UMPG GERMANY & ELECTRIC FEEL EUROPE UNVEIL
EXCLUSIVE PUBLISHING DEAL WITH JUMPA
Universal Music Publishing Germany (UMP Germany) and Electric Feel Europe recently announced that acclaimed producer and songwriter Jumpa has been signed to an exclusive, worldwide publishing agreement. This new agreement builds upon his previous administration deal and adds UMPG as co-publisher.
The multi-Platinum award winner is celebrated as one of today’s most in-demand hitmakers, penning hits for many of the biggest names in hip-hop and pop music such as Apache 207, Udo Lindenberg, badmómzjay, Bausa, Sido, Loredana, Montez, Kool Savas, among others. In February of this year, Jumpa was awarded the GEMA Music Authors Prize (GEMA Musikautor*innenpreis) in the category “Most Successful Song” for “Komet” by Udo Lindenberg & Apache 207, which was the longest-running No.1 hit of all time in Germany.
Throughout his career, Jumpa has written and produced countless Top 10 hits, including “Fühlst Du das auch” by Apache 207, Loredana and Mozzik‘s “Rosenkrieg” and “Auf die Party” with badmómzjay and Domiziana. More recently, Jumpa worked on badmómzjay’s newly released album “Don’t Trust Bitches,” where he co-produced 14 tracks, as well as Apache 207’s single “Loser” which made its debut at No.2 on the German Single Charts.
Thomas Vidovic, Managing Director Universal Music Publishing Germany / Sr. VP Austria & Switzerland, stated: “We are absolutely thrilled that Jumpa is part of the UMPG and Electric Feel family. He is one of the greatest producers of our time. Coming from the German rap scene, he has been shaping the sound of a whole generation. With countless hit songs in the books, his talent and skills are still awe-inspiring. We are so much looking forward to working with him and seeing his star rise outside of Germany.”
The extension with Jumpa strengthens the collaborative agreement between UMP Germany and Electric Feel Europe, whose other signings include hit producers Suena and Berky, as well as German artists such as Cloudy June or Luzi.
Electric Feel is the company founded by U.S.-based manager and entrepreneur Austin Rosen who manages Post Malone, The Kid Laroi, and others.
CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING APPOINTS ADAM SALOMON
AS SENIOR DIRECTOR OF A&R
Concord Music Publishing has appointed Adam Salomon as the Senior Director of A&R. Salomon joins Concord from the London-based Chosen Music, where he led the A&R department. In his new role, he will report to Kim Frankiewicz, Executive Vice President A&R, Concord Music Publishing.
During his tenure at Chosen Music, Salomon was heavily involved with the signing and managing of international artists and songwriters, including BRITs nominee A7S, who is known for dance tracks “Breaking Me” and “Your Love” with Topic, amassing over ten billion streams.
He has also managed the careers of Ivor Novello-nominated Swedish duo Neiked, who signed with Concord Music Publishing last year.
Salomon’s responsibilities at Chosen Music extended to both emerging talents and established songwriters, such as Saltwives (associated with Zayn, Sia, Kygo, and BlackPink) and rising star Caity Baser.
Kim Frankiewicz stated, “Having gotten to know Adam over the last few years, he has rapidly become an incredible A&R, a tour de force who thinks outside the box and has an infectious passion for what he does. I am delighted he’s joining our fantastic team of A&Rs, helping shape the next chapter for our artists.”
Before Chosen Music, Salomon held various A&R and management positions at both independent and major labels in Sweden, including Universal Music Sweden. At Universal, he headed the Svenska Inspelningar label, one of Scandinavia’s most successful frontline imprints and the home label of the late Avicii. He also served as Senior A&R Manager at EMI Music Sweden and spent considerable time in the U.S., working with Capitol Records in Los Angeles.
