The Deals
RCA Records Greater China, a division of Sony Music Entertainment, signed a strategic partnership with Chinese indie label and music collective IRIS Chengdu, founded by Chengdu, China-based producer, DJ and recording artist Andre Grant, a.k.a. HARIKIRI. During his career, HARIKIRI has worked with artists including American rapper Jay Park and Chinese hip-hop group Higher Brothers. Over the next year, five albums will be spawned from the partnership, including new releases from female Chinese rapper Vinida Weng, rapper/singer/songwriter Haysen Cheng and HARIKIRI himself, among others. According to a press release, Chengdu “has been widely regarded as the epicentre of China’s evolving hip hop music scene and touted as the city raising China’s new generation of rappers.”
EMPIRE formed a partnership with automated music marketing and promotion platform un:hurd music that includes an investment in un:hurd to support the development of new tools and will give EMPIRE access to un:hurd’s tools and services. The partnership came amid un:hurd’s ongoing fundraise, which has drawn investors including Willard Ahdritz, Dan Runcie’s Trapital Ventures and Mindset Ventures MusicTech. According to un:hurd CEO/founder Alex Brees, the platform boasts a community of more than 125,000 artists and record labels.
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Bria, a generative AI platform for visual images that claims to be built on 100% licensed data, closed $40 million in Series B funding, bringing its total capital raise to $65 million. The money will be used to scale the company’s visual generative AI platform and widen the application of its patented attribution engine to music, video and text generation. The company says its attribution engine “bridges the generative output and the training dataset, so data owners are programmatically compensated according to their overall influence on each generated output,” according to a press release. In a statement, Bria founder/CEO Dr. Yair Adato added, “Enterprises can use our source code and API platform to integrate visual generative AI inside their products and access previously untouchable premium branded content. By broadening our attribution offering to all types of content, including music, video, and text, we are helping to usher in a truly sustainable creative economy.”
Japanese talent management and production company Asobisystem teamed up with blackx, described as a leader in music investments in Asia, to help expand the J-pop genre globally. According to a press release, the companies “will expand artist portfolios, venturing beyond traditional music to explore innovative IP such as cross-industry collaborations, introducing J-Pop to new global audiences and reinforcing Japan’s leadership in the entertainment sector.” Asobisystem’s roster includes Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, Atarashii Gakko!, Fruits Zipper and Yasutaka Nakata.
Synch platform SourceAudio struck a deal with AI-powered music analysis platform Cyanite to integrate Cyanite’s AI music tagging and search capabilities directly into the SourceAudio licensing ecosystem. Through the deal, SourceAudio’s music libraries and content owners can opt in to access Cyanite’s AI tagging and search system within their existing workflows. Cyanite has also chosen SourceAudio as its delivery platform for new and existing customers, meaning all Cyanite users can now benefit from SourceAudio’s hosting and licensing solution, allowing their audio files to be automatically tagged and optimized for search, discovery, pitching and monetization.
Celebrity Coaches, a luxury transportation services provider for the entertainment industry, acquired BandWagon RV Rentals, which specializes in mid-level tour transportation. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The acquisition expands Celebrity’s fleet to more than 120 vehicles.
Nightlife and entertainment company Ministry of Sound signed a deal with DICE that will see it leveraging the latter’s mobile-first ticketing technology. Through the agreement, Ministry of Sound will gain access to DICE’s analytics and marketing tools, allowing for real-time insights into audience behaviors, event performance and sales attribution.
Titan Content formed a strategic partnership with Imperial Music (a division of Republic Records) to collaborate on its upcoming girl group, AtHeart. The group — which released a new teaser video and launched official social media channels alongside the announcement — will share a “pre-debut introduction song and video” on March 14, according to a press release. AtHeart consists of seven members: Michi, Katelyn, Seohyeon, Aurora, Bome, Arin and Nahyun. The group’s formation was led by former SM Entertainment CEO Nikki Semin Han.
Spotify began accepting audiobooks from ElevenLabs, an AI software company that provides voice narration technology. Authors can now distribute their ElevenLabs content to Spotify and other audiobook retailers via audiobook distributor Findaway Voices. According to a blog post, all digitally narrated titles will be “clearly marked in the metadata on Spotify” and other platforms, while the book description “will be prepended with the first sentence stating, ‘This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.’”
Korean entertainment group Starship Entertainment struck a copyright partnership with Chinese music platform NetEase Cloud Music. The deal brings Starship’s entire catalog, including Korean girl group IVE, to Chinese audiences. According to a press release, NetEase Cloud Music boasts 206 million monthly active users.
Universal Music Japan acquired a majority stake in A-Sketch, a Japanese artist management business and record label that boasts acts including Saucy Dog, Flumpool and Ayumu Imazu on its roster. A-Sketch is also home to Mash A&R, a rock management company in Japan that manages The Oral Cigarettes, FREDERIC and Saucy Dog. Under the deal, Universal Music Japan will acquire the stake in A-Sketch that’s currently owned by Amuse. A-Sketch will now operate as a label division within Universal Music Japan and continue to be led by A-Sketch representative director/president Nobuyuki Soma, who will report to Universal Music Japan president/CEO Naoshi Fujikura. “The acquisition will further bolster Universal Music Japan’s in-house artist management capabilities and expand its ability to drive new creative and commercial opportunities for its artists,” as stated in a press release.
Reservoir Media acquired U.K. dance and electronic label New State. The deal includes New State’s entire recorded music catalog consisting of more than 13,000 tracks by artists including Zero 7, The Beloved, Paul Oakenfold, Dirty Vegas, D:Ream, Double Trouble, Rebel MC and Congo Natty. Reservoir will continue marketing and releasing new music by New State artists via its Chrysalis Records label.
