Music Business Worldwide

Julie Swidler, Sony Music’s EVP Business Affairs and General Counsel, to leave company after 18 years

Murray Stassen — Wed, 27 May 2026 16:17:26 +0000

Swidler has held the role of EVP, Business Affairs and General Counsel at Sony Music, since 2008

John McClain, co-executor of the Michael Jackson Estate and veteran music executive, dies at 71

Murray Stassen — Wed, 27 May 2026 16:03:17 +0000

Alongside attorney John Branca, McClain was named co-executor of the Michael Jackson Estate in the singer's will following Jackson's death in 2009.

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HarbourView Equity Partners acquires pre-2024 catalog from Stefflon Don

Murray Stassen — Wed, 27 May 2026 14:26:09 +0000

Deal covers both publishing and recorded music rights

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YouTube will now automatically detect and label AI videos – even when creators don’t disclose it

Murray Stassen — Wed, 27 May 2026 13:54:45 +0000

The platform said it is rolling out "new internal signals" to identify AI-generated content, starting in May 2026.

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Larry Jackson’s Gamma files lawsuit to unmask creators of smear websites

Tim Ingham — Wed, 27 May 2026 11:59:49 +0000

The 12-page complaint, filed on Tuesday (May 26) and reviewed by MBW, brings three causes of action: defamation, trade libel, and unfair competition under New York common law

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Basile Beaugendre and Cyrus Chen promoted to regional heads for Europe and APAC at TuneCore

Mandy Dalugdug — Wed, 27 May 2026 11:00:42 +0000

Beaugendre has led TuneCore France since 2019, and Chen has headed TuneCore Southeast Asia since 2020.

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Bolloré urges Universal Music Group to reject Bill Ackman’s $64B takeover bid

Murray Stassen — Wed, 27 May 2026 10:53:11 +0000

"We think the price is not there at all," Bolloré told shareholders.

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J. Cole and Cam’ron settle $500K lawsuit over ‘Ready ’24’ royalties

Mandy Dalugdug — Wed, 27 May 2026 09:05:11 +0000

The parties said they had "reached an agreement in principle to resolve the remaining claims" in the case.

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HYBE’s Weverse appoints Zooil Yang as President as superfan platform enters ‘next phase of growth’

Mandy Dalugdug — Wed, 27 May 2026 08:43:50 +0000

Yang most recently served as CEO of AXZ, the Kakao-spun-off company that operates South Korea's Daum portal.

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Warner Music and Crumbl reach settlement in $24M copyright infringement lawsuit over TikTok posts

Mandy Dalugdug — Wed, 27 May 2026 08:39:13 +0000

The parties said they expect to resolve their dispute on or before June 15, 2026.

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