Deals
Turntable Labs, Inc, the company behind the new social music platform Hangout, has secured $8.2 million in an extended seed round ahead of its public launch later this year. The investment, led by Founders Fund, Elizabeth Street Ventures, 468 Capital and f7 Ventures, will support the development of Hangout, a platform allowing music fans to gather, DJ together and interact in a virtual setting. Will McClelland, Co-founder & General Partner at Elizabeth Street Ventures, says, "We are THRILLED to partner with Hangout as a platform that enhances music discovery, promotes active listening, and brings pure enjoyment to both music lovers and artists in ways previously unimaginable before the internet". Joseph Perla, founder and CEO of Hangout, notes, "We've created Hangout with a positive-sum approach in mind".
Seat Unique has raised £14.5 million in an extended Series A funding round led by Nickleby Capital. The UK-based premium experience platform, which connects fans with official hospitality packages and premium tickets for live events, will use the funds to develop its platform and expand into new sectors. Robin Sherry, CEO and founder of Seat Unique, says, "We are THRILLED to have secured this additional investment, which not only reflects the robust market demand for our platform, but also the trust our investors have in our strategic direction". The company has also assembled a group of board advisors, including Alastair Lukies CBE, who adds, "Seat Unique is not just redefining premium ticketing; it is transforming the broader experiential industry".
The Black Label's new girl group Meovv has signed a partnership deal with Universal Music's Capitol Records. "Through this partnership, Meovv has established a foundation to rise as a globally influential artist," The Black Label says in a press release. Meovv, set to debut in September, also revealed its final fifth member, Narin, on the same day. A pop-up event called ‘Meovv Debut Pre-listening Pop-up’ will be held until 4 Sep at The Hyundai Seoul in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul.
Notting Hill Music has signed The K's to an exclusive publishing deal. The band cracked the top five with their debut single 'I Wonder If The World Knows?' in April and have made appearances at several festivals, including Isle Of Wight, Camp Bestival and Kendal Calling, with the signing taking place after their main stage performance at Reading and Leeds Festivals last weekend. John Saunderson, Head Of Creative at Notting Hill Music, says, "From the first moment we heard The K's we knew we had to sign this band. They are a generational talent and we are so excited to see how far and how fast they go on from here."
Universal Music’s Virgin Music Group has partnered with Splash, creators of Splash Skate and Music on Roblox, to create an experience for electronic music duo SOFI TUKKER on the gaming platform. On 30 Aug at 5pm Pacific Time, fans can attend a meet-and-greet with band members Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern on Roblox, which will include a performance of 'Woof (featuring Kah-Lo)' from their new album 'BREAD'. The experience will also feature games, collectible skate tokens and purchasable in-game clothing. Connor Hachey, Vice President Of Digital Strategy at Virgin Music Group, says, "Roblox is the perfect platform on which to meet the band's fans where they like to spend their time".
IMG Artists has signed Nicaraguan-American soprano Gabriella Reyes for general management. Reyes, a former member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, will return to the Met in the 2024/25 season to perform roles in 'Ainadamar' and 'La Bohème'. She will also appear at the Lyric Opera Of Chicago and perform with the Nashville Symphony. Reyes says, "I am so THRILLED to be joining the team at IMGA. For years, IMGA has supported the best of the best in the industry. It's an honour to be a part of such an elite line-up of artists".
Appointments
Warner Music Brazil has unveiled a new structure aimed at increasing its presence in domestic music genres. Leila Oliveira, President of Warner Music Brazil, has appointed Tatiana Cantinho as General Manager and Mariana Frensel as Director Of Marketing. The company has also reorganised its A&R and marketing departments to focus on key genres including sertanejo, forró, samba, funk and urban music. Cantinho says, "Warner Music Brazil is reinventing the record company's role in our rapidly changing industry. We need to be more nimble than ever when it comes to connecting artists with fans and building a wave of support for our talent that can be turned into a sustainable career". According to the latest IFPI figures, Brazil is the ninth-largest recorded music market globally, valued at US$573.6 million and growing 13.39% last year.
HYBE has replaced Min Heejin as CEO of its sublabel ADOR, appointing Kim Juyoung as the new chief executive. The decision was made during a board meeting on 27 Aug, according to reports by Korea JoongAng Daily. An ADOR spokesperson says, "Juyoung will be responsible for stabilising and reorganising the company's internal structure". While Heejin will remain on the board of directors and continue producing music for NewJeans, the situation is complicated by legal disputes between the former CEO and HYBE executives, with both sides filing accusations against each other.
Legal
OpenSea has announced it may face legal action from the US Securities And Exchange Commission over its NFT marketplace. CEO Devin Finzer says, "OpenSea has received a Wells notice from the SEC threatening to sue us because they believe NFTs on our platform are securities." Finzer argues that NFTs are "fundamentally creative goods" and should not be regulated like financial securities. The SEC has declined to comment on the potential lawsuit, while OpenSea maintains it has done nothing wrong.
