Deals
Universal Music Sweden has launched Def Jam Recordings Sweden, led by Mattias Caliste. The new label, coinciding with Def Jam Recordings' 40th anniversary, will feature both established and emerging artists, including Asme, Sarettii, Sebastian Stakset and Zikai. Caliste, formerly of Virgin Music Sweden, brings experience as an artist, producer and label founder to his new role. "It is a great honour for me to start up Def Jam Recordings in Sweden. Def Jam raised me!", says Caliste, adding, "The label has a legacy that is incredibly important for hip hop as both a genre and a subculture."
Warner Chappell Music UK and Defected Records have announced a new joint venture. The label's publishing arm, Defected Music, has recently secured credits on high-profile releases including Beyoncé's 'Renaissance' album and Elton John and Dua Lipa's 'Cold Heart (PNAU Remix)'. Wez Saunders, CEO of Defected, says, "Our mission is to uphold house music's standards globally, to service our community while helping artists build longer lasting, more impactful, and more profitable careers". Amber Davis, SVP and Head Of A&R at Warner Chappell Music UK, adds, "I am delighted that we're partnering with the iconic Defected Records - which is such a well-respected and innovative name in house music".
Appointments
beatBread has appointed Andrew Maddox as Head Of Finance. Maddox previously held finance leadership roles at TikTok, including Head of Finance And Payment Services for US Data Security, and Chief Of Staff to TikTok's COO. Prior to TikTok, he worked in finance roles at Amazon Prime Video, contributing to its expansion into live sports and international markets. Peter Sinclair, CEO of beatBread, says, "Andrew's blend of finance, strategic marketing and product innovation skills bring real value to our already talented team, as we continue to grow rapidly and leverage data science and automation to fulfill our mission of empowering artists, labels, and publishers to access flexible funding that gives them choice, ownership and control".
Streaming, Digital, Broadcast & Retail
Salt has received a multi-million-pound grant from Innovate UK to accelerate its AI innovation in music rights and royalties solutions. The funding will enhance Salt's AI-driven tools designed to support music creators and rightsholders throughout the creative process and compensation cycle. The company is partnering with Queen Mary University Of London's Centre For Digital Music for this project, combining industry expertise with academic research. Salt CEO Doug Imrie says, "We are delighted to have the experts at Queen Mary University join our mission to ensure that creators' contributions, rights, accreditation and remuneration are protected across the music industry and benefit from the latest technological advances".
Disco, a new app encouraging users to share music and follow friends for track recommendations, has been launched by Darren Westlake, co-founder of business-crowdfunding platform Crowdcube. The start-up has surpassed its initial £100k funding goal on Crowdcube, raising £122.2k to date. Disco plans to generate revenue through affiliate ticket and merchandise sales, premium subscriptions, and music listening data sales. However, the app faces challenges, including potential trademark issues with an existing B2B music service also named Disco, and the historically difficult landscape for social music start-ups in terms of audience growth and monetisation.
Tune.fm, a decentralised music streaming platform, says that it has received $50 million in capital from Global Emerging Markets, bringing its total funding to $80 million. The investment will provide liquidity for the protocol's JAM token, used to reward artists and users on the platform. Tune.fm offers music streaming services with an integrated non-fungible token marketplace, powered by the Hedera blockchain. "Users can create an account and start listening to music immediately; no third-party wallet is required beforehand", a spokesperson from Tune.fm says, explaining that a blockchain wallet is automatically created upon joining the platform.
Tencent Music Entertainment Group has launched its Global Music Outreach Initiative, beginning with events in Singapore from 13 Sep to 17 Sep. The initiative aims to showcase Chinese music artists on international stages, starting with performances by artists including Liu Lian, Liu Binhao and Lu Zhengting during the Singapore Grand Prix Season. As part of the programme, TME will participate in the Music Matters forum and facilitate university visits to foster cultural exchanges. "TME aims to leverage its platform and technological strengths to open up new international markets for Chinese artists, enhancing their global presence and creating fresh opportunities for industry growth," the company says.
