Business News
Page: 114
She’s already one of the most famous mononymous celebrities in the world, and now Academy Award, Emmy and Grammy winner Cher has partnered with Irving Azoff’s Iconic Artists Group to expose new generations to her prolific, six-decade-long music career.
IAG has acquired Cher’s full interest in her past sound recordings and compositions for a sum that the company declined to reveal.
The 77-year-old singer-actress, who is now recording her first holiday album, has landed a No. 1 single on one of Billboard’s charts in each decade from the 1960s through the 2010s, beginning with her work as half of the duo Sonny & Cher, whose pop hits led to the hit CBS prime-time variety show, The Sonny & Cher Comedy Hour, which ran from 1971 to 1974. But she got her start when she was 17, singing background vocals for late producer Phil Spector, whom she refers to as “Phillip.”
Like many acts on IAG’s growing roster, Cher has a relationship with Azoff that goes back to the ’70s, when they were introduced by Cher’s sister, Georganne LaPiere, who was a close friend of Azoff’s. “I’ve never worked with her professionally,” he says, “but obviously have been a fan.”
Cher says her decision to make a deal with IAG came down to the respect Azoff shows artists. “I trust Irving,” she says in an exclusive interview with Billboard. “If he has a great idea, I respect him. And if I have a great idea, I know he will listen attentively. My voice will be heard.”
IAG’s first project with Cher will celebrate the 25th anniversary of “Believe,” her electro-pop hit that arrived in October 1998 and was Billboard’s No. 1 song of 1999.
Although she has yet to talk strategy with IAG, Cher says she and Mark Taylor, who co-produced the song, discussed building a box set around “Believe” and her album of the same name — a conversation in which Taylor proposed an ambitious agenda for her. “I said I’d like to do a concert with my favorite songs, and he said, ‘Why don’t you do an album?’ I said, ‘OK.’ And he said, ‘Why don’t you do a concert for the Christmas album?’ And I went, ‘Wait, dude. C’mon,’ ” she recalls with a laugh.
Cher, who is managed by Roger Davies and Lindsey Scott, concluded her last major tour in 2005 and a Las Vegas residency in 2011. Asked if she plans to tour again, she replies: “I don’t know,” although she says there will not be live performances tied to the anniversary of “Believe”: “I’m not going to be ready that soon.”
She would also like to explore releasing a box set of her lesser-known songs, including some of her more recent recordings. “Some of my favorite, favorite songs weren’t hits,” she says. “I wasn’t a very good singer until, oh, my God, I was 40. I met my teacher [Adrienne Angel]. She made me a real singer.”
Her wish list for such a compilation would include tracks that fared well on the dance charts but weren’t necessarily mainstream pop hits, including 2001’s “Song for the Lonely”; 2010’s “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me,” which won composer Diane Warren a Golden Globe; and 1991’s “Save Up All Your Tears.”
There are also plans to license her vast catalog of hits for film/TV synchs. “I think that’s great because they’re good songs,” Cher says. “Not all of them, but a lot of them are really good. I’m surprised sometimes that people know me or know my songs.”
IAG’s acquisition includes the international share in her late ex-husband Sonny Bono’s publishing catalog, which she received in their 1975 divorce — a collection that Azoff says is “vastly underappreciated” and includes such Sonny & Cher hits as “The Beat Goes On” and “I Got You Babe.” Cher says she would love for those songs to find new ears, but adds, “It never actually occurred to me that kids would want to hear those old songs.” (IAG does not have a stake in her Los Angeles-based CHERlato pop-up gelato truck, which serves flavors like Snap Out of It! and kefir and cardamom.)
IAG president Jimmy Edwards says the company plans to mine all decades of Cher’s career. “She’s the symbol of empowerment,” he says. “She’s successful in everything she does — music, film, TV, fashion, you name it. There’s so much story to tell. That’s our goal, always: to make sure we’re working with our partners to help curate that story.”
That Chick Angel, the performance alias of Angel Laketa Moore, signed to the Azoff Company label Giant Music, which just released the music video for her TikTok-driven single, “One Margarita (Margarita Song).” Moore is also an actress, host, influencer and comedian who is currently on tour with her husband, TankDontTok, for their podcast, Is This Going to Cause an Argument. She’s represented by Realm Talent and Framework Entertainment.