CAA TRIO NAMED CO-HEADS OF WORLDWIDE TOURING
Creative Artists Agency (CAA) has announced that senior agents Emma Banks, Darryl Eaton, and Rick Roskin will serve as co-heads of global touring. All three will oversee the continued international growth of the touring department, building on the foundation laid by Rob Light, who was recently named CAA Managing Director after 25 years as head of global touring.
CAA’s Global Touring department, with offices in Los Angeles, Nashville, London, New York, Austin, Miami, and Toronto, represents a roster including The Weeknd, Harry Styles, Katy Perry, Dua Lipa, John Mayer, Rüfüs Du Sol, Kelly Clarkson, Blink-182, Peso Pluma, Lady Gaga, Bruce Springsteen, Trevor Noah, Red Hot Chili Peppers, David Guetta, and many others. Over the past year, CAA has booked more than 38,000 shows.
Rob Light stated, “CAA remains the dominant music and comedy touring agency thanks to a profoundly deep culture of collaboration, innovation, and unyielding devotion to clients. For years, Darryl, Rick, and Emma have been extraordinary partners to me in leading our touring group in North America and London, respectively. I am immensely proud of all that we have achieved to date and look forward to what they will create in the years ahead.”
Bryan Lourd, Chair & CEO, CAA, added, “Rick, Darryl, and Emma have long been among the most talented and widely admired leaders in the industry, not to mention three of the best agents in the world. The leadership role they each already play at CAA has earned them deep respect and trust among our colleagues across all departments.”
Emma Banks has co-led CAA’s 60-person London music office since joining the agency in 2006. Alongside her new leadership role, she serves on CAA’s internal agency board and chairs the U.K. music therapy charity Nordoff and Robbins.
Darryl Eaton and Rick Roskin have co-headed CAA’s North American contemporary music division since 2015, managing the daily operations of the North American touring department and supporting over 100 agents and 280 employees.
Eaton, who started in CAA’s mailroom in 1991, has been instrumental in launching and expanding the agency’s electronic, Latin, and hip-hop/R&B divisions.
Roskin, who began his career at CAA and has worked in the touring department for 35 years, was an original member of CAA’s internal agency board, formed in 2020, and was part of the leadership team that integrated talent agency ICM.
SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT FORMS JV WITH D36
TO BREAK SOUTH ASIAN ARTISTS GLOBALLY
Sony Music Entertainment (SME) has announced a new global joint venture with Los Angeles-based record label D36, which was founded by Abhi Kanakadandila in 2021. The new partnership aims to amplify the presence of South Asian musicians in the U.S. and international markets, offering a unique platform for South Asian and diaspora artists to cultivate a worldwide fanbase.
D36, under the leadership of Kanakadandila and General Manager Abdullah Ahmad, has swiftly become a hub for South Asian talent. Ahmad, whose background includes guiding the careers of Young Thug, Kevin Gates, and Jelani Aryeh, brings a wealth of industry expertise to this collaboration. A notable success from D36 is the remix of Pakistani indie act AUR‘s “Tu Hai Kahan” featuring ZAYN, which has amassed over 400 million plays across all platforms.
The joint venture is seen as an important cultural bridge. Shridhar Subramaniam, President of Sony Music Entertainment Asia & Middle East, said, “Our collaboration with D36 goes beyond showcasing South Asian artists globally. We are forging a new path in cultural exchange, fostering a deeper connection between artists and their heritage. The South Asian music scene is experiencing a surge in global recognition, fueled by a rising demand for diverse musical experiences. D36 boasts a proven track record of identifying and nurturing exceptional South Asian talent and by partnering with them, we can serve as a crucial bridge, connecting these talented artists with the global opportunities they deserve, further enriching the tapestry of international music.”
Abhi Kanakadandila, CEO, D36, commented, “Our community – globally – is home to some of the most unique, exciting, and innovative music in the world. This new partnership with Sony Music Entertainment allows us to meaningfully support artistry agnostic of geography and provide an infrastructure that can operate seamlessly across borders. The talent & fandom that exists across the several new waves of South Asian music is enormous. Our goal here is to lay the foundation for the same success that we have seen with music from other territories on the global landscape.”
