DEALS
👑
Sony Music is reportedly in talks to acquire Queen’s music catalogue in a deal worth around $1 billion, according to Bloomberg. The band have been known to be seeking a buyer for the last year.
🐕
Artist Legacy Group has signed a deal to oversee the DMX estate, in partnership with the late rapper’s partner Desiree Lindstrom and daughter Sasha Simmons. “A force of nature. That is how I would describe DMX”, says ALG CEO Ashley Austin. “Rapper, poet, actor, preacher - the man’s talent was truly limitless. I am honoured to work alongside Desiree and Sasha as we maximise the estate’s potential. Together, we will ensure that his message and music lives on”.d
🧱
Sentric Music has signed producers Banx & Ranx to a publishing administration deal as part of its joint venture with Tileyard Music Publishing. The agreement covers their future work. “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Tileyard and to kick this off by signing [Banx & Ranx] is beyond exciting”, says Sentric’s Creative Director Peter McCamley. “The incredible songwriting talent of the duo is evident in their previous successes of which I have been lucky to work with them on”.
LABELS
🌎
Domino and Sentric Music have joined RDx, the global repertoire data exchange service for the record industry spearheaded by trade groups IFPI and WIN. “We are excited to welcome Domino and Sentric to RDx, our innovative platform providing a streamlined solution for delivering repertoire data to multiple music licensing companies”, says WIN CEO Noemí Planas. “This single point of entry significantly enhances efficiencies for independent record companies, while also improving data quality across the value chain enabling more efficient distributions”.
DIGITAL
🇫🇷
Spotify has increased the price of its premium subscription packages by 1.2% in France. For users of its main individual plan, this means an extra €0.13 on their monthly fee, bringing it up to €11.12. This price hike matches the 1.2% levy that the French government imposed on streaming companies earlier this year. In December last year, Spotify threatened to "disinvest" from France if the levy went ahead.
🎶
Beatport has announced the launch of a new human-curated playlist dedicated to independent electronic artists, created in partnership with the platform’s distribution partners TuneCore, DistroKid and Music Hub. “By curating a dedicated space for independent electronic music artists, Beatport is not only providing a platform for discovery but also ensuring that standout self-produced artists receive the recognition and compensation they deserve from the get-go”, says Raphael Pujol, Beatport’s VP Global Curation. Taking a little dig at changes made by some other streaming services when it comes to grassroots artists, he adds, “While other platforms may struggle with the distribution of small payments to artists with fewer streams, our focus remains firmly on furthering the voices of independent creators and fostering a more equitable ecosystem for electronic music”.
LIVE BUSINESS
🎲
Ticketing platform Dice has launched Extras, a new feature that will allow event creators to sell additional experiences and other items to ticket buyers. Initially launching in the US and UK, add-ons include things like meet and greet passes, transport options, food and drink, and merch. “Dice has already nailed the ticket-buying experience, and now we want to build on that, making it even easier for fans to get the most out of live events, all on one platform”, says the company’s VP Commerce Jack Driessen.
LEGAL
💍
Cher has won a lawsuit to continue receiving royalties from the Sonny Bono estate under their 1978 divorce settlement. His fourth wife Mary Bono had argued that she could stop paying Cher a 50% cut of her late husband’s publishing royalties under the termination right in US copyright law. The judge overseeing the case said that the rule did not supersede the divorce agreement.
INDUSTRY PEOPLE
🚀
Music execs Rick Gleave, Jon Hilbrants and Tom Grayson have launched new music technology consultancy Foundry Consultancy. “At Music Foundry, our mission is clear: to blend experience with innovation to provide unparalleled strategic guidance and support in the dynamic landscape of music technology”, says Gleave.
AWARDS
📸
Submissions are now open for the Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Awards. Entries will be accepted until 18 Jul here. The ceremony will take place at the studios on 3 Oct.
ARTIST NEWS
⚖️
Further sexual abuse allegations against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs have come to light as part of a six month investigation by Rolling Stone. The magazine spoke to more than 50 people, uncovering allegations that date back to his time as a university student. Responding to a request for comment by Rolling Stone, Combs’ attorney Jonathan Davis said, “We are aware that the proper authorities are conducting a thorough investigation and therefore have confidence any important issues will be addressed in the proper forum, where the rules distinguish facts from fiction”.
RELEASES
❄️
Snow Patrol have announced that they will release their first album for six years, ‘The Forest Is The Path’, on 13 Sep. Out now is the single ‘The Beginning’. There will also be tour dates in February 2025, opening at the O2 in London on 15 Feb.
🐸
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds have released new single ’Frogs’. New album ‘Wild God’ is out on 30 Aug.
🌬️
Marc Almond has released new single ‘Gone With The Wind (Is My Love)’. His new album ‘I’m Not Anyone’ is out on 12 Jul.
🌳
Max Richter will release new album ‘In A Landscape’ on 6 Sep. Out now is new single ‘Movement, Before All Flowers’.
🍯
Sasami is back with new single ‘Honeycrash’.
🪨
Planningtorock has released new track ‘Get Your Fckin Laws Off My Body’.
💻
Martha Skye Murphy has released new single ‘IRL’. Her debut album ‘Um’ is out on 14 Jun.
💭
Having soundtracked British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s announcement of a General Election earlier this month, D:Ream have announced that they will re-issue their debut album ‘D:Ream On Vol 1’ on 14 Jun.