A&R WORLDWIDE TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS AS ONE OF THE MOST TRUSTED & IMPACTFUL PLATFORMS IN ARTIST DISCOVERY AND DEVELOPMENT AND GLOBAL MUSIC BUSINESS CONNECTOR
A&R Worldwide (www.anrworldwide.com) will celebrate its 25th anniversary next year, marking a quarter-century as one of the music industry’s most respected global platforms for artist discovery, executive networking, business and creative development, and international connectivity.
Founded in 2002 and launched in 2003 by Sat Bisla, A&R Worldwide has become a trusted bridge connecting artists, managers, labels, publishers, media, technology companies, booking agents, music supervisors, brands, executives, and radio worldwide. Over the past twenty-five years, the company has built a reputation for integrity, credibility, taste, and long-term relationship building in an ever-evolving music landscape.
From its earliest years, A&R Worldwide established itself as an international conduit and connective force across the music, media, technology, and entertainment ecosystem, often supporting acts before mainstream recognition and success.
A&R Worldwide and its founder have played an early role in supporting artists including Adele, Coldplay, Muse, Katy Perry, Jessie J, Sia, Dido, LMFAO, The Temper Trap, Sam Sparro, Lily Allen, Corinne Bailey Rae, White Lies, Ting Tings, Laura Izibor, Soshy, Sheppard, Lime Cordiale, La Roux, Frank Turner, Lorde, Gavin James, Forest Blakk, Wolfmother, Picture This, Jeremy Loops, and many others before worldwide success followed.
What has consistently distinguished A&R Worldwide is trusted curation, authentic relationships, and an ability to identify emerging cultural and creative movements before they become mainstream.
The company’s global impact expanded further through MUSEXPO, widely recognized as “The United Nations of Music,” which has become one of the world’s premier international music business conferences and showcase events. MUSEXPO has welcomed influential executives, creatives, entrepreneurs, and leaders from companies including YouTube, Spotify, Netflix, Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group, Republic Records, Shazam, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, Amazon, MGM Studios, EA Games, FOX, ABC, Google, and Apple, to name just a few.
To commemorate its 25th anniversary milestone, A&R Worldwide will host one of its renowned executive networking receptions during the 2027 edition of MUSEXPO in Burbank, bringing together leaders from music, media, technology, gaming, branding, sync licensing, live entertainment, publishing, and artist management for a special evening celebrating creativity, collaboration, and global community.
Industry leaders have long praised the company’s influence and impact. Craig Kallman, Chief Music Officer of Warner Music Group, has commented, “Sat Bisla [A&R Worldwide] is brilliantly connected on a worldwide basis with terrific relationships to unearth the next great talent.”
Steve Schnur, Worldwide Executive & President of Music at Electronic Arts (EA Games), has stated, “As tastemakers, our network includes A&R Worldwide as a critical resource. Their vast knowledge and connections add to their ability to musically future forecast with us.”
Mamie Coleman, Executive VP & Head of FOX Entertainment Music, comments, “I have had the privilege of collaborating with A&R Worldwide and its Founder Sat Bisla for decades. He is a unique individual with an extraordinary presence, one that evokes the very essence of a mythical unicorn within the vast expanse of the music industry. Sat has had a profound impact on innumerable careers, as he has extended his wisdom and mentorship to countless musicians and executives alike. It is an absolute honor to count myself as a member of his community alongside such an inspired group of esteemed individuals and trailblazers who are an endless source of inspiration within the business.”
Reflecting on the company’s 25-year journey, Sat Bisla stated, “When I launched A&R Worldwide, the vision was never simply about business; it was about creating a trusted global community where great music, meaningful relationships, and authentic opportunities could thrive together. Twenty-five years later, our team [Monte, Joe, Dusty, William, Daniel] and I remain deeply grateful to every artist, executive, creative, entrepreneur, media partner, and friend around the world who believed in what we were building together.”
The original concept of A&R Worldwide was created on the heels of A&R Network, which Sat had created in 1998 and sold to Clear Channel Radio (now iHeart Media) and Clear Channel Entertainment (now Live Nation) in late 2000. Bisla was tasked as the global VP A&R Network to run the global A&R creative and business operations of the highly influential organizations, whereas he, along with radio programmers, DJs, and booking agents, would interact with tips on emerging local and regional talent to be showcased on the platform to labels, publishers, music supervisors, managers, media, and others. Sat was responsible for helping discover and present numerous artists to labels, publishers, and booking agents, some of whom signed seven-figure signing deals, including Bonnie McKee, Missy Higgins, and Keane, to name but a few. Ironically, none of these artists had data, just pure talent, which Sat identified very early on and helped introduce to the U.S. and global record labels, publishers, agents, and others.
As A&R Worldwide enters its next chapter, the company remains grounded in the principles that defined its foundation: artist advocacy, trusted relationships, cultural discovery, development, global connectivity, innovation, and meaningful collaboration.