Create Music Group announced a strategic catalog acquisition and go-forward venture with Pack Records (a.k.a. Pack.), a New York and New Orleans-based indie record label, publisher and artist partnership company co-founded by Sky McElroy, Jett Wells and Gavin Chops. The companies previously established a publishing joint venture. Under the deal, Pack. and its artists will have access to Create’s proprietary technology, global distribution, data-driven marketing insights and monetization tools. Pack.’s roster includes aldn, CONNIE, Blood Cultures, daine, Dava and Godly the Ruler. Its catalog boasts recording and publishing rights “at the heart of internet and gaming culture viral moments,” according to a press release, including aldn’s “icantbelieveiletyougetaway,” Ezekiel’s “help_urself,” Godford’s “Downtown,” and Internet Girl’s “PULL UP,” as well as the CONNIE-produced “DIVE IN!” by JELEEL! and “Stupid” by Lexa Gates.
Hook, the AI-powered platform that allows users can legally remix songs and earn income for doing so, signed a strategic partnership with digital music distributor Too Lost. More than 300,000 artists and labels will be brought to Hook through the deal, including Teddy Swims, Tommy Richman, Ty Dolla $ign, Fivio Foreign, Kodak Black, Justin Beiber, Playboi Carti, James Blake, Pink Sweats and Emei. This is Hook’s fourth distribution partnership following deals with FUGA/Downtown, Revelator and Gyrostream.
iHeartMedia and the government communications office of the State of Qatar signed a multi-year partnership that aims to develop a state-of-the-art podcast studio in Qatar and release both original and existing podcast content to Arabic audiences. Under the agreement, iHeart will also offer specialized masterclasses to develop local podcasting talent and host global industry events, including annual Web Summit gatherings — the partnership was announced at this year’s Web Summit in Qatar — in an effort to position the Middle Eastern country as a regional podcasting hub.
Synch platform SourceAudio struck a deal with the Wolfman Jack estate through which the company will repurpose and discover new monetization opportunities for the radio legend’s shows. Through the AudioGenius tool on SongLab — SourceAudio’s AI-powered suite of music tools — the Wolfman Jack estate will be able to “reuse, repurpose, control, and monetize their valuable content archives across today’s digital platforms and ecosystem,” according to a press release. According to Tod Weston Smith, son of Wolfman Jack and president of Wolfman Jack Entertainment, AudioGenius “has significantly streamlined our process, allowing our Wolfman Jack team to access and retrieve clips from our extensive digital archives in seconds, rather than spending hours searching, and we are now able to generate additional revenue from previously underutilized or unused content.”
SoundCloud partnered with Ticketmaster and its self-serve event ticketing and marketing platform Universe in an integration that will allow SoundCloud’s Artist Pro users to create and manage events; sell tickets and share shows directly on the streaming platform; and enjoy amplification opportunities across SoundCloud, Ticketmaster and Universe. They will also have the ability to use Universe to manage and track ticket sales.
Warner Music Group signed an expanded licensing agreement with Audiomack that covers 47 new countries including the U.K., France, Italy, Germany, the Caribbean, Mexico, Uganda and Zimbabwe. The two companies first struck a licensing deal in 2019.
Exceleration Music acquired Mack Avene Music Group, a collection of independent jazz labels that has released the works of artists including Christian McBride, Cécile McLorin Salvant and Kenny Garrett. Following the acquisition, Mack Avenue’s operations will be integrated with those of jazz label Candid Records, which Exceleration previously acquired, to form Exceleration’s overall jazz group. The group will be led by current Mack Avenue president Denny Stilwell and boast a team featuring other key executives from both Mack Avenue and Candid.
Triller Group scored a $50 million equity funding round from institutional investors, secured through a private placement consisting of common stocks and warrants, with the company’s shares priced at $2.20. The money will be used to unveil new AI tools, enhance the Triller platform’s livestreaming capabilities and revamp its video editing suite. An additional fundraise is expected later this year.
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Musical AI, a rights management platform for generative AI, raised an initial investment of $2.1 million led by Canadian VC firm Build Ventures. Select angel investors also contributed, with a seed round expected to close in the first half of this year. According to the company, its attribution model can determine what percentage of a generated output came from what data source, allowing rightsholders to “monitor, take down and sunset usage” of their works. “If we want AI training to be sustainable and ethical, we need attribution. Musical AI is the only company offering it in the audio space,” said Musical AI CEO Sean Power in a statement. “I’m thrilled that discerning investors are backing our efforts to transform how AI is trained.”
Downtown-owned distributor FUGA announced an expansion in the Asia-Pacific region via several new signings and partnerships across Indonesia, India and the Philippines. In Indonesia, FUGA partnered with Jakarta-based label Maspam Company, whose roster includes Pamungkas and Prince Husein; and label/distributor Sintesa Pro, home to Batas Senja. In India, it partnered with digital and music entities including GK Digital, whose catalog includes artists like Karan Randhawa and Max Singh; and music management platform DroomMusic, home to Gajendra Verma. And in the Philippines, it signed GMA Music and battle-rap artist Pricetagg.
Primary Wave Music expanded its relationship with The Piano Guys, with its Green Hill Productions (a member of the Sun Label Group) acquiring an additional stake in the instrumental group’s master audio catalog. Green Hill also signed a new distribution deal with the group that will see it “playing a more active role in the strategic growth of The Piano Guys’ catalog and new releases,” according to a press release.
