WARNER MUSIC FINLAND NAMES
RAMONA FORSSTRÖM AS MANAGING DIRECTOR
Nordic music industry legend Niko Nordström has announced that he will step down from his position as Managing Director, Warner Music Finland, and Executive VP, Warner Music Nordics later this year.
Warner Music has announced that Ramona Forsström is to become Managing Director of Warner Music Finland in November. Forsström has been General Manager of the business since 2021 and will succeed Niko Nordström, who will be stepping down after 16 years working in the company.
Forsström will report directly to Mark Fry, President, Warner Music Nordics, who is based in Stockholm, Sweden.
Forsström has spent over 15 years at Warner Music Finland and has been instrumental in the success of local artists including Antti Tuisku, Arttu Wiskari, BEHM, Ellinoora, Kaija Koo, and SANNI while helping break international stars such as Ava Max, Bruno Mars, Dua Lipa, Ed Sheeran and Michael Bublé in the region.
Ramona Forsström stated, “I’m excited to step into this new role leading our incredible team here in Finland. I want to thank Niko for his guidance and mentorship over many years. We’re lucky enough to be the leading player in one of the world’s most unique music markets because we work with the most talented and inspirational artists.”
Mark Fry added, “I’m so pleased that Ramona has accepted this promotion. She is a huge talent whose counsel I value and who delivers time and again for our artists and our business. Her fresh leadership perspective will help us grow our roster and our artists’ careers. I’d like to thank the amazing Niko for his incredible support over the years and wish him all the best for his next ventures.”
Nordström was originally made Managing Director of Warner Music Finland in 2007 when Warner Music acquired Helsinki Music Company (HMC), which Nordström had founded. During his first decade with Warner Music in Finland, Nordström was credited with helping double the company’s market share. In 2017, he took on the role of President for Australasia before returning to Finland in 2020 to become Executive VP, Warner Music Nordics and Managing Director of Warner Music Finland. In 2018, he was honored with a “Lifetime Achievement Award” at the Emma Gaala, the Finnish equivalent of the US Grammy Awards.
Forsström started her music industry career in 1997 as a Product Manager for EMI Finland. She later became Promotion Manager and stayed at the company until 2006. She then joined Live Nation Finland as a Promotion Manager, a role she held for two years, before joining Warner Music in 2008 as International Promotion Manager. She later became International Marketing Manager and from there worked her way up to International Marketing Director and then to Marketing Director for both the international and local roster. She was named General Manager in 2021.
Forsström won the “Record Company Promotions Person of the Year Award” at the Radio Gala Awards eight times between 2009-2017. She also won the “Promotion/Marketing Person of the Year” at the Music & Media Industry Awards Gala in Tampere, Finland in 2012.
SEEKER MUSIC SIGNS AWARD-WINNING
UK SONGWRITER & ARTIST PLESTED
Seeker Music, the songwriter-led music rights, publishing, and record company, has acquired award-winning songwriter and recording artist Plested‘s publishing catalog. One of the UK’s most in-demand contemporary songwriters, Plested’s catalog includes Lewis Capaldi‘s No.1 smash “Before You Go,” Marshmello and Jonas Brothers‘ hit single “Leave Before You Love Me,” Little Mix‘s chart-topping track “Touch,” and countless others hits with Kygo, OneRepublic, Niall Horan, The Chainsmokers, Anne-Marie, James Arthur, and more.
Plested is also a renowned recording artist whose debut album First & Foremost was released on Atlantic Records.
Plested began his music career in the early 2010s while still in university, and he formed the band Chasing Grace in 2012 before transitioning to professional songwriting and recording as a solo artist in 2016. Since then, the songs he’s written have earned him accolades including several BRIT Awards nominations, the ASCAP Award for “Most Performed Pop Song,” 2020 (“Before You Go”), and more.
