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AP Dhillon is leaving the California desert behind. Coachella announced that the Punjabi-Canadian star will not appear at the festival’s second weekend as planned, citing scheduling conflicts. The festival announced it in a follow up tweet to one announcing that rapper Kid Cudi has been added.
During his debut Coachella performance, the Punjabi-Canadian star paid tribute to a fallen icon. As he performed his hit “Brown Munde,” a message took over the screen behind him in all capitals: “JUSTICE FOR SIDHU MOOSEWALA.”
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Sidhu Moose Wala, the influential Punjabi artist, actor and politician, was shot to death in India in May 2022, and his murder remains unsolved. Based in Brampton, Moose Wala helped pave the way for Punjabi music in Canada, and continues to chart two years after his death.
While Dhillon’s first-weekend performance was well-received by the Coachella crowd and many of his supporters, he’s also had some backlash due to how he closed his set, which has been widely covered by media in India.
The artist finished his performance by smashing his guitar on stage.
Some fans have invoked India’s cultural reverence for musical instruments, criticizing Dhillon’s rockstar move as a sign of disrespect and arrogance.
“The guitar that has provided you with life, love, peace, success and respect – you end up breaking it!” reads one popular comment on Dhillon’s post featuring footage of the smash.
In a subsequent post, Dhillon shared photos of his tribute to the late Sidhu Moose Wala, with the caption “the media is controlled and I’m out of control.” The last slide of the post features footage of Kurt Cobain smashing his guitar, linking Dhillon’s move to a longstanding rock and roll tradition. – Rosie Long Decter
As Latin Music Grows in Canada, Live Nation Aims to Take It Across The Country
This week, Live Nation announced that Shakira’s Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran Tour will be coming to Canada in December. It’ll only be the third time in the Colombian superstar’s illustrious 33-year career that two tour dates are scheduled in Canada, and her first time back since 2018.
In the six years since she last played for a Canadian crowd, the country’s Latin music scene has grown bigger than she might have expected. It’s an expanded market that Live Nation has been focusing on in recent years.
In 2022, Live Nation hired Ricky Taco as director of Latin Music in Canada, with a mandate to grow the genre at venues in the country and focus in on one of the fastest-expanding markets in North America.
In an interview with Billboard Canada, Taco gives some numbers. “The Latin genre as a whole, in Canada, is up 48% from last year [in online streams]. When it comes to airplay, Latin music across Canada has increased by 2,100% in the last year. You’re now playing to 37.5 million Canadians as opposed to 2.5 million last year…Over the last five years, it’s been insane. I mean, the growth has been [big].”
Even though they haven’t had the same chart impact in Canada as in the United States, the newest generation of Latin musicians is seeing success on tour. Bad Bunny sold out Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena this April, a far cry from his 2018 stint at the smaller REBEL nightclub. Peso Pluma, a 24-year-old Mexican artist making waves globally, made his first Canadian stops just a year ago at Place Bell in Laval, Québec and Toronto’s Budweiser Stage. In 2024, however, he’ll be playing “LADY GAGA” in front of sold-out crowds at Scotiabank Arena and Montreal’s Bell Centre.
Although Latin music has seen incredible progress in the past years, there’s still much work to be done, as Live Nation Canada plans to bring the genre to more ears, and build an even stronger fanbase. Compared to Punjabi music, which has seen a similar explosion in recent years and a similar focused strategy at Live Nation in Canada, Taco says Latin music has a steeper hill to climb.
“In Toronto, there’s only one Latin FM radio [station],” says Taco. “If we compare it to an English artist, or a Punjabi artist, their communities are bigger, they have more resources to play with. Although we’ve grown a lot in the last three to five years, we’re still very limited, we’re still growing.”
Beyond festivals and radio stations, Live Nation plans to bring Latin music outside the cities Canadian fans have grown accustomed to seeing regular tour announcements.
“At this point, the primary markets definitely are Montreal and Toronto, but our plan is to keep growing. [We want to] bring as many concerts as we can in places like Calgary, Vancouver and even potentially places like Ottawa,” Taco says. – Pablo Gonzalez Legendre
The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings Will Give Up His Royalties to Stop Alleged ‘Cover Band’
Canadian musician Burton Cummings is giving up his royalties to protect his legacy.
The “American Woman” singer and co-founder of classic Winnipeg band The Guess Who has cancelled his performance license agreements in an effort to prevent the current iteration of The Guess Who from performing.
