WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC SIGNS LAUFEY –
A RISING NEW JAZZ INSPIRED STAR
Warner Chappell Music (WCM) recently announced that it has signed a worldwide publishing deal with rising jazz star Laufey. The Los Angeles-based, Icelandic-Chinese composer, singer, producer, and multi-instrumentalist debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s “Alternative New Artist Album” chart with her 2022 full-length, Everything I Know About Love. The album’s hit single, “Valentine,” peaked at No.1 on Spotify’s Jazz Chart, and Laufey now has over eight million monthly listeners on Spotify alone.
Laufey’s sophomore album, Bewitched, is out on September 8th through AWAL and will include her new single, “From The Start,” which is currently the most streamed jazz song in the world. The single was just added to Spotify’s Today’s Top Hits, Pop Rising, and Chill Pop playlists, and recently reached the Top 30 on Spotify’s Daily U.S. chart. Her newest single and title track from the album, “Bewitched,” was released last week and quickly garnered millions of streams. She’s also going on tour this fall, including tentpole performances with the National Symphony Orchestra at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on September 8th, and the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Ford Amphitheatre in Los Angeles on September 16th.
David Goldsen, Vice President, Head of A&R, Australia said, “At Warner Chappell, we pride ourselves on working with the most talented storytellers in the world, so Laufey is the perfect addition to our roster. Laufey’s innate musicality, lyrical ingenuity, deep relationship with her fans, and world class live show are just a few factors that make it no surprise her star is rising. We’re thrilled to be working with such an exceptional, generational talent, and thank Laufey, Max Gredinger, and Harry Roberts for trusting us at this exciting point in her career.”
Raised between Reykjavík, Iceland and Washington, D.C. with annual visits to Beijing, the Icelandic-Chinese artist grew up playing cello as well as piano and became hooked on the jazz standards of Ella Fitzgerald after digging through her father’s record collection. In 2020, while still a student at Berklee College of Music, Laufey released her debut single “Street by Street,” which went on to top the Icelandic radio charts.
Following the release of her 2021 Typical of Me EP, Laufey was named “Best New Artist in Jazz & Blues” at the Icelandic Music Awards and hosted her own show on BBC Radio 3/BBC Sounds. By 2022 Laufey was the most streamed jazz artist on Spotify. Today, she has 500 million streams across all platforms and is the biggest streaming artist from Iceland in the world.
BMG ANNOUNCES NEW PARTNERSHIP
WITH UK EXECUTIVES
BMG has announced a new partnership with long-standing UK music industry executives Fran Malyan and Michelle de Vries that is celebrating its first No.1 album this past week, with Dave Rowntree’s share in renowned British band Blur’s ninth studio album, The Ballad of Darren.
BMG partnered with de Vries and Malyan’s newly launched music publishing company Extra Mile Music which will focus on established songwriters with proven catalog by offering a personalized service and opportunities to work their catalog beyond traditional avenues, leveraging the global administrative and financial resources of BMG.
Fran Malyan has over 45 years of achievement within music publishing having previously worked with ATV Music, EMI Music Publishing, and Sony Music Publishing. Malyan was on the Board of EMI and then Sr. VP of Catalog, A&R at Sony. She was inducted into the UK’s “Women In Music Roll of Honor” in its first year and is currently an Ivors Academy Board Trustee.
Michelle de Vries brings with her almost 30 years of achievement in music publishing, having worked in both London and New York, firstly in A&R and then as a copyright and A&R consultant to many companies, including BMG. De Vries has also served successfully as a music supervisor working on projects including How I’m Feeling Now – BMG’s Lewis Capaldi documentary which it sold to Netflix in a global deal earlier in 2023 and Ed Sheeran’s The Sum of It All among others, and with clients including the BBC, Netflix, Amazon, and Disney Plus.
Michelle de Vries said, “Fran and I established Extra Mile Music to work exclusively with clients we admire and can assist. Our goal is to intimately know every track in our catalog and maintain a select roster of clients with whom we enjoy working.”
Alistair Norbury, President Repertoire & Marketing UK, BMG, added, “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Extra Mile Music. Michelle and Fran’s expertise in the industry perfectly aligns with BMG’s commitment to artists and rights development. We look forward to working together to enhance opportunities for established writers.”