Vinit Thakkar, Managing Director, Sony Music Entertainment India, added “The South Asian music market is fast establishing itself as a powerhouse within the global music industry. With our deep understanding of the local music landscape and our market strength, this partnership positions us to not only empower local artists but also bridge the gap between their exceptional talent and a worldwide audience.”
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 number of years ago A&R Worldwide teamed up with the Finnish music industry to bring together a coalition of some of the most talented and influential global music industry creatives and executives to Helsinki, Finland for a multi-day think tank. Both Mike Caren and Ron Spaulding were a handful over several dozen executives recommended by A&R Worldwide to be a part of the thought-provoking event known as Is This It.
The mission of the event was to unite A&R, publishing, live, management, marketing, sync, media, digital, distribution, and radio executives to map out the future of the global music business, and future-cast solutions for the overall arching music business.
There were a few hundred executives who attended and were then broken into dozens of groups of ten to produce the most robust solutions creatively and commercially to help foster positive outcomes to enhance the future of the international music business community. A&R Worldwide’s team ranked No.1 with the most illustrious solutions as determined by the Finnish organizers.
DELIGHTS
Manchester, England’s very own Delights return with their new single “Two Times Over” via Modern Sky. Following an extensive U.K. tour, the band is set for a busy festival season with slots at Truck Festival and Y Not Festival. Their sound blends funk, soul, disco, classic rock, indie pop, and psychedelia. “Two Times Over” marks a new era for Delights as they complete their first full-length album with producer Michael Smith (Wolf Alice). The track, reminiscent of early 2000s acts like Cut Copy and The Rapture, reflects on youth’s exuberance and the lust for life. Vocalist Adam Maxwell describes the single as a reflection of the band’s current state, capturing the dichotomy of living for the weekend while friends move on. The band, comprising Adam Maxwell (vocals), Ben Kirkland (bass), Ben Squires (guitar), Leo Willis (drums), and Cameron Stephenson (percussion), has seen steady growth. Their 2021 EP In My Life and 2022 mini-album Cool Sports received positive reviews, leading to successful tours, sold-out shows, radio support, and over five million streams. Discover “Two Times Over” HERE and for inquiries and further information regarding Delights contact Esme O’Keeffe at esme@modernsky.uk.
HINDS
Acclaimed Spanish indie rockers Hinds have announced the triumphant upcoming fourth album, VIVA HINDS, and have unveiled its lead single “Boom Boom Back” featuring Beck. Following their debut ten years ago and a forced name change from Deers to Hinds, the band now celebrates their resilience and connection. VIVA HINDS was written by co-founders Carlotta Cosials and Ana Perrote after overcoming multiple challenges, including lineup changes and management splits, post their 2020 album The Prettiest Curse. The album, which includes their first Spanish language songs and collaborations with Beck and Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten, was recorded in rural France and produced by Pete Robertson, and set to be released on September 6th via Lucky Number. The lead single, “Boom Boom Back,” is accompanied by a music video directed by Perrote and Cosials. Hinds kicked off 2024 with U.K. shows, SXSW, and sold-out performances, and will continue their tour in various cities across the U.S. and Europe. The album reaffirms Hinds’ enduring spirit and celebrates their shared history. Experience the music video fully shot in Kodak 16mm in Los Angeles HERE, and for additional information and all inquiries, contact Liv Carson at liv@they-do.com.
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Sunday, June 9th, 2024: 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:
NEON DREAMS & MATTHEW MOLE – “The Art of Letting Go” (UMG, S. Africa)
RED RUM CLUB – “Afternoon” (Modern Sky Records, U.K.)
SEA GIRLS – “Midnight Butterflies” (Alt Records/Believe, U.K.)
KINGFISHR – “Shadow” (Doonane Records, Ireland)
ROYAL REPUBLIC – “Ain’t Got Time” (Universal Music, Sweden)
GOOD NEIGHBOURS – “Keep It Up” (Some Action/Virgin, U.K.)