Live Nation Urban invested in Breakr, a creator marketing and tech platform that allows record labels, creative agencies, brands and more “to discover, select, pay, and contract with independent online content creators for promoting songs, products, and services,” according to a press release. The investment will be made via a new venture fund formed by Live Nation and Live Nation Urban called the Black Lily Capital Fund, which is focused on providing capital and resources to Black founders of companies operating in or adjacent to the live music industry, with a focus on startups in pre-seed and seed round stages. Along with the investment announcement, Breakr unveiled a new instant pay system called BreakrPay that allows companies to fund campaigns instantly, allowing influencers to be paid in real-time.
Virgin Music Group Nigeria partnered with Ghanian distribution and integrated label services company RainLabs. Under the deal, Virgin will help provide comprehensive support for African artists through digital distribution, marketing, creative production and brand partnerships. RainLabs’ roster includes Joey B, Cina Soul and Baaba J.
Warner Music Group’s ADA distribution and artist services arm partnered with Berlin-based neoclassical label Aemeralds, which specializes in building composers’ brands through social media marketing, composer camps and playlists. Under the agreement, Aemeralds will have the ability to partner with the Warner Classics marketing team for local services and expertise globally.
Under an expanded naming rights partnership between the City of Bakersfield, Calif., and Dignity Health, the downtown complex previously known as Centennial Garden and then Mechanics Bank Arena will now be rebranded as Dignity Health Arena, Theater and Convention Center beginning next month. The complex features a 10,000-capacity arena, 3,000-seat theater and 17,840-square-foot convention center.
Soundstripe, the Nashville-based music licensing company for creatives, agencies and brands, acquired tech startup The Rights, which helps streamline the synch licensing process for labels, publishers and music supervisors. According to a press release, the deal will help Soundstripe “accelerate its development of the music industry’s most robust click-to-license platform,” which is slated to launch in the first half of this year.
Warner Music Group’s indie distributor and artist services arm ADA extended its partnership with Sonny Fodera‘s label Solotoko, which has also released music by Dom Dolla, John Summit and Tita Lau, among others.
Nashville-based Walk Off Entertainment inked a global distribution deal with Virgin Music Group. Walk Off Entertainment was founded by Chris Ruediger, who also founded the creative community/promotional outlet The 615 House. The first releases under the new deal are expected in the first quarter of 2025; the company’s client roster includes Gareth and Abby Anderson. – Jessica Nicholson
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Record label LASAL announced a strategic distribution and joint venture partnership with Capitol CMG, marking “a new era in the faith-based music industry and a significant milestone for both companies,” according to a press release. Capitol will act as a partner in signing and developing artists alongside LASAL. “In Spanish, LASAL translates to ‘The Salt,’ which adds flavor and restores balance within the body,” Samuel Ash, founder of LASAL, said in a statement. “That is our purpose: to restore balance in the music industry while allowing artists to freely express their creativity and faith without limits. Capitol CMG shares this vision, and together, we believe we can inspire and impact the world.” – Griselda Flores
Independent distributor IDOL signed global partnerships with two labels: Brooklyn-based Mexican Summer (Cate Le Bon, Hayden Pedigo) and Dom Recs, a new imprint launched by Dan Petruzzi and Roxy Summers that is gearing up for its first album release, Twin Shadow’s Georgie. Both labels will receive global digital distribution, marketing and audience development services under their respective deals.
Tuned Global, a leading cloud platform for the music industry, partnered with AudioShake in a deal that will give Tuned Global clients access to AudioShake’s AI-based tools, including stem separation and lyric transcriptions. AudioShake technology is now available to Tuned Global’s white-label streaming applications and via Tuned Global’s advanced APIs.
Ticketing and live event marketplace Tixr partnered with full-scale event production company Social House Entertainment. Through the pact, Social House will integrate Tixr technology to optimize ticket sales and allow it to better manage merch, VIP experiences and other event services while streamlining the ticketing process. Social House is behind the popular multi-city Tacos and Tequila Festival and other events.
Tickets for Good, which offers affordable event tickets to healthcare workers, teachers, charity staff and others facing economic barriers, expanded into the Netherlands following launches in the U.S. and the U.K. The launch is being supported by Greenhouse Talent, ID&T, Mojo Concerts and This is Live, as well as ambassadors Robbie Williams and MassiveMusic founder Hans Brouwer. Led by Simone van Hövell and Linda Holleman, Tickets For Good Netherlands encompasses more than 30 healthcare institutions, reaching over 150,000 healthcare workers.
Live Nation Urban partnered with Black on the Block, a monthly vendor festival that highlights Black-owned businesses. Through the deal, Black on the Block will expand to seven cities in 2025, kicking off March 23 at Global Life Field in Arlington, Tex. Other new stops made possible by the pact include Houston, Atlanta, Detroit and Charlotte, N.C.
Sony Music Entertainment acquired Czech Republic-based record label Supraphon, furthering its expansion in Central Europe. The Supraphon roster includes recordings from artists such as Karel Gott, Lucie Bílá, Marek Ztracený, Škwor, Olympic, Hana Zagorová and Václav Neckář. A press release states that the Czech music market notched recorded music revenue of $84.1 million in 2023, with streaming boasting 60.1% of the total market with a volume of $50.5 million — an 18% increase from the prior year. The release adds that seven out of the top 10 songs and albums in the country in 2023 were put out by Czech artists. Libor Holeček will continue leading Supraphon as MD, Martin Kudla will remain as executive director and Iva Milerová, who was previously chairwoman of board of directors, will continue on in an advisory role.
Warner Music Italy and Warner Chappell Music Italy signed a deal to acquire the catalog of DWA Records, a leading Italo Disco label co-founded in 1989 by singer-songwriters and producers Roberto Zanetti and Francesco Bontempi. The agreement also encompasses the catalog of Extravaganza, DWA’s music publishing business. DWA’s catalog includes more than 250 masters including “The Rhythm of the Night” performed by Corona and written by Bontempi; “Happy” and “Uh La La” by Alexia; and “Baila” performed by Zucchero and written by Zanetti.
