News Create Music Group acquires !K7 Music, founded by the late Horst Weidenmüller The deal had been in the works before Horst Weidenmüller’s passing in February
News ADOR says it’s taking legal action to protect NewJeans against harassment, deepfakes as contract dispute continues The HYBE-owned label said it will expand its efforts to monitor and take legal action against posts targeting NewJeans members
News NO FAKES Act aimed at cracking down on deepfakes reintroduced in US Congress – this time with support of Google and OpenAI Google and OpenAI joined the music majors and the RIAA in backing a bill that enables individuals to protect their voice and likeness against AI fakes
News Warner Music Group is readying its superfan app – with help from Ed Sheeran Sheeran is now "actively posting" on the platform, according to the WSJ interview with Atlantic Records CEO Elliot Grainge
Interviews ‘I’m getting invited to a few more lunches now.’ A UK grime fan is currently one of the hottest producers in LA and Nashville. Hoskins recounts his unlikely journey and discusses his musical philosophy...
News Spotify integrates with UK’s Skiddle to connect streaming listeners with live events The partnership allows Spotify users in the UK to discover concerts, club nights and festivals directly on the app
News Epidemic Sound’s revenues jumped 29% to $181.6m in 2024, as EBITDA soared 150% YoY to $13.9m The company expanded its audio library with the acquisition of sound effects company Soundly
News For Google and OpenAI, the UK’s proposed loosening of copyright laws for AI isn’t enough – they want to be ‘free’ of copyright “We believe training on the open web must be free,” Google said in a submission to a parliamentary committee
News German collection society GEMA distributed $1.22bn to rightsholders in 2024, up 4.7% YoY Performance rights collections have seen a sharp spike amid tepid growth from online music
News Marshall Nolan elevated to EVP, Head of Commercial Strategy at Island Records The appointment follows Nolan’s contributions to campaigns for Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter
News HYBE America strikes distribution deal with So So Def Recordings, founded by Scooter Braun’s mentor Jermaine Dupri The deal gives So So Def access to HYBE America’s global distribution network and marketing resources
News Sabrina Carpenter named ‘icon’ for Fortnite Festival Season 8 Carpenter joins other artists who have been featured as “icons” on Fortnite including The Weeknd, Lady Gaga, Billie Eilish and Metallica
News Bill Ackman, who wants to move UMG’s financial HQ to the US, calls for ‘time out’ on Trump’s tariff war Ackman, a Trump supporter, says the tariff war could destroy international confidence in the US as a trading partner and investment destination.
News Sarah Gabrielli promoted to Head of A&R at Sony Music Publishing UK Gabrielli first joined the company in 2016 as an A&R Assistant
News David Massey retires from Arista Records, will step down in June The news comes seven years after Massey re-launched the legendary record label at Sony
Analysis On… OpenAI, Bain Capital, Daniel Ek, and reasons to be cheerful Tim Ingham's latest Review, exclusively sent to MBW+ subscribers
Interviews Per Sundin on Pophouse’s $1bn+ ambitions in music rights: ‘We don’t buy catalogs to put them on a shelf.’ Per Sundin reveals what sets Pophouse apart from other music investment firms, and shares his thoughts on the future of catalog investment...
News ATC Group acquires majority stake in Jamie Osman’s Easy Life Entertainment The deal brings Easy Life’s artist management, recordings, and PR services under the ATC umbrella