A&R Worldwide Newsletter Vol. 852

MICHAEL GOLDSTONE, FOUNDER & CO-OWNER MOM+POP RECORDS
NAMED RECIPIENT OF THE SEYMOUR STEIN – “GLOBAL A&R AWARD”
PRESENTED AT MUSEXPO 2025 IN BURBANK, CA

MUSEXPO (www.musexpo.net), the renowned global music industry annual conference and showcase event dubbed the “United Nations of Music,” in collaboration with the highly-respected talent discovery and development firm A&R Worldwide, today announces Michael Goldstone, Founder/Co-Owner of Mom+Pop Music as the recipient of the second annual Seymour Stein “Global A&R Award.” The award will be presented as part of the International Music Industry Awards gala dinner on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, at the conclusion of the 25th global edition of MUSEXPO taking place in Burbank, CA from March 16 – 19, 2025.

The Seymour Stein Global A&R Award memorializes Stein’s remarkable legacy by honoring music industry executives who are making significant and important contributions. The award serves to perpetuate that legacy. The inaugural recipient of the award at the 2024 MUSEXPO was Wendy Goldstein, President, and Chief Creative Officer, Republic Records.

The award is the creation of Sat Bisla, President & Founder, A&R Worldwide /MUSEXPO, Richard Gottherer, co-founder of Sire Records, and Mandy Stein, Seymour’s daughter who endorses this important A&R award honoring her late father.

This prestigious award celebrates the A&R career and contributions of Michael Goldstone, Founder & Co-Owner of the independent record label Mom+Pop Music, now in its 16th year, and his decades-long career, signing some of the most successful artists in music.

Michael Goldstone (“Goldie”) is recognized for his exceptional A&R skills, and like Stein, his keen ability to discover and sign talented, and culture-defining artists. He began in the mailroom at Chrysalis Records, quickly ascending to roles in publicity, marketing, and artist development, collaborating with Blondie, Billy Idol, The Specials, and Pat Benatar. His first A&R position was at MCA Records, where he signed Charlie Sexton. He later moved to PolyGram, where he signed the beloved Seattle, WA band Mother Love Bone ushering in a new era of rock.

Goldstone moved to Vice President of A&R at Sony Music/Epic Records, where he signed and developed 90’s giants, Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine, A&R’d the soundtrack for Cameron Crowe‘s film about Seattle, Singlesfeaturing songs from Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, The Replacements, and Alice in Chains. Goldie also signed indie band Shudder to Think, among others during his tenure at Epic.

That ’90s decade of success led him to become a partner at DreamWorks Records, where he was instrumental in building the company’s A&R, marketing, and promotion departments, signing Platinum-selling artists Buckcherry, and The All-American Rejects.

In the early 2000s, Goldstone was tapped by Seymour Stein himself to aid him in the relaunch of Sire Records, where he signed Regina Spektor, Tegan and Sara, Against Me!, and others.

In 2009, he realized his long-held dream of founding an independent label by creating Mom+Pop Music. Since its inception, Mom+Pop has released music from artists across multiple genres, including Grammy-nominated Courtney Barnett, Del Water Gap, MGMT, Flume, Orion Sun, Maya Hawke, and others. As co-owner with his business partner Thaddeus Rudd, they continue to break new and important ground across the music industry. Additionally, Goldstone with Q Prime co-managed the Grammy-winning alt-rock band Cage the Elephant.

Goldstone is a well-recognized music industry success story that has received multiple honors including Billboard‘s annual “Indie Power Players” list. The company also won the prestigious A2iM Award for “Label of the Year” at the 2022 Libera Awards, and Goldstone received the 2024 Transformer Award at the first annual We Are Moving the Needle/RESONATOR Awards presented by Grammy award-winning producer/engineer Emily Lazar. The Transformer Award recognized Goldstone for his commitment to advancing gender equity across the music industry.

Throughout his storied career, Goldstone has been featured in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, Forbes, Billboard, and Variety with Rolling Stone calling him “the most successful A&R executive of his generation” and “one of the most powerful gatekeepers in the record industry.”

The late Seymour Stein is a legend in the music industry celebrated for his discovery of culture-defining iconic artists and serves as the inspiration for this award. His unparalleled signings include Madonna, Talking Heads, The Ramones, The Pretenders, Depeche Mode, The Cure, and countless others who left an indelible mark on the worldwide canon of popular music.

