AUSTRALIA’S WONDERLICK ENTERTAINMENT
ANNOUNCE NEW LEADERSHIP APPOINTMENTS
Australia’s Wonderlick Entertainment has unveiled a series of strategic appointments and reorganization efforts within its label and management divisions. Jess Keeley, who has an extensive career managing artists like Shania Twain, Lykke Li, Arcade Fire, and Marina & the Diamonds, has been named Director of Artist Management.
Danny Rukasin, co-Founder of the U.S.-based Best Friends Music, known for managing talents like Billie Eilish, will serve as a partner and Director of International, boosting the company’s global presence from Los Angeles.
Additionally, Michele Porto and Dan Crannitch, long-serving members of the team, have been promoted to partnership roles as Director of Marketing and Director of A&R, respectively. Paul Zaja will transition into the role of Director of Finance, while Brock Galway rises to the position of Senior Artist Manager.
Wonderlick, founded in 2007 by Stu MacQueen and Gregg Donovan, will continue its longstanding joint venture partnership with Sony Music Entertainment Australia. Over its 16-year history, the company has represented some of Australia’s most notable artists, earning numerous accolades and making a significant impact on the music industry.
Stu MacQueen commented, “The addition of Danny and Jess to our already talented and experienced team, along with our re-energized partnership with Sony Music Australia under Vanessa Picken‘s strong leadership, significantly improves our offering to artists across the label and management sides of the company. It is a challenging environment to develop and break Australian artists right now, but I feel that we have assembled one of the strongest teams ever put together by an Australian music company, and we are ready to embrace the challenges ahead.”
A&R Worldwide originally helped initiate a highly successful global deal with EA Games and Wonderlick management client Airbourne, which resulted in a very robust multi-faceted partnership.
WARNER CHAPELL MUSIC RENEWS DEAL
WITH MULTI-PLATINUM SONGWRITER RICK BOARDMAN
Warner Chappell Music, the music publishing arm of Warner Music Group, has renewed its partnership with multi-Platinum selling songwriter, Rick Boardman.
Having written songs that have received more than five billion streams on Spotify alone, Boardman is one of the world’s most prolific songwriters. He is a frequent collaborator of Marshmello and has co-written huge global hits such as “Leave Before You Love Me,” featuring the Jonas Brothers, which has more than a billion streams, and “Numb” featuring Khalid which has been streamed more than 600 million times. He’s also co-written Marshello’s new single, “Dreaming,” which features Sting and P!nk.
Boardman has also written for a number of other global stars such as Louis Tomlinson and Bebe Rexha for their track “Back To You,” which charted in countries all over the world and has more than a billion streams, Clean Bandit and Jess Glynne for the smash hit “Real Love” and KSI and Tom Grennan on “Not Over Yet.”
Rick Boardman stated, “I have enjoyed a great relationship with Warner Chappell Music from the day I started working with them, so I’m happy to continue our partnership together. Since streaming became the dominant way to consume music, music has become more global, and subsequently, I have taken a much more global approach to my writing. Working with the Warner Chappell team I hope to continue to collaborate with the world’s biggest artists and enjoy more global hits.”
Paul Smith, VP, A&R and International Songwriters, Warner Chappell Music U.K., commented, “Rick has enjoyed some incredible few years writing monster hits that have connected with fans all around the world. And he does not look to be slowing down! He is such a brilliant professional and it is a pleasure to put him in rooms with international superstars and up-and-coming artists alike, as he immediately elevates any session, he’s a part of.”
Boardman first found fame as part of the indie dance band Delphic, whose debut album Acolyte landed in the Top 10 in the U.K. in 2010. In 2014, Boardman founded the Manchester-based songwriting collective The Six, which consisted of fellow hitmakers Danny Casio, Pablo Navarro, Sarah Blanchard, David Straaf, and Sakima.
Boardman has writing credits on more than sixty songs for artists as diverse as Tom Grennan, Little Mix, Mimi Webb,and Khalid. This year alone he has written songs for Lost Frequencies (“This Feeling” was No.1 on the German airplay chart), Venbee & Rudimental, and Pnau & Empire of the Sun.
