News and Trends

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/