SOHODOLLS – “What Kinda Love” (Filthy Pretty/A&G, U.K.)
GIANT ROOKS – “Under Your Wings” (Universal Music, Germany)
MIDDLE KIDS – “The Blessings” (EMI, Australia)
BRICE KENDALL – “Finest Garments” (Unsigned, N. America)
AARON FRAZER – “Payback” (Colemine Records, N. America)
LAVA LA RUE – “Push N Shuv” (Marathon Artists, U.K.)
CARAVAN PALACE – “Fool” (Wagram, France)
GLASS CITIES – “Kennedy” (Unsigned, N. America)
JAMIE HANNAH – “What If” (Unsigned, U.K.)
RHETT REPKO – “My Love Will Stay” (Unsigned, N. America)
HOLYOAK – “The Home I Wanted” (Unsigned, Australia)
ALFIE TEMPLEMAN – “Eyes Wide Shut” (Chess Club/AWAL, U.K.)
THE SILVER SPOONS – “It’s Alright” (Unsigned, Czech Republic)
ANAÏS – “Stephen King” (Believe, Germany)
HOCKEY DAD – “Base Camp” (Farmer & The Owl/BMG, Australia)
ACROBVT – “Neon” (Unsigned, U.K.)
THE DREAM MACHINE – “Frankenstein” (Unsigned, U.K.)
HINDS – “Coffee” (Lucky Number, Spain)
KEYSIDE – “Nikita” (Modern Sky, U.K.)
ONLY THE POETS – “I Don’t Wanna Be Your Friend” (EMI, U.K.)
GIRL IN RED – “You Need Me Now? (Feat. Sabrina Carpenter)” (Columbia, Norway)
LIME CORDIALE – “The Big Reveal Ou L’Hypocrite” (Chugg Music, Australia)
CORELLA – “Lady Messiah” (Corella Music, U.K.)
JERUB – “Gonna Be Okay” (Elevate Music, U.K.)
MONOTRONIC – “Sun Song” (Unsigned, N. America)
MICHAEL ALDAG – “Sabotage” (3 Beat/ Universal, U.K.)
MASI MASI – “Cigarette Smile” (Unsigned, U.K.)
GRIPPA – “Hell” (Unsigned, N. America)
MATT D’ARDUINI NAMED EXECUTIVE VP A&R AT ARISTA: Arista Records has appointed Matt D’Arduini to the position of Executive Vice President of A&R where he will continue to report directly to David Massey, President & CEO at the company. Since joining Arista during its 2018 relaunch, D’Arduini has played a crucial role in developing artists like Måneskin, JP Saxe, Paul Russell, and others. Before his tenure at Arista, D’Arduini spent a decade at Robins Entertainment, working with artists such as Afrojack and DHT. He then moved to Island Records (working alongside David Massey), where he contributed to projects for Nick Jonas, Demi Lovato, and Shawn Mendes, among others. David Massey thanked D’Arduini for his continued pivotal A&R role at the company and said his “leadership is integral to our continued success.” D’Arduini stated, “I’m thrilled to continue working together with David to further foster an environment where artists can push creative boundaries with the support of the most forward-thinking team.”