He has recently been working on new music with French star Jain and hotly tipped British singer Bea and Her Business.
UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP EXTENDS PARTNERSHIP
WITH CHINESE POP MEGASTAR EASON CHAN
Universal Music Greater China (UMGC), a division of Universal Music Group (UMG), has announced the renewal of its contract with Chinese pop megastar, Eason Chan. The announcement followed the release of Eason’s latest studio album, CHIN UP! on October 27, his first in five years. This extended partnership between UMGC and Eason signifies the continuation of more than 19 years of musical collaborations between the artist and label.
The announcement took place at a special press conference in Macau, with Timothy Xu, Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Greater China, alongside Eason’s manager Lisa Kan in attendance. In front of nearly one thousand guests, including media and fans, they commemorated the artist’s illustrious 19-year partnership with UMG, reminiscing on the multitude of hits and memorable performances over the years.
Senior management from key Asian markets of UMG, Calvin Wong (CEO, Universal Music Southeast Asia), Alice Phyliss Kent (General Manager, Universal Music Singapore), Kim Lim (Managing Director, Universal Music Malaysia), William Hsieh (Managing Director, Universal Music Taiwan & Sr. VP, Universal Music Greater China), and Claire Kim (Director, International Pop Marketing, Universal Music Korea) were also present for the occasion, offering their congratulations and support to Eason.
Eason’s newly released album, CHIN UP! features eight new tracks, all composed by Terence Lam, arranged by award-winning producer Ronghao Li and Terence Lam. With this album, Eason says he wishes to invigorate those going through life’s ups and downs, offering encouragement and resilience to face the future with optimism. One of the lead singles from the album, Homo Sapiens, was awarded the prestigious “Song of the Year” award at the inaugural Wave Music Awards hosted by Tencent Music Group and was also recognized at the 34th Golden Melody Awards for “Best Lyrics.”
During the press conference, attendees were treated to the global premiere of the movie version of the music video for “Don’t Mind Me.” The video boasts a surprise appearance by international film legend Tony Leung, a Venice Film Festival Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Read more HERE.
SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING NAMES LAURA MENDOZA,
MANAGING DIRECTOR, COLOMBIA
Sony Music Publishing announced a few days ago that they have named Laura Mendoza as the new Managing Director of their Colombia office. The appointment underlines the company’s commitment to fostering talent and expanding its presence in the Latin American music market.
Mendoza, an industry veteran with over two decades of experience, will be headquartered in Bogotá, Colombia, and will operate under the direct supervision of Jorge Mejia, President & CEO, Latin America & U.S. Latin, Sony Music Publishing. In her role as Managing Director, Mendoza assumes a pivotal position in overseeing the business operations of Sony Music Publishing’s Colombian branch while driving its growth initiatives forward.
One of the primary responsibilities that Mendoza will undertake in her new role is to collaborate closely with the Latin American and U.S. Latin teams within Sony Music Publishing, illustrating the company’s holistic approach to its Latin American operations. Moreover, she will establish and nurture relationships with industry partners across the region, cementing Sony Music Publishing’s position as a key player in the Latin American music scene.
Laura Mendoza brings a wealth of experience to this role, having previously served as the Head of Label & Artist Solutions for Central America, Andean & Southern Cone Region at Believe. Before her tenure at Believe, Mendoza also made notable contributions to the music industry while working at Altafonte Music Network as Country Manager for Colombia and Music Rights Director for the Andean & Central American Region.
Laura Mendoza stated, “I am delighted to join the number one music publisher in the world and in my region. It is an honor to work alongside so many talented professionals across the company. Both the challenge and the opportunity of developing the careers of such a fantastic roster will allow me to contribute to a better industry and to the growth of SMP songwriters globally.”
