News ‘Russia’s Facebook’ launches fully licensed new Spotify rival With over 100 million active users, Russian Facebook VKontakte (VK) has the same sized audience as Spotify
News Sir Lucian Grainge named Cannes Lions Media Person Of The Year 2017 British exec will receive gong in France next month
News Ex-Music Week Publisher Dave Roberts joins MBW Roberts will split responsibilities between editorial and business development
News Da Beat Freakz sign with Cloud 9 Music – Bucks to represent in the UK London-based duo have scored cuts with Usher, Chris Brown and Sean Paul
Analysis Why Sony Music’s 2016 numbers are healthier than they first appear Streaming was up over 40% at US$ constant currency - with recorded revenues growing
News Sony recorded music sales fall 6%, hampered by strength of Yen Streaming growth fails to offset unfavorable currency exchange
News Calvin Harris just kind of broke the way Sony reports album sales And The Chainsmokers aren't helping matters, either...
News Warner claims majority share of 2016’s biggest-selling albums Top 50 Beyonce's Lemonade was last year's biggest seller - but Warner took the lion's share of list
News Primary Wave acquires Rough Trade Publishing stake in $5m+ financing deal Rough Trade has signed the likes of War On Drugs, Superchunk, Grizzly Bear, the Magnetic Fields, Against Me!, and Future Islands
News Apple Music secures exclusive rights to Sean “Diddy” Combs documentary Film joins Apple Music's growing stable of exclusive music documentaries alongside Clive Davis: The Soundtrack of Our Lives
News Jack White signs first ever global publishing deal with UMPG During his 20-year career, White has amassed 170 songwriting credits, including collaborations with Beyoncé and Alicia Keys
Analysis If Vivendi sells a chunk of Universal Music Group… who’d buy it? Could Alibaba, Tencent, Apple, Google or Access Industries buy their way into UMG?
News UK Music appoints Michael Dugher as new CEO Dugher takes over from Jo Dipple who announced her intention to step down in January after five years
News Spotify hires IFPI veteran Olivia Regnier as Legal Director, EU Regulatory Affairs Regnier leaves behind 20 years at the recorded music trade body
News BMG names Keith Hauprich US General Counsel Hauprich moves up from his role as Deputy General Counsel
Interviews Jason Flom: ‘Unless you’re 100% sure your artist is wrong, go with their vision’ Jason Flom on A&R, signing Lorde, working with Republic - and getting fired
News Universal has fewer staff than it did 10 years ago – despite buying EMI Company employed 7,547 individuals across the world in 2016