A&R Worldwide Newsletter Vol. 950

MUSEXPO REVEALS KEY EXECUTIVES & CREATIVES FROM AMERICAN RECORDINGS, APPLE MUSIC, BILLBOARD, DIGITAL MEDIA ASSOCIATION, DISNEY MUSIC GROUP, DREAMWORKS ANIMATION, EA GAMES, GODIGITAL, GLASSNOTE, GRAMMY’S, HYBE AMERICA, MILK & HONEY + SPORTS, NETFLIX, SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING, SYMPHONIC, THE·TEAM, UNIVERSAL PICTURES, YOUTUBE, AND MANY MORE FOR ITS 27TH GLOBAL EDITION IN BURBANK, CALIFORNIA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interscope Records has announced two landmark deals in Brazil that expand the label’s urban music footprint by firmly establishing a bridge for local urban and hip-hop artists to access its global artist development infrastructure. Brazil is one of the world’s fastest-growing and most culturally influential global music markets.

Seminal Brazilian rap superstar BK has signed with Interscope. The first release under the new deal will be a remix album celebrating the 10th anniversary of his groundbreaking debut, Castelos & Ruínas, reimagining the original tracks with new production and collaborations. Brazil’s O Globo called 2016’s Castelos & Ruínas “a watershed moment for Brazilian rap.”

Interscope has also formed an expansive exclusive distribution deal with Brazil’s most successful independent urban label Supernova Entertainment, which encompasses the label’s extensive catalog as well as an agreement to partner on new signings. Supernova’s co-founder and producer, Nagalli, is frequently cited as the primary architect of modern Brazilian trap music, engineering a distinct sonic identity that has had a huge influence on global music culture. Supernova Entertainment / Interscope are set to release a new mixtape later this year, after celebrating the successful debut of Niink’s Essência de Risco album in early October. 

“Brazilian music and culture are having an extraordinary impact around the world right now,” said Interscope Capitol Chairman & CEO, John Janick. “We see an opportunity to leverage our legacy and current success in urban music for important Brazilian artists like BK and labels like Supernova Entertainment. We are excited to expand the resources and opportunities for Brazilian artists to move culture on a global level.”

Jose Cedeño, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Interscope Capitol Miami commented: “We have shown through our successful track record over the past few years that wherever they come from, artists are attracted to the kind of global artist development platform we can provide at Interscope. Having BK as our first artist signing and Supernova as our first label deal, illustrates how serious our mission is to empower Brazilian artists to become global superstars.”

 

 

 

 

Influence Media Partners has finalized its acquisition of all the assets of Anthem Entertainment in a transaction worth more than $600 million (USD).

The deal, announced on November 5, was completed in partnership with funds and accounts managed by BlackRock. It includes Anthem’s music publishing catalogs, film and television publishing assets, and master recording portfolio. Influence Media initially announced the proposed acquisition on July 29, with completion expected during the fourth quarter of 2026.

The transaction brings interests in more than 24,000 released songs and a further 60,000 unreleased or unexploited works into Influence Media’s portfolio.

The acquired catalogs feature recordings and compositions associated with The Weeknd’s “Die for You,” Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again,” Justin Timberlake’s “SexyBack” and Timbaland’s “The Way I Are.” Other titles include Cody Johnson’s “Til You Can’t,” Rush’s “Tom Sawyer,” Nelly Furtado’s “Promiscuous” and OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars.”

The assets also include music featured in film and television productions such as Spider-Man, Breaking Bad, and LEGO Ninjago.

Influence Media described the closing as a key step in its expansion, strengthening its position as an independent investor in music and entertainment assets.

Truist arranged the debt financing and served as financial advisor to Influence Media. Goldman Sachs functioned as Anthem’s exclusive financial advisor.