Extra Mile Music’s first two signings are Henry Priestman, writer of all The Christians hits, as well as two successful solo albums and many film and TV writing credits and Dave Rowntree, drummer for multi-award-winning Blur. The company also represents Dave Rowntree’s share of Blur’s back catalog, his solo album, Radio Songs and his film and TV score work.
S. KOREA’S SM ENTERTAINMENT & KAKAO CORP.
TO EXPAND THEIR N. AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP
Last week, Kakao Corp. and SM Entertainment Group (SME) disclosed their intention to expand their collaboration into North America, unveiling plans to merge their regional units. The joint press release put forth a clear vision of melding SME’s global intellectual property (IP) and production capabilities with Kakao’s music distribution network and multi-label system. The primary goal of this partnership is to promote artists from both companies, which include Kakao-owned Starship Entertainment’s IVE, SM’s Aespa and NCT.
The CEO of Kakao Entertainment America, Joseph Chang (Jang Yoon-jung), outlined the ambitions of this endeavor, emphasizing the acceleration of global growth for artists from both Kakao Entertainment and SM Entertainment. This collaboration is designed to expand the reach of Kakao Entertainment’s music business, involving planning, production, and distribution of music and artist IP, to the global market. Joseph Chang will lead the new North American entity, assuming the role of Kakao’s global strategy officer and SM’s chief business officer.
This announcement comes around six months after Kakao and SM confirmed their partnership to establish a presence in the US for artist management. This move took place during a period of competing interests, as both HYBE and Kakao vied for control over SM Entertainment.
In addition to their partnership with SM, Kakao has been actively pursuing expansion in the U.S. through alliances with other entities, such as Sony Music’s Columbia Records. This strategic collaboration was formed to manage IVE and enable Kakao to bolster its music distribution network in the U.S. Similarly, SM has expressed aspirations for a U.S. expansion, with plans to acquire a U.S.-based music company to bolster its global efforts.
By consolidating their North American operations, Kakao and SM Entertainment intend to establish North America as a pivotal hub for their global expansion strategy. The companies aim to play pivotal roles in the global K-Pop landscape and contribute to the export of K-culture. The combined entity aims to expedite the global progress of artists from both sides while prioritizing the discovery and investment in new intellectual properties to enhance the competitive landscape of the global music industry.
This initiative seeks to provide comprehensive support for artists’ local activities, spanning album releases, performances, broadcasting, and promotional efforts. Additionally, strategic investments and partnerships with overseas labels are on the horizon for both companies.
The integration of the two entities is expected to be completed within the current year, following the establishment of the North American entity. The collaboration between Kakao, Kakao Entertainment, and SM Entertainment is anticipated to lead to further business cooperation beyond the immediate merger.
MARIA BECERRA SIGNS PUBLISHING DEAL
WITH WARNER CHAPPELL MUSIC
Warner Chappell Music (WCM) U.S. Latin has signed an exclusive administration deal with one of Latin music’s leading singers, Maria Becerra. The agreement comes on the heels of the recent announcement of Becerra joining the Warner Music Latina artist roster in partnership with Warner Music Group U.S. labelmate, 300 Entertainment.
At only 23-years-old, Becerra has over 26 million listeners on Spotify and has become one of the most listened to female Latin artists globally. She took home the “Visionary Award” at Billboard’s inaugural Latin Women in Music gala and was nominated for “Best New Artist” at the 2021 Latin Grammy awards, among other accomplishments.
Maria Becerra said, “Thanks to the entire Warner Chappell team for 100% trusting and empowering me and my team. I’m so thrilled and happy to officially be joining the family and continuing to grow! And a huge shoutout to my managers Jose Levy, Natanael Real, and Armando Lozano for believing in me; my creative director Julian Levy; my music producer Xross; and everyone, for always supporting my music vision and making me trust myself even more.”
Lazaro Hernandez, VP of A&R, U.S. Latin & Latin America, WCM commented “Maria is an artist in every sense of the word. Her skill as a songwriter, unmistakable voice, and confidence to create art that is authentic to her is why she has quickly become a global superstar. It’s only the beginning for La Nena de Argentina, and we’re very excited to work together as she continues to challenge what’s possible in Latin music.”
Gustavo Menéndez, President, U.S. Latin & Latin America, WCM, added, “I’ve been following Maria since she erupted onto the scene, and she continues to surprise me with her incredible and relentless artistic growth. We’re very happy to finally have her in our Warner Chappell Music family.”