Mendoza’s career in the music industry dates back to 1998 when she embarked on her journey with EMI Music Colombia. Over the years, she held diverse roles within the company, including Royalty Operations Manager and later Digital Marketing & Business Development Manager, providing her with a well-rounded perspective of the industry’s inner workings.
HITMAKERS SAVAN KOTECHA, JORDAN “DJ SWIVEL” YOUNG
CYANITE AI, DISNEY MUSIC GROUP, EA GAMES, FOX,
NETFLIX, REPUBLIC RECORDS, UNIVERSAL PICTURES
& MORE JOIN GROWING MUSEXPO 2024 LINEUP
MUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net) the renowned annual global music industry conference and showcase event, often dubbed the “United Nations of Music,” has confirmed more inspiring and respected creatives and executives to its burgeoning and stellar 2024 conference speaker lineup.
Confirming their participation as part of the exciting MUSEXPO 2024 lineup, which takes place March 17 – 20, 2024 in Burbank, California “The Media & Sync Capital of the World” are some of the most visionary and influential executives in music and pop culture whose work impacts the international markets.
Just added to speak and participate at MUSEXPO is Academy Award nominated Savan Kotecha, who is an American-Indian songwriter and record producer who has written for almost every major pop artist in the last 20 years. His artist collaborations include the biggest hits for Ariana Grande, The Weeknd, Ellie Goulding, Usher, Maroon 5, Justin Beiber, Camila Cabello, One Direction, Sam Smith and many more. He is the recipient of 9 BMI Awards, 21 ASCAP Awards, and songs that have had 18 Grammy nominations. His songs have achieved No.1 status all over the world, having sold more than 500 million copies.
Also, added to the event program is Jordan “DJ Swivel” Young, a Grammy Award-winning music producer/mixer and the visionary CEO & Founder of Hooky for Artists, a groundbreaking AI music and tech startup committed to empowering artists. Young’s partnership with The Chainsmokers resulted in a phenomenal achievement of three RIAA Diamond Certifications for chart-topping hits like “Closer,” “Something Just Like This,” and “Don’t Let Me Down.” In 2011, Young gained widespread recognition while working as Beyoncé’s vocal engineer on her album 4. His remarkable accomplishments led to him being honored as “Secret Genius: Dance” by Spotify in 2018. His impressive list of collaborations includes notable artists such as Rema, BTS, Dua Lipa, Coldplay, Rihanna, Jay-Z, and many others.
Also, recently added to the lineup are Arina Logacheva, Sr. A&R Manager, Parlophone Records (UK); Jennifer Pyken, Music Supervisor (The Way Home, This Is Us, Workaholics, Las Vegas & more); John McGrew, Music Creative Production, Netflix Series Animation; Michael Mancuso, Co-Founder & Executive Vice President, The Hello Group; Mike Knobloch, President of Music & Publishing, NBCUniversal; Mike Weiss, VP Music & Head A&R, UnitedMasters; Mio Vukovic, Sr. Vice President A&R / Head of Creative, The Hello Group; Disney Music Group; Rachel Levy, Executive Vice President of Motion Picture Music, Universal Pictures; Selena Arizanovic, Director, Programming Music, FOX Entertainment Music; Shivam Malhotra, Founder & CEO, Malsons Media (India); Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive & President of Music, Electronic Arts; Wendy Goldstein, Co-President, Republic Records; Zoe Gillespie, Vice President, Brand Partnerships + Strategy, Capitol Records, and many more to be unveiled soon.
For the full list of current MUSEXPO speakers, and the event program, click HERE.
For sponsorship, panelist, partnership or showcase opportunities contact Sat Bisla at sat@anrworldwide.com.
To register to attend MUSEXPO, and for discounted hotel room rates, click 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 is known for bringing together some of the most interesting people from around the world, from executives to creatives. Of course, our renowned A&R Worldwide dinners continue to be a must-attend event as one never knows who will be on the guest list, and where those new relationships will lead, as far as future opportunities. Attending a previous A&R Worldwide dinner are (L-R): Bob Lefsetz, Publisher, The Lefsetz Letter; Eric Greenspan (Partner, Law Firm of Myman, Greenspan, Fineman, Fox, Rosenberg & Light), and Tom Windish (Booking Agent, Wasserman Music).
