The latest record label news

Universal splurges almost quarter of a billion dollars to buy KKR out of Chord Music

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Chord Music Partners • 2 min read

Universal splurges almost quarter of a billion dollars to buy KKR out of Chord Music

Universal Music has acquired a 25.8% interest in Chord Music, replacing KKR as private equity firm Dundee Partners’ partner in the company. Since launching in 2021, Chord has built a catalogue including songs by The Weeknd, Ryan Tedder, David Guetta, Lorde, Kid Cudi, Ellie Goulding, and John Legend…

Andy Malt • 21 Feb 2024

Sony Music sues over unpaid sync fees from Whitney Houston biopic

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Sony Music • 2 min read

Sony Music sues over unpaid sync fees from Whitney Houston biopic

The producers of the Whitney Houston biopic 'I Wanna Dance With Somebody' have been accused on infringing the copyright in her recordings after failing to pay the fees due on a sync deal negotiated with the late musician’s label, Sony Music…

Chris Cooke • 19 Feb 2024

Setlist Podcast: AI developments cause celebration and concern

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Artificial Intelligence • 5 min read

Setlist Podcast: AI developments cause celebration and concern

The music industry welcomes the final draft of the EU AI Act but sees plans for the UK to develop an AI code of conduct collapse, and allegations that the BBC is going head to head with its commercial rivals by launching new decade and genre specific music radio stations…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 09 Feb 2024

Warner Music’s Kyncl goes big on importance of major labels and data, says he is confident UMG TikTok dispute will be resolved

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Warner Music • 3 min read

Warner Music’s Kyncl goes big on importance of major labels and data, says he is confident UMG TikTok dispute will be resolved

Speaking to investors on a call about Warner Music’s Q4 earnings, CEO Robert Kyncl said that major music companies are only becoming more important as technology advances. He also said that he is “confident” that Universal and TikTok will resolve their current dispute and agree a new licensing deal…

Sam Taylor • 08 Feb 2024

Megan Thee Stallion marks “beginning of a new chapter” with Warner deal

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Megan Thee Stallion • 2 min read

Megan Thee Stallion marks “beginning of a new chapter” with Warner deal

Megan Thee Stallion has signed a deal with Warner Music which will distribute and support upcoming releases via her company Hot Girl Productions. This follows the settlement of a legal dispute with the rapper’s former label 1501 Certified Entertainment last October…

Chris Cooke • 05 Feb 2024

Setlist Podcast: Universal and TikTok accuse each other of “bullying” and “greed”

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TikTok • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: Universal and TikTok accuse each other of “bullying” and “greed”

The collapse of licensing talks between Universal Music and TikTok, UK Parliament's 'Misogyny In Music' report that calls for new legislation to end the cycle of harassment and abuse in the "boys' club" industry, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 02 Feb 2024

Dodgy distributor 3tone has lost its ability to distribute music

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3tone • 3 min read

Dodgy distributor 3tone has lost its ability to distribute music

To lose one distribution partner in a week may be regarded as misfortune; to lose two looks like carelessness. As 3tone looks to be entering the end game, questions remain for the industry about how it was able to operate for so long…

Sam Taylor • 02 Feb 2024

The F-List’s Vick Bain on UK Parliament’s Misogyny In Music report and the industry’s next steps

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Industry Issues • 5 min read

The F-List’s Vick Bain on UK Parliament’s Misogyny In Music report and the industry’s next steps

Researcher and consultant Vick Bain welcomes the new report from Parliament’s Women And Equalities Committee on Misogyny In Music and outlines how the industry should respond to it…

Vick Bain • 31 Jan 2024

UK government publishes new UK streaming transparency code

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Economics Of Streaming • 3 min read

UK government publishes new UK streaming transparency code

Part of the UK government’s wider work on the economics of music streaming, a transparency code has been published which sees streaming services and music companies commit to provide more information to artists, songwriters and their managers about digital deals and royalties…

Chris Cooke • 31 Jan 2024

Misogyny remains “endemic” in “boys’ club” music industry says UK parliamentary report

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Industry Issues • 4 min read

Misogyny remains “endemic” in “boys’ club” music industry says UK parliamentary report

UK Parliament’s Women And Equalities Committee has published a damning report on misogyny in the music industry. It found that harassment and abuse frequently go unreported, with some companies actively suppressing such claims, and makes numerous proposals for new legislation to tackle the issue…

Andy Malt • 30 Jan 2024

BMG's radical restructure continues with revamp of top team in North America

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BMG • 2 min read

BMG's radical restructure continues with revamp of top team in North America

BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld, who took over in the top job last July, has announced details of his latest restructuring of the company, which sees a revamp at the top of its US business, with expanded roles for both Jon Loba and Thomas Scherer…

Chris Cooke • 26 Jan 2024

Universal Music to lay off hundreds says Bloomberg: company responds and says it will create “efficiencies”

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Universal Music • 1 min read

Universal Music to lay off hundreds says Bloomberg: company responds and says it will create “efficiencies”

Universal Music has confirmed it will be “creating efficiencies” in parts of its business to allow “investment in future growth”, following reports by Bloomberg that the major will instigate a round of redundancies that will affect hundreds of employees in the first quarter of 2024…

Chris Cooke • 15 Jan 2024

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