Deals
Audius has signed a global licensing agreement with Kobalt. The deal allows Kobalt's songwriters to access Audius's decentralised music platform, enabling them to earn revenue through direct US dollar payments from fans. Shamal Ranasinghe, Chief Business Officer at Audius, says, "This agreement with Kobalt is an important milestone for all of us at Audius". Derek Cournoyer, Vice President Of Global Digital Business & Emerging Media at Kobalt, adds, "Audius has made important strides in their business that have the potential to increase the overall revenue available to songwriters". The agreement follows Audius's recent deals with major American performing rights organisations including ASCAP, BMI, SESAC and GMR.
Haircare brand Redken has signed singer and actress Sabrina Carpenter as its first-ever Global Ambassador. Carpenter, whose recent singles ‘Espresso’ and ‘Please Please Please’ reached number one on global charts, will be the face of the professional haircare brand's advertising campaigns across various media platforms. "Beauty and especially my hair is a big part of my identity," says Carpenter, adding, "It's been the secret to keeping my hair looking its best and I can't wait to share what we've been working on together". Severine Breton, Redken Brand President, comments, "This is our biggest partnership to date, and we couldn't be more THRILLED".
Temporary tattoo company Inkbox has launched its second collaboration with drummer Travis Barker, featuring 20 new temporary tattoo designs exclusively available at Walmart stores and on walmart.com from today. The collection, which includes single and two-pack options, uses Inkbox's patented For Now Ink technology to create designs lasting five to ten days on the skin. Jon Skyrme, General Manager at Inkbox, says, "Our continued collaboration with Travis Barker delivers cool new designs that allow consumers to express themselves through ink, just like he does, but without the permanent commitment."
MV2 Entertainment and New Lost City Records have signed True Youngblood. Youngblood, who draws musical influence from country legends and modern acts, will release his debut single 'If I Were A Cowboy' on 13 Sep. At MV2, the songwriter joins a roster of writers including Josh Thompson, Forrest Finn, Grant Vogel, Johnny McGuire and Blake Henderson. Ben Strain, MV2 Senior Creative Director, says, "In a world where art and commerce often clash, True has found a way to harmonise the two. His music is a breath of fresh air".
Alice Costelloe has signed to Moshi Moshi Records for her new EP 'When It's The Time'. The EP, produced by Mike Lindsay, explores themes of endings and desire. Costelloe says, "I had started writing 'When It's The Time' about moving on from a romantic relationship but the preachers that kept knocking at the door took the song in a different direction as I started to think about the end of things in general, beyond relationships, to the end of life, the end of the world, and this became a sort of theme of the EP."
Concord Music Publishing has signed country artist Erin Kirby to her first worldwide publishing deal, covering her full catalogue and future works. The 20-year-old Atlanta native, who began writing songs at age twelve, has performed at televised Motocross and Supercross events, as well as NBA, MLB and NFL games. She released multiple singles in 2023, including 'Boys These Days', 'Raised In A Barn' and 'Redneck Rich'. Melissa Spillman, VP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing Nashville, says, "The very first time I heard Erin's voice on a worktape, I was all in. She has the kind of pure vocal and songwriting talent that is true to country music, and we are so excited to partner with her".
Appointments
Global independent music publisher trade group IMPF has appointed Nicole Schulze as its new Secretary General. Schulze, who most recently served as IP Policy Lead for Europe at Meta, brings nearly 20 years of experience in public policy, with a focus on intellectual property, media and digital policy. Annette Barrett, President of the IMPF Board, says, "The decision to create this new Secretary General role comes in response to IMPF's huge growth and strategic development in recent years". The organisation also announced that Ger Hatton will join the IMPF board of directors while remaining a Senior Advisor and of Counsel.