THE HYPE
SEA GIRLS
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Sunday, November 5th, 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)
EVERYONE YOU KNOW – “Coming With You” (RCA Records, UK)
KAMRAD – “I Hope You End Up Alone (With Me)” (Sony, Germany)
NOTHING BUT THIEVES – “Tomorrow Is Closed” (AWAL, UK)
ERIN K – “Breathe” (Unsigned, UK)
GIANT ROOKS – “Somebody Like You” (UMG, Germany)
TELEMAN – “String Theory” (Moshi Moshi, UK)
BANNERS – “C’est La Vie” (Island Records, UK)
JACK HARRIS – “Up, Up And Away” (MNRK, N. America)
ONLY THE POETS – “Over & Over” (EMI, UK)
PICTURE THIS – “Leftover Love” (RCA, Ireland)
IAMJJ FEAT. BAKER GRACE – “Different Kind of Blues” (Mermaid, Denmark)
CLOUD HOUSE – “Still Here” (Unsigned, Scotland)
RHETT REPKO – “I’ve Been Feeling Down Lately” (Unsigned, N. America)
ROGER GOMEZ – “Revolution In My Head” (Unsigned, Australia)
JAMIE HANNAH – “Surrender To You” (Unsigned, UK)
BELDON HAIGH – “Anyway You Want It” (Unsigned, UK)
BLAIR DAVIE – “Edge Of A Feeling” (Unsigned, Scotland)
ALEX SPENCER – “Do What I Wanna” (Modern Sky, UK)
BELLZZZ – “No Shoes Girl (Succession)” (Unsigned, UK)
LUKE NOA – “Flight of Birds” (Bread, Butter & Champagne, Germany)
COACH PARTY – “Be That Girl” (Chess Club Records, UK)
YARD ACT – “The Trench Coat Museum” (Island Records, UK)
MATTHEW MOLE – “See Me Again” (Universal Music, South Africa)
THE SHERLOCKS – “Remember All The Girls” (Unsigned, UK)
DOPHA – “Pity Party” (Iceberg, Denmark)
TEENAGE DADS – “I Like It” (Chugg Music, Australia)
PAUL PARTOHAP – “BESTFRiEND” (Warner Music, Indonesia)
ROISIN MCCARNEY – “Villain” (Unsigned, Scotland)
LIME CORDIALE – “Imposter Syndrome” (Chugg Music, Australia)
TRISHA – “Somewhere Else” (Universal Music India, India)
THE VALMONTS – “Love Overdose” (Unsigned, Ireland)
HOLYOAK – “Hold Too Tight” (Unsigned, UK)
MASI MASI – “Comfort Me” (Unsigned, UK)
MIKE CAREN JOINS JEN MUSIC: Futureverse, an AI and metaverse tech company, has announced that they’re hiring influential music executive Mike Caren to lead its music-focused AI venture, JEN. Caren, the Founder & CEO of Artist Partner Group, has a long-standing career working with global artists like Beyoncé, Kanye West, and Bruno Mars, and brings a wealth of experience from his roles at major labels, including Warner Music Group, Elektra Records, and Atlantic Records. JEN, which initially gained attention with its research paper introducing JEN-1, a high-fidelity text-to-music AI model, now unveils the next chapter in its evolution with the announcement of Caren as a founding partner. This alignment combines music industry access and expertise with cutting-edge music AI technology, positioning JEN as a formidable collaborator for artists, producers, and creators. Coinciding with Caren’s appointment, JEN released its second research paper, presenting the JEN-1 Composer: A Unified Framework for Multi-Track Music Generation. This research focuses on enhancing the JEN-1 model, allowing for the separation of generated audio into controllable stems, thus providing limitless possibilities for musical creativity and collaborative AI-human composition.