Las Vegas singer/songwriter/producer/rapper Ez Mil signed to Shady Records/Aftermath Entertainment/Interscope Records. On August 11, he’s set to drop DU4LI7Y: REDUX, a deluxe edition of his 2022 album DU4LI7Y which will mark his final release on Virgin Music. The new edition will include “Realest,” a new single featuring Eminem. “I heard Ez’s music and was like, ‘this is really special” so I took it to Dre,” said Eminem in a statement. “We both agreed it would be a great fit and we wanted to work with him right on the spot.” Dr. Dre added, “I’m really only interested in working on s— that sounds different from anything else going on out there, and only then if I feel I can really bring something to it. Em played me Ez and I had that feeling…that thing that happens when we both know we’ve found something special.”
Chicago rapper/singer/songwriter Calvin “Calboy” Woods is set to release Unchained, his first album project under his own newly-established label, Loyalty N Company, with distribution through Create Music. The label is described in a press release as “representing his independence and emancipation from the shackles of RCA Records,” Calboy’s former label. The first single off the new set, “On My Own,” was released Friday (July 28).
Independent digital distributor IDOL signed global artist services deals with Nigerian afropop artist Yemi Alade via her own record company, Effyzzie Music, as well as London-based afrowave artist and Capital Xtra DJ Afro B. Alade will work with IDOL on the release of her forthcoming seventh studio album later this year, while Afro B will release several singles leading up to the release of his fourth album set to drop in 2024. Under the agreements, IDOL will handle worldwide digital distribution for all upcoming releases for both artists while also working with the artist teams on strategy, global marketing, international coordination, audience development and channel management.
Dance music agency The Gongaware Group signed DJ/producer and BBC Radio 1 Dance Party host Danny Howard. Gongaware will focus on expanding Howard’s DJ career in North and South America; he currently has residencies at Amnesia Ibiza and BCM in Mallorca, Spain. Howard serves as label head at record company Nothing Else Matters in the United Kingdom.
Old Man Canyon, a psych-pop project from Vancouver singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Jeff Pace, signed to Nettwerk, which released his latest single, “Never Apart,” on July 21. The track will be included on Old Man Canyon’s forthcoming EP, So Long Babylon, which is set for release on September 29.
Canadian pop singer/songwriter Alex Sampson (“Play Pretend”) signed to Warner Records, which released his latest single, “Want You!”, on Friday (July 28). Sampson is managed by Jesse Beer at The MGMT Company.
San Francisco Bay Area alt-pop group Finish Ticket signed with Better Noise Music, which released their latest single, “Changing,” on July 21. The group is represented by Tony Couch at C3 Management and Andrew Buck at Wasserman. Their previous label was Atlantic Records.
Singer/songwriter Jordana Bryant signed with CAA for booking representation. Bryant is signed to Riser House and is aligned with Jonas Group Entertainment for management. Bryant’s upcoming single, “Best Friend,” releases August 11, and she will be touring the United States opening shows for the music trio Girl Named Tom. – Jessica Nicholson
Los Angeles coldwave/post-punk trio Sextile signed to Sacred Bones, which will release the group’s forthcoming album, Push, on September 15. Sextile dropped their latest single, “New York,” on July 25. The band is represented by booking agent Natasha Parish at Grand Control Touring in the United States; they were previously signed to record label Felte.
Queer dance-pop artist Lynks signed to Heavenly Recordings, which released his latest single, “Use It Or Lose It,” on Wednesday (July 26). He is represented by manager Chris Bellam at underplay and booking agent Adele Slater at Wasserman outside the United States. His publisher is Domino Publishing.
Global entertainment brand Superplastic expanded into music with the announcement of its new label, Superplastic Records (distributed by Virgin Music), as well as the signing of Ghost Kidz, a “3D animated hip-hop duo” (comprised of Lil’ ILL and Filth-E) that is “voiced by two prominent hip-hop artists” who have chosen to remain anonymous, according to a press release. The music video for the duo’s single, “Goin’ Off” featuring Vince Staples, was played at Rolling Loud Miami last month. Prior to the label’s announcement, Superplastic’s previous artist collaborations included Staples, J. Balvin and Gorillaz.
