release. The leak threatened the label’s promotional strategy despite the...
HYBE Moves to Crack Down on Bootleg BTS Merch Ahead of US Tour Dates
HYBE, the parent of BTS, filed a federal lawsuit in Florida to obtain a temporary restraining order and seizure authority against unnamed bootleggers selling counterfeit BTS merchandise around the group’s U.S. tour dates. The complaint targets T‑shirts, posters and other...
The Music Industry Has Long Prioritized Creative Output over Operational Foundations. AI Does Not Alter that Imbalance; It Exposes It.
The music industry’s long‑standing emphasis on creative output is being upended by AI’s operational impact. Companies are deploying machine‑learning to improve forecasting, inventory management, royalty anomaly detection, and media‑mix modeling, mirroring advances in banking, retail, and travel. Over the past...
Warner Music’s Spinnin’ Records Launches New Label in Germany
Warner Music has launched Spinnin’ Records Germany, extending its flagship dance label into the German, Swiss and Austrian markets. The new imprint debuts with the high‑profile single “Awake Tonight” by Afrojack, David Guetta and Sia, signaling a strong start. The move...
Switzerland’s MusicBird Acquires Catalog of Supertramp Bassist Dougie Thomson
Switzerland‑based MusicBird announced the acquisition of master royalty income from Dougie Thomson’s recordings with Supertramp, covering hits such as “Goodbye Stranger” and “Breakfast in America.” Financial terms were not disclosed, but the deal adds a classic 1970s‑80s rock catalog to...
São Paulo Court Shuts Streaming Fraud Site in Latest Ruling Under Brazil’s Operation Authêntica Initiative
A São Paulo civil court ordered the permanent and dynamic blocking of www.boomdeseguidores.com.br, a site that sold artificial plays on Spotify, SoundCloud and YouTube Music along with fake social‑media engagement. The decision marks the third ruling under Brazil’s Operation Authêntica,...
From Pershing Square’s $64 Billion Bid for UMG to Wireless Festival’s Kanye West Cancellation… It’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
Bill Ackman's Pershing Square lodged a non‑binding $64 billion cash‑and‑shares offer for Universal Music Group, promising €9.4 billion (≈$10.2 billion) in cash per share and expecting strong shareholder backing despite JP Morgan’s doubts about Bolloré’s support. AI music platform Udio signed its fourth major...
Peermusic Signs Songwriter Eyelar, Forms Writer Development Joint Venture with 2-Tone Entertainment
Peermusic has signed Dutch‑born songwriter and recording artist Eyelar to a worldwide publishing deal and launched a writer‑development joint venture with 2‑Tone Entertainment. The agreement, coordinated by Peermusic’s UK and German divisions, covers future works, administers select back‑catalog titles, and...
TuneCore Partners with RoyFi to Offer Royalty Advances to Indie Artists
TuneCore, the Believe‑owned digital distributor, has launched TuneCore Direct Advance in partnership with fintech firm RoyFi, allowing independent artists to obtain cash advances against future streaming royalties. The program offers a flat‑fee financing model with repayment drawn automatically from royalty...
Sony Music and UMG Form NINE BY NINE Music Festivals Joint Venture in Japan
Sony Music Entertainment and Universal Music Group have created NINE BY NINE Inc., a joint venture headquartered in Tokyo to produce music festivals across Asia. Ichiro Tamaki of Universal Music Japan will serve as President, with Sony’s Hidehiko Otani as...
Suno’s Licensing Talks with Major Labels in Limbo with ‘No Path Forward’ (Report)
AI music startup Suno’s licensing negotiations with Universal and Sony have stalled, leaving no clear path forward. Warner Music Group’s November partnership with Suno remains largely dormant despite settling prior litigation. Suno, which raised $250 million in a Series C round and...
After Universal, Warner, and Merlin Deals, Now Udio Inks Licensing Agreement with Kobalt
Udio has signed a licensing agreement with independent publisher Kobalt, marking its fourth major deal after settlements with Universal, Warner and Merlin. The pact lets Udio’s upcoming subscription service train on Kobalt’s catalog, enabling users to create remixes, covers and...
