Deals
Cooking Vinyl Publishing and Sentric have signed a deal with Thom Rylance of The Lottery Winners, covering the band's entire back catalogue. The band, fronted by Rylance as principal songwriter, achieved a UK number one album with 'Anxiety Replacement Therapy' in 2023, selling over 22,000 copies in its first week. The Lottery Winners have announced their new album 'KOKO', set for release on 21 Feb 2025, featuring collaborations with Nickelback, Reverend And The Makers, Shed Seven and Frank Turner. Ryan Farley, MD & Head of A&R at Cooking Vinyl Publishing, says, "I'm delighted to welcome Thom as the first signing to the new-look Cooking Vinyl Publishing/Sentric family and am excited to work with him as his career blossoms further."
Sony Music has acquired Pink Floyd's recorded music rights for “about $400 million”, reports the Financial Times. The deal, finalised this week, includes the band's recorded music as well as name and likeness rights, but not song copyrights. This acquisition follows Sony's recent $1 billion deal for most of Queen's rights. Back in July, private equity firm Apollo agreed to provide Sony with up to $700 million to fund music deals. The Pink Floyd deal marks the resolution of a long-delayed sales process, previously attracting bids from Hipgnosis, Warner Music and BMG before being put on hold in 2022 due to internal disputes among band members.
Kilometre Music Group has acquired the publishing catalogue of American record producer Ronald Latour Jr, known professionally as Cardo. The deal, executed through Kilometre's Barometer Global Music Royalty Fund, expands the company's catalogue to over 3000 songs, including nine tracks among Spotify's 20 most-streamed songs of all time. Kilometre President Rodney Murphy says, "Cardo is a prolific music producer who has made some of the most culturally impactful songs for some of the biggest artists of the streaming era." The acquisition covers approximately 350 songs, including Drake's 'God's Plan' and Travis Scott's 'Goosebumps', bringing Kilometre's total investments in music rights close to $150 million, according to CFO James Freeman.
Universal Music Publishing Group has signed Jack Leonard, co-founder of big beat project Cheapcuts, to a publishing deal. Leonard, known for his work with UNKLE, has collaborated with artists such as Queens of the Stone Age and A$AP Rocky. Amy Samson, Senior Creative Manager, Sync/A&R at UMPG, says, "We're so THRILLED to sign Jack Leonard to UMPG! He brings such a natural knack for the infectious writing and production that lends itself to sync opportunities we see every day". Leonard's credits include composing for the TV series 'Trust' and writing for artists like Michael Kiwanuka and Sam Ryder.
Concord Music Publishing has signed producer, instrumentalist and songwriter Ben Wilson, known professionally as Ben10k, to a worldwide publishing deal. The agreement includes Ben10k's full catalogue and future works. Ben10k has had a successful 2024, producing tracks for Blxst's debut album. Ben10k says, "Partnering with Concord, an esteemed company aligned with my vision, is exactly the step I was eager to take in my career". Jeremy Yohai and Christina Koblick of Concord Music Publishing add, "Ben is one of the most exciting new writers to make his mark in the last few years which is evident from his recent success".
Heatwave Records has been launched by former Syco Music Managing Director Tyler Brown and ex-Ultra Music Publishing A&R executive Harold Serero. The London-based label, focusing on signing artists from emerging markets, has partnered with US music and technology company Too Lost for distribution. Heatwave's first release, 'Awolowo' by Nigerian artist Fido, has become a breakout hit in Nigeria, reaching number one on Spotify, Apple Music and Shazam charts in the country. Serero says, "After one listen, we knew Fido's track 'Awolowo', which celebrates the former leader of the Nigerian independence movement, was a special one. It has since been taken up as an anthem for young people all across Africa as a call for freedom and a celebration of the good life". Brown adds, "I've only ever been interested in working within the global music industry and music from around the world has never been so exciting!"
A Lawless Agency has launched a new DJ talent roster featuring seven artists. The agency, founded by Clayton Wright, Lucy Fizz and Jasmine Blatt, represents talent across music, dance, events, fashion and nightlife. The new roster, dubbed the ‘Superstar Seven’, includes WILES, Mark-Ashley Dupé, Liam Parsons, Lady Lloyd, KaYa, Joel Mignott and Frankco. "Lawless's 'Superstar Seven' were handpicked because we believe in their ability and their bright future in music", says Wright, adding, "We've decided to work with only seven artists, so we can give them our full attention."