In celebration of the 25th global edition of MUSEXPO, A&R Worldwide readers are eligible for the discounted registration rate of $495.00 which expires on August 31st, 2024. Email dusty@anrworldwide.com for your discount code.

For information regarding sponsorship, panel, and showcasing opportunities contact info@anrworldwide.com.

PULSE Records has officially signed Grace VanderWaal to its roster, as announced by co-CEOs Scott Cutler and Josh Abraham, along with President Ashley Calhoun.

Grace VanderWaal first captured public attention by winning America’s Got Talent at just 12 years old. Now at 20, she is shedding her former child star image and embracing an evolved identity as an artist. Her single, “Call It What You Want,” dropped on August 16th, with a full album slated for release in Spring 2025. In addition, her first releases will precede her role in Francis Ford Coppola‘s film Megalopolis, which premieres on September 27th. In preparation for the film’s release, she has been focused on finishing her album, which draws inspiration from indie artists she admires, such as Lorde, Girl in Red, and Suki Waterhouse.

Ashley Calhoun said, “We look to sign artists that can have an impact on people’s lives and artists that we can empower to do so. Grace has already well proven her ability to connect with fans, and, in this next chapter of her career trajectory, we are focused on channeling her own voice and vision to take things to the next level for her fans and to introduce her to new audiences. We are so excited to be working with Grace and the Raw Material team.”

Scott Cutler added, “When we first launched PULSE Records, we set out to change the way things are done. As a company founded by musicians and producers, we want artists to be treated and respected for their own vision, and to be able to do that in a way that is nurturing and authentic to who they are and what works best for them. Then we go to work to create that roadmap. Grace is an incredibly talented artist, and we know this next chapter will be an exciting one as we work together to introduce her latest music.”

PULSE Records, a new initiative launched in June 2023 by PULSE Music Group in collaboration with Concord, marks the label’s entry into the music scene. This addition complements PULSE Music Group’s established music publishing and artist management operations. PULSE Records leverages PULSE’s commitment to top-tier creative talent, supported by Concord’s robust label services and administrative infrastructure.

The label operates under the Concord Label Group umbrella and benefits from distribution through Universal Music Group. PULSE Music Group, known for being a creative-driven organization, highlights a portfolio of award-winning clients with over two hundred million units sold and more than 75 billion streams. With a client base exceeding 250, the group has accumulated over 350 Gold and Platinum certifications.

 

Warner Chappell Music has announced the promotion of David Goldsen to the role of Sr. Vice President, North America, A&R. Based in Los Angeles, Goldsen will continue to work directly with Ryan Press, President of North America.

In his new role, Goldsen will focus on discovering and aiding songwriters and artists across all genres, while also contributing to the strategic leadership of the North American A&R team. Goldsen’s responsibilities will also extend to assisting songwriters in international markets and managing the company’s A&R initiatives in Australia. Since joining Warner Chappell in 2009, he has played an influential role in the company’s global expansion, securing, and developing talent worldwide.

In the past year, Goldsen has signed top artists such as Zach Bryan, Teddy Swims, The Red Clay Strays, Laufey, and Sleep Token. He remains involved with Mitski, whom he signed in 2018, and who achieved major success with the hit “My Love Mine All Mine” in 2023 and 2024. Goldsen’s roster also includes prominent names like Vance Joy, Tones and I, Nathaniel Rateliff, Oliver Tree, and Cavetown.

Ryan Press stated, “David has consistently proven his natural ability to discover and sign top talent. He has steadily built a star-studded roster, and in the past year alone, has brought in many artists and songwriters leading today’s charts. I have had the opportunity to work with him for over 15 years, and I am proud of everything he has accomplished on our team as an A&R executive and inspiring leader.”

Goldsen added, “I joined the Warner Chappell A&R department over a decade ago, and it has given me so many opportunities to grow into this expanding role, all while staying true to writer and artist development. I am lucky and proud to get to work with the best writers and artists and look forward to continuing to build on the fantastic development we have seen recently. Thank you to Ryan [Press], Guy [Moot], and Carianne [Marshall] for their unwavering support and vision throughout the years.

His previous role as Vice President, Creative and Head of A&R for Australia in 2022 saw him leading A&R strategies for the region while supporting Warner Chappell’s U.S., U.K., and international artists.

