News and Trends

MBW's Trailblazers meets Jeff Waye, Co-Founder and COO, and Patrick Curley, Co-Founder, President and CEO, of independent publisher Third Side Music Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/how-jeff-waye-and-patrick-curley-built-third-side-music-into-an-indie-publishing-powerhouse-with-usd-25m-in-annual-revenues/

The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/from-the-say-no-to-suno-campaign-to-goldstates-significant-bridgepoint-investment-its-mbws-weekly-round-up/

MBW understands that Larry Mestel-led Primary Wave is among a number of potential suitors who have been in discussions with Kobalt's majority owner, private equity firm Francisco Partners (FP), in recent months. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/primary-wave-is-in-talks-over-potentially-acquiring-kobalt-music-group/

Lamb was previously SVP of Human Resources, while Boxer served as SVP of Accounting and Finance. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/julie-lamb-promoted-to-chief-talent-officer-at-aegs-axs-jason-boxer-upped-to-chief-financial-officer/

Beat Switch Music Services has been operating quietly for the past 24 months, and now supports more than 20 independent labels. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/the-circuit-group-launches-indie-artist-and-label-services-arm-beat-switch/

CEO and co-founder Mikey Shulman shared the figures this week, two years after the platform's launch Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/suno-hits-2m-paid-subscribers-300m-annual-revenue/

The following MBW op/ed comes from Victoria Oakley, Chief Executive Officer of the IFPI, and Mitch Glazier, CEO of the RIAA Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/end-streaming-fraud/

MBW reacts to three research papers detailed by Sony AI. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sonys-blueprint-for-ai-music-detection-tech-is-promising-heres-what-its-working-on/

Agreement extends artist’s relationship with EMPIRE beyond recordings following breakout chart success Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/grammy-winner-shaboozey-signs-publishing-deal-with-empire/

The deal is said to mark a "turning point" for the protection and fair remuneration of creators, authors, composers, and publishers in the UAE. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sacem-secures-landmark-agreement-with-uae-based-cmo-the-emirates-music-rights-association-emra/

Min tells HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk to "meet in the realm of creation, not in the courtroom.” Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/min-hee-jin-offers-to-forgo-18m-payout-if-hybe-drops-all-lawsuits-against-her-newjeans-ex-employees-and-fans/

Open letter slams AI music generator Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/artist-representatives-launch-say-no-to-suno-campaign-ai-slop-dilutes-the-royalty-pools-of-legitimate-artists-from-whose-music-this-slop-is-derived/

The following MBW op/ed comes from Pascal Bittard, founding President of digital distributor and artist & label services company IDOL Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/why-true-independence-in-music-has-never-been-more-important/

Langford will lead the development and execution of AEG’s Asia-Pacific expansion strategy across venues and real estate. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/john-langford-promoted-to-president-asia-pacific-for-aeg-international/

Sirota will report directly to CEO Mikey Shulman. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/suno-hires-ex-merlin-ceo-jeremy-sirota-as-chief-commercial-officer/

Just 4 Noise lets producers describe the sound they want and get “individual, unique, royalty-free sounds” that they can drop directly into their DAW. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/ai-sample-generator-just-4-noise-raises-1m-from-badideas-fund-sound-hub-denmark-and-more/

The relaunched Apple Music Connect gives label and distributor teams a single dashboard to manage the parts of a release cycle. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/apple-revives-the-apple-music-connect-name-this-time-as-a-b2b-promo-platform-for-labels-and-distributors/

Visit my Website  to learn more about other products and services.

