News and Trends

The acquisition will combine Canada's leading performing and reproduction rights organizations, pending regulatory approval. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/socan-acquires-cmrra-from-soundexchange/

Live Nation's Concerts division drew 49 million fans in Q2 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-generated-7-7bn-in-q2-revenue-up-9-yoy-driven-by-a-10-rise-in-fan-attendance/

Michael Jackson's Thriller album was Sony's biggest-selling artist project around the world in calendar Q2 2026, boosted by the Michael biopic movie Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-generated-3-12b-from-recorded-music-michael-jackson/

Soundpatrol struck partnered with Universal and Sony in September 2025 to detect copyright infringement in AI-generated music Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/soundpatrol-sued-by-lucas-keller-and-oak-felder-who-allege-they-developed-its-copyright-detection-software-without-compensation/

The following MBW op/ed comes from Samantha Moore, President of Rostrum Pacific-owned distributor SpaceHeater. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/true-independents-will-become-rarer-and-more-valuable-going-into-the-next-decade/

The inaugural edition will run for 11 days across Seoul Arena in the city's Chang-dong district and the KINTEX exhibition center in nearby Goyang. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/k-pops-big-four-and-south-korean-government-reveal-plans-for-fanomenon-festival-in-seoul-and-los-angeles/