Merlin and IMPALA Launch Weidenmuller Sustainability Fund to Support Independent Music Sector's Transition 22 Apr 2025
IMPALA is a leading advocate on sustainability in the music sector, building a strong track record that includes the first-ever Climate Charter for the industry as well as the Business Case for Taking Sustainability Action. This new joint initiative reinforces Merlin’s commitment to equipping independent rightsholders with forward-looking strategies that address emerging industry challenges. By supporting tools like IMPALA’s Carbon Calculator (the world's first bespoke calculator designed for independent record labels) and investing in scalable infrastructure, the fund reinforces how sustainability is a source of resilience, innovation, and long-term value creation.
Together, Merlin and IMPALA are reaffirming their shared commitment to environmental responsibility, equity, and innovation —values that Horst championed throughout his life.
NEWS & PRESS
IMPEL welcomes Musou Music Publishing — the first Greek publisher to join its collective
Musou Music Publishing is part of Musou Music Group, which was founded in 2006 and also includes Musou Music Production, Musou Studios, and Musou Records. Musou Music Publishing has been awarded a total of three Grand, eight Golden, three Silver and...more
BPI's new Yearbook reveals Country music's surging popularity, achieving its biggest annual share of the UK recorded music market this century
BPI’s newly-published All About The Music 2025 discloses Country’s share of the UK singles market increased by over 50% year-on-year in 2024, thanks to artists including Beyoncé, Dasha and Shaboozey. Country music claimed it highest share of artist albums consumption in the UK...more
ABBA co-founder and CISAC President Bjorn Ulvaeus urges UK government not to weaken copyright for AI
CISAC President Björn Ulvaeus has concluded two days of meetings in the UK, urging the government to safeguard human creators in the AI age and avoid weakening creators’ rights. Speaking at an open discussion with Members of Parliament and Lords in...more
KiTbetter Brings Dolby Atmos to KiTalbum
Fans can experience TWS’s New Album ‘TRY WITH US’ in Dolby Atmos Through KiTalbum KiTbetter, the music technology brand pioneering hybrid physical-digital music experiences, today announced Dolby Atmos® is now available through KiTbetter’s flagship product, KiTalbum. The first album to launch as...more
Music Economy Development Initiative Launched at Global Citizen NOW Summit
Landmark Initiative’s Mission is Expanding Music’s Potential to Combat Extreme Poverty Led by the Center for Music Ecosystems and Global Citizen, Backed by the International Finance Corporation and Universal Music Group Today at the Global Citizen NOW summit in New York, the...more
Latest PPL Momentum Music Fund and PPL Momentum Sbardun | Accelerator grantees announced
Latest round features multi-award winning and critically acclaimed artists 9 exciting Wales-based artists and 3 industry professionals selected for the latest PPL Momentum Sbardun support PRS Foundation, the UK’s leading charitable funder of new music and talent development, together with PPL, Creative Wales and Arts...more
Earthfest Music Summit 2025
Shaping a Sustainable Future for the Music Industry Sponsored by Ecotricity The Earthfest Music Summit, a significant feature of the wider Earthfest event, will unite the most progressive sustainability leaders in the music industry for a full-day programme dedicated to tackling the...more
Co-op Live celebrates first year as top arena in UK and Europe
Innovative, music first venue reaches #1 in gross ticket sales aided by UK arena exclusives Co-op Live, the UK’s largest indoor arena, has been named the No.1 venue for gross sales in the UK and Europe since its opening in May...more
Casio Sessions returns for 2025 - an inspiring singer-songwriter competition for emerging artists
Applications to Casio Sessions 2025 are now open to UK-based singer-songwriters Musicians will compete to win a PX-S7000HM digital piano, one of Casio's premium models worth £2,249, plus an exclusive studio mastering session and their winning song pressed to vinyl -...more
Key Production Group strengthens European team with new hire
Julia Völkel joins as Account Manager Julia Völkel expands Key Production Group's EU team The former Senior Sales Manager at Optimal Media GmbH will support Key Production as Account Manager for the German and European market Key Production expands its offering for German...more
Rock en Seine 2025 unveils its exceptional lineup
Rock en Seine continues to unveil its breathtaking lineup. After confirming its 100% pop female-led opening day a few weeks ago, headlined by Chappell Roan, London Grammar, Suki Waterhouse and Luvcat, it’s time for the festival to share more exciting...more
The Battle - John Niven's First Comedy Play
The Battle - John Niven's First Comedy Play on the Greatest Chart Battle of All Time - BLUR vs OASIS - to Tour Ahead of West End Written by John NivenDirected by Matthew Dunster www.thebattleplay.com Melting Pot and Birmingham Rep co-present The Battle, a new comedy play based (mostly) on real...more
Opting Into Fair AI: CreateBase and Musical AI Partner on Consent-Driven AI Training Practices
Musical AI, the attribution and rights management platform for AI, has joined forces with CreateBase to build one of the first fully transparent, consent-based music training ecosystems, addressing a persistent challenge in the relationship between AI and the music industry....more
Revolutionising Direct-to-Fan Ticketing: Music Glue Launches Enhanced Platform Empowering Artists Worldwide
Music Glue, the London-based global e-commerce platform for the music industry, has unveiled a newly enhanced, direct-to-fan ticketing solution. Designed specifically with artists in mind, the upgraded platform offers a seamless, powerful, and transparent way for artists to sell tickets directly...more
IMPALA announces the launch of new Artist Camp project as part of EU network programme
IMPALA is proud to announce the launch of its new Artist Camp project, co-funded by the European Union as part of IMPALA’s 2025–2028 network programme.Starting in 2025, IMPALA and its member associations will organise an Artist Camp each year, each based on a unique partnership between...more