 

Roc Nation and its distribution arm, Equity Distribution, have unified under a new entity called Roc Nation Distribution, as confirmed by sources to Billboard. This merger will see all artists currently signed to Roc Nation and the label transition to Roc Nation Distribution.

The newly formed Roc Nation Distribution will continue to provide an array of services like those previously offered by Equity Distribution. Launched in 2019, Equity Distribution was known for its support of independent artists who wish to retain control over their masters. Under President Krystian Santini, the company provided services such as marketing and publishing administration. Equity has worked with independent acts like Mach-Hommy and Tinashe and played a key role in bringing Jay-Z‘s 1996 debut album, Reasonable Doubt, to streaming platforms in 2019.

With this reorganization, Shari Bryant, who was co-President of Roc Nation’s record label, has departed from her role. Bryant, who shared the presidency with Omar Grant since 2019, was instrumental in signing new artists including Maeta, Ambre, Reuben Vincent, and Kalan FrFr.

The label, which originally launched in 2008 in partnership with Live Nation, was established to manage Jay-Z’s touring and recordings and signed its first artist, J. Cole, in 2009. Roc Nation has since grown into a comprehensive entertainment company, encompassing management, sports, publishing, and distribution, as well as running the Made in America festival and collaborating with the NFL on the Super Bowl Halftime Show and social justice initiatives. The label’s roster has included global artists like Jay-Z, J. Cole, Rihanna, Rapsody, Vic Mensa, Belly, Snoh Aalegra, and Jaden and Willow Smith. Recently, Maeta scored her first No.1 on Billboard‘s Adult R&B Airplay chart with “Through the Night” featuring Free Nationals, while Rapsody released her Grammy-nominated album Please Don’t Cry in May, featuring Erykah Badu and Lil Wayne.

Roc Nation’s management division continues to represent major names such as Megan Thee Stallion and Lil Uzi Vert. Megan’s self-titled album, released in June, debuted at No.3 on the Billboard 200 and included the track “Hiss.” Tinashe, another artist under Roc Nation management, saw a resurgence with her hit “Nasty,” marking her first Billboard Hot 100entry as a lead artist since 2014’s “2 On.”

The management team also oversees DJ Khaled, J Balvin, Yo Gotti, Robin Thicke, Mustard, Christina Aguilera, and more.

 

Kunlun Tech has announced the launch of Melodio, which it touts as the world’s first fully AI-driven music streaming service. Valued at approximately 34.49 billion Chinese Yuan (around $4.8 billion USD), Kunlun aims to redefine digital music experiences with this new platform.

Melodio promises users a highly personalized listening journey by curating music streams based on individual emotions and situational contexts. The service allows users to request specific moods—such as “energetic tracks for a long drive” or “soothing tunes for a morning coffee” —and delivers tailored playlists to match these needs. According to Kunlun, Melodio’s AI capabilities will enable real-time adjustments to music prompts, generate customized lyrics, and facilitate easy sharing and saving of favorite moments.

Kunlun Tech, known for its ownership of the Opera web browser and its former stake in Grindr, maintains a substantial presence across various digital sectors, including AGI, AIGC, content distribution, and gaming. The company’s extensive reach includes an average of 400 million active users. Historically, Kunlun has been involved with the social media landscape, having invested $20 million in Musical.ly before its acquisition by ByteDance and subsequent integration into TikTok.

Recently, Kunlun’s Star Group Interactive made headlines by investing $160 million (USD) in AI firm Singularity AI and subsequently injecting an additional $400 million into its Star Group division. With Melodio, Kunlun Tech is set to leverage its robust portfolio and technological expertise to enhance user engagement through a dynamic and adaptive music experience.

 

Kai Bosch is back, and he’s bringing the heat with his latest release. After the introspective vibes of his earlier Throw Me A Bone EP, the London-based sensation is flipping the script with “Everything Is Beautiful”—a high-energy electro-pop anthem that is impossible to resist. This track is a sonic explosion of joy, marking a refreshing shift from his previous work. Teaming up with the acclaimed producer Duncan Mills, known for his magic with Florence + The Machine andLCD Soundsystem, Kai is set to light up the alt-pop scene with one of his most euphoric releases yet. Following the success of his earlier EP, which earned him praise from Clash Magazine as a “riveting alt-pop over-sharer,” and a sold-out headline show at The Social in London, Kai is gearing up for his next big moment—a headline show at The Courtyard Theatre in Hoxton on November 22nd. Listen to “Everything Is Beautiful” HERE and contact Gareth White at gareth@hannahmanagement.co.uk for additional information and available opportunities.