PEERMUSIC INKS DEAL WITH JESSICA VAUGHN: Peermusic has entered into an exclusive global publishing agreement with Jessica Vaughn. Under this agreement, peermusic will manage select catalog and future works by Vaughn. Also, the deal includes a sync representation agreement for Vaughn’s masters and the writers represented by her company, Head Bitch Music. Vaughn has achieved sync placements on TV shows, such as the success of her song “The End” (performed under her artist moniker JPolnd) in the first season of Bridgerton, as well as in commercials for brands like Motorola, Microsoft, Virgin Voyages, and Paypal. Founded in 2019 by Jessica Vaughn and her partner Ryan Vaughn, Head Bitch Music (HBM) provides a comprehensive range of services for independent artists, with a focus on women and LGBTQIA+ creatives. HBM’s catalog features over 3,000 titles under their HBM Records label imprint. The company has secured sync placements in TV shows like Lucifer, Love Island, and The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, and on networks such as Freeform, CBS, Amazon Prime, CMT, Netflix, NBC, HBO Max, Lifetime, ABC, Hulu, and others. Kathy Spanberger, President & COO, peermusic tells A&R Worldwide, “Not only has Jessie had significant commercial success as an artist, but her diverse list of credits and accolades in the film, TV, and advertising realm truly make her an obvious choice to bring to the Peermusic roster. We are honored to be entrusted as the administrator of her amazing catalog and to also partner with Jessie and her company through a sync representation deal. Our global peermusic team looks forward to creating even more new opportunities for her in the sync world.”
GUN SIGN TO 23RD PRECINCT/NOTTING HILL MUSIC: 23rd Precinct Music has announced a publishing deal with Scottish rock band Gun for their latest album, Hombres, which was released on April 12th via Cooking Vinyl. The album has already secured a spot in the Music Week Top 10 album charts and features several tracks in Samuel L. Jackson‘s new film, Damaged. Since their formation in 1987, Gun has released nine albums over four decades, three of which reached the U.K. Top 20. The band has also had eight U.K. Top 40 singles, including a cover of Cameo‘s “Word Up,” which broke into the U.K. Top 10 and gained global recognition, earning them an MTV Europe Music Award. “Hombres” marks the band’s first album in seven years and was written during the COVID lockdown, being described as the album essential for both the band’s survival and their personal rejuvenation. 23rd Precinct Music is supported by long-running partner Notting Hill Music, which is one of the U.K.’s leading independent publishers based in London.
CHRIS TAYLOR RESIGNS AS CEO OF MNRK MUSIC GROUP: SEAN STEVENSON TO LEAD COMPANY: MNRK Music Group has announced the resignation of its President and CEO, Chris Taylor, effective June 28, 2024. In a statement released on Monday, June 3, MNRK revealed that Taylor will be taking the company’s artist management division with him. Upon Taylor’s departure, Sean Stevenson, the current Chief Operating Officer, will step into the leadership role at MNRK. Based in New York City, Stevenson will begin his new role on July 1, 2024. Stevenson, who was appointed Chief Operating Officer in July 2022, joined MNRK in 2018 as Executive Vice President and General Manager. Prior to his tenure at MNRK, Stevenson was at FleishmanHillard, where he led their Digital & Social Media practice as Sr. Vice President, then Partner, since 2015. With a 23-year career in marketing and PR, Stevenson has led strategy, concept development, and digital and social media campaigns for brands like EMI, Universal, MTV, Warner Bros., Coca-Cola, Nike, and Samsung. MNRK Music Group, formerly known as eOne Music, rebranded in September 2021 following Hasbro‘s sale of its eOne music division to Blackstone-controlled entities for $385 million (USD) earlier that year. In February, MNRK Music Group sold Death Row Records to Snoop Dogg. Taylor joined the company in 2016 to lead the music division of eOne. As part of the eOne executive team, he played a leading role in shaping the company’s overall strategy and its $4 billion (USD) sale to Hasbro in 2020. MNRK Music Group’s catalog spans 54,000 music tracks, featuring multiple Grammy winners and Platinum-selling hits. Sean Stevenson stated, “We wish Chris the best in his future endeavors. He has been a great leader and partner over the years, and I look forward to continuing the growth of MNRK with the whole team.”