Jamey Johnson has signed a label deal with Warner Music Nashville and will release a new song, 'Someday When I'm Old', tomorrow through the label and his own Big Gassed Records. The track, written by Chris Lindsey, Aimee Mayo and Troy Verges, has resonated with Johnson since he first sang its demo in 2004. Warner Music Nashville co-chair and co-president Cris Lacy comments, "From day one, we heard the voice of a man driven by conviction, not commerciality. We saw in him our heroes like Johnny, Waylon and Merle".
Universal Music Group Nashville and Timbaland's Mosley Music have signed singer-songwriter Colt Graves as the first artist under their recently announced partnership. Graves' debut single 'Burning House' is set for release on 18 Oct under the joint venture. The Kentucky native, influenced by his grandfather, Bluegrass Music Hall Of Fame member Josh Graves, blends country, folk, pop and hip-hop in his music. Cindy Mabe, chair and CEO of UMGN, says, "Colt Graves is the perfect artist for our first collaboration with Timbaland's Mosley Music. He's simply electric and speaks from a unique and overlooked musical fusion growing up in the bluegrass heartland and taught by his legendary bluegrass hall of fame grandfather Josh Graves."
People
Alex Nutton has been promoted to Principal, Label Relations at Amazon Music.
Loretta Andrews has been appointed as Programmes Manager - Creation at the Institute Of Contemporary Music Performance
Sam Kitchen has left Universal Music’s Decca Records to set up Canopy 19 PR, a radio and podcast promotions agency providing services to major labels, indies, distributors and artist managers.
Universal Music Spain has appointed Alicia Arauzo and Luis Fernández as co-Managing Directors. The executives will collaborate on shaping the company's business strategy and creative direction, focusing on nurturing the existing artist roster and developing new talent in Madrid. Arauzo, who joined Universal Music Spain in 1996, says, "It is an honour for me to take on this new role, alongside such a great team of professionals". Fernández, who became Head Of A&R at the company in 2023, adds, "It is a great opportunity to assume this new position at UMS, where I have grown professionally, and where I have felt so supported since my arrival".
Universal Music Finland has appointed Petri Mannonen as its new CEO. Mannonen, who has been with the company since 2010 in various roles including Commercial Director, brings 25 years of entertainment industry experience to the position. Mannonen says, "The domestic music market is currently in a really interesting situation. Nowadays, it is easier than ever to [release] music, and as the supply increases, the role of large record companies is also emphasised."
Harvey Mason Jr has renewed his contract as CEO of the Recording Academy for an additional four years. Mason, who first became permanent CEO in May 2021 after sixteen months in an interim role, has overseen significant changes at the academy since the departure of former president/CEO Deborah Dugan in March 2020. "We're doing a lot of things that we're excited about that I felt probably deserved more attention than [my contract extension]. I just want to keep my head down and do the work," Mason says after confirming he actually renewed his contract last month. He adds that he will continue to work on outside music projects while serving as CEO, stating, "I think it's a good thing for the CEO of the Grammys and the Recording Academy to be in the studio working."
Armada Music has appointed Susanne Hazendonk as Head Of Catalogue. Hazendonk, formerly of Spinnin' Records and Warner Music Benelux, will lead the independent dance music label's catalogue department and expand its influence in the acquisition market. With over fifteen years of experience, Hazendonk has worked with prominent dance acts such as Lucas & Steve, Sam Feldt and Afrojack, as well as mainstream artists like Bruno Mars. Based in the Netherlands, she will report to Armada Music's COO, Jop Bonnike. Bonnike says, "As we continue to prioritise the growth and evolution of our catalogue department, we're looking forward to working alongside Susanne to seize new opportunities in the market".