MIDDLE KIDS SIGN WITH MUSHROOM MUSIC PUBLISHING: Middle Kids, the Sydney-based indie rock trio consisting of lead vocalist, guitarist, and songwriter Hannah Joy, guitarist Tim Fitz, and drummer Harry Day, have expanded their collaboration with Mushroom Music Publishing to encompass global rights to their music. This announcement marks an extension of their existing agreement, initially signed in 2017, which covered Australia and New Zealand. Since their debut single “Edge of Town,” and their 2018 album “Lost Friends,” which was named triple j’s “Australian Album of the Year,” Middle Kids have garnered much traction. Their sophomore album, Today We’re the Greatest, reached No.5 on the ARIA Albums Chart, earned an ARIA Award for “Best Rock Album,” and led to numerous high-profile U.S. TV appearances, including Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Late Late Show with James Corden, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and CBS This Morning. With a robust touring history, including supporting acts like Bloc Party, Kings of Leon, War on Drugs, and Cold War Kids, and an extensive North American tour with Manchester Orchestra and Jimmy Eat World, Middle Kids have established themselves as a band to watch out for. The trio’s forthcoming album, Faith Crisis Pt 1, “set to drop on February 16, 2024, is already generating excitement with singles like “Dramamine” and the Billboard charting track “Highland.”
REACTIONAL MUSIC SIGNS DEAL WITH DEFECTED RECORDS: Reactional Music has just inked a partnership with Defected Records. Founded in 1999 by Simon Dunmore, Defected Records, is an international independent dance label. Through this collaboration, they have licensed a majority of their tracks to Reactional’s music delivery platform and personalization engine for game developers. The selection includes artists like Bob Sinclar, Dennis Ferrer, Kings of Tomorrow, MK, and The Shapeshifters. Reactional’s technology aims to reshape the way users experience music within games. Developers can integrate commercial and production music, allowing the game’s visuals, music, and sound to respond to each player’s actions in real-time, a feat previously unattainable at this scale. Currently in its Beta phase, Reactional’s platform is making progress with several pilot game projects in development and a global partnership with Amanotes, a mobile game publisher in Southeast Asia. One aspect of Reactional’s approach is the introduction of in-game music purchases, offering players the chance to personalize their gaming experience with their favorite tunes, much like other in-game purchases such as skins and accessories. The platform also rigorously tracks music usage across its ecosystem, providing developers with important data analytics and insights into how gamers interact with music.
KOBALT PROMOTES SEAN DISHMAN TO SR. DIRECTOR CREATIVE: Sean Dishman has been elevated in a promotion to the role of Sr. Director, Creative at Kobalt, further enhancing his integral position within the music rights and services company. Based in Los Angeles, CA, Dishman has been instrumental in signing key Kobalt clients and fostering collaborations and releases for artists on and off the roster. His artist roster includes names like Madison Cunningham, Cuco, Mac DeMarco, Jamila Woods, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Poppy, Kevin Morby, and The Drums. Dishman’s journey with Kobalt began as an intern in 2013, while he was still a student at Berklee College of Music. After his graduation, he rejoined Kobalt as an assistant within the A&R team. Alison Donald, Head of Global Creative, Kobalt, stated, “Sean is an integral part of the Kobalt global A&R team, through his hard work and dedication, he has earned this promotion and I look forward to watching him continue to reach even greater heights.”
DANIEL JOHNS BRINGS PUBLISHING CATALOG TO BMG: Australian songwriter, artist, and producer Daniel Johns has just inked a global publishing deal with BMG, which includes his entire Silverchair catalog. A multi-ARIA, multi-APRA, Grammy, and Emmy award-winning artist, Johns’ association with BMG reached new heights after the success of his sophomore solo album, FutureNever, which became the highest-selling new Australian album of 2022 and the first Australian album in five years to top the charts twice. This all-encompassing agreement covers all of Daniel Johns’ compositions on FutureNever, and it’s set to include his extensive catalog of global hits like “Straight Lines,” “The Greatest View,” “Ana’s Song,” “Freak,” “Tomorrow,” and more, which will be incorporated into the deal in 2025. In expressing his enthusiasm for this collaboration, Daniel Johns emphasized the value he places on his songwriting catalog and his trust in BMG. He lauds BMG’s ambition and innovation in the music industry, from the podcast Who Is Daniel Johns? to his album, FutureNever, and the exhibition Past, Present, and FutureNever. The partnership has already birthed many achievements and the forthcoming ‘grunge sci-fi’ featurette film What If the Future Never Happened? is set to be another elevation for this new partnership.
