Deals
Former BMG executives Dominique Casimir, Maximilian Kolb and Justus Haerder have formed a new rights company, umn, based in Berlin. The company, pronounced "human" (obviously, duh) has announced its first project with German pop star Max Giesinger, whose album 'Menschen' is set for release on 13 Sep. Casimir says, "The starting point is on the record side, but what we will build is a very artist-centric service concept". Giesinger adds, "’Menschen’ is the beginning of a new cycle in my career and I need a label capable of doing it justice. umn is a breath of fresh air and I'm delighted to be working with them".
Downtown Music Publishing has signed a global music publishing deal with PDU, the record label and publishing company of iconic Italian singer Mina. The agreement covers Mina's extensive catalogue, including over 1395 songs performed in multiple languages, and her forthcoming album set for release in Nov 2024. Massimiliano Pani, President of PDU Music&Production, says, "The PDU catalogue is a source of true classics that have been top hits in Italy but are yet to be as known globally. We are glad that Downtown Music Publishing has decided to take on this challenge". The deal includes Mina's 1998 album 'Mina Celentano', which remains the highest-selling album in Italy's history.
Too Young Ltd has launched Catalog, a curated sync platform aimed at streamlining music licensing for audiovisual media. The platform, developed in collaboration with 20 independent labels, including !K7, Beggars Group and Ninja Tune, was unveiled at AIM Connected 2024. Catalog utilises proprietary Sync Smart Pricing technology to provide real-time, market-competitive estimates for copyright licensing. Frederic Schindler, Founder & CEO of Catalog, says, "Catalog was born out of a deep understanding of the pain points in the current sync licensing system. We saw a need for a platform that prioritises transparency, efficiency, and fairness for both artists and music buyers". The platform is set for a private invite-only Beta launch in Q1 2025.
Campbell Connelly, part of Wise Music Group, has signed an exclusive songwriter agreement with Josephine Stephenson. The French-British composer, arranger and performer works across contemporary classical and indie music, with her concert repertoire already published by Leduc through Wise Music Group's Paris office. Stephenson has collaborated with artists including Damon Albarn, Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys, and her concert music has been commissioned by institutions such as the BBC and Radio France. "I'm really happy to enter this further relationship with Wise Music around my pop repertoire," says Stephenson, adding, "Wise is home to so many composers I admire who regularly cross borders and I'm THRILLED to be part of a family that embraces the whole spectrum of my work".
Kendra Erika has signed a distribution deal with K Digital Media Korea for her single 'Body Language', which is out today. The agreement will see the track distributed across nineteen Asian territories and Korea. Additionally, Touch Tunes has partnered with Erika to feature the single on its digital jukeboxes worldwide.
Appointments
US collecting society The MLC has elevated five existing leaders to strengthen its outreach, education, member services, and operations as it approaches the end of its fourth full year. Ellen Truley has been promoted to Chief Marketing and External Affairs Officer to lead outreach efforts, while Lindsey Major becomes Chief Member Experience Officer to enhance member services. Andrew Mitchell has been elevated to Chief Analytics and Automation Officer to oversee matching capabilities, Joya Carmichael is now Chief Administrative Officer managing royalty distribution processes, and Rick Marshall has been appointed General Counsel to lead legal matters. The MLC says, "Strengthening its operations in these key areas reaffirm The MLC's commitment to support its growing membership, drive innovation and transform rights administration in the music industry."
Brilliant Corners Artist Management has launched a producer management division, to be led by manager Nicole Ficenec from the company's new Los Angeles office. Ficenec, who brings over fifteen years of experience in the music industry, represents producers including Jonathan Rado, Paul Butler, Noah Georgeson, and Dave Cerminara. The division's roster also includes existing Brilliant Corners clients such as Dan ‘The Automator’ Nakamura, Chaz Bear, Benjamin Gibbard, and DNTEL. "I'm THRILLED and honoured to join Jordan, Josh, Joe, Justin and the rest of the team at Brilliant Corners", says Ficenec, adding, "I am excited to enter this new season of growth and, most importantly, continue to support and champion the creatives that make this all possible".
