A&R Worldwide Newsletter Vol. 818

WENDY GOLDSTEIN, CO-PRESIDENT, REPUBLIC RECORDS
TO RECEIVE SEYMOUR STEIN – GLOBAL A&R AWARD
AT MUSEXPO 2024 IN BURBANK, CALIFORNIA

MUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net) the renowned annual global music industry conference and showcase event, often dubbed the “United Nations of Music,” recently announced the establishment of the Seymour Stein – Global A&R Award.

This prestigious accolade will honor the illustrious career of Wendy Goldstein, Co-President of Republic Records, one of the world’s most accomplished A&R executives. The award ceremony will take place during an A&R Worldwide gala dinner at the MUSEXPO conference in Burbank, CA.

Seymour Stein, a legend in the music industry known for his discovery of iconic artists, serves as the inspiration behind this award. His unparalleled signings, including Madonna, Talking Heads, Ramones, Pretenders, Depeche Mode, The Cure, and many others have left an indelible mark on the music landscape. His dedication to the art of A&R makes him an enduring figure in the music industry, and this award seeks to celebrate and perpetuate his legacy.

Wendy Goldstein, who will be celebrating 30 years in A&R next year, is unquestionably one of the industry’s most gifted A&R executives. She has overseen the careers of renowned artists such as The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, Jonas Brothers, John Legend, Hailee Steinfeld, and many more. Her journey in the music business began as an assistant in the A&R department of Epic Records, followed by impactful stints at Geffen Records where she personally signed the Roots, Common, GZA, Mos Def, and The Bloodhound Gang. She then joined Priority Records/Capitol where she orchestrated a label deal with Disturbing tha Peace and oversaw projects for Snoop Dogg, Chingy, LaToya Luckett, and others.

Goldstein joined Republic Records in 2009, initially as an A&R Consultant, later assuming the role of Senior Vice President of A&R in 2011. In 2014, she was appointed Executive Vice President and Head of Urban A&R, solidifying her place as a key figure in the label’s leadership.

The Seymour Stein – Global A&R Award will honor Wendy Goldstein’s outstanding contributions to the music industry, highlighting her remarkable A&R skills and her dedication to nurturing talent.

Sat Bisla, President & Founder of A&R Worldwide and MUSEXPO, stated, “Wendy Goldstein’s career is a testament to her unwavering commitment to the art of A&R and her exceptional talent for identifying and developing artists who shape the music industry and impact global pop culture. Wendy’s unique abilities, instincts, and musical foresight make her truly remarkable and impactful as an A&R aficionado. She is the embodiment of the spirit of Seymour Stein’s legacy.”

The inaugural presentation of the Seymour Stein – Global A&R Award, scheduled for Wednesday, March 20, 2024, during an A&R Worldwide gala dinner post-MUSEXPO, will mark the beginning of a tradition that celebrates excellence in A&R worldwide, and the indomitable spirit of discovery in music. The Global A&R Award will be presented in association with Richard Gottherer, Seymour’s longtime friend and co-Founder of Sire Records, and Seymour’s daughter Mandy Stein.

For further information about the Seymour Stein – Global A&R Award, or to purchase tables or tickets, please contact info@anrworldwide.com, or call +1.323.782.0770.

 

Mavi, one of the most popular bands in Turkey, whose sound fuses pure pop with electrifying rock, has signed a worldwide recording deal with Warner Music. Their new song “Sen Ve Yıldız” – their first on Warner Music – is to be released in November, with a version in English to follow shortly after.

The band was founded earlier this year by 19-year-old Mavi Solman off the back of his enormous solo success, which had already seen him unleash trend-shifting songs including “Senin Uğruna” (which spent 57 weeks in the Turkish charts), “Deniyorum, Ama” (30 weeks), “Gözlerindeki Ay” (57 weeks) and “Aşkım” (17 weeks). His solo music generated more than half a billion streams and he built up a loyal audience of more than three million monthly listeners on leading streaming platforms.

