DEALS
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Swedish entertainment company Pophouse has acquired a majority stake in the recording and publishing catalogues of Cyndi Lauper. “Since we first met, Pophouse has impressed me with their commitment to maintaining and developing my professional life’s work and ensuring its legacy”, she says.
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HYBE is set to acquire the remaining stake in K-pop company SM Entertainment held by its founder Lee Soo-man. The deal will give it an additional 3.64% interest in the firm at a cost of 104.3 billion won (around £61.7 million). HYBE initially purchased a portion of Lee’s shares last year, in a battle to take control of the company that it ultimately lost to Kakao.
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Bella Union has signed a global label solutions deal with Believe. "We are all THRILLED to begin an exciting new chapter in the Bella Union story, working with the fantastic team at Believe”, says label founder Simon Raymonde. “I am an instinctive person who always follows my gut. My team at Bella Union have all been with the company long term and we need to feel the love from the people we work with and for. Meeting Ben [Rimmer, Regional Director, Believe UK & Northern Europe] and his team that love was supremely evident”.
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Alternative Songs - the joint venture between artist management firm Various Artists and publishing company Stellar Songs - has announced four new signings, Glen Roberts, RNDM BEATS, DeijuVHS and Ed Cosens. “We’re off to a great start with these four signings, we’re here to stay and we’re looking to add to our growing pool of talent”, says company head Joe Etchells. “Alternative Songs exists to offer the chance for songwriters and producers to come in from leftfield and deliver mainstream success”.
APPOINTMENTS
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Steve Heap has announced that he will retire as General Secretary of the Association of Festival Organisers on 2 Apr. At that point, control of the organisation will be handed over to the Association Of Independent Festivals and its CEO John Rostron. “Since founding AFO in 1987, I have devoted a considerable amount of time, effort and love to the grassroots festival industry”, says Heap. "I am delighted to be giving the reins to John Rostron and the team at AIF, where I know AFO members will find support, knowledge, campaigning and unity in this world of festivals”.
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Sony Music has promoted Damaris Rex-Taylor to Managing Director at RCA Records UK. “I believe we’re at a pivotal moment in the music industry, where the opportunity to shift cultural paradigms has never been greater”, she says. “I’m excited to champion UK talent and explore new frontiers in music, technology and social impact”.
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BMG has promoted Marian Wolf to SVP Music Publishing, North America. “I am excited to lead our North American publishing teams into this next chapter”, she says. “Publishing continues to be a cornerstone of BMG’s business and I am THRILLED to continuously innovate the way we serve our songwriters and publishing clients as creative partners”.
INDUSTRY EVENTS
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A ‘UK Women In Music’ lunch was staged earlier this week in support of the new Empowerment Fund set up by Annie Lennox’s global women’s rights organisation The Circle, with a plan to make it an annual event. “I feel so proud to see all these outstanding women attending the inaugural ‘UK Women In Music’ lunch in support of The Circle”, says Lennox. “To have them all standing in solidarity with our message of global feminism is very powerful. The future of feminism must be global. When one in three women are impacted by violence in their lifetime, we must all contribute to creating transformative change”.
DIGITAL
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The European Union will formally fine Apple €500 million for breaching competition law on 5 Mar, according to Reuters. This follows an investigation into the tech giant’s App Store rules that began with a complaint from Spotify.
MEDIA
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Bauer is rebranding two more of its local radio stations under the Greatest Hits brand. Wave 105 is to become Greatest Hits Radio South Coast, while Pirate FM will be renamed Greatest Hits Radio Cornwall. “Pirate FM and Wave 105 are both well-loved and recognised station identities in their own areas, and we want to build on their fantastic success and secure their future by transforming them into these nationally recognised brands”, says Gary Stein, Hits Radio Group Programme Director.
AWARDS
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Elton John and Bernie Taupin are set to receive the US Library Of Congress Gershwin Prize next month. “I’ve been writing songs with Bernie for 56 years and never, when we started out, did we ever think that one day this might be bestowed upon us”, says John. “It’s a huge honour, probably the biggest honour we’ve ever been given as a songwriting partnership”. The prize will be presented on 20 Mar, alongside a tribute concert featuring performances from Garth Brooks, Annie Lennox, Brandi Carlile, Maren Morris and Metallica.
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The MTV European Music Awards will this year take place at the Co-op Live arena in Manchester. “The MTV EMAs is one of the biggest global music celebrations, bringing together local and international artists to create iconic performances for fans around the world”, says Bruce Gillmer, President of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Events at MTV owner Paramount. “With music at the very heart of Manchester’s rich creative heritage, this vibrant city - with the state-of-the-art Co-op Live - will guarantee a supercharged 2024 show”. The event is set for 10 Nov.
GIGS & TOURS
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Ezra Furman will play two shows at London’s Union Chapel on 16-17 Jul. "This maladjusted gal is skipping over the puddles and landing in London - the Glasgow of England - for my first non-Boston shows in a long while, two of em, in which I will do whatever I want to do”, she says. “I will admit what I want to do will be more music than non-music. And I will have guests and read things and sing things and probably talk some to you about things and there are no rules”. Tickets go on sale tomorrow.
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Shygirl will bring her Club Shy night to Fabric in London on 19 Apr. Tickets are available now.
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Onyx have announced UK tour dates in April, including a show at London’s Islington Academy on 21 Apr. Tickets are on sale now.
RELEASES
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Charli XCX will release new album ‘Brat’ this summer. Out today is new single ‘Von Dutch’.
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St Vincent has announced that she will release her new album ‘All Born Screaming’ on 26 Apr. She’s just released new single ‘Broken Man’.
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Cigarettes After Sex will release new album ‘X’s’ on 12 Jul. Out now is new single ‘Tejano Blue’. The band will play the O2 Arena in London on 12 Nov.
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Stereophonics frontman Kelly Jones will release new solo album ‘Inevitable Incredible’ on 3 May. The title track is out now.
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Rico Nasty and Boys Noize have teamed up for new EP ‘HARDC0RE DR3AMZ’, which will be out on 29 Mar. Out now is new single ‘Arintintin’.
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Julia Holter has released new single ‘Evening Moon’. Her new album ‘Something In The Room She Moves’ is out on 22 Mar and she will play EartH in London on 9 Apr.
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Keeley Forsyth will release her third album ‘The Hollow’ on 10 May. Out now is lead single 'Horse'.
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Chastity Belt have released new single ‘Chemtrails’. Their new album 'Live Laugh Love' is out on 29 Mar and they will be touring the UK in June, including a show at Village Underground in London on 14 Jun.
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Kiran Leonard will release his latest album ‘Real Home’ on 17 Apr. Out now is new single ‘My Love, Let’s Take The Stage Tonight’. UK tour dates are scheduled for May, as well as a standalone show at London’s Moth Club on 26 Jun.
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Sohodolls have released new single ‘What Kinda Love’.