DEFECTED PROMOTES MELVO BAPTISTE AT GLITTERBOX: Defected Records has appointed Melvo Baptiste as the Director of Music for Glitterbox. In his new role, Baptiste will be responsible for overseeing the label’s recording schedule, talent management, and curation for its global events, extending into 2024 and beyond. This appointment comes after Baptiste’s seven years as part of the A&R team at Defected, during which he also presented and curated Glitterbox’s radio show. Baptiste’s extensive experience in dance music and his deep knowledge of the label makes him a seasoned candidate to guide its evolution in the coming years. Outside of his role at Defected, Baptiste will continue to operate his imprint, The Remedy Project, which has released music from various notable artists such as Atjazz, Omar, Joss Stone, Kaidi Tatham, T. Williams, Makèz, Close Counters, and Sio. “I’m delighted to announce Melvo Baptiste’s promotion to Director of Music, Glitterbox,” stated Wez Saunders, CEO, Defected. “Melvo has played a pivotal role in shaping the label’s musical landscape; his passion and profound understanding of our core values have made him a cornerstone of its success.”
TIKTOK AND DISTROKID STRIKE DEAL: TikTok and DistroKid recently unveiled a new collaboration poised to support the independent artist sector. Independent artists will now have an opportunity to showcase their music, cultivate their fan base, and have their music accessible to millions of video creators and music listeners on TikTok. Under this agreement, music distributed by DistroKid will be integrated into TikTok Music, the platform’s premium-only social music streaming service, for the very first time. This integration extends to TikTok’s Commercial Music Library, which allows brands to utilize artist-driven music in their TikTok advertising without the need for traditional clearances. DistroKid and TikTok have been working hand in hand since 2019, with DistroKid being among the earliest distributors to help independent artists share their music on TikTok. This partnership has already borne fruit, with artists like INJI‘s viral hit “Gaslight” making waves on TikTok’s CML. The track garnered over 14 billion views and three million videos by the end of the year, propelling INJI to over 1.3 million monthly listeners on Spotify.
DUA LIPA ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO HER SONGS: Dua Lipa has taken control of her song rights through a deal with Tap Publishing. The deal allows the singer to acquire the rights to her share of the songs, Tap Music Publishing, the publisher of her catalog, announced the sale recently. However, Dua Lipa’s future global publishing partner still remains unclear at this time. Dua Lipa’s previous Tap Publishing deal had her aligned with Universal Music Publishing Group through the company’s administration deal with Tap. Dua Lipa peaked at No.1 in the U.K. in August with “Dance The Night” from the Barbie soundtrack. She recently announced her upcoming single “Houdini,” set for release on November 9. Tap Publishing currently represents artists, writers and producers including Dermot Kennedy, Jamie Ward, Yaeji and Poppy Baskcomb.
CTM OUTLANDER ACQUIRES CATALOG OF ROSS COPPERMAN: CTM Outlander has entered into an agreement with Grammy-nominated songwriter and producer Ross Copperman. The deal encompasses the acquisition of Copperman’s existing catalog and a publishing deal for his future works. Working in creative collaboration with SmackSongs, CTM will explore fresh avenues and opportunities for Copperman. Based in Nashville, Copperman boasts a track record with multiple U.S. No.1 hits alongside artists like Keith Urban, Tyler Hubbard, Luke Bryan, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, P!nk, and many more. In an additional move, CTM Outlander has taken over Copperman’s writer’s share for songs previously published by Plain Jane, which includes hits like “Love Ain’t” by Eli Young Band, “Happy Anywhere” by Blake Shelton featuring Gwen Stefani, “Get Along” by Kenny Chesney, and “Living” by Dierks Bentley. This deal enhances CTM Outlander’s presence in the vibrant Nashville music scene, following previous signings like Shane McAnally, Natalie Hemby, Michael Tyler, Ben Burgess, and SmackSongs.