The move is an escalation of a legal battle that’s been ongoing since last fall, when Cummings and fellow Guess Who songwriter Randy Bachman launched a lawsuit against what they’re calling a “cover band” and claiming they’re engaging in false advertising, attempting to juice concert sales by giving the impression that Cummings and Bachman are still part of the band. This iteration of the band owns the Guess Who trademark, and features original drummer Garry Peterson.
While that lawsuit is still ongoing, Cummings is taking a new approach to halting the alleged cover band’s activity. The vast majority of concert venues in the U.S. have licensing agreements with performing rights organizations (PROs) which allow them to host live performances of any music in the catalogue of those PROs. Cummings has spent the last several months cancelling his agreements with those PROs, so that his music is no longer licensed for performance in live venues — a move Cummings can only make because he owns his publishing rights.
The move is drastic and relatively unheard of, as it will cause Cummings to forfeit potential royalties. He’ll lose out on payments not just for live performances, but for radio spins, TV placements, shopping mall playlists, and more. The loss applies not just to recordings Cummings played on, but recordings of any songs he wrote, which includes Lenny Kravitz‘s popular cover of The Guess Who’s “American Woman.”
Cummings says it’s a sacrifice worth making. “I’m willing to do anything to stop the fake band,” he told Rolling Stone. “They’re not the people who made these records and they shouldn’t act like they did.”
Since Cummings terminated his licenses, The Guess Who have already cancelled five concert dates in Florida and Alabama.
“This is about way more than just money, I wouldn’t have pulled the catalog if it wasn’t,” Cummings explains. “This is about the legacy of the songs and the fact that the cover band is doing anything they can to erase me and Bachman from the history of the group. I see advertisements for their shows, and it’s me singing ‘American Woman.’” – Rosie Long Decter
Last Week In Canada: ‘Houdini’ Co-Writer Wins Major Award
It’s time for another spindle around the Executive Turntable, Billboard’s comprehensive(ish) compendium of promotions, hirings, exits and firings — and all things in between — across music.
Shore Fire Media promoted five staffers to key leadership posts at the 34-year-old public relations agency. Allison Elbl, Matt Hanks, Mark Satlof and Rebecca Shapiro are now co-presidents at Shore Fire, while Jaclyn D. Carter has been promoted to senior vice president. Founder and CEO Marilyn Laverty will continue leading the Brooklyn-based firm while taking on an expanded role at Dolphin Entertainment, which acquired Shore Fire in late 2019. The agency’s roster includes Bruce Springsteen, Elvis Costello, the Avett Brothers, Sylvan Esso, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Robert Plant/Alison Krauss, as well as corporate clients including Rhino, Secretly and Gateway Studios. Geographically, Elbl heads Shore Fire’s West Coast office in Los Angeles, while Carter helms the Nashville outpost and Hanks, Satlof and Shapiro hold down the fort in Kings County.
“These executives each put their imprint on Shore Fire in a unique and powerful way,” said Laverty. “They have shaped Shore Fire with their passions, creativity, broad interests and expertise. I’m so grateful to work with them and thrilled to recognize their leadership with the announcement of these new roles. I anticipate great success as Mark, Rebecca, Matt, Allison and Jaclyn drive innovation and growth for both Shore Fire and Dolphin in the future.”
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Meanwhile…
Sony Music knew there was something about Harri Davies, hiring the industry veteran as head of A&R at RCA Records UK, effective immediately. As his title confirms, Davies will be handling all things A&R for the label — scouting, signings, strategy, etc — and will report into co-presidents Glyn Aikins and Stacey Tang. He’s got over a decade of experience in the bank, most recently as senior director of A&R at Concord Music Publishing. Davies’ more notable signings in the line of duty include Krept & Konan, Imanbek, Flowdan and Tyla. “Harri embodies the globally-minded, creative spirit that has always been at the heart of RCA UK,” said Aikins and Tang. “His understanding of the music landscape and passion for nurturing artists will undoubtedly have a positive effect, steering our team and artists towards further global success.”
