The latest record label news

Concord has gobbled up Ninja Tune and the indie label community is celebrating

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Ninja Tune • 2 min read

Concord has gobbled up Ninja Tune and the indie label community is celebrating

Concord has bought indie label Ninja Tune, saying the deal will “vastly increase its UK and European footprint”. The deal has been welcomed by the wider independent label community, who much prefer indies buying indies than Universal Music buying up every label and distributor in the world…

Chris Cooke • 13 Mar 2026

Scott Borchetta leaves HYBE and walks his Big Machine out with him

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Big Machine • 2 min read

Scott Borchetta leaves HYBE and walks his Big Machine out with him

Scott Borchetta is leaving HYBE America, which ended up owning his Big Machine label group following a deal in 2021. HYBE will retain all the assets of the Big Machine company, but Borchetta has bought back the name, allowing him to set up an entirely new label using the Big Machine brand…

Chris Cooke • 13 Feb 2026

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BMG • 2 min read

BMG in talks to buy Concord

BMG is reportedly in talks to buy Concord in a deal that could be worth $7 billion. The CEO of BMG owner Bertelsmann said the time might be right for the music company to “join forces with a competitor” nearly two years ago, and Concord was always on the relatively short list of possible partners…

Chris Cooke • 30 Jan 2026

Universal’s Downtown deal likely to be approved by EU regulator, according to sources

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Universal Music • 2 min read

Universal’s Downtown deal likely to be approved by EU regulator, according to sources

Universal’s Downtown deal likely to be approved by EU regulator, according to sources…

Chris Cooke • 21 Jan 2026

AI music creation platform Udio signs deal with indie label licensing body Merlin

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Udio • 2 min read

AI music creation platform Udio signs deal with indie label licensing body Merlin

Udio has announced a licensing deal with Merlin, which means many indie labels and distributors will now be able to participate in the relaunch of the AI platform as an industry-endorsed service. Merlin says the deal shows it is “committed to participating in shaping the opportunities AI promises”…

Chris Cooke • 20 Jan 2026

Indie community welcomes EU’s ‘statement of objections’ over Universal’s Downtown deal

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Indie community welcomes EU’s ‘statement of objections’ over Universal’s Downtown deal

The European Commission yesterday confirmed it has sent a statement of objections to Universal regarding its bid to buy Downtown, raising data concerns, particularly in relation to Downtown’s Curve platform. Indie labels have welcomed the development and continue to argue the deal should be blocked…

Chris Cooke • 25 Nov 2025

Upholding major labels' billion dollar ruling against Cox will have “seismic and dangerous ramifications”

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Cox Communications • 2 min read

Upholding major labels' billion dollar ruling against Cox will have “seismic and dangerous ramifications”

Next month the US Supreme Court will review the major labels’ billion dollar legal win against Cox. The ISP has made another filing with the top court, again presenting doom and gloom predictions, insisting that if the majors’ win is upheld there will be “seismic and dangerous ramifications”…

Chris Cooke • 10 Nov 2025

Warner downsizing continues with new super division for Benelux and GSA

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Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner downsizing continues with new super division for Benelux and GSA

Warner Music is combining its Benelux and GSA divisions, which will now operate as one, led by former Benelux boss Niels Walboomers, with GSA Presidents Doreen Schimk and Fabian Drebes exiting. It’s part of the major’s ongoing efforts to find $300 million in cost savings, a lot of it from job cuts…

Chris Cooke • 15 Oct 2025

Lucian Grainge says artist consent will be sought on AI deals - though only for voice clones and AI-generated adaptations

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Universal Music • 3 min read

Lucian Grainge says artist consent will be sought on AI deals - though only for voice clones and AI-generated adaptations

Lucian Grainge has sent a memo to UMG employees updating them on the major’s negotiations with AI companies. Most interestingly he identifies two scenarios where artist consent will be sought before employing AI tools: voice clones and AI-generated songs that “incorporate an artist’s existing songs”…

Chris Cooke • 14 Oct 2025

Warner UK COO departs as downsizing of senior leadership continues

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Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner UK COO departs as downsizing of senior leadership continues

Downsizing at the top of Warner Music continues. Following the news that Warner UK CEO Tony Harlow is departing and won’t be replaced, now UK COO Isabel Garvey has also announced she is leaving. UK labels will report into the US, while other departments will report to EMEA President Simon Robson…

Chris Cooke • 09 Oct 2025

US government set to side with Cox in court to overturn billion dollar damages judgement

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Cox Communications • 2 min read

US government set to side with Cox in court to overturn billion dollar damages judgement

Not only is the US government backing Cox Communications as it tries to overturn the billion dollar ruling in its long-running copyright battle with the major labels, but US Solicitor General D John Sauer now wants ten minutes to tell Supreme Court judges directly why they should side with the ISP…

Chris Cooke • 25 Sep 2025

Sylvia Rhone announces departure from top job at Sony Music’s Epic Records

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Sony Music • 2 min read

Sylvia Rhone announces departure from top job at Sony Music’s Epic Records

Sylvia Rhone is standing down as Chair and CEO of the Epic label at Sony Music. The first black woman to chair a major label in the US, Rhone has now led frontline label divisions at all three major record companies. In a memo to staff, Sony boss Rob Stringer hailed the “trailblazing executive”…

Chris Cooke • 23 Sep 2025

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