 

 

 

RED LIGHT & STARWOOD REVEAL NEW MANAGEMENT PARTNERSHIP: James Sandom, Managing Partner and Co-Founder, Red Light U.K., and Robert Swerdlow, Founder of Starwood, have announced that they will integrate Starwood’s roster (including Michael Kiwanuka, Wasia Project, and Stone) into Red Light’s framework. Swerdlow, alongside Dave Nicol and Mark Nicholson from Starwood, has collaborated with talents like The La’s, The Kooks, Michael Kiwanuka, and Little Simz. Red Light’s roster features high-profile artists such as Chris Stapleton, Odesza, Lionel Richie, The Strokes, The Black Keys, Brittany Howard, Interpol, Dave Matthews Band, Bonobo, The Smashing Pumpkins, Issey Cross, Lainey Wilson, and the Sugababes. Red Light also manages partnerships with Volara for Sabrina Carpenter and Marina, Revelation with Slash and Stone Temple Pilots, and its sister company ATO Records represents Black Pumas, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, and Amyl and The Sniffers. In addition, Red Light U.K. supports a range of songwriters and producers through managers like Tyler Brown, Patrick Hanrahan, Caroline Trout, Matt Johnson, Al Mills, and Tony Garvey. The U.K. division also collaborates with AMF, Funfair, and Chess Club Records. Coran Capshaw, Founder, Red Light said, “We are excited about our new partnership with Starwood. Their record in artist discovery over recent decades demonstrates a great balance of taste and ambition. With our infrastructure around them, we look forward to helping enhance all aspects of their business.”

 

AVEX USA SIGNS PRODUCER ZONE TO PUBLISHING DIVISION: Avex USA has welcomed Los Angeles-based Nigerian record producer Zone to its publishing roster. Zone, known offstage as Tyson Kong, has crafted tracks for Jason Derulo, Sexxy Red, Ludmilla, and Lay Bankz. His production spans genres including hip-hop, dancehall, R&B, and pop. Among his forthcoming projects are releases featuring Quavo, Lil Baby, DJ Snake, Sean Paul, Aluna, NLE Choppa, and Lil Wayne. Avex USA Publishing’s roster includes writers like J. Que (Joji), Will Jay (Royal & the Serpent), and Xansei (XG). The publishing division’s joint venture with Brandon Silverstein Publishing further expands its lineup to include collaborators and hitmakers such as Harv (Justin Bieber), Jasper Harris, Shenseea, Cxdy from Internet Money (The Kid Laroi), David Arkwright (Bella Poarch), Declan Hoy, and Kosa, who has worked with artists like Rvssian, Lil Baby, Future, Bad Bunny, and Travis Scott. Brennen Bryan, Director of A&R, Publishing, AVEX USA said, “The first time I heard Zone’s beats I immediately recognized his incredible talent and knew that we had to work together. I am excited to be a part of his journey and witness his growth as a young producer into the hitmaker I know he can be.”

 

UMPG & ORGANIZED CHAOS SIGN PRODUCER SCOTT FORSHAW: Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has teamed up with dance music publisher Organized Chaos to sign U.K. producer Scott Forshaw to a global agreement. Forshaw, who has racked up 15 million global streams and achieved over 250,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, has built his reputation with releases on dance labels such as Armada, Ultra, and Toolroom. In addition to his solo work, he has co-produced tracks with artists like John Newman, Altego, and Black Caviar. With this new deal, Forshaw will join a roster at Organized Chaos which includes PS1, Tobtok, Tim Powell, and Ros T. He will be working closely with Organized Chaos founders Adam Griffin and Robert Davies as the publishing company expands its reach alongside Perfect Havoc, the label and artist management agency where Forshaw is also now affiliated. Currently, Forshaw is particularly prominent in the Middle East, where he frequently performs on the festival and club circuits, notably as the resident DJ at Zero Gravity, Dubai’s largest beach club, since 2016. Dougie Bruce, Senior A&R Director, UMPG, tells A&R Worldwide, “We are delighted to welcome Scott Forshaw to UMPG. Scott is a rare, versatile, and highly skilled producer. Collaborating with our sub-publisher Organized Chaos, we are excited to welcome him to our joint roster and realize the project together.”