AN INTERVIEW WITH RADIO ICON NIC HARCOURT: 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 for an exclusive interview with the iconic Nic Harcourt, the man behind KCRW’s “Morning Becomes Eclectic” and a true music visionary. In this engaging conversation, MUBU-TV delves into the world of music curation as you learn from Nic’s vast experience as a music director and radio DJ. If you’re passionate about curating playlists or aspiring to be a better DJ, this is a must-listen podcast.
AUDIUS LAUNCHES MUSIC MARKETPLACE: Audius has announced that it is launching its music marketplace in beta, offering its 6 million users the ability to directly support their favorite artists with payments. Audius users can utilize their credit cards to pay artists in USDC, which can be converted by artists and rights holders into their preferred currency, including USD, EUR, GBP, and others. Beyond traditional pricing, Audius fans have the option to pay artists above the listed price, providing an additional means of support. This option grants creators more control over the pricing of their music for streaming and downloads while ensuring instant payouts, thereby creating a potent revenue stream for artists and rights holders. In conjunction with direct USD payments, the Audius Network introduces the $AUDIO Match program, a concept that grants both artists and paying fans a 1:1 match of $AUDIO tokens for each purchase. For example, if an artist sells music access for $5 in USDC, both the artist and the fan receive an extra 5 $AUDIO tokens from Audius. This token reward system serves as an incentive for creators looking to sell on Audius and for fans eager to support them, marking a first-of-its-kind rewards program in the music industry. A select group of artists, including Kato on the Track, Matt Ox, RAC, Cheat Codes, The Glitch Mob, Daniel Allan, and more, along with several independent record labels, are among the early beneficiaries of this monetization capability. Audius plans to expand access to this new feature to a broader range of participants in the coming months.
SEAN GROSS ELEVATED AT WARNER CLASSICS: Sean Michael Gross has been promoted to the new role of Vice President, Warner Classics U.K. & North America. Gross has headed up Warner Classics in the U.K. since joining the company in 2021. In his new expanded role, he will split his time between London and the U.S., and continue to report to Alain Lanceron, President, Warner Classics & Erato. Gross has been a driving force for innovation within the music and performing arts space for more than two decades. He’s served on the senior leadership teams of top classical music agencies in London and New York, spearheading digital development and organizational transformations. Originally from California, Gross has run Warner Classics in the U.K. for two years, during which time he has grown the label’s market share, established boundary-pushing emerging acts such as Abel Selaocoe, Fatma Said, and RIOPY, and successfully led a campaign to reform the Official Classical Charts to make them more inclusive.
SUBBASS MUSIC GROUP & ENDLESS MUSIC UNVEIL COLLABORATION: Endless Music, an Amsterdam, Netherlands-based management company led by Martijn Swier, has announced a strategic partnership with the SubBass Music Group for the international management of Dutch singer Davina Michelle. Known for her distinctive voice and chart-topping hits, Davina Michelle has made a noticeable impact on the Dutch music scene, amassing over 750 million streams, awards, and number-one singles in the Netherlands. Her debut album, My Own World, was released in 2020, and a follow-up is expected in 2024. The singer has also expanded her reach internationally with sold-out shows in Belgium, chart entries in Germany, and opening for Maroon 5 in Portugal and Germany. Martijn Swier, who has managed the successful rock band Within Temptation and an international roster of acts, will lead Davina Michelle’s international management efforts through Endless Music.
