News From Universal’s acquisition in the UAE to BMG’s $447m in H1… it’s MBW’s Weekly Round-up Five of the biggest stories from MBW's pages this week...
News MBW and Curve Royalty Systems to host ‘fireside chat’ event in London on September 13, featuring Various Artists’ David Bianchi and Rebecca Dixon A very limited number of tickets are available for the event now
News Virgin Music Group expands operations in Nigeria, led by Olukorede ‘Kay’ Ikazoboh Ikazoboh has been named by Universal Music Group as Head of Virgin Music Nigeria, and will oversee the company’s operations in the market
Analysis Universal Music just swooped for a prominent company in UAE. The race is on for the majors to build market power in MENA. The sound of opportunity for the record business across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is getting louder.
News Deezer expands partnership with e-commerce giant Mercado Libre in LATAM to be included on new Meli+ subscription service Deezer says that the deal forms part of its continued 'strategic partnership-led expansion across the world'.
News Warner Music strikes ‘landmark album deal’ with superstar Chinese artist Lay Zhang Artists is also the CEO of Chromosome Entertainment
News LimeWire partners with Polygon Labs to launch AI Creator Studio that will include music ‘capabilities’ Former file-sharing platform launches artificial intelligence studio
News Live music company DEAG on course for €300m+ year, as Detlef Kornett is named co-CEO DEAG also says that it 'currently has several acquisitions in advanced stages of negotiation' as it looks to strengthen its position in the European live music market
News Billionaire François-Henri Pinault nears $7bn deal for CAA (report) The Pinault family is the biggest shareholder in the Kering group, which owns luxury brands and fashion houses
News Former Sony Music exec Joel Klaiman launches music marketing and management agency, ASCEND4M Exec also served as President at HITCO Entertainment
Interviews Goldman Sachs’ Lisa Yang: Why I’m bullish about music streaming’s future Lisa Yang, senior Goldman executive and lead author of Music In The Air, joins the MBW Podcast
News Exceleration Music expands to Asia by investing in India-based indie label Azadi Records Company makes financial investment in India-headquartered independent record label, Azadi Records
News ASCAP sticks the boot into BMI over for-profit switch and sale talks: ‘We pay songwriters, not shareholders.’ Not-for-profit PRO makes little secret of who it's taunting in series of new social media posts
News TuneCore partners with song data startup Session, co-founded by Max Martin, ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus, Niclas Molinder Partnership to allow independent artists to distribute their music from Session Studio directly to streaming platforms
Analysis Interviews With $65m raised, can DICE satisfy its growth ambitions (even considering the colossal market power of Ticketmaster)? Matt Pincus and Phil Hutcheon outline their view of the ticketing market to MBW
News Music tech company BandLab Technologies launches ‘comprehensive rebrand’ The company has also launched a new corporate website
News BMG revenues up 11.5% YoY in H1 2023, hitting $447m, as operating EBITDA grows 22.6% In H1 2023, BMG's operating EBITDA hit €90 million ($97m), up 22.6% YoY
News Universal Music Group acquires UAE-based music marketing and distribution agency Chabaka Music Chabaka is part of the wider CHBK Group