The Unravelling of a ‘Bulletproof’ Brand: Wireless Festival’s Self-Inflicted Crisis
Wireless Festival, once hailed as a bullet‑proof UK summer staple, booked Ye (formerly Kanye West) as a headline act, sparking immediate backlash. Major sponsors including Pepsi, Diageo and PayPal withdrew support, and the British government revoked Ye's visa, forcing the...
Secretly Distribution Acquires Music Data and Analytics Firms Entertainment Intelligence and Babel Ops
Secretly Distribution announced the acquisition of Babel Ops, the tech firm behind the Entertainment Intelligence (Ei) data‑analytics platform. Babel Ops’ Enterlytics service already supports reporting for over 1.2 million artists and 55 000 labels, while the company builds custom royalty‑processing tools for...
After Cox Ruling, Supreme Court Wipes Out Grande Communications’ $47M Music Piracy Verdict
The U.S. Supreme Court on April 6 vacated a $46.7 million copyright‑infringement judgment against Grande Communications, sending the case back to the Fifth Circuit for review under the new Cox v. Sony standard. The Cox decision held that internet service providers are...
Miles Gersh Promoted to EVP, A&R at Warner Records
Warner Records has elevated Miles Gersh to Executive Vice President of A&R, recognizing six years of roster building and his role in Zach Bryan’s breakout success. Gersh, who joined Warner in 2019 and served as VP of A&R since 2022, will...
Sony Music Publishing UK and Second Songs Sign Olivia Dean Co-Writer Bastian Langebaek to Global Deal
Sony Music Publishing UK, together with joint‑venture Second Songs, has signed Copenhagen‑based songwriter and producer Bastian Langebaek to a global publishing agreement. The deal reunites Langebaek with A&R veteran Mark Gale, who first signed him at Universal Music Publishing Group eleven...
Virgin Music Group Announces Global Distribution Partnership with Ari Elkins and Joey McCarthy’s New Label, Suede Records
Virgin Music Group, the independent services arm of Universal Music, has inked a global distribution and marketing partnership with Suede Records, a new label founded by TikTok music curator Ari Elkins and A&R veteran Joey McCarthy. Elkins brings a 3 million‑follower digital audience...
Laufey Renews Global Publishing Deal with Warner Chappell Music
Icelandic‑Chinese singer‑songwriter Laufey has renewed her global publishing agreement with Warner Chappell Music, extending a partnership that began in August 2023. In the interim she released two additional albums, earned a second Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and embarked...
Atlantic Music Group Enters ‘Multi-Level Partnership’ with Fader Label, Including 50/50 Joint Venture
Atlantic Music Group announced a multi‑level partnership with independent Fader Label, creating a 50/50 joint venture to sign and develop both new and established artists while providing distribution support for Fader’s existing catalog. The agreement also expands the capabilities of...
Chad Doerge Named President and Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Round Hill Music
Round Hill Music, which oversees a $1.1 billion portfolio of over 200,000 song copyrights, has appointed Chad Doerge as President and Deputy CEO. Doerge joins from AI‑driven financial platform Aiera after more than 30 years in institutional finance, investment research and...
Former HYBE Execs Behind BTS Launch Global K-Pop Audition, Eyeing 2027 Debut for First Boy Group
Former HYBE executives have launched a new entertainment venture, Retopia Salon, and announced global auditions across 18 cities to form its first boy group slated for a 2027 debut. The auditions, open to applicants born between 2008 and 2014 of...
IMPALA Was Unhappy About UMG’s Purchase of Downtown. Now It Says WMG’s Revelator Acquisition Is ‘Bad News for Artists, Fans,...
IMPALA has condemned Warner Music Group’s agreement to acquire independent platform Revelator, labeling the deal “bad news for artists, fans, and Europe’s diversity.” The acquisition, announced on April 1 and slated to close next quarter, will fold Revelator’s digital distribution, rights‑management...
