News NetEase Cloud Music and Merlin extend strategic partnership in China Original agreement was established in 2018
News Music startups saw funding levels sink by 67% in 2020 (report) Funding for music startups fell from over $1bn in 2019 to $328.9m last year
News Fortnite to host Kaskade concert in collaboration with Monstercat Concert takes place at Fortnite's Party Royale Main Stage on March 26
News US music industry leaders hammer Twitter for ‘rampant theft’ in joint letter on day of social media hearing Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is giving testimony to Congress today in a hearing about the promotion of misinformation and extremist content on social media platforms
News Alison Finley appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer at Motown Records Finley previously served as Senior Vice President of Business and Legal Affairs at UMG
News Super Music Group launches new brand identity, label and partners with The Orchard for distribution Miami-based company was founded in 2010 by Derek Walin and Brandon Kessler
Interviews Meet the Romanian record label with 2bn annual streams – and major global ambitions Global Records is looking to add further international expansion, via serious investment, in 2021
News Warner Chappell Music signs publishing deal with multi-platinum producer d.a. got that dope In 2020 he produced Eminem single, Godzilla ft. Juice Wrld, which has sold over 8m copies worldwide
News Sales of music, merch and tickets through artist website hosting platform Bandzoogle surpass $75m Bandzoogle members earned $12.7m through their websites in 2020 alone
Interviews News As Round Hill’s market share of US hits climbs, company tells music biz: Don’t call us a check-book publisher Josh Gruss walks MBW through the surprising news that a catalog acquisition company keeps cropping up on hit radio market share charts
News Spotify settles lawsuit with Pro Music Rights founder who sought over $1bn in damages (update) Case against the music streaming company first began in 2019
Analysis Why we believe streaming subscription ARPU fell by around 8% globally for the record industry last year MBW runs the numbers from the IFPI's must-read new Global Music Report covering 2020
News Global Music Rights partners with Entercom Communications in the US Deal allows Entercom to perform GMR’s catalog of songs across all of its platforms
News AWAL signs British electronic duo Jungle to global recordings deal Third album Loving In Stereo is out August 13
News UK startup Forever launches Nile Rodgers VR Q&A experience. Is this the future of virtual meet and greets? Project was created in association with Universal Music UK and the National Portrait Gallery, with the involvement of Abbey Road Studios
News Sony Music Publishing inks worldwide partnership with South Africa’s Gallo Music Publishers Catalog includes works by multi Grammy-award winning South African group Ladysmith Black Mambazo and reggae star Lucky Dube
News Warner buys indie label Zhara Music, launches Atlantic Records Russia Atlantic Records Russia will be headed by co-founder Bahh Tee as General Producer
News A new catalog acquisition juggernaut is born, as BMG and KKR strike deal to jointly buy music copyrights New acquisition heavyweight formed; MBW understands both parties will co-invest in rights