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Showing posts from January, 2026

Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern to retire at end of 2026

CMA says successor is expected to be announced in February Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/country-music-association-ceo-sarah-trahern-to-retire-at-end-of-2026/

From GMR’s new CEO to 253m tracks on streaming platforms… it’s MBW’s weekly round-up

The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/from-gmrs-new-ceo-jeff-toig-to-quarter-of-a-billion-tracks-on-streaming-services-its-mbws-weekly-round-up/

Jeff Toig named CEO at Irving Azoff’s GMR, as co-founder Randy Grimmett becomes Executive Chairman

Toig has served as Global Music Rights’ Chief Business Officer since 2018 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/jeff-toig-named-ceo-at-irving-azoffs-gmr-as-co-founder-randy-grimmett-becomes-executive-chairman/

SESAC Names Chris Sheehan as VP, International

Veteran UK executive steps into international role following more than two decades of collaboration with the PRO Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sesac-names-chris-sheehan-as-vp-international/

‘Producers don’t get the recognition and respect that we deserve a lot of the time. We’re literally half of the song.’

Hit Boy discusses his breakthrough work with artists like Jay Z and Travis Scott as well as his own career as an artist, the impact of AI and working across genres Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/producers-dont-get-the-recognition-and-respect-that-we-deserve-a-lot-of-the-time-were-literally-half-of-the-song/

Spotify hikes price for Premium subscribers in the US, other markets

Monthly subscription cost for Premium Individual will rise from $11.99 to $12.99 in the US Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-hikes-price-for-premium-subscribers-in-the-us-other-markets/

Sony Music Publishing and Daniel Nigro Sign Global Deal with Jon Buscema

Deal marks one of the first producer signings under Nigro’s Amusement venture. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-music-publishing-and-daniel-nigro-sign-global-deal-with-jon-buscema/

Merlin appoints 2026–2027 Board, adding five new global representatives

New execs join Board from Nigeria, Portugal, Japan, Germany and the UK Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/merlin-appoints-2026-27-board-adding-five-new-global-representatives/

Musical AI raises $4.5m to scale AI attribution tech

The startup’s technology identifies what percentage of a generated output came from which source. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/musical-ai-bags-4-5m-in-funding-round-to-scale-ai-attribution-tech/

BMG to move global HQ to renovated Lumina building in Berlin in 2027

The move puts BMG in the former Galeries Lafayette building just two blocks from its current Berlin offices. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bmg-to-move-global-hq-to-renovated-lumina-building-in-berlin-in-2027/

‘When you can’t see the whole picture, you don’t truly understand what’s going on in your business.’

Absolute Label Services co-bosses, Henry Semmence and Simon Wills discuss Anthology, a new system they believe is key to the future of their company – and the success of their clients… Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/when-you-cant-see-the-whole-picture-you-dont-truly-understand-whats-going-on-in-your-business/

Managers and agents of Ed Sheeran, Oasis, Olivia Dean, Radiohead, Fontaines D.C. and more urge EU action on ‘predatory ticket resale’

The signatories want the Digital Fairness Act expanded to tackle ticket resale abuse. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/managers-and-agents-of-ed-sheeran-oasis-olivia-dean-radiohead-fontaines-d-c-and-more-urge-eu-action-on-ticket-resale/

Quebec court greenlights class action against Ticketmaster over ‘unreasonable’ service fees

The complaint centers on Ticketmaster’s fee structure that fluctuates based on ticket prices instead of the actual cost of services rendered. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/quebec-court-greenlights-class-action-against-ticketmaster-over-unreasonable-service-fees/

Johanna Fuentes named Head of Communications and PR at HYBE America

Fuentes most recently served as Head of Global Communications for WarnerMedia Studios and Networks Group. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/johanna-fuentes-named-head-of-communications-and-pr-at-hybe-america/

Bad Bunny faces $16m lawsuit over alleged unauthorized voice recording used in two songs

A Puerto Rican woman alleged that Bad Bunny's producer asked her to record a phrase in 2018, which was later used in two of the artist's songs. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bad-bunny-faces-16m-lawsuit-over-alleged-unauthorized-voice-recording-used-in-two-songs/

Elon Musk’s X sues major music publishers – plus BMG, Kobalt, NMPA and more – alleging industrywide ‘collusion’ to force licensing deal