He has now been joined by Arda on drums, Denizcan on bass, and Oul on guitar to form Mavi. The group has already won critical acclaim for their music which pays homage to the ’80s legacy sounds and blends them with warm velvety analogue synths and grooves.

The band has also already won fans across Turkey with their fiery live performances and electrifying sound. They have been performing Mavi Solman’s solo hits in a new band arrangement, as well as unreleased new songs to get fan feedback. The band has already signed up more than 2.4 million monthly listeners on their Spotify page alone.

Mavi stated, “We’re super excited about the journey ahead. Our music is simply good! Borderless, seductive, and liberating. We want to get under your skin, and for you to feel free and moved. We want to conquer everyone and want to be conquered by the love of everyone. In each step, we want to create and influence more. We’re hungry like a wolf to make and to share more music and basically, all we want is for YOU to crave for us in every turn. Stay tuned!”

Gülce Ünal, General Manager, Warner Music Turkey, added, “We’re ecstatic at joining forces with such a talented band, to have the privilege of sharing their remarkable work internationally and uplifting them to create more of their musical magic all around the world. The road ahead of us is shining with borderless possibilities and we can’t wait to show the world what Turkey has been going insane for.”

Mavi is set to travel to London to record more new music. The band is also planning to release three songs, performed in Turkish and English, in the coming months.

Peermusic has acquired the Oslo, Norway-based Arctic Rights Management (ARM), which is one of the largest independent music publishers in Scandinavia. This move was announced by Ralph Peer II, Executive Chair of peermusic, and Mary Megan Peer, CEO of peermusic a few days ago.

With this new deal, peermusic expands its global reach, now operating in 32 countries with 39 offices and over 200 employees. The acquisition grants peermusic access to the catalog of ARM, encompassing over 5,000 recordings and compositions, as well as an interest in various international hits.

Notably, this includes chart-toppers like Dua Lipa‘s “Don’t Start Now” and “New Rules,” along with hits like “365” by Zedd and Katy Perry and Alan Walker’s “Sing Me to Sleep.” The acquisition also covers songs by Madrugada and Marcus & Martinus, among others. Kai Robøle, a music publishing veteran and Founder of ARM, along with Kerstin Mangert, an experienced figure in Swedish and international rights management, will join peermusic, further strengthening the company’s creative and management capabilities.

Other hits included in the acquisition are Norwegian DJ Alan Walker‘s “Sing Me To Sleep” (via Magnus Bertelsen) which went 6x Platinum and hit No.1 on the charts in Norway and landed Top 20 on the U.S. Hot Dance/Electronic songs; Madrugada’s “Majesty,” “Dreams At Midnight” and “Nobody Loves You Like I Do”; and “Girls” by Marcus & Martinus (via Magnus Bertelsen and Erik Fjeld), amongst many others.

Commenting on the deal, Mary Megan Peer stated, “The acquisition of Arctic Rights Management is a unique opportunity to grow our market presence in Norway, adding the 32nd operating country to our global footprint, and to enhance the value at a time when the music market in Norway is booming, supported by digital sales, early adoption of paid music streaming services, and live music festivals.”

Kai Robøle added, “peermusic is a first-class music publishing firm who leads with integrity. We are beyond thrilled to be able to leverage peermusic’s global creative platform and to offer their best-in-class services to our clients.”

KOBALT INKS WORLDWIDE DEAL WITH UK
SONGWRITER & PRODUCER TOBY SCOTT

Kobalt recently announced the signing of one of the UK’s most prolific songwriters and producers, Toby Scott, to a worldwide publishing agreement, including global sync and creative services.

Scott is one of the UK’s most in-demand writer-producers and has global releases with Galantis, David Guetta, Tiesto, Alok, Dom Dolla, Anyma, D.O.D, Jax Jones, Martin Solveig and Robin Schulz. He also co-wrote the current Sophie & The Giants and Purple Disco Machine single “Paradise,” which reached the Top 5 in Germany. Scott also has forthcoming cuts with Tiesto, Khalid, Vintage Culture, Gryffin, Billy Gillies, and Hannah Laing, amongst others.