Live Nation's EVP of Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, Dan Wall, said the company is "ready" to reach a deal with the DOJ and state attorneys general Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-says-ticketmaster-breakup-threat-is-already-over-calls-for-doj-settlement-its-time-to-move-on/

Another banner year for Michael Rapino's company – complete with a US vs. non-US milestone Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/live-nation-annual-revenues-top-25b-in-2025-up-2b-yoy-with-adjusted-operating-profit-of-2-4b/

MBW caught up with Basden for an exclusive interview... Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/meet-jake-basden-ceo-of-hybe-america-nashvilles-blue-highway-records-i-bring-a-managers-mentality-to-the-position/

The Las Vegas venue's concert residencies in 2025 included the Eagles, Dead & Company, and the Backstreet Boys. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sphere-entertainments-revenues-topped-1-2bn-in-2025-up-8-yoy-wizard-of-oz-has-generated-290m-since-august/

Spookland will transition into Bleu Revolver, which will continue operating as an independent label in partnership with Sony Music Group France. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/sony-music-france-acquires-paris-based-indie-label-and-publishing-company-spookland/

Artist First will offer local marketing and promotional services to AWAL artists looking to break into the Italian market. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/awal-strikes-global-distribution-deal-with-italys-artist-first/

State attorneys general plan to meet later this week to discuss the case without federal government participation, Bloomberg reported. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/us-state-attorneys-general-ready-to-take-live-nation-to-trial-with-or-without-doj-report/

Flow Tuner adjusts recommendations in real time instead of relying on likes, dislikes or skips. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/deezer-launches-flow-tuner-to-give-users-more-control-over-algorithmic-playlists/

 The following MBW op/ed comes from Andrea Czapary Martin, CEO of PRS for Music. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/a-modern-collecting-society-needs-the-pace-and-resilience-of-a-modern-digital-service/

US-based distributor also reported an uptick in its vinyl and CD sales for calendar Q4 2025 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/music-distributor-alliance-entertainment-sold-over-16m-vinyl-records-and-13m-cds-in-2025/

Majid Jordan have co-written and co-produced tracks for artists including Drake, Beyoncé, DJ Khaled, Justin Bieber and Miley Cyrus. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/switzerlands-musicbird-acquires-publishing-catalog-of-rb-duo-and-drake-collaborators-majid-jordan/

HYBE’s latest earnings call offered a clear signal of where the K-pop giant’s priorities lie in 2026: the return of BTS. All seven members have completed their mandatory military service, and will release their fifth studio album, ARIRANG, on March 20 – followed by what HYBE is billing as the largest tour ever by a … Continued Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybes-us-restructure-weverse-turns-profitable-and-concerts-boom-3-things-to-know-from-the-k-pop-giants-latest-earnings-call/

Wasserman backer Providence Equity Partners says it 'remain[s] fully committed' to the agency Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/casey-wasserman-puts-talent-agency-up-for-sale-amid-epstein-fallout/

The launch makes YouTube Music the latest to offer the feature as rivals Spotify, Amazon Music and Deezer have already rolled out the same tool in recent years. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/youtube-music-rolls-out-ai-powered-playlist-generator-tool-for-premium-users/

The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/from-umgs-approved-downtown-deal-to-spotifys-ai-ambitions-its-mbws-weekly-round-up/

The platform has published its FY 2025 results, in which it reported that its membership subscription revenues rose 13.3% YoY in 2025 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/netease-cloud-music-now-counts-over-1-million-registered-indie-artists/

The agreement gives Geo Music’s roster access to Kobalt's royalty collection, accounting and payment infrastructure. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/kobalt-strikes-strategic-publishing-deal-with-london-based-geo-music-group-covering-funding-for-songwriters-and-admin-services/

Judge Nam In-soo ruled that Min’s actions did not constitute a material breach to justify terminating the shareholder agreement. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/hybe-ordered-to-pay-min-hee-jin-17-6m-in-shareholder-agreement-lawsuit/

UMG and ClicknClear estimate that over 150 million athletes join choreographed sports globally, creating “a multi-billion-dollar demand for music licensing.” Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/umg-strikes-global-deal-with-clicknclear-to-license-songs-for-gymnastics-figure-skating-and-more/

Three-year agreement aims to improve long-term industry access and career pathways for talent in the north of England Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/warner-partners-with-uk-based-music-development-organization-generator-to-power-new-creative-opportunities-in-north-of-england/