Seeker tells A&R Worldwide that their acquisition of Plested’s catalog represents two important aspects of their overall creative investment strategy. First, their forward-looking emphasis on acquiring contemporary catalogs, with strong and powerful songwriting, to complement their legacy acquisitions (other modern-day catalogs that Seeker has acquired include Mozella‘s, Jon Bellion‘s, Sam Watters‘, a portion of Teddy Geiger‘s, etc.), and second, their international strategy, and strength, in the UK market led by Global Head of Creative, Steven Melrose.
Beyond Plested, Seeker has also acquired publishing catalogs from UK-based songwriter duo Future Cut (Lily Allen), the songwriter/producer John Ryan (an American, but the songwriter behind more than 40 hits for One Direction), and has actively been signing UK-based songwriters, producers and artists to co-publishing and record deals.
Evan Bogart, CEO, Seeker Music an award-winning songwriter in his own right behind Rihanna‘s “SOS,” and Beyonce‘s “Halo,” said of the acquisition, “Phil Plested is an extraordinarily talented songwriter who has helped shape and define pop music today. He’s a true songsmith and, being a recording artist himself is masterful in helping other artists create and convey with honesty, authenticity, and emotion. That’s his superpower. He’s also an amazing person, a pillar of our community, and a songwriter that other songwriters always root for. Those are the kinds of music creators that Seeker looks to align with, celebrate, and support. It’s an honor to bring his legacy and catalog of songs into the Seeker family!”
Steven Melrose, Global Head of Creative, Seeker Music added, “I’m personally so happy to be reunited with Phil again, and his great management team, after having so much success working together when I was at Sony and heading Epic Records in London. I’ve always been a big fan of his songwriting and our whole team is excited about the opportunity to celebrate his songs and collaborate on future projects.”
Plested commented, “Together with my best friend, and manager, Hannan Malik, I’ve built this catalog of songs since 2012 with my heart and soul, and passing it on was a decision I didn’t take lightly. I’ve looked up to Evan as a writer throughout my career. He understands the emotional attachment we make with our songs, and the fact that I was able to retain my songs as an artist is a testament to that. I’m confident that Seeker has the best intentions for my songs, and I look forward to working with them into the future and throughout my next chapter as a songwriter.”
SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING RENEWS DEAL
WITH AWARD-WINNING PRODUCER & SONGWRITER LINDGREN
Sony Music Publishing (SMP) has announced that it has renewed its agreement with Grammy Award-winning producer and songwriter Lindgren. The deal, made in partnership with hit songwriter, producer, and OneRepublic lead singer Ryan Tedder, extends Lindgren’s long-standing relationship with SMP and expands creative opportunities alongside Tedder on new projects.
Recently, Lindgren collaborated with Tedder on BLACKPINK‘s new single “The Girls,” which was released on August 25. Lindgren’s newest credits also include “Killin’ Me Good” by JIHYO, released on August 18, as well as upcoming projects with Bella Poarch.
Lindgren stated, “I’m excited to continue my relationship with Sony Music Publishing. The SMP team, in tandem with my manager Justin Garza and Tommy Brown as a publishing partner, has been a fantastic home for my work and we’re delighted to welcome Ryan Tedder to the party. They say ‘it takes a village’… and this is a pretty cool village we’ve built. Ryan is the first songwriter of whom I was a fan. I remember being in high school and learning about the fact that people wrote songs for artists because of Ryan’s involvement in hits at the time.”
Ryan Tedder added, “I’ve been working with Lindgren since the beginning of the pandemic. He blew my mind from the first session with both his speed and musicality. I look at him as a one-stop shop for any and all production, any genre, and he’s also sneaky and has great lyrics in every session. Lindgren is the German wunderkind.”
Nick Bral, Vice President, Creative, Sony Music Publishing commented, “We are ecstatic to renew our relationship with Lindgren. He continues to prove himself as a forward-thinking creative and hitmaker. Ryan has been an advocate for Lindgren for some time now and we are so happy to be in partnership with him on this as we move into this next chapter.”