Other Industry News & Events
The Scottish Album Of The Year - or SAY - Award has revealed its 20-album longlist for 2024, featuring eleven debut albums and a diverse range of genres. The winner, to be announced on 24 Oct at Stirling's Albert Halls, will receive £20,000 and the title of Scottish Album Of The Year. The longlist, selected from 370 eligible submissions, includes artists from across Scotland and spans genres from jazz to metal. Robert Kilpatrick, CEO of the Scottish Music Industry Association, says, "The SAY Award longlist highlights the strength and diversity of Scottish creative talent, and the essential role that our cultural output plays in helping us reflect on who we are as a nation". Arab Strap, one of the longlisted artists, comments, "We've always seen The SAY Award as more of a celebration than a competition, and we're chuffed we'll be part of the party this year".
Armada Music has launched its first-ever mashup contest through its online educational platform, Armada University. The dance label's initiative, in partnership with digital audio workstation DJ·Studio, allows entrants access to 20 Armada releases for creating mashups. Prizes include a feature on Armada's YouTube channel, masterclass access and a call with an Armada A&R representative. Armada University, established in 2018, has over 50,000 aspiring music producers enrolled in its various educational offerings, including production masterclasses and remix contests.
The University Of Wolverhampton has awarded an honorary doctorate of music to South Asian music producer, singer and performer PBN. PBN, known for topping music charts and headlining shows globally, is the first UK Punjabi act to receive this recognition. Beyond his musical career, PBN is involved in charity events and campaigns supporting young people in his local community. "To receive such recognition is an honour beyond words, I am humbled and grateful to the University Of Wolverhampton in acknowledging my work and career," PBN says, adding, "This isn't just a win for me, it's a win for my culture and my Punjabi community".
Sony Music Germany and Music Women Germany* have announced the winners of the third annual Female* Producer Prize, recognising ten female and non-binary producers across two categories. The initiative, which aims to boost visibility and networking for women in music production, received over 250 applications this year, a 50% increase from previous iterations. This year's competition had two categories: Producer and Self-Producing Artist. Winners will receive personal coaching, prize packages and access to masterclasses at Sony Music Germany's Circle Studios in Berlin, as well as being added to the company's roster for labels and artists. An award ceremony is scheduled for 29 Oct at Fotografiska Berlin.
UK record industry trade group BPI has released the third episode of its BPI Innovation Podcasts series, focusing on brand partnerships in the music industry. In the latest installment, BPI Innovation Manager Amalie Briden interviews Rahmon Agbaje, Co-Founder of Loud Parade, and Daniel Katty, Co-Founder of On Da Beat, to discuss how brand partnerships support artist development and create new revenue streams. The podcast, which airs fortnightly on alternate Thursdays, aims to highlight innovative ideas and technologies shaping the music industry. BPI says, "The BPI Innovation Podcast series is designed for anyone working in or interested in the recorded music industry, and the tech start-ups and scale-ups that are shaping meaningful change in how we discover, consume and engage with music."
Live
Oasis has yet to finalise support acts for their 2025 reunion tour, with frontman Liam Gallagher reportedly seeking "established acts" to join the line-up. While various bands have been rumoured to open for the British rock group at their shows across the UK and Ireland, The Independent understands that Liam and Noel Gallagher have not discussed potential artists. "Liam is keen for established acts so it will probably take a bit of back and forth before anything's confirmed," a source close to the band tells The Independent. The source also dismisses reports that Villanelle, fronted by Liam's son Gene, has been booked to support Oasis next year, stating, "They haven't even discussed it".
Artist News
Tom Walker has confirmed he has never used dynamic pricing for his concert tickets. The singer, whose new album 'I AM' is set for release on 20 Sep, commented on the controversy surrounding Oasis's upcoming reunion tour, where fans faced inflated ticket prices after long online queues. Walker told the Daily Star, "There's a limit, isn't there? I do feel like some people are taking the piss, and it's not cool". He adds, "I even asked my management, 'We've never done that, have we?' Because I don't know - I'm not in charge of that bit".