TIMES MUSIC INDIA ACQUIRES MUSIC RIGHTS FOR AKSHAY KUMAR’S SARFIRA: Junglee Music, a division of Times Music, one of India’s largest independent music companies has acquired the music rights for the Hindi film Sarfira. This film continues Junglee Music’s history of collaborations with famous Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar, following hits like Welcome and Singh is King. The film is set to premiere in theaters worldwide on July 12th, and the film’s soundtrack has contributions from singers such as Shreya Ghoshal, Mika Singh, and Neeti Mohan, with music composed by G. V. Prakash Kumar, Tanishk Bagchi, and Suhit Abhyankar. The film is directed by National Award-winning director Sudha Kongara, known for her works such as Soorarai Pottru, Irudhi Suttru, and Guru. Mandar Thakur, CEO, Times Music/Junglee Music, told A&R Worldwide, “We are thrilled to collaborate with Akshay Kumar and Abundantia Entertainment once again, and are confident that the music of Sarfira will captivate listeners, adding to the movie’s charm.”
BMG NAMES BRYAN COLUMBUS VP RECORDED MUSIC CANADA: BMG has appointed Canadian music industry veteran Bryan Columbus as its new Vice President, Recorded Music, Canada where he will be responsible for leading the marketing strategy and promotion of BMG’s recorded roster in Canada. Based in Toronto, Columbus reports directly to Jon Loba, President, Frontline Recordings, North America. Prior to joining BMG, Columbus served as Label Director, Canada, for Concord Label Group where he oversaw all Canadian label operations for Concord’s recorded music division, and its artist rosters across the label group – Loma Vista Recordings, Fearless Records, Fantasy Records, Easy Eye Sound, Rounder Records, Concord Records, KIDZ BOP, and Craft Recordings. In his role, Columbus managed all aspects of Canadian marketing campaigns for both frontline and catalog artists, including the development of streaming strategies across Canadian DSPs, digital, creative, and experiential marketing, and directing third-party publicity, radio, and marketing teams. His direction in Canada led to several big successes with multiple Platinum and multi-Platinum singles and albums (Tommy Richman, Ghost, Nathanial Ratliff & The Night Sweats, Denzel Curry), Concord’s first JUNO Awards, and Columbus being named one of Billboard‘s 2023 International Power Players. Previously, Columbus led the marketing campaigns for BMG and Broken Bow Records Music Group (BBRMG) through their partnership with Black Box Music. His efforts in that role helped BBRMG reach unprecedented success in the Canadian market. His previous experience also includes roles in marketing and artist management at Dine Alone Records and five years managing label relations at Fontana North Distribution.
GERMAN ELECTRONIC LABEL INKS GLOBAL DEAL WITH AMV PUBLISHING: Finca am Meer (Finca by The Sea), the publishing arm of the German electronic label SINE MUSIC, has signed a long-term and worldwide co-publishing agreement with veteran Germany music publisher Jens-Markus Wegener and his company AMV Publishing. In co-operation with AMV, and co-partner SMV Schacht Musikverlage, Finca am Meer and AMV will take care of the global exploitation of SINE Music’s high-quality produced tracks and promote the international networking of its authors and producers. Finca’s productions are all mastered in Dolby Atmos. SINE MUSIC was founded in 2008 by musician and music producer Thomas Hauser and has since developed into the leading German label for ambient chillout, electronica, and deep house, achieving top positions in chillout radio charts all over the world. In addition to Hauser, whose music project is called SINE, the artist roster includes Dutch lo-fi and downtempo producer Blooy, Italian Ibiza icon Gold Lounge, leading ambient producer Thomas Lemmer, downbeat specialist Christoph Sebastian Pabst, and deep house and ambient producer Tauon as well as deep house producer Glint. The renowned electronica label’s tracks have been placed in all leading ambient, chillout, and downbeat playlists on Spotify, Amazon, and Deezer. Wegener tells A&R Worldwide that his company has already managed to place 100 tracks exclusively with leading global airlines to be used in their inflight entertainment programs.
