A&R Worldwide Newsletter Vol. 848

LEADING MUSIC CONFAB MUSEXPO ANNOUNCES ITS
25TH GLOBAL EDITION TO BE HELD IN BURBANK, CA
“THE MEDIA & SYNC CAPITAL OF THE WORLD”

MUSEXPO “The United Nations of Music” (www.musexpo.net), the pioneering global music business conference renowned for its transformative impact on the industry, has unveiled its landmark 25th edition will take place March 16 – 19, 2025, in Burbank, California. Marking a quarter-century of influence, MUSEXPO 2025 will celebrate its storied history, spanning three continents, and highlighting the future evolution of the music business landscape.

The event has taken place as MUSEXPO Asia Pacific & One Movement for Music Festival in Perth, Australia (2009 & 2010), as well as MUSEXPO Europe in London, England (2008 – 2010, and 2016), and all other editions held in Southern California. MUSEXPO was also the first-ever global music conference and showcase event held on three continents worldwide in the same consecutive years.

“MUSEXPO 2025 is poised to be our best event ever and promises to surpass all expectations” according to Sat Bisla, President & Founder, MUSEXPO, who will embrace a personal milestone of 40 years of contributions to the U.S. and international music industry in 2025.

MUSEXPO will also return with its esteemed “International Music Industry Awards” (which originally launched back in 2012) in association with A&R Worldwide and will recognize the contributions of some of the most influential executives and creatives across key sectors of the global music business in association with Visit Burbank and City of Burbank “The Media Capital of The World” during the private VIP Gala Dinner presentations.

In addition, the annual Seymour Stein “Global A&R Award,” “International Music Person of the Year” and“Lifetime Achievement Award” honorees will be announced in the coming weeks. MUSEXPO will also feature its popular Global Sync Summit, and A&R Summit, as a part of its overall 2025 event program.

MUSEXPO will take place at the inspiring Castaway venue in Burbank, for an ultimate networking, creative and business experience. Castaway is one of Southern California’s most provocative and exciting special events properties and upscale restaurants, featuring breathtaking views and a renewed positive energy and vibe, ready to deliver a world-class experience to 2025’s attendees.

Burbank, “The Media & Sync Capital of The World” is home to some of the world’s most recognized music and media companies including film/TV studios, record labels, publishing companies, radio stations, music supervisors, sync companies, and more including The Walt Disney Company, Marvel Comics Studios, Disney Music Group, Freemantle Media, ABC Television, Hollywood Records, ESPN, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros. Studios, DC Comics, Freeform TV, peermusic, iHeartRadio, Nickelodeon Animation Studios, The Burbank Studios, Blizzard Entertainment, Cartoon Network, Insomniac Games, Legendary Films, The CW Television Network, NBCUniversal, Universal Pictures, Universal Studios, KPWR “Power 106” Los Angeles, Position Music and A&R Worldwide‘s headquarters to name just a few.

MUSEXPO 2025 will look to deliver an unparalleled overview of the global music business from A&R, publishing, digital, AI, streaming, brands, sync, live, management, distribution, multi-media, technology, marketing, radio, and much more, in an intimate networking experience that its flagship event is world renowned for, while also delving more deeply into the most important aspect of our global music business – the songs and the artists.

“Our team and I are honored to bring our 25th global edition of MUSEXPO to the worldwide music industry next year. Watching the immeasurable impact that MUSEXPO has had on so many artists, executives, and companies during the past twenty-four editions is extremely humbling. We are grateful for the participation and support of everyone who has been a part of this amazing conference, showcase event, and special music community, and we intend to make MUSEXPO 2025 our best one ever!” states Sat Bisla, President & Founder, A&R Worldwide / MUSEXPO.

