DDEX Publishes Musical Work Right Share Notification Standard (MWN) Version 1.3 03 Apr 2025
NEWS & PRESS
Downtown Music Publishing Appoints Jason Taylor to VP of Business Development
Alongside Taylor’s appointment, Bea Koramblyum steps into an expanded role as Global Head of Business Affairs & VP of Business Development to drive Downtown Music Publishing’s next phase of growth. Downtown Music Publishing (DMP), the preferred music publishing partner for some...more
The British Music Embassy announces two-day UK music showcase at first-ever SXSW London
The British Music Embassy (BME) today announces that it is hosting a two-night music showcase at the first-ever SXSW London, taking place at Devonshire Square (DSQ) from 7-11pm on Monday 2nd and Tuesday 3rd June 2025. The British Music Embassy in London is a collaboration between UK...more
Creative Industries and Politicians Join Forces at Parliament with Urgent Call on Government to Stop AI Firms Stealing Music
Musicians, creative industry leaders and politicians joined forces at Westminster today (Wednesday May 7) to call on the Government to ditch plans to allow AI tech firms to steal their work without payment or permission. Stars from the UK’s £125 billion...more
Flash Survey: UK Businesses Face Economic Strain, Falling Confidence, and Survival Fears says UK Trade Bodies
Industry Flash Poll Says 64.4% of Hospitality, night time economy and events businesses see a reduction in VAT as a primary ask. A new survey of over 250 businesses across the events, night-time economy, and hospitality sectors has laid bare...more
Music Meets Innovation: Merlin Connect Partners with Nina Protocol to Power Growth
Merlin, the digital music licensing partner for the world's leading independent labels and distributors, announced today that they have partnered with Nina Protocol as part of their Merlin Connect initiative. Nina is a music platform and direct-to-fan marketplace, built to...more
Horus Music Appoints Rich Orchard as Managing Director to Lead Next Phase of Independent Music Growth
Horus Music, the global digital distribution, publishing, and label services company, has announced the appointment of Rich Orchard as Managing Director of Horus Music Limited and sister company, Anara Publishing. This strategic move reinforces the company’s dedication to championing independent...more
Open letter to the attention of Ministers of Culture ahead of the Education, Youth, Culture and Sport Council on 12-13 May 2025
Dear Ministers, We are writing to you on behalf of a coalition of organisations representing the collective voice of hundreds of thousands of writers, translators, journalists, performers, composers, songwriters, screen directors, screenwriters, visual artists, as well as other artists and...more
2025 Mercury Prize moves to Newcastle
Newcastle Upon Tyne to host first ever Mercury Prize outside of London 2025 ‘Albums of the Year’ Shortlist announced 10th September Award Show to take place at Utilita Arena, Newcastle on 16th October and will be broadcast across BBC platforms All tickets available...more
Andrew Spencer named Chief Operating Officer of AEG Presents Europe
Industry Veteran and Current Chief Commercial Officer at Frontier Touring to Lead European Operations for Live Entertainment Company AEG Presents, a leader in live entertainment, announced today that Andrew Spencer has been named Chief Operating Officer (COO) of AEG Presents Europe....more
Free Party: A Folk History
A DOCUMENTARY BY AWARD-WINNING DIRECTOR AARON TRINDERFREE PARTY: A FOLK HISTORY THE UNTOLD STORY OF HOW RAVE CULTURE SHOOK THE SYSTEM AND SPARKED A GLOBAL REVOLUTION FEATURING SPIRAL TRIBE, BEDLAM, CIRCUS WARP, DiY SOUND SYSTEM, YOUTH (KILLING JOKE), COLIN DALE, CHARLIE HALL...more
Bloc Party to be honoured with Ivor Novello Award for Outstanding Song Collection
IN CELEBRATION OF THE BAND’S EXCEPTIONAL SONGWRITING PROWESS ACROSS A PROLIFIC 25 YEAR CAREER The original four members of Bloc Party will receive the award at the 70th edition of the world’s biggest and most prestigious celebration of songwriters and screen composers,...more
BPI In Tune with Sound City
Sound City hosted the first BPI In Tune with Tomorrow event outside of London Headline interview with Warner Music COO Isabel Garvey setting the scene ahead of a breadth of expert panels drawn from the music ecosystem, each exploring different aspects...more
Warner Music Group unveils WMG Pulse, giving artists and songwriters instant access to real-time insights
Built by WMG’s in-House Tech Experts, App Aggregates Data Across All Major DSPs and Social Media Platform in Beta with 100+ Artists and Songwriters Click HERE for Demo Warner Music Group (NASDAQ: WMG) today announced the beta launch of WMG Pulse, a powerful new platform that...more
AIP to launch UK promoter diversity database
Contributions needed from the sector for pioneering resource. The Association of Independent Promoters (AIP) is calling for contributions to a growing diversity database that will define the spectrum of live music promoters in the UK today. The database will be launched in...more
AIF partners with Stantec to launch Noise Helpline for festival promoters
Santec to host webinar on mysteries and myths around festival noise. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has partnered with Stantec (formerly Hydrock) to launch a new noise helpline for festival promoters. The helpline will be run by Santec and made available...more
Legendary Blue Note Jazz Club granted licence to open their first UK club in London
Today (7th May) the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club is proud to announce they have been granted a licence to open their first UK club. Set within the basement of the St Martins Lane hotel in Covent Garden, the licence...more
Amazon Music returns to exclusively livestream Primavera Sound Barcelona
Music fans will be able to enjoy the festival from 5th – 7th June from anywhere in the world Audiences will be able to tune in via the Amazon Music channels on Twitch and Prime Video Click HERE for streaming details This spring, Amazon Music will return...more