“It’s fantastic to be working with Toby alongside Rich Perry and Joe Taylor,” said Kenny McGoff, Head of Kobalt’s UK Creative. “Toby has already had a fantastic career and continues to deliver hit songs that work both here in the UK and across the seas. We are ready and excited to amplify that with the Global Kobalt team.”

Joe Taylor and Rich Perry, Oyster Management, said “As soon as we heard Kenny and the Kobalt team were fans of Toby’s music, we knew they would make the perfect home for his songs – a truly international A&R team highly respected in the UK and around the world, plus unimpeachable collection and admin. Toby is one of the best producer writers out there, and Kobalt can help him become one of the biggest.”

Warner Chappell Music UK and Transgressive Publishing have renewed their partnership, which has seen them sign and work with a huge range of significant artists and writers during the past 17 years. The extension also now officially marks the joint venture as the longest-standing JV in Warner Chappell’s history to date. The deal was announced recently by Shani Gonzales, Managing Director, Warner Chappell Music UK, and Toby L., Founder, Transgressive.

The news arrives as modern alternative music icons Foals sign a new deal with Transgressive for their catalog, side projects, and future recordings. The band landed a No.3 album in the UK last year with Life is Yours, following on from the Mercury Prize-nominated Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 1, which went to No.2, and Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost Part 2, which was the band’s first No.1 album.

The extension also follows on from a string of recent signings, which include HotWax, a trio from Hastings, England who are one of the biggest breakthrough acts of 2023, and rapidly shaping up to be “Britain’s next great guitar band” according to NME.

Black Country, New Road also joined the roster this summer. After making a huge impact at this year’s Glastonbury festival, the band is currently on a sold-out world tour in the aftermath of two Top 5 albums in the UK, the Mercury Prize-nominated For the First Time and the critically revered Ants from Up There, plus this year’s EP, Live at Bush Hall.

Transgressive and Warner Chappell Music’s joint venture also includes Loyle Carner, whose recent third album hugoscored nominations at both the BRITs and Mercury Prize, alongside other acclaimed contemporary voices such as Marika Hackman, South Africa a cappella group The Joy, NYC’s Odetta Hartman, plus major catalog hits from the likes of Two Door Cinema Club, Noisettes and Mystery Jets.

Transgressive was founded as a record label in 2004 with the subsequent launch of Transgressive Publishing as a joint venture with Warner Chappell Music in December 2005 and then Transgressive Management following in 2006. The company was originally founded by Tim Dellow and Toby L, with third partner Lilas Bourboulon joining shortly afterward.

HUNTER METTS SIGNS LABEL DEAL WITH POSITION MUSIC: Tyler Bacon, President & CEO, Position Music has announced the signing of Hunter Metts to the burgeoning Burbank, CA-based music company. Metts has risen to prominence and awaits his forthcoming single, “Thread,” slated for an early December launch. Expressing his excitement about the signing, Hunter Metts said, “I connected with Position immediately. They’ve been a dream come true, consistently attentive, and an affirmation of the countless hours spent making this music. This opportunity gives us all the chance to share my music with a wider audience and to see my songs connect more deeply with the world, allowing me to reach new heights in my career.” Metts’ music has already been featured on Apple Music Editorial Playlists like Acoustic Chill, Morning Coffee, Acoustic Memories, and New in Singer-Songwriter, among others. Metts has also had collaborations with artists such as Todd Clark, Khal Yassein of Wild Rivers, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, James Flanagan, and others.

DECCA & VERVE SIGN JORDAN RAKEI TO GLOBAL RECORD DEAL: Decca and Verve Forecast (U.S.) have announced their partnership with Grammy Award-nominated New Zealand-Australian musician, Jordan Rakei. This deal ushers in a new era for Rakei, marked by the release of his latest single, “Flowers,” which was premiered by Mary Anne Hobbes on the UK’s BBC 6 Music. Rakei has already achieved considerable acclaim, collaborating with a host of artists such as Loyle Carner, Tom Misch, Disclosure, Bonobo, and FKJ. The signing paves the way for exciting new musical endeavors for Jordan under the Decca and Verve Forecast banners. Moreover, Rakei has set his sights on a headline show at London’s iconic Royal Albert Hall in October 2024.

