APPOINTMENTS
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Sony Music UK has promoted Joanna Kalli to Managing Director of Sony Music Commercial Group, which incorporates the major’s catalogue division, Music For Nations and Masterworks. “I’m delighted to be taking on this new role, leading Sony Music Commercial Group’s great team”, she says. “It’s an exciting time to be working the repertoire of such a dynamic roster of artists”.
DIGITAL
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Spotify is now offering refunds to owners of its Car Thing devices, which it recently announced will stop working in December. The streaming service was sued last week over the decision to stop supporting the devices. According to Engadget, users must provide a valid receipt in order to get their money back.
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Megan Thee Stallion has responded to a lawsuit filed by cameraman Emilio Garcia, who accuses the rapper of harassment and various breaches of employment law. One claim is that she had sex in front of him in a car. The response says that Garcia’s lawsuit “consists almost entirely of falsehoods, misrepresentations of fact, and outlandish claims that have no basis in fact or law and no merit”, branding him a “con artist” whose motivation is a “desperate attempt to boost his failed singing career”.
❌
A Seoul court has barred HYBE from dismissing Min Hee-jin as CEO of its label Ador. This is part of an ongoing corporate battle between Ador and its parent company that began with the allegation that another HYBE group is ripping off Ador-signed act NewJeans. Min has pressured the company to release control of NewJeans or sell its 80% stake in Ador. The court said that HYBE had not provided sufficient reasons to dismiss Min, as she has not acted against the interests of Ador. “While such actions could be seen as a betrayal against HYBE, they do not necessarily constitute a breach of trust to Ador”, says the ruling.
LIVE BUSINESS
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Organisers of Germany’s Melt Festival have said that this year’s event will be the last, adding that “due to various factors, we can no longer continue”. Festival boss Florian Czok explained, “Despite our commitment and efforts in recent years, we recognise that the original Melt no longer fits into the German festival market and cannot withstand the developments of recent years without radically altering the festival concept”. The final edition will take place on 11-13 Jul.
FUNDING
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The PRS Foundation has revealed the recipients of the latest round of support for emerging artists from its Momentum Music Fund. It has also announced Momentum Accelerator funding for developing artists and early career music professionals in Liverpool and Wales. “Huge congratulations to all 28 grantees - it’s fantastic to see so much talent across the UK, whether already established and at a tipping point to break through to that next step, or those steadily building that early career foundation”, says John Hendrickse, Grants & Programmes Manager.
ARTIST NEWS
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How time flies. Jin from BTS will be discharged from military service on 12 Jun. He will return to pop star work the following day, taking part in an event as part of the group’s annual BTS Festa, at which fans who win a raffle will be able to share a “light hug” or handshake with Jin. Yes, we think it's weird too. Jin was the first member of BTS to enter mandatory military service in South Korea in December 2022.
GIGS & FESTIVALS
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Frank Carter is to become frontman of The Sex Pistols for two shows at Bush Hall in West London to raise money for the venue. “We’re doing a benefit for Bush Hall with the famous Frank Carter”, says Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook. “We’re going to be playing Pistols numbers cause they need support and they need the money. We thought it would be a great way to stop it going under. This is my local venue. I grew up in Shepherd’s Bush and I still live round here. It would be a real shame to see it disappear and we want to keep it going”. Tickets go on sale on Wednesday.
RELEASES
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Megan Thee Stallion has announced that she will release her new album ‘Megan’ on 28 Jun.
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Kehlani has released new single ‘Next 2 U’. Her new album ‘Crash’ is out on 21 Jun.
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Aluna has teamed up with producer Paul Woolford for new single ‘Heatstroke’.
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Phantogram are back with new single ‘All A Mystery’.