Among his many creative achievements, Lindgren has achieved global success for co-writing the Billboard Hot 100 Top 5 single “ON” ft. Sia, as well as the Top 10 hit “Boy with Luv” ft. Halsey. He also co-wrote and co-produced “I Can’t Stop Me” and “Cry for Me” by TWICE and Dua Lipa‘s “Good in Bed,” featured on her Grammy-winning album Future Nostalgia. Lindgren has also earned chart success on releases with John Legend, j-hope, TXT, TWICE, Illenium, and Cheat Codes; and frequent collaborators Ryan Tedder, Melanie Fontana, Tommy Brown, UPSAHL, Alex Bilo, Madison Love, and more.
Representatives for Lindgren include manager Justin Garza and attorney Jason Boyarski of Boyarski Fritz LLP. Representatives on behalf of Tedder include his managers Dana Salant and Ron Laffitte, and attorney Jordan Keller of Keller Turner Andrews & Ghanem, PLLC.
BMG ACQUIRES DOPE LEMON’S RECORDINGS CATALOG
BMG has announced its latest acquisition of the Dope Lemon recordings catalog from the Platinum-selling, ARIA and APRA award-winning musician, Angus Stone.
The deal encompasses global rights to Dope Lemon’s three studio albums, which include Honey Bones (2016), Smooth Big Cat (2019), and the recently released Rose Pink Cadillac” (2022), along with the 2017 EP, Hounds Tooth. This acquisition includes certified hits like “Marinade,” “Uptown Folks,” “Home Soon,” and “Hey You,” among others. BMG also recently released Dope Lemon’s fourth studio album, Kimosabè, highlighting their ongoing partnership.
Angus Stone said, “Upon meeting the BMG team, I was captivated by their dedication and eagerness to embrace the unconventional ideas and adventures we wanted to embark on with building this project. This is precisely what any company should do – stand by the artist and enable them to bring to life the unique universe that complements their music.
Heath Johns, President, Australia, New Zealand, & South-East Asia, BMG stated, “Since signing Dope Lemon to BMG we’ve worked together to sell well over 250,000 albums globally as Dope Lemon continues an incredible international growth story. While acquisitions can sometimes seem transactional and impersonal, this is a deeply personal relationship with Angus, and it was important to BMG that we established our acquisition strategy with existing relationships that also made sense on a creative level.”
Dope Lemon’s discography has enjoyed notable chart success in Australia, with their albums debuting at No.2 on the ARIA chart. “Rose Pink Cadillac”‘ clinched the 2023 AIR Award for “Best Independent Blues & Roots Album.” The band’s remarkable journey includes over 250,000 album sales globally, over 450 million streams, and significant international syncs.
This announcement follows BMG’s recent acquisition of Australian rock band Jet‘s recording catalog, further expanding its label roster.
A&R WORLDWIDE IN LONDON, ENGLAND
Last week, A&R Worldwide brought its renowned executive dinner to London, England with dozens of executives from the A&R, music publishing, management, streaming, live, and business affairs sectors participating.
The event was held at the private Billiards Room at The Sanderson Hotel in Central London and included a private performance from one of the UK’s most gifted musical newcomers Jamie Hannah who captivated the attendees with his four-octave spectacular vocal performance.
Below is a pictorial overview of the event.
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!
Recently, A&R Worldwide ventured off to the Czech Republic recently at the invitation of the proactive music export office Sound Czech which has been leading the charge in building bridges to the global music business. A&R Worldwide will be helping bring key companies from the US and around the world to the burgeoning Czech music market in the coming months, and years ahead. Discussing the evolution of artist development within the new world of synchronization were (L-R) Petr Blažek (Music Managers Forum, Czech Republic), Sat Bisla (President & Founder, A&R Worldwide), Marton Naray (Head of SoundCzech, Czech Republic) and Alex Smutny (Founder, Composers Summit, Czech Republic).