Over the past 24 global editions and multi-continental events, some of the world’s most influential music, media and technology executives have participated at MUSEXPO, including: Alexandra Patsavas, Music Creative + Production / Original Series Netflix; Allison Kaye – President, SB Projects; Andrew Kronfeld – Executive Vice President, Universal Music Group; Avery Lipman, Co-Founder & Chief Executive, Republic Records; Bob Shennan – Director, BBC Radio; Chad Hurley – Co-Founder, YouTube; Chris Barton – Co-Founder, Shazam; Craig Kallman – Chairman & CEO, Atlantic Records Group; Daniel Glass, President & Founder, Glassnote Entertainment Group; Danny Rukasin -Partner & Co-Owner, Best Friends Music (Manager, Billie Eilish, Finneas); David Massey – President & CEO, Arista Records; Diane Warren – Grammy & Emmy Award-Winning & Oscar nominated global hit songwriter; Folkert Koopmans – Founder & CEO, FKP Scorpio; George Ergatoudis, Head of Music, U.K. & Ireland, Apple; Harvey Goldsmith – Founder, Harvey Goldsmith Presents; Jacqueline Saturn – President, Virgin Music Group North America & EVP, Global Artist Relations Jake Wisely– Chief Publishing Executive, Concord Music; Jason Flom – CEO, Lava Records & Lava Music Publishing; Jeff Smith – Head of Music, BBC Radio 2 & 6 Music (U.K.); Jimmy Kimmel (Jimmy Kimmel Live!); Jo-Charrington – President, Capitol Records (U.K.); Jody Gerson – Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Publishing Group; Kevin Weatherly, Sr. Vice President Programming, “World Famous KROQ” Los Angeles; Korda Marshall – Founder & President, Infectious Records (Mushroom Music Group); Larry King – the late Legendary Radio and Television Broadcaster/Interviewer; Mamie Coleman, Executive VP & Head of FOX Entertainment Music; Mandar Thakur – CEO, Times Music (India); Martin Dodd – manager of the world’s No.1 songwriter Max Martin; Marty Diamond – Head of Music, Wasserman Music (Coldplay, Eminem, The Black Eyed Peas); Michael Chugg – President & Founder, Chugg Entertainment (Australasia); Michael Rapino – Chairman & CEO, Live Nation Entertainment; Mike Knobloch – President, Film Music & Publishing, Universal Pictures; Monte Lipman, Co-Founder & Chief Executive, Republic Records; Neil Warnock – Global Head of Music, United Talent Agency; Nigel Lythgoe – Executive Producer, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance; Peter Edge – Chairman & CEO, RCA Records Group; Richard Russell – Founder, XL Recordings (U.K.); Sarah Stennett – CEO, FAE; Savan Kotecha– Songwriter/Producer (The Weeknd, One Direction, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry); Scooter Braun – CEO, HYBE-America; the late Seymour Stein – Co-Founder, Sire Records; Sir Lucian Grainge – Chairman & CEO, Universal Music Group; Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive & President Music, EA Games; Tom Anderson – Co-Founder, MySpace; Troy Carter – Founder & CEO, Q&A Media Holdings; will.i.am; and Zane Lowe – Apple’s Music 1; and countless others.

MUSEXPO will also continue to welcome the crème de la crème of global showcasing talent to its stage that has previously welcomed then unsigned, or unknown artists such as Katy Perry, LMFAO, Jessie J, Caity Baiser, Teddybears, Frank Turner, Robyn, Lime Cordiale, The Temper Trap, Forest Blakk, Sheppard, Audur, Jack Savoretti, Thomas Azier, Missy Higgins, Laleh, Erik Hassle, Gavin James, Birds of Tokyo, Avalanche City, Gin Wigmore, Prateek Kuhad, Ida Maria, Dead Letter Circus, Vella, and many others prior to their global success.

MUSEXPO originated from networking dinners initiated by A&R Worldwide Founder Sat Bisla, alongside Dave Holmes, who managed Coldplay’s global career for over 22 years. These gatherings began in 1999 with the aim of uniting the global music, media, and technology sectors in a significant way. Bisla was also responsible for founding and overseeing the global A&R Network within Clear Channel Entertainment (now Live Nation), and co-founding The New Music Network (predecessor to iHeartMedia), which also participated with some of these esteemed dinner events.

Registration is now open for MUSEXPO at www.musexpo.net. A special discounted rate of $495.00 in celebration of MUSEXPO’s 25th global edition is available to A&R Worldwide newsletter readers now through August 31st. Email dusty@anrworldwide.com for the discount code.

For information on artist submissions, event partnerships, and sponsorship opportunities contact info@anrworldwide.com.

FUGA UNVEILS RAFT OF NEW U.K. SIGNINGS
AND NUMEROUS PARTNERSHIP DEALS

FUGA, the Downtown-owned B2B distributor, has bolstered its presence in the U.K. with a series of significant signings, further cementing its position as a leader in regional distribution. Among the notable partnerships announced are deals with One House, Critical Music, and Maleek Berry‘s Berry’s Room imprint.

One House, renowned for its diverse roster including platinum-selling DJ Eliza Rose and British-Nigerian afrobeats sensation Maleek Berry, will leverage FUGA’s global distribution network and marketing services. The collaboration encompasses physical distribution, sync licensing, YouTube channel management, and access to FUGA’s analytics platform. The partnership kicked off with Melbourne-to-London producer Pretty Girl‘s EP Get Back to Me, which garnered over 30 playlist additions across DSPs and achieved a debut chart position on the ARIA charts in Australia.