 

BILLIE EILISH AND FINNEAS JOIN WME FOR TOURING AND LIVE EVENTS: Billie Eilish and FINNEAS have appointed William Morris Endeavor (WME) as their new touring and live events agency, as reported by Billboard. The duo had already been represented by WME for their film and TV projects since January 2023, however, this updated arrangement now consolidates all their live entertainment needs under one management umbrella. On August 11, the siblings made headlines with their performance at the closing ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, held on the beach in Los Angeles—the future site of the 2028 Summer Olympics. They performed their new ballad, “Birds of a Feather,” from Eilish’s latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft. Following this appearance, “Birds of a Feather” surged to the top of the Billboard Global 200 and Billboard Global (ex-U.S.) charts, marking Eilish’s first No.1 hits on both lists. She also continues to surge with her feature on the remix of Charli XCX‘s “Guess,” which currently holds the No.3 and No.5 spots on these charts. Meanwhile, FINNEAS has recently released a new single, “For Cryin’ Out Loud!,” which is both the lead single and title track from his forthcoming second album, set to drop on October 4. Billie Eilish’s headlining tour in support of Hit Me Hard and Soft will kick off on September 29th in Quebec, Canada. The tour will include performances at New York’s Madison Square Garden in October and will conclude at Los Angeles’ Forum in December. International dates are planned for 2025.

 

HARBOURVIEW BUYS SONG ASSETS OF HITMAKER NOEL ZANCANELLA: HarbourView Equity Partners has secured a portfolio of select producer royalties and music publishing assets from Grammy award-winning producer and songwriter Noel Zancanella. Zancanella is known for his collaborations with Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, Maroon 5, Ariana Grande, Demi Lovato, Adele, and the Smashing Pumpkins. Popular tracks he has worked on include OneRepublic’s “I Lived,” “Good Life,” and “West Coast;” Ella Henderson‘s “Ghost;” and Maroon 5’s “Maps.” In 2015, Zancanella was awarded the “Songwriter of the Year” accolade at the BMI Pop Awards. His achievements continued in 2016 when he won a Grammy award for “Album of the Year” for his role in producing Taylor Swift‘s 1989, collaborating with Swift and Ryan Tedder on hits like “Welcome to New York,” and “I Know Places.” The acquisition of Zancanella’s assets enhances HarbourView’s music catalog, which now includes over 29,000 tracks spanning both master recordings and compositions. Founded by Sherrese Clarke Soares, formerly CEO of Tempo Music, HarbourView has been aggressively expanding its music and intellectual property holdings since its establishment in 2021, having acquired more than fifty music catalogs to date.

 

SECRETLY DISTRIBUTION & OH BOY RECORDS ANNOUNCE GLOBAL DEAL: Secretly Distribution has just inked a global distribution partnership with Oh Boy Records, the independent label founded in 1981 by singer-songwriter John Prine. Originally established by Prine as a platform for his independent work following his departure from a major label, Oh Boy Records, which won the A2IM Libera Award for “Small Record Label of the Year” in 2022, remains under the stewardship of the Prine family. Also, Secretly Distribution and Oh Boy Records will co-host “Independents’ Day,” a special AmericanaFest event taking place at Vinyl Tap on September 18th. The day party will highlight performances from artists affiliated with Oh Boy as well as other labels within the Secretly Distribution roster. Oh Boy’s catalog includes John Prine’s albums such as the 2018 release The Tree of Forgiveness, along with records from Kelsey Waldon, Swamp Dogg, Alice Randall, Arlo McKinley, Emily Scott Robinson, and Tré Burt. Upcoming releases under this new partnership will feature Dan Reeder‘s album Smithereens, scheduled for October, and recent signing Palmyra, who has been highlighted as one of NPR‘s “Best New Artists of 2024.” The new projects will be among the first to benefit from SD’s extensive global distribution network.