Country singer/songwriter Tyler Chambers signed with Play It Again Entertainment for exclusive label representation. Play It Again released Chambers’ latest single, “Loves Me Like a Small Town,” on July 21. Play It Again’s Alyssa Ramsey is currently acting as Chambers’ management; he is signed to Warner Chappell Music for publishing.
Singer/songwriter/guitarist Jesse Ahern singed to Dummy Luck Music/[PIAS], which will release his forthcoming album, Roots Rock Rebel, on September 15. Dummy Luck is the Dropkick Murphys‘ record label. Ahern is represented by Jeff Castelaz and Benton Oliver at Cast Management, booking agent Larry Webman at Wasserman for the United States and booking agent Ed Sellers at Primary Talent Agency for the United Kingdom and Europe.
The American Association of Independent Music, or A2IM, announced on Tuesday that artists who pay a $99 yearly fee will have access to healthcare benefits, including high-and-low-deductible plans, vision and dental, life insurance, renters’ insurance and even pet insurance. The program will expand from indie labels and other member companies to sole proprietors — “specifically designed for individual artists,” said Lisa Hresko, A2IM’s general manager.
“It’s a lot harder for artists to find available programs. What’s available to you is just more limiting in the U.S. if you do not have an employee-sponsored healthcare program,” Hresko added. “To have that option, whether you’re an artist or 1099 worker, should give you peace of mind.”
The healthcare plans, through the new A2IM Artist Pro program, are similar to Affordable Care Act options, but with “slightly more favorable pricing,” according to Hresko. Low-cost plans are available for $160 per month, or $260 for families, but they vary widely according to age, location and medical history. An average plan for a 40-year-old, relatively healthy individual ranges from $330 to $450 per month on the A2IM benefits website, depending on the deductible, a bit less expensive than a 2023 ACA plan.
In September, when the organization offered plans to its more than 600 indie-label member companies, about 30 signed up. The new program “definitely casts a wider net,” focusing on not just company employees but touring artists and others who have more complicated schedules than 9-to-5 employees.
“It’s exhausting on your physical and mental health to be on the road or keeping off-hours,” Hresko said. “Hopefully something like this gives people confidence and safety.”
After the Obama Administration’s signature healthcare plan became law in 2010, musicians were among the gig workers who suddenly no longer had to worry about insurance companies raising healthcare rates due to preexisting conditions. For most artists, the new A2IM plan will supplement the ACA as an option to achieve prescription drugs and emergency care, among other things. But Republicans have sharply attacked the ACA over the years, and programs like A2IM Artist Pro could be crucially important should the political winds change.
A2IM does not take a cut of the health-insurance payments, according to Hresko: “It’s a service for our members.”
She declined to name the organization’s health-insurance partner, to discourage members and potential members from “working their way around us.” Hresko adds: “We spent years searching for a correct partner. It was not a matter of a lack of trying, but what was available and who was willing to work with us. It took a while.”
South Korean companies SM Entertainment and Kakao Entertainment have launched what they are calling a “local integrated corporation” in North American as part of previously hinted-at efforts to accelerate their joint stateside operations and build upon the successes of their K-pop artists in the world’s largest music market. The companies said on Tuesday (Aug. 1) […]
A year in to Spotify’s partnership with FC Barcelona and the music streamer and leading European soccer club are now focused on evolving the sponsorship deal to create “cultural moments” through sports and music collaboration.
“One year ago, we said this would be more than a partnership because we like to say that Barça is more than a club and that’s important because it’s our motto but also important when it comes to partnerships,” says Sergi Ricart, chief marketing and revenue officer, FC Barcelona. “It’s been a pioneer strategic partnership. The engagement of new audiences with the club and the engagement that the content we created has seen, it’s been massive.”
The deal — touted as a new way for the streaming giant to amplify artists across the globe — spans four seasons for team shirts and three seasons for training shirts. It will also rebrand FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium as Spotify Camp Nou, following an extensive redevelopment project that’s scheduled to be ready for the 2024-2025 season. The partnership kicked off with two major artist campaigns featuring Drake‘s OVO and Rosalía‘s Motomami logos, respectively, on the Blaugrana team jerseys. Rosalía’s logo was the first to be featured on both the men’s and women’s teams home kits as part of the partnership.