Napper Tandy, Founder, One House, said the alliance’s alignment with their mission to empower artists with creative control and strategic support. He stated, “FUGA gives us the flexibility and cutting-edge tools to deliver on this promise.”

FUGA has also joined forces with Critical Music, a stalwart in the drum and bass genre founded by Kasra over two decades ago. The label, representing producers like QZB, Mefjus, and Ivy Lab, will benefit from FUGA’s global distribution services and tailored marketing strategies aimed at enhancing visibility for its diverse roster.

In addition, FUGA has entered a comprehensive partnership with Berry’s Room, the label helmed by acclaimed producer Maleek Berry. This collaboration encompasses distribution, marketing, and YouTube channel management for Berry’s extensive catalog and his eagerly anticipated debut album. The partnership commenced with the distribution of Berry’s single “Secrets,” released on July 12th, underscoring FUGA’s commitment to supporting and promoting Afrobeats talent on a global scale.

In tandem with these signings, FUGA has achieved successes in the U.K. market, including Firebird Music‘s Slash debuting at No.8 on the U.K. albums chart with “Orgy of the Damned” and The Hives securing a No.2 album spot with “Death of Randy Fitzsimmons.”

Lara Baker, General Manager, FUGA for U.K. & Ireland, tells A&R Worldwide, “As FUGA’s growth and expansion in the important UK and Irish markets continues, we are excited to welcome some of the industry’s most valuable and forward-thinking labels to our client base. We look forward to working alongside these game-changing labels to connect their artists to audiences around the world.”

 

Virgin Music Group, one of the world’s leading partners to independent artists, labels, and entrepreneurs, recently announced that the company has named Justin Bumper Reeve, Sr. Vice President of Global Sync, Virgin Music Group. In his new role, Reeve will oversee a global team that creates opportunities for Virgin Music Group artists and labels in advertising, film, television, trailers, video games, and more.

“Bumper is one of the most successful and respected creative sync executives in the business,” said Jeremy Kramer, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing, Virgin Music Group. “He is already proving to be invaluable for our label and artists clients around the world, having already secured syncs with global blue-chip brands, and some of the most commercially successful films and television shows.”

Reeve comes to Virgin Music Group from Hidden Track Music, a tastemaker music placement and sync licensing boutique firm he founded in 2008. During his tenure at Hidden Track, Bumper worked with some of the most respected record labels in the world, including Big Brother Recordings, Dangerbird, Kitsuné Musique, Mom + Pop, Neon Gold, OWSLA, and the Mushroom Group, as well as critically acclaimed artists such as Alt-J, CHVRCHES, Courtney Barnett, Fitz and the Tantrums, Haim, Major Lazer, Oasis, Sturgill Simpson, The Temper Trap, Tom Morello, and Vance Joy, to name a few.

To date, Reeve has signed over 2,500 artists for sync and has licensed and/or negotiated more than 10,000 sync uses, generating more than $75 million (USD) in sync licensing income. Notable sync placements since his arrival at Virgin Music Group include BTS‘s “Dynamite” in the film Despicable Me 4, NewJeans‘ “ETA” for Gucci, bbno$‘ track “edamame (featuring Rich Brian)” for Mountain Dew‘s Baja Blast Super Bowl ad, and David Kushner‘s “Daylight” for Armani Acqua de Giò.

“This is a dream job,” said Reeve. “For almost two decades, I have been diligently and passionately working in sync in the independent sector, and every endeavor and challenge has prepared me for this opportunity on the global stage. Virgin Music Group has assembled an incredible team of seasoned executives around the world, working with some of the most important record labels and artists in our business. I am looking forward to creating revenue-generating opportunities for our clients that will expand their audiences around the world.”

Reeve is based in Virgin Music Group’s global headquarters in Los Angeles.

 

Warner Chappell Music (WCM), has announced the appointment of Tat Tong as Vice President of A&R and Creative, Asia Pacific. Tong will report to Arica Ng, President, Asia Pacific, WCM, and will be based in the company’s office in Shanghai.

In his new role, Tong will be responsible for developing and executing WCM’s A&R and creative strategies in the Asia-Pacific region. He will work closely with local, regional, and global teams to identify and sign new talent, oversee the development of new music projects, and ensure the company’s strategies in the territory align with its global vision.

Tong tells A&R Worldwide, “The APAC music scene is rapidly growing and evolving, and I am excited to join the Warner Chappell Music team in this role. I am eager to leverage my expertise and knowledge of the regional markets to discover and develop exceptional songwriting talent. I look forward to working with our writers to help them fully realize their creative and commercial aspirations.”