At a time when the music business is more interconnected than ever, A&R Worldwide’s 25-year legacy stands as a reminder that lasting influence is built not merely through innovation but through authenticity, trust, consistency, human relationships, and an unwavering commitment to championing creative and business impact across the music industry worldwide.
For more information, visit A&R Worldwide’s official website at www.anrworldwide.com, or contact info@anrworldwide.com.
REPUBLIC COLLECTIVE STRIKES JV WITH ZIZA INC. FOCUSED ON BREAKING SOUTH ASIAN ARTISTS GLOBALLY
REPUBLIC Collective has joined forces with ZIZA Inc. to launch ZIZA Records, a new global label dedicated to discovering, developing, and elevating South Asian talent worldwide.
Founded by entrepreneur Shivam Malhotra, ZIZA Inc. is a New York-based media and entertainment company. Malhotra, who also serves as CEO of Malsons, brings extensive experience in the South Asian music sector through Malsons Ventures, which the company says has helped generate more than ten billion streams globally.
Positioned at the crossroads of South Asia and major international markets, ZIZA Records will focus on artist development, catalog expansion, and audience growth, with a particular emphasis on diaspora talent. The label plans to identify and support emerging artists with strong momentum across North America, the U.K., Europe, Australia, and the Middle East.
Malhotra and his affiliated companies have previously collaborated with leading South Asian artists, including Shubh and Dhanda Nyoliwala. Building on that foundation, ZIZA Records aims to create new opportunities through global distribution, sync licensing, strategic marketing initiatives, and catalog development. Beyond music releases, the venture will also explore brand partnerships, live events, and cross-border collaborations designed to connect South Asian artists with broader international audiences.
“This partnership reflects the continued global expansion of South Asian music,” said Jeffrey Remedios, President & CEO of REPUBLIC Collective. “Shivam and the ZIZA team have built a strong foundation in the space, and we see an opportunity to grow that internationally together.”
“REPUBLIC Collective represents the gold standard of modern music culture and global artist development,” said Malhotra. “For us, this partnership is the beginning of a long-term movement to position South Asian music at the center of the global mainstream. Jeffrey, Avery [Lipman], and the entire Republic team understand both the cultural value and the commercial scale of what is coming next. Their belief in our vision, combined with their unmatched global infrastructure, makes Republic the ideal partner to build ZIZA Records into a defining force for this generation of artists. Together, we are creating a platform that will not only break talent globally but reshape how the world experiences South Asian music.”
UNIVERSAL MUSIC CHINA SIGNS JASON ZHANG AND ACQUIRES CARRIER CREATIVE CATALOG
Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) has signed a comprehensive partnership agreement with Chinese singer, songwriter, and producer Jason Zhang. The deal has been structured in collaboration with Zhang’s independent label, Planet Culture, and extends beyond recorded music to encompass artist management, live performances, international expansion, and broader long-term career development initiatives.
Known professionally in China as Zhang Jie, the artist has established himself as one of the country’s most successful music stars over a career spanning more than 20 years. Rising to prominence in the mid-2000s, Zhang later launched his own label, Planet Culture, in 2016 as a platform to support his creative and business ambitions. Over the course of his career, Zhang has released more than 17 albums and EPs and built a massive audience across China’s digital landscape. According to UMGC, he now commands a social media following exceeding 100 million fans across various Chinese platforms.
His achievements have also earned international recognition. In 2014, Zhang became the first Chinese artist to receive the International Artist Award at the American Music Awards. More recently, Zhang completed a concert residency at Beijing National Stadium, widely known as the Bird’s Nest. During the spring of 2026, he performed 16 consecutive sold-out shows over a 24-day period, attracting a combined audience of more than one million people. UMGC noted that the achievement established a new record for the highest number of performances ever presented during a single-stop stadium engagement. The Beijing concerts formed part of Zhang’s FUTURE·LIVE – Leave For 1982 World Tour, which UMGC described as the most ambitious and expansive touring project of his career to date.
In other UMGC news, the company has expanded its catalog holdings with the acquisition of the recorded music rights to the Carrier Creative catalog, a collection widely associated with the golden era of Mandopop during the 1980s and 1990s. Announced on June 8 during UMGC’s inaugural China Summit in Beijing, the acquisition brings a significant body of influential Chinese-language recordings under the company’s ownership.
The catalog features music from some of the era’s most celebrated artists, including the pop group Little Tigers and singer-songwriter Johnny Chiang, as well as performers such as Nicky Wu, Alec Su, You Huan Pai Dui, Hong Hai Er, and Girl Group.
The deal builds on a partnership established in 2025 between UMGC and Taiwan-based entertainment company Skyhigh Entertainment, which previously oversaw the catalog. Through that collaboration, the companies undertook an extensive restoration and preservation effort that resulted in the remastering and global digital relaunch of more than 600 recordings spanning sixty-six albums.
