ESNS Announces Keynote Speakers for 2024 Music Conference 30 Nov 2023
Amy Thomson is the former Chief Catalog Officer at Hipgnosis Songs Fund and CEO and founder of ATM Artists, where she executed record releases, marketing campaigns, touring, legal rights and copyright for clients including Kanye West, DJ Snake, Swedish House Mafia, Gorillaz, and Seal. Her passion for catalogue management led her to develop an online application that helps artists manage their metadata. Amy Thomson will address the music industry’s challenges regarding finding, tracking, and tracing metadata across different platforms.
As the European music industry is gearing up for ESNS, the conference programme is rapidly taking shape with newly announced conference program highlights, reflecting on the current state of the music industry and looking ahead.
NEWS & PRESS
Angry Mob Music Continues Marching Forward with New Brand Identity
New Identity Re-Introduces Angry Mob Music as Modern, Key Player in the Independent Publishing Community Angry Mob Music Group, an independent music publisher boldly serving songwriters, composers, artists, and creatives, has announced the launch of their new brand identity. Angry Mob's revitalized...more
OneRepublic sign new global recordings partnership with BMG
The deal marks the group's first new label home in nearly two decades Grammy nominated and multi-Platinum selling band OneRepublic have signed a new global recordings partnership with BMG to release their upcoming seventh studio album. The first single, "Beautiful Colors",...more
Comment from the Musicians' Union on the government's approach to cutting disability benefits
Naomi Pohl, MU General Secretary, said: "I would urge the government to rethink its approach to cutting disability benefits. "Our latest Musicians' Census showed disabled musicians already face serious financial challenges, including a pay gap of 13 per cent, and many unable...more
Reservoir extends deal with Grammy-winning songwriter-producer Khris Riddick-Tynes
Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR), an award-winning independent music company, today announced a new global publishing deal with Grammy Award-winning songwriter-producer Khris Riddick-Tynes, who has been represented by the Company since 2020. Under the extended partnership, Reservoir will continue to...more
Bronski Beat receive PRS For Music Heritage Award, presented by Tom Rasmussen, at site of historic debut performance
Award formally recognises the lasting impact of the seminal 80s band and the venue where they began their careers, The Bell in London's King's Cross (presently Big Chill) UK star Tom Rasmussen to deliver commemorative performance and unveil a plaque during...more
River House Artists and Sony Music Publishing Sign Rising Singer-Songwriter Kenny Whitmire
River House Artists, in partnership with Sony Music Publishing Nashville, announced today the signing of breakthrough country singer-songwriter Kenny Whitmire to a global publishing agreement. Kenny Whitmire moved to Nashville in 2022 to pursue a career in songwriting and quickly began...more
TikTok launches #THISISFOR campaign to celebrate the new album from global K-Pop sensations TWICE
TikTok has partnered with TWICE on an immersive in-app experience featuring exclusive content Fans can engage with the #THISISFOR campaign to unlock a profile frame, collect digital stickers, and access exclusive merch and rewards TikTok is excited to unveil #THISISFOR, a...more
UK music tech sector faces critical
MTUK's first-ever state of the nation report on the UK music tech sector urges the Government to ensure music tech remains a cornerstone of the UK's creative economy A comprehensive new report from Music Technology UK (MTUK), the UK trade association dedicated to...more
Northampton's Billy Lockett signs gargantuan publishing deal with independent Notting Hill Music
Critically acclaimed British singer-songwriter Billy Lockett has inked an immense global publishing deal with Notting Hill Music, one of the UK's most respected independent music publishers. The deal marks a pivotal moment in Lockett's flourishing career, following a breakout few years that have seen him...more
Concord Music Publishing Signs Global Deal with Grammy-Nominated Producer Duo Tropkillaz