Ng added, “We are delighted to welcome Tat to our team. His extensive background and deep understanding of the APAC music landscape make him the ideal executive to lead our A&R and creative efforts in the region. I am confident that under his guidance, we will build upon our solid foundation and drive continued growth and success for our business.”

Before joining WCM, Tong held various roles at Sony Music Entertainment, including A&R Director for the RCA Records Greater China team, and consultant for the company’s Greater China artist roster.

Prior to that, he had spent two decades as a boundary-crossing artist, producer, and songwriter across Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Over the years, he has amassed more than 200 placements spanning five continents, with numerous No.1 hits and three Grammy and Latin Grammy nominations.

 

Jack Critchlow is a Manchester-based Alt-Pop/Indie-Pop singer-songwriter known for his unique style and catchy melodies. Originally from Yorkshire and currently a student at the Royal Northern College of Music, Jack has gained global exposure through repeat plays on BBC Radio 1 and Radio X. His new single, “Bleeding” (AWAL), highlights his talent as he wrote, recorded, and produced it entirely on his own before it was mastered by Pete Maher (U2, Rolling Stones). This track blends edgy pop with indie roots and follows the success of his previous single, “Smoke and Dust,” which received airplay from Mollie King and John Kennedy. Jack’s music journey began at age 12, and he continues to create eclectic pop music that combines commercial appeal with musically interesting elements. Discover “Bleeding” HERE, and contact Darren Broome at darren@thelostagency.co.uk for additional information.

 

 

 

WARNER CHAPPELL & 300 PUBLISHING TEAM UP TO SIGN SONGWRITERS: 300 Publishing has announced a new collaboration with Warner Chappell Music to sign both up-and-coming and established songwriters. Leading the initiative will be Jenn Essiembre, Vice President, 300 Publishing. This partnership will feature flagship signee Sean Momberger, a key figure in producing hits such as Kendrick Lamar‘s “Not Like Us” and Jack Harlow’s “Lovin’ on Me,” both topping the Billboard Hot 100. 300 Publishing’s roster includes a lineup such as 1st Class, Jumbo Sounds, Spencer Jordan, and Will Power. The publishing division also represents artists like YNW Melly, No Savage, OMB Peezy, and Lil Keed. Over the past year, songwriters from 300 Publishing have contributed to tracks for artists including Drake, Metro Boomin, Doja Cat, Morgan Wallen, Travis Scott, Megan Thee Stallion, Gunna, Babyface, Nicki Minaj, YG, Tyga, Quavo, Flo Milli, Offset, Don Toliver, and Hunxho, among others. Jenn Essiembre, Vice President Publishing, tells A&R Worldwide, “It all starts with a song. At 300 Publishing, we are fiercely committed to songwriter development and building careers from the ground up. I am honored that Kevin has entrusted me to spearhead this business and am looking forward to collaborating with the team at Warner Chappell to supercharge our offering.”

 

KENNY OCHOA NAMED SR. VICE PRESIDENT OF CONTENT AT SPLICE: Splice has appointed Kenny Ochoa as its new Sr. Vice President of Content. In this new role, Ochoa will lead Splice’s global content team, further expanding their collection of royalty-free, human-made samples. He will report directly to Kakul Srivastava, CEO, Splice, and will manage the content pipeline, establish robust artist partnerships, and enhance the platform’s industry engagement. Ochoa comes to Splice from Snap, where he served as Head of Music Curation & Licensing. In this role, he oversaw music programming and curation across multiple regions including the U.S., India, France, the U.K., LATAM, MENA, Nigeria, and Ghana. Before his tenure at Snap, Ochoa held senior positions in creative sync licensing at Warner Bros. Records, Sony Music Entertainment, and Sanctuary Records Group. Kakul Srivastava stated, “This is a critical time in our industry, so it was vital that we found someone with the relationships, taste, and passion to help us build and prepare for the future of music creation. Kenny is what we were looking for, someone with deep experience in both the tech and music industries, who is also empathetic to the creator community.”