Monument Records promoted Casey Thomas to vp of marketing & commercial partnerships, with Ansley Neeley promoted to manager, marketing & creative. Boston native Thomas joined Monument from the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in 2018, serving first as a manager of PR; she was elevated to publicist and later director of marketing, publicity and creative. Alabama native Neeley began her career at The Greenroom PR, before joining Monument in 2021 as the label’s promotion coordinator, before adding in marketing coordinator responsibilities in aiding the setup of all label releases, planning artist events and overseeing/developing the roster’s creative elements. Monument Records’ roster includes Walker Hayes, Tigirlily Gold and Shelby Lynne. –Jessica Nicholson
Bob Boilen
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RADIO, RADIO: NPR legend Bob Boilen, creator of Tiny Desk Concerts and All Songs Considered, is the next program director at DC-area community station Takoma Radio (WOWD-LP). The station said Boilen will take over from Steve Hoffman, the PD since 2017, starting June 1. The native New Yorker departed NPR last October after a 35-year run, having left his mark as a digital pioneer as a long-time producer at NPR Music. “It’s a thrill to be a part of community radio with a spirit of commitment and imagination that this station and its volunteers offer,” said Boilen, who already hosts My Tiny Morning Show on the 8-year-old station … SiriusXM president and chief content officer Scott Greenstein signed a three-year extension of his employment agreement, stretching until May 24, 2027. The former movie executive (USA Films, Miramax) is celebrating 20 years at the satellite radio giant.
Secretly Distribution hired Rich Thane as the new associate director of artist and label strategy. Based in London and reporting to Josh Madell, director of artist and label strategy, Thane is tasked with growing Secretly’s client roster of indie labels and forming label services deals with management firms and estates, among other duties. Previously, Thane rose to senior director of global playlist strategy during an eight-year stretch at Warner Music, where he led teams across London, NYC and LA. Thane has also held a variety of positions at Eventim, Billetto and Amazon Music. “Rich’s passion for and knowledge of independent labels and artists is unparalleled, and he comes to Secretly Distribution with a wealth of close personal connections across the global music community,” said Madell. “Add to this his deep understanding of modern playlisting strategy, and it’s hard to imagine someone better suited to this role, as Secretly leans into our global growth.”
Nashville’s Big Loud Records is making some changes in its radio promotion department. Current vp of radio promotion Ali Matkosky will soon exit the company for a new role with Relative Music Group, while director of promotion Southeast Tyler Waugh will take over the role at the label, home of Morgan Wallen, HARDY and Dallas Smith. “Ali has been an integral part of this team and her contribution over the past six years has been nothing less than significant,” Big Loud Records svp of radio promotion Stacy Blythe said. “Tyler’s unwavering passion and dedication have propelled him to the role of vp of radio promotion, where his leadership will continue to inspire and drive success.”
Sony Music stalwart Pauline Duarte was named vp of Columbia Records France. She’ll oversee all operations at Columbia France in addition to her other gig leading Epic Records France. Duarte succeeds Laurent Chapeau, who joined Sony in 2008 in a business development capacity and has helmed Columbia’s French division since 2013. Duarte has been a member of the Sony fam for roughly 14 of the last 21 years, only taking a Def Jam detour in 2013 before joining Epic in 2020. As part of the reorganization, Franck Hiag has been named director of Epic Records France, reporting to Duarte. “The vision of Columbia that Laurent Chapeau has developed over the past decade is outstanding,” Duarte said. “I admire his work with iconic artists and his ability to spot young talents. I’m delighted to succeed him and to be able to help shape the future of the label while respecting its musical heritage.”
LiveCo, an independent concert promoter, hired live events veteran Chuck Steedman as its next president and CEO. Steedman takes over from co-founder Brian Becker, who has helmed LiveCo since it was formed two years ago by consolidating five indie promoters — BASE Entertainment, Premier Productions, Icon Concerts, Rush Concerts and Peachtree Entertainment — under one roof. Steedman arrives at LiveCo from private equity fund Raptor Sports Capital, where he was a principal, and previous roles include global evp of strategy and development at ASM Global and chief operating and development officer at AEG Facilities. LiveCo brands specialize in country, faith music, family shows and comedy, and have the backing of private equity fund Waterland. “LiveCo is a fantastic company made up of some of the most innovative and talented people and brands in live entertainment,” said Steedman. “I am humbled that Waterland and LiveCo leadership have chosen me to lead this incredible organization into a new era of providing experiences for fans, artists, and entertainers across our amazing platforms.”
