The Deals
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.
Reactional Music, which enables music to be personalized within video games in real-time, signed a licensing agreement with Beggars Group, home to indie labels including 4AD, Matador Records, Rough Trade, XL Recordings and Young. “Reactional Music is doing something really interesting in the gaming space,” said Beggars Group director of global commercial strategy Simon Wheeler in a statement. “It compliments our existing licensing team’s work and extends our reach with games developers and over three billion gamers across the world. We know that gamers are music consumers that over-index in their consumption of music and we’re excited to see what this new partnership will bring.” Reactional previously struck partnerships with music companies including Defected Records, Hopeless Records and Hipgnosis Song Management.
The Circuit Group, the recently launched company that aims to maximize the value of intellectual property for electronic artists, struck an exclusive distribution partnership with LabelWorx, the leading independent digital distributor for indie electronic music labels. Under the deal, Labelworx will manage all digital distribution for The Circuit Group’s roster of artists and labels, including Catch & Release and diviine. “We are thrilled to enter into this exclusive partnership with LabelWorx,” said James Sutcliffe, CEO/president of The Circuit Group UK, in a statement. “Their forward-thinking approach to distribution and their shared commitment to enhancing the value of artists’ IP aligns perfectly with our vision for the future. We are excited to provide our artists and labels with the tools they need to thrive in a fast-evolving industry.”
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Leading African streaming platform Audiomack partnered with Africa-based consumer payments provider Carry1st in a deal that will allow Audiomack’s customers in Africa to purchase subscriptions using local payment methods via Carry1st’s Pay1st payment solution. Audiomack subscriptions will now be available for purchase via the Carry1st shop in local currencies in Nigeria, Egypt, Ghana, South Africa, Kenya, Morocco, Tanzania, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Rwanda, Uganda, and Senegal. “Audiomack is incredibly excited to partner with Carry1st to expand our presence across Africa and make it easier for music fans across the continent to access premium features,” said Audiomack vp of marketing Charlotte Bwana in a statement. “Carry1st has been impactful in growing Africa’s gaming industry for creators and users, and we are confident we can replicate this approach in the music space.”
U.K.-based streaming service Mixcloud acquired European online music marketplace Encore, which helps artists connect with customers looking for live acts to book at their events. Encore will continue operating as an independent brand as Mixcloud helps steer the company’s future. Mixcloud co-founder Nikhil Shah will join Encore as its new chairman; Shah has been an angel investor in the company since 2019.
Australian music company Vinyl Group acquired the assets of London-based Web3 company Serenade in exchange for $800,000 in shares. Vinyl Group will additionally purchase Serenade’s U.K. subsidiary on a debt-free, cash-free basis, “for the purposes of expediting the expansion of the Vinyl.com business into the UK and European markets,” according to a press release. As part of the deal, several key Serenade employees have joined Vinyl Group, including CEO Max Shand, who will continue to lead Serenade while helping expand the Vinyl.com business. According to the release, sales of Serenade’s NFC-enabled “Smart Formats” have grown 56% month-over-month since launching in January, with a total of 12,000 units sold in the first half of the year. It adds that Serenade has commercial partnerships with more than 100 record labels including Warner Music Group, Beggars Group, Concord, Glassnote, FUGA and PIAS.
Music Venue Trust (MVT), a U.K. charity that represents hundreds of independent music venues in the country, acquired the 235-capacity Swansea, Wales indie venue The Bunkhouse under its Music Venue Properties’ #ownourvenues scheme with support from Swansea Council and Figurative, formerly part of Nesta. Under the deal, The Bunkhouse will be placed into permanent protected status. Launched in 2022, the crowd-funded #ownourvenues initiative has so far raised more than 2.6 million pounds from more than 1,250 individual investors and funding. MVT previously purchased The Snug in Atherton, Greater Manchester in October 2023 and The Ferret in Preston in May 2024, with additional venues identified for acquisition. Music Venue Properties has offered The Bunkhouse a rent reduction and a contribution to building repairs and insurance while committing to working with The Bunkhouse director Jordan McGuire to develop currently-unused parts of the building. “We can finally focus on continuing to develop the next generation of talent, knowing that The Bunkhouse is secure and will remain a cornerstone of Swansea’s music scene long after I’m gone,” said McGuire in a statement.