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MENA streaming service Anghami announced a new round of funding from OSN Group of up to $55 million, with a $12 million initial investment in a convertible note program. OSN and Anghami struck an initial partnership in April 2024, merging OSN+’s video streaming capabilities and 18,000 hours of content with Anghami’s portfolio of 100 million songs and podcasts. The companies claim video streaming subscribers grew 41% between April and October 2024. The new funds will allow the platforms to expand their content library, enhance the user experience using new technologies and strengthen their presence in the MENA region. It will additionally be used to implement innovations including AI-driven personalization.
Symphonic Distribution signed a global distribution deal with Taiwanese indie label Kafka By the Sea, whose roster includes Taiwanese rock band KST and indie-pop band Bubble Tea and Cigarettes. The first release under the pact was Sherry Z’s debut album Time.
Decentralized music community and discovery platform Audius struck a multi-territory licensing agreement with International Copyright Enterprise (ICE). The new deal establishes a pathway for more than 330,000 rights holders to receive royalties when their music is used on Audius in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia Pacific, among other territories.
U.K.-based live entertainment company ATG Entertainment acquired SOM Produce, a theater producer, operator and distributor based in Spain. Financial terms were not disclosed for the deal. SOM Produce, headquartered in Madrid, is a leading global producer and distributor of musicals and plays in the Spanish language. It manages five theaters in the center of Madrid — including Nuevo Teatro Alcalá, Teatro Rialto, Teatro Nuevo Apolo, Teatro Calderón and Teatro Amaya — and has produced more than 20 shows, including Mamma Mia!, The Book of Mormon, West Side Story, Grease, Chicago and Cabaret. ATG is majority owned by Providence Equity Partners.
Classical music label Pentatone signed a licensing partnership with Dutch promotion and distribution platform Collabhouse, which launched a pre-cleared artist music library in November. Through the deal, Pentatone will provide its entire public domain catalog to a broader community of creators, allowing composers, filmmakers, advertisers and more to work with musical works by composers including Beethoven, Bach, Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Vivaldi and more, “all interpreted by the most renowned artists,” according to a press release.
The Peoria Civic Center Authority and Prairie Home Alliance secured a naming-rights agreement for the 2,200-capacity theater within Peoria Civic Center for seven years. The venue will now be known as the Prairie Home Alliance Theater. Prairie Home Alliance is a locally owned and operated group of 10 home improvement companies across central Illinois. This is the first naming rights deal for the theater in its 42-year history.
Danish microphone producer DPA Microphones acquired the majority share of Vienna-based audio products company Austrian Audio. According to a press release, DPA is a leading manufacturer within several miniature microphone categories while Austrian Audio is strong in the large diaphragm microphone market. “Together, the brands provide a broader product range for discerning sound engineers in industries like broadcast, musical, theatre, live events and recording studios,” states a press release announcing the deal. “By joining forces, the brands will design and develop sophisticated, professional audio solutions that meet the evolving demands within the acoustical and digital fields, all while prioritizing the user experience.”
Universal Music Group (UMG) signed a strategic partnership deal with global advertising and public relations giant WPP that will center around audience engagement strategies “leveraging the power of music,” according to a press release. The deal will allow WPP clients access to UMG’s music catalog, with the two companies working together to “unlock additional areas of amplification through data-driven and technological innovation” and exploring ways artificial intelligence “can better help brands and artists connect and create authentic cultural moments,” the release adds. The partnership builds on a pre-existing relationship between UMG and WPP, which have previously teamed up on initiatives including the Coke Studio and Sprite Limelight music platforms. In a statement, UMG chief digital officer and executive vp Michael Nash said that by “combining innovative new technologies with UMG’s industry-leading data insights, we can create significant new commercial opportunities for our artists and songwriters. In addition, working together with WPP, we will harness and amplify the unmatched power and reach of music for WPP’s clients and brands through new strategic initiatives and programs.”
Sony Music launched in Greece following its acquisition of Cobalt Music, one of the country’s biggest independent labels, to re-establish Sony Music Entertainment Greece. The deal will allow Cobalt artists to connect with audiences internationally. it was concurrently announced that Anna Maria Antippas will serve as MD of Sony Music Entertainment Greece after having held leadership roles in the Greek music industry for nearly 20 years. Greek music industry revenues reached $70.4 million last year, a 14.91% increase from the prior year. Streaming accounts for 63.1% of that revenue, marking year-over-year growth of 15.2%, while synch revenues have increased 49.4%, according to a press release.
Virgin Music Group struck a strategic long-term agreement with Hungama Digital Media, a leading digital entertainment company operating out of India. Through the deal, Virgin will help expand the global reach of Hungama’s music catalog, including SVF, Grassroute, OTV and numerous film soundtracks. In turn, the deal will allow Virgin to deepen its presence in India’s regional music scene. “Hungama’s expansive network will enable us to unlock incredible new opportunities for our artists,” said Amit Sharma, country manager of India for Virgin Music Group, in a statement.
CTS Eventim acquired a 17% stake in French ticketing company France Billet from Fnac Darty, making it France Billet’s majority shareholder. Fnac Darty retains a 35% stake after the transaction and will continue its involvement in the company’s governance. France Billet’s management team will remain in place following the deal.
AEG Presents assumed a partnership stake in Germany-based concert promotion company MCT Agentur. “I wanted a partner who shared my vision of how our business should run and could provide some extra muscle in my corner when needed,” said MCT Agentur founder Scumeck Sabottka in a statement on the deal. “Concert promotion is still a gamble…that’s what makes it fun, but it’s a full-contact sport at times. You need a teammate you can trust and Jay and I trust each other.”