 

 

 

Brisbane, Australia indie surf-rock favorites Shag Rock deliver a dose of sun-soaked guitar pop with “Francesca,” a warm, jangly, and bittersweet standout from their new album, Three Deep Breaths. Beneath its infectious melodies and breezy energy, the track tells a familiar story of romantic misadventure, capturing the moment when warning signs are mistaken for love and optimism gives way to heartbreak. Released in late October, Three Deep Breaths marks Shag Rock’s first studio album in five years and a welcome return to the melodic, harmony-rich sound that first won them fans. Described by the band as a mantra of resilience, the record draws on years of personal and creative experiences, balancing vulnerability, and reflection with fresh sonic experimentation. From their beginnings in a Brisbane high school band room, Shag Rock has grown into one of Australia’s most successful independent indie-rock acts, amassing more than 100 million global streams, an ARIA Platinum certification for “Sunbleached Girl,” and ARIA Gold certifications for their debut album Barefoot and single “Champagne.” Their music has earned high rotation on triple j, support from Triple M and placements across major Spotify editorial playlists. Equally impressive live, they have headlined tours across Australia, New Zealand, and the U.S., played festivals including Splendour in the Grass, and supported The VANNS. Now, Shag Rock take Three Deep Breaths on the road for a run of Australian headline shows, with dates at Burleigh Town Hotel on the Gold Coast on November 21, Lions Art Factory in Adelaide on November 28, The Triffid in Brisbane on December 5, Oxford Art Factory in Sydney on December 11, and The Night Cat in Melbourne on December 12. With a live show that matches their sun-soaked sound with plenty of energy and heart, these dates bring fans a chance to experience the new album in full swing. Listen to “Francesca” HERE, and contact Jaymie Houtman for additional information, and opportunities on behalf of Shag Rock.

 

WARNER MUSIC GROUP ACQUIRES GERMAN INDIE DISTRIBUTOR ZEBRALUTION MUSIC: Warner Music Group (WMG) has acquired Zebralution Music GmbH from Bookwire, adding the Germany-based distributor to its global distribution operations. Zebralution Music, which was spun off from Zebralution GmbH, works with independent record labels across Germany and other European markets. Bookwire acquired the wider Zebralution group earlier this year. The company’s current leadership team will remain in place, with co-founders and co-CEOs Konrad von Löhneysen and Sascha Lazimbat continuing to oversee its operations. They will work alongside Niels Walboomers, President of Warner Music Central Europe, on the business’s strategic direction. Under WMG ownership, Zebralution Music’s independent label partners will retain access to its established local distribution expertise while gaining access to Warner’s technology infrastructure. This includes distribution, analytics and financial tools provided through Revelator, the music technology and digital distribution platform acquired by WMG earlier this year. Niels Walboomers, President, Warner Music Central Europe, said, “Konrad and Sascha have built one of the most trusted homes for independent music in Europe, and a team that labels genuinely believe in. Zebralution’s deep regional expertise, combined with our technology and global reach, gives its partners world-class capabilities without asking them to give up their independence.”

 

RISING CHINESE STAR JACKSON WANG SIGNS WITH WME: Jackson Wang has signed with WME for representation. The announcement comes as Wang continues to build his international profile, including a current Apple campaign supporting his latest single and music video, “Thank You,” released in September. Originally from Hong Kong, Wang reached a wider global audience in 2019 with his debut solo album, MIRRORS, which became the first album by a solo Chinese artist to enter the Billboard 200. He went on to achieve another milestone with “100 Ways,” becoming the first Chinese singer-songwriter to reach Mediabase’s U.S. Top 40. His single “LMLY” has generated more than 103 million Spotify streams and debuted on the platform’s Global Viral 50 chart. His recording career has included collaborations with Ciara, Swae Lee, Major Lazer, Galantis, Gucci Mane, Joji, and GoldLink, among others. Wang has also toured internationally, selling out venues including the Kia Forum in Los Angeles and Barclays Center in Brooklyn. In 2022, he became the first Chinese solo artist to perform on Coachella’s main stage. Following his performance, which featured a surprise appearance by Ciara for their collaboration “Slow,” Wang returned to the festival in 2023 and 2024. Beyond music, Wang has established partnerships with luxury and sportswear brands including Louis Vuitton, Cartier, Armani, Nike, and Air Jordan. His work with these companies has extended into creative collaborations, including projects with Louis Vuitton Creative Director Pharrell Williams. Wang has also developed his own businesses, founding TEAM WANG Records and fashion label TEAM WANG Design. His entrepreneurial work was recognized with a place on Forbes China’s 30 Under 30 list in 2023. Wang continues to be represented by TEAM WANG Records and Roc Nation, alongside his new relationship with WME.

