Deals
Primary Wave Music has acquired the producer and neighbouring rights royalties of music producer and manager Jon Landau. The deal covers Landau's rights across his 55 year career in music, including his work with artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne. Landau co-produced several of Springsteen's critically acclaimed albums, including 'Born To Run', 'The River' and 'Born In The USA'. He also worked on Jackson Browne's fourth studio album 'The Pretender'. Marty Silverstone, President of Global Sync at Primary Wave, says, "We're honoured to be partnering with Jon Landau and all of the legendary music he helped shape. He's an influential figure in music and we're proud to welcome him to the Primary Wave family."
Roc Nation has announced the merger of its Roc Nation label and Equity Distribution divisions to form ROC Nation distribution, a new platform for artists. The move aims to provide independent artists with technology, music business expertise and creative freedom, whilst retaining ownership of their masters. ROC Nation distribution will offer a proprietary data analytics dashboard and optional additional services across the company. "The mission is to support and empower independent artists while providing them the tools and services to distribute their music," says Roc Nation, adding “We will sign all artists in all genres around the world”.
Red Bull Records has signed UK pop/R&B artist Morgan and released her new single 'Bum Bum'. The dancehall-infused track, which samples Sister Nancy's 'Bam Bam', marks a new chapter in the singer-songwriter's career. Morgan will embark on a five-date UK tour in November, including a show at London's Jazz Café on 28 Nov. Greg Hammer, Managing Director of Red Bull Records, says, "After hearing Morgan's incredible voice for the first time, we immediately had to find out more about her. Upon discovering her immense talent and amazing story, we pounced at the opportunity to work with her."
Labels, Publishing & Distribution
Global music publishing revenues have grown by 12.0% to reach $10.1 billion in 2023, outpacing record label trade revenue growth of 9.1%, according to a new report from MIDiA. The report highlights streaming as the primary driver of growth, with streaming revenues crossing the 50% mark in 2022 and projected to nearly double between 2023 and 2031. Warner Chappell experienced the strongest revenue growth in 2023, up 16.6% to reach $1.1 billion. Commenting on the numbers, MIDiA’s Mark Mulligan notes, "Music publishing continues to outgrow label revenues," saying that this in part due to publishers having "different levers to pull than the labels."
Legal
Kanye West's Sunday Service project, the gospel-inspired music collective, has lost its charity status after failing to file tax returns for three consecutive years. The US Internal Revenue Service revoked the tax-exempt status of the organisation on 15 May, as confirmed by a filing on the government agency's website earlier this week. Sunday Service, established by the rapper in 2019, blends gospel music with hip-hop elements and has featured performances at high-profile events like Coachella and collaborations with televangelist Joel Osteen. The project has faced previous legal issues, with a lawsuit filed in 2021 alleging labour law violations. According to court documents, one performer, Michael Pearson, claimed he was paid a flat rate of $250 "regardless of the number of hours worked" and was "forced to stand or sit on the ground" all weekend during one performance.
Jeffrey Hatrix, former vocalist of Cleveland-based metal band Mushroomhead, has filed a lawsuit against fellow co-founder and drummer Steve Felton for alleged copyright infringement and unpaid royalties. The lawsuit, filed on 12 Aug in federal court in Cleveland, claims Felton failed to pay Hatrix royalties for "several years at least" despite Hatrix having written or co-written nearly 150 of the band's songs. Hatrix's attorney Ronald Stanley says, "We don't know all what he is entitled to yet," but notes that his client is seeking at least $3.5 million in damages.
Katy Perry's label has responded to an investigation into potential environmental damage caused by the "unauthorised" video shoot for her latest single 'Lifetimes' on Spain's Balearic Islands. The pop star's visuals, released last week, reportedly lacked proper filming permits, prompting local authorities to initiate preliminary investigation actions. A spokesperson for Universal Music’s Capitol Records, Perry's record label, states, "The local video production company assured us that all necessary permits for the video were secure. We have since learned that one permit was in process, although we were given verbal authority to go ahead."
Streaming, Digital & Broadcast
Sonos has laid off approximately 100 employees across multiple departments as it continues to grapple with issues stemming from its recent mobile app redesign. The cuts, representing about 6% of the company's workforce, affected marketing, product and engineering, platform and infrastructure, and software quality divisions. Patrick Spence, Sonos CEO, confirmed the layoffs, saying, "This action was a difficult, but necessary, measure to ensure continued, meaningful investment in Sonos's product roadmap while setting Sonos up for long term success." The company is also closing some customer support offices, including one in Amsterdam, as it prioritises fixing its problematic app, which has led to the delay of two planned hardware launches.