Warner Music Japan (WMJ) entered a strategic partnership with NBCUniversal Entertainment Japan (NBCUJ) through which it will produce and promote new releases by NBCUJ’s artists. WMJ will additionally acquire the distribution rights of more than 9,000 works in NBCU’s music catalog, including anime-related tracks, and begin digitally distributing them globally starting early next year. WMJ will also handle distribution and sales of physical products. The two companies will also work to expand opportunities for music tie-ins with anime projects, exploring possibilities for WMJ artists to contribute songs to NBCUJ titles. With the deal, WMJ has also launched an anime business division, which has brought on former Aniplex president/CEO Koichiro Natsume and former TMS Entertainment Co. senior executive officer Hiroyasu Shinohara as external advisors. “This partnership will not only enable us to help bring NBCUJ’s catalog to the world through our global network, but also give our artists opportunities to further grow their careers by leveraging anime-related collaborations,” said Takeshi Okada, president/CEO of WMJ, in a statement.
Under a new strategic partnership, ADA — Warner Music Group’s indie music distribution and artist services arm — will now oversee worldwide distribution for music projects developed by FaroLatino Music, the label division of ForoLatino. “This alliance marks an important chapter for both companies as we unite to champion Latin American music on a global scale,” Javier Fainzaig, president of FaroLatino, said in a statement. ADA president Cat Kreidich added, “We’re excited to partner with FaroLatino and help lead the charge on the global growth and recognition of the many diverse artists and genres that make up Latin music.” Launched in 1995, FaroLatino offers artist services ranging from marketing and press to strategic partnerships. Some of its latest projects include Jessi Uribe and Alejandro Fernández’s collab “Tu Maniquí” and Noche de Brujas and Jorge Celedón’s cross-genre single “Vente Conmigo.” – Griselda Flores
Event management platform Events.com acquired the Wonderfront Music & Arts Festival out of San Diego. “Under our ownership, we’ll streamline operations and create more digital engagement opportunities for guests,” said Stephen Partridge, president/COO of Events.com, in a statement. Launched in 2019, Wonderfront boasted nearly 42,000 attendees at this year’s edition of the festival. “With Events.com’s expertise in event management and the innovative capabilities of its platform, we’re looking forward to creating even more memorable experiences for our guests as we enhance our operational efficiencies, including ticketing, guest engagement, and overall festival management,” added Wonderfront founder/executive producer Paul Thornton. The 2025 iteration of the festival is slated for May 16-18.
Create Music Group acquired a 50% share of the London-based dance music label and music publisher Enhanced Music, which boasts such genre brands as Enhanced Recordings, Enhanced Progressive, Colorize, Shapes of Solitude and Enhanced Chill. Enhanced has publishing rights to thousands of songs by artists including The Chainsmokers, Elley Duhé, Tiësto and Steve Aoki.
Symphonic Distribution partnered with Masterchannel to provide artists with an AI mastering tool that makes tracks release-ready and optimized for streaming. Under the deal, Symphonic artists can upload as many tracks as they want and receive unlimited free full-length master previews.
Also at Symphonic, the company signed South Korean lable EchoesInDream (EID) to a global distribution deal. Upcoming EID releases include “Swimmin’”, a collaboration between Filipino R&B artist Jay R and emerging artists PAAK and AVN, along with new music from PAAK, an Afrobeats artist. Both are slated for release in January.
Universal Music Group’s Virgin Music Group struck a global distribution and marketing partnership with Brooklyn-born independent label Partisan Records, which is home to IDLES, PJ Harvey, Blondshell, Cigarettes After Sex, Laura Marling, Ezra Collective and more. Partisan also includes the imprints Desert Daze Sound and section1. The deal follows Universal’s acquisition of Partisan’s longtime partners [PIAS] and [Integral] last month. “The combination of the Virgin and [Integral] teams allows for Partisan to marry the best of the [PIAS] and [Integral] teams that helped get us here with the extra resources of Virgin required to meet our ambition to be the most trusted music company for artists of all genres, worldwide, said Partisan COO Zena White in a statement.
SoundExchange and the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA) reached a reciprocal agreement that will see U.S. and South African performers paid royalties for the use of their recordings in the U.S. and South Africa, respectively. This will be the first time U.S. performers are paid neighboring rights when their music is used in South Africa. “This agreement is a result of SoundExchange’s efforts to ensure American creators are treated the same as their South African counterparts in the country,” states a press release on the deal. The multi-lateral agreement, which also includes the AFM & SAG-AFTRA Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund, is retroactive to the 2022 distribution period and will also benefit non-featured artists including studio musicians and backup singers. Those non-featured artists will also see South African royalties deposited into the fund, which is administered by the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) and SAG-AFTRA. “This is similar to how, in its U.S. collections, SoundExchange distributes 5% of collected royalties to non-featured artists through the Intellectual Property Rights Distribution Fund, 45% to featured artists, and 50% to rights owners,” the release adds.
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Live Nation acquired a majority stake in Lisbon, Portugal’s 20,000-capacity MEO Arena, marking a major investment for the touring giant in the country. First opened in 1998, MEO Arena will soon be renovated to upgrade premium seating, skyboxes, dressing rooms and concessions. Live Nation also plans to build on the arena’s sustainability efforts to focus on reducing its environmental impact. Daily operations at MEO Arena will remain under its current leadership team. The acquisition follows formal approval by the Portuguese competition authority and is subject to closing conditions. The agreement is expected to be finalized late this year or early next.