Elon Musk’s X Corp has filed an antitrust lawsuit against dozens of music publishers – plus the National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) – accusing them of colluding to force the social media platform into taking industrywide licenses at “supracompetitive rates”. At the heart of the complaint: an allegation that the NMPA coordinated a campaign to … Continued Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/elon-musks-x-sues-major-music-publishers-plus-bmg-kobalt-nmpa-and-more-alleging-industrywide-collusion-to-force-licensing-deal/

From Salt-N-Pepa’s dismissed UMG case to UK music streaming subscription revenues’ 3.2% growth… it’s MBW’s weekly round-up

The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/from-salt-n-pepas-dismissed-umg-case-to-uk-subscription-music-streamings-3-2-growth-its-mbws-weekly-round-up/

Salt-N-Pepa lawsuit against Universal Music Group over ownership of master recordings dismissed

Salt-N-Pepa filed the lawsuit in May 2025 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/salt-n-pepa-lawsuit-against-umg-over-ownership-of-master-recordings-dismissed/

Bruno Mars sets February release date for first solo album in a decade

Pre-orders for a numbered first-pressing vinyl edition opened this week through Mars’ website. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bruno-mars-sets-february-release-date-for-first-solo-album-in-a-decade/

UK music streaming subscription revenues grew by 3.2% YoY in 2025. So did inflation.

Slowdown is particularly notable given that the UK subscription market benefited from yet another Spotify price increase in 2025, albeit towards the end of the year Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/uk-music-streaming-subscription-revenues-grew-by-3-2-yoy-in-2025-so-did-inflation/

Edward ‘Bud’ Cole appointed CEO of Fender

Cole succeeds Andy Mooney, who led Fender through an decade of digital innovation Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/edward-bud-cole-appointed-ceo-of-fender/

‘I’ve worked at all the majors, I’ve seen how they operate, and I genuinely don’t know what they could do that we can’t do.’

When his time at Parlophone came to an abrupt end, Nick Burgess decide to launch his own label, Artist Theory. Here, he looks back at his career so far – and to the future of his new venture… Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ive-worked-at-all-the-majors-ive-seen-how-they-operate-and-i-genuinely-dont-know-what-they-could-do-that-we-cant-do/

‘This isn’t about limiting fan creativity. It’s about ensuring creators, performers and rights-holders are paid.’

Columnist Sammy Andrews dives back into the AI-verse, concentrating on the tsunami of AI covers flooding DPSs and social media platforms. It’s time, she concludes, that we stopped circling the issue and started collecting the money… Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/this-isnt-about-limiting-fan-creativity-its-about-ensuring-creators-performers-and-rights-holders-are-paid/

AI-powered music production platform LANDR acquires Stockholm-based DAW developer Reason Studios

The deal brings together LANDR’s AI-powered production tools with Reason Studios’ digital audio workstation Reason DAW and Reason Rack. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ai-powered-music-production-platform-landr-acquires-stockholm-based-daw-developer-reason-studios/

Hayley Dukes promoted to SVP of Licensing at ASCAP

Dukes steps up from VP role and continues reporting to EVP and Head of Licensing Stephanie Ruyle. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hayley-dukes-promoted-to-svp-of-licensing-at-ascap/

Triller booted from Nasdaq after missing financial filing deadlines

Triller was delisted/suspended from Nasdaq trading effective December 30 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/triller-booted-from-nasdaq-after-missing-financial-filing-deadlines/

Electronic music experiences firm Pacha Group booked $139m in revenue between January and September 2025, after ‘record-breaking’ season at Pacha Ibiza nightclub

Pacha Ibiza nightclub drew 583,834 guests across 156 events this season, up 20% YoY. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/electronic-music-experiences-firm-pacha-group-booked-139m-in-revenue-between-january-and-september-2025-after-record-breaking-season-at-pacha-ibiza-nightclub/

Universal Music acquires 30% stake in India’s Excel Entertainment, valuing Bollywood production house at $267m

As part of the deal, UMG will roll out a dedicated Excel music label with global distribution capabilities. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/universal-music-buys-30-stake-in-indias-excel-entertainment-valuing-bollywood-production-house-at-267m/