APPOINTMENTS
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Academy Music Group has hired Liam Boylan as its new CEO. He was previously CEO of Wembley Stadium. “I am THRILLED to step into the CEO role with AMG and its nationwide network of venues”, he says. "Opportunities like this one with AMG are exceptional and I look forward to enhancing a fantastic operation and to future growth with this outstanding company”. AMG’s best known venue, the Brixton Academy, is due to reopen on 19 Apr having been closed ever since the crowd crush that occurred there in December 2022. London police had urged the local council to revoke AMG’s licence, but councillors said the venue could reopen under AMG management subject to 77 conditions being met.
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Music PR firm Satellite414 has promoted Mo Sey to Senior Publicist. “I interned at Satellite at summer break during my first year of uni”, she says. “I wanted to do everything I could to be the best intern the company had so they couldn’t get rid of me. I guess it worked! I couldn’t work in a better environment. I’ve grown so much as a publicist and can’t wait to see what the future holds”.
FUNDING
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The PRS Foundation has launched a new UK music export website called UK Sounds, providing information for British acts about export support and showcasing events. “Music export is an incredibly important part of UK-based music creators’ careers and UK music exports generated £4 billion in 2022”, says Becci Scotcher, Senior Grants & Programmes Manager at PRS Foundation. “We recognise that for artists international support and information around exporting into different territories, while out there, could be easier to find if under one roof”. Check it out here.
AWARDS
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The Oscars went ahead last night, awarding all films and that. There were music in film type prizes, which saw Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell take Best Original Song for ‘What Was I Made For?’ from ‘Barbie’, and Ludwig Göransson win best original score for ‘Oppenheimer’.
ARTIST NEWS
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Rina Sawayama has indicated that she will not release new music while still signed to Dirty Hit. Last year she called out The 1975’s Matty Healy for misogynistic and racist comments, noting that he owns a stake in the label. Now, speaking to The Independent, she says, “When it comes to new music I can’t release another album under my current conditions. I feel really trapped and don’t know what to do”.
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Slipknot have shared an image of a broken drumstick, indicating that they are in rehearsals with their new drummer. They have still not announced the identity of the new band member, but all signs point to Eloy Casagrande, who recently left Sepultura shortly before the band announced a farewell tour.
RELEASES
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Girls In Synthesis will release new album ‘Sublimation’ on 3 May. Out now is new single ‘Lights Out’.