Warner Music Group’s merchandise and fan experience division WMX has signed on as the official merch partner for Oasis‘ upcoming comeback tour, Oasis Live 25. The merch offering for the show will include pop-up stores, fan experiences, exclusive brand collaborations and event merchandise. The band is slated to hit stadiums in the U.K., Ireland, North Americ, South America and Australia next year.
Create Music Group acquired Manchester, England-based record label and music publisher Ostereo, which has worked with artists including Joel Corry, J.Fla and Shania Yan. As part of the agreement, Ostereo founder Howard Murphy will exit the company to focus on a new venture, leaving his longtime partners, Ramin Bostan and Nick Kirby, to oversee day-to-day operations.
Dallas-based Regional Mexican label Elegante Records signed a global distribution pact with Warner Music Group’s ADA. The Elegante roster includes Conjunto Rienda Real, La Pócima Norteña and Distinto Norte.
The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) partnered with artist, songwriter, indie label and distributor funding platform beatBread, effectively providing A2IM members with beatBread’s data-driven funding solutions that enable artist or catalog acquisitions, new release funding and support for general operations and growth. Other benefits include free distribution via Too Lost, free OpenPlay subscriptions and discretionary A&R funds on top of any advances taken (up to 20% of the advanced amount).
Downtown-owned business-to-business distributor FUGA signed a partnership with L.A.-based independent label Mind of a Genius Records (MOAG). FUGA will provide MOAG with its suite of comprehensive services, including digital and physical distribution, synch and licensing opportunities and advanced data analytics. MOAG’s roster includes Mindchatter, Kwaye, Karnaval Blues, Peter $un, and Jordan Astra alongside its frontline releases.
Independent distributor IDOL struck a global partnership with London-based label Full Time Hobby and its alt-rock imprint Hassle Records. IDOL will handle global distribution, marketing and audience development for both labels’ frontline and catalog releases, excluding Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Over 21 years, Full Time Hobby has developed artists including GHOSTWOMAN, Michael Nau, Squirrel Flower, The Saxophones and Casey. Under the deal, IDOL will service new Full Time Hobby releases from artists including Bananagun, Canty and Tunng and new Hassle Records releases from BRUTUS, Dead Pioneers and Jools.
UnitedMasters extended its existing synch agreement with the National Football League (NFL) through the end of the 2027 season. The deal will expand UnitedMasters’ existing track delivery, allowing the NFL to continue providing music to its fans at games and across NFL programming via UnitedMasters’ fully-cleared synch library. Through the deal, NFL Member Clubs will have the opportunity to explore additional licensing packages, allowing them to create “hyper-local experiences,” according to a press release.
Warner Music India made a minority investment in India-based live entertainment and ticketing platform SkillBox, which has worked on tours for Jacob Collier, Steve Vai, Ben Howard and more and established intellectual properties including Bloomverse, K-Wave, Lemonade and LiveBox. “By integrating live events and ticketing into its portfolio, Warner Music India will offer its artists the ability to reach wider audiences, while fans will benefit from streamlined, unforgettable live music experiences,” states a press release. SkillBox, which also boasts an artist management arm called LevelHouse, boasts 1.5 million users.
Music licensing company Soundstripe is partnering with Orfium, Tuned Global, Music Reports and Cyanite to build a “click-to-license” platform for the music business that will offer pre-cleared music, with a full rollout expected for spring 2025. “Through these partnerships, Soundstripe connects several elements of licensing, which have long been separate,” reads a press release. Orfium’s SyncTracker product will ensure that all licensed music has been cleared when a video posts to platforms including YouTube, while Tuned Global will manage content delivery and asset management on the recording side and Music Reports will cover the publishing side. Meanwhile, Cyanite’s AI-driven technology will allow Soundstripe to tag and search music at scale.
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Audacy launched its first FM broadcast station with Super Hi-Fi, a leader in AI-powered radio services for broadcast and digital media companies. From Oct. 31 onward, Denver’s Front Range Country 103.1 will be powered by Super Hi-Fi’s AI-powered platform and toolset, including its program director radio operating system, which manages music curation content, ads, scheduling, voice tracking and station playout tasks.
Streaming service Deezer signed DAX, an advertising exchange from Global, as its exclusive ad sales partner in the U.S. for audio advertising. DAX previously pacted with Deezer in the U.K.
Leading Asian music company Kanjian struck a deal with AI rights management company Musical.AI to provide AI companies with access to its fully licensed music catalog for AI training. According to a press release, Kanjian’s catalog is entirely pre-authorized for AI applications.
Levellr, which helps artists use messaging tools including Discord and Telegram to reach fans, raised $1.75 million in funding from a group of gaming and media industry leaders including Dylan Collins (SuperAwesome, Jolt, Demonware), Mitch Lasky (former Benchmark and Discord board member) and Owen Mahoney (former Nexon CEO), along with senior execs from companies like Krafton, Riot Games and Amazon. The company also announced that Collins will join the company as chairman.
Redeye Worldwide, a leading independent digital and phsyical distribution and music services company (and part of the Exceleration Music family), signed a strategic agreement with Lasgo Worldwide Media to provide physical fulfillmemnt services in the U.K. and Ireland. Additionally, Redeye will consolidate its European Union physical operations through an expanded one-stop agreement with Netherlands-based pan-European provider Bertus, allowing Redeye clients to broaden their sales and marketing reach across Europe. Redeye’s Swedish subsidiary, Border Music, will continue servicing the Nordic markets.
Alt-rock pioneers the Pixies and Tickets For Good, which provides free and heavily discounted tickets to live events, announced a new partnership through which the band will donate tickets to Tickets For Good across the platform’s global network for every date on their upcoming 20-date tour in Europe and North America next year. The partnership includes tour dates that are sold out, giving registered Tickets For Good members an opportunity to gain special access via a dedicated ballot.