ALL IN THE FAM: Penske Media Corporation launched PMC Brand Group (PMBG), an in-house agency dedicated to building licensing programs, partnerships and consumer products for PMC’s portfolio of brands including this one, plus The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Rolling Stone, SXSW, The Golden Globes, VIBE and quite a few more. The PMBG team will be led by Thomas Ferguson, vp of licensing, partnerships and consumer products, with assistance from Laura Ongaro, associate vp of licensing and partner management, and Noelle Hickey, who is promoted to associate director of marketing and partner management.
Allie Gruensfelder
Allie Gruensfelder joined marketing agency The Syndicate as director of publicity. In her new role, Gruensfelder will focus on overall press strategy and creating opportunities for national and local media coverage for clients. Prior to The Syndicate, she led campaigns for Hoobastank, The Maine and other acts as vp of Trendsetter Media & Marketing. Gruensfelder will report to Jeff Kilgour, svp of business development, and work from the firm’s office in Weehawken, NJ. “Allie is an exceptional talent and her experience, creativity, and passion will be invaluable to the company,” said Kilgour. “She always brings innovative ideas to her campaigns and we’re thrilled to have her fresh perspective strengthen the team.” Reach her at allie@thesyn.com.
Sea Gayle Music executives Chris DuBois and JD Groover have joined with Geoff Ogunlesi of The Ognlesi Group to form a new management company, 1221 Artist Management. Groover will take on the title of vp of management at 1221 while keeping his senior creative director/A&R role at Sea Gayle. DuBois, who is CEO of Sea Gayle, and Ogunlesi will oversee 1221 while continuing at their respective operations. The execs see only benefits to adding management services to their arsenal. “In today’s publishing world, having turnkey management services is a natural way to grow and support an artist’s career,” said DuBois. Ogunlesi, whose LA-based management company counts Young Thug and Reyna Roberts as clients, said he found the right partners. “As our company has thought about expanding into the country space and into Nashville, we wanted to do so with integrity as I have the utmost respect for the culture and the people involved,” he said.
NASHVILLE NOTES: The Country Music Association promoted Michelle Kirk to senior director of integrated marketing, and Mary Overend to senior director of marketing. Kirk previously re-joined the CMA in 2019 after time at WME. Overend joined the CMA in 2015 following time at Carters/OshKosh B’Gosh … Ashley Gorley’s publishing company Tape Room Music elevated Caroline Hodson to director of A&R. The native Mainer joined TRM as an intern in 2020, the year she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Belmont University. “Caroline has been a rockstar since day one and is immensely deserving of this promotion,” shares president Blain Rhodes. “She is an integral part of our team, and our writers are lucky to have her in their corner.”
Melissa Newhart, an executive in UTA‘s music brand partnerships division and a former vp at Roc Nation, joined the board of directors of WhyHunger. The non-profit, which advances initiatives aimed at ending world hunger, also appointed philanthropist Jimmy Zankel to the board.
Max Cutler, former head of talk creator content partnerships at Spotify, launched a new multi-media storytelling company called PAVE Studios. According to the announcement, PAVE Studio will work to build a “unique ecosystem of genre-specific brands” creating hyper-targeted content across audio, video, books, live experiences and more. “Storytellers who successfully engage audiences and create fandoms through written, audio, and video content have led the charge in cultivating their robust communities into diverse businesses,” Cutler said. “PAVE Studios will set the stage for a better way of producing, distributing and consuming the world’s greatest original content, all while empowering creators, simplifying content discovery, and fostering vibrant fan communities.”
ICYMI:
Cindy James
The Verve Label Group promoted Joseph Oerke to executive vice president of Decca Records U.S., tasked with leading it into a “new era as the leading classical record company in America” … One-time executive of the week Cindy James was promoted to general manager of Virgin Music Group‘s operations in North America … and Telemundo‘s got a new structure.
Last Week’s Turntable: BMI’s New Digits
MediaCo Holding has acquired all of Estrella Media’s network, content, digital and commercial operations, the company announced on Thursday (April 18). According to a press release, the transaction — which closed April 17 — will see Estrella Media brands join MediaCo. These include the EstrellaTV network’s linear and digital video content business, Estrella Media’s digital […]
Telemundo Enterprises announced on Thursday (April 18) a new structure for its entertainment studios to “boost its scripted content,” according to a press released issued by NBCUniversal’s Spanish-language division. The restructure, which will merge the media company’s linear and streaming studios (launched in 2021) into one unit, was unveiled by NBCUniversal Telemundo Enterprises chairman Luis Fernández. “At […]
50 Cent’s television empire adds another point to the scoreboard with the offical launch today (April 18) of G-Unit Studios in Shreveport, Louisiana. “As someone who has always believed in the transformative power of music, film, and television, I’m beyond excited to introduce the expansion of my G-Unit Film & Television through the launch of […]
Cutting Edge Group (“CEG” or the “Group”), an investor in and manager of niche media music rights encompassing more than 2,000 titles across soundtrack albums, completed a $500 million debt refinancing with four banks led by Fifth Third Bank and Northleaf Capital Partners. The new credit facility will be used for corporate purposes as well as the acquisition of music rights from the roughly $1.5 billion pipeline of possible investments already identified by Cutting Edge.
