Warner Music Group news

French indie label body UPFI calls on French government to intervene in potential Warner Music Group takeover of Believe

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Believe • 5 min read

French indie label body UPFI calls on French government to intervene in potential Warner Music Group takeover of Believe

In a statement issued by UPFI the French independent label trade body says that it is concerned about the "potentially devastating consequences" if Warner Music Group is allowed to take over Believe saying that music creation in France would suffer…

Sam Taylor • 29 Mar 2024

As BMG’s 2023 numbers show continued growth, could a merger with Warner Music or Believe be on the cards?

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BMG • 4 min read

As BMG’s 2023 numbers show continued growth, could a merger with Warner Music or Believe be on the cards?

BMG’s renewed spend on acquisitions - primarily music rights - over the past three years is starting to pay off. With €847 million invested since 2020 it could make a lot of sense for WMG to buy BMG. Or could BMG make a bid for Believe?…

Sam Taylor • 27 Mar 2024

French regulator AMF knocks back Believe consortium’s accelerated bid, giving Warner Music a chance to make a formal offer

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Believe • 5 min read

French regulator AMF knocks back Believe consortium’s accelerated bid, giving Warner Music a chance to make a formal offer

WMG has access to Believe’s data and fourteen days to make a binding offer for the business. What does that mean and what does it look like? Can Warner find the cash? Even if it can, the deal would bring Warner, Believe and Deezer under common ownership - and will that pass regulatory oversight?…

Sam Taylor • 25 Mar 2024

📑 CMU Digest: Be sold or be banned says US Congress to TikTok

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CMU Digest • 10 min read

📑 CMU Digest: Be sold or be banned says US Congress to TikTok

Thursday is global Tiramisu day. Nothing else matters.…

CMU • 17 Mar 2024

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

US politicians vote in favour or proposals to ban TikTok in the country, Labour commits to cap secondary ticket prices, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 15 Mar 2024

Believe x WMG takeover dance warms up as financial regulator is called in

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Believe • 10 min read

Believe x WMG takeover dance warms up as financial regulator is called in

We’re not calling it a takeover battle - yet. After Warner quietly threatened to get the French financial markets authority to step into its maybe/maybe-not bid for Believe the independent committee at the French indie giant has gone straight for the throat and called them in itself…

Sam Taylor • 12 Mar 2024

Setlist Podcast: Apple blames Spotify for €1.8 billion fine

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: Apple blames Spotify for €1.8 billion fine

Apple's €1.8 billion over its App Store rules, Live Nation's insistence that it's not to blame for rising ticket prices, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 08 Mar 2024

WMG is toying with an offer for Believe that would wipe out Warner’s cash reserves - but is it serious, would Believe shareholders sell and can WMG afford to bet the farm?

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Believe • 6 min read

WMG is toying with an offer for Believe that would wipe out Warner’s cash reserves - but is it serious, would Believe shareholders sell and can WMG afford to bet the farm?

As Believe moves forward with its plans to go private, Warner Music might have tossed a great big Kyncl-shaped two billion dollar spanner in the works, presaging a potentially long-drawn out and bloody boardroom battle for control of the French company…

Sam Taylor • 07 Mar 2024

Setlist Podcast: UK music revenues are back to their CD peak (sort of)

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Setlist • 5 min read

Setlist Podcast: UK music revenues are back to their CD peak (sort of)

Music retail revenues are now higher than their 2001 peak (just don't adjust for inflation), and the brewing legal battle between Kanye West and the Donna Summer estate…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 01 Mar 2024

Warner boss teases superfan app that will be "a cross-platform solution"

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Warner Music • 3 min read

Warner boss teases superfan app that will be "a cross-platform solution"

Yesterday the Web Summit in Qatar featured a conversation between Warner Music CEO Robert Kynl and Warner-signed artist Nora Fatehi, in which the major label boss discussed the superfan opportunity and the benefit, for artists, of working with big music companies…

Chris Cooke • 28 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