 

BELIEVE MUSIC PUBLISHING SIGNS ENGLAND’S OLIVE JONES: Believe Music Publishing, part of global artist development company Believe, has entered into an exclusive songwriting agreement with singer-songwriter Olive Jones. Jones has made considerable progress in 2026, releasing her debut album, For Mary, in March through Nettwerk Music Group. The record has generated more than 40 million streams globally on Spotify, while Jones’ monthly Spotify audience has reached 2.8 million. Created alongside producer and songwriter James Wyatt, whose credits include George Ezra, Ellie Goulding, and Lianne La Havas, For Mary received coverage from The Line of Best Fit, Clash, DIY, Notion, Mahogany, CLUNK Magazine, and F WORD. The album also attracted support from BBC Radio 2, BBC 6 Music, Jazz FM, and Elton John. The album’s most-streamed track, “End of Time,” has added more than five million Spotify streams over the past three months, taking its total beyond 19 million. Jones’ previous releases include “Tell Me Why,” her 2023 collaboration with Gotts Street Park, which has accumulated more than 126 million Spotify streams, and the 2024 EP Three More Nights. More recently, Jones released a reworked version of For Mary track “Colour on The Wall” featuring Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club, followed by another collaboration with Gotts Street Park, “Wake Me Up.” Jones has also continued to develop her live profile with headline tours across North America, Europe, and the U.K., alongside a summer festival run. She is scheduled to join Jordan Rakei on his European tour in March 2027 and is expected to release her second album later that year.

 

ADOBE PARTNERS WITH UMG AND WMG TO BRING LICENSED MUSIC TO PREMIERE MOBILE: Adobe has partnered with Universal Music Group (UMG) and Warner Music Group (WMG) to make licensed music from both companies’ catalogs available within its Premiere mobile video editing app. The integration will allow creators to discover and preview music, search for specific artists or tracks, filter selections by genre and duration, and save favorites. Users will also be able to browse curated music collections developed by the participating labels. Creators can incorporate up to 60 seconds of a track into their videos before exporting content to platforms including TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and Instagram Reels. Premiere will also feature customizable video templates paired with music, enabling users to build content around selected tracks. The music licensing covers personal, non-commercial use. For projects requiring commercial music rights, Adobe will continue to offer its Adobe Stock Audio service. “Music has always been a powerful way for people to express themselves and connect with others,” said Bryan Stone, Sr. VP, Business Development at Universal Music Group. “By bringing licensed music from UMG artists into Adobe Premiere mobile, we’re giving creators new ways to build their stories around the songs they love for the first time, while helping our artists and songwriters reach new audiences.”

 

SIMON DENNETT JOINS SPANISH POINT TECHNOLOGIES AS CHIEF PRODUCT OFFICER: Spanish Point Technologies, the Irish company behind music rights platform Matching Engine, has appointed former Kobalt Music Group executive Simon Dennett as Chief Product Officer. Dennett previously held the positions of Chief Product Officer and Chief Commercial Officer at Kobalt. In his new role, he will oversee Matching Engine’s international growth and expansion. Launched in 2018, Matching Engine is a cloud-native platform built on Microsoft Azure that supports collective management organizations (CMOs) with repertoire and usage matching, royalty distribution processing, licensing, and member services. Its customers include IMRO, SOCAN, TONO, and Koda, with the platform currently operating across 13 countries in Europe and North America. During his time at Kobalt, Dennett helped establish the market presence of the company’s global digital collection society, AMRA (American Music Rights Association). He also developed products that supported the growth of AWAL, Kobalt’s former recordings division, according to Spanish Point. Dennett subsequently served on AMRA’s board and has since worked as a builder, adviser and investor in businesses operating across music rights, intellectual property, and technology. Additionally, Spanish Point has also appointed technology investor Brian Caulfield as Chairperson. Caulfield is a Venture Partner and former Managing Partner at Molten Ventures, and has backed companies including Movidius, Graphcore and Clavis Insight. Spanish Point Founder Corley was named a finalist in Ireland’s 2026 EY Entrepreneur of The Year program. 