Legal
Martin Shkreli has admitted it is "highly likely" that multiple people have copies of Wu-Tang Clan's supposedly one-copy-only album 'Once Upon A Time In Shaolin'. In a sworn statement obtained by Billboard, Shkreli says, "It is possible, and indeed I find it highly likely, that one of the many people who viewed, heard or otherwise accessed the musical work via my social media recorded the musical work and retains a copy of the same." This admission comes amid an ongoing $4 million lawsuit filed by PleasrDAO, a digital art collective that purchased the album in 2021, alleging he breached the original purchase agreement by retaining and disseminating copies. A judge ordered Shkreli to surrender all copies of the album in August, following claims he had shared it on social media and made multiple copies.
Roc-A-Fella Records Inc has been denied a ruling on Jay-Z's copyright termination rights for his album 'Reasonable Doubt' ahead of an auction for Damon Dash's stake in the company. Judge Robert W Lehrburger refused to address the copyright issue, stating on 30 Sep that the court lacks jurisdiction over the validity of Jay-Z's copyright termination notice. The US Marshals Service is set to auction Dash's 33.3% interest in Roc-A-Fella as early as next month, with a minimum purchase price of $3 million. "The asset that is the subject of the auction is Dash's one-third interest in RAF [Roc-A-Fella] itself, not the work owned by RAF," Judge Lehrburger writes. Although the album is pretty much the label’s only asset.
The European Union has requested additional information from Snapchat, TikTok and YouTube regarding their content recommendation algorithms under the Digital Services Act. The European Commission has sent requests for information to the three social media platforms, seeking details about the design and functioning of their algorithms by 15 Nov. The EU's inquiries focus on potential risks associated with AI-based recommender systems, including impacts on electoral processes, users' mental well-being and the protection of minors. TikTok spokesperson Paolo Ganino says, "We will cooperate with the Commission throughout the RFI process".
Russell Simmons has been ordered to pay $3 million to three sexual assault accusers after failing to comply with lawsuit settlements. According to court documents obtained by Variety, confessions of judgment were filed against Simmons on 2 Oct in New York County Supreme Court. The music executive had previously agreed to pay $1,265,000 each to Sil Lai Abrams and Sherri Abernathy, and $515,000 to Wendy Carolina Franco, with the settlements due by 1 Oct. Abrams previously accused Simmons of raping her during an encounter in 1994.
Platforms
Symphonic Distribution has partnered with Twitch to allow its artists to include their music in the Twitch DJ Program, enabling them to earn royalties when their tracks are used in DJ sets on the platform. Symphonic offers two tiers for participation: a Starter plan for new artists, providing 100% of royalties from digital service providers and 70% from user-generated content, and a Partner plan for labels and established artists with additional services. Randall Foster, Chief Creative Officer at Symphonic, says, "We can't wait to expose our artists to a new and diverse userbase, all while giving them a new revenue source and DJs an incredible catalogue of music to use in their sets!"
Mdundo has announced that it expects to pay out between $1.1m and $1.3m in royalties to artists in 2025. The African streaming service, which currently boasts 36 million monthly active users across the continent, is pursuing a 'hyperlocal' strategy to drive growth in countries where global streaming services have a limited presence. Mdundo is investing in local music scenes, including Kalenjin and Kamba music in Kenya, Singeli in Tanzania, and Hausa content in Nigeria. Martin Nielsen, CEO of Mdundo, says, "Our commitment is to deliver consistent and meaningful earnings, helping individual artists grow while fostering the broader development of Africa's music industry".
Spotify has rolled out a new feature called 'Offline Backup' that automatically creates a playlist of recently streamed and cached songs when users lose internet connectivity. The feature, available to premium subscribers globally, requires offline listening to be enabled and recent playback of more than five songs. Daniel Ek, Spotify CEO, previously teased this feature under the name 'Your Offline Mix'. The company says, "It will evolve over time and customise the playlist based on your listening habits".
Live
City of Edinburgh Council has implemented a new policy to charge commercial events, including Oasis's upcoming reunion concerts, for the full cost of hosting them. The band is set to perform three shows at Edinburgh's Murrayfield Stadium on 8, 9 and 12 Aug 2025 as part of their long-awaited reunion tour. Council leader Cammy Day says, "Of course, these concerts bring tens of millions of pounds to the city and it's hugely successful and we want that to continue, but the impact shouldn't be on our residents". The decision follows the council's expenditure of £40,000 on extra facilities and security measures for Taylor Swift's 'Eras Tour' performances in June, highlighting the financial impact of large-scale events on the city.