Legal
Former Ticketmaster exec Stephen Mead has been sentenced for illegally accessing and stealing information from rival ticketing company CrowdSurge's computer servers between 2013 and 2015. Mead has been ordered to pay $67,970 (about £52,000) as forfeiture and received a year's supervised release after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit computer intrusions against CrowdSurge in June. The Department Of Justice in New York said that Mead's actions directly contributed to CrowdSurge's collapse. Court documents reveal that Mead shared CrowdSurge's sensitive data, including client lists and real-time ticket sales information, with Ticketmaster executives, who had requested "competitive intelligence" about the rival company.
Streaming, Digital, Broadcast & Retail
Spotify has begun offering deals worth up to seven figures to video creators, encouraging them to distribute their content on the platform alongside YouTube, according to Bloomberg’s Ashley Carman. The music streaming company is not seeking to acquire rights or exclusively sell ads, but rather aims to expand its video catalogue, to increase the amount of content against which it can sell ads, with Spotify’s North American ad-sales boss telling Adweek, “We’re ready to play in the digital advertising pool and compete for more than audio budgets”. A Spotify spokesperson told Bloomberg, "The popularity of video is surging on Spotify, but our making deals with creators is not new". More than 170 million users have watched a video podcast on the platform, according to the company.
The BBC has announced that more of its on-demand podcasts and radio programmes will be available first on BBC Sounds for a period of seven or 28 days before being released on other platforms. The windowing strategy, which will take effect later this month, follows a successful trial in 2022 that saw selected titles bring 218,000 new and lapsed listeners to BBC Sounds and receive 17 million plays on-platform. BBC Sounds is currently reaching around five million weekly users, with the broadcaster stating, "We genuinely believe BBC Sounds is the best place to listen to BBC content, where you benefit from top-quality programming across a range of live and on-demand titles, and a uniquely personalised experience". Programmes included in the initiative are 'Desert Island Discs', 'In Our Time', and 'The Infinite Monkey Cage', while others like 'The Archers' will continue to be available everywhere upon release.
Apple has announced that alternative app stores will be allowed on the iPad in the European Union from 16 Sep. The change, coming with the release of iPadOS 18, is in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act, which designates Apple as a "gatekeeper" for its core platform services. Users in the EU will be able to install third-party app stores and web browsers with their own engines on iPads. This follows similar changes made to iOS in the EU, where five alternative app stores are now available, including AltStore PAL and Epic Games' store. Apple requires apps on these stores to be notarised for security and developers to agree to new business terms, including a "Core Technology Fee" above certain thresholds.
Digital Catapult has announced eight companies joining its High Growth AI Accelerator for the Innovate UK BridgeAI programme, partnering with LADbible Group, Merlin Entertainments, Bauer Media Group and Music Technology UK. The initiative aims to enhance efficiency, engagement, and content quality in the creative sector through artificial intelligence innovations. Each company will receive expert support from Digital Catapult to develop and commercialise their solutions. Merlin Entertainments' Global Creative Director, Megan Wastell, says, "The BridgeAI accelerator is an exciting chance to work directly with start-ups who are tackling real-world challenges in the creative sector. I'm really looking forward to seeing how AI can help us streamline creative workflows and improve guest experiences".
The Association For Electronic Music has launched its 'Respect the Creators' campaign to encourage proper crediting of electronic music producers on social media. The initiative asks DJs, promoters, and platforms to tag artists and list track names when posting content featuring others' music. Finlay Johnson, COO of AFEM, says, "While the campaign may seem like a straightforward initiative, encouraging people to share and credit new music addresses significant challenges in the discoverability of emerging artists". The campaign cites research showing that on average, only 3% of a DJ's set is music they produced themselves, while up to 90% of DJ performance content shared on Instagram does not credit the music being played.
Live
Sybil Bell, founder of Independent Venue Week, has launched Independent Venue Community, a new charity aimed at unlocking the daytime potential of live music venues and building community cohesiveness. IVC will develop a national programme of daytime activities in local venues, focusing on social prescribing and community engagement. The charity is kicking off with an Arts Council England funded pilot project called ‘Soundcheck Sessions’ in the East of England, bringing young people into venues before opening hours to learn about the live music industry. Bell says, "Independent venues are vital to the UK's creative and cultural fabric. So many towns and cities in the UK have a venue where local people can come together and enjoy music and the arts. From our experiences with Independent Venue Week, we believe passionately that they have potential - in day time hours - to deliver even more."