28 leading A&R professionals confirmed for A&R Sessions at Brighton Music Conference
The award-winning Brighton Music Conference (BMC), the UK’s leading electronic music and networking event, is excited to welcome 28 leading A&R professionals in the electronic music scene to the ‘A&R Sessions’ at BMC25.Taking place from 21st to 23rd May 2025 at some...more
How UnitedMasters Used SymphonyOS to Push BigXThaPlug to the Top of the Billboard Hot 100
BigXThaPlug is having a moment. Building on years of hard luck and hard work, the Texas rapper has broken through with a triumphant Jimmy Kimmel appearance and a chart-storming new single. “All The Way,”’ BigXThaPlug’s genre-blending collab with rising country star Bailey Zimmerman,...more
Sony Corporation and Bandlab Technologies Announce Strategic Partnership to Empower Creators With Cutting-Edge Technology and Opportunities That Make Music Creation More Accessible
Collaboration brings new technology and artist support to millions of creators, starting with spatial sound integration in BandLab Sony Corporation and BandLab Technologies today announced a strategic partnership set to redefine music creation for independent and emerging artists worldwide. By bringing...more
RHEI Data Pro Adds $20M in New Licensing Agreements to its Initial $35M, With Eight Figures in Partner Earnings So Far
RHEI Data Pro emerges as one of the world’s largest audio-visual content databasesRHEI, a leading tech company that builds AI to amplify human creativity, scale its audience, and enhance its impact, today announced the addition of $20 million in new...more
BeatStars and Sureel Partner to Strengthen Intellectual Property Protection for Creators
First-of-its-Kind Collaboration Protects the Work of Creators on BeatStars in the Age of AI BeatStars, the world's #1 music marketplace, is reinforcing its commitment to ethical AI and creator empowerment by announcing a strategic partnership with Sureel.ai. This collaboration ensures the...more
One Media report full year results
One Media iP Group Plc ("One Media", "the Company" or the "Group") Audited results for the year ended 31 October 2024 One Media iP focused on music rights investment One Media iP (AIM: OMIP), the digital music rights acquirer, publisher and distributor, announces its...more
Payday Music Publishing expands LA operations
New Synch Hires, Coachella Sessions and Studio Expansion Payday Music Publishing (‘Payday Publishing’), the leading independent publishers of Electronic Dance Music, Pop, Hip-Hop, Jazz and Reggae, has announced two senior hires to further bolster its LA based sync department.Jamey Sussman and...more
LIVE Trust welcomes first £500k in ticket contribution pledges
“An excellent start, with more to come” – Jon Collins, CEO LIVE LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), which represents 15 live music industry organisations, has announced that the LIVE Trust, a transformative new funding initiative that will offer much...more
NTIA Celebrates Milestone as International Nightlife Association Gains Full United Nations NGO Status, Elevating Global Night Time Economy
Only four months after obtaining consultative status, the INA is now recognised as a Full Member of CoNGO, further solidifying nightlife's global relevance. The International Nightlife Association (INA) announces its elevation to Full Member status within the Conference of Non-Governmental Organisations...more
Henri Lanz appointed as Senior International A&R & Creative Advisor for Warner Music Nordics
Warner Music Nordics has made a significant addition to its senior leadership team with the appointment of Henri Lanz, one of the region's most respected music industry experts. The award-winning producer, successful songwriter and experienced music industry executive has taken up...more
UniteSync: How a Producer Merged Information Science and Artistic Passion to Find Songwriters and Musicians' Unpaid Royalties
Carlos Palop should have been living the dream. A producer and electronic artist, Palop was seeing real traction with some of his lofi tracks. Streams were picking up--and yet the more he looked at his royalty statements, the more discrepancies...more
David Arnold and Anne Nikitin in conversation at The Ivors Academy Summit 2025
Acclaimed composers David Arnold and Anne Nikitin will be in conversation at The Ivors Academy Summit supported by ICE and PRS for Music on 20 May in London, a major new event designed to empower songwriters and composers with the practical knowledge, tools and connections to make...more
Impala welcomes European Commission's scrutiny of acquisition of Downtown by Universal Music Group
IMPALA, the European association of independent music companies, welcomes the European Commission’s decision to investigate the proposed merger between Universal Music Group (UMG) and Downtown Music Holdings, home to companies such as Fuga, CD Baby, Songtrust, Curve, AdRev, as well...more
Moby and Little Walnut Productions Relaunch mobygratis: Free Music Access for All Creators
Platform now offers 500 new unreleased tracks, multitrack audio, and upgraded tools to empower independent creatives On Thursday, April 24, 2025, internationally renowned musician and activist Moby announced the relaunch of mobygratis at NeueHouse Hollywood. Powered by Little Walnut Productions, mobygratis...more
Music venue SWX Bristol relaunches as Electric Bristol
Electric Group, the UK's fastest growing music venue operator behind iconic spaces like Electric Brixton and NX Newcastle, announces the rebranding of SWX Bristol to Electric Bristol. This exciting new chapter cements the venue's status as a key player in the UK's live touring music scene...more
THE HEADLINES
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)
The music industry wants solutions. But do listeners see problems? (see Comment)
The next generation of independent music tastemakers (see Features)
BPI survey confirms music consumers believe human creativity is fundamental to music (see Reports)
Eight UK cities join forces for 'Music Fans Voice' survey (see Reports)
Did the Spotify 1,000 stream rule cost artists $47m?
Meet the editors crafting some of Spotify’s top playlists (see Features)
Two Guardian music writers spent a week assessing the limits of living with and without Spotify (see Features)
Ruth Barlow of AIM and Beggars Group on UMG, Downtown and why she believes ‘regulators must act’ (see Comment)