Sony Music UK & Ireland has announced that Mark Ronson, Cat Burns and Jake Bugg will perform at the Music Industry Trusts Award (MITS) ceremony honouring Jason Iley. The event, scheduled for 4 Nov at the Grosvenor House Hotel, will recognise Iley's contributions to the British music industry as Chairman and CEO of Sony Music UK & Ireland. Proceeds from the ceremony will support The BRIT Trust and music therapy charity Nordoff & Robbins. Cat Burns, a BRIT School alumna, says, "I'm really excited to perform at the MITS. I'm so grateful to the BRIT School for my time there, and the funds raised through the event are vital in helping to find and nurture the next generation of creative talent".
Tomorrow's Warriors has announced the return of its annual flagship celebration, I AM WARRIOR, on 26 Oct at London's Jazz Café. The event will feature performances by female artists shaping the UK jazz scene, including CHERISE, Camilla George, Rosie Turton and Maddy Coombs, alongside the charity's all-female development ensemble. Coinciding with this announcement, Tomorrow's Warriors has launched a Big Give Women & Girls match funding campaign, running from 10-17 Oct, aiming to raise £10,000 for a new female-focused initiative called Beyond The Sound Barrier: The Future Women Of Jazz. Janine Irons, co-founder and CEO of Tomorrow's Warriors, says, "We are delighted to return to our spiritual home at the Jazz Café with an extra special I AM WARRIOR show, that spotlights and celebrates multiple generations of our bold and fearless Warrior alumnae".
Serious and Black Lives in Music have launched the Equaliser Mentorship Programme, designed to develop live sound professionals from global majority backgrounds. The programme, which builds on a four-year partnership between Serious and BLiM, will expand to include the Royal Albert Hall and the Barbican, offering paid work experience and mentoring within their live sound teams. Applications for the programme open on 7 Oct, with participants required to be primarily based in the United Kingdom, from a global majority background, and have at least a year of experience in production or engineering. Roger Wilson, Director Of Operation and Co-Founder of Black Lives in Music, says, "We couldn't be more proud to maintain our valued collaboration with Serious, but equally, we're THRILLED to be working with the Barbican and Royal Albert Hall on this project".
The MOBO Awards has announced that it will be held in Newcastle for the first time on 18 Feb 2025 at the Utilita Arena Newcastle. The event, described as Europe's biggest celebration of Black music and culture, will kick off the 2025 awards season. Kanya King, Founder and CEO of MOBO Group, says, "Newcastle is a city steeped in history, culture and a dynamic sense of community alongside an electric nightlife, making it the perfect host city." MOBO is collaborating with Newcastle City Council to bring the MOBO Fringe Festival, a series of activities celebrating Black music and culture, to the city. North East Mayor Kim McGuinness says, "I'm THRILLED to welcome the MOBO Awards to a new home in our region – just the latest major event putting North East England on the international map for culture."
London's night czar Amy Lamé has announced she will step down from her position at the end of this month. Lamé, who was appointed to the role in 2016 by Mayor Of London Sadiq Khan, has served for eight years overseeing the capital's nightlife economy. In her statement, Lamé says, "It has been a huge honour to be London's – and the UK's – first-ever night czar, but after eight years I believe that it is the right time for me to move on". Michael Kill, CEO of the Night Time Industries Association, acknowledges Lamé's achievements, noting, "Her work on women's safety at night, and the establishment of enterprise zones, have been hugely beneficial for the sector".
The OVO Hydro in Glasgow is the first arena to receive Commended status as part of the Greener Arena accreditation scheme. The award, given by A Greener Future, recognises the venue's progress in sustainability and its plan to achieve net zero by 2030. Debbie McWilliams, Managing Director Of Strategy And People at the Scottish Event Campus, which houses the arena, says, "Achieving Commended status for the OVO Hydro shows our plans are working and that our commitment to the sustainability of our business is a top priority". The accreditation follows a comprehensive assessment of various environmental factors, including energy usage, waste management and local community impact. Lucy Scrase from AGF notes, "The OVO Hydro has demonstrated a passionate drive to deliver a greener arena and a focus on improving practices going forwards".