Becerra began her career in 2015, when she took her love for singing to YouTube, amassing a significant following by posting vlogs, as well as a five-minute parody monologue, which garnered over one million views within hours of it being posted. After her 2019 debut EP, 222, she became the first Latin artist to sign with 300 Entertainment. Read more HERE.
Each week, A&R Worldwide shares a snapshot of creatives and executives that we have collaborated or worked with in various music markets around the world, albeit in recent or previous times!
A&R Worldwide has hosted its world-famous executive dinners on six continents and countless cities around the world. Over the past two decades these special gatherings have brought together thousands of professionals from the music, media, technology sectors and beyond, leading to untold new friendships, creative and business opportunities. Enjoying an A&R Worldwide dinner event in the south of France a few years ago were clockwise (L-R): Music and brands consultant Lori Lambert, Lyor Cohen (Global Head of Music, YouTube), Sat Bisla (President & Founder, A&R Worldwide / MUSEXPO), far right corner Pete Giberga (President & Head of A&R, AWAL), Reynold D’Silva (Founder & CEO, Silva Screen Group) and Ellen Healy (Sr. Marketing Director, Global Consumer Engagement, Music & Entertainment, PepsiCo).
CRYSTAL FIGHTERS
Crystal Fighters, a multifaceted musical ensemble that represents a fusion of both British and Basque influences, harmoniously blending the elements of the past and the present, pop and tradition. Their journey began with the release of the captivating debut album Star Of Love in 2010, followed by subsequent successful albums such as Cave Rave in 2013, Everything Is My Family in 2016, and Gaia & Friends in 2019. Crystal Fighters have garnered widespread recognition and acclaim, enjoying extensive airplay and support from esteemed platforms like BBC Radio 1 and 6Music, while their infectious live performances have cultivated a devoted and enthusiastic fanbase. Currently, the band is diligently working on their highly anticipated fifth album, teasing their ardent supporters with a refreshing summer treat – the single “Manifest” ([PIAS]). According to the band, “Manifest” revolves around the profound concept of manifesting one’s destiny, born from a creative spark during a chilly and rainy day in London when the yearning for sunny beaches lingered in their minds. The track seamlessly reflects their artistic growth and innovative flair, leaving a trail of anticipation for their forthcoming musical masterpiece. Crystal Fighters are currently gracing various European festivals with their mesmerizing presence throughout the summer, promising electrifying performances and unforgettable experiences for all attendees. To explore potential collaborations, interested parties can reach out to Joe Hamilton at Joe.Hamilton@pias.com.
JAMIE HANNAH
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Sunday, August 6th, 2023: The weekly import show. Heard on more than 50 radio stations on six continents weekly including: Flux FM Berlin, Germany; NINETYSIX Radio (Indonesia); JioSaavn (India); Radio Doble Nueve, Lima, Peru; WZRH–FM New Orleans, LA; KWSS “93.9FM”; Phoenix, AZ; KRML “102.1FM”; Carmel, CA; KFRR “New Rock 104.1FM”; Fresno, CA; Radio 1, Mumbai, India; WCNR Charlottesville, VA; KIWR “The River”; Council Bluffs, IA; 2XM Ireland (national radio); 96.2 ZFM The Netherlands; WAPS–FM “The Summit.FM”; Akron–Canton, OH; WKTL–FM Youngstown, OH; 105.5FM XFM Nairobi, Kenya; PUK–FM Johannesburg, South Africa; Rock 96.5FM Zambia; 897 FM Bratislava, Slovakia; WITH “90.1FM”; Ithaca, NY; UCFM 87.8FM Australian Capital Territory, Australia; WRUR 88.5FM Rochester, NY; WCRU–FM Hamilton, NY; KZND Anchorage, AK; KQCJ Quad Cities, IL; Allgauhit–FM Bavaria Germany; Indie Xfm Los Angeles and on The Independent FM (iHeartRadio) in the United States, as well as many others internationally.
