Deals
Hopeless Records has teamed up with payments platform Trolley to streamline its financial operations and royalty payout processes as the independent record label celebrates its 30th anniversary. The collaboration seeks to boost efficiency, ensure prompt payments for artists and staff, and simplify year-end 1099 filings. Al Person, Chief Financial Officer of Hopeless Records, expressed satisfaction with the partnership, stating, “Adding Trolley has significantly enhanced our processes by consolidating everything in one place.” Conor Cox, VP Revenue at Trolley, highlighted the strong alignment within the music industry, especially in areas where companies closely engage with their artists.
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CTS Eventim has revealed the merger of its German entities Peter Rieger Konzertagentur and DreamHaus to establish PRK DreamHaus. The new entity will be jointly led by Klaus-Peter Matziol and Matt Schwarz, the current managing directors of PRK and DreamHaus, respectively, with the addition of Tobi Habla as a managing director. CEO Klaus-Peter Schulenberg of CTS Eventim expressed optimism about the merger’s ability to propel growth, optimize management structures, and drive expansion effectively while retaining existing locations and teams.
Candy Crush Saga has partnered with musicians Kimbra, TOKiMONSTA, and Laszewo to produce new tracks integrating in-game audio. The collaboration coincides with the third annual Music Season tournament of the game, introducing the Sweet Sound Passport prize, granting the top ten players tickets to three concerts of their choice globally. Luken Aragon, VP Of Marketing for Candy Crush Saga at King, emphasized the game’s mission of Making the World Playful and how the collaboration with renowned artists enhances that vision.
In Place of War, a global charity, has launched EarthSonic, a novel record label, sound archive, and event series aimed at addressing climate change through music collaborations. The initiative involves partnerships with indigenous communities, musicians, cultural organizers, scientists, and climate activists to create projects narrating the story of climate change. Ruth Daniel, CEO of In Place of War and founder of EarthSonic, described the project as ambitious and collaborative, aiming to inspire action around six changes crucial for preserving the planet, biodiversity, and humanity. The project has garnered support from various music industry organizations like A2IM, AFEM, BBC, Beatport, The Outernet, PRS Foundation, Roland, and RA.
Rimas Publishing and Arturia have announced a partnership marking Arturia’s inaugural direct foray into the Latin music industry. The collaboration revolves around Arturia’s new KeyLab mk3 keyboard, with Grammy Award-winning producer duo Súbelo Neo serving as product spokespersons. Emilio Morales, CEO of Rimas Publishing, hailed the collaboration as unprecedented for both entities, highlighting the KeyLab mk3 as an advanced MIDI controller designed for professional use with seamless integration with hardware and software instruments.
Top Dawg Entertainment and Warner Records have signed alt-pop singer Alemeda. The Ethiopian-Sudanese artist, following in the footsteps of SZA and Doechii, released her debut EP ‘FK IT’ and expressed gratitude for being part of TDE, underscoring the value of artist development. Co-president Anthony Tiffith emphasized the importance of supporting artists like Alemeda who share a vision for growth and development.
Rocket Science Music has become the official music partner of Grand Central, a prominent sound design and audio post-production facility based in London. The collaboration aims to enhance Grand Central’s services with music supervision, including original compositions, music searches, licensing, and brand partnerships. James Cooper, the Founder and Managing Director of Rocket Science Music, expressed excitement about the union, aiming to leverage their expertise to help clients achieve exceptional results. Joint MD Simon Kanjee at Grand Central noted the game-changing nature of the partnership, aligning with their commitment to high-quality sound design and audio post-production.
Flavor Unit Entertainment, Westbrook Studios, and Jesse Collins Entertainment have joined forces to produce hip-hop biopics, funding independently by HarbourView Equity Partners. The inaugural project will be a biopic of the acclaimed artist Queen Latifah, detailing her life and influence in the music industry. Various industry stalwarts like Queen Latifah, Will Smith, Miguel Melendez, Jesse Collins, and Dionne Harmon are set to produce the biopic, celebrating the cultural impact of hip-hop. Sherrese Clarke Soares, Founder & CEO of HarbourView, highlighted the personal significance of hip-hop in shaping her identity and expresses excitement for the project.
Mixcloud has completed the acquisition of Encore, a leading European online music marketplace specializing in live performances. Encore, with over 50,000 bookings facilitating musicians to earn £25 million, will now be integrated into the Mixcloud family. The collaboration aims to leverage Mixcloud’s global reach to further support musicians and creators, enabling them to connect with audiences in innovative ways. The co-founder of Mixcloud, Nikhil Shah, will step in as the new Chairman of Encore, enhancing the synergy between the two platforms.