ADA RENEWS LABEL PARTNERSHIP WITH LAB RECORDS: Warner Music‘s ADA, has announced its ongoing partnership with LAB Records, an independent label founded in Manchester, England in 2007. LAB Records has garnered the rights to a catalog of over 700 songs, collectively amassing hundreds of millions of streams. The collaboration between LAB Records and ADA has yielded consistent success recently, with artists like Tommy Lefroy,BEKA, Beach Weather, Antony Szmierek, Des Rocs, Aziya, Crawlers, The K’s, Nell Mescal, and Yoke Lore. As part of the Warner Music Group, ADA empowers independent labels and artists with a global distribution network, along with marketing and promotional support. Notable UK achievements include collaborations with artists like Kylie Minogue, Sonny Fodera, and Bugzy Malone. LAB Records’ Mark Orr and Scott Brothman stated, “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with ADA for a number of years now – so we’re delighted to ink a new, multi-year deal as we continue to grow our business. It’s a team who are passionate about breaking new artists and focusing on quality – which aligns perfectly with everything we’re trying to do.”

BMG ANNOUNCES STAFF LAYOFFS WITH GROWING GLOBAL UNCERTAINTY: BMG, the world’s fourth largest music company, recently announced a significant staff reduction, impacting over 40 employees across various key divisions, including Film/TV, theatrical, and international marketing. Among the casualties is Fred Casimir, who has served as Executive VP of Global Repertoire & Marketing. The decision to downsize raises concerns about the broader global economic landscape in 2024. With international unrest, persistent inflation, and declining disposable income in key markets, this move by BMG may be a harbinger of challenging times ahead for many companies. Industry experts fear it may trigger a domino effect across major corporations, exerting negative pressure on public stock ratings and intensifying financial headwinds, and causing tightening of budgets and overall costs. Notably, while Fred Casimir is among those affected, his wife, Dominique Casimir, retains her role as BMG’s Chief Creative Officer.

DANISH DARK-POP SENSATION BUILDS A&R / SYNC INTEREST: Unsigned and unpublished Danish dark-pop-styled singer/songwriter IAMJJ whose music style evokes remnants of the vocal stylings of Nick Cave and Leonard Cohen melded with cinematic and ethereal undertones of a modern day Nine Inch Nails is capturing viral momentum in Eastern Europe and other international markets. Influencers on TikTok and Instagram who boast millions of followers have been syncing IAMJJ’s singles “Different Kind of Blues” and “A Different Kind of Blues” (featuring U.S. artist Baker Grace) to their various short-form video content. In addition, in the past month, IAMJJ has started to inch towards 140,000 monthly Spotify listeners and has racked up over 200,000 Shazam tags to date. IAMJJ also recently had national Danish TV license his single “Bloody Future” for the weekly promo for the very popular weekly football report program. Various labels, publishers, and booking agents have reached out to IAMJJ in the past few weeks due to the recent activity with his music across various platforms and markets.

SENTRIC SIGNS AMON TOBIN/NOMARK TO ADMIN DEAL: Sentric Music Group has announced its signing of electronic artist, composer, and producer Amon Tobin to an exclusive worldwide administration deal. Tobin released 17 major studio albums, initially under the Ninja Tune label and subsequently via his own imprint, Nomark. His acclaimed song, “Fear in A Handful of Dust” marked Nomark’s debut in 2019, followed by albums under various aliases, including Only Child Tyrant, Figueroa, Stone Giants, and Two Fingers. This partnership will see Sentric representing Tobin’s extensive catalog for sync opportunities. Amon Tobin’s most recent release, the audio/visual project Hole in The Ground (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack), arrived on September 8, 2023. His presence on Spotify has garnered him over 330k monthly listeners. Peter McCamley, Creative Director, Sentric Music Group stated, “Signing this deal with Amon is one that fills me and the team with great excitement. His influence in the electronic space is huge and I am very proud to represent his works globally.”