MICHAEL RYAN-SOUTHERN TO JOIN WMG AS EXECUTIVE VP, CORPORATE DEVELOPMENT: Michael Ryan-Southern (MRS) is being appointed by Warner Music Group (WMG) to the newly created post of Executive Vice President, Corporate Development, effective August 5th. MRS, who comes to WMG with two decades of investment, finance, and music industry experience, most recently served as Global Head of Music & Live Entertainment Investment Banking at Goldman Sachs. MRS will lead all stages of M&A activity, working in partnership with WMG’s leaders and departments to identify and acquire companies and catalogs that can enhance WMG’s growth and earnings. He will report to Robert Kyncl, CEO, WMG, and be based at the company’s New York headquarters. “The market is filled with opportunities, in both recorded music and music publishing, and across different geographies,” said Kyncl. “We’re bullish on the long-term value of music and having someone with Michael’s domain expertise and wide-ranging network run point on M&A will supercharge our efforts.” While at Goldman Sachs, MRS was the Head of Music & Live Entertainment Investment Banking team, leading a number of landmark deals across the music & live entertainment industry. Prior to joining Goldman in 2021, MRS spent eight years in senior leadership positions among a number of Mubadala Capital and Mubadala Investment Company portfolio companies including Deputy CFO at EMI Music Publishing and President of the Hakkasan Group. MRS started his career at KPMG in London and later in New York where he spent several years advising businesses on M&A and International Tax & Treasury planning. MRS was named to the 2024 Billboard Power 100 list in Finance. He holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School which he obtained through their executive program, a master’s degree in tax law, and a bachelor’s degree in accounting and finance.
CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING SIGNS MADDIE KERR: Concord Music Publishing has announced an international co-publishing deal with Maddie Kerr, the songwriter and lead vocalist of the Nashville rock band, mercury. The agreement covers Kerr’s entire catalog and all future works. Kerr, who grew up near Franklin, Tennessee, gained recognition with the release of singles “Trying” and “Woolgathering,” earning acclaim from outlets like Nylon, Paste Magazine, Under the Radar, Billboard, and others. Her latest project, a three-track release titled “Together We Are One, You And I,” will debut on June 7th under Big Loud Rock. It includes the tracks “Born in Early May,” “Special,” and “Crick,” and will be accompanied by a short film directed by Harrison Shook. The songs were recorded in Asheville, North Carolina with producer Alex Farrar, known for his work with Wednesday, Snail Mail, and Indigo de Souza. Kerr and mercury are set to perform their first headline show in Nashville at The Blue Room on June 28th. Also, Kerr will join Dreamer Boy on a tour across the country from June 7th to June 18th. Melissa Spillman, Vice President, A&R, Concord Music stated, “Maddie is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of creator that exemplifies why so many of us get into the music business – to be part of something special and irreplicable,” says exudes an artistry that is rare and compelling, and I am so proud to add her to our Concord roster.”
LEE ANDERSON NAMED PRESIDENT OF WASSERMAN MUSIC: Wasserman Music has announced that Lee Anderson has been promoted to President of the company’s music division, effective immediately. As a founding member of Wasserman Music’s executive leadership team, Anderson was instrumental in the agency’s establishment in 2021. He has been a key architect of a business strategy and growth plan, resulting in a tripling of the division’s staff and an expansion of its international presence and artist service offerings. Anderson’s prior senior leadership roles include positions at AM Only, which was acquired by Paradigm in 2017. Following the acquisition, he continued in leadership roles at Paradigm until 2021, when Wasserman acquired Paradigm’s North American live music representation business to form Wasserman Music. In addition to his new role as President, Anderson continues to represent a roster of top music artists, including Cautious Clay, Charlotte de Witte, David Guetta, Disclosure, ISOxo, Kenny Beats, Knock2, Oliver Tree, Skrillex, Swedish House Mafia, Zedd, and others. Casey Wasserman, Chairman & CEO of Wasserman, stated, “As our music business has continued to grow and expand, Lee has taken on an increasing number of leadership responsibilities and has been instrumental in shaping the foundation of Wasserman Music and charting a path for even broader global success.”
