DEALS
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Wise Music Group’s Edition Wilhelm Hansen has signed a new publishing deal with Teitur in partnership with Arlo & Betty Music, the publishing company run by the Faroese musician’s manager Christian Ulf-Hansen.
🎪
Bulgarian festival organiser FEST Team has announced a deal to acquire Turkey-based promoter Charmenko. “This acquisition represents a transformative opportunity for Fest Team”, says FEST Team CEO Stefan Elenkov. “By combining Fest Team’s expertise in organising large-scale music events with Charmenko’s robust artist booking capabilities and industry know-how, we aim to create synergy that will redefine the Eastern European music landscape”.
APPOINTMENTS
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The British Association For Performing Arts Medicine has announced that music industry consultant Remi Harris and Equity’s Assistant General Secretary Adam Adnyana have joined its board of trustees. “Our 40th anniversary has offered us a chance to look back at BAPAM’s achievements, but more importantly look to the future as we aim to help more performers and professionals in the performing arts”, says CEO Claire Cordeaux. “With their years of experience working with and representing performers, Remi and Adam understand their needs and are perfectly placed to help us in this journey, adding to the wealth of expertise on our board”.
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Laura Golding has announced that she will step down as Chief Finance Officer at UK collecting society PRS For Music at the end of July. Lee Williams has been appointed as interim CFO.
DISTRIBUTION
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Distributor TuneCore has launched a new AI-powered mastering tool to help independent artists optimise the sound quality of their recordings before release. TuneCore Mastering’s “ethically-built AI technology”, says CEO Andreea Gleeson, provides “an instant audio mastering option for artists who wouldn’t have the means to have a professional master it for them”.
DIGITAL
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Tidal has announced that it is phasing out the MQA and Sony 360 Reality Audio high quality audio formats and will begin to use FLAC and Dolby Atmost instead. The switch will be completed on 24 Jul, says the company in an update to users, although it warns that there is a possibility that some tracks may become unavailable as a result of the format change.
LIVE BUSINESS
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Heathrow Airport has partnered with Sofar Sounds to put on a series of gigs in the London airports’s Terminal 5 over the summer. “The Heathrow Introducing stage isn't just about providing entertainment, it's about propelling careers to new heights”, says Sofar Sounds’ Karoline Komolafe. “It's a game-changer for those aiming to break into the industry, especially with festival season at its peak, offering exposure to execs travelling through. I think Heathrow passengers are going to have a brilliant time at the gigs”.
ARTIST NEWS
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A new ballet based on The Who’s 1973 album ‘Quadrophonia’ is set to open at Sadler’s Wells in London on 24 Jun 2025. The show is written by Pete Townshend, choreographed by Paul Roberts and uses an orchestral arrangement of the album composed by Rachel Fuller and Martin Batchelar in 2016. “When Rachel and Pete came to me with the idea of a ‘Quadrophenia’ ballet with extraordinary new arrangements, it was probably one of the easiest ‘we’re in’ moments I’ve had”, says David Joseph, CEO of Universal Music UK, which is co-promoting the show.
RELEASES
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Bloc Party have released new single ‘Flirting Again’.
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Bright Eyes will release new album ‘Five Dive, All Threes’ on 20 Sep. Out now is new single ‘Bells And Whistles’. UK shows are booked for November.
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Laura Jane Grace & The Mississippi Medicals have released their debut single ’All Fucked Out’. Grace will be on tour in the UK in November.
🩺
Tycho will release new album ‘Infinite Health’ on 30 Aug. Out now is new single ‘Phantom’.