 

UMG NASHVILLE PARTNERS WITH TIMBALAND’S MOSLEY MUSIC: Universal Music Group Nashville (UMG Nashville) has joined forces with Mosley Music, the indie label established by producer, artist, and songwriter Timbaland. The partnership is designed to discover and nurture new talent, with a goal of broadening the horizons of country music by blending it with various sounds and cultural influences. Timbaland’s influence across genres (including pop, hip-hop, and country) is expected to play a key role. His notable collaborations for this venture include working with artists such as Bubba Sparxxx, For King & Country, and Brad Paisley. Cindy Mabe, Chair & CEO, UMG Nashville, said, “Over the past year, we have been working with Timbaland on the shared goal of developing talented artists together as well as bridging the gaps in sound and culture in country music. I am so happy to finally announce our collaboration with Mosley Music on the heels of his prestigious induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Timbaland is one of the most iconic producers, songwriters, and artists in the last 30 years, merging genres and opening the doors to magnify cultural impact across genres. Timbaland continues to push open the doors making innovative cultural impact by pushing boundaries and I am excited to join forces in breaking barriers in country music.” Timbaland added, “I’ve been aligned with Universal Music Group the majority of my career as an artist and with my label Mosley Music, so UMG Nashville felt like the right place to partner for us in Country.”

 

WARNER MUSIC FINLAND NAMES NEW MARKETING DIRECTOR: Warner Music has announced the promotion of Isadora Kamotskin to Marketing Director at Warner Music Finland. Kamotskin, who joined the company in 2016, will now be a key member of the management teams for both Warner Music Finland and Warner Music Live. She will report directly to Ramona Forsström, the Managing Director for the region. With over a decade of experience in the music industry, Kamotskin initially started as a Promotion Manager handling both domestic and international artists. From 2017 onwards, she concentrated on Warner Music Finland’s local talent. Furthermore, her role evolved in 2018 when she was named as Marketing Manager of the Domestic Marketing Department, also contributing to the A&R team. Throughout her tenure, Kamotskin has assisted in the success of countless Finnish artists such as Antti Tuisku, Arttu Wiskari, BEHM, Ellinoora, Ida Paul & Kalle Lindroth, Kaija Koo, SANNI, Vesala, and Vesta. Her efforts have also been vital in maintaining strong relationships with radio brands and streaming platforms. Her dedication was recognized in 2022 when she received the “Cornerstone of the Year Award” at the Music & Media Industry AwardsGala.

 

BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN MANAGER JON LANDAU SELLS MUSIC INTERESTS TO PRIMARY WAVE: Primary Wave Music has finalized an agreement with Jon Landau, the record producer and longtime manager of Bruce Springsteen. Under this deal, Primary Wave will acquire Landau’s royalties from his work as a producer and for neighboring rights accumulated over his 55-year career in the music industry. Landau’s production credits include collaborations with artists such as Bruce Springsteen and Jackson Browne. His association with Springsteen began after a review he wrote for Boston’s The Real Paper in 1974, where he famously declared Springsteen as the future of rock and roll. This review led to Landau co-producing Springsteen’s Born to Run in 1975 and eventually managing Springsteen while co-producing many of his subsequent albums, including The River, Darkness on the Edge of Town, The Promise, Born in the U.S.A., Live 1975-1985, Human Touch, Lucky Town, and Tracks. Landau also made contributions to Jackson Browne’s career, producing the album The Pretender, which not only reached the Top 5 on the Billboard 200 but was also Grammy-nominated, multi-Platinum certified, and featured on Rolling Stone‘s “500 Greatest Albums of All Time.” In addition, Landau’s debut as a producer was on the influential pre-punk album Back in the USA by MC5, who are set to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this year. In the 1990s, Landau’s work with Shania Twain was instrumental in establishing her as a leading female artist of her generation. His portfolio also includes work with Natalie Merchant, Train, Alejandro Escovedo, Livingston Taylor, and others. Landau’s contributions to the music industry were recognized in 2020 when he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and honored with the Ahmet Ertegun Award for “Lifetime Achievement.”