Indie music company Anthem Entertainment and Wax Records struck a creative partnership that will focus on “enhancing the relationship between publishing and creative, facilitating a seamless channel for songwriters and artists to produce viable projects,” according to a press release.
AI-powered music and audio technology company Mus.ic.AI is integrating its AI tools into digital asset management and monetization platform SourceAudio. Under the deal, 567,000 active SourceAudio users will be provided with AI-powered stem separation.
Virgin Music Group announced a strategic agreement with Tokyo-based Bushiroad Music, a division of games and anime producer Bushiroad Inc. Through the deal, Virgin will support the expansion of Bushiroad Music’s overseas business through digital music distribution, including theme songs for Bushiroad’s games, anime series and films.
Independent music publisher Primary Wave Music has partnered with the estate of country/folk singer-songwriter Jerry Jeff Walker on Walker’s music publishing catalog, recording copyrights and artist royalties. The partnership provides the Walker estate access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure to work on new marketing, branding, digital, synch opportunities and film/TV projects. The deal also features an agreement for Walker’s recorded masters, in partnership with his label Tried & True Music, to be released and distributed through Sun Records; Sun Records will provide overall catalog marketing strategy, including streaming, social media marketing and physical releases. The deal includes some of Walker’s biggest hits, including “Mr. Bojangles,” “Railroad Lady” and “Sangria Wine.” – Jessica Nicholson
AI-powered social music app Hook partnered with Glassnote Records to add new tracks from artists including Tors, bby, Hayes Warner and Dylan Cartride to its library, with more acts to be added soon. Glassnote’s roster also includes Mumford & Sons, Childish Gambino and Phoenix. Hook allows users to remix existing songs by speeding them up, slowing them down, mashing them up with other songs and more to post on social platforms, effectively opening up another revenue stream for participating artists. In a statement, Glassnote founder/president Daniel Glass called Hook “a comprehensive solution to the use of remixed music across social platforms in a way that emphasizes artists’ control and compensation.”
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Leading music licensing platform Slipstream acquired Anthem Entertainment‘s production music businesses, including U.S.-based Jingle Punks and 5 Alarm Music and U.K.-based Cavendish Music. The acquisition encompasses more than 650,000 tracks along with music production capabilities. The purchase was made possible by financing and expertise offered by Pollen Street Capital, while Moelis & Company served as the exclusive financial advisor to Anthem on the negotiation. The acquisition represents a full-circle moment for Slipstream co-founders Dan Demole and Jesse Korwin; Demole co-founded Jingle Punks and previously served as president of Anthem Music Group, while Korwin served as Jingle Punks’ MD. Anthem Entertainment will make an investment in Slipstream as part of the deal.
Reactional Music, which allows video game developers to create interactive music soundtracks in their gaming titles, struck a global licensing partnership with Naxos, a leading rights holder of classical and regional music. The two companies are also exploring a collaboration on the composition of interactive soundtracks that would allow gamers to personalize Naxos-owned music in real time while playing, without affecting the master recording. Reactional has previously struck licensing partnerships with companies including Beggars Group, Hopeless Records, Hipgnosis Music Group and production music groups like APM Music, Soundstripe and Alibi.
Global investment firm CVC has invested alongside KKR to support live entertainment group Superstruct Entertainment in its next phase of development. KKR acquired Superstruct, which owns and operates more than 80 music festivals across Europe and Australia, in June 2024. CVC’s previous investments include Stage Entertainment, Formula One, Women’s Tennis and LaLiga.
SoundExchange and the Societies’ Council for the Collective Management of Performers’ Rights (SCAPR) announced that SoundExchange has become the first non-member collective management organization (CMO) to be able to create and issue international performer numbers (IPNs) — unique universal identifiers associated with performers, created and administered by SCAPR, that are used to identify them in data exchanges with other CMOs globally. Through the deal, SoundExchange will create and assign SCAPR’s IPNs to further link performers to their recordings, thereby improving identification of their creative contributions. “IPNs represent another tool in our expanding arsenal helping to get the right people paid the royalties they deserve,” said SoundExchange president/CEO Michael Huppe in a statement.
Downtown-owned business to business distributor FUGA partnered with Manila, Philippines-based management and production company ASINTADA while announcing new hires across the APAC region, including Noorcahyo Istyabudi and Jaya Singh, who will lead business development in Indonesia and South Asia, respectively. FUGA will provide global distribution and bespoke marketing services to ASINTADA, which will also have access to FUGA’s trends and analytics platform. ASINTADA represents some of the biggest hip-hop artists in the region, including Filipino rapper Gloc-9 and rising OPM (original Pilipino music) talent including Shanti Dope, Flow G and Skusta Clee. FUGA also announced a partnership with the Jesuit Communications Foundation, the media arm of the Philippine Province of the Society of Jesus; Crown Studios Inc., a full-service talent and management agency; and record label and production house 314 Studios.
Global children’s audio platform Yoto secured a $15 million funding package from HSBC UK‘s Growth Lending Fund to support its international growth. The funding will allow Yoto, which is based in the U.K. and currently operates in five countries, to extend its reach beyond those markets. Yoto additionally plans to expand the manufacture of its audio players and content cards to satisfy growing demand. The company says it expects to double its revenue with the funding.
Sandbox Succession, the legacy division of Sandbox Entertainment, partnered with the Patsy Cline estate through Patsy Cline Enterprises. Under the agreement, Sandbox Succession will collaborate with Cline’s daughter and heir, Julie Fudge, to expand her legacy across film, TV, publishing, merchandising, hospitality and licensing. Gregory Hall, a key player in the management of Cline’s estate, will remain an instrumental member of the team. A new biography and documentary on Cline are both in development. Sandbox Succession also represents the estates of Johnny and June Carter Cash and Loretta Lynn.