“Cutting Edge has become a world leading music partner to the film and tv industries,” said Philip Moross, CEO of Cutting Edge Group, in a statement. “During that time, the structural trends driving our industries have accelerated exponentially, delivering a proliferation of digital platforms and content, matched by an increase in demand for media music usage. Prior to the pandemic, we identified a similar opportunity in the global wellness market, which is now projected to grow at 10% per annum to a US$7 trillion market by 2025. This refinancing will enable us to execute our growth strategy to take full advantage of these trends in our usual disciplined way.”
TikTok partnered with global ticketing platform AXS, enabling certified artists on the social platform to use its in-app ticketing feature to promote their AXS live dates while allowing fans to buy tickets for events through AXS within TikTok.
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Universal Music Greater China (UMGC) struck a new strategic agreement with TF Entertainment, the company behind Chinese idols TFBOYS and Teens In Times. Under the deal, UMGC will handle global distribution of TF’s roster, targeting markets outside Mainland China.
ASM Global Acts, the corporate social responsibility platform of ASM Global, partnered with reuse platform r.World to introduce reusable service ware — including reusable cups and food containers — in venues throughout the company’s North American portfolio, beginning with the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and select hospitality locations at the forthcoming Acure Grand Prix in Long Beach, Calif.
Audacy and Super Hi-Fi, which provides AI-powered radio services for broadcast and digital media companies, announced an expanded partnership that will streamline Audacy’s digital content programming, production and broadcasting processes “while creating stickier listener environments and more opportunities for advertisers to engage with them,” according to a press release. Audacy additionally announced that five of its highest-rated HD radio stations are transitioning to use Super Hi-Fi’s program director radio operating system, allowing programmers and staff to spend less time on production. The stations include WWBX-HD2 in Boston, WLKK-HD2 in Buffalo, KILT-HD2 in Houston, KROQ-HD2 in Los Angeles and KNRK-HD2 in Portland.
Leading classical music artist agencies IMG Artists and TACT Artists Management formed a strategic alliance through which their vocal departments will work together to pool expertise and resources. With the partnership, the companies hope to ensure a broader international network for their rosters, among other benefits.
Sony Music‘s global podcast division acquired podcast production company Neon Hum, whose founder/CEO Jonathan Hirsch joins Sony Music as vp of global podcasts/head of U.S. creative. Sony will utilize Neon Hum’s production expertise to continue developing podcasts for its subscription channel, The Binge, and across its entertainment slate. Sony will also expand its work-for-hire business to provide more services beyond audio production for its client and branded podcasts. Before the acquisition, Sony made a strategic investment in Neon Hum in 2019, with the two jointly launching podcasts including Dinners on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Smoke Screen and My Fugitive Dad.
Merlin announced a licensing deal with streaming platform Audiomack, giving Merlin members access to Audiomack’s listenership. Merlin members will now also be able to claim their artists’ Audiomack accounts, enabling them to send messages to their fans and more. The deal encompasses Audiomod, a new Audiomack tool that allows fans to customize their listening experience via pre-set filters including “sped up,” “slowed down,” “nightcore” and “daycore” and/or custom listening filters they create themselves.
Secretly announced new distribution deals with Jazz Is Dead and its sister label, Linear Labs. Founded by Adrian Younge, Ali Shaheed Muhammad (A Tribe Called Quest), Andrew Lojero and Adam Block, Jazz Is Dead is dedicated to “honoring the legacies of musical heroes and luminaries,” according to a a press release, having released albums by Rob Ayers, Lonnie Liston Smith and more. Linear Labs focuses on “new progressive music” and has worked with artists including Ghostface Killah, The Delfonics and Angela Muñoz while releasing scores and soundtracks for CBS, Hulu and Netflix. Past and future releases on both labels will now be distributed by Secretly.