 

BMG & CIRQUE DU SOLEIL ANNOUNCE STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP: Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group (Cirque du Soleil) and BMG have announced a new strategic partnership to manage Cirque du Soleil‘s critically acclaimed music catalog and explore a range of music-oriented collaborative initiatives. Under the agreement, BMG will now serve as the record label home for Cirque du Soleil‘s catalog of original scores, soundtracks, and new album releases, as well as the music publishing home administering its compositions and jointly creating new songs and releases. The first release under the new collaboration is the soundtrack to SONGBLAZERS, Cirque du Soleil‘s new one-of-a-kind theatrical production celebrating country music and paying homage to its legendary and modern-day trailblazers. Recorded at Sound Emporium Studios in Nashville, TN, and helmed by Music City native and Grammy Award-winning producer Daniel Tashian (Kacey Musgraves, Tenille Townes), the album features the cast of the show along with a host of country music’s finest players. This new partnership will be led by Cirque du Soleil STUDIO, Cirque du Soleil‘s new music division, which was created to serve the company’s existing fanbase and attract new fans to the brand. Over the years Cirque du Soleil has released the music of its shows to an appreciative audience across various physical and digital forms. The impressive existing music catalog now has more than 250 million career streams in the U.S. and over 500,000 album equivalents sold in the U.S. alone. Upcoming projects include new Cirque du Soleil soundtracks and releases with artists and songwriters inspired by Cirque du Soleil celebrating cultural moments across the world.

 

KOBALT RENEWS GLOBAL PUBLISHING DEAL WITH MAE ESTES: Kobalt recently announced the renewal of its worldwide publishing agreement with country star Mae Estes. Estes, who struck her first publishing deal with Plaid Flag Music/Kobalt in 2020, has already racked up more than 13 million streams across all DSPs and millions more across social platforms as an independent artist. The Arkansas native signed a global recording deal with Big Machine last fall and is currently in the studio in Nashville working on new music. “Mae is one of the most exciting new artists to come onto the scene in a very long time,” said Stephanie Cox, General Manager & Sr. Vice President, Creative, Kobalt Nashville. “She is such an authentic songwriter and an important new voice in country music. We are so happy that Kobalt will remain her home for this exciting new phase of her career.” Estes got her start at age 7 in the middle of an Arkansas rodeo arena, singing the national anthem, and paying dues in Music City for a decade. In 2019, Estes began releasing music, and a year later, signed her first publishing deal with Plaid Flag Music/Kobalt. “Thinkin’ ‘Bout Cheatin'” became the first single from her debut EP as well as her first video feature on CMT in 2022. That following year, Estes independently released her debut EP, Before the Record, a six-song project produced by hit songwriter Paul Sikes. That same year, Mae was named Arkansas CMA “Female Vocalist of the Year” for the third time. Estes is currently on tour with her own dates, as well as opening slots for Jamey Johnson, Dierks Bentley, and Lainey Wilson.

 

TITAN CONTENT ANNOUNCES ITS FIRST K-POP GIRL GROUP, ATHEART: TITAN CONTENT (TITAN) has unveiled its first K-pop girl group, AtHeart, and introduced the initial members, Sorin and Michi. AtHeart is slated to debut in the first half of 2025 with additional members to be revealed in the coming months, with the complete lineup expected by the end of 2024. Both 17 years-old, Sorin and Michi are from South Korea and Hawaii, respectively. Nikki Semin Han, former CEO of SM Entertainment, announced TITAN’s launch on November 28, 2023. As the first premier K-pop music company headquartered in the U.S., TITAN plans to debut multiple groups and soloists by 2028, with AtHeart being its inaugural project. The leadership team includes Katie Kang (CEO), Dom Rodriguez (CBO), Guiom Lee (Chief Visual Officer), Lia Kim (Chief Performance Officer). Katie Kang shared with Billboard, “The name ‘AtHeart’ reflects the group’s authenticity and the deep connection they will forge with their fans, encouraging them to embrace their true selves. Since early 2024, TITAN has been conducting global auditions, and we have been amazed by the extraordinary talent we found. These members are uniquely captivating and represent the future of K-pop.”

 

KASHUS CULPEPPER SIGNS WITH BIG LOUD PUBLISHING & WARNER CHAPPELL: Kashus Culpepper has landed an exclusive global publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing and Warner Chappell Music. The Alabama-born country artist recently joined the roster at Big Loud Records. His debut single, “After Me?,” dropped in June, and he recently released, “Who Hurt You,” on July 19. Culpepper has already sold out headline club shows across the Southern U.S. even before releasing a single. He has also opened for acts such as Charles Wesley Godwin, Charley Crockett, and NeedToBreathe. Benji Amaefule, A&R Manager, Warner Chappell said, “We are beyond excited to be working with Kashus. He is one of one, and his stories have the ability to resonate with a wide demographic. His soulful take on country is already connecting with his audience and will continue to reach fans around the country and the world.” Sara Knabe, Sr. VP A&R, Big Loud Records, added, “Anyone who’s heard Kashus’ sing knows why we had to have him on the label, but his songwriting was just as big of a draw as his voice. It is raw, real, lived in, and emotional, it has so much soul. He is writing songs that will stand the test of time and we are all here for it!”