The Royalty Network, an independent music publishing company, has appointed Daniel Abowd as its new President & General Counsel. Abowd, who previously worked at the company for eight years, most recently as Vice President, returns after roles as a litigator and judicial clerk. Frank Liwall, Founder and CEO of The Royalty Network, says, "I am elated to announce as President and General Counsel our former employee, Daniel Abowd and looking forward to working closely with Danny to continue to provide the best service to our clients". Founded in 1994, the company represents over 700,000 compositions, including works featured on albums by Beyoncé, Ariana Grande, Kendrick Lamar and Drake.
Global Music Junction has appointed Akash Kumar Upadhyay as Associate Vice President. The appointment follows a major expansion in Warner Music's partnership with Global Music Junction and parent JetSynthesis, aimed at evolving digital music engagement. Upadhyay, who will report directly to Global Music Junction's CEO Rajkumar Singh, will focus on market expansion, leveraging new technologies, and leading initiatives to bridge artists and audiences.
The US Recording Academy has appointed Taymoor Marmarchi as Executive Director for its expansion into the Middle East and North Africa region. Marmarchi will collaborate with the Academy's CEO and President Harvey Mason Jr to broaden the organisation's presence and support for music creators in the area. His role includes forging strategic partnerships, overseeing event and content production, managing talent relations, and implementing long-term strategies to advance the Academy's global mission. Mason says, "Taymoor brings invaluable expertise in the dynamic MENA music landscape to our organisation". Marmarchi adds, "I am proud to be part of the Recording Academy's monumental step in recognising and celebrating the incredible musical talent that our region has to offer".
Amuse has launched an in-house sync department for licensed music in film, television and advertising. The Swedish-based distributor and record label has appointed Daniel Copleston to lead the new division, drawing on his experience from roles at [PIAS] and Cooking Vinyl Records. Sean Staranka, Head of Artist Marketing at Amuse, says, "The growth of our licensed catalogue shows that people are resonating with these tracks, and our vast access to demographics and streaming data creates great synergies for sync opportunities". The company's licensed catalogue now includes over 8000 recordings from more than 300 artists, with Amuse aiming to expand opportunities for self-releasing artists to reach new audiences and generate additional revenue streams through sync placements. Copleston adds, "Amuse artists are killing it in streaming. They have a huge untapped opportunity to get sync placements, and I'm really happy that I'm the guy they chose to make that happen".
Legal
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has been hit with a $100 million default judgment in a sexual assault lawsuit, according to TMZ. Derrick Lee Cardello-Smith, a prison inmate, filed the suit claiming Combs drugged and assaulted him at a party in Detroit in 1997. The judgment was issued after Combs reportedly failed to respond to the complaint, with the judge setting a payment schedule of $10 million per month starting 1 Oct. Combs' attorney, Marc Agnifilo, says, "This man [Cardello-Smith] is a convicted felon and sexual predator, who has been sentenced on fourteen counts of sexual assault and kidnapping over the last 26 years. His resume now includes committing a fraud on the court from prison, as Mr Combs has never heard of him let alone been served with any lawsuit".
Apple has been ordered to pay €13 billion in back taxes to Ireland following a ruling by the Court Of Justice Of The European Union. The court's "final judgment" overturned a previous decision, stating that Apple had benefited from unlawful state aid through tax advantages granted by the Irish government between 1991 and 2014. European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager says, "Today is a big win for European citizens and for tax justice". Alex Haffner, competition partner at law firm Fladgate, notes, "From a financial perspective Apple will now have to forgo €13 billion that has been sitting in escrow pending the outcome of the case".
Primary Wave Music and Prince Legacy have issued a statement responding to reports of an unreleased documentary alleging abuse by the late musician Prince. The companies, which have ties to Prince's assets, say, "We are working to resolve matters concerning the documentary so that his story may be told in a way that is factually correct and does not mischaracterise or sensationalise his life". The nine-hour documentary, directed by Ezra Edelman and in development with Netflix for nearly five years, reportedly includes interviews with Prince's former associates alleging physical and emotional abuse. Netflix notes, "This documentary project has proved every bit as complex as Prince himself. We have meticulously archived Prince's life and worked hard to support Ezra's series. But there are still meaningful contractual issues with the estate that are holding up a documentary release".