CREATE MUSIC GROUP NAMES NEW SR. VP A&R: Create Music Group (CMG) has announced Mark Hill Jr as their new Sr. Vice President of A&R and Business Development. In his new role, Hill will spearhead the A&R team, steering their front-line release strategies and strategic partnership marketing. His duties also encompass artist scouting and development, overseeing recording projects, and further augmenting the company’s roster of artists, songwriters, and producers. Mark Hill Jr’s contributions have been pivotal to Create Music Group’s success, as Jonathan Strauss, Founder & CEO, Create Music Group acknowledged, stating, “Mark is at the forefront of music culture and has been paramount in the success at CMG.” Hill’s journey at Create commenced in 2016 when he started as an intern while pursuing a business degree at the University of Southern California. Over the past seven years, he played a pivotal role in building Create’s A&R department, with artist signings such as YNW Melly, Lucki, Fredo Bang, and recent addition DeeBaby, while also facilitating deals with artists like Tekashi 6ix9ine and Ice Spice. Hill will report directly to Jonathan Strauss, Founder & CEO, and Wayne Hampton, Co-Founder/Chief Business Operator, CMG.

SOUND TALENT GROUP NAMES PARTNERS: Los Angeles, CA-based booking agency Sound Talent Group (STG) has elevated four agents, Beth Keith, John Pantle, Eric Powell, and Jake Zimmerman, to the position of partners within the independent music agency. This announcement was made by STG Founders Dave Shapiro, Tim Borror, and Matt Andersen, recognizing their instrumental role in the agency’s success since its inception in 2018. Matt Andersen, co-Founder of STG, stated, “Their promotion to partners not only celebrates their invaluable contributions but also reinforces our commitment to cultivating talent from within.” These four new partners have been integral to shaping the agency’s footprint in the world of touring opportunities across diverse musical genres. Their dedication and expertise have contributed to the agency’s remarkable growth. Beth Keith, based in Nashville, collaborates with artists like Alexandra Kay, Story of The Year, and Currents. John Pantle, stationed in Los Angeles, manages a roster that includes Natalia Lafourcade, Hatsune Miku, and Julieta Venegas. Eric Powell (Ice Nine Kills, Dayseeker, Loathe) and Jake Zimmerman (Knocked Loose, The Happy Fits, Lil Darkie) are located in New York. Sound Talent Group represents over 450 artists across various musical styles, performing at venues that span from intimate clubs to stadiums.

SIMON COWELL JOINS FORCES WITH LOUNGES.TV: Simon Cowell, the visionary behind talent juggernauts like Got Talent and X Factor, is partnering up with a new digital platform – Lounges.tv. This platform serves as a platform for emerging content creators, offering them an opportunity to be noticed and find more financial success. Cowell, renowned for unearthing musical acts like One Direction, Camila Cabello, Leona Lewis, and Labrinth, is now using his expertise to support the aspirations of fresh talent on Lounges.tv. In an era where the content creator industry is at its zenith, with a staggering influx of 3.7 million YouTube videos and 34 million daily TikTok uploads, visibility and fair compensation remain elusive for many. Lounges.tv says it’s entering the scene with a mission to expedite the monetization process for creators, guaranteeing they retain 80% of their streaming income, all while receiving payment within 24 hours of going live. This ad-free forum welcomes creators from diverse genres, encompassing musicians, comedians, fitness trainers, and more. Lounges.tv has already garnered support from Prince’s former manager, Kiran Sharma, and BBC iPlayer founder Ben Lavender.

SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING NAMES SR. VP GLOBAL BUSINESS: Sony Music Publishing has announced the appointment of Robin Nastri as Senior Vice President, Global Business Office. In this newly created role, Nastri will be responsible for advancing the company’s growth strategy and continued evolution by spearheading global transformation initiatives to streamline operations, enhance technology, and optimize processes. She will also implement a robust value-driven framework to accelerate growth and track the impact of various initiatives. Nastri will report to Sony Music Publishing’s Chief Financial Officer, Tom Kelly. Nastri joins the company with over 25 years of experience in strategy consulting at Accenture, where she worked alongside numerous Fortune 100 companies to transform their organizations and advance global initiatives. Most recently, she led Accenture’s west portfolio for Intelligent Automation. She holds a patent for Accenture’s award-winning automation platform and was recognized along with her team as Accenture’s 2019 “Inventor of the Year.”