Following the unveiling of Rosalía’s match kit on March 15, searches for “Rosalía” and “Motomami” on Spotify increased by over 100% globally and by nearly 200% in Spain (compared to searches on March 14), according to the streaming company. Moreover, in the hour after the El Clásico match ended on March 19, global streams of Rosalía tracks climbed on Spotify in multiple markets globally, including Egypt where the tracks saw a more than 220% boost, 170% in Morocco and almost 70% in Nigeria.
“Rosalía’s El Clásico match kit drove streams and awareness because that match has two or three times more global eyeballs than the Super Bowl. These artists are getting fully integrated campaigns and it’s stuff that is enormous in marketing value,” explains Marc Hazan, vp partnerships, Spotify.
Now, with the partnership in its second year, artists such as Anitta and Fuerza Regida have visited the training facilities for the making of the Barça on Tour summer playlist . And, during the team’s stop in L.A. on July 26 for their match against Arsenal, Daddy Yankee toured the Spotify studio with Barcelona players in tow where he showed them a behind-the-scenes-look at his recording process. Additionally, the partnership will support artists on the LED boards during the Barcelona matches while on the U.S. tour.
“We’re creating a cultural moment and for the club it’s so important,” adds Ricart. “We humbly think that we’re the biggest global sports brand but how can we move into a cultural brand and with the support of this partnership we are moving that way.”
Following its more than 20 global activations during the 2022-2023 season, Hazan is looking to tap into different markets immersing in different genres. “This is a long partnership for Spotify, we’re very invested,” he says. “It’s fair to say that football and music are two great passions, so to combine the two is something pretty unique and when you have Barcelona, arguably one of the biggest clubs with a massive following, you’re in a position where they want to partner heavily and there’s a full set of music rights available, that doesn’t come up every day.”
Eric Prydz is making moves. The Swedish producer is now represented globally by WME. The news marks Prydz’s departure from North American representation with CAA, where he signed in 2021. Prydz continues to be managed by Michael Sershall at London’s Sershall Management. Prydz’s team also includes global press by Infamous PR. Prydz is among a WME […]
Music strategy and supervision company Premier Music Group has acquired the music supervision services of George Drakoulias, a longtime music supervisor who has worked on films and TV series including Joker, The Batman, Marriage Story and, most recently, the smash hit Barbie.
At Premier, Drakoulis joins the leadership team as a partner and creative director and will open the company’s new West Coast offices this summer. He’ll be tasked with expanding Premier’s music supervision team and the company’s West Coast footprint while striking new creative opportunities and partnerships.
Over the course of his career, Drakoulis has held executive A&R roles at Def Jam — where he worked with LL Cool J and The Beastie Boys — and (Def) American Recordings, where he signed and produced albums for The Black Crowes, The Jayhawks and The Freewheelers. He has also produced albums for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Maria McKee, Primal Scream and Susan Tedeschi, as well as tracks for Wu-Tang Clan.
“George is a legend in our business, and I’ve admired his impeccable creative and commercial instincts for years,” said Premier Music Group CEO Josh Deutsch in a statement. “His body of production and supervision work, exceptional artistry and deep relationships in music and entertainment make him the ideal partner at this key point in Premier’s growth.”
Premier Music Group creative director Randall Poster added, “George and I have been working together for years. He loves movies and music as much as anyone I know, and brings that passion into every operation and project he takes on. George has produced some of my favorite records, the first two Black Crowes albums, the Jayhawks, many more. He’s been anchoring our West Coast operation for years and I couldn’t be more excited to have him join us in a more substantial way.”
“I couldn’t be happier to be joining the Premier Music team,” said Drakoulis. “Randy and I have been running around together, working on movies and record projects for forever. He has been the most exquisite guide into the world of music supervision. I’ve come to rely on the support of the Premier team, Meghan Currier, Winslow Bright, Milena Erke, and Ian Herbert for years, since they were interns actually, and love and respect them all.”
AWAL named Norva Denton as senior vice president/head of urban music. In his new role, he’ll bolster and develop the label’s urban music roster via strategic signings and an artist development-focused mindset. Based in Los Angeles, Denton will join the company’s A&R team, reporting to president Pete Giberga. Before AWAL, Denton served as senior vp of A&R at Warner Records, where he signed, developed and spearheaded the careers of artists such as YFN Lucci, Wale, Taykeith, Chika and 2KBABY. – Griselda Flores
Negla Abdela was promoted to MD at Sony Music UK’s Ministry of Sound. She was previously GM and has been responsible for managing the marketing and digital teams. Abdela joined the label in 2015 as a social media manager and was promoted to head of digital in 2018.