The Night Time Industries Association has announced that the Night Time Economy Summit 2025 will take place in Birmingham at Hockley Social Club on 5 and 6 Feb 2025. The summit, held in collaboration with partners including the West Midlands Combined Authority, will feature representatives from across Europe, Japan, the US, Canada, South America and Australia. Key themes will include queer spaces, sustainability, placemaking, well-being, security, theatre, cinema, comedy, live and electronic music. Michael Kill, CEO of NTIA and VP of the International Nightlife Association, says, "We are excited to reveal that next year's summit promises to be one of our most diverse events yet, with dynamic insights that will resonate throughout the industry".
YouGov has found that ticket touts are costing UK music fans more than £145 million annually on concert tickets. The research, conducted in partnership with O2, reveals that approximately one in five tickets end up on resale websites, with nearly half of survey respondents reporting a lack of confidence in identifying legitimate resale tickets and platforms. O2 director Gareth Griffiths says, "We are tired of professional ticket touts abusing the ticket marketplace and stealing tickets out of fans' hands, only to immediately relist them at inflated prices". As a result of the findings, O2 is supporting the FanFair Alliance campaign against large-scale online ticket touting and calling for legislation to protect music fans from predatory resellers.
Other Industry News & Events
Jack Antonoff has announced plans to build public recording studios in LGBTQ+ youth shelters through his charity the Ally Coalition. Antonoff says, "I plan to spend a large part of the next chapter of my life bringing these spaces to people who wouldn't have access to them, public studios available to those who are priced out". The musician explains that the initiative will include funding a network of engineers to train people at these sites, with plans to expand into cities once the model is established. Antonoff adds, "Knowing you are in a space for a limited amount of time, and pushing yourself to the edge, is vital. A studio is a rare space and you function different because of it".
The Scottish Album of the Year (SAY) Award has announced its ten album shortlist for 2024, with the winner set to receive £20,000. The shortlist includes albums by Arab Strap, Barry Can't Swim and Becky Sikasa, among others. Kathryn Williams & Withered Hand secured their place through a public vote. The winner will be revealed at a ceremony in Stirling's Albert Halls on 24 Oct. Additionally, Martyn Bennett's 'Grit' has been named the Modern Scottish Classic Award winner for 2024. Robert Kilpatrick, CEO of the Scottish Music Industry Association, says, "This is a fantastic representation of the strength and diversity of Scottish music – past, present and future". BJ Stewart, a founding member of the Martyn Bennett Trust, adds, "We are THRILLED that 'Grit' continues to inspire and influence musicians from so many different genres and backgrounds, much as Martyn himself sought to unite those elements in his work".
Horus Music has expanded its publishing division to offer sync services for independent artists. The company, which launched its publishing arm in March this year, now provides a new tier called Horus Music Publishing+. This upgraded service gives subscribers access to monthly and priority sync briefs, alongside the existing royalty collection services. Deborah Smith, Horus Music Publishing Director, says, "We've listened closely to the invaluable feedback from our independent artist community about the significance of sync licensing and we're THRILLED to enhance our offering with Horus Music Publishing+". The new service aims to create a level playing field for artists without dedicated sync agents, leveraging the company's network of music supervisors built through its sister company, Anara Publishing.
Pirate Studios and Small Green Shoots have launched the £180,000 Studios For All Fund to support charities and organisations in England with studio time over three years. The initiative, funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, aims to provide access to Pirate Studios' facilities for at least 120 groups working with disadvantaged individuals. David Borrie, CEO of Pirate Studios, says, "We believe that having access to music studios can make a genuine difference in someone's life". The fund will also create industry pathways, including twelve month paid secondments for three young people from disadvantaged areas to help manage the scheme.