Bauer Media has announced that Scottish station West FM will rebrand as Clyde 1 Ayrshire and broadcast full Clyde 1 output from 16 Sep. The move marks the end of the West FM brand after 27 years and the original West Sound radio service launched in 1981. The station’s morning show will be replaced by Clyde 1 breakfast show ‘Bowie At Breakfast’, along with a new local weekend programme. Victoria Easton-Riley, Bauer Media Audio Content Director for Scotland and Northern Ireland, says, "We already know how popular Clyde 1 is across Ayrshire, whether it be calls into ‘GBX’ or ‘Superscoreboard’, competition entries or shout outs, we always get such fantastic responses and interactions from listeners across the region."
YouTube has reclaimed its crown as the coolest brand among seven to fourteen year olds in the UK, according to the latest annual survey by kids and family insights agency Beano Brain. The Google-owned service overtook streaming giant Netflix, which topped last year's rankings, in the third edition of the 100 Coolest Brands Report. Entertainment brands dominated the top spots, with Nintendo and Disney also featuring in the top 10. Beano Brain Director of Strategy Helenor Gilmour explains YouTube's appeal, saying, "YouTube is seen as the platform where kids find experts and learn from them or find help with their homework. As a result of its safe reputation, educational content and extensive library, YouTube has managed to gain something every brand covets: parental approval”.
Live
Little Simz has partnered with Tate Modern to curate a Tate Modern ‘Lates’ event on 31 Aug. The rapper will oversee a specially curated programme of music, workshops and conversations at the London art gallery, as part of its ongoing series of free evening events. Simz will join broadcaster Clara Amfo to discuss her inspirations and relationship with visual art, while other activities include a dance workshop led by choreographer Kloé Dean and a DJ set selected by Simz herself. "I'm incredibly excited to be curating an evening at Tate Modern. It's going to be really special," says Simz, adding, "Being able to invite people from all different walks of life into the space to connect through art is powerful."
R&B star Usher has postponed the start of his 'Past Present Future' tour due to a neck injury sustained during rehearsals. The tour, originally set to begin on 14 Aug, will now commence on 20 Aug in Washington DC, with the singer rescheduling his Atlanta shows for December. "My hope was that with physical therapy and medical treatment, I would be able to overcome the injury and be ready for opening night," Usher says, explaining the delay. The artist, who recently headlined the Super Bowl halftime show, assures fans that with "appropriate rest and treatment," he should be ready to deliver what he calls "the greatest Usher show of all time" when the tour begins.
Hard Rock Hotels and Ministry Of Sound have announced a new global live event and documentary series called 'Sounds Of The Scene'. The inaugural event will take place on 12 Sep at Hard Rock Hotel Marbella in Spain, featuring tech and house music headliner Viviana Casanova. The series aims to explore influential music scenes' rhythm and culture, with a subsequent event planned at Hard Rock Hotel New York this autumn. Keith Sheldon, President Of Entertainment & Brand Management at Hard Rock International, says, "Music is the differentiator threaded through all touchpoints of the Hard Rock Hotel experience. In partnership with Ministry Of Sound, we're proud to present the start of 'Sounds Of The Scene' in two of the world's best destinations to unite music communities and celebrate the power of dance music."
Other industry news & events
A TV series depicting the 1980s Sunset Strip rock scene has been confirmed by Vicky Hamilton, former manager of Guns N Roses. Hamilton, who managed several prominent rock acts in Los Angeles during the 80s, disclosed the project in an interview with Loudwire. The series will chronicle Hamilton's experiences with various bands from the era including Guns N Roses. While still in early development, Hamilton says she envisions the show as "like a ‘Daisy Jones & The Six’, but like an 80s version of that," adding, "I don't know if legally they'll be able to work out to use the real band names, but who knows?"
Releases & Tours
Halsey has shared new track ‘Lonely Is The Muse’.
Alice Merton has released new EP ‘Heron II’ via Paper Plane Records.
Nia Smith has put out a new version of her single ‘Personal’ featuring Popcaan.
Stephen Dawes has unveiled a brand new single: ‘Cherry Red’.
Disclosure have posted a new version of their track ‘She’s Gone, Dance On’, a ‘Live From The Mews’ version, recorded live in London studio The Mews.
Tom Grennan has officially released the ‘Best A Man Can Get’ advertising jingle he recorded for Gillette last year, which fans have seemingly been requesting for some time.
Nina Nesbitt has announced a series of intimate acoustic performances at record shops around the UK following the release of her new album 'Mountain Music' on 27 Sep, kicking off at Resident in Brighton on 28 Sep.
Coldplay have announced the tracklist for their forthcoming tenth album ‘Moon Music’ by posting a video of Chris Martin writing it out. Which is a thing.