Marking Concord’s First Signing Out of Brazil Concord Music Publishing is thrilled to announce the signing of Tropkillaz, the dynamic GRAMMY-nominated Brazilian production duo of Zegon and Laudz, to a global publishing agreement covering all new copyrights. This landmark deal, orchestrated...more
Symphonic Distribution Partners with Third Chair to Monitor Music on Social Media for Proper Sync Usage, Maximizing Revenue
Symphonic Distribution, a leading music technology and services company for independent labels, managers, and artists, has partnered with Third Chair (previously Watchdog) to utilize their IP enforcement services to monitor social media music usages and protect all of the music under Symphonic's...more
FUGA Partners With Arketyp Group, the New Venture From YEAR0001 Co-Founder Oskar Ekman
Deal expands FUGA’s footprint in the Nordic region and follows new signings from Arketyp Group and YEAR0001Downtown-owned, B2B distributor FUGA has today announced a new global partnership with Arketyp Group, the newly launched independent label group founded by Swedish music...more
Levellr Unveils AI Tool to Decode Real-Time Fan Sentiment on Discord
New feature gives artists, labels, and brands instant insight into what fans really think, feel, and care about View demo dashboard here Levellr, the fan community platform powering next-gen artist-to-fan connections, has launched a cutting-edge AI social listening tool designed to unlock...more
The UK's Official biggest songs and albums on vinyl of 2025 so far revealed
Sam Fender scoops the biggest vinyl album of 2025 so far Oasis secure best-selling vinyl single of the year so far with 'Whatever' anniversary reissue Sam Fender's People Watching claims the best-selling vinyl album of 2025 so far! Congratulations are in order for Sam...more
Rebecca Lucy Taylor a.k.a Self Esteem to curate at this year's Southbank Centre's London Literature Festival
The festival also features Adam Buxton, Alexis Wright, Bora Chung, Charlie Macksey, Chris Kraus, Claire-Louise Bennett, Frank Cottrell-Boyce, Funmi Fetto, Jackie Kay, Jimi Famurewa, Kelly Frost, Lisa Smith, Malala Yousafzai, Michael Rosen, Nikita Gill, Neoprene Genie, Nesrine Malik, Olga Ravn, Pankaj Mishra,...more
'Don't Look Back In Anger' takes title of most played Oasis song of 21st Century
‘Don’t Look Back In Anger’ has been revealed as Oasis’s most played track on UK radio and TV in the 21st century, according to new data from music licensing company PPL. Following the band’s euphoric live return to universally glowing...more
Tom Walker signs global publishing deal with BMG
Platinum-selling British singer-songwriter Tom Walker has signed an exclusive global publishing agreement with BMG. The deal brings together Walker’s deeply personal songwriting and unmistakable voice with BMG’s industry-leading publishing capabilities. Known for his breakthrough hits “Leave a Light On” and “Just You and...more
Statement on UK Government Decision to ban Employer NDAs
A statement from Gaby Cartwright, Head of Partnerships, LIVE in response to the UK Government's decision to make amendments to The Employment Rights Bill that will ban employers from using non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) that silence workplace harassment and abuse. Changes set to be introduced to...more
BBC Radio 2 listeners to vote for Your Ultimate 80s Duet
The 1980s saw some of the world's best loved popstars unite to create some of the most magical and much-loved duets ever made. Today (7th July), Scott Mills on the Radio 2 Breakfast show and BBC Sounds announced voting has opened for Your...more
AIF calls for Competition and Markets Authority to investigate Live Nation
Live Nation could be held responsible for engaging in anti-competitive behaviour, according to AIF analysis. The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has called for an investigation into Live Nation from the UK's Competition and Markets Authority. The trade body recently provided evidence...more
LIVE Awards 2025
Category Nominations Now Open Tom Ward is the new host of the LIVE Awards 2025 The annual LIVE Awards, which will take place on Wednesday December 10th at Troxy in East London, has announced a new host for 2025. Tom Ward is an...more
Green Man Festival 2025
14th - 17th August 2025 Announce full line up and day splits for SOLD OUT 2025 edition Cymande, Heartworms, Been Stellar, Cass McCombs, Factory Floor, Gurriers, Hannah Frances, Jamz Supernova, Keo, KOKOROKO, Shale, Lucy Gooch, Iraina Mancini, Molina, MORN, Ella Ion, Natalie...more