Appointments
Downtown Music has promoted Gareth Mellor to SVP, Global Marketing & Communications. Mellor, now overseeing marketing efforts across Downtown Music’s operations in 145 countries, brings a strong track record from his previous role at the company. The promotion aligns with Downtown Music’s strategic initiatives aimed at elevating its brand presence globally under a unified operating structure. David Driessen, Chief Business Officer of Downtown Music, expressed excitement about the continued growth and positioning of the company in the global market.
Empire has expanded its reach to Australia with the appointment of Cameron Walsh as Territory Manager. The move signifies Empire’s commitment to establishing a foothold in Australia and reflects a dedication to excellence in representing its cultural ethos. Ghazi Shami, CEO of Empire, highlighted the significance of selecting individuals aligned with the company’s values to represent its interests in new territories.
All Things Live Sweden has named Magnus Widell as CEO, effective from October 1st. With a wealth of experience in leadership roles, including a successful tenure at an amusement park, Widell expressed enthusiasm for his new position. The company, known for hosting prestigious events and concerts featuring renowned artists like Taylor Swift and Justin Bieber, looks forward to leveraging Widell’s leadership to drive continued success.
Believe has appointed Henri Jamet as Managing Director of Believe France. With a rich background in label management, Jamet is poised to steer Believe France’s operations and chart a growth strategy for the market. The appointment reflects Believe’s commitment to nurturing talent and driving innovation in the music industry. Denis Ladegaillerie, Founder and CEO of Believe, commended Jamet’s creative vision and industry acumen.
Legal
Live Nation has filed a motion to dismiss claims from several US states alleging anti-competitive practices regarding its ticket-selling arm, Ticketmaster. The legal action, part of a broader lawsuit initiated by the US Department Of Justice, asserts that Live Nation artificially inflated concert ticket prices. The case, involving multiple states, seeks significant damages on behalf of event-goers. Live Nation contends that the allegations do not directly impact ticket prices for consumers, emphasizing the need for a balanced assessment of industry dynamics.
Nelly faces a $50 million lawsuit from his former bandmates, the St Lunatics, over copyright disputes related to tracks on his album ‘Country Grammar’. The lawsuit alleges that Nelly failed to credit the bandmates as composers and copyright owners for songs on the album, despite earlier assurances. The St Lunatics claim that Nelly misrepresented the credits, leading to a breach of trust within the group.
The European Union Copyright Directive has been fully implemented across all 27 member states, marking a significant milestone. The directive, including the contentious Article 17 impacting user-upload platforms, has garnered support from the music industry for enhancing transparency and remuneration for artists. Jackie Alway, Chair of ICMP, hailed the legislation for bolstering the digital licensing landscape and advocating for fair compensation for creators.
Apple faces regulatory scrutiny under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act with new specifications aimed at ensuring interoperability and compliance with connectivity features. The EU Commission’s actions underscore the importance of enforcing regulations to enhance competition and consumer choice within the digital ecosystem. Apple’s response to the proceedings will be closely watched, with potential fines for non-compliance.
The IFPI‘s ‘Operation 404’ anti-piracy campaign has concluded its latest round targeting music piracy in Paraguay and Brazil. The operation’s successful actions against stream-ripping sites and mobile apps highlight the industry’s commitment to combating online piracy. Victoria Oakley, CEO of IFPI, commended the extensive efforts to curtail music piracy and safeguard the interests of artists and music rights holders.
Streaming, Digital, Broadcast & Retail
Music Tectonics has announced the finalists of its ‘Swimming With Narwhals’ start-up competition, showcasing innovative solutions in the music industry. The chosen startups, such as DAWn Audio and Soundspace, offer unique tools for collaboration and data-driven marketing, reflecting the dynamic landscape of music technology. The competition, slated to take place at the Music Tectonics Conference, aims to spotlight emerging talent and drive innovation in the music tech sector.
SoundExchange is developing a global artificial intelligence registry to empower creators and rights owners in managing their content in AI models. Leveraging its extensive sound recording catalog, SoundExchange’s initiative seeks to provide a resource for creators to protect their intellectual property rights in the evolving landscape of AI-generated content. The innovative registry underscores the importance of ensuring fair compensation and recognition for artists in the digital age.
Mellomanic has secured additional funding totaling $6 million, further propelling its mission to revolutionize the music community platform. The injection of capital