Image-Line — the developer of popular digital audio workstation (DAW) FL Studio and FL Cloud — acquired MSXII Sound Design, a manufacturer of sample packs and sonic tools. MSX’s more than 200G sample library is now available to FL Studio users through FL Cloud.
Udio, a new platform developed by former Google DeepMind researchers that allows users to create music using AI using text prompts and then share their creations with the app’s community of users for feedback and collaboration, has raised a seed funding round from investors incluidng a16z, Instagram co-founder/chief technology officer Mike Krieger, will.i.am, Common, Kevin Wall, Tay Keith, UnitedMasters and Oriol Vinyals, head of Gemini at Google.
Entertainment, hospitality and investment holding company Palm Tree Crew — founded by Kygo and Myles Shear — closed a strategic investment in Medium Rare, valuing the company at $50 million. Medium Rare partners with artists, celebrities and athletes to create live entertainment properties; examples include Travis Kelce’s Kelce Jam and Guy Fieri’s Flavortown Tailgate. As part of the deal, Medium Rare will partner on select events and festivals within the Palm Tree Crew holding company. The two companies will also work together on developing new festivals and live experiences.
Oak View Group signed a partnership with the University of Kansas to be the stadium operator for the Gateway District — the future home of Kansas Football and convention center events and conferences — and the reimagined David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium. Oak View Group will additionally manage food and beverage services and suite catering for all Kansas Athletics venues. It will oversee the day-to-day operations of both the football stadium and conference center when the first phase of the Gateway District opens in August 2025, leading bookings of conference events, concerts and more. Oak View Group will additionally play a key role in the current Allen Fieldhouse upgrades, managing all food and beverage and hospitality in the arena.
AI-driven funding platform beatBread partnered with Kobalt Music Group for publishing administration in the United States and amra for digital licensing and collections internationally. The agreements allow beatBread to extend its existing funding of publishing rights to artists who are currently unpublished and under-collecting their performance and mechanical revenues.
Entertainment company NTERTAIN and The Official Latino Film Festival merged to form the NVISION Film & Music Festival. The festival will feature a mix of film screenings, music performances, art exhibitions, technology showcases and conference-style panels and presentation. It’s set to take place Oct. 10-12 at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs, Calif.
The city council of McKinney, Tex. approved the development of the Sunset Amphitheater being built in the town by Notes Live. The agreement includes a public-private partnership between Notes Live, the city, the McKinney Economic Development Corporation and the McKinney Community Development Corporation. The project is estimated to be bringing in more than 1,300 direct and indirect jobs to the community, with an economic impact of around $3 billion to the area over the first 10 years.
Musically Fed, which redistributes surplus backstage and VIP meals to veterans and those facing homelessness and food insecurity in the United States, will once again partner with Live Nation-Hewitt Silva (LNHS) to handle surplus catering at forthcoming LNHS events at the Hollywood Bowl. The organization will also re-team with TaDa! Events to repurpose unused catering for communities in need via several L.A. nonprofits.
Feed.fm partnered with AI company Cyanite for AI-based tagging and music search to enhance discoverability on its platform. Under the deal, Feed.fm will use Cyanite’s technology to enhance the metadata Feed.fm’s compliance and recommendation engine uses to stream curated music for each listener.
Asian financial services firm AGBA will acquire social video platform Triller in an all-stock transaction that values the merged companies at $4 billion, according to SEC filings released Thursday (April 18).
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In addition to its eponymous app, which has been compared to TikTok, Triller owns generative AI platform Amplify.ai, pay-per-view service FITE, bare-knuckle fighting company Bare Knuckle Fighting, influencer marketing software Julius and experiential events planner Thuzio, among others.
The boards of both Triller and AGBA have approved the proposed transaction, which is now subject to regulatory and stockholder approvals before closing. The combined companies will be 80% owned by Triller stockholders and the remaining 20% by current shareholders of AGBA. Triller filed for a direct listing on the New York Stock Exchange in August 2023 and again in January 2024. In its most recent S-1 filing, the company listed CEO Bobby Sarnevesht and Proxima Media, led by Hollywood financier Ryan Kavanagh, as founding partners. Other previously disclosed shareholders include former CEO Mahi de Silva. It is not clear who Trillers’ current shareholders are.
