Music Business News: North America

Sony inks worldwide distribution deal with Australia’s UNIFIED

Jaddan Comerford says Oz company "could not be happier" with The Orchard deal

SoundCloud hires Shazam’s Antonious Porch as General Counsel

Former Viacom exec will be based in New York City

Facebook inks pan-European licensing deals with Wixen, Sacem and Socan

News follows recent agreements with Universal Music Group and Sony/ATV

SoundExchange has now paid over $5bn to artists and labels, with $652m distributed in 2017

Over $30m paid to publisher members last year

Bankrupt iHeartMedia owes over $35m to music companies

Money owed to SoundExchange, ASCAP, BMI, Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Global Music Rights

Sony/ATV promotes Jacob Fain to SVP A&R, Head of Research & Analytics

Exec moves up from his prior role as VP, A&R

Independent labels set for $60m payout from Latin American streaming services in 2018

Merlin members' earnings from Latin America increase five fold in three years thanks to streaming

iHeartMedia files for bankruptcy in the US

Bob Pittman says deal is a 'significant accomplishment'