MBW Reacts

Merck Mercuariadis on Hipgnosis, vindication, and his next move.

The entrepreneur opens up on his new industry thesis – and how he feels seeing the company once known as Hipgnosis sold to Sony

Interviews

‘After K-pop, Chinese pop music will come to the world next.’

UMG Greater China Chairman and CEO Timothy Xu on the company’s ‘Glocal’ strategy, and why he believes Chinese pop will be the next genre to go global...

Analysis News

Sir Lucian Grainge on AI, Spotify, and why he’s not in the ‘functional music’ industry

Three things you might have missed from Grainge's fireside chat at the GREATER Together LA summit last week

Analysis

Has Warner Turned A Corner?

The latest 'Tim's Take' from Music Business Worldwide founder, Tim Ingham

Analysis News

Sony generated $3.03bn from recorded music and publishing in calendar Q1 2026, up 19.5% YoY

Recorded music streaming revenue (combining subscription and ad-funded streaming) was up 13.6% YoY.

Analysis News

BTS-nomics, overseas investment strategy, and the future of K-pop: 5 things we learned on HYBE’s Q1 earnings call

HYBE's Q1 2026 earnings call was dominated by the return of BTS. Here's what stood out…

Analysis News

Want to talk about ‘superfans’? Ask Live Nation.

"It's not even about just being 'premium'. It's just consumers will pay for a shorter line, better parking, better hospitality."

Analysis

On… Universal, Spotify, Virgin, and the ‘leakage’ causing analyst discomfort.

This article orginally appeared in Tim Ingham’s latest ‘Tim’s Take’ email, issued exclusively to MBW+ subscribers.

Analysis News

3 Observations On… BMG x Concord

This article orginally appeared in Tim Ingham’s latest ‘Tim’s Take’ email, issued exclusively to MBW+ subscribers.

Analysis News

Spotify Co-CEOs outline AI ambitions and more on Q1 2026 earnings call

Here are five things we learned from the company's Q1 earnings call

Analysis News

UMG’s Michael Nash takes aim at ‘false narrative of artist replacement’ by AI – and 3 other things we learned from his HumanX panel with Splice’s CEO

The pair discussed UMG's approach to AI, including how the company balances protecting artists' rights with leaning into AI innovation

Analysis

Selling a $3B Spotify stake, Michael Ovitz as Chairman of the Board, and a $100B+ company: Welcome to Bill Ackman’s plan for Universal Music Group.

MBW founder Tim Ingham on telling details within Pershing Square's proposal for a new Universal Music Group

Analysis News

UMG fires back at Drake appeal over ‘Not Like Us’ case dismissal: 3 takeaways from response brief

UMG says Drake used AI-generated voices of Snoop Dogg and the late Tupac Shakur “to goad Lamar into responding to his diss tracks.

Analysis

Where’s V6?

MBW Founder Tim Ingham on Suno's missing licensed model and why the WMG deal doesn't mean the music industry has moved on

Analysis News

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,