DEALS
🤝
BMI CEO Mike O’Neill has confirmed that the US collecting society is “engaging in discussions with a potential new partner” about a possible sale. It was reported in August that the organisation was considering an acquisition offer from New Mountain Capital.
💰
Round Hill Music Royalty Fund’s shareholders yesterday voted in favour of selling its assets to Concord in a deal valuing the company at $469 million. Of those eligible to vote, 99% moved to approve the sale. “The strength of support shown by shareholders in their vote for this transaction [shows] the value that we have been able to deliver on their behalf since the IPO of the Round Hill Music Royalty Fund in November 2020”, says Chair Robert Naylor. “It reflects the quality of the management and the portfolio that the transaction has concluded so efficiently and with a counterparty of the calibre of Concord”.
⚡
Kobalt has signed songwriter and producer Toby Scott to a worldwide publishing deal. “Toby has already had a fantastic career and continues to deliver hit songs that work both here in the UK and across the seas”, says Kenny McGoff, Head of Kobalt’s UK Creative. “We are ready and excited to amplify that with the global Kobalt team”.
APPOINTMENTS
🗻
Kilimanjaro Live has promoted Alan Day to become a Director of the company. It has also hired promoter Josh Casey. “As an instrumental member of the Kilimanjaro Live promoter team for the past two decades, Alan has been integral to the growth of the company”, says CEO Stuart Galbraith. “Josh brings an exciting new area of live music to Kilimanjaro and we are looking forward to seeing where his expertise plus our experience can go”.
🎫
US ticket resale marketplace SeatGeek has appointed new lobbyist Caleb Johnson of Harbor Policy, according to a newly filed disclosure. He has been working with the firm since July.
LIVE BUSINESS
💡
Dice has launched in Toronto, its first move into the Canadian ticketing market. “Toronto is the perfect stage for Dice’s Canadian debut”, says the company’s President Russ Tannen. “With our new partners, we can bring fans in Canada the shows they love with an easy, innovative, and transparent ticketing experience that was designed for them”.
RELEASES
🦢
Caroline Polachek has released new single ‘Dang’. The track is her first new music since releasing her latest album ‘Desire, I Want To Turn Into You’ in February.
🌹
Emeli Sandé has released new single ‘All This Love’. “If we go through heartbreak, or experience unrequited love, we can end up channelling it in more destructive ways”, she says of the inspiration for the song. “I’m very much an all-or-nothing person, so after a relationship ends, I’m like, ‘What am I supposed to do with all this love?’” Her new album ‘How Were We To Know’ is out on 17 Nov.
🕺
Idles have released new single ‘Dancer’, featuring James Murphy and Nancy Whang of LCD Soundsystem on backing vocals. “‘Dancer’ is the violence that comes from the pounding heart of the dancefloor and rushes through your body and gives you life from music, from love and from you”, says frontman Joe Talbot.
🌃
Katie Von Schleicher has released new single ‘Cranked’. Her new album ‘A Little Touch Of Schleicher In The Night’ is out this Friday.
💘
Cruush are back with new single ‘As She Grows’. “It’s basically a really annoying pop song you can’t actually dance to cos the timing is weird as fuck”, says guitarist Arthur Boyd.
🍾
Lambrini Girls have released the video for ‘Boys In The Band’ from their debut EP ‘You’re Welcome’. Like the song, the video examines sexual assault and abuse in the music scene.