Listen to this two hour show by clicking HERE:
THE MOVING STILLS – “Westside” (Sureshaker, Australia)
GIANT ROOKS – “Bedroom Exile” (UMG, Germany)
GRACE CARTER – “Riot” (BMG, UK)
ONLY THE POETS – “Crash” (EMI, UK)
DAGNY – “Heartbreak In The Making” (UMG, Germany)
RUEN BROTHERS – “Don’t Know What’s Come Over You” (Yep Roc, N. America)
BELLZZZ – “No Shoes Girl (Succession)” (Unsigned, UK)
NOTHING BUT THIEVES – “Welcome To DCC” (AWAL, UK)
JOHNOSSI – “Adore” (AngelFarm, Sweden)
CRAWLERS – “Messiah” (Polydor, UK)
REMME – “Boy From The Pictures” (UMG, Germany)
THE VALMONTS – “Love Overdose” (Unsigned, Ireland)
JAMIE HANNAH – “Surrender To You” (Unsigned, UK)
TOM A. SMITH – “Weirdo” (Unsigned, UK)
LAUREN WALLER – “City Lights” (Unsigned, N. America)
NEW BEAT FUND – “What It’s All For” (Unsigned, N. America)
VELLA – “Happiness” (L3V3L Music, N. America)
PICTURE THIS – “Red Lights” (RCA Records, Ireland)
THE ROYSTON CLUB – “The Deep End” (Run On Records/Modern Sky, UK)
RHETT REPKO – “Don’t Throw Our Love Way” (Unsigned, N. America)
TMRV – “Gone” (Unsigned, Belgium)
IAMJJ – “King Size” (Unsigned, Denmark)
ALEX SPENCER – “A Night To Waste” (Modern Sky, UK)
GENGAHR – “Red Sun Titans” (Virgin Music, UK)
MASI MASI – “We Don’t Care” (Unsigned, UK)
BLAIRE DAVIE – “Lovely” (Watercolour Heart, UK)
BAKER GRACE – “American Dream Girl” (Riveting Music, N. America)
THE PIGEON DETECTIVES – “Summer Girl” (Unsigned, UK)
CASSIA – “High Tones” (Republic of Music, Australia)
GIRL SCOUT – “Boy In Blue” (MADE Records, UK)
PAUL PARTOHAP – “BESTFRiEND” (Warner Music, Indonesia)
ALEX LAHEY – “On The Way Down” (Liberation Music, Australia)
KARIM – “Don’t Tell Your Friends” (Unsigned, Germany)
TEENAGE DADS – “3AM” (City Pop, Australia)
CHER SELLS MUSIC ASSETS TO ICONIC ARTIST GROUP: Iconic Artists Group, led by renowned manager Irving Azoff, has struck a major deal with Cher, acquiring and expanding her musical assets. The new agreement includes Cher’s full interest in her past sound recordings and compositions. With a career spanning seven decades, Cher has achieved unprecedented success, ranking as the fifth-best female artist with the most Billboard U.S. Hot 100 charted singles. From classics like “I Got You Babe,” “Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves,” to “If I Could Turn Back Time” and “Believe.” Cher’s deal with Iconic Artists Group follows their previous acquisitions of catalogs from other iconic artists like Dean Martin, Joe Cocker, The Beach Boys, and more. Additionally, Jimmy Edwards, President of Iconic stated, “Cher is easily one of the world’s biggest pop icons whose influence on popular culture is immeasurable. We are honored to add this beloved superstar to Iconic’s roster of artists.”
KOBALT NAMES NEW HEAD OF CREATIVE UK: Kobalt has appointed Kenny McGoff as the Head of Creative UK. Based in London, McGoff will oversee Kobalt’s creative team in the United Kingdom. His impressive track record as Head of A&R, UK, includes signing talented artists like Venbee, Lizzie McAlpine, Gerry Cinnamon, Bakar, Gabriels, JOESEF, Sophie and The Giants, and others. Having worked with notable names such as Calvin Harris, Paul Epworth, Eric Prydz, Bloc Party, and Arctic Monkeys during his tenure at EMI, Sony, Ultra, and Songs, McGoff’s expertise and passion for music have remained consistent over the years through all of the positions he has held. Jeannette Perez, President & COO, Kobalt stated that McGoff’s dynamic spirit and instrumental role in establishing Kobalt as a leading destination for songwriters, recognizing his leadership as a driving force behind their creative success.