TRISHA
India is one of the world’s fastest-growing music markets, supported by its booming economy, English-speaking population, and large millennial demographic. The Indian music industry is diversifying across various segments, including master rights, publishing, streaming, talent management, live events, multimedia, distribution, synchronization with film, TV, gaming, on-demand services, and more. This landscape presents numerous opportunities. India is home to established musicians like A.R. Rahman, a multi-Grammy and multi-Academy Award winner, Diljit Dosanjh, Badshah, Armaan Maalik, King, Prateek Kuhad, Divine, and many others, as well as rising stars like 15-year-old Trisha. Trisha, an Indian citizen, born in Dubai and mostly raised abroad between Africa and the US, currently resides in India and represents the Gen-Z breed of female singer-songwriters. Her songwriting, singing, and expressive style mark her arrival in the Indian music scene and beyond, leaving an emotional impact on her audience. Trisha’s versatility shines through her four-octave vocal range, drawing inspiration from artists like Ariana Grande, Tate McRae, and Melanie Martinez. She has been featured on numerous Spotify independent playlists and has garnered attention from Red FM, Radio 1 India, Rolling Stone India, and other media outlets. She was also selected last year in the Top 24 of NEXA Music season 2, the nationwide contest for English pop. Her latest single, “Somewhere Else,” is worth discovering. Listen HERE and contact info@anrworldwide.com for available opportunities internationally.
DOTAN
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Sunday, October 8th, 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:
SAHARA BECK – “Thinking Twice” (Unsigned, Australia)
GIANT ROOKS – “Somebody Like You” (UMG, Germany)
NOTHING BUT THIEVES – “Tomorrow Is Closed” (AWAL, UK)
LAURAN HIBBERD – “Honda Civic” (Virgin Music, UK)
MATTHEW MOLE – “See Me Again” (Universal Music, South Africa)
BELLZZZ – “No Shoes Girl (Succession)” (Unsigned, UK)
BANNERS – “C’est La Vie” (Island Records, UK)
MIDDLE KIDS – “Highlands” (EMI Music, Australia)
ONLY THE POETS – “Over & Over” (EMI, UK)
KYTES – “Out of Time” (Frisbee Records, Germany)
PAUL PARTOHAP – “BESTFRiEND” (Warner Music, Indonesia)
THE SLATES – “What Have You Done” (Unsigned, UK)
ASHLEY ESPER – “It’s Called Art” (Unsigned, N. America)
AMSER – “Don’t Let Go” (SO Recordings, UK)
RHETT REPKO – “I’ve Been Feeling Down Lately” (Unsigned, N. America)
JAMIE HANNAH – “Surrender To You” (Unsigned, UK)
IAMJJ – “On My Way” (Unsigned, Denmark)
PICTURE THIS – “Ireland” (RCA Records, Ireland)
NEON WALTZ – “When All Is Said & Done” (Fierce Panda, UK)
YARD ACT – “The Trench Coat Museum” (Island Records, UK)
TRIBE FRIDAY – “Salt Clouds” (ICEA, Sweden)
LIME CORDIALE – “Imposter Syndrome” (Chugg Music, Australia)
TALISCO – “Keep ur head up” (Talisco Music, France)
THE ROYSTON CLUB – “Blisters” (Run On Records, UK)
CASSIA – “Whatstheuse” (Republic of Music, Australia)
THE SHERLOCKS – “Remember All The Girls” (Unsigned, UK)
BLAIRE DAVIE – “Lovely” (Watercolour Heart, Scotland)
HONEYMOAN – “Show You Off” (Propeller Recordings, UK)
THE VALMONTS – “Love Overdose” (Unsigned, Ireland)
ST. LUNDI – “Fall” (Propeller Recordings, UK)
RUM JUNGLE – “Dash of Speed” (Sureshaker, Australia)
BARBERA MARI – “Torn” (Unsigned, Czech Republic)
THE MOVING STILLS – “Westside” (Sureshaker, Australia)
CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING SIGNS DEAL RICHARD “BIFF” STANNARD: Concord Music Publishing has solidified its partnership with songwriter Richard “Biff” Stannard, extending a collaboration that was initially established in 2020. Stannard’s three-decade career has earned him accolades such as an Ivor Novello award and multiple ASCAP awards. Notably, Stannar’s songwriting contributions have been instrumental in the success of Kylie Minogue‘s music, with a catalog of hits that includes “Love at First Sight,” “In Your Eyes,” and “Please Stay,” all featured on her album Tension. His creative synergy with Minogue spans over 20 years, encompassing her albums Golden (2018) and Disco (2020). Stannard’s songwriting prowess extends to collaborations with other artists, including the Spice Girls, U2, Sia, 5 Seconds of Summer, Ellie Goulding, and more. His portfolio boasts an impressive 40 hit singles, including 10 No.1s in the UK. Notably, Stannard played a pivotal role in developing, writing, and producing for the Spice Girls, contributing to iconic global hits like “Wannabe,” “Viva Forever,” “Mama,” “Goodbye,” and “2 Become 1,” all of which are now represented by Concord Music Publishing. Harri Davies, Senior Director A&R, Concord Music Publishing helped spearhead the signing with Stannard.
