DEALS
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Instagram and Facebook owner Meta and indie label digital rights agency Merlin have only gone and renewed their licensing deal. Expanded it, even. Oh, the indie tunes you’re gonna be hearing all up in your stories and reels. “Meta is THRILLED to renew our partnership with Merlin, one of the leading champions of independent music”, says Tamara Hrivnak, VP Music & Content Business Development at Meta. “Our continued collaboration will foster further innovation in music discovery and creative expression. We're excited for what the future holds”.
APPOINTMENTS
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Talent agency UTA has hired former Ingrooves CEO Bob Roback to be its new COO. “I’ve long admired UTA’s dedication to its clients and ability to lead the way in defining what it means to be a global agency during a time of tremendous change and opportunity”, he says. “I’m THRILLED to be joining the company at this exciting time and look forward to shaping the future with UTA’s talented and ambitious team”.
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Songtradr has added Director of Epic Games Alex Rigopulos and entertainment lawyer Priyanka Khimani to its board of directors. "We are THRILLED to welcome Alex Rigopulos and Priyanka Khimani to our board of directors”, says CEO Paul Wiltshire. "Alex's visionary approach to integrating music, technology and video games, along with Priyanka's extensive rights knowledge and dedication to the creative community, will provide strategic insights and strengthen our leadership as we continue to innovate and grow in the global music marketplace”.
LIVE BUSINESS
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Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena is dead, long live BP Pulse LIVE. Actually, hold that thought for a few months, the arena is set to change its name in September thanks to a change of headline sponsor. “We are delighted to partner with the innovative BP Pulse, providing electrifying experiences in the venue as well as supporting audiences to make the transition to electric vehicles”, says Melanie Smith, CEO of venue owner NEC Group.
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AEG has secured planning permission to build a new 8500 capacity arena in Edinburgh, plans for which were revealed last November. “We are delighted to have been granted planning consent for a cutting-edge new venue for Edinburgh”, says AEG Europe CEO Alex Hill. “Having worked closely with City Of Edinburgh Council, we strongly believe the arena will deliver huge benefits to the city throughout every stage of the building’s life cycle - from development to completion, for years to come when we’re bringing the world’s best artists to the Scottish stage”.
FUNDING
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PRS Foundation’s co-commissioning and touring initiative Beyond Borders is now open for applications. It aims to stimulate collaboration between composers, performance groups and music organisations across the four UK countries and the Republic Of Ireland. More info here.
AWARDS
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The LIVE Awards - hosted by trade body LIVE - will return on 11 Dec, taking place again at Troxy in East London. Nominations will open on 8 Jul and close on 11 Oct. You can book your table now.
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Submissions have opened for this year’s UK Music Video Awards. The deadline to enter is 1 Aug. More info here. The ceremony will take place at Magazine London on 24 Oct.
RELEASES
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Little Mix's Leigh-Anne has released new track ‘Nature’, which has been added as a bonus track to her recently released debut solo EP ‘No Hard Feelings’. She’s also announced UK and Ireland tour dates in October, including a performance at Koko in London on 28 Oct.
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Joan As Police Woman will release her tenth studio album ‘Lemons, Limes And Orchids’ later this year. Out now is new single ‘Long For Ruin’. She will also be touring the UK and Ireland in October.
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Hamish Hawk has released new single ‘Nancy Dearest’. New album ‘A Firmer Hand’ is out on 16 Aug.
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Emmeline has released new single ‘Night Rider’.
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Faux Real have released new single ‘Walking Away From My Demons’. Their debut album ‘Faux Ever’ will be released on 11 Oct.
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Shhe has announced that she will release her new mini-album ‘Dýra’ on 19 Jul. Out now is the single ‘Hólar’.