Music Business Worldwide

Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon says he’ll leave Sweden ‘immediately’ if a wealth tax is introduced (report)

Mandy Dalugdug — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:57:55 +0000

Sweden votes in a general election on Sunday (September 13), with taxation of the country’s wealthiest one of the campaign’s live issues.

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[PIAS] relaunches Source – the Anglo-French label behind Air, Phoenix, and Kings of Convenience

Mandy Dalugdug — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:54:20 +0000

Ifulki, Disgusting Sisters, Epal, and HINA are the relaunched label's first signings.

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AI Will Test Music’s Infrastructure, Not Just Its Creativity

Music Business Worldwide — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:34:34 +0000

The following MBW op/ed comes from Jorge Brea, CEO of Symphonic

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US musicians’ union files opposition to Universal and Warner motions to dismiss, saying members’ recordings were ‘fed into AI systems for commercial exploitation’

Murray Stassen — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:33:31 +0000

The American Federation of Musicians has filed its opposition to the motions to dismiss brought by Universal Music Group, Inc., Warner Records, Inc., and Atlantic Recording Corp. in its lawsuit over the labels’ licensing deals with AI companies. In the filing, submitted to a New York federal court on Friday (September 4), the union says … Continued

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Judge throws out copyright claims in Wixen’s $102M lawsuit against Meta

Mandy Dalugdug — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:31:33 +0000

A judge ruled that Wixen has not shown it holds the rights that would let it sue over the 681 works it says Meta used without a license.

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Universal Music and Warner Chappell partner on launch of Ecuadorian music company Sonido Distrito Sur, led by Juan Fernando Velasco

Mandy Dalugdug — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:30:25 +0000

Ecuadorian singer-songwriter Juan Fernando Velasco is also president of SAYCE, the Ecuadorian authors' and composers' society.

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ElevenLabs’ $11B valuation is more than twice the size of Suno’s. It just struck a global AI music deal with UMG.

Tim Ingham — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 19:25:50 +0000

ElevenLabs will launch an AI-powered music platform for fans under the deal, with the two companies also jointly developing AI audio products for artists and songwriters

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Former TuneCore chief Andreea Gleeson appointed CEO of beatBread

Mandy Dalugdug — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 15:47:51 +0000

Gleeson succeeds Tracy Maddux, who has run beatBread on an interim basis since November 2025.

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Time to go private? On Warner, Universal, and dissatisfaction with public market valuations.

Tim Ingham — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 14:58:24 +0000

The latest 'Tim's Take' from Music Business Worldwide founder, Tim Ingham

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Annie Christensen appointed VP, Catalogue at Warner Chappell Music UK

Rafaela Fornitani — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 04:01:04 +0000

Christensen joins the publishing arm of Warner Music Group from a career in A&R, and will report to WCM UK President Shani Gonzales.

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