Posts by Murray Stassen

From Pink Floyd’s $400m deal to TikTok’s scrapped Merlin talks… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-Up

The biggest stories from the past week – all in one place…

Coldplay launch exclusive TikTok ‘MOON MUSiC’ in-app experience

Coldplay become latest artists to launch an interactive in-app experience on TikTok

Niamh Byrne and Jill Hollywood named as Chair and Vice-Chair of the UK’s MMF

Theory Management’s Hide Whone will also join the MMF board

Renato Vanzella promoted to General Manager of LATAM at Downtown-owned FUGA

Exec was formerly FUGA’s General Manager of Brazil

Sony Music GSA restructures under new CEO Christoph Behm

Sony Music's GSA labels to sit within three new frontline label groups, including the Ariola Label Group, the Columbia Label Group, and the RCA Label Group

Jamie Krents promoted to CEO and President of Verve Label Group; Dawn Olejar upped to Chief Operating Officer

Execs will continue to report to Dickon Stainer, who continues in the capacity of Chairman of Verve Label Group, following his elevation to Chairman and CEO of Universal Music UK

Mary Catherine Kinney appointed EVP of Artist & Label Strategy at Republic Corps

Kinney was most recently Head of Artist Partnerships at Spotify

Tareic Alphonse named as 7th and final Richard Antwi Scholar

Alphonse will be awarded a full scholarship for a place on the University of Westminster’s Music Business Management MA course in London

Tencent Music Entertainment owned 2,564 active patents and 4,295 registered trademarks at the end of 2023

TME had applied for 4,768 patents in China and abroad as of the end December 2023

Petri Mannonen appointed CEO of Universal Music Finland

Universal notes that domestic artists dominate Spotify's local Top 50 in Finland

Range Media Partners sued by talent giant CAA for alleged theft of confidential information

Lawsuit claims that Range is 'an unlicensed talent agency built on deceit'

Alicia Arauzo and Luis Fernández appointed Co-Managing Directors of Universal Music Spain

Madrid-based execs will report directly to Jesús López, Chairman/CEO of Universal Music Latin America & Iberian Peninsula

TikTok: We shut down Merlin negotiation over fears about streaming fraud

TikTok recently scrapped re-licensing discussions with Merlin

Jeremy Erlich, Spotify’s Global Head of Music, to exit

Erlich joined Spotify as Head of Music Strategy in 2019

Caroline Elleray named VP Creative, Songwriter Services at Sony Music Publishing

London-based Elleray continues to run Second Songs alongside her new role