SCOTLAND’S SINGLE BY SUNDAY SIGN U.S. DEAL: Scottish band, Single By Sunday have officially signed with Bohemia Music Group, a music management company based in Los Angeles. The company discovered the band at this year’s MUSEXPO showcase and conference event in Southern California, which is organized by A&R Worldwide. This collaboration marks a turning point in the band’s career, propelling them to reach larger audiences on the global music stage. Bohemia Group’s focus on nurturing talent bodes well for the young Scottish quartet whose musical talent, and market potential is a testament to their unique fusion of alternative, pop and rock genres, as well as lively performances which evoke the attitude of Green Day, blink-182 to 5 Seconds of Summer. Single By Sunday has performed shows across the UK, Europe, Asia, SE Asia and North America in recent years.
PLATINUM GRAMMAR PUBLISHING NAMES SENIOR HIRES: Joie Manda, Founder & CEO, Platinum Grammar Publishing, has announced the appointment of three key hires. This includes naming Matt Spiller as General Manager, Adrian Nunez as Head of A&R, and Leetal Nissenbaum as Executive VP of Global Sync & Strategic Operations. Matt Spiller recently joined Platinum Grammar Publishing after nine years at Ultra International Music Publishing, where he led as Head of Publishing. Nissenbaum arrives from Giant (an Azoff Company), where she served as Sr. Vice President of Creative Sync. Her accomplishments span placing syncs in films like Barbie and Creed III, TV shows like Succession and Euphoria, and commercial giants like Apple and Amazon. Adrian Nunez, previously A&R, Creative, at Sony Music Publishing, has a rich history in scouting talent. His roster includes Playboi Carti, G Herbo, and Giveon. Having held VP of A&R roles and contributed to relaunching Payday Records, Nunez brings years of experience to Platinum Grammar Publishing. The company boasts emerging producers such as mcvertt, known for co-producing Lil Uzi Vert’s “Just Wanna Rock,” with over 1.4 billion global streams.
PEERMUSIC UNVEILS EXECUTIVE APPOINTMENT: Peermusic has named Elizabeth Rodda as its new President for Latin America and global society relations – she will be based out of the company’s Miami, Florida offices. Rodda who brings over 20 years of experiences in the rights arena will report to Mary Megan Peer, CEO, Peer Music. In her new role, Rodda will be have oversight over Peermusic’s Latin market and its repertoire throughout Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Colombia, Chile and Venezuela. She will be responsible for signing new songwriters, producers, catalogs and will spearhead digital and sync initiatives for the company. Prior to joining Peer Music, Rodda spent tens years at ASCAP, in the role of Director of International Affair & Regional Relationship Manager for Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to joining ASCA Rodda also held roles at Planet Records, Caribe Sound and Music Publishing. Peer music has offices throughout many South American markets including Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay and other markets in the region.
MULTIMEDIA MUSIC ACQUIRES CATALOG OF J. PETER ROBINSON: Multimedia Music has announced its acquisition of the film music catalog of composer J. Peter Robinson in a deal described that’s in the seven figures range. Robinson’s body of work includes Wayne’s World, Cocktail, Encino Man, and the hit TV series “Charmed,” among others. Since its late 2021 launch, Multimedia Music has invested over $130 million (USD) in acquisitions. Since being founded by industry veterans Phil Hope and James Gibb, the company has gained substantial backing, raising $200 million across two funding rounds from notable institutions like Metropolitan Partners Group, Bardin Hill, Pinnacle Bank, and Regions Bank. Robinson’s journey began with classical training at the Royal Academy of Music, later leading him to collaborations withAndrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice on Jesus Christ Superstar. Moreover, Robinson’s musical journey spanned over two decades as a rock and roll musician and included an eight-year stint as Phil Collins’ keyboard player.
INTERSCOPE GEFFEN A&M ELEVATES FOUR IN MARKETING: Interscope Geffen A&M has announced the promotions of four key executives to higher roles within the label. Ramon Alvarez-Smikle has been promoted to Executive Vice President/Head Digital Marketing, allowing him to continue overseeing the digital marketing efforts across all of Interscope’s diverse roster of hip-hop and R&B artists. Additionally, Laura Carter’s promotion to Executive Vice President/Head of Urban Marketing will allow her to also head the marketing across Interscope’s successful roster of hip-hop and R&B artists. Chris Mortimer’s new position as Executive Vice President/Head of Digital Marketing, will see him leading the digital marketing campaigns for Interscope’s pop and rock roster of artists, and Daniel Sena’s promotion to Executive Vice President/Head of Strategic Marketing will have him in charge of brand partnerships across Interscope’s diverse group of artists. Steve Berman, Vice Chairman of Interscope Geffen A&M, lauded the executives for their pivotal work in propelling culture forward through music. Each of these executives will continue to oversee critical aspects of marketing for the label’s diverse roster of hip-hop, R&B, pop, and rock artists.