RAYE RENEWS PUBLISHING DEAL WITH WARNER CHAPPELL: Raye has announced her partnership with Warner Chappell by renewing her publishing deal with the company. This collaboration, which began in 2016, covers her extensive catalog, including multiple chart-topping singles, and extends to future recordings. Raye’s chart-topping single, “Escapism” featuring 070 Shake, has been a massive success, securing her first No.1 and accumulating over 1.2 million sales. The track has garnered more than a billion streams, earning Raye one of the coveted BRIT Billions awards. Her debut album, My 21st Century Blues, made an impact, peaking at No.2 in the UK and earning a nomination for the prestigious 2023 Mercury Prize. Additionally, it claimed the No.1 spot on Spotify‘s Top Album chart. Raye’s songwriting talent was acknowledged with an Ivor Novello Award for Best Contemporary Song, and she has received four BRIT Award nominations. She has performed on tour, supporting SZA, Kali Uchis, and Lewis Capaldi during their sold-out 2023 world tours in North America, Europe, and the UK. Her extensive world tour, beginning in September 2023, will include 45 dates across North America, Europe, the UK, and Australia.
REACTIONAL MUSIC APPOINTS NEW CHAIR & COO: Reactional Music has made two appointments with the addition of Kelly Sumner, former CEO of Take Two Interactive, who has joined the board as Chairman. Additionally, Jacob Deshayes, formerly in senior roles at Spotify, including Senior Manager of Catalog Strategy/Promotional Programs, takes on the role of Chief Content Officer. Reactional Music specializes in the gaming experience by creating next-generation musical interactions within games, offering a bridge between the creative and commercial aspects of music and gaming. Kelly Sumner, one of Reactional Music’s founders and recent investors, brings valuable industry expertise to the position of Chairman. Sumner’s impressive career includes leadership roles at Take Two Interactive, Red Octane (Guitar Hero), and Mediatonic (Fall Guys). Jacob Deshayes, as the newly appointed Chief Content Officer, will oversee Reactional’s music platform, driving partnerships, technical initiatives, curation, and strategy. Reactional Music’s rule-based music engine and music delivery platform enable generative composable music, allowing live interactions between music and gameplay. This technology opens new revenue streams for music, enables gamers to personalize their experiences with their favorite music, and provides game developers with efficient tools for music integration and prototyping.
RAPPER EL ALFA INKS DEAL WITH SOUND ROYALTIES: Dominican rapper El Alfa has made headlines with a multi-million-dollar deal, reportedly valued at $70 million, with Sound Royalties. This partnership marks a significant move, as El Alfa joins forces with Sound Royalties, which specializes in providing royalty financing for music creators, independent labels, publishers, and distributors. Sound Royalties offers advances ranging from $5,000 to tens of millions by advancing royalties paid through various music industry entities, including labels, distributors, publishers, and PROs like BMI, ASCAP, and SESAC. Furthermore, the company expanded its offerings to include advances for artists and performers seeking tour and production support in 2021. El Alfa, whose innovative fusion of Jamaican dancehall with the Dembow genre has gained him recognition, evaluated several offers before choosing Sound Royalties. His music has a significant presence, boasting 22 million monthly listeners on Spotify and a discography of eight albums.