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Shares of NASDAQ-listed AGBA closed at 40 cents on Wednesday and spiked following the merger announcement to $1.30 early Thursday before falling to under a dollar later in the morning. AGBA formed in 1993 and operates out of Hong Kong, where it says it serves over 400,000 corporate and individual clients in the financial tech and healthcare sectors.
The leadership for the combined company will include Sarnevesht as Triller CEO, AGBA executive director Wing-Fai Ng as group CEO and former Barclays CEO Bob Diamond as group chairman.
“Through this merger, we are poised to accelerate our innovation trajectory and significantly expand our market presence, creating unparalleled value for our users and stakeholders globally,” said Sarnevesht. “In addition, with the transaction approved by both company boards and majority shareholders, we believe this is the most efficient route for Triller to access public capital markets and secure the liquidity needed for rapid growth.”
Said Wing-Fai Ng, “With a rich history of setting records and making bold moves, we believe Triller is now on the brink of an exciting future. Its groundbreaking technology, coupled with an aggressive and strategic business model, positions it not just as a formidable competitor to tech giants but as a potential game-changer in the industry. AGBA’s expertise in capitalizing on financial value from complex developments and rapid growth will provide the fuel for Triller’s rocket ships. Together, we have a lot to accomplish.”
Wing-Fai Ng added that “we believe Triller is now on the brink of an exciting future. Its groundbreaking technology, coupled with an aggressive and strategic business model, positions it not just as a formidable competitor to tech giants but as a potential game-changer in the industry.”
A bill to create a new statewide live music fund in Tennessee has passed in the state’s Senate and House. It will now head to the desk of Governor Bill Lee, who is expected to sign it into law.
SB2508/HB2712 — composed of identical companion bills carried by Senate Majority Leader Jack Johnson and House Majority Whip Johnny Garrett — was introduced as a collaboration between the Music Venue Alliance Nashville, the National Independent Venue Association and the Broadway Entertainment Association. The bill creates the structure of a live music fund that will one day provide grants to live music and performance venues, promoters and performers.
The legislation also defines elements of the live music industry in code for the first time, marking a fundamental step toward directing future support. The fund is set up to be administered by the Tennessee Entertainment Commission under the Department of Economic and Community Development.
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Though the bill does not allocate any government money to the fund during this fiscal year, it does allow it to receive donations and grants from individuals and the private sector. The opportunity for government-appropriated funds remains on the table for future years. Stakeholders will also soon come together to evaluate revenue streams flowing into similar funds in other states and determine if any opportunities exist that might be a good fit for the Tennessee fund.
“We are truly excited by the unanimous and bipartisan support for our independent venues,” said Chris Cobb, board president of the Music Venue Alliance Nashville, in a statement. “It has become increasingly difficult to own, operate, or grow an independent venue in today’s climate, and a fund like this will be a difference maker to ensure that independent venues across Tennessee not only survive, but thrive.”
“The Live Music & Performance Venue Fund creates a massive opportunity for us to protect and preserve Tennessee’s live music industry for years to come,” said Bob Raines, executive director of the Tennessee Entertainment Commission, in a statement. “Independent venues and performers across the great state of Tennessee are the foundation of our complex and vibrant ecosystem and we know their success is directly tied to the vibrancy and growth of our communities across the state.”
While Tennessee is only the second state in the nation to define a live music and performance venue in the state code, similar funds have been created in cities and states across the United States. Texas provided over 650 micro-grants to individual creatives in 2023 through a similar fund and also provided a grant to the historic Austin, Tex., independent venue Hole in the Wall that enabled it to secure a 20-year lease extension.
“We applaud Leader Johnson and Representative Garrett for their leadership, and thank the entire Tennessee General Assembly for their unwavering support of independent venues, promoters, and the entirelive entertainment sector in Tennessee,” Stephen Parker, executive director of the National Independent Venue Association, said in a statement. “Whether investment to bolster the fund comes from the live community, the private sector, or government, we look forward to rallying support and growing this fund in the years ahead to ensure the preservation of Tennessee’s legendary live music economy.”
Grammy Go, a new online initiative from the Recording Academy, is the result of a partnership with Coursera, a leading online learning platform, to offer classes tailored for music creators and industry professionals. Grammy Go on Coursera includes courses taught by Recording Academy members and featuring Grammy nominees and/or winners.