Diana Sanders was appointed senior vp of business affairs at Prescription Songs and label counterpart Amigo Records. Prior to joining the companies, she served as a partner at Russ August & Kabat and co-chaired the firm’s music practice group. Sanders has been named to Billboard‘s Women in Music and Top Music Lawyers lists multiple times.
Christopher Mauberqué was named head of international A&R at independent digital distributor IDOL, where he’ll be tasked with continuing to drive the company’s business development in territories outside Europe. He previously served as senior label manager at !K7 Music and as A&R and label manager for French independent distributor La Baleine (now known as Bigwax). Mauberqué can be reached at christophe.mauberque@idol.io.
Gerardo Martinez and Sven Bogner announced their partnership in a new heavy metal record label, Reigning Phoenix Music. Martinez, who was a longtime GM at Nuclear Blast America, has been instrumental in the careers of such artists as Dimmu Borgir, Carcass and Hypocrisy. Bogner, an avionics and tech entrepreneur, is a “self-professed metalhead and musician,” according to a press release. The label is headquartered in Los Angeles and Hamburg, Germany. “Our collective blueprint for RPM is to help hard, extreme, and heavy metal music thrive globally,” said Martinez in a statement. Artist signing announcements are forthcoming.
Luis Mesa was appointed director of marketing at Bichota Records, Karol G’s newly-announced imprint. The Colombian executive will focus on creating and executing strategies and day-to-day promotion for Karol G’s musical releases through the label. Before joining the Bichota Records team, Mesa had been SoundOn’s (TikTok’s distribution platform) marketing manager U.S. Latin and, previously, label manager and artist strategy at Universal Music Latino. He will be based out of the company’s Miami headquarters. – Griselda Flores
Artist manager Max Gredinger was named partner at Foundations Artist Management, joining company founder/partner Steve Bursky as well as partners Brian Winton and Drew Simmons. Gredinger has been with Foundations since 2012; his current clients include Laufey, mxmtoon, Ricky Montgomery and rainbolt. He can be reached at max@foundationsmgmt.com.
Discogs promoted four employees to executive leadership positions: Anbu Ilangovane to vp of engineering, Jeffrey Smith to vp of marketing, Jen Agosta to brand director and Richard Gleeson to director of people operations.
Mike Rogers was named vp of business development at blockchain-based ticketing platform DeFy Tickets, which is powered by NFT ticketing provider GET Protocol. Rogers has worked in the ticketing business for nearly 20 years, most recently serving as GM of partnerships at Dice FM. In his new role, he will oversee DeFy’s growth strategy while securing new partnerships with venues, promoters, festivals and conferences in North America. Rogers can be reached at Mike@DefyTickets.com.
Provident Entertainment’s publishing division, Essential Music Publishing, promoted Jamie Rodgers to the role of vp. Rodgers was previously Essential Music’s senior creative director and has been with the company since 2017. Prior to her work with Essential Music Publishing, Rodgers served as manager of national promotions and commercial partnerships for Capitol Christian Music Group. – Jessica Nicholson
John Bowditch was promoted to senior director of marketing at Seeker Music, where he has worked since 2021. In his new role, he will oversee all marketing activity across the company’s catalog and frontline businesses. He can be reached at John@seekermusic.com.
Deron Johnston was appointed chief program officer at BRIC, the Brooklyn-based arts and media institution. In his new role, Johnston will lead the integration of BRIC’s platforms and programming while also overseeing the creative direction of its media and non-media programming, including BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn!, BRIC JazzFest and Contemporary Art. He was previously director of community development, strategy & innovation at the Center for Justice Innovation.
Grayson Clotfelter was named creative manager at Play It Again Music Group, where he will oversee the creative direction of the company’s roster of songwriters. He previously worked as a catalog manager at Universal Music Publishing Nashville and has also toured with acts including Seaforth and Lily Rose. Clotfelter can be reached at grayson@piamusic.com.
Hyperion Records has entered the streaming age.
From today (July 28), the venerated British classical label begins the rollout of its catalog on streaming platforms, starting with a batch of 200 titles.