UK record industry trade body BPI has published its inaugural ‘Five-Year Strategy For Diversity, Equity & Inclusion’. The document outlines the BPI’s vision to promote DEI within the organisation itself and across the wider music industry. Hailey Willington, BPI DEI Manager, says, "Embedding diversity in our workforce, equity in our policies and procedures, and inclusion in our industry environments is essential long-term work. We also believe that it is collaborative work". The strategy, developed in consultation with the BPI's Equity And Justice Advisory Group, aligns with the UK Music Diversity Taskforce's Ten Point Plan and Five-Ps model for change.
The Richard Antwi Scholarship has named Tareic Alphonse as its seventh and final scholar. Alphonse will receive a full scholarship for University Of Westminster's Music Business Management MA course, starting later this month. The award includes a 'London Living Wage Stipend', funded by Universal Music UK, Universal Publishing UK, Sony Music UK and Sony Music Publishing UK, to cover living costs in London. The scholarship package, totalling £22,000, also offers mentorship and assistance with work placement aligned with Alphonse's professional aspirations.
Music Minds Matter has received funding from PPL Giving to support the mental health of musicians across the UK. The charity, which provides mental health support for everyone working in music in the UK, will use the funds to deliver critical support during a time of high demand. In 2023, Music Minds Matter helped over 3300 musicians and industry professionals, but many more still need assistance. Sarah Woods, Chief Executive at Music Minds Matter and Help Musicians, says, "PPL has been pivotal to the growth of Music Minds Matter in recent years, and we're incredibly grateful to now be recipients of PPL Giving, a fund that has already made a huge difference to the UK music industry."
The Beatport Group has opened applications for its third annual Diversity + Parity Fund. The $150,000 fund aims to support organisations championing diversity and equity in the dance music industry. Sofia Ilyas, Chief Community Officer of The Beatport Group, says, "Through our Diversity + Parity Fund, we aim to empower those working at the grassroots level to help shape a more inclusive future in electronic music". The fund will offer grants ranging from $3000 to $15,000, along with marketing and editorial support to recipients, while $10,000 will be allocated to a special IMS Ibiza Fund to help young artists attend the summit in 2025.
UK collecting society PRS For Music has reported a significant growth in songwriting as a profession, with 37,000 music creators joining the organisation in the past five years. The company, which represents the rights of more than 175,000 songwriters, composers and music publishers, saw over 10,000 new members join in the last year alone. To mark its 110th anniversary, PRS has released a list of 110 songwriters and composers who are redefining boundaries within the artform. I.JORDAN, a producer and DJ Mag Best Of British award winner featured on the list, says, "It's a real honour to be spotlighted in this list. As a trans artist it is really important for organisations to continue to spotlight and highlight underrepresented artists in the industry."
Music Moves Europe Awards has announced fifteen nominees for its 2025 edition, recognising emerging European music talent. The nominees, unveiled at events in Dublin, Sofia and Brno, include artists from fifteen different countries including Boko Yout (Sweden), Daniela Pes (Italy) and Yamê (France). Five winners, selected by an international jury, will each receive €10,000, with an additional €5,000 green touring voucher for the Grand Jury Prize winner. The public can vote for the Public Choice Award winner through the MME Awards website. "The MME Awards is a key component of the European Union's efforts to support and promote the European music sector", the organisers state.
Artist News
Erland Cooper has achieved his first number one on the Official UK Classical Album Chart with 'Carve The Runes Then Be Content With Silence', released by Decca imprint Mercury KX. The album was buried underground in Orkney for three years before its release, with all digital copies deleted. Cooper says, "I think poet George Mackay Brown would be rather tickled by this. I know he had a deep connection to community, landscape and the music of it all, so to celebrate nature's wild contribution to composition and the resilience of both, is a glorious thing." Decca Co-President Tom Lewis adds, "Erland is the Banksy of classical music. He brilliantly and fearlessly melds the worlds of composition and performance art."
Ozzy Osbourne has been announced for induction into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame for his solo career on 19 Oct. The induction ceremony at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, Ohio will feature performances by Maynard James Keenan, Zakk Wylde, Rob Trujillo, Billy Idol and others to honour Osbourne. This marks Osbourne's second induction into the Hall Of Fame, following his earlier recognition as a member of Black Sabbath. Officials say Jack Black will also be present at the ceremony, though his role remains unclear. Osbourne's participation in the performances remains uncertain due to ongoing health issues.