Michael Nash In The News

After Universal, Warner, and Merlin deals, now Udio inks licensing agreement with Kobalt

The deal marks Kobalt’s second AI music platform partnership, following its 2025 licensing agreement with ElevenLabs.

Mandopop superstar Jay Chou is about to release his new album ‘Children of the Sun’ via UMG, led by a $2.8M music video. The timing couldn’t be more significant.

The album is also the first new studio record released since Chou and his label JVR Music signed a strategic global partnership with Universal Music Greater China in December 2023,

Analysis News

Sir Lucian Grainge talks AI strategy, Downtown, D2C, superfans, and more on UMG’s latest earnings call

MBW listened in to UMG's latest earnings call. Here's what we learned.

News

Artist representatives launch ‘Say No To Suno’ campaign: ‘AI slop dilutes the royalty pools of legitimate artists from whose music this slop is derived.’

Open letter slams AI music generator

News

Suno hires ex-Merlin CEO Jeremy Sirota as Chief Commercial Officer

Sirota will report directly to CEO Mikey Shulman.

News

Spotify eyes AI ‘derivatives’ as new revenue stream for artists – says its tech to let fans make remixes and covers is ready

Spotify says it wants to enable listeners to interact with their favorite artists' music through AI

Analysis News

Universal and Suno are in a PR battle over ‘walled gardens’ in AI music

Suno exec Paul Sinclair pens memo taking aim at 'walled garden' approach championed by UMG in its recent AI licensing deals

Analysis

UMG buying a stake in superfan app Stationhead is a bigger deal than you might realize. Here are 3 reasons why.

Superfan monetization and D2C expansion continue to be strategic priorities for Universal Music Group.