NEWS & PRESS
Warner Chappell Music signs Monique Lawz
Warner Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has signed a worldwide deal with UK R&B and soul singer-songwriter Monique Lawz. Monique has been building a strong reputation in both the UK and the US, already securing a...more
Universal Music Publishing Group signs Idris Elba to global publishing deal
UMPG to sub-publish artists on Elba's record label, 7Wallace Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG), a leading global publishing company, today announced that multitalented artist Idris Elba has been signed to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement. A true creative master, Elba is an accomplished musician, songwriter,...more
Nile Rodgers to be crowned Artists’ Artist at the 2019 Artist & Manager Awards
The CHIC co-founder and music legend to receive the coveted award for extraordinary innovation and creativity The A&MAs return to the Bloomsbury Big Top on Thursday 14th November The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) and Music Managers Forum (MMF) are delighted to announce...more
Kobalt Signs Pop Singer-Songwriter Hayley Kiyoko
Pop Icon & VMA and Billboard’s Rising Star Award Winner Inks Worldwide Publishing Deal Kobalt today announced an exclusive worldwide agreement with Hayley Kiyoko. The partnership with Kiyoko includes publishing administration, creative services and synch for all of her catalogue...more
Artists United; The Featured Artists Coalition celebrates 10 years
For a decade, the Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) has been fighting for equality, recognition, fairness and transparency for music makers. This week the FAC threw a mighty birthday celebration, showing that the only body run by artists, for artists, is...more
Pivotal Music Conference, Birmingham - Announces "Houses" and First Content for the Day
- Main Sponsors for 2019 include: ACM, WARM, The MPG, The BPI, ROTOR Videos, AIM, AWAL and Awesome Merchandise- Partners include: CD Baby, Spinnup, Believe,- One Day International Conference returning for second year taking place on the 27th September (09:30...more
Help Musicians’ 360-degree Do It Differently Fund supports more artists than ever in latest awardee announcement
57 musicians hailing from the breadth of the UK, performing an eclectic mix of genres, represent the diverse nature of DIY music Help Musicians UK, the nearly 100-year-old independent charity, is incredibly proud to announce the second cohort of artists supported...more
Partisan Records Appoints Theresa Adebiyi as Creative Director
Label Celebrates Wins at Libera Awards Partisan Records, the independent label with offices in New York, Los Angeles and London, has appointed Theresa Adebiyi as Creative Director. Theresa, whose appointment is effective immediately, joins the company from Ninja Tune, where she was...more
BMG Production Music partners with Sounds of Red Bull
BMG Production Music (BMGPM) - the world’s fastest-growing production music company, servicing the film, broadcast, games and advertising industries - has announced its partnership with Red Bull Media House in a deal that will see BMGPM represent its Sounds of...more
Latest BPI ‘Wisdom Wednesdays’ event focuses on the music business career paths ‘less travelled’
July 10th panel includes representatives from Warner Music UK, Abbey Road, Lewis Silkin & Kobalt, exploring music careers beyond the traditional roles UK record labels association the BPI has announced the fifth edition of its popular “Wisdom Wednesdays” event, which returns to Gibson Brands, 61-62...more
a-ha's Take On Me video approaches one billion views
a-ha Is Celebrating The Milestone With A Contest That Lets Fans Predict The Exact Date And Time Of When The Iconic Video Will Reach One Billion Views On YouTubeThe Song Is Already The #2 Most-Viewed Video From The ’80s On...more
Iceland Airwaves announce 3rd wave of acts
JOHN GRANT, CAUTIOUS CLAY, ORVILLE PECK, JUST MUSTARD, AGENT FRESCO, BIGGI VEIRA (GUS GUS DJ SET), BAGDAD BROTHERS, & MORE JOINING PREVIOUSLY ANNOUNCED ACTS: OF MONSTERS AND MEN, MAC DEMARCO, WHITNEY, SHAME, VÖK, HATARI, MAMMÚT, SEABEAR, & MORE Iceland Airwaves, the country’s longest...more
Wireless Festival and MelodyVR join forces for live Virtual Reality broadcast
MelodyVR launch brand new mobile app giving an unlimited number of music fans the chance to witness the festival in Virtual Reality via their phones Wireless Festival, the leading event for urban music and hip hop is set to go global...more
Johnny Marr to Headline Inaugural AIM Awards Live Show & Receive Pioneer Award
BBC 6 Music’s Lauren Laverne to host Roundhouse-based ceremony Award submissions extended until 24th June Iconic guitarist and former Smiths member Johnny Marr is set to showcase his legendary talents as the headliner for AIM Independent Music Awards’ first ever live show. Before...more
UK Music throws Summer Party at Southbank Centre
Culture Secretary Jeremy Wright paid tribute to UK Music for a “fantastic year” supporting the music industry at our summer party.Speaking at the event attended by a host of senior politicians and music industry leaders at the Southbank Centre, Mr...more
Voisey attracts high profile investors ahead of planned US launch
New short form music format gaining traction prior to international expansion Voisey, the mobile music app that allows users to record short videos using professional vocal effects and backing tracks provided by hundreds of credible producers has attracted a series of...more
Deezer Launches lyric sharing on Instagram Stories
- New shareable feature allows fans to post favourite lyrics from Deezer- Deezer users can play the full song, direct from Instagram Stories Deezer, the global streaming service, now lets music fans express exactly how they feel through song lyrics on...more