A federal judge has postponed the auction of Damon Dash's one-third stake in Roc-A-Fella Records until 21 Sep, with the minimum bid increased from $1.2 million to $3 million to cover unpaid taxes and child support. The US Marshals Service will conduct the sale of Dash's 33.3% interest in the record company, originally scheduled for 31 Aug. New York City will receive at least $193,000 for child support, followed by $1.7 million to New York state for taxes, and $823,000 to movie producer Josh Webber for legal damages. Dash's attorney, Natraj Bhushan, says, "We look forward to upcoming court conference so that all interested parties can be heard and the court can decide who gets what, and in what priority from the forthcoming public auction".
SM Entertainment has announced that Taeil has left NCT following allegations of a "sexual offence". The K-pop agency says it and Taeil "learned about the indictment around the middle of this month", with the singer being investigated by police on 28 Aug. SM Entertainment tells EDaily, "We recognised the severity of the situation" and determined Taeil could no longer continue with NCT. South Korean police officials have confirmed to Chosun Ilbo that the allegations are "not against a minor or male".
Rodney ‘Lil Rod’ Jones has claimed he is in hiding due to threats received after filing a $30 million sexual harassment lawsuit against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs in February. In an interview with Rolling Stone, Jones says, "He's a monster. He'll do whatever is necessary to get exactly what he wants." Jones alleges his music career has stalled since the lawsuit, stating, "Because of this lawsuit, most people don't want to come near working with me for whatever reasons." Combs' lawyer, Shawn Holley, denies the allegations, saying, "Lil Rod is nothing more than a liar who filed a $30 million lawsuit shamelessly looking for an undeserved payday."
Streaming, Digital, Broadcast & Retail
Apple Music has introduced a new feature allowing users to transfer playlists to and from YouTube Music. The company has published support documents outlining the process for transferring playlist data between the two services. Currently, the transfer functionality is limited to playlists and does not include other data types such as entire music libraries or listening histories. The transfer process involves using Google Takeout for moving playlists from YouTube Music to Apple Music, while transfers from Apple Music to YouTube Music are initiated through the Data And Privacy page of the user's Apple Account. This development follows Apple and Google's previous collaboration on photo transfers earlier in the year.
Meta has announced it will shut down its Spark platform for third-party augmented reality (AR) effects on 14 Jan 2025. The platform, which allowed artists and creators to develop AR effects for Instagram, will no longer be available for external users. Meta says, "Following a thorough assessment, we have made the decision to shut down Meta Spark's platform of third party tools and content, effective Tuesday, January 14, 2025". The company adds, "We don't anticipate that there will be future opportunities to partner with Meta to create custom AR content for mobile-first platforms like Facebook and Instagram".
Live
Yelp has shut down its secondary ticketing platform integration with TicketNetwork following a letter from the National Independent Venue Association calling for an end to "deceptive ticket sales practices". NIVA executive director Stephen Parker wrote to Yelp CEO Jeremy Stoppelman on 28 Aug, stating that "predatory ticket resellers" were deceiving users and selling fake tickets at inflated prices. Approximately two hours after the letter was published, a Yelp spokesperson says, "We thank NIVA for bringing their concerns about TicketNetwork to our attention, and have taken immediate steps to turn off that integration".Other Industry News & Events
Annie Macmanus and Huw Stephens have been announced as hosts for the 'Mercury Prize 2024: Album Of The Year' TV programme. The event will be broadcast live on BBC Four from 8pm to 9.15pm on 5 Sep, filmed at Abbey Road Studios. This year's awards show will feature artists watching each other's recent recorded performances from across the BBC and celebrating their work before the overall winner is announced. BBC Radio 6 Music will also broadcast 'Mercury Prize 2024 Live' from 7pm to 11pm, presented by Tom Ravenscroft and Deb Grant, with Matt Everitt interviewing the artists behind each of the twelve albums of the year.
SPIN magazine has returned to print after a twelve year hiatus, with country music artist Lainey Wilson featuring as the cover star for the first issue. The new edition, available at record stores, newsstands, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers across North America, includes interviews with Nirvana's Krist Novoselic and Guided by Voices' Robert Pollard, as well as a feature on Jane's Addiction written by the band's bassist Eric Avery. SPIN CEO Jimmy Hutcheson says, "This is more than just a return to our roots; it's a bold leap into the future. We're bringing back the raw, unfiltered spirit of SPIN that resonated with so many readers, and we're doing it with a modern twist that reflects the evolving landscape of music and culture".
YG Entertainment has announced the liquidation of its dance management and academy subsidiary YGX. The company's board of directors decided to dissolve YGX in July, with the process expected to conclude in September 2024. YG Entertainment reports an unrecouped investment of 3.56 billion won ($2.66 million) in YGX, which was founded in 2018 and gained recognition through its dancers' participation in the Mnet dance audition programme 'Street Woman Fighter' in 2021. To compensate for the liquidation, YG Entertainment says, "We will become more competitive through continuous talent discovery and constantly strengthen the capabilities of our artists through this liquidation".