CONCORD ACQUIRES ROUNDHILL ROYALTY FUND: Last week, Concord announced the acquisition of Round Hill‘s U.K.-listed music fund, Round Hill Music Royalty Fund (RHM). The deal includes over 150,000 songs and 51 catalogs, including works by The Beatles, Alice In Chains, The Offspring, and hits recorded by Elvis Presley, Meatloaf, James Brown, and Billie Holiday and also includes a stake in the Carlin Catalog, which includes hits made famous by artists including Johnny Cash, Aretha Franklin, Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley, Peggy Lee, and George Harrison. Following news of expansion into Australasia, as well as its acquisition of Mojo Music & Media, Concord announced its offer for RHM in September 2023. On October 18, with the RHM Board endorsing the acquisition, the deal was overwhelmingly approved with 99% of votes cast in favor. Commenting on the acquisition, Bob Valentine, CEO, Concord said, “The entire team at Concord is thrilled to be able to represent these iconic catalogs. It is now our obligation to expose these songs and recordings to an even larger audience than their existing extraordinary fan bases. Furthering the cultural impact that these works have is certainly a responsibility we take seriously.”
BLUE RAINCOAT MUSIC ANNOUNCE FOUR KEY APPOINTMENTS: Blue Raincoat Music, a part of the Reservoir, has welcomed four new key appointments to their London, England-based team. Dan Walton has joined as Project Manager (Catalog), previously holding the position of Product Manager at Demon Music Group, and will report to Dermot James, Senior Vice President, Chrysalis Catalog. James Batsford has been appointed Project Manager in the catalog team, reporting directly to Dermot James. Ben Asplin is now the Copyright Manager, Commercial Music Operations, reporting to Tina McBye, Vice President, Commercial Music Operations. Finally, Tian Anderson has been announced as Artist Management Assistant for Blue Raincoat Artists. Originally established as an artist management company, Blue Raincoat Music, has diversified into music publishing and recorded music, acquiring Chrysalis Records in 2016, thus operating as Blue Raincoat Artists, Blue Raincoat Music Publishing, and Chrysalis Records.
THE ORCHARD PROMOTES IAN DUTT AND CHRIS MANNING: The Orchard has announced executive promotions for its U.K. and Europe operations. Ian Dutt, who has been with The Orchard for over seven years, has been appointed as President, U.K., while Chris Manning, who has been with the company for over a decade, will now serve as Managing Director, U.K. & Europe. Both executives will continue to report to Colleen Theis, President & Chief Operating Officer. Dutt and Manning will be leading global distribution efforts and daily operations from their London base, overseeing a team of over 150 employees. Manning will also provide direct leadership to The Orchard offices in France, Benelux, and Scandinavia, as well as drive the regional European strategy. Ian Dutt joined The Orchard in 2016 through its merger with Sony RED U.K. and has played a pivotal role in growing The Orchard’s presence in the U.K. market. Chris Manning, who has been with the company since 2008, has held various roles within the organization and has been instrumental in expanding the company’s global reach and orchestrating key mergers.
MORGAN STANLEY INVESTING OVER $700M: Last week, Kobalt announced that it had entered into a partnership with investment funds managed by Morgan Stanley Tactical Value, unveiling plans to invest more than $700 million (USD) in acquiring music copyrights in the coming years. Kobalt will take on roles encompassing creative oversight, synchronization, licensing, administration, and investment services for the acquired copyrights. Laurent Hubert, CEO, Kobalt stated, “This alliance brings together financial prowess and music industry innovation to benefit songwriters and rights holders.” It also marks a return to managing external capital for Kobalt, building on its previous successes in facilitating high-value music-owning fund sales. As Kobalt continues to evolve, this partnership continues to show how music publishers and rights managers are redefining music copyright management and investment. Currently, Kobalt serves over 700,000 songs and represents an array of songwriters, including artists like Roddy Ricch, Max Martin, FINNEAS, and Paul McCartney.
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Uli Kuppel, Danny Garcia, Sunil D’Sa, Emmanuel Jayr, Ryan Svendsen, Satya Hinduja, Tracy McKnight, Rachel Kurstin, Iain Taylor, Spek Hussain, Jay Cooper, Jason Flom, and Rich Christina.
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