 

BUCKS MUSIC GROUP SIGNS LITTLE BARRIE TO GLOBAL DEAL: Bucks Music Group has inked an exclusive global deal with Little Barrie, covering administration and sync services for the band’s catalog, which includes six studio albums and future unreleased works. The most recent album, Quatermass 7, features Malcolm Catto. Little Barrie’s portfolio of TV and film contributions include the main title theme for Better Call Saul, which earned three ASCAP Awards. Furthermore, the band has had their music appear in Sirens, Term Life and Fathers and Daughters, Outer Banks, Reservation Dogs, Shameless, and Brooklyn 99. Their tracks have also been featured in video games like Rocksmith and Baller Beats, and in advertisements for brands such as Nissan, Ralph Lauren, Nokia, Rimmel, and Marks & Spencer. Little Barrie’s journey began with their debut album We Are Little Barrie in 2005, produced by Edwyn Collins. They released Stand Your Ground in 2007, featuring the track “Why Don’t You Do It.” In 2008, Virgil Howe, son of Yes guitarist Steve Howe, joined the band, and under the mentorship of Collins, they recorded at West Heath studio, leading to albums like King of The Waves and Shadow. After the passing of Virgil Howe in 2017, the band regrouped, collaborating with Malcolm Catto in 2020 to produce Quatermass Seven. The album, recorded with Catto’s vintage analog gear, was released on Madlib‘s Madlib Invazion label. Flash Taylor, Sr. A&R, Bucks Music tells A&R Worldwide, “There are times in a publisher’s life when an opportunity comes around to work with a band that you have admired for years, and Little Barrie is one of those bands for me. Rich [Chamberlain – manager] first played me tracks off We Are Little Barrie when it was released back in 2005 and, although we did not get to work together then, I have been listening to the band and all the other aspects of Barrie and Lewis’ work ever since. To now work with both his and Lewis’ incredible catalog, alongside the contributions of previous members – most notably Virgil Howe – is a great day indeed.”

 

YG ENTERTAINMENT INKS DISTRIBUTION DEAL WITH BOOMPLAY: YG Entertainment has partnered with Boomplay to bring its catalog to the continent. This distribution agreement was announced by YG’s Plus subsidiary (KRX: 037270) and Nigeria-based Boomplay. The move reflects a broader trend in the K-pop industry, where companies like Hybe are increasingly seeking to expand their reach into new markets and fanbases. As a result of this collaboration, YG artists such as Blackpink and BabyMonster will now be available on Boomplay, which claims over 70 million monthly active users. Boomplay has highlighted its commitment to providing opportunities for music catalogs to be monetized and exposed to the rapidly growing music streaming market in Africa. “This marks a significant milestone for YG Plus as we continue to strive for global appreciation and recognition of our artists’ work,” the Seoul-based business noted. “It will enable our artists to expand their following in Africa, tapping into the vibrant music scene on the continent and allowing fans to access their favorite tracks with ease. The partnership with Boomplay opens new avenues for creativity, innovation, and cultural exchange, fostering a deeper connection between our artists and fans in Africa. We are eager to see the positive impact this partnership will have on the music landscape in Africa and beyond.”

 

RESERVOIR ANNOUNCES PUBLISHING DEAL WITH WRABEL: Reservoir Media has announced a publishing deal with singer-songwriter Wrabel. This agreement encompasses all of Wrabel’s future works. Wrabel began his career co-writing for artists such as Teddy Swims, P!nk, Ellie Goulding, Adam Lambert, Phillip Phillips, Kygo, and Marshmello. Among his most prominent collaborations are “Better Not” by Louis the Child and Wafia, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by the Backstreet Boys, “Don’t Let It Break Your Heart” by Louis Tomlinson, “Strange” by Celeste, and “Woman” by Kesha. Wrabel’s solo discography includes “Ten Feet Tall,” with Afrojack, which premiered in a Bud Light Super Bowl commercial and became his first Top 10 hit in the U.S., U.K., Netherlands, and Hungary. His music has also been featured in numerous television shows, including Suits, Dynasty, Grey’s Anatomy, and Love, Victor. Wrabel’s most popular single, “The Village,” released in 2017 in support of trans rights, has garnered over 13 million views on YouTube and went viral on TikTok. As a queer artist, Wrabel actively uses his platform to advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and acceptance and was named Billboard “Pride Artist of the Month.” After years of releasing singles and writing for others, Wrabel debuted his first album, these words are all for you, in 2021. He followed it with his sophomore album, based on a true story, and has plans for a third album expected in 2025. Donna Caseine, Executive VP, Global Creative Director, Reservoir, said “We are beyond excited for our future with Wrabel. He is an inspiring and versatile songwriter and artist with a rare ability to write meaningful songs and infectious earworms for both himself and a wide range of his contemporaries. All of us at Reservoir look forward to bringing him new opportunities for his talents to shine.”