NETFLIX’S IMPRESSIVE GLOBAL GROWTH: Netflix continues to lead the streaming landscape with 238.39 million paid subscribers worldwide as of Q2 2023, marking a notable increase of 5.89 million subscribers from the previous quarter. According to TradingPlatforms.com, the majority of these subscriptions, almost 80 million, are concentrated in the EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, and Africa). Edith Reads, financial analyst at TradingPlatform, highlights Netflix’s exceptional global success, which can be attributed to its diverse content offerings, competitive pricing, and effective marketing strategies. By the end of 2022, Netflix had 2.4 million more subscribers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa than in North America, signifying a remarkable leap from being far behind earlier in the year. As the streaming giant continues to expand its reach into various markets worldwide its subscriber mark has a chance to increase even further.
300 ELEKTRA ENT’T NAMES HEAD OF PROMOTION & STREAMING: Aimie Vaughan-Früehe has been promoted at 300 Elektra Entertainment (3EE) as its new Executive Vice President & Head of Promotion & Streaming. Vaughan-Früehe’s role now encompasses the entire radio promotion and streaming landscape across the label group, including 300 Entertainment, Elektra, Fueled by Ramen, and Roadrunner Records. With a formidable roster spanning artists like Mary J. Blige, Megan Thee Stallion, Slipknot, and more, her strategic leadership will help with the growth of these artists’ careers along with the rest of the labels’ resources. Vaughan-Früehe’s career journey began when she joined 300 Entertainment in 2018 as Sr. Vice President of Promotion. Under her guidance, she spearheaded successful promotion initiatives and strategies for the company. Her previous 17-year tenure as VP of Promotion at Columbia Records solidified her reputation as a pivotal promotional force behind artists including Beyoncé, Adele, Harry Styles, and others.
WASSERMAN MUSIC ANNOUNCES FOUR KEY AGENT HIRES: Wasserman Music has announced the hiring of industry veterans Andrew Buck, Shanae Dennis, Andrew Morgan, and Ryan Soroka. Andrew Buck joins as a New York-based Vice President after 20 years at APA, bringing with him a robust roster of artists in the rock space, including Judas Priest, Skillet, and Badflower. Shanae Dennis joins as a London-based agent after building an independent roster of primarily African electronic music artists, including Mr JazziQ, Producer/DJs Mellow & Sleazy, and more. Andrew Morgan joins as a Los Angeles-based agent following a five-year run at Ground Control Touring and a decade at the Billions Corporation. Morgan brings with him a roster of indie/rock artists and podcasts, including Angel Olsen, MJ Lenderman, Bully, Mount Eerie, and more. Additionally, Ryan Soroka joins as a New York City-based agent after seven years at UTA with a roster of artists like The Aces, LÉON, Josiah and the Bonnevilles, David Garibaldi and more. The agents’ collective experience and expertise adds value to Wasserman Music’s already impressive roster of artists and emerging talents, spanning Pop, Rock, Indie, Latin, and Dance/Electronic genres.
REACTIONAL MUSIC PARTNERS WITH AMANOTES: Amanotes, a games publisher with a monthly user base of over 100 million, has just unveiled a global partnership with Reactional Music. This collaboration brings together the world’s first rule-based music engine and music delivery platform, connecting music, games, and virtual worlds both commercially and creatively. With this partnership, Amanotes is set to revolutionize gaming with real-time music personalization and in-game music purchases for gamers. Through Reactional’s technology, Amanotes and its partner studios are set to pioneer music as an in-game purchase, elevating the relationship between music and games. Gamers will now have the chance to personalize their personas and gameplay with their favorite music, just like they do with other in-game purchases.