Starting today, enrollment is open for Grammy Go’s first Coursera specialization, “Building Your Audience for Music Professionals,” taught by Joey Harris, international music/marketing executive and CEO of Joey Harris Inc., and featuring Jimmy Jam, Janelle Monáe and Victoria Monét. This specialization will help participants gain the skills, knowledge and confidence to build a strong brand presence and cultivate a devoted audience within the ever-changing music industry.
The partnership’s second course, launching later this summer, is “Music Production: Crafting an Award-Worthy Song.” That course, which aims to strengthen the technological and audio skills of a music producer, will be taught by Carolyn Malachi, Howard University professor and a Grammy nominee in 2011 for best urban/alternative performance for her track “Orion.” This specialization will include appearances by Cirkut, Hit-Boy, classical producer Judith Sherman, artist and vocal coach Stevie Mackey and Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason jr.
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“Whether it be through a Grammy Museum program, Grammy Camp or Grammy U, the Grammy organization is committed to helping the next generation of creators flourish, and the Recording Academy is proud to introduce our newest higher learning opportunity with Grammy Go in partnership with Coursera,” Panos A. Panay, president of the Recording Academy, said in a statement. “A creator’s music education is ongoing, and these courses have been crafted to provide participants with the essential tools to grow in their professional and creative journeys.”
“We are honored to welcome Grammy Go, our first entertainment partner, to the Coursera community,” said Marni Baker Stein, chief content officer at Coursera. “With these self-paced online specializations, aspiring music professionals all over the world have an incredible opportunity to learn directly from iconic artists and industry experts.”
Grammy Go is billed as the first creator-to-creator learning platform from the Recording Academy. Visit go.grammy.com to learn more. For more information and enrollment about the first specialization, visit the landing page for Building Your Audience for Music Professionals.
Primary Wave has partnered with Neil Sedaka to acquire a stake in the star’s master and publishing rights. Regarded as perhaps the world’s first-ever teen pop star, Sedaka began his career in 1957 and went on to pen hits like “Love Will Keep Us Together,” “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do,” “Laughter in the Rain,” “Calendar Girl,” “Oh! Carol” and “Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen.”
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Sedaka has earned his fair share of accolades over the years, including five Grammy nominations. He has been inducted into the Songwriters’ Hall of Fame, received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and was one of the first musical guests on Saturday Night Live.
After getting his start as one of the top acts of the late 1950s, he pivoted to focusing his efforts on writing hits for other artists, including Frank Sinatra, Tom Jones, The Monkees and The Fifth Dimension.
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During the height of the British Invasion, he continued to hone a strong fanbase in the UK, and in the early 1970s was re-introduced to American audiences by Elton John, who signed Sedaka to his new label Rocket Records. As he gained acclaim through songs like “Bad Blood” and “Laughter in the Rain” under the Rocket deal, one of his early songs, “Breaking Up Is Hard To Do,” was re-released as a ballad to great success, becoming the second song in history to make the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 for two versions of the same song. Plus, Captain and Tennille won Record of the Year for “Love Will Keep Us Together,” which was co-penned by Sedaka.
A classically trained Juilliard graduate, Sedaka embraced his roots in the 21st century, composing symphonies and piano concertos like “Joie De Vivre” and “Manhattan Intermezzo,” both of which were recorded with the Philharmonia Orchestra of London.
This deal encompasses Sedaka’s entire catalog, including all compositions written by him and all recordings performed by him. Other legendary artists have also performed and recorded his works, including Elvis Presley, Connie Francis and Abba. While these recordings are not part of the deal, Primary Wave still benefits on the publishing side, given Sedaka’s writing credits.
Primary Wave, known as an active and creative catalog buyer and publisher, will help boost Sedaka’s works with the help of its in-house marketing, digital strategy, licensing, synch and film/tv production teams.
“I am thrilled to be entering into this partnership with Primary Wave – an organization that I have long-admired for their unwavering commitment and dedication to the artists they represent,” says Sedaka of the deal. “After almost 70 years in the music business, I’ve gotten pretty good at separating the big talkers from the real deals, and Larry and his team at Primary Wave are about as real deal as it gets. I look forward to a long and prosperous relationship that will allow me to work side by side with this amazing organization and finally give my extensive collection of songs the attention and exposure it deserves.”
Madeline Boyd, Primary Wave’s finance & investments manager adds, “We are thrilled to welcome Neil Sedaka into the Primary Wave family. As both a singer and songwriter, Neil has created an iconic catalog that has transcended decades and genres. We look forward to continue creating new opportunities for his timeless songs together.”