The initial run includes “key recordings” from Hyperion’s roster, including Arcangelo, Mahan Esfahani, Marc-André Hamelin, Angela Hewitt, Sir Stephen Hough, Alina Ibragimova, Steven Isserlis, Steven Osborne and Polyphony.
All 2,000-plus LPs from the Hyperion vault will be available to stream by spring 2024, reads a statement. Collections should follow every two weeks from Sept. 15, 2023, until the complete set is ingested and available across the myriad platforms.
The long-overdue streaming push follows Universal Music Group (UMG) acquisition of the label, in a deal announced in March which sees Hyperion join Decca Classics and Deutsche Grammophon in UMG’s classical portfolio.
Also from today, three new Hyperion releases are made available for streaming, including the latest Dvořák album from the Takács Quartet; and a collection of choral anthems from Stephen Layton and Trinity College Choir Cambridge.
Going forward, all new Hyperion titles will be simultaneously available for streaming, physical purchase and download, explains the statement from UMG.
The 43-year-old label — which is home to artists like Marc-André Hamelin, Angela Hewitt and Stephen Osborne, and some works which date back to the 12th century — was founded in South London by Ted Perry, a classical enthusiast who moonlighted as a mini-cab driver to fund its early recordings.
“These first 200 albums tell our story, and we look forward to presenting all our work from the past four decades to a new global streaming audience artist-by-artist, series-by-series,” comments Simon Perry, managing director of Hyperion and son of the label’s founder. “Each had their challenges and now they come together to tell a narrative, hopefully a powerful one, of what can happen when you make space for musicians to thrive: it’s why Hyperion has worked.”
The second release phase will “showcase some of Hyperion’s great piano and keyboard stars” including pianists Danny Driver, Stephen Hough, Pavel Kolesnikov, Steven Osborne, and harpsichordist Mahan Esfahani.
Subsequent “release chapters” will feature choral music, string quartets, Baroque, early music and solo vocal, and more.
The acquisition came as the classical music world emerged as a hive of activity. Last November, Deutsche Grammophon launched a new standalone streaming service, Stage+, catering to its own catalog and that of Decca Classics. And earlier this year, Apple Music launched its own standalone streaming app, Apple Music Classical, which stems from its August 2021 acquisition of Primephonic.
“The arrival of Hyperion on the world’s streaming platforms,” comments Dickon Stainer, UMG’s president of global classics & jazz, “offers a special moment of discovery for this precious and pioneering label.”
Beats marketplace BeatStars signed a partnership deal with AI music startup Lemonaide that will make “ethically-sourced AI” available to music creators to help them write and produce new works. Lemonaide’s AI technology “purposefully generates short musical ideas to spark inspiration, push creative boundaries, and pull artists out of their creative slump,” according to a press release. The companies claim the AI is “trained exclusively on voluntarily contributed data from producers” to ensure proper compensation for and active participation by those whose musical works are used.
Music festival and live events promoter Insomniac and music and lifestyle brand Emo Nite announced a partnership that will encompass projects ranging from events to music to apparel. First up is the launch of Grave Rave, a new event series coming to Los Angeles in December that will feature “both legendary and emerging bands and DJs…fusing the sounds of electronic music with the melodies of the emo, pop-punk, and rock genres,” according to a press release. A preview party for the series will be held on August 26 at Insomniac’s Academy LA venue with a surprise lineup of DJs who “built their careers on pop-punk/alternative/emo influences,” the press release adds. The two companies have also teamed for the launch of a new record label, Graveboy Records, with forthcoming single releases by We The Kings, Say Anything and Noelle Sucks. The first collection of Insomniac x Emo Nite merch will also debut at HARD Summer 2023.
Atlanta-based record label and management company Love Renaissance (LVRN) will utilize music streaming and discovery platform Audiomack‘s proprietary ArtistRank system to discover and develop emerging musicians under a new partnership. According to a press release, ArtistRank “allows partners to identify better when an artist is building a lasting fanbase, differentiating itself from other analytical tools by emphasizing engagement metrics rather than solely through play growth.” It provides detailed analytics on fan demographics as well as predictive data that analyzes an artist’s potential growth trajectory.
NetEase Cloud Music formed a partnership with leading Chinese music and entertainment company RYCE Entertainment that will see the companies extend their previous agreement while also giving NetEase access to an expanded portfolio of RYCE’s music catalog in China, with 30-day initial launch rights to distribute new additions to the catalog. The companies will additionally team up to promote RYCE artists and music in China. RYCE’s catalog includes works by Jackson Wang, Amber Liu and Tablo, among many others.