SEEKER MUSIC APPOINTS DAN STUART AS GENERAL COUNSEL: Seeker Music the burgeoning music publishing company based in Los Angeles has appointed Dan Stuart as its General Counsel. Stuart’s career spans over two decades, and as a seasoned music lawyer, he’s served as Sr. Vice President, Business Affairs at AWAL (US), contributing to its growth and eventual acquisition by Sony Music Entertainment. Prior to that, Stuart held pivotal roles at King, Holmes, Paterno & Soriano, Manatt, and Phelps & Phillips, facilitating deals exceeding one billion dollars in sound recording and music publishing catalogs. Stuart’s journey into music law began after a successful career as a vinyl-era DJ and music journalist. His early work as a journalist, including writing for music magazines and DJing at a popular night spot, reflects his deep-rooted passion for music.
DOWNTOWN SIGNS GLOBAL DEAL WITH JAM & PHILLY’S OUTER VOICE MUSIC PUBLISHING: Downtown Music Publishing has announced a global agreement with Outer Voice Music Publishing, a newly established arm of The Outer Voice Company, founded by Indian artists and brothers JAM & Philly. This deal encompasses JAM & Philly’s singles released under the Outer Voice label imprint, such as “Photographs” and “Blind,” as well as all songwriter credits within the two-year term. Downtown Music Publishing will collaborate closely with JAM & Philly and the Outer Voice Music Publishing team to amplify exposure, promotion, and awareness for South Asian songwriters and their catalog. The partnership aims to secure sync placements, administer works globally, and create original composition opportunities. The Outer Voice Company, originally launched as a record label by Converse in 2021, has provided crucial support to emerging South Asian American artists and actively promoted them through events, particularly in New York City.
ONERPM ANNOUNCES JOINT VENTURE WITH HUFF CO: ONErpm Nashville has unveiled a joint venture with Huff Co., the production company founded by producer Dann Huff and his brother David Huff. Dann Huff, honored as Billboard‘s “Producer of the Decade,” will lead the charge, leveraging his creative prowess alongside other accomplished producers. ONErpm will take on a multifaceted role in this partnership, as they will provide funding for production, oversee distribution and marketing efforts, and co-own the master recordings. Artists will sign directly to this collaborative venture, effectively making ONErpm the record company. ONErpm was one of the first to offer artists “real-time” online transparency through its Amplifier marketing and management system, providing daily insights into streaming metrics and handling a wide range of marketing tasks on behalf of artists.
PRIMARY WAVE MUSIC PARTNERS WITH THE ESTATE OF ISAAC HAYES: Primary Wave Music has unveiled a partnership with the estate of Isaac Hayes, the multifaceted artist known for his contributions as a singer, actor, songwriter, and composer. Under this deal, Primary Wave will administer various publishing interests of Hayes’s estate and have the rights to market his name, image, and likeness. Isaac Hayes’s career spanned nearly six decades, during which he crafted some of the most iconic songs in music history. His track record includes classics like “Soul Man,” hailed by the Grammy Hall of Fame as one of the most influential songs of the past 50 years, and the Platinum-certified hit “Hold On, I’m Coming,” among many others. Hayes’s sophomore album, Hot Buttered Soul, is widely regarded as his magnum opus, reaching the No.1 spot on Billboard’s Top R&B chart and No.8 on the Billboard Top 200. His music continues to resonate today, as evidenced by critical acclaim and cultural recognition. This collaboration grants the estate access to Primary Wave’s extensive marketing resources, including digital strategy, licensing, synchronization opportunities, and film & TV production.
