Warner Music Group news

Kesha reveals “ten year plan to upend the music industry”

public

Kesha • 3 min read

Kesha reveals “ten year plan to upend the music industry”

Kesha finally fulfilled all the obligations on her 2005 record deal with Dr Luke’s Kemosabe Records last year allowing her to release recent single ‘Joyride’ on her own label. Now in control of her recordings, she has a plan to address issues in the music industry, including unfair record contracts…

Chris Cooke • 04 Oct 2024

After executive cull, Elliot Grainge will reveal new Atlantic leadership team next week

public

Warner Music • 4 min read

After executive cull, Elliot Grainge will reveal new Atlantic leadership team next week

Elliot Grainge will announce Atlantic’s new leadership team next week as WMG boss Robert Kyncl sweeps the floor and shows the old guard the door. As papa Grainge heralds the “Streaming 2.0” era, all eyes will be on Atlantic’s new boss as he lays out his vision for the future…

Sam Taylor • 20 Sep 2024

Legal dispute over talk-box vocals in Dua Lipa hit allowed to proceed

public

Dua Lipa • 3 min read

Legal dispute over talk-box vocals in Dua Lipa hit allowed to proceed

Dua Lipa has failed to get one of the lawsuits filed over ‘Levitating’ dismissed. Bosko Kante says he provided talk box vocals for that hit, but they also featured on remixes without his permission. Lipa tried to get the case dismissed, but a judge has rejected her arguments for dismissal…

Chris Cooke • 12 Sep 2024

Warner Music removed from lawsuit accusing Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun of sexual assault

public

Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner Music removed from lawsuit accusing Atlantic Records founder Ahmet Ertegun of sexual assault

Warner Music and its Atlantic label were both named in a lawsuit filed by an artist manager who accuses Atlantic founder Ahmet Ertegun of sexual abuse and assault. However, those two companies didn’t exist at the time of the alleged misconduct, so have been dismissed from the litigation…

Chris Cooke • 06 Sep 2024

Warner Music overhauls recordings division: Max Lousada out, Elliot Grainge promoted

public

Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner Music overhauls recordings division: Max Lousada out, Elliot Grainge promoted

Warner Music is the latest major record company to announce a significant restructure of the business. It involves a flattening of its corporate hierarchy and more execs reporting directly into CEO Robert Kyncl. The major’s current CEO of Recorded Music, Max Lousada, is stepping down…

Chris Cooke • 02 Aug 2024

Warner Music fires AI warning shot: ‘Get a licence or face the consequences’

public

Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner Music fires AI warning shot: ‘Get a licence or face the consequences’

Warner Music has written to AI companies setting out its position that licences must be secured before its music is used to train AI models. The stern letter, which follows Sony’s lead, extends to artist likeness and voice, and formally opts out of the EU data mining exception…

Chris Cooke • 04 Jul 2024

YouTube in talks with all three majors about the next phase in its AI experimentation

public

YouTube • 3 min read

YouTube in talks with all three majors about the next phase in its AI experimentation

YouTube last year piloted a generative AI tool called Dream Track that generates vocals in the style of ten specific artists. The company is now plotting its next AI experiment and is in talks with all three major record companies, with the aim of involving dozens of artists next time…

Chris Cooke • 27 Jun 2024

Warner Music sued over Tom Petty documentary

public

Tom Petty • 1 min read

Warner Music sued over Tom Petty documentary

Film-maker Martyn Atkins has accused Warner Music of using his footage of Tom Petty recording 1994 album ‘Wildflowers’ in the 2021 documentary ‘Somewhere You Feel Free’ without permission. Not only that, but the documentary was originally Atkins idea, it is claimed…

Chris Cooke • 20 Jun 2024

Warner hires new acquisitions chief to gobble up distros

public

Warner Music • 4 min read

Warner hires new acquisitions chief to gobble up distros

Warner Music has been looking for a man in finance - and has got one, in the shape of spectacularly haired Michael Ryan-Southern, who will lead corporate development - including, maybe, trying to buy a distributor that isn’t Believe…

Chris Cooke • 07 Jun 2024

FKA Twigs and Warner boss tell Senators about the urgent need for a US-wide law to regulate deepfakes

public

AI • 3 min read

FKA Twigs and Warner boss tell Senators about the urgent need for a US-wide law to regulate deepfakes

Proposals to introduce a new US-wide law to allow people to stop the unofficial use of AI to replicate their voice and likeness were discussed in Congress yesterday, with FKA Twigs and Warner Music boss Robert Kyncl among those providing their perspectives…

Chris Cooke • 01 May 2024

Believe board backs buyout bid - but company will remain listed on Paris exchange

public

Believe • 5 min read

Believe board backs buyout bid - but company will remain listed on Paris exchange

Believe’s move to private equity backing now looks like a done deal. The twist is that shareholders won’t be forced to sell their shares and can participate in Believe’s long term growth through a continued public listing, while sources point to “upcoming consolidation” in music industry…

Sam Taylor • 19 Apr 2024

Warner Music Group pulls out of Believe takeover race

public

Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner Music Group pulls out of Believe takeover race

Warner ditches Believe takeover ambitions a day before bid deadline expires…

Sam Taylor • 06 Apr 2024