The Dark Arts of preserving Welsh musical heritage in the digital age
Digital agency, Dark Arts, is harnessing the power of AI to preserve and enhance the digital visibility of culturally significant Welsh music catalogues that are at risk of being lost in today’s algorithm-driven era, where engagement and revenue are dependent...more
Concord Music Publishing signs singer-songwriter Grace Tyler
Today, Concord Music Publishing announced the signing of singer-songwriter Grace Tyler in her first publishing deal. The worldwide publishing deal, effective immediately, includes Tyler’s catalog and her upcoming releases. Originally from Frisco, Texas, Grace Tyler attended Belmont University, honing her craft and working with multi-platinum singer-songwriter...more
The MMF and YouTube Music unveil Accelerator's class of 2025
“Accelerator empowers the industry’s preeminent talent developers to do what they do best - develop talent.” 18 talented independent music managers join the 7th edition of our groundbreaking funding and training programme All will receive grants of £10,000, alongside an...more
Italian Performance Rights Collecting SCF closes its 2024 with total distributions of over 51 million euros
The collecting drives the growth: Italy in global Top Ten 2024 confirms the growth trend for performance rights in Italy: this is demonstrated by the overall data of SCF, the leading collecting society in the sector that in the last year...more
Armada Music Signs Joint Venture Deal with Techno Visionary Joris Voorn
Dutch techno pioneer Joris Voorn has confirmed the release of his highly anticipated new album, set to drop this July—marking his first major project in collaboration with Armada Music Armada Music, the biggest independent dance music label in the world, is...more
BRIDGE initiative to strengthen the independents' position in the digital ecosystem across markets
Artists working with record labels have more listeners and income on digital platforms. Low profitability of streaming and high dependence on live performances are challenges to be addressed. Professionalization, industry events and trade associations are key to the development of the Latin...more
Creative industries and growth boosted with new UK-India cultural agreement
UK's arts and culture, creative industries, tourism and sport sectors are set to benefit from a major new cooperation agreement with India Culture Secretary leading a delegation of cultural leaders and UK institutions to Mumbai and New Delhi this week Agreement to...more
NTIA Welcomes Bluenote License Decision but Questions Police's Role in Defining Culture
Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), has welcomed the decision to grant a license to the Bluenote Jazz venue in London, following a highly contested process. However, the case has sparked significant concern over the growing influence of policing in cultural...more
Create Music Group Acquires Independent Label Monstercat Expanding Global Reach in Electronic Music and Gaming
Create Music Group (“CMG”), the world’s leading platform for iconic music, announced today that it has acquired Monstercat, one of the most influential independent electronic music record labels in the world. The deal marks a strategic addition to Create’s growing...more
Downtown's CD Baby Appoints Industry Veterans Sean Hallarman and Craig May to Lead Product and Artist Development
In addition to new appointments, executives Jean Mischler and Whitney Thomas step into expanded roles across marketing, revenue, finance, and business operations CD Baby, Downtown Music’s artist direct distribution and music services platform, today announced the appointment of Sean Hallarman as...more
BBC announces programming to mark 40 years since Live Aid
This July, BBC Two and Radio 2 will mark the 40th anniversary of Live Aid, which took place on Saturday 13th July 1985. BBC Two and BBC iPlayer broadcasts Live Aid at 40, which reveals the behind-the-scenes story of the 1985 concert that brought the...more
Alison Goldfrapp launches own record label A.G Records
New album, Flux, will be released in partnership with Absolute Label Services on August 15. “If you’re lucky enough to have the option, owning your own masters feels like a no-brainer!” - Alison Goldfrapp Electronic pop star Alison Goldfrapp is set to...more
Integrity First: Merlin Joins Music Fights Fraud Alliance to Protect the Music Ecosystem
Merlin, the digital music licensing partner for the world’s leading independent labels and distributors, announced today that it has joined the Music Fights Fraud Alliance (MFFA), the industry’s united front against streaming fraud and illegitimate activity. By contributing to the goals...more
THE HEADLINES
Tariffs, tours, and trade wars: Why music investment won’t slow down (see Comment)
Unintended consequences – the year ahead for streaming (see Comment)
Spotify’s latest update gives users more control over their listening experience (see Digital)
Has music reached peak fragmentation? (see Analysis)
How LA is rebuilding the music industry after the fires (see Features)
Ministers reconsider changes to UK copyright law ahead of vote (see News)
How Ticketmaster swallowed the live entertainment scene (see Features)
Spotify executive on why 'per-stream rate' is one of the most misleading metrics in music (see Opinion)
BPI responds to government’s proposed amendments to the Data Bill related to AI and copyright (see News)
‘AI and intellectual property — a pivotal moment for the UK’s creative industries’ (see Opinion)
BPI's new Yearbook reveals Country music's surging popularity (see News)
How Live Nation calls the tune for the live music industry (see Features)
How economic volatility will impact US labels’ fandom monetisation push (see Comment)
Spotify is said to be raising its subscription prices across Europe and Latin America (see Digital)
Culture Secretary to review the Music Export Growth Scheme (see News)