Streaming, Digital, Broadcast & Retail
Sirius XM Holdings Inc has begun operating as an independent public company following the completion of its ‘split-off and merger’ transaction with Liberty Media. The company has reiterated its 2024 revenue and adjusted EBITDA guidance while updating its free cash flow forecast to approximately $1 billion to reflect transaction-related costs. Jennifer Witz, Chief Executive Officer of SiriusXM, says, "Today SiriusXM embarks on a new phase in our journey as an independent public company, building on our leading position in audio entertainment." The company has also announced a $1.166 billion stock repurchase authorisation.
Audible has announced plans to use AI trained on professional narrators' voices to generate new audiobook recordings. Starting this week, the Amazon-owned audiobook company will invite a select group of US-based audiobook narrators to train AI on their voices. Narrators will have the opportunity to approve their synthetic voice for specific works and edit pronunciation and pacing. Audible says participants will be compensated for audiobooks created using their AI voices on a title-by-title, royalty-sharing basis.
BBC Radio 1 has announced its lineup for Live Lounge Month, which will commence on 30 Sep with Camila Cabello. The month-long event will feature performances by Shawn Mendes, Fontaines DC, Tom Grennan, and Little Mix members Jade and Perrie, among others. Artists will perform their own songs and cover versions in a live, acoustic format every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during Rickie, Melvin And Charlie's Radio 1 show. Cabello says, "I cannot wait... it's one of my favourite places to perform".
Apple’s new iPhone 16 line-up will feature audio upgrades aimed at musicians and producers. The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max models include four "studio-quality" microphones for higher-quality recording with a lower noise floor. Apple says multi-track recording will be added to the Voice Memo app later this year, allowing users to layer tracks and record vocals over instrumentals.
Live
Billy McFarland has announced dates for Fyre Festival II, set to take place from 25 Apr to 28 Apr 2025 on a private island off the coast of Mexico. McFarland, who was released early in 2022 after serving a prison sentence for wire fraud related to the original Fyre Festival, told NBC News that he has hired a festival production company to manage logistics, though he declined to name the company or specify the island location. "We have the chance to embrace this storm and really steer our ship into all the chaos that has happened", says McFarland, "and if it's done well, I think Fyre has a chance to be this annual festival that really takes over the festival industry". Andy King, a former investor in Fyre Festival, has expressed concerns about the event's planned reboot, telling the BBC that he sees "a lot of red flags" regarding the revival. "Billy has a gift. He's got a lot of charisma. He knows how to pull people in," King says, adding, "I'm just seeing a lot of red flags and a lot of red lights". King, who lost $1 million in the original 2017 event, warns potential attendees to "proceed with caution".
Beyoncé has booked a series of stadium concerts in the UK for summer 2025, potentially including five nights at Tottenham Stadium, claims The Sun. The news comes as other major artists, including Oasis, Ariana Grande and possibly Shakira, are planning significant UK shows for the same period. This adds to an already packed 2025 UK concert calendar featuring Usher, Sabrina Carpenter, Gracie Abrams, Dua Lipa, Imagine Dragons and Billie Eilish. An unnamed source says, "Forget Oasis, Beyoncé is coming to the UK next summer. She's doing Tottenham Stadium, probably five nights. It's nailed on".
Donald Glover, aka Childish Gambino, has postponed the remaining dates of his North American tour to focus on his physical health. The 40-year-old rapper announced the cancellation on social media one day before his scheduled performance in Austin, Texas, with shows originally planned through 3 Oct. "Hold onto your tickets. ALL tickets will be honoured for the upcoming dates in North America when they are rescheduled", Glover says. The tour, titled 'New World Tour', was set to mark Glover's final project under the Childish Gambino persona.