AYLO, VIERVIER MUSIC, AND BMG JOIN FORCES: BMG has announced a partnership with VIERVIER MUSIC to release new tracks by Berlin rapper Aylo. In April, Aylo made a comeback after two years with the release of “Intro” and “Keine Angst.” Her latest single, “Bis zur Spree,” featuring Juju, dropped on May 31st. Aylo has evolved from a newcomer to being known in the German rap scene, amassing millions of streams for hits like “Teardrops” and “Over,” and building a large following on TikTok and Instagram. Her debut album, 04:00 AM, reached the Top 10 on the Official German Albums Chart, earning widespread attention. After releasing her second album, Aylo Technology, she took a break to refine her musical direction, while her third album is set to be released in the fall of 2024. VIERVIER MUSIC, spearheaded by Juju with the backing of the artist agency Ragucci & Boldt, has signed Aylo as their first artist. Lucas Wolf, A&R Manager Recorded Music GSA at BMG tells A&R Worldwide, “The collaboration between Aylo, VIERVIER MUSIC and BMG is a super exciting partnership. We are thrilled to support Aylo’s musical journey and to release her new songs together with VIERVIER MUSIC.”
JOANNA KALI NAMED MD & DIRECTOR COMMERCIAL GROUP AT SONY U.K.: Joanna Kalli, currently Director of Marketing for Sony Music’s U.K. catalog division, has been promoted to Managing Director of Sony Music Commercial Group, incorporating the catalog division, Music For Nations and Masterworks. Joanna joined Sony Music as a Product Manager in 2008, having started her career in independent labels. In her sixteen years with the company, she has significantly contributed towards the label’s success and spearheaded global campaigns for many legendary artists, including George Michael, The Clash, and Judas Priest. Most recently, Joanna has overseen Commercial Group’s success with Natasha Bedingfield‘s chart renaissance, which saw Unwritten enter the U.K. Top 15 for the first time in 19 years. Joanna also led the 2023 WHAM! campaign, landing the coveted U.K. Christmas No.1 for Last Christmas, 39 years after its release. The iconic track has now amassed more than 1.6 billion streams worldwide. Joanna is a Co-Founder and Co-Chair of Sony Music’s women’s network, SWIM (Sony Women in Music), where she has spent the past two years building networks and hosting events partnering with Sony’s sister companies.
CMRRA DISTRIBUTES OVER $78 MILLION IN ROYALTIES: The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency (CMRRA) has announced its 2023 year-end fiscal results. They reported a distribution of over $78 million (CDN), marking an 8.9% increase from 2022. This growth was driven by a more than 29% rise in audiovisual post-synchronization revenues, fueled by higher organic consumption and the addition of new services. International collections also saw a robust 20% increase. Physical distribution channels experienced an 8% boost, due to the continued popularity of vinyl, while online streaming services grew by 3% compared to the previous year. CMRRA also entered a strategic partnership with COSCAP (Copyright Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers) to manage the mechanical reproduction rights of its members in the Canadian market and the U.S. through their affiliate SX Works. They renewed a multi-year agreement with SiriusXM and several other digital service providers. The agency focused on enhancing its new publisher platform in collaboration with SoundExchange, successfully porting full end-to-end administration (invoicing, DSP payment collections, matching, royalty distributions, and royalty statements) for online streaming platforms and TikTok, without any disruptions to the quarterly schedule. In addition, CMRRA affiliated 247 new clients and expanded industry partnerships, welcoming twenty-five new and returning partners, including JUNOS, CCMA‘s, Indigenous Music Summit, Folk Music Ontario, and Battle of the Beatmakers.
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 info@anrworldwide.com. Also, all demos and new music releases should be sent as STREAMING LINKS ONLY to info@anrworldwide.com.
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Taylor Jones, Ollie Hodge, Jo Charrington, James Petronio, Imran Majid, James Sandom, Carter Armstrong, Eric Greenspan, Michelle Jubelirer, Gina Tucci, Paul McDonald, Daniel Werner, Saurabh Abbi, Kyle Hopkins, and Jacquline Saturn.
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