'As of today, I am no longer represented by Wasserman, the talent agency led by Casey Wasserman,' Roan confirmed in a statement on February 9 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/chappell-roan-quits-wasserman-agency-after-ceos-name-surfaces-in-epstein-files/

Spotify published its Q4 and FY 2025 results today (February 10). Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/spotify-subscriber-base-hits-290m-in-q4-as-streaming-giant-posts-2-5bn-annual-operating-profit-for-2025/

What the latest stats tell us about the US hits business, and how 'catalog' is gaining market share. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/scared-hitless/

Anna's Archive failed to respond to copyright infringement allegations and appear at a scheduled court hearing. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/pirate-group-annas-archive-fails-to-respond-to-labels-copyright-lawsuit-paving-way-for-default-judgment/

The MLC argues that features on Pandora's ad-supported service qualify it as an "interactive service" requiring mechanical royalty payments. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/the-mlc-and-pandora-file-competing-summary-judgment-motions-in-mechanical-royalties-dispute/

The investment will allow the Nettwerk management team to increase its ownership stake while enabling the company to retain its "identity and independence". Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/create-music-group-strikes-300m-investment-in-nettwerk-music-group-as-canadian-firm-executes-management-buyout/

The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/from-warner-and-sonys-q4-results-to-distrokids-potential-2b-sale-its-mbws-weekly-round-up/

Taylor Swift will release the music video for “Opalite” exclusively on Spotify Premium and Apple Music on Friday (February 6) at 8am ET. The video will not be available on YouTube until Super Bowl Sunday (February 8), meaning the pop superstar is windowing a major music video premiere on paid streaming platforms before its YouTube … Continued Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/taylor-swift-to-premiere-opalite-music-video-on-spotify-and-apple-music-with-youtube-release-delayed-by-two-days/

AMG is the global music division of Japanese entertainment giant Avex Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/avex-music-group-strikes-global-distro-deal-with-the-orchard-excluding-japan-china-and-korea/

The latest round was led by Sequoia Capital, with partner Andrew Reed joining the ElevenLabs board. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/elevenlabs-creator-of-suno-rival-eleven-music-raises-500m-at-11bn-valuation/

YouTube's combined advertising and subscription revenues exceeded $60 billion for 2025 Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/youtubes-subscription-business-is-now-generating-around-20bn-a-year-with-music-a-key-growth-driver/

Both companies will adopt the Soundtrack brand while retaining their local teams. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/b2b-music-streamer-soundtrack-acquires-ambie-and-tunify-expanding-presence-in-uk-and-benelux/

The streaming giant will broadcast BTS THE COMEBACK LIVE | ARIRANG on March 21 at 8 pm Korea Standard Time. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bts-strike-netflix-deal-to-livestream-comeback-concert-followed-by-documentary-about-making-of-new-album/

ONECEAD aims to build artist businesses that "resonate both regionally and globally". Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/k-pop-giant-jyp-and-south-koreas-cj-enm-strike-joint-venture-with-chinas-tencent-music/

Superfan monetization continues to be a strategic priority for Universal Music Group. In his annual memo to staff issued last month, UMG Chairman and CEO Sir Lucian Grainge confirmed as much. “In 2026 we will accelerate these efforts both by working with our established DSP partners on the launch of enhanced premium tiers for superfans, … Continued Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/umg-bought-a-stake-in-superfan-app-stationhead-here-are-3-reasons-why-it-matters-more-than-you-think/

The vault lies within the Iron Mountain facility in Boyers, Pennsylvania, where UMG stores a portion of its catalog 220 feet underground. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/fred-armisen-to-host-cnn-music-docuseries-pulling-from-umgs-underground-vault/

He will oversee A&R and strategic marketing across the company’s owned label imprints, including Fearless Records, Concord Records, and Rounder Records. Source source https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/andy-serrao-named-chief-creative-officer-at-concord-label-group/