The Kerrang! Awards
METALLICA, GHOST, BRING ME THE HORIZON, ARCHITECTS, IDLES AND MORE HONOURED AT THE ANNUAL KERRANG! AWARDS The most raucous night in the awards calendar - the Kerrang! Awards – returned to Islington Assembly Hall as the world's biggest rock stars turned out en masse. Three generations of...more
Next deadline for Steve Reid Innovation Award announced
PRS Foundation and the Steve Reid Foundation today announce that the next deadline for theSTEVE REID INNOVATION AWARD is Thursday 8th August 2019. The initiative provides an opportunity for emerging artists that make outstanding music to receive support in the form of: a grant...more
Merlin reveals record revenue distributions in new 2019 Membership Report
Since opening for business, Merlin has paid in excess of $2bn to thousands of independent labels and distributors worldwide. While it took 9 years to distribute our first billion dollars, it has taken only 18 months to distribute our second...more
The Shires sign to BMG
UK country phenomenon The Shires have chosen BMG to release their next album. The duo’s first three albums not only garnered near universal critical acclaim, but all three reached the Top 10 Official UK Albums Chart, an unprecedented feat for...more
Important update to labels and suppliers on Record Store Day 2020
Ahead of April 2020, Record Store Day UK are making important changes to the submission timeline for labels and suppliers.As RSD approaches its 13th year the organisers have had to consider the most practical and efficient way of coordinating over...more
Charles Caldas to step down as Merlin CEO
Charles Caldas has announced that he will step down as CEO of Merlin at the end of 2019 after more than 12 years at the helm of the global digital rights agency. Continuing his current duties until then, Charles is working with the...more
Rumer signs to Cooking Vinyl for special Nashville album project
Having already added four artists to their roster earlier this year, Cooking Vinyl’s A&R team are continuing to make big moves, signing a deal with award-winning British singer-songwriter Rumer for a worldwide royalty deal. Dubbed the “heir to Dusty Springfield” by...more
KISS switch-up the schedule in time for Summer
KISS have today launched a refreshed daytime schedule, which sees some presenters move into new roles on the station. Alex and Andrea, who have previously teamed up to host ‘Live@KISS’ from 3-7pm on weekdays, now host their own individual shows. Andrea...more
Music and Millennials helping to fuel the podcasting boom
New BPI Insight Session report explores dynamics & trends shaping the popularity of podcasts A new report produced for record labels association the BPI highlights the scale of the current podcasting phenomenon and the extent to which this boom is being driven by...more
Jaxsta launches public beta of its pioneering music database
PLATFORM CONTAINS MORE THAN 100 MILLION MUSIC CREDITS ACROSS 25 MILLION WEBPAGES Jaxsta Limited (ASX: JXT) has launched an open beta of its groundbreaking music database platform (www.jaxsta.com). Founded in 2015 by Jacqui Louez Schoorl and Louis Schoorl, Jaxsta is positioned to...more
Concord expands classical and European interests by acquiring Sikorski Music Publishing
Sikorski Music Publishing will be combined with Concord Music Publishing's venerable Boosey & Hawkes division, bringing together two giants of Russian classical copyrights Concord is pleased to announce the acquisition of the esteemed classical music publisher, The Sikorski Music Publishing Group,...more
Hipgnosis acquires Sam Hollander catalogue
Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited (“Hipgnosis” or the “Company”) Acquisition of Music Catalogue The Board of Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited and its Investment Adviser, The Family (Music) Limited, are pleased to announce that the Company has acquired a music catalogue from Sam Hollander,...more
IMRO choose ICE
Irish collecting society appoint ICE for Online Licensing ICE and IMRO, the Irish Music Rights Organisation, are delighted to announce IMRO has become a direct customer of ICE’s Core Licence. Under the terms of the new agreement, ICE will provide a...more
THE HEADLINES
Speculation Vivendi's part sale of UMG may be delayed; plus US may block deal. Post-fire artist outreach plan announced. (see Business, News)
700 additional artists who lost recordings in the Universal Studios fire named. (see News)
Hipgnosis reports first annual results. (see Business)
Universal Music's 'quiet revolution' to neurodiversity. (see Features)
Apple may earn as little as £1m per year from Spotify via 'app tax'. (see Digital)
Warner Music UK reports strong profit increase. (see Business)
Universal Music Group sued over the fire that destroyed archived recordings. (see News)
Spotify wants money back from 'overpayment' to songwriters and publishers. (see News)
Industry aims to combat streaming manipulation. (see News)
Vivendi in no rush for Universal Music Group sale. (see Business)
Wireless Festival to be broadcast live on MelodyVR mobile app. (see Digital)
Charles Caldas to step down as CEO of Merlin. (see News)
Merlin reports record revenue distributions. (see News)
Spotify backs Facebook's Libra cryptocurrency. (see Digital)
Physical: Sony proposes closure of distribution site, HMV set to close two city stores. (see Business)
Universal's archivist says fire damage 'surprisingly overstated'. (see News)
Universal likely to face legal action over 2008 fire losses. (see News)
Summer European festival market reported as 'slow'. (see Analysis)
Spotify rolls out redesigned app for Premium users - with an increased emphasis on podcasts. (see Digital)