News Downtown ‘exploring strategic options’ with Raine Group – including possible sale MBW confirms that New York-based company is exploring a range of options for its future ownership
News Spotify increases price of Family Plan subscription in Australia Spotify Premium Family price increased for new users in Australia from October 1
News Round Hill set to IPO new fund on London Stock Exchange next month, raising $375m Josh Gruss-led company intends to launch a new fund in London next month
News Universal is building its own hotels, including a $1.2bn complex in Mississippi UMUSIC hotels will house their own live music venues and a "music-first experience for guests".
News Sony Music UK boss Jason Iley awarded MBE in Queen’s Birthday Honours "I am immensely grateful to have worked with some of the most talented artists in the world and this is truly a career highlight."
News Universal enters JV with Thailand’s IAM Records for global signing & launch of new girl group, LYRA IAM’s official YouTube channel has more than 1.4m subscribers
News Universal Music teams with new indie label Wonderland Records to sign Rendy Pandugo in Indonesia Wonderland was founded by former Sony Music Indonesia A&R Director Mahavira Wisnu Wardhana (Inu).
News TuneCore partners with Spotify rival Gaana in India Gaana announced in August that it had surpassed 185m monthly active users
News Twitch called out for alleged culture of racism, sexism and abuse "It took place in the office. At events. In meetings and behind closed doors. It was rampant and unavoidable".
News Universal signs Richard Ashcroft to global music publishing admin deal "It’s so good to be reunited with him and his wonderful catalog of songs all these years later," says UMPG's UK boss, Mike McCormack
News Producer Ben Billions joins Warner Chappell Music in exclusive administrative publishing deal Billions has worked on multiple Grammy Award-winning albums
News Kobalt extends worldwide deal with Franchise producer Teddy Walton Walton has worked with artists including Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar, Post Malone, Bryson Tiller, Drake, Travis Scott, Nipsey Hussle and others
News Natina Nimene promoted to Senior Vice President of Urban Promotion & Artist Relations at Def Jam Recordings Exec will act as a liaison for core Def Jam artists like Teyana Taylor, YG, Big Sean, Jeezy, 2 Chainz, and more
News BMG eliminates ‘poisonous’ Controlled Composition clauses from its US record contracts BMG will refrain applying the reductions to any new record deals – and remove them from its entire catalog
News Multiple ‘fake stream’ sites shut down in Brazil Closures follow action from Pro-Música Brasil, Brazilian anti-piracy body APDIF, and the Brazilian police
News Round Hill Music signs publishing deal with Keith Sweat Back catalog and new music included in global admin agreement
News Sony and Tencent’s JV label, Liquid State, hires Victor Lee as its new Managing Director Exec will work with artists including R3HAB and billion-stream Chinese producer CORSAK
Analysis News Spotify has a patent for personality tracking technology – and it’s pretty creepy stuff "Future research could begin to link streaming behavior with brain scanning, genetic, and physiological data."