 

WARNER MUSIC BRAZIL ANNOUNCES INVESTMENT IN SUA MÚSICA: Warner Music Brazil and the Sua Música Group, which owns the largest Brazilian music platform and the Sua Música digital distributor, have joined forces to enhance and globally expand the reach of Brazilian regional artists. This initiative aligns with Warner Music’s plans to amplify its presence in the regional music scene in Brazil and strengthen this sector. This investment will make Warner Music a partner of Sua Música, with the companies combining their efforts to develop regional artists and songwriters. Leila Oliveira, President, Warner Music Brazil, tells A&R Worldwide, “This is an important milestone for us as cultural enablers. The combination of Sua Música’s significant presence in regional music with our national reach and global network will amplify the efforts of both companies and offer artists new creative and commercial possibilities and opportunities.” The partnership allows Sua Música Group to focus on expanding its operations across Brazil, starting with developing a leadership role for its music platform in the Northeast and promoting Sua Música Digital. The distributor already manages the digital careers and oversees royalty management for more than 1,000 talents across Brazil, including Tarcísio do Acordeon, Vitor Fernandes, Thiago Aquino, Heitor Costa, Japãozin, Evoney Fernandes, and others. Sua Música will be a significant partner for Warner Music in its strategy of expanding its presence in all regions of the Brazilian market, boosting its authority in regional music, local partnerships, and sharing expertise in discovering new voices to create the catalogs of the future.

 

TIKTOK TO SPEED UP ARTIST ACCOUNT CREATION FOR DISTROKID MEMBERS: TikTok and DistroKid have unveiled an integration that streamlines the process for independent artists to establish their official TikTok Artist Accounts. This partnership promises to cut down the time required for account creation, allowing DistroKid members to set up their official profiles within just a few hours. Artists using DistroKid can now create their TikTok Artist Accounts directly from the DistroKid dashboard, allowing access to a host of artist-centric features, including a Music Tab, New Releases, By Artist, Behind the Song, Fan Spotlight, Ticketing, and more. In addition, DistroKid artists can benefit from having their music accessible on ByteDance‘s popular video editing software CapCut, and can distribute full-length music videos to TikTok Music through DistroKid’s DistroVid tool. “It’s now faster than ever for any artist to create their official TikTok Artist Account directly through DistroKid, reducing the process from weeks to just hours,” said Phil Bauer, President, DistroKid. “Building on our long history of collaboration, DistroKid members now have unique access to tools and features for promoting their music on TikTok’s leading discovery platform.”

 

ARMADA MUSIC PARTNERS WITH DEEP DISH: Armada Music has announced a partnership with the electronic duo Deep Dish. The duo charted worldwide in the nineties with their anthemic R&B-inspired garage club track “Hideaway” with De’Lacy. This collaboration marks the return of Deep Dish’s album George Is On to DSP’s and download portals worldwide, after being unavailable for several years. The American duo, comprising Ali “Dubfire” Shirazinia and Sharam Tayebi, have been in the electronic music scene since the early ’90s. Their work includes a Grammy-winning remix of Dido‘s “Thank You.” The new album, George Is On features tracks like “Flashdance,” which reached No.3 in the U.K., and “Say Hello,” which topped the U.S. dance chart. Jason Ellis, Global Sr. A&R Director, Armada Music, and former A&R for Deep Dish is leading the reintroduction of their music. The reissue will not only include the original 14-track album but also nine extended bonus tracks, five of which were previously only available on vinyl. Furthermore, the reissue will feature newly packaged EPs of the album’s four singles including “Flashdance,” “Say Hello,” “Dreams” (featuring Stevie Nicks), and “Sacramento,” with all original versions and remixes by David Guetta, Axwell, and Steve Angello & Sebastian Ingrosso. “We are ecstatic to partner with Deep Dish and bring George Is Onback to digital platforms,” said Maykel Piron, CEO, Armada Music Group. “This album has a special place in our hearts and electronic music history. There is no better person than Jason to usher in this moment for Deep Dish, and we are thrilled to make George Is On accessible to both long-time fans and new listeners.”