London nightclub fabric has donated a sign to the London Museum for its upcoming permanent installation 'Hanging Out'. The exhibit, set to open when the museum reopens in 2026, will celebrate meeting spots that bring London's communities together. Cameron Leslie, fabric co-founder, says, "As we gear up to celebrate our 25th anniversary later this year, it's great to see the club recognised for the community we've built and the vital role we play in London". Beatrice Behlen, senior curator at London Museum, adds, "fabric epitomises the ethos of our Hanging Out installation". The museum, located near fabric in Smithfield, is currently seeking more signs for the display.
Modest Mouse has announced the launch of a Reverb shop on 5 Sep, featuring over 500 pieces of gear and memorabilia from their three-decade career. Isaac Brock, the band's frontman, is selling rare and specialised equipment, including duplicates and seldom-used items. The shop will offer vintage synthesisers, amplifiers and rare pedals. Brock says, "I would go down to the music store, and I would just buy anything that looked interesting to me. I could just take it back or resell it, but then I wouldn't do that - I'd kind of panic that if I didn't have a whole bunch of new gadgets and tools to work with, I was gonna make the same songs".
Primary Wave Music and the James Brown Estate have partnered with the Center For Common Ground to launch initiatives aimed at mobilising black voters ahead of the November 2024 US election. The collaboration, announced on 26 Aug, includes a mailing campaign featuring custom James Brown designs by Shepard Fairey and OBEY, as well as social media outreach in eight southern and southeastern states. OBEY will release apparel and fine art prints on 10 Sep, with a portion of proceeds benefiting the Center For Common Ground. "Our silence is deafening and deadly," James Brown once said, reflecting his lifelong commitment to encouraging black political participation.
Artist News
Fever Ray have cancelled their headline performance at End Of The Road Festival due to lead singer Karin Elisabeth Dreijer's recovery from pneumonia. Dreijer says, "After our last show at Way Out West (which I probably shouldn't have done cause I was feeling unwell) I ended up in hospital with bacterial pneumonia". The artist spent seven days in hospital receiving oxygen and intravenous antibiotics. Despite the cancellation, the festival's line-up still includes acts such as IDLES, Slowdive, and Sleater-Kinney.
ABBA and their label Universal Music have requested that former Donald Trump cease using the band's music at his events. The Swedish pop group's songs 'Money, Money, Money', 'The Winner Takes It All' and 'Dancing Queen' were reportedly played at a Trump rally in St Cloud, Minnesota in July 2024. Universal Music states, "Together with the members of ABBA, we have discovered that videos have been released where ABBA's music/videos has been used at Trump events, and we have therefore requested that such use be immediately taken down and removed". The label confirms that no permission or licence has been granted to Trump for the use of ABBA's music. Björn Ulvaeus of ABBA adds, "Our record company Universal makes sure it is taken down".
Releases & Tours
Allie X has released her new single ‘Galina’, featuring Empress Of.
BIG WETT has released her new single ‘HOLD UP UR BODY’.
SOPHIE has posthumously released her new single ‘Exhilarate’, featuring Bibi Bourelly. Her self-titled final album is out 27 Sep.
The Smile have released two new singles ‘Zero Sum’ and ‘Foreign Spies’. Their new album ‘Cutouts’ is out 4 Oct.
Tess Parks has released her new single ‘Crown Shy’. Her new album 'Pomegranate' is out 25 Oct.
Jamie xx has collaborated with Kelsey Lu, John Glacier and Panda Bear on new single ‘Dafodil’. His new album ‘In Waves’ is out 20 Sep.
Surf Gang leader Evilgiane has collaborated with Nourished by Time and producer Goner on new single ‘Instant Death’.
Bryan Ferry has released his new single ‘Star’, featuring Amelia Barratt. His new album ‘Retrospective: Selected Recordings 1973-2023’ is out 25 Oct.
Wasia Project have released their new EP and short film ‘Isotope’.
Better Lovers have released their new single ‘Future Myopia’. Their debut album ‘Highly Irresponsible’ is out 25 Oct.
TOKiMONSTA has released her new single ‘On Sum’, featuring Anderson .Paak and Rae Khalil. Her new album ‘Eternal Reverie’ is out 22 Nov.
Manu Chao has released his new single ‘Tu Te Vas’, featuring Laeti. His new album 'Viva Tu' is out 20 Sep.
Emily Burns has released her new single ‘Die Happy’. Her debut album ‘Die Happy’ is out 8 Nov.
Gov’t Mule front man Haynes has released his new single ‘This Life As We Know It’. His new solo album ‘Million Voices Whisper’ is out 1 Nov.
FAZER have released their new single ‘Apex’. Their new album ‘Yamaha’ is out 27 Sep.
Cordae has collaborated with Anderson .Paak on new single ‘Summer Drop’.
Frankie Archer has released her new single ‘Barbara Allen’. Her new EP 'Pressure And Persuasion' is out 4 Oct.
Swedish House Mafia have released their new single ‘Finally’, featuring Alicia Keys.