 

META AND UNIVERSAL MUSIC GROUP UNVEIL EXPANDED GLOBAL AGREEMENT: Meta and Universal Music Group (UMG) have unveiled an expanded global partnership that will enhance creative and financial opportunities for UMG artists and Universal Music Publishing Group songwriters across Meta’s diverse platform ecosystem, including Facebook, Instagram, Messenger, Horizon, Threads, and for the first time, WhatsApp. This renewed agreement highlights the companies’ dedication to protecting creators and ensuring fair compensation for artists and songwriters. It also focuses on tackling challenges related to unauthorized AI-generated content that could impact their work. Building on their 2017 deal—which marked UMG as the first major music company to license its catalogs across what was then Facebook—the new agreement advances this collaboration into new realms. At that time, Facebook emerged as the first major social media platform to be fully licensed for music. Meta’s platforms have been pivotal for artists and songwriters to engage with their audiences, and since 2017, the partnership has driven innovation in how licensed music is integrated across various Meta products. The expanded agreement will introduce new monetization avenues through short-form video content and extend music licensing to WhatsApp, further broadening opportunities for UMG’s roster.

 

ROBLOX STRIKES DEAL WITH DISTROKID: Roblox has entered into a new deal with DistroKid, allowing the music distributor’s indie artists to offer their tracks to Roblo’s 80 million daily users. Roblox’s revenue is skyrocketing and is on track to reach $3.5 billion (USD) this year, marking a major success for the gaming behemoth. However, independent musicians looking to profit from their music will not receive any payment for their songs played on the platform. Furthermore, the collaboration introduces a beta program, available by invitation only, where indie musicians can volunteer to have their music featured on Roblox. According to details from the beta program application, artists who participate will grant developers on Roblox complimentary access to their music. There is no guarantee that their music will be featured, as this decision rests entirely with Roblox. To be eligible for this beta program, artists must own all their publishing rights and must not be affiliated with any performance rights organizations like ASCAP, SESAC, or BMI.

 

REACH ACQUIRES WYATT DURETT PUBLISHING & SONGWRITER RIGHTS: Michael Closter, the President, Founder, & Owner of Reach Music Publishing has announced its acquisition of selected publishing assets and songwriter shares from multi-Platinum songwriter Wyatt Durrette. This deal includes rights to twenty-nine of Durrette’s songs, including global administrative rights to the acquired shares. The acquisition includes Durrette’s contributions to tracks co-written with Zac Brown, such as the 9x RIAA-certified Platinum track “Chicken Fried,” along with “Toes” and “Whatever It Is” from Zac Brown Band‘s debut album, The Foundation. Durrette has also collaborated with Luke Combs, including on the Diamond-certified (10x Platinum) single “Beautiful Crazy,” which is part of this acquisition. Durrette’s longtime publisher, Richard Blackstone of Blackstone Entertainment, will continue to serve as his publisher, sharing administrative duties with Reach Music for the acquired songs. This deal follows Reach’s recent moves to expand its catalog with classic acquisitions, including those of Judas Priest and Chuck D of Public Enemy.

 

SONY MUSIC MASTERWORKS ACQUIRES STAKE IN BLACK SKY CREATIVE: Sony Music Masterworks has taken a controlling interest in Black Sky Creative, a Los Angeles company known for its work in immersive entertainment, experiential retail, and live events. This deal will integrate Black Sky, led by Jeff Delson and his team, into Masterworks’ live entertainment sector. The partnership aims to develop experiential projects spanning music, social media, children’s media, film, television, and gaming. Delson, along with his partners Lee Rosen and Shannon Ramirez, will maintain their leadership roles and manage the company’s daily operations. Also, they will work closely with Masterworks’ President, Mark Cavell, to create a plethora of new initiatives. Recent endeavors by Black Sky include the Stranger Things: The Official Store, the AC/DC “Official Dive Bar Takeover” at the Power Trip Festival, the Olivia Rodrigo “Tour Fan Experience,” and Britney Spears – The Zone immersive fan experience. Jeff Delson, Founder of Black Sky Creative, tells A&R Worldwide, “We are thrilled to join Sony Masterworks and collaborate closely with Mark Cavell and the incredible entrepreneurial companies within the Masterworks family. Together, we are expanding the landscape of live entertainment by pioneering new compelling ways for fans to connect with their favorite IP.”