 

SONY MUSIC PUBLISHING NASHVILLE & RIVER HOUSE INK PARK CHISOLM TO WORLDWIDE DEAL: Sony Music Publishing Nashville, in partnership with River House Artists, have announced the signing of songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Park Chisolm to a worldwide publishing deal. Park Chisolm is a prolific hitmaker known for crafting songs for top artists including Lainey Wilson, Kenny Chesney, Blake Shelton, Ashley McBryde, Aubrie Sellers, and Jackson Dean, while also creating sonic landscapes for award-winning projects across film and television. Chisolm contributed as both a songwriter and guitarist to Lainey Wilson’s GRAMMY Award-winning album Bell Bottom Country, and his other co-writing credits include Blake Shelton’s “Bet You Still Think About Me,” Aubrie Sellers’ “Far from Home” and Kenny Chesney’s “Top Down.” Beyond his work as a producer and songwriter, Chisolm is a primary songwriter and longtime member of Kevin Costner’s band Modern West. He co-produced the band’s last two albums – Famous For Killing Each Other, which includes the theme song to Costner’s award-winning Hatfields & McCoys – and Tales From Yellowstone, featured in the hit series Yellowstone. Most recently, he wrote and recorded the theme for the History Channel mini-series The West and has had additional work featured across VH1, ESPN, PBS, History Channel, and Paramount. Sony Music Publishing Nashville CEO Rusty Gaston said, “Park is a tremendous talent whose passion for music comes through in everything he creates. We are so impressed by everything he has built thus far and are incredibly excited to partner with River House in supporting this next chapter of his career.”

 

JOE GIORDANO JOINS HBSE AS SVP, ENTERTAINMENT BOOKING: Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) has appointed Joe Giordano Jr. as Sr. Vice President of Entertainment Booking, with responsibility for programming and booking across its venue portfolio, including Prudential Center in Newark and Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City. Giordano joins with close to 20 years of experience in the live entertainment and venue sectors. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Stadium, Arena, and Theater Alliances at Oak View Group. Before that, he spent nearly a decade with ASM Global and later held the position of Assistant General Manager at Tulsa’s BOK Center. HBSE’s portfolio includes Prudential Center and the recently restored Loew’s Jersey Theatre, as well as Northwest Stadium, home of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. The company also owns the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers and is a partner in the development of a new arena that will serve as the future home of both the 76ers and the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers. “Joe’s deep experience in the entertainment industry and proven record of building strong relationships while attracting major touring acts will be a tremendous asset to our team,” said Sean Saadeh, Chief Programming Officer and Head of Entertainment at HBSE. “Joe has a rare ability to pair creative vision with instinctive talent-spotting, consistently identifying and elevating entertainment experiences that resonate deeply with audiences. As we expand our entertainment footprint across New Jersey and beyond, his expertise will help us continue to deliver world-class events and experiences to our audiences.”

 

SOUNDTRACK ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH SESAC: Soundtrack has entered into a new licensing agreement with performing rights organization SESAC, adding to its existing partnerships with ASCAP, BMI, and GMR. SESAC represents more than 15,000 songwriters, composers, and music publishers, licensing the public performance rights to a catalog of over 1.5 million songs. Its affiliated writers and artists include Bob Dylan, Neil Diamond, Adele, and Ariana Grande. Businesses that play music for customers are required to use a commercially licensed music service and secure the appropriate public performance licenses. These can be obtained directly from the relevant performing rights organizations (PROs), or through a licensed business music provider whose service includes the necessary permissions for its catalog. Soundtrack also stressed that holding PRO licenses does not permit businesses to use consumer streaming platforms for commercial playback. Ola Sars, CEO & Founder, Soundtrack, said, “The disproportionate complexity of sourcing music correctly for U.S. businesses has led to $1.4 billion (USD) in potential revenue being lost every year for the U.S. music industry. For business owners, it is almost impossible to understand and comply with existing requirements, and our research confirms that lack of awareness and understanding, not ill intent, is the main cause of this widespread compliance issue. Our new deal with SESAC ensures that Soundtrack can provide a unique one-stop-shop, so that U.S. business owners can feel safe playing music to customers, and music creators and rights-holders are compensated fairly when their music is used to grow these businesses. Our aim is to create a healthy ecosystem for the background music industry by growing the ‘pie’ for music creators and rights-holders, while not breaking the bank for hard-working businesses.”