UNIVERSAL MUSIC JAPAN OPENS CONCEPT RETAIL STORE: Universal Music Japan (UMJ) recently announced the grand opening of a concept retail store dedicated to supporting music super-fans. The four-floor superstore opened to the public on Friday, October 20, 2023, in the heart of Harajuku, Tokyo – one of the world’s most recognizable destinations for fashion, culture, and fandom. The UNIVERSAL MUSIC STORE HARAJUKU is located on Takeshita Street in Harajuku and will serve as a hub for UMG artists and fans from around the world to connect offline. Spanning four curated floors, the store will feature dedicated fan experiences, product launches, and retail pop-up shops. It will also offer a platform for artists to express their creative vision and share this with their fans through exciting, original, and bespoke programs of activity. Launched inside is the RS NO.9 HARAJUKU flagship store, a brand born from the ‘RS No.9’ store in London, now opening its second global location. In 2020, ‘RS No.9 Carnaby’ opened a street-level store on London’s Carnaby Street, gaining widespread attention from fans of The Rolling Stones worldwide for its apparel, merchandise, and exclusive collaborations, both in-store and online. For more information, log on to http://rsno9.jp/.

AN INTERVIEW WITH FORMER SIRE RECORDS A&R: A&R Worldwide will be featuring interviews in our forthcoming newsletters with various A&R, publishing, management, booking agent, and sync executives via our partnership with MUBUTV, who throughout the past few years have joined A&R Worldwide at our events including MUSEXPO, Global Rock Summit, A&R Summit, and Global Sync Summit to meet with and interview many of our executive relationships to delve into some thoughtful and insightful dialogue and perspectives on their day-to-day roles, as well as interviewing others in the music industry. MUBUTV provides some informative insights and an understanding of key sectors of the U.S. and global music business. Click HERE to watch an interview with Eric Mclellan, Artist Strategy Specialist, IndieFlow (formerly A&R Director, Sire Records) during a previous MUSEXPO event in Hollywood, CA.

TICKETS FOR GOOD APPOINTS SENIOR MUSIC EXECUTIVES: Tickets For Good, the platform providing free and discounted tickets for top UK live events to NHS, charity sector workers, and cost-of-living benefit recipients, is fortifying its advisory board with the appointment of senior music industry executives Don Orris and Will Mills. Don Orris, formerly Ticketmaster Executive VP and Live Nation Core Ticketing Group Sr. VP, is set to bolster the presence and inventory of Tickets for Good in the U.S., supporting the company’s expansion following recent investment. Will Mills, an industry veteran with experience at Shazam, Spotify, PRS For Music, and LyricFind, joins the team to strengthen the company’s partnerships and commercial efforts as it closes its current £2 million (GBP) funding round this year. Tickets For Good has been making waves in the live events industry, recently attracting investments from Robbie Williams and ie: ventures, in addition to existing investors Bethnal Green Ventures and Comcast SportsTech. The company’s nationwide Ticket Bank program, designed for recipients of UK Government cost-of-living payments, has furthered its mission of making live events more accessible. With over 250,000 registered users and 300,000 processed tickets, Tickets for Good is driving audience development, social impact, and sustainable revenues in the live and nighttime industries. Tickets For Good’s partnerships with over 500 live events companies have made it possible for members to access live entertainment by paying only a small booking fee.

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: Uli Kuppel, Navin Watumull, Jaddan Commerford, Glen Gabriel, Marianne Goode, Taylor Jones, Arnold Peter, Pete Giberga, Nicole Wyskoarko, Michael Goldberg, Ron Laffitte, Tak Furuichi, and Aaron Bay-Schuck.

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