NLess Entertainment co-founders Zach “Z-Bo” Randolph (a former NBA star) and Marcus “Head” Howell are leading a funding found for Connect Music Group, a Black-owned Memphis music company that offers tools and resources to help independent musicians build successful careers while retaining ownership of their masters. Along with fellow investor Richard W. Smith, CEO of airline and international at FedEx, Howell recently hosted an investor event to raise capital for Connect. The amount of the funding round is unknown.
MNRK partnered with New York industry workshop Steel Sessions — based in downtown recording studio The Engine Room — along with its producers Francis “Buda Da Future” Ubiera, Dan “Grandz Muzik” Garcia and Michael “Mike Kuz” Kuzoian. Under the deal, Ubiera, Garcia and Kuzoian will develop artists in the studio to eventually sign them to MNRK while also providing production services for MNRK Urban’s frontline releases, lo-fi instrumental albums, brand partnerships, soundtracks and artist synchs.
Deezer renewed its partnership with French telecoms provider Orange which was first struck in 2010. Under the deal, Orange customers will continue to have access to the Deezer streaming service. In celebration of the renewal, Deezer and Orange will offer six months of Deezer Premium for free to new customers who subscribe to a “Plus que forfait” plan.
Don McLennon, formerly of Brockhampton, has partnered with Nashville-based music tech company Artiphon to release his new track, “Halcyon,” exclusively via the company’s handheld smart instruments, Orba 2 and Chorda. Utilizing stems, Artiphon and McLennon will offer fans the ability to remix the track without any prior musical skill.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Mushroom Group spawns a new live entertainment company, MG Live.
Unveiled Thursday, July 27, the independent music powerhouse consolidates a string of its events and touring businesses under the umbrella of MG Live, including Illusive Presents, Roundhouse Entertainment, Good Life, I OH YOU Touring, and Arena Touring.
The fresh collective will focus on developing branded events and experiences alongside its domestic and international headline touring, and will continue to deliver tours in conjunction with sister company Frontier Touring, the powerhouse concerts specialist.
“Throughout the last eighteen months we have worked to consolidate a number of Mushroom’s live interests outside of our leading touring business Frontier Touring,” comments Mushroom Group chairman and CEO Matt Gudinski, who helms MG Live, along with an experience executive team.
“We looked at how to best move forward with our other specialist touring and leading event companies,” he continues in a statement, “and decided the time was right to combine their strengths and bring them under one banner.”
Matt Gudinski
Brian Purnell
Speaking with Billboard ahead of the announcement, Gudinski says the seeds for MG Live were planted before the COVID-19 pandemic. And as the Melbourne-based company celebrates its 50th anniversary, expect more change and evolution.
“The consolidation that we’re looking at across a number of different areas of the group,” he explains, “you’ll see a number of other things over the next six to 12 months which will really drive greater success, ensure we’re combining our strengths and, really, allow myself and the other leaders of the group to better manage all the different businesses that are part of Mushroom.”
Those businesses number more than two-dozen affiliates active in every conceivable area of the music and entertainment industries, from touring to publishing, merch and marketing services, venues, exhibition and events production, neighboring rights, branding, labels, talent management and more. In recent weeks, Mushroom Group added a new agency, MBA, a partnership with Guven Yilmaz, founder and managing director of Vita Music Group.
Frontier Touring, a partnership with AEG Presents which is unaffected by the new live entertainment company, has teamed with MG Live’s companies which, in the past 12 months, have sold more than 1.3 million tickets combined, according to the business, and produced tours over that time that include Tyler, The Creator, Fatboy Slim, Ed Sheeran, Billy Joel, Richard Marx, Pavement, and more.
The MG Live touring slate for the months ahead includes Robbie Williams and the Chicks performing at a day on the green, plus Fridayz Live and Boiler Room events, as well as tours by 070 Shake, The Teskey Brothers, DMA’S, Valley and Earl Sweatshirt.
As for the brand, is MG Live a reference to Michael Gudinski, the late, legendary founder and chairman of the group, his son Matt, or the broader business itself, Mushroom Group?
“It might be a combination of all of those,” says Matt Gudinski, cryptically. “It just clicked.”