News Sean Parker leads $5m funding round for music GIF developer Emoticast Black Eyed Peas co-founder will.i.am and DJ and producer David Guetta also amongst investors
News Vivendi to host cross-cultural festival in London at Universal Music’s new Kings Cross base Inaugural event, titled Le Crossing, will take place in October and is expected to return annually
News Carrie Underwood leaves Sony Music after 12 years to join Universal Sony currently embroiled in legal battle with 19 Entertainment over royalty payouts
News Inspired by Carpool Karaoke, Spotify introduces… Traffic Jams Russell Simmons teams with streaming service for launch
Interviews How Universal plans to become Japan’s leading ‘full-service music company’ UMJ President and CEO Naoshi Fujikura speaks exclusively to MBW
News Music Sales acquires French publisher Bleu Blanc Rouge BBR was established by Huguette and Jean Kluger in Paris in 1967
News Lee Brice signs US performance rights deal with SESAC Brice joins the music rights organisation ahead of the release of his fourth studio album later this year on Curb Records
News Global hires Live Nation’s Debbie Ward after aggressive UK festival acquisition run Ward named Commercial Director of a team that will develop strategic campaigns for brands
News Amazon partners with UK events and venues to offer prime experience Online retailer to offer pre sale tickets for gigs, and exclusive lounges at venues and festivals
News Streaming subscription revenue rises 133% in Australia to top $80m The market is up 5.5% in 2016 after generating AUS $352.2m (US $269.7m) in revenue
News Rehearsal platform Pirate Studios expands to ‘support the future of UK music’ Bands and DJs can hire studios from £4-per-hour across London, Liverpool, Bristol and more
News Ryan Farley named Head of A&R at F Block Music Publishing Former Warner/Chappell exec joins Hank Hughes
News Kobalt launches AWAL App to ‘demystify’ streaming data for independent artists Spotify and Apple Music data crunched for self-releasing acts
Analysis News BMG revenue topped $450m in 2016, with a 23% profit margin Bertelsmann-owned company's headcount grew 20% in calendar year
Analysis News Japan’s recorded music business grew last year (but only just) Market generates more than $2bn, with download holding and streaming up 61%
News ie: music deploys Centtrip Music to save on FX costs for Robbie Williams tour Tim Clark praises FX specialist as 'something the music industry really needs'
News Magnus Ribbeklint named VP of Marketing, Warner Music Nordics Exec will also maintain role as General Manager of Warner Music Sweden
News Spotify acquires MightyTV. Can its founder fix Daniel Ek’s advertising woes? Can former Google exec Brian Adams play a key role in making Spotify profitable?