 

IAG SIGNS CANADA’S THREE DAYS GRACE FOR GLOBAL REPRESENTATION: Independent Artist Group (IAG) has extended its representation agreement with Three Days Grace to cover the band’s global activities, building on a partnership that began in June 2025 with a deal covering the U.S. and Mexico. The expanded arrangement will see Dennis Arfa, Pete Pappalardo and Nick Storch continue to represent the group, now overseeing its international business as well. The move further broadens IAG’s involvement in the band’s touring operations and supports its ongoing international growth. Three Days Grace comprises co-lead vocalists Adam Gontier and Matt Walst, alongside guitarist Barry Stock, bassist and backing vocalist Brad Walst, and drummer, keyboardist, and backing vocalist Neil Sanderson. Gontier’s return after more than a decade has marked a new phase for the Canadian rock band, bringing together the two vocalists associated with different periods of its history. The global agreement also reflects IAG’s wider focus on expanding its international touring operation and representing established rock acts across worldwide markets.

 

MUSIXMATCH AND DISTROKID RENEW LYRICS DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP: Musixmatch and DistroKid have extended their global lyrics distribution partnership through a new multi-year agreement, continuing a collaboration that began in December 2019. Under the renewed deal, DistroKid will maintain access to Musixmatch’s lyrics distribution technology through its Lyric Blaster service. The offering allows artists to submit and distribute their lyrics across major streaming and social platforms, including Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, Instagram, and Amazon. The original partnership enabled lyrics added and synchronized by DistroKid artists to be published on Musixmatch and delivered to digital music services. The companies said the extended agreement will continue to provide independent musicians with a centralized way to manage and distribute lyrics alongside their releases. Musixmatch and DistroKid also pointed to research from MIDiA Research indicating that fans who engage closely with song lyrics are nearly four times more likely to buy merchandise and twice as likely to attend live performances. Financial details of the renewed agreement were not disclosed. “We’re really pleased to renew our partnership with Musixmatch,” said Phil Bauer, President of DistroKid. “Lyrics are a big part of how fans connect with a song, and we want to make sharing them as easy as possible. This partnership helps artists get their lyrics ready alongside their music, all through a service they already use.”

 

AVIVA ARENA IN ENGLAND HIRES DAVE GAYDON AS LIVE PROGRAMMING DIRECTOR: Aviva Arena has appointed Dave Gaydon as its new Live Programming Director, with the appointment taking effect immediately. Gaydon joins the venue from Live Nation, where he was part of the outdoor promotions team and worked on events including South Facing Festival and the Colchester Castle Summer Series. He will report directly to YTL Live and Aviva Arena CEO Andrew Billingham. Prior to joining Live Nation, Gaydon spent nine years as Head of Music at London’s Roundhouse. During his tenure, he booked more than 1,500 shows and events, including BBC Electric Proms, iTunes Festival, and the Mercury Awards. He subsequently established a consultancy, through which he worked with LW Theatres and led programming for Cheltenham Jazz Festival. Andrew Billingham said, “We are bringing together a team with the expertise, experience, and imagination to deliver a venue that can completely transform the live events landscape in the West of England for both fans and artists. Dave has an impeccable history, and having him join our team will help us create a distinctive calendar that combines the world’s biggest touring music artists with comedy, sport, and entertainment.”

 

SOUNDCLOUD INTEGRATES WITH ELEVENLABS’ AI MUSIC GENERATION PLATFORM: SoundCloud has teamed up with ElevenMusic, the AI music creation platform developed by ElevenLabs, in a partnership that allows users to distribute music created through the service directly to SoundCloud for the first time. The integration enables artists to develop and produce tracks within ElevenMusic before publishing them to SoundCloud without having to leave their creative workflow. As part of the agreement, both new and existing SoundCloud Artist Pro subscribers will be eligible for three months of ElevenMusic Pro at no cost through SoundCloud’s Member Benefits program. The subscription includes access to additional production tools, allowing users to generate up to 1,000 songs, split 500 tracks into stems, and create five custom styles or vocal options each month. Music distributed through the integration will remain subject to SoundCloud’s existing AI content policies, including its requirements around ownership and rights. Tracks uploaded directly from ElevenMusic will also include platform-specific disclosures identifying the service as their source of creation, providing listeners with information about how the music was made. “SoundCloud has always been a place where artists experiment, push boundaries, and turn creative ideas into something bigger,” said Eliah Seton, CEO of SoundCloud. “Our partnership with ElevenLabs builds on that foundation by connecting new creative tools with the communities where music is discovered and careers take shape. By becoming the first platform to bring ElevenMusic creations directly to fans beyond its own ecosystem, we are opening new possibilities for artists to experiment, share their work, and build an audience.”

 

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