CONCORD SIGNS COMPOSER JAIME LOZANO: Global music publisher Concord Music Publishing and Concord Theatricals have announced the signing of acclaimed musical theatre composer and 2022 Jonathan Larson Grant recipient Jaime Lozano. The worldwide exclusive administration deal, effective immediately, will include Lozano’s full catalog and future works. Additionally, Concord Theatricals Recordings will release Lozano’s upcoming album, Songs by an Immigrant Vol. 2, releasing digitally worldwide on Friday, September 15th. The anticipated album includes collaborations with award-winning artists and Broadway stars, including Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton), Melissa Barrera (In The Heights) and Latin Grammy award winner Ella Bric. Hailed by Lin-Manuel Miranda as the “next big thing” on Broadway, Jaime Lozano is a Mexican multi-hyphenate musical theatre storyteller. Originally from Monterrey, Mexico, Lozano earned his BFA in Music and Composition from the School of Music at the Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León and was the recipient of a full scholarship to NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, where he holds the distinction of being the first Mexican student to be accepted to and earn an MFA from the Graduate Musical Theatre Writing Program. Read more HERE.
SPOTIFY EXECUTIVE JOINS TUNECORE: Tash Shah has joined TuneCore as the company’s new Vice President International. With a 12-year tenure at Spotify including being the streaming services first UK Head of Marketing, she steps into her new role with significant experience. Shah with report to TuneCore’s upcoming Chief Revenue Officer but, in the interim, will report to Andreea Gleeson, CEO. Shah’s role will include her helping to propel TuneCore’s global growth strategy. Amid a surge in international traction for TuneCore, Shah’s arrival heralds a push into key markets like Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Her charge includes navigating the orchestration of localized strategies through various international Heads of TuneCore across 17 countries and three major regions. Moreover, her role encompasses curating programs to elevate TuneCore’s roster of global artists and labels. Shah’s notable achievements include launching Spotify’s Student Premium program in the UK and steering the global expansion of the Student Premium subscription tier across 36 international markets.
NOTES LIVE APPOINTS NEW PRESIDENT & COO: Notes Live has appointed Sam Voisin as its new President & COO, leveraging his 28 years of industry expertise. As a former Regional Vice President for SMG (now ASM Global), Notes Live says Voisin’s oversight of assets worth $1 billion (USD), strategic partnerships, and revenue growth make him an invaluable addition. His role involves building strong relationships with venue managers and industry leaders, ensuring profitability across multiple markets. Founder JW Roth expressed excitement for Voisin’s addition, and said they recognized his strategic vision and importance in Notes Live’s rapid growth and expansion to new venues.
AMAZON MUSIC UNVEILS NEW MERCH INTEGRATION PARTNERSHIP: Amazon Music has unveiled a merchandise integration in partnership with global concert discovery platform, Bandsintown. Through this collaboration, music enthusiasts worldwide will have the opportunity to shop for merchandise items directly from their favorite artists while exploring artist profile pages on the Bandsintown website and app. The initiative offers a diverse range of merchandise catering to various genres, including apparel, physical music, and accessories. This integrated merchandise experience will be available to 590,000 registered acts utilizing Bandsintown For Artists. Artists leveraging this platform gain access to a comprehensive suite of complimentary marketing tools designed to elevate the visibility of their merchandise and music offerings. By utilizing in-app notifications, emails, and social channels, these tools enable artists to effectively reach their Bandsintown followers, as well as the followers of similar artists. The assortment of merchandise available on Bandsintown is sourced from the Amazon Music Artist Merch Shop. This collaboration between Amazon Music and Bandsintown has already resulted in exclusive merchandise offerings for notable events, such as Latin superstar Rauw Alejandro’s “Saturno Tour,” an exclusive merch collection for Fall Out Boy’s “So Much For (Tour) Dust” tour, and exclusive online merchandise releases for the North American leg of Beyoncé‘s “Renaissance World Tour.”
NEED TO MAKE CONTACT, SEND NEWS AND NEW MUSIC RELEASES?: If you have any A&R, publishing, technology, agent/promoter, international radio, management, new media or film/TV music supervisor news you’d like to share with A&R Worldwide, or need to respond to information published in the weekly newsletter please E–mail it to the attention of Sat Bisla at sat@anrworldwide.com. Also, all demos and new music releases should be sent as STREAMING LINKS ONLY to info@anrworldwide.com.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Adam Taylor, Ryan O’Donnell, Sunil Perkash, Nidhish Varughese, Paul Tollett, Mike Knoblach, Susan Genco, Jonathan Daniel, David Joseph, Carianne Marshall, Alexander Greenberg, Marian Wolff, and Vivek Paul.
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