Killphonic Rights, a music rights management company specializing in publishing, distribution, neighboring rights and creative synch licensing, received a $3 million investment from Stilwell Creative Capital for a proportional stake of equity in Killphonic. The money will be used to expand services for Stilwell’s roster of artists, songwriters, labels and publishers. Stilwell will tap into Killphonic’s knowledge base and staff to increase collections and licensing opportunities for the catalog of rights it has acquired. The partnership was orchestrated by Amanda Schupf of MAX Music Management and Consulting, who will join the advisory boards of both Killphonic and Stilwell following the deal.
Believe completed its full acquisition of leading Turkish indie label Doğan Music Company (DMC) following the approval of the competition regulator. The Paris-based company previously acquired a 60% majority stake in DMC in 2020 before exercising the call option to acquire the remainder for a total of 38.3 million euros ($41.84 million).
Connyct, a new social network designed exclusively for college students, struck a licensing deal with Warner Music Group (WMG), allowing WMG music to be used in Connyct’s video-creation hub Events Center. “We created Connyct to spark joy and excitement around real-life experiences, a digital reflection of your favorite times,” said Connyct CEO/co-founder Matthew Berman in a statemetn. “We’re all about connection and discovery, meant to help users find people who share the same passions and want to publicize events to enjoy them with their friends. Our partnership with WMG takes this vision to the next level, allowing students to soundtrack their college experiences with an incredible array of music.” Connyct will be available for download on the iOS App Store in the coming weeks at select universities.
Ticketmaster and Tickets For Good unveiled a new partnership that will make it easier for live event organizers to donate tickets to nonprofit workers, healthcare providers and teachers. Via Ticketmaster’s Distributed Commerce API, any artist, sports team or other event organizer using Ticketmaster can allocate a portion of their tickets to Tickets For Good, which provides access to select live events for people who serve their community, for a booking fee of less than five pounds in the U.K. and less than $5 in the U.S.
Symphonic Distribution partnered with Twitch to give Symphonic artists the ability to include their music in the Twitch DJ Program. Once they opt-in, Symphonic artists can have their music used by any DJ on Twitch in their sets and earn royalties in the process.
L.A.-based artist management company Hills Artists struck a joint venture partnership with Firebird, a music company that provides career and brand guidance to more than 1,000 artists globally by leveraging data along with its team of experts. “By leveraging cutting-edge data science, increasing access to vital information, and mobilizing substantial financial power, we are uniquely positioned to build careers and transformative businesses,” said Hills Artists CEO Rupert Lincoln in a statement. “Firebird has cultivated something truly exceptional, and we are excited to take the next steps in our journey with them.” Hills’ roster includes Sasha Alex Sloan, Grandson, Aidan Bissett and LANY.
Mellomanic, formerly known as We Are Giant, has closed a $6 million funding round, raising its total capital to $13.8 million. Backed by investors including Sterling Partners and other industry veterans, this funding will support the platform‘s expansion and enhancing its music experience offerings for artists and fans. Known for exclusive listening parties and digital events, Mellomanic provides a community-centric space for artists and superfans to connect. With over 400,000 monthly active users — a 13,000% increase since January — the platform has attracted partnerships with major labels such as Atlantic Records, Def Jam, Sony Music Nashville and Virgin Music Group. Its genre-focused “Collectives” — think “We Are Hip Hop,” “We Are Pop” and “We Are Country” — feature listening parties, live streams, and virtual festivals, with artists like Kameron Marlowe, JXDN, Jordy and Big Sean already participating. Mellomanic allows artists to monetize their work and access unique fan data to make informed career decisions. The platform secures music licenses for live streams, ensuring streams count toward traditional metrics tracked by SoundExchange and PROs.
“We’ve learned so much about music communities and fan behaviors this past year, and wanted our name to reflect that. ‘Mellomanic’ pays homage to the melomaniacs, all types of superfans, embodying the spectrum of emotions that exist within different genres of music and their listeners,” said CEO Andy Apple. “It’s been exciting to watch artists and labels leverage our immersive listening parties to release music in exciting, innovative ways, and it’s been special to see superfan communities engage in these live digital experiences that truly range