Other Industry News & Events
Global Strategy Group has conducted a poll revealing widespread concern among US voters about generative AI and its impact on human artistry. It says 84% of registered voters believe an artist's music or vocals should not be used by AI without permission, according to the survey commissioned by the Human Artistry Campaign. The poll found that 87% of voters support new policies to protect artists' voices and images from unauthorised use by AI developers. "Voters may not have studied AI deeply, but they are guided by common sense and a collective gut feeling that using someone's voice, image or creative works without authorisation is reckless, invasive and wrong", says Dr Moiya McTier, Senior Advisor at the Human Artistry Campaign. The survey, conducted between 25 and 29 Jul, involved 808 registered voters across the US.
NME and Bose have announced a limited edition vinyl release of their 'C24' mixtape. The compilation, which hit streaming services earlier this year, will be available as a hand-numbered, special edition orange vinyl. Fans can enter a ballot on the Dawsons website for a chance to win a free copy of the vinyl by sharing their favourite track from the mixtape and explaining why. The ballot closes at 11.59pm BST on 26 Sep.
Artist News
Spotify has named Yemi Alade as its EQUAL Africa artiste for September 2024. Phiona Okumu, Spotify's Head Of Music for Sub-Saharan Africa, says, "Spotify is proud to be associated with Yemi Alade and will continue to use the EQUAL Africa programme to support women in music, amplify their voices and help to showcase their incredible talents to the global audience." The programme aims to empower female voices in Africa by spotlighting artists who push boundaries with their artistry. Alade, an Afropop sensation with a career spanning over a decade, has collaborated with global stars such as Beyoncé and Angélique Kidjo, and describes her music as "a perfect blend of high-life pop, R'n'B and afrobeat".
Michael Bibi has donated £124,832 to The Royal Marsden hospital from earnings of his recent comeback show at Finsbury Park. The DJ, who was diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma in June 2023 and given the all-clear in December, made the donation to the hospital where he received treatment and still attends for regular check-ups. Bibi says, "To everyone that was part of this show thank you for making this possible, through dancing we have directly helped other people like myself and are helping to make a difference in saving more lives". The July event, billed as London's "biggest ever electronic show", saw around 45,000 attendees and included a stem cell transplant charity on site to recruit potential donors.
Maneskin has confirmed they are not splitting up, despite Victoria De Angelis and Damiano David launching solo projects. De Angelis, who released her debut solo single 'GET UP B****! (Shake Ya A**)' featuring Anitta last week, told NME, "We just finished our tour a couple of weeks ago and it went amazing so now we are just having a little 'chill moment' but of course, we are not done."
Pharrell Williams has revealed he is no longer on speaking terms with former The Neptunes bandmate Chad Hugo. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Williams commented on their relationship following Hugo's lawsuit against him for allegedly seeking sole control of The Neptunes trademark fraudulently earlier this year. Despite the rift, Williams says, "But I love him, and I always wish him the absolute best, and I'm very grateful for our time together". Hugo filed the lawsuit on 1 Apr, claiming Williams' actions violated their longstanding agreement to split everything equally.
Imagine Dragons have added an extra London show on 25 Jul 2025 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium due to high demand for their upcoming UK and European tour. The band has also announced Declan McKenna as the support act for both London dates. The tour, which begins on 31 May 2025 in Zurich, Switzerland, will be the band's first full stadium tour, covering sixteen countries throughout summer 2025. The tour dates come in celebration of the band's latest album, 'Loom', which arrived earlier this summer and marked their sixth studio LP. Tickets for all dates, including the new London show, are on sale now.
Oasis hype continues apace as Noel Gallagher's Epiphone Les Paul standard electric guitar, featured in Oasis's 'Supersonic' video, sells at auction for £132,000. The instrument, used in the lead-up to the final recording of Oasis's debut album 'Definitely Maybe' and during early live performances, was sold as part of Sotheby's inaugural popular culture sale. Katherine Schofield, Head Of Popular Culture at Sotheby's, says, "It's a fitting tribute to celebrate, not only the 30th anniversary of ‘Definitely Maybe’, but also the recent announcement of the long-awaited Oasis reunion".