 

COOKING VINYL AND V2 RECORDS SIGN U.K. BAND RAZORLIGHT: Cooking Vinyl and V2 Records have joined forces to sign the indie rock band Razorlight. Under this partnership, Cooking Vinyl will handle the release of Razorlight’s fifth studio album in the U.K., while V2 Records will manage its distribution in the rest of the world. Their album is set for release in the fourth quarter of 2024 and will coincide with a series of live performances. Razorlight, formed in London in 2002 by lead singer and guitarist Johnny Borrell, currently consists of founding members Björn Ågren (guitar) and Carl Delemo (bass), along with drummer Andy Burrows. Over the years, Razorlight has enjoyed success, with three of their albums reaching the Top 5 in the U.K. charts, including their self-titled second album, which topped the charts and sold over 1.65 million copies according to the U.K. Official Charts Company. Their single “America” also achieved success, peaking at No.1, and earning double Platinum certification with over 1.33 million sales. “We are very excited about collaborating with our good friends from Cooking Vinyl on the new Razorlight album,” said V2 Records’ Max Beekman and Tom Willinck. “At V2 Records, we have been big fans of the band for a long time and are very much looking forward to working on their upcoming music.”

 

KEY PRODUCTION LAUNCHES SMART FORMATS: Key Production is innovating music releases with their innovative ‘SMART formats.’ This new offering combines physical products with exclusive digital content, creating commercial opportunities for artists. SMART formats leverage NFC (near-field communication) technology, provided by digital platforms like Serenade. Physical products are embedded with unique digital access codes, which fans can scan using NFC-enabled smartphones to access special content. When fans scan the product, they are directed to a digital platform where they can enjoy exclusive content curated by the artist. This could include unreleased music, videos, artwork, messages to fans, or special announcements. Artists have the freedom to continually update the content throughout their album campaign, even adding the album itself on release day. SMART links can be embedded in traditional vinyl records and CDs, allowing fans to buy a physical album and instantly access its digital counterpart. Fixed format options resembling LPs, CDs, and cassettes are also available and can be scanned for digital access. Fans can start purchasing SMART formats as soon as a record release is announced. For album releases, pre-ordering a CD or LP can include a ‘SMART’ option, providing access codes ahead of the album’s physical release or immediate access to chosen merchandise. Also, all SMART format sales are certified by the U.K.’s Official Charts Company, meaning a SMART LP, CD, or cassette purchase counts as two sales – once for the physical product and once for the digital version. Germany has already recognized these formats for international chart accreditation, setting a precedent for other countries to follow.

 

MONEY TRENCH PODCAST LAUNCHES: The Money Trench – The Music Industry Podcast with Mark Sutherland (the respected music business journalist who has worked with Billboard, Music Week, and MBW) is a new podcast curated by industry veterans Mark Sutherland and executive producer Mike Walsh. The podcast, named after Hunter S. Thompson‘s famous, misquote about the music business, is designed as a weekly deep dive into the latest music industry news and views. Every Monday, The Money Trench will offer listeners compelling insights from the forefront of the global music industry. Each episode will feature discussions and debates on the week’s most important topics, along with interviews with artists and music business leaders who will share their perspectives on the current and future state of the industry. The inaugural episode will feature Lorna Clarke, BBC Director of Music, as she delves into her career and reveals what it is like to oversee the BBC’s biggest music and media event of the year—BBC at Glastonbury. Other upcoming interviews will feature Ferdy Unger-Hamilton (Promised Land Music, ex-Columbia, Polydor, Virgin), Tara Richardson (T Time Management), PR man Alan Edwards (Outside Organisation – Prince, David Bowie, Spice Girls), Darcus Beese OBE (Darco Recordings & Warner Music U.K.), Toby L (co-Founder, Transgressive) and team, Annabella Coldrick (CEO, MMF), Ben Wynter (Power Up, AIM), and Caroline Elleray &Mark Gale (Second Songs).

 

BRITS WEEK 24 FOR WAR CHILD ANNOUNCES 2024 MONEY RAISED: BRITs Week 24 for War Child reports that this year’s series has raised £430,000 (GBP). The funds, collected from 13 shows held across the U.K. in February and March, will support War Child’s crucial efforts to aid children whose lives have been profoundly impacted by war. This latest contribution brings the total amount raised by BRITs Week for War Child since its inception in 2009 to over £7,430,000. BRITs Week For War Child offers fans the chance to experience performances by some of the biggest artists in music. Produced by AEG Presents, BPI, and War Child, the charity supporting children affected by conflict, this year’s BRITs Week was further supported by Bauer Media Audio U.K. as its radio partner. The proceeds from these concerts will go directly to War Child’s initiatives, which aim to reach children as soon as conflict erupts and continue supporting them throughout their recovery. This includes ensuring their safety, helping them learn and manage their experiences, and providing them with skills for a better future.

 

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