Business-to-business digital music platform Tuned Global forged a partnership with streaming fraud detection company Beatdapp, through which Tuned Global will incorporate Beatdapp’s fraud detection capabilities into the Tuned Global platform. The deal will help Tuned Global ensure that client royalties are fairly distributed to rights holders. Beatdapp also has deals in place with Universal Music Group and the Mechanical Licensing Collective.
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Oak View Group (OVG) and Middle East event management and venue operator Ethara struck a joint venture to enable OVG’s entry into the Middle East market. Under the agreement, Ethara — which operates venues in the United Arab Emirates, including the Etihad Arena, Etihad Park, Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Conference Centre — will provide OVG with knowledge of local markets, with the two companies exploring growth opportunities together across the region. Ethara will also work closely with Rhubarb Hospitality Collection (RHC), a British venue caterer recently acquired by OVG, to improve the fan experience by providing food, beverage and hospitality services at venues across the Middle East.
Dreamliner, a provider of upscale travel coach buses for entertainers, acquired two events logistics companies: Denver-based Shomotion and Nashville-based Show Pro, with founders of each company joining Dreamliner’s executive team. Dreamliner will retain all Shomotion and Show Pro employees and expand its footprint by adding Shomotion’s Denver facility and Show Pro’s Nashville facility. The acquisition adds over 70 trucks and 220 trailers to Dreamliner’s offerings. – Jessica Nicholson
AtVenu, a leading provider of live event software and payment solutions, received a $130 million equity investment from Sixth Street Growth. The partnership will allow atVenu to expand and speed up the company’s growth into new live event markets, including sports and food and beverage. AtVenu helps ease the process of managing locations, inventory and the deployment of point-of-sale hardware while offering real-time data for organizers to optimize the event experience. According to a press release, the company processes more than $1.6 billion in merchandise and food and beverage volume every year and works on more than 125,000 events annually, from small clubs to stadiums. Raymond James served as atVenu’s financial advisor in the transaction.
Armada Music Group’s BEAT Music Fund acquired several new catalogs. They include the artist shares from a portion of techno pioneer and artist Kevin Saunderson‘s Inner City catalog; master and artist royalties for trance DJ and Coldharbour Recordings owner Markus Schulz; and the catalog of Robbie Rivera’s dance label Juicy Music. BEAT’s roster, through acquisitions, also includes Sultan + Shepard, Jax Jones, Amba Shepherd, VIVa MUSiC, Sola Records, King Street Sounds and Chocolate Puma.
Warner Music Group (WMG) Benelux acquired Netherlands-based record label Cloud 9 Recordings, which counts artists including Claude, Jaap Reesema, Kris Kross Amsterdam, Snelle and Turfy Gang on its roster. Under the deal, the Cloud 9 team will relocate to The Amsterdam Music Harbour, which serves as the creative hub of WMG Benelux in the Amsterdam Houthavens. Raymond van Vliet will retain his role as president of Cloud 9, which will remain a separate label, as well as his responsibilities at Blue Skies Publishing. Along with the acquisition, WMG Benelux entered an exclusive global administration agreement with the Cloud 9-affiliated Blue Skies Publishing, which represents songwriters including Claude, Davina Michelle, Edwin van Hoevelaak, Flemming, Frank van Etten, John Dirne, La Fuente and Snelle and owns several catalogs. Blue Skies Publishing will continue to manage the creative process with its current team, while its office in the Dutch town of Laren will serve as a satellite office for Cloud 9.
Moombix, described as a music education platform enabling adult hobbyists and aspiring music professionals to have one-on-one online classes with expert teachers, closed a seed funding round of over 1.9 million pounds ($2.47 million), led by Iceland’s Frumtak Ventures with participation from angel investors. The money will be used to scale the Moombix marketplace and improve the user experience, accelerate customer acquisition and prepare for a strategic launch into the U.K., where 200 teachers have already signed up to offer classes, according to a press release. Moombix offers classes on instrument learning, voice coaching, DJing, production and more.
Downtown-owned business-to-business distributor FUGA struck a new partnership with UNIFIED Music Group, a multi-service music company that operates across Melbourne, Syndey, L.A., New York, Nashville and Toronto. Under the deal, FUGA will support UNIFIED Recorded Music labels including UNFD and Domestic La La, which will leverage FUGA’s platform and suite of services, including strategic marketing and account management, social video management, YouTube channel partnerships, physical distribution, synch and licensing solutions via Downtown Music Publishing, and neighboring rights collection through Downtown Neighbouring Rights. Since 2022, UNIFIED has been a client of Downtown-owned royalty accounting platform Curve.
Live Nation signed a deal to manage Allas Live, a 2,500-capacity open-air venue within the Allas Sea Pool complex in Helsinki, Finland. Under the deal, Live Nation will also manage the Allas Live outdoor concert series in partnership with Allas Sea Pool.
ASM Global reached an agreement with the City of Worcester, Mass., to extend ASM’s management services of the city-owned DCU Center Arena and Convention Center. The five-member Civic Center Commission, which oversees ASM’s management contract on behalf of the city, voted unanimously to recommend the contract extension. As part of the 10-year extension, ASM has committed to a $3.5 million investment in the DCU Center that will focus on enhancing food and beverage operations, creating digital advertising opportunities and implementing further technology upgrades.
Acrisure Arena, located in Palm Springs, Calif., announced Silvercrest as the official sponsor of its exclusive outdoor VIP space, the Silvercrest Compound. The space includes a nine-hole mini golf course along with bocce ball, pickleball, half-court basketball, fire pits, and food and beverage offerings just steps away from the stage.