Posts by Mandy Dalugdug

Google and Universal Music Group in talks over licensing AI ‘deepfakes’ (report)

Talks between Google and Universal Music are at an early stage and no immediate product launch is anticipated, says the Financial Times

TikTok launches ‘Gimme the Mic’ music contest to discover new talent – and pay winners via digital ‘Diamonds’

The US finale on September 10 will feature the top 10 performers

TikTok rival Triller revives IPO plan, seeking direct listing on NYSE

Triller booked $28.8 million in losses in the first quarter of the year after incurring $195.6 million in losses in the fiscal year 2022.

SM Entertainment’s revenue surges 30% YoY in Q2 to $184M on expanded concert lineup

In the quarter ended June 30, SM’s revenue from concerts surged 252.3% YoY to 20 billion won ($15 million)

Meet AudioCraft: Meta’s new generative AI tool for audio and music

The new tool consists of three models: MusicGen, AudioGen and EnCodec

AI voice platform Kits.AI, backed by Steve Aoki, Wyclef Jean and more hits 1m ‘voice transformations’

Kits.AI also reports to have trained 80,000 voices and amassed 100,000 users

Music royalties marketplace MasterExchange raises $2.7m in funding

Platform was launched in 2022 in Stockholm

Reactional Music strikes personalized-music-for-games deal with mobile games publisher Amanotes, which reaches 100m monthly users

Amanotes is claimed to be the number one mobile game publisher in South East Asia with over three billion downloads of its games

27% of indie artists have used AI music tools, according to TuneCore study

Believe and TuneCore have conducted a survey of close to 1,600 self-releasing artists from over 10 countries

SM Entertainment and Kakao to launch integrated North American division

The aim is to promote artists from both companies

CTM Outlander buys Dutch music company Strengholt Music Group

Deal marks the latest in a string of acquisitions for CTM Outlander

Classical label Hyperion starts streaming for the first time following Universal Music acquisition

News comes as UMG sharpens its focus on classical music after launching its own streaming service for classical music through Deutsche Grammophon in November 2022

Spain’s Unison launches global management platform for digital rights, SOLO

SOLO will be offered through a subscription model and will be compatible with various devices, enabling artists

Audio engineer marketplace EngineEars, founded by Grammy-winning MixedByAli, secures investment from LVRN co-founders, EMPIRE’s Ghazi and more

EngineEars secures backing from a prominent group of new investors

Independent music company LVRN teams up with Audiomack to identify and develop emerging artists

Companies will also devise marketing strategies and promotions to support emerging talent