Analysis News BTS helped Big Hit’s annual revenues jump 36% to $676m in 2020… despite the pandemic Filing in Korea reveals details of K-pop company's stellar 2020 – despite the collapse of live concerts
News YMU launches publishing joint venture Reaktor Music with producer and songwriter Mark Ralph Ralph has worked with artists including Jess Glynne, Years & Years, Jax Jones, Becky Hill, Usher, Tom Walker, Clean Bandit and more
News Sony Music Publishing signs The Kid LAROI to global deal He recently became the youngest solo artist ever to reach No.1 on the Australian ARIA album chart
News Splice closes $55m Series D funding round led by Goldman Sachs Platform's royalty payouts to creators hit $15m in 2020
News Spotify to expand into over 80 new markets across Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, and Latin America New markets include Ghana, Nigeria, Jamaica, Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Pakistan
News Spotify HiFi subscription to launch in select markets later this year Spotify HiFi will deliver music in CD-quality, lossless audio
News The A&R Awards are back: 2021 event will take place November 9 in London The ceremony will take place at the De Vere Grand Connaught Rooms, Central London
News Sony Music UK children’s label Magic Star inks global music partnership with toy company MGA Entertainment Magic Star will create and produce music to support LOL Surprise product lines
News Deb Oh appointed Senior Director of Creative Licensing at BMG Production Music Oh joins BMGPM from creative audio agency Squeak E. Clean Studios
News MBW’s Weekly Roundup: Vivendi, Beach Boys, Big Hit x UMG, Warner x Rotana, MLC The biggest music industry stories of the week, all in one place
News Theresa Adebiyi joins Troy Carter’s Venice as Director, Audience and Culture Adebiyi was previously Creative Director and Project Manager at Partisan Records
News Round Hill launches Sound Hill Neighboring Rights division Sound Hill will also offer royalty financing for neighboring rights
News Warner names six initial recipients of grants from its $100m Social Justice Fund Recipients include the Black Cultural Archives, Black Futures Lab, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), Howard University, REFORM Alliance and Rhythm & Blues Foundation
News Former Shazam and LyricFind executive Will Mills joins UK music tech startup Audoo Firm recently closed a £5.2m series A funding round
News EMPIRE opens West Asia and North Africa division, hires Suhel Nafar as VP, Strategy and Market Development Most recently, Nafar worked at Spotify as the Global Lead of Arab Music & Culture
Interviews David Hodges on writing with Ed Sheeran, selling his catalog, and refusing to be fixated on fame The Grammy-winning writer and producer opens up on his career and his approach to songwriting
News Irving Azoff buys Beach Boys rights in what looks likely to be a $100m-plus deal Deal includes sound recordings, brand, select musical compositions and memorabilia
News Universal launches Virgin Music Label & Artist Services around the world, rebranding Caroline and Caroline International Virgin Music Label & Artist Services leadership teams appointed in the US, UK, France, Germany, Japan & Latin America