Music Business News: North America

Spirit Music Group acquires 150,000 tracks as it launches Production Music division

Alan Ett to head up Spirit Production Music, reporting into David Renzer

Pandora launches $9.99-a-month Premium tier to rival Spotify, Apple Music

Existing Pandora Plus users get a six month free trial

First Access names Ultra Records exec Oscar Scivier VP of A&R

Scivier joins after five years working for Patrick Moxey at Sony’s Ultra Records in New York

Caroline strikes deal with IHEARTCOMIX label

IHC 1NFINITY to release six digital singles a year

Big Machine Label Group names Kris Lamb VP of Promotion

Lamb replaces the label's SVP of Promotion Jack Purcell

Savan Kotecha: ‘Music is about emotions and connecting people – not money or ego.’

Pop connoisseur Savan Kotecha opens up about songwriting, perfectionism and winning at the music business

Changes at Three Six Zero in US and UK, say sources

Mark Gillespie and Dean Wilson are setting up separate ventures

Songwriters fight Apple, Spotify, Google, Amazon and Pandora over streaming rates

Nearly 2,000 songwriters sign NMPA petition