 

K-POP’S FIFTY FIFTY NEW MEMBERS ANNOUNCED AS DEPARTED BANDMATES SIGN WITH NEW LABEL: After parting ways with their former agency ATTRAKT, Saena, Aran, and Sio, once members of the K-pop girl group FIFTY FIFTY, have reportedly signed with a new label. IOK Company announced the launch of their new label, MASSIVE E&C, on August 12, with Saena, Aran, and Sio among the first artists to join. This development follows a dispute between the trio and ATTRAKT, which arose after FIFTY FIFTY’s single “Cupid” achieved success, reaching No.17 on the Billboard Hot 100. The three former members, along with another ex-member, Keena, had accused ATTRAKT of contract violations, including failure to provide financial transparency and neglecting their well-being, as reported by the Korea Times. Although Keena later withdrew her lawsuit and rejoined the agency, ATTRAKT ended Saena, Aran, and Sio’s contracts in October, claiming they had engaged in defamation. In response, ATTRAKT has been announcing replacements for FIFTY FIFTY. On August 8, the agency shared a video featuring Keena and four new members on Instagram. The new additions include CHANELLE MOON, YEWON, and HANA. The fourth new member, ATHENA, was revealed on August 11 in a video titled “We are FIFTY FIFTY.”

 

TIKTOK NAMES HEAD OF ARTIST & LABEL PARTNERSHIPS FOR EMEA REGION: Charlotte Stahl has been promoted to Head of Artist & Label Partnerships EMEA at TikTok, the short-form video and social media platform owned by ByteDance. Stahl, who joined TikTok in August 2020, previously served as Head of Music Operations DACH since October 2022 and as an Artists Relations Manager before that. In her new role, Stahl will spearhead TikTok’s music partnerships across Europe (excluding the U.K.), the Middle East, and North Africa. Prior to her tenure at TikTok, she was a Strategic Partner Manager for Artist Development at YouTube in London from 2016. Stahl’s career also includes roles such as Product Manager at Aviator Management in Hamburg from 2014 to 2015, Content Manager at Roba Publishing, and Business Development and Digital Sales positions at Sony Music in Munich. Commenting on her promotion, Stahl remarked, “This week marks my fourth anniversary at TikTok, and I am thrilled to announce my new role as Head of Artist & Label Partnerships for EMEA. After four rewarding years concentrating on the DACH region, I am excited to lead our distinguished music partnerships team across Europe (excluding the U.K.), the Middle East, and North Africa.”

 

ICONOCLAST AND UJAMA DESIGNS TO ACQUIRE IP RIGHTS OF REGGAE STARS: Iconoclast has entered into a strategic alliance with Ujama Designs to secure the intellectual property rights of reggae musicians, starting with Jamaican artist Half Pint. Half Pint, whose real name is Lindon Andrew Roberts, is renowned for tracks such as “Greetings,” “Mr Landlord,” and “Winsome,” the latter of which was covered by the Rolling Stones. His track “Loving” was sampled in Sublime‘s song “What I Got.” The partnership aims to preserve and amplify the cultural legacy of reggae music, with the initial focus on acquiring music publishing rights for Half Pint’s work. Established in 2021 and led by executive Olivier Chastan, Iconoclast is set to enhance the intellectual property and heritage of influential artists. Its roster includes names such as Tony Bennett, Robbie Robertson, Marianne Faithfull, David Cassidy, and Giorgio Moroder. Ujama Designs, under the leadership of Robert Oyugi, is known for music publishing, recording, distribution, talent booking, and tour management, with a specialization in reggae, Afro-pop, and world music. Representing Iconoclast were Joe Serling and Greg Brooks from Serling Rooks Hunter McKoy Worob & Averill, while Half Pint was represented by Peter Csathy of Creative Media, and David Baram of Baram & Kaiser.

 

GABRIELLE CAVASSA SIGNS WITH BLUE NOTE RECORDS: Blue Note Records has announced the signing of Gabrielle Cavassa, who is set to record her debut album for the label, scheduled for release in 2025. Also, Cavassa has joined forces with the booking agency B Natural. Cavassa first gained attention through her standout collaboration with saxophonist Joshua Redman on his 2023 Blue Note album where are we. Furthermore, she has created reinterpretations of jazz classics and tracks by artists like Bruce Springsteen, Jimmy Webb, and Sufjan Stevens. Originally from Escondido, California, Cavassa developed a passion for music at an early age and pursued a Bachelor of Arts in Music from San Francisco State University. However, she credits her true education to performing in Bay Area jazz clubs during her college years. In 2017, Cavassa relocated to New Orleans, where her rise in the jazz world was marked by winning the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition in 2021, following the independent release of her self-titled debut album in 2020. Since the release of where are we, Cavassa has been touring with the Joshua Redman Group, an ensemble that has performed across the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

 

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