SEVEN20 AND AYITA FORM THE CIRCUIT GROUP: The Circuit Group recently announced its unveiling into the music market as a visionary enterprise founded by industry veterans from artist management companies Seven20 and AYITA. Comprising of Dean Wilson and Jessica Wilson from Seven20, along with Brett Fischer, David Gray, and Harvey Tadman from AYITA, The Circuit Group aims to represent a groundbreaking approach to the business of music. At its core, The Circuit Group seeks to build business opportunities centered around artists’ intellectual property (IP). Their mission involves acquiring up to 50% ownership in artists’ song catalogs, providing immediate revenue sources while encouraging collaborative efforts to expand IP possibilities. This approach empowers artists with more control over their destinies within the music industry. The Circuit Group says its IP-centric model extends beyond traditional artist management, encompassing recorded music, publishing, merchandise, brand deals, gaming, events, Web3, and emerging music technologies. Their roster includes artists like Chris Lake, deadmau5, FISHER, HoneyLuv, NERO, and Ninajirachi. The Circuit Group already has master and publishing rights to over 3,000 songs, totaling more than five billion combined streams. The Circuit Group currently has offices in Los Angeles, Miami, and London.
THE SMARTEST PEOPLE IN THE ROOM: The renowned executive and entrepreneur interview platform The Smartest People In The Room has confirmed a rare and in-depth interview with Sat Bisla, President & Founder, A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO that will take place live at 11:00 AM (PST) / 2:00 PM (EST) this Thursday, October 11. The one-on-one interview will be moderated by Ralph Simon, Founder & Chairman, Mobilium Global, and a music business legend who is the co-founder of the original ringtone and the iconic Jive Records, and include some rarely shared insights from Bisla on the past, and current and future of the global music business, as well as his extensive career that spans almost 40 years across A&R, publishing, media, radio, events, DJ culture, music journalism, technology and more. Registration to watch the interview is FREE. To sign up to watch the interview click HERE.
KOBALT NAMES NEW SR. VP CREATIVE SYNCH: Kobalt has announced it has promoted Kat Basolo to Sr. Vice President, Creative Synch. In her expanded role, she will oversee the Los Angeles creative synch team. Basolo was previously a Vice President of Creative Synch and prior to joining Kobalt, she worked at Sony Music Entertainment for 10 years. The announcement was made by Rob Christensen, Executive, Global Synch, Kobalt a few days ago. Basolo said, “I am excited to be starting this new chapter at Kobalt, a company I am truly passionate about, that has always put creators first and values transparency and innovation. Kobalt is home to many of the most talented writers in the industry. A big thank you to Rob, Chris [Lakey], and the whole Kobalt family for this incredible opportunity.” In the past year, Basolo has closed significant synch opportunities for the Kobalt roster with brands including Apple, Marriott, Adobe,Ford, Taco Bell, Nissan as well as in various TV shows, films, and promo/trailer marketing initiatives.
SOUNDEXCHANGE NAMES SR. VP OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS & PUBLIC POLICY: SoundExchangehas unveiled its latest addition to the team with the appointment of Peter Karafotas, who assumes the role of Sr. Vice President of Government Relations & Public Policy. Stationed in the heart of Washington, D.C., Karafotas will report directly to SoundExchange’s President and CEO, Michael Huppe. The appointment comes at a critical juncture for SoundExchange, as they intensify their legislative endeavors to ensure equitable compensation for music creators. Karafotas takes the reins from Linda Bloss-Baum, who leaves SoundExchange after almost a decade to pursue academic interests at American University. With over two decades of Capitol Hill experience, Karafotas will spearhead SoundExchange’s global public policy and legislative initiatives, fortifying its mission to safeguard creators and music’s intrinsic value. Moreover, he will enhance policymakers’ comprehension of the intricate international landscape within the music industry.
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: Rafael Pereira, Max Martin, Ron Perry, Carianne Marshall, Magnus Textor, Sarah Sheridon, Richard Griffiths, Bob Lefsetz, Sarah Stennett, Kyle Hopkins, Jennifer Pyken, Doug Mark, John Dexter, and Sir Lucian Grainge.
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