Brazilian music superstar Alok signs global publishing deal with BMG
GRAMMY-nominated Brazilian music superstar and philanthropist ALOK has signed a global publishing agreement with BMG.A leading figure in dance music, ALOK is best known for his hit singles "Hear Me Now," "Deep Down," "Lua," and chart-topping collaborations with John Legend,...more
Independent music company CEOs around the world call for end to further anti-competitive, consolidation attempts in the music industry
Hundreds of independent record labels and trade associations have raised significant concerns about Universal Music Group's acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings. Deal is the latest in a line of serial acquisitions from UMG in the independent sector Together they have signed an...more
Tickets For Good announces launch of Belgian business at Wallifornia, opens £3m funding round
The Wallifornia Conference Startups alumni returns to reveal latest expansion news. TfG recipients include some 500k registered healthcare workers, teachers, and charity workers across UK, EU and U.S. It's distributed 1million+ free and discounted tickets from 1,000+ live event partners, including Dua...more
Lewis Capaldi surprises fans in London's Covent Garden to launch 'Room to Reflect' meditation booth with TikTok
SCOTTISH SUPERSTAR PARTNERS WITH TIKTOK TO ENCOURAGE THE NATION TO TAKE A MOMENT TO RESET FROM EVERYDAY LIFE The ‘Room to Reflect’ experience was narrated by Lewis Capaldi, offering a sanctuary from the London daily grind to meditate and escape the...more
Beatport Live Launches 'The Block'
A Touring Container Stage Spotlighting Emerging DJs at Junction 2, Creamfields, and The Prospect Building Over the last five years, more than 400 nightclubs have closed in Britain and Beatport recognises the urgent need to offer more than just a digital...more
BDi Music signs exclusive worldwide publishing deal with Paige Bea
Bea is a sought after musician, songwriter, DJ and emerging producer. BDi Music has signed artist and songwriter Paige Bea to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal. Paige Bea is a London-born musician, songwriter, DJ and emerging producer. Originally trained as an opera...more
Bandcamp Daily's Summer 2025 Hotlist Spotlights Its Most Anticipated New Releases
Open Mike Eagle, Wet Leg, Kokoroko, Alex G, Susumu Yokota and more are all featured in the Summer 2025 Hotlist Bandcamp Daily, the editorial arm of the world’s largest online music marketplace and community, has released its 2025 Summer Hotlist, a curated collection...more
Universal Music Greater China announces strategic global alliance with "Godfather of Mandarin R&B" David Tao and his company Great Entertainment
Universal Music Group to Release David Tao’s New Studio Album STUPID POP SONGS, with Physical Pre-Orders Opening Soon Universal Music Greater China (UMGC), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), the world leader in music-based entertainment, today announced a strategic global...more
THE HEADLINES
Can TikTok revive classic songs? A statistical analysis (see Analysis)
UMG’s Michael Nash: ‘AI can be instrumental to the future of music’ (see Digital)
In the post-music streaming era, do artists and labels give too much away? (see Comment)
Songwriters ‘missing millions in royalties from more than 100,000 UK gigs’ (see News)
Merck Mercuriadis plots comeback with Hipgnosis remix (see Business)
V&A East Storehouse to open the David Bowie Centre (see News)
ESCA calls on the EU to block Universal Music’s deal to buy Downtown (see News)
Virgin Music CEOs push back against critics of Downtown Music deal (see News)
Record labels are running on empty (see Opinion)
AI music is going viral, but it’s not what fans want (see Comment)
The Velvet Sundown may be the first breakout AI band from Suno (see Digital)
Amid cuts, WMG to "continue to supercharge our capabilities in long-term artist, songwriter, and catalog development" (see Business)
WIN CEO writes to European Commission Vice-President over Universal's acquisition of Downtown (see Comment)
If Spotify truly champions discovery, it should champion fair compensation from the first stream (see Comment)
Selected Glastonbury coverage (see News, Features, Showbiz, Reviews)
Streaming is both retail and radio – it shouldn’t be (see Comment)
Impala’s Helen Smith on UMG's planned Downtown acquisition (see Comment)