According to UMGC, the project included the restoration and reintroduction of twenty-four albums from Little Tigers and Johnny Chiang, making the music accessible to audiences worldwide through major streaming platforms. UMGC described the Carrier Creative catalog as one of the most important collections in the history of contemporary Chinese music, noting that it played a defining role in the emergence of modern Chinese-language youth pop culture. The company said the repertoire helped shape the soundtrack of an era and continues to hold deep cultural and emotional significance for multiple generations of listeners across Chinese-speaking markets.
SEEKER MUSIC AND VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP ANNOUNCE GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION DEAL
Seeker Music Group has entered a worldwide distribution partnership with Virgin Music Group. The agreement extends Seeker’s international reach across its portfolio of more than 19,000 copyrights and recordings, valued at over $400 million (USD).
Under the partnership, Virgin Music Group will provide global distribution services for Seeker’s existing recording catalog and future releases, supporting the company’s continued expansion with enhanced marketing, strategy, and operational infrastructure designed to drive audience growth worldwide.
Since its launch in 2020, Seeker has differentiated itself through a creator-first approach to music acquisition and catalog development. The company focuses on identifying overlooked opportunities within music it is passionate about, then unlocking new cultural and commercial value through hands-on creative stewardship. Its strategy includes innovative sampling and interpolation initiatives, songwriter and producer collaborations, sync and licensing opportunities, short-form content campaigns, and tailored catalog marketing efforts centered on artist storytelling.
This partnership is a game changer for Seeker in how we elevate our catalog and artists,” said Evan Bogart, CEO, Seeker Music. “We are so excited about the cultural impact and importance of the records we can support, and Virgin is the best at championing independent catalogs and artists on a global scale. Whether it is Nu Shooz, Run the Jewels, Joan Jett, or Christopher Cross, we can now celebrate our music with more energy and resources than ever before. Seeker is here to build, preserve, and extend legacies, and Virgin is the perfect partner to help us scale that mission.”
Seeker has supported releases involving artists such as Mario, Coco Jones, Teyana Taylor, Megan Thee Stallion, Chris Brown, and Pop Smoke. The company has aligned its creative strategy with focused catalog revitalization efforts, including its work with Christopher Cross, whose Spotify monthly audience has grown from approximately 2.5 million to more than eight million listeners. Seeker has also developed a steady pipeline of catalog-driven projects, including reissues, demos, remixes, and newly reimagined recordings. Recent releases have included archival and previously unheard material from Run the Jewels and Christopher Cross, alongside collaborations with artists such as Allen Stone, Benny Sings, Tayla Parx, and Say She She. Additional reissue and remix projects featuring Joan Jett, Christopher Cross, and Nu Shooz are currently in development.
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For more information contact: info@anrworldwide.com
Each week, A&R Worldwide shares a snapshot of creatives and executives that we have collaborated or worked with in various music markets around the world, albeit in recent or previous times!
A&R Worldwide continues to help support the development of global artists and recently helped with A&R support to one of Indonesia’s most successful and enduring pop-rock bands, D’MASIV, with a new full-length album. A&R Worldwide helped bring in the award-winning British producer and mixer Danton Supple (Coldplay, Starsailor, Elbow, U2) to work on the band’s forthcoming album, which was recorded at the world-renowned Abbey Road Studios in London, England.
D’MASIV shot to national fame after winning the prestigious A Mild Live Wanted competition (2007), which launched their multi-Platinum career. Their debut album Perubahan delivered massive Indonesian anthems like “Cinta Ini Membunuhku,” “Di Antara Kalian,” and “Merindukanmu.” Their catalog is defined by emotional lyrics and unforgettable melodic hooks.
The band’s fanbase is known passionately as “Massivitas,” their dedicated fanbase spans across Southeast Asia. This loyal community has kept the band at the top of streaming charts and packed into stadiums for over two decades.
While D’MASIV dominates the Indonesian domestic market, global music development platform A&R Worldwide has long been instrumental in bridging Indonesian talent with international success.
A&R Worldwide played a pivotal role in the trajectory of the indie rock band The Temper Trap, which features Indonesian-born vocalist and frontman Dougie Mandagi. A&R Worldwide was crucial in helping the band secure their foundational signing with Korda Marshall’s Infectious Records in the U.K. after their unforgettable showcase at MUSEXPO Europe in 2008. Subsequently, thereafter, A&R Worldwide introduced the band early on to legendary music executive Daniel Glass, setting the stage for their eventual U.S. signing with Glassnote Records.