Other Industry News & Events
The UK’s Music Managers Forum has announced details about its Manager Summit and Annual General Meeting on 17 Sep at London's 21Soho. The Summit, titled 'Data, Deals & Innovation', will explore how music managers are utilising new commercial models and digital tools to build sustainable businesses. Annabella Coldrick, Chief Executive of MMF, says, "Our Summit will place a spotlight on the changing models of management, and explore how MMF members are breaking boundaries and embracing innovation to develop the businesses of artists, songwriters, producers and other creative talent". The event will feature speakers including Lisa Ward from Red Light Management and Kwame Kwaten from Ferocious Management, with tickets available at a 50% discount for MMF members and associates.
IFPI has released its inaugural 'Music In The EU: A Global Opportunity' report, examining the recorded music landscape in the European Union. The report highlights that while the EU is a significant market for music with annual recorded revenues of €5.2 billion, there is room for growth as 2023 revenues are only 61% of 2001 levels when adjusted for inflation. IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley says, "The EU is a vitally important place for music. It has an incredible history of producing extraordinary artists who have delighted music fans worldwide for generations and helped to maintain Europe's place on the global cultural map". The report also outlines recommendations for EU policymakers to support the music sector and develop responsible AI practices.
Record Store Day and Breed Media have announced the return of the RSD Unsigned competition for 2024, offering one UK artist the chance to have their music pressed onto 500 vinyl records. The competition includes new prizes such as a mastering session at Abbey Road Studios and a performance slot at Truck Festival. Karen Emanuel, CEO of Key Production Group, says, "RSD Unsigned is an unmissable opportunity that can open so many doors". The judging panel includes singer-songwriter Nina Nesbitt, who adds, "This wonderful competition could be a pivotal moment in an artist's career, so I say don't hesitate on entering!"
Artist News
Dominga of Chilean electronic group Föllakzoid has alleged she was the target of a transphobic attack at Sameheads, a nightclub in Berlin, on 6 Sep. The musician claims she was assaulted in the club's bathroom and later dragged by her hair in front of other patrons. Sameheads says, "After receiving testimony from my staff, it seems like they acted quickly to identify and remove the threat. The aggressor was immediately ejected by security, and banned, as this type of behaviour is absolutely forbidden at our venue".
Refused have announced their breakup and plans for a farewell tour in 2025. The Swedish punk band will embark on a fourteen date North American tour starting 21 Mar in Brooklyn, with support from Quicksand. Drummer David Sandstrom says the announcement was delayed after singer Dennis Lyxzen suffered a heart attack earlier this year. Refused will also release a 25th anniversary edition of their album 'The Shape Of Punk To Come', including a tribute album featuring covers by Quicksand, Idles and others. Sandstrom adds, "We're looking at what else we can do with the rest of the year, all we know is that we want to finish back home in Sweden at the end of the year".
Whiney racist Morrissey has again been talking about the stalled release of his fourteenth solo album, 'Bonfire of Teenagers', saying the record was "gagged" due to its title track about the 2017 Manchester Arena bombing. In an email interview with The Telegraph, the former Smiths singer said he would not remove the song or rename the album, stating, "I wouldn't abandon the murdered kids of Manchester. Their spirits cry out every single day for remembrance and recognition". Morrissey, who has been performing the song live since 2022, described the album as "the best album of my life" and alleged that major labels in London have refused it while acknowledging it as a "masterpiece".
Ellie Goulding has received The Perfect World Foundation's honorary Conservation Award in Gothenburg, Sweden. The singer was honoured for her environmental activism and role as a Global Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Environment Programme. The award ceremony took place on 5 Sep, with Sarah, Duchess of York presenting the accolade. Upon accepting the award, Goulding says, "I don't feel like I deserve it, but I will continue to do everything I can. The wildlife and biodiversity of this planet are under threat, with over 1 million species at the brink of extinction". Ragnhild Jacobsson, CEO and co-founder of The Perfect World Foundation, adds, "Ellie Goulding is a respected force as a climate and nature champion. Her inspirational efforts to mobilise the youth in saving our planet's biological diversity are admirable".