DEALS
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Payment solutions firm (and owner of the Tidal streaming service) Block last week confirmed it has acquired musician-focussed fintech startup Hifi. In a statement, Hifi says the acquisition will “further our shared purpose of economic empowerment with the financial technologies and services we have built to help artists thrive”.
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Audoo has announced a wider roll out of its music recognition technology in Australia and New Zealand as part of a deal with collecting society APRA AMCOS that was agreed last year. “This is another step towards music modernisation”, says Audoo CEO Ryan Edwards. “We are now dealing with rights management organisations around the world and seeing different data standards and processes”.
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Concord Music Publishing has signed Amaarae to a worldwide publishing deal in partnership with Immensum Music. “I feel very much at home among Concord’s roster of stellar artists and I’m confident that the teams at Concord and Immensum will ensure my music is optimised in all the right global spaces”, she says.
APPOINTMENTS
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ERA - the UK trade group for streaming services and entertainment retailers - has appointed Lucie Caswell to the role of Chief Innovation & Government Affairs Officer. She was previously CEO at the Featured Artists Coalition and Chief Policy, Rights & Public Affairs Officer at the Music Publishers Association. Confirming her new role, Caswell says: "As we navigate another entertainment revolution, driven by dynamic technologies including AI, I look forward to working with ERA’s innovative members and their partners to ensure a sustainable and progressive ecosystem for all".
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Sony Music’s The Orchard has appointed Lanre Masha as Director, West Africa. “West Africa is no longer a young market. We are leading the global expansion of music from the region, connecting artists with fans worldwide”, he says. “The Orchard’s cutting-edge technology, vast global network, entrepreneurial spirit and best-in class solutions to not only build but sustain a global business is how we offer unparalleled support to our clients”.
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BandLab has appointed Drew Silverstein as Senior Advisor, AI, Innovation And Strategy.
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Nashville music company Banner Music has appointed Zach Green as Creative Director and Sabrina Stewart as Operations Manager. Stewart is “beyond excited” and Green is “THRILLED”.
RELEASES
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Raye has released live album ‘My 21st Century Symphony’, a recording of her performance of her debut album at the Royal Albert Hall last month, backed by The Heritage Orchestra. The album is available on streaming services now. From it, this is ‘Oscar Winning Tears’.
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Ice Spice and Remi have teamed up for new single ‘Pretty Girl’.
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M83 has released ‘Mirror’, a song previously only available as a hidden track on 2011 album ‘Hurry Up We’re Dreaming’ and a Record Store Day seven-inch.
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Easy Life have released Finneas-produced track ‘Trust Exercises’. The track is set to be the last released under their current name, following legal action by easyJet owner easyGroup.
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Joel Culpepper has released new single ‘Casual Lies’. “The truth hurts”, he says. “I feel this song provides the vehicle and place that something important has passed and is no longer present. A common and maybe familiar story and merely a statement that life does indeed go on”. His new EP ‘Happiness Is Only A Few Miles Away’ is out on 3 Nov.
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Barry Can’t Swim has released new track ‘Always Get Through To You’. His debut album ‘When Will We Land?’ is out this Friday.
GIGS & TOURS
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Christine And The Queens has cancelled all remaining tour dates in 2023. A statement on social media reads: “Red (aka Christine And The Queens) was taken ill today and on advice of doctors forced to make the difficult decision to cancel all remaining tour dates for 2023. The tour was scheduled to resume tonight in Montreal and end in Paris in late November. Refunds are available at point of purchase”.