From WMG Swooping for Revelator to UMG’s €500 Million Share Buyback Program… It’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up
Warner Music Group announced a definitive agreement to acquire Revelator, the independent‑focused B2B distribution and rights‑management platform, with closing expected next quarter. HYBE is injecting $100 million into its U.S. arm, HYBE America, to strengthen its North American operations. Sony Music...
UMG and Believe Settle Lawsuit that Alleged ‘Industrial-Scale’ Copyright Infringement of Universal’s Music
Universal Music Group and digital distributor Believe, along with its TuneCore platform, have settled a copyright‑infringement lawsuit by filing a dismissal with prejudice in New York federal court. The case, filed in November 2024, alleged that Believe operated an "industrial‑scale"...
Wyclef Jean and Jaeson Ma’s D2C Service OpenWav Launches Snafu-Backed Indie Artist Financing Platform
OpenWav, the direct‑to‑fan platform co‑founded by Wyclef Jean and Jaeson Ma, has unveiled OpenWav Artist Bank, a financing service that offers independent musicians cash advances ranging from low five figures to high seven figures. The program, built with AI‑driven catalog...
Rostrum Pacific’s FatBeats Acquires Physical Distro Company Traffic Entertainment Group, Plus D2C Store and Label Get On Down
FatBeats, now owned by Rostrum Pacific, has acquired Massachusetts‑based Traffic Entertainment Group and its direct‑to‑consumer imprint Get On Down, merging three indie distribution specialists with roughly 50 years of combined experience. The combined entity will be led by FatBeats President...
Brian Miller Appointed Chief Business Officer at TuneCore
TuneCore has promoted Brian Miller to Chief Business Officer, tasking him with overseeing the company’s global operations and partnership strategy. Miller, who previously served as Chief Revenue Officer, delivered double‑digit revenue growth over the past two years. His new role...
HYBE to Inject $100M Into US Subsidiary, HYBE America
HYBE announced a $100 million paid‑in capital increase for its U.S. arm, HYBE America, acquiring 10 million new shares. The infusion is intended to smooth operations of the e‑commerce and label businesses, which posted $19 million revenue and a $12 million net loss in...
Elon Musk’s X Seizes on Supreme Court’s Landmark Cox Ruling in Bid to Derail Music Publishers’ Copyright Case
The U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous Cox Communications ruling, which bars liability for internet providers unless they actively induce infringement, is now being leveraged by Elon Musk’s X Corp to seek dismissal of a music‑publisher copyright case. X’s lawyers argue that...
Salt-N-Pepa File Appeal Brief Urging Court to Revive Master Recordings Case Against UMG
Grammy‑winning rap duo Salt‑N‑Pepa filed a 71‑page appellate brief urging the Second Circuit to reverse a district‑court dismissal of their lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the ownership of their 1986 master recordings. The duo contends the lower court applied...
CTM Outlander Acquires Masters Catalog of US Singer-Songwriter Matt Simons
CTM Outlander, a joint venture between Dutch CTM and US Outlander Capital, announced the acquisition of the master recording catalog of American singer‑songwriter Matt Simons. The deal covers Simons’ six albums, including the 2015 breakout hit “Catch & Release” (Deepend...
Warner Music Group to Acquire Revelator; Says Indie Music Platform Will Add ‘Firepower’ to WMG’s Global Operations
Warner Music Group (WMG) announced a definitive agreement to acquire Revelator, the B2B platform that powers independent music distribution, rights management, and real‑time analytics. The transaction, expected to close next quarter, expands WMG’s label‑services portfolio and adds Revelator’s cloud‑based tools...
Dynamite Songs Hires Claudia Namukasa as Catalogue Manager and Charlotte Hancock as Rights Acquisition Manager
Dynamite Songs, the UK‑based independent publisher, has appointed Claudia Namukasa as Catalogue Manager and Charlotte Hancock as Rights Acquisition Manager to bolster its rights‑management and acquisition capabilities. Namukasa arrives from PRS for Music with licensing expertise, while Hancock joins from...