SUNDAY (1994)
Sunday (1994) are back with “Devotion,” a hazy, emotionally rich centerpiece from their expanding sonic world, one that feels both intimate and cinematic in equal measure. Built from the creative partnership of Paige Turner and Lee Newell, the track captures the duo’s signature tension between romanticism and realism, where love, memory, and self-reflection blur into something beautifully unresolved. “Devotion” is a love letter scrawled on the back of a beer mat, about a night in an English pub where the ceilings sag, the ale is flat, and the heart, against all good sense, rises. Originally featured on the band’s EP of the same name and now included on the newly expanded deluxe edition via RCA Records, the track drifts in with a soft-focus glow, gauzy guitars, understated rhythms, and vocals that feel almost whispered, yet beneath that dreamlike surface lies something far more complex. It is a song about the weight of attachment, the quiet intensity of giving yourself to something (or someone) completely, even when it begins to unravel. That cinematic instinct runs through everything Sunday (1994) creates. Written and recorded in their one-bedroom apartment, their music carries a handmade intimacy that contrasts with its widescreen emotional scope. There is a sense of nostalgia throughout, echoes of ‘90s indie and melancholic pop, but it never feels derivative. Instead, they reshape those influences into something distinctly their own: dreamy, slightly surreal, and laced with a knowing sense of humor. Following a run of sold-out shows and major festival appearances, the band has quietly built a world that listeners want to step into and stay in. “Devotion” deepens that connection. Experience “Devotion” HERE and contact Alice Mortimer for additional information on behalf of Sunday (1994).
THE KELLOWS
The Kellows kick off 2026 in style with “Eve,” a bold and electrifying new single that finds the Sheffield quartet taking another confident step toward becoming one of the U.K.’s most exciting emerging indie-rock bands. Packed with soaring melodies, driving guitars, and a newfound emotional depth, the track showcases a group rapidly evolving beyond their years while retaining the raw energy that first put them on the map. Recorded in Sheffield with renowned producer Alan Smyth (Pulp, Arctic Monkeys, Reverend and The Makers), “Eve” carries the unmistakable spirit of the city’s rich musical heritage. Yet rather than simply looking backward, the band uses that foundation to push forward, blending gritty alt-rock urgency with a more expansive and introspective approach to songwriting. Led by vocalist and guitarist Will Harris alongside Evan Applegate, Charlie May, and Rueben Huddleston, The Kellows continue to demonstrate remarkable maturity for a band still in their teens. While previous singles such as “Breathe Me In” and “Do You Want Me To?” established their knack for infectious hooks and explosive live energy, “Eve” reveals another side of the band, exploring themes of change, growth, and self-discovery with a confidence that feels both authentic and compelling. The release arrives amid a surge of momentum for the Sheffield outfit, whose rise has been fueled by support from influential tastemakers including BBC Radio 6 Music’s Steve Lamacq, Radio X’s John Kennedy, BBC Radio 1, and Passport Approved. Fresh from a standout performance at SXSW London alongside artists including Circa Waves, Korda Korder, and Chavez Cartel, The Kellows continue to build a reputation as one of the leading voices in the U.K.’s new wave of guitar music. Watch the visual for “Eve” HERE.
“PASSPORT APPROVED” PLAYLIST FOR Sunday, June 14th, 2026: The weekly new music radio show is heard on over 50 radio stations worldwide on six continents weekly including the U.S., Germany, U.K., Canada, Peru, India, Australia, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa, Egypt, Bolivia, Indonesia, Philippines, Holland, Dominican Republic, and many other territories. More information can be found HERE.
NOGA EREZ – “Stuck in Heaven” (Neon Gold/Atlantic Records, N. America)
TEMPLES – “Jet Stream Heart” (Heavenly Recordings, U.K.)
ROYEL OTIS – “Sweet Hallelujah” (Ourness, Australia)
RUM JUNGLE – “Coal Dust” (Sureshaker, Australia)
ADMT – “Turn the Page” (BMG, U.K.)
DOTAN – “Last Goodbyes” (Universal Music, Holland)
BALU BRIGADA – “Politix” (Warner Music Group, Australasia)
MEDUZA FT. HENRY CAMAMILE – “Don’t Wanna Go Home” (Island Records, U.K.)
MEEK – “Fabulous” (BMG, U.K.)
SPACEY JANE – “Do You Really Love Her” (Dew Process, Australia)
JERUB – “Stay” (Elevate Music, U.K.)
THE CLOCKWORKS – “Magnificent Seven” (Creation23, Ireland)
OVERPASS – “Heaven” (Communion Records, U.K.)
TOVE STYRKE – “Prayer” (Bud Fox, Sweden)
RHETT REPKO – “Bad At Love” (Unsigned, U.S.)
GIRLI – “Romantic Sadness” (Virgin EMI Records, U.K.)
MATTHEW MOLE – “In My Head” (Universal Music, South Africa)
SEX MASK – “Cold” (Unsigned, Australia)
SEAFRET FT. JAMES MORRISON – “Driftwood” (Nettwerk, U.K.)
MASTER PEACE – “My Guitar” (PMR Records, U.K.)
LOUIS OLIVER – “Tell Me” (Unsigned, U.K.)
VELLA – “Somebody Else” (Universal Music, Sweden)
THE SOOKS – “Take It Slow” (Good Intent, Australia)
YONAKA – “Miss Millennial” (Distiller Records, U.K.)
THOMAS AZIER – “Year in A Spiral” (Hylas Records, Holland)
GEN AND THE DEGENERATES – “Favorite Jumper” (Marshall Records, U.K.)
LUSAINT – “Love Bites Back” (Heavenly Fire, U.K.)
CARDINALS – “St. Agnes” (So Young Records, Ireland)
ALEX SPENCER – “Farewell to Forever” (Modern Sky, U.K.)
CHLOE PARCHE – “Silver Bullet” (AWAL, Australia)
D’MASIV – “On Our Own” (Unsigned, Indonesia)
LIME GARDEN – “All Bad Parts” (So Young Records, U.K.)
UNIVERSAL MUSIC PUBLISHING GROUP UNVEILS NEW BRAND IDENTITY: Universal Music Publishing Group (UMPG) has launched a new global brand identity, introducing an updated visual and strategic positioning designed to highlight the enduring cultural impact of songs and the songwriters behind them. According to UMPG, the rebrand establishes a distinct voice, visual language, and global identity centered on the value and influence of songwriting. The new branding is now featured across the company’s redesigned website, with a symbol that reflects UMPG’s worldwide community of creators and the ability of music to transcend borders, languages, and cultures. As part of the rollout, UMPG is also launching Publishing 101, a new educational content series aimed at making the music publishing business more accessible and easier to understand. Beginning June 16, the short-form video series will feature members of UMPG’s global team explaining key areas of the industry, including A&R, sync licensing, royalties, administration, and the broader role publishers play in supporting songwriters throughout their careers. New episodes of Publishing 101 will be released weekly on Tuesdays at 5PM U.K. time across UMPG’s digital channels, including its website, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube platforms. The new brand identity was developed in partnership with creative agency GrandArmy, whose portfolio includes work with brands such as A24, NPR, Adidas, and Lonely Planet. UMPG’s in-house audio branding team also created a custom sonic identity to accompany the animated version of the new logo.
POSITION MUSIC SIGNS ASHLEY FULTON TO A WORLDWIDE PUBLISHING DEAL: Position Music has signed songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and artist Ashley Fulton to a worldwide publishing agreement, Founder & CEO Tyler Bacon announced. Based in Los Angeles and known professionally as y3kfae, Fulton was brought to the company by A&R executives Jake Versluis and Shannon Corsi. A graduate of USC Thornton’s music production program, Fulton has built a reputation as a creator with experience spanning pop, dance, cinematic, and rhythm-driven music. Fulton’s growing list of credits includes co-writing “Come Play,” featuring Stray Kids, Young Miko, and Tom Morello, from Netflix’s Arcane and Riot Games’ League of Legends universe. She has also collaborated with Mattel, contributing to dozens of branded content releases for franchises including Barbie, American Girl, and Monster High. As both songwriter and producer, Fulton has collaborated with artists such as Annahstasia, Skrillex, Chris Lake, Salute, MPH, Louis The Child, and FISHER. Under her y3kfae project, her music has attracted support from leading electronic artists, including Thomas Bangalter of Daft Punk, Fred again.., Dom Dolla, and Swedish House Mafia. “It is rare to see a talent integrate into our creative ecosystem as quickly or as effectively as Ashley has. She is a ‘finisher’ in every sense of the word – a brilliant producer and equally incredible songwriter. We are honored to officially welcome her to the roster and help shape the next chapter of her journey,” said Jake Versluis, Partner, Position Music.
SYMPHONIC PROMOTES FOUR EXECUTIVES: Symphonic has announced a series of executive leadership promotions, elevating Janette Berrios to Sr. VP, Corporate Marketing; Ed Poston to Sr. VP, Head of A&R; Lane Roney to Sr. VP, Finance; and Taylor Garland to Executive VP & CFO. The promotions reflect the company’s continued growth and investment in key leadership across marketing, creative, finance, and operations. Based in Tampa, Berrios has led Symphonic’s corporate marketing efforts since 2022, assisting in the company’s expansion across the U.K., Europe, and Asia-Pacific regions. She also oversees the Women Empowered mentorship program and the Creative Connections networking initiative, both designed to foster industry engagement and professional development. Poston, who joined Symphonic in 2025 as Head of A&R, now steps into the Sr. VP role after building and leading a global creative team of 36. His roster of collaborators includes artists such as Aurora, Bombay Bicycle Club, Childish Gambino, Ed Sheeran, and Walshy Fire, while recent signings under his leadership include, They Might Be Giants, Lake Street Dive, BINI, and new releases from Tim McGraw. Roney, who joined the company in 2021, has been promoted from VP, Finance to Sr. VP, Finance after helping lead financial operations through Symphonic’s $37 million (USD) Series B funding round. Garland, who has served as CFO since 2017, expands her responsibilities as Executive VP & CFO, adding oversight of Human Resources and Strategic Partnerships to her existing leadership role. She will continue working closely with Jorge Brea, Founder & CEO, as Symphonic advances its next phase of growth.
UMG EXPANDS DEF JAM RECORDINGS’ GLOBAL REACH WITH NORTH AFRICA DIVISION IN MOROCCO: Universal Music Morocco & North Africa has expanded its presence in the region with the launch of Def Jam Recordings North Africa, establishing the hip-hop label’s new headquarters in Casablanca, Morocco, to serve the wider Maghreb market. The move marks the latest step in Def Jam’s international growth strategy and further strengthens Universal Music Group’s investment in the rapidly expanding Middle East and North Africa music landscape. According to recent IFPI figures, MENA was the world’s second-fastest-growing recorded music market in 2025, posting revenue growth of 15.2%. Def Jam Recordings North Africa officially launched on June 10 with an event in Casablanca attended by artists, songwriters, executives, and cultural leaders from across the region. The label revealed an initial roster focus that includes newly signed artist Najm alongside emerging talents SHR and Aujiss, while also highlighting collaborations with leading Moroccan producers Oldygothesound, Bayadis, and Nouvo. Since its founding in 1984, Def Jam has assisted in shaping global hip-hop culture. The North Africa launch joins the label’s growing international network, which now includes operations across Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Europe, and China. Universal Music first established a local presence in Morocco in 2019 and has steadily expanded its regional capabilities, including the launch of a dedicated artist and label services division in 2022. The company reports robust performance from its roster across rap, hip-hop, and pop, with artists regularly topping charts, setting streaming milestones, and helping fuel the rise of a new generation of North African talent.
MERLIN AND JAMEN CAPITAL TO ACQUIRE CURVE ROYALTY SYSTEMS FROM VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP: Virgin Music Group has reached an agreement to divest Curve Royalty Systems to Jamen Capital and Merlin, marking the next step in the regulatory process surrounding Universal Music Group’s acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings (DMH). The sale of Curve was a requirement imposed by the European Commission (EC) as part of its approval process for Universal Music Group’s purchase of DMH through Virgin Music Group, which received clearance in February this year. While the companies have confirmed the transaction, no financial details have been made public. The deal is still awaiting final approval from the EC before it can be formally completed. Following the acquisition, Curve will continue operating independently under the leadership of its current President, Richard Leach, who will remain at the helm as CEO. The company’s existing management team and operational staff will also stay in place, ensuring continuity across the business. Under the new ownership arrangement, Jamen Capital and Merlin will work together as strategic partners. Through this partnership, Curve is expected to accelerate its international expansion plans, strengthen its market position, and invest in the development of new products and services. According to the companies involved, the ownership structure has been intentionally designed to safeguard Curve’s neutrality and independence during a period of significant transformation within the music technology industry. The transaction also highlights the increasing importance of royalty management infrastructure as the music business faces more complex global rights administration, growing metadata requirements, and heightened demands for accurate reporting and royalty distribution. Curve currently provides royalty processing and accounting solutions for both the recorded music and music publishing sectors. Its client base includes Armada, Defected, Epitaph, Exceleration, Reservoir, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Virgin Music Group, Netflix, and BBC/Demon, among others.
BECAUSE MUSIC NAMES PEDRO WINTER AS GLOBAL HEAD OF CREATION & CO-MD OF FRENCH DIVISION: Pedro Winter has been named Global Head of Creation & Co-Managing Director of Because Music France. A producer, entrepreneur, artistic director, and influential figure in French electronic music, Winter will join Because Music’s Paris headquarters, bringing decades of creative and industry leadership experience. Best known as the Founder of Ed Banger Records, launched in 2003, Winter helped build one of France’s most influential independent labels, developing artists including DJ Mehdi, SebastiAn, Uffie, Mr. Oizo, Myd, and Justice. His appointment builds on nearly two decades of collaboration between Ed Banger and Because Music, whose strategic and artistic partnership began in 2005. As Co-Managing Director of Because Music France, Winter will oversee the company’s front-office operations across marketing, A&R, promotion, catalog, digital, commercial, direct-to-consumer, sync, merchandising, brand partnerships, and visual strategy. In addition to his leadership role in France, Winter will serve as Global Head of Creation, guiding Because Music’s creative vision worldwide across both audiovisual and sonic projects. “We are delighted to welcome Pedro, who has been working alongside us for so long with his outstanding label,” said Emmanuel de Buretel, CEO & Co-Founder of Because Music Group. “He joins us today with a shared ambition to create even greater synergy and to go further together in our mission to discover and develop artists on a global scale. His energy, experience, and artistic talent will be invaluable assets for the years ahead at Because France, as well as in his role within the global creative pool of the Because Group.”
THE NERVE MEDIA GROUP NAMES NICK BENNETT CEO: The Nerve Media Group has appointed Nick Bennett as Chief Executive Officer as the company broadens its role as a content IP specialist, helping television production companies unlock growth opportunities across digital, branded content, and audience engagement. A long-standing music rights partner to nearly 600 U.K. television production companies, The Nerve Media Group is expanding its services beyond music licensing to support producers in building sustainable revenue streams and extending the value of their intellectual property beyond traditional broadcast. Bennett joins the business with more than two decades of experience spanning music, advertising, digital media, and brand strategy. Previously, as a Managing Consultant at WPP, he later established an international consulting practice, advising brands including Spotify, Virgin Media O2, Nike, Netflix, and Nestlé across Europe, the Americas, and the Middle East. Alongside Bennett’s appointment, The Nerve Media Group has launched a new advisory group focused on helping independent production companies scale audiences, develop new monetization opportunities, and maximize the long-term value of their content. Chaired by Bennett, the advisory group includes former Channel 4 interim CEO Jonathan Allan, BAFTA-winning executive David Alter, former Warner Bros. Discovery Sr. VP and Head of Production Sara Kozak, television executive Hamo Forsyth, and branded content specialist Kevin Molloy. In addition to its fully cleared music library, The Nerve’s enhanced offering will provide training, strategic guidance, and access to industry expertise, helping production companies explore direct-to-consumer models, brand partnerships, and new commercial opportunities beyond the initial broadcast window.
WARNER MUSIC GROUP TO ACQUIRE SUREEL AI: Warner Music Group has signed an agreement to acquire AI attribution and rights-tracking platform Sureel AI, strengthening its efforts to ensure creators are recognized and compensated as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly integrated into the music ecosystem. The acquisition supports WMG’s broader strategy of protecting artists, songwriters, and rights holders by enabling greater transparency around how copyrighted works are used in AI-generated content and model training. Sureel’s patented technology creates a unique “AI DNA” profile for individual works, allowing users to identify and track how specific creative elements are referenced, learned, or replicated by AI systems. The platform also provides intellectual property provenance, compliance, and audit reporting, model optimization tools, and AI-focused business intelligence. Beyond music, Sureel has developed a growing suite of name, image, and likeness attribution capabilities, designed to monitor the use of artist voices, visual likenesses, performance styles, AI-generated avatars, and voice clones across generative AI applications. The company’s registry currently contains millions of music assets and has been built to support large-scale attribution across additional media formats, including video and imagery. Following the acquisition, Sureel AI will continue operating as an independent platform serving the wider music and AI industries, while benefiting from Warner Music Group’s resources, infrastructure, and strategic backing.
PRIMARY WAVE MUSIC PARTNERS WITH THE ESTATE OF DONNA SUMMER: Primary Wave Music has announced a new partnership with the estate of Donna Summer, expanding its portfolio with interests in the artist’s music publishing catalog, master recordings, and name, image, and likeness rights. Through the agreement, Primary Wave will work closely with Summer’s estate to develop new opportunities across marketing, branding, digital media, sync licensing, and film and television projects, while leveraging the company’s global publishing and marketing infrastructure. Widely recognized as the “Queen of Disco,” Donna Summer sold more than 100 million records worldwide and remains one of the best-selling artists in music history. Her catalog includes timeless hits such as “Hot Stuff,” “Bad Girls,” “I Feel Love,” “Last Dance,” “She Works Hard for the Money,” “On the Radio,” and “Love to Love You Baby.” Summer’s career produced numerous chart records, including three consecutive double albums that reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and four No. 1 singles within a 13-month span. Her influence continues to resonate across generations, with songs like “I Feel Love” widely regarded as among the most important recordings in pop music history. Also, Donna was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2021, the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2025, and received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the early 90s.
WILLARD AHDRITZ TO LEAD FUNDING ROUND IN MADVERSE MUSIC GROUP: Willard Ahdritz, Founder of Kobalt Music Group, is backing music technology company Madverse Music Group through a new investment led by Ahdritz Capital, his personal investment firm. The financing marks Madverse’s first institutional funding round and is structured as a Series Seed investment. While financial terms were not disclosed, the company confirmed that Ahdritz Capital has signed a binding agreement to lead the round, which remains subject to customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, Ahdritz will join Madverse’s Board of Directors. Additional investors participating in the round include Mohnish Sani and Suraj Sani of SumoSan Ventures, Ashish Jain, and Sidharth Kohli of 10X Global, and Vijay Sajjanhar of Marigold Capital. Founded in 2023 by CEO Rohan Nesho Jain and headquartered in New Delhi, Madverse is building AI-powered infrastructure for the music industry, spanning distribution, publishing, marketing, rights management, and fan engagement. The company plans to use the new capital to accelerate global expansion across its technology and artist service offerings. Madverse currently supports more than 200,000 independent artists and labels across 45-plus countries, up significantly from the 150,000 it reported earlier this year. According to the company, artists using the platform have generated more than three billion streams collectively, with platform growth increasing by 25% over the past month.
NMPA STRIKES LICENSING DEALS WITH AI MUSIC COMPANIES KLAY AND UDIO: The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) has announced two agreements with AI music companies Udio and Klay. Speaking at the NMPA’s annual meeting at Alice Tully Hall in New York City’s Lincoln Center, NMPA President & CEO David Israelite described the Udio agreement as the first industry-wide licensing deal between music publishers and a major AI music platform. He also noted that it is the first arrangement to place equal value on both songs and sound recordings for AI training purposes. The organization also revealed a licensing agreement with Klay, one of the few AI music companies, to secure rights before launching its service. Klay’s upcoming Large Music Model will be trained exclusively in licensed music, with the platform expected to launch later this summer under the new agreement. The announcements build on a growing number of licensing partnerships emerging across the AI music landscape as rights holders and technology companies seek collaborative frameworks for innovation. During his address, Israelite also highlighted the increasing challenge of streaming fraud, warning that advances in AI are accelerating and amplifying fraudulent activity across digital platforms. To address these concerns and foster greater industry collaboration on AI-related issues, the NMPA will host an AI Songs Summit in Nashville this autumn. The event will bring together music publishers, performing rights organizations (PROs), and songwriter advocacy groups to develop a more unified industry approach to the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence.
DEEZER LAUNCHES ONLINE AI MUSIC DETECTOR COVERING 20 STREAMING PLATFORMS: Deezer has unveiled a new free online AI music detector designed to help users identify AI-generated tracks across a wide range of streaming platforms. Available in 27 languages, the tool supports playlists from twenty of the most widely used digital streaming services, allowing listeners to analyze their playlists and determine whether they contain music created by artificial intelligence. Users simply connect their account, and the detector scans the selected playlist using Deezer’s proprietary AI detection technology. The launch comes amid growing consumer demand for greater transparency around AI-generated content. According to a recent survey conducted by Deezer and Ipsos across eight countries, 80% of respondents believe AI-created music should be clearly labeled, while 73% want streaming services to visibly identify AI-generated tracks. Deezer’s detection system has been active on its own platform since early 2025, helping the company monitor the rapid growth of synthetic music uploads. The streaming service reports that it now receives nearly 75,000 AI-generated tracks every day, representing more than 44% of all new music delivered to the platform daily. The company has also continued to expand its efforts around content transparency. In 2024, Deezer became the first major streaming platform to explicitly label AI-generated music, and throughout 2025, it detected and tagged more than 13.4 million AI-created tracks. With the new web-based detector, Deezer is extending that technology beyond its own ecosystem, giving music fans greater visibility into the growing presence of AI-generated content across the streaming landscape.
INVERTED MUSIC U.K. SIGNS AUSTIN LICHTENSTEIN TO GLOBAL ADMIN DEAL: Inverted Music U.K. has entered into an exclusive worldwide publishing administration agreement with Los Angeles-based songwriter, producer, arranger, and multi-instrumentalist Austin Lichtenstein. Lichtenstein’s credits include work with Raye, Arima Ederra, Sailorr, Mike Sabath, Mills, and Julián Dysart, among others. Announcing the deal, Inverted Music highlighted Lichtenstein’s creative strengths, noting his ability to navigate multiple musical styles while preserving a distinctive artistic identity throughout his work. The signing marks another addition to Inverted Music U.K.’s roster as the independent publisher continues to expand its catalog through a series of agreements with emerging and established songwriters, producers, and artists. Under the new agreement, Inverted Music will oversee the worldwide administration of Lichtenstein’s publishing interests, supporting the continued growth and development of his catalog as his profile continues to rise within the international music community. “Austin’s credits already speak for themselves, spanning award-winning and critically acclaimed projects, but what excites us most is the breadth of his artistry and the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Ethav Mojgani, Director of Inverted Music U.K. “Austin has built an impressive and diverse body of work while still being at a very exciting stage of his career. We are delighted to welcome him to the Inverted Music family and look forward to supporting him globally as he continues to create impactful music!”
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IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Jon Ollier, Jackie Winkler, Gaurav Sharma, Adam Tudhope, Jeremy Yohai, Jorge Brea, Heath Johns, Marian Wolfe, Lashawna Stewart, Charlie Lycett, Caroline “Baroline” Diaz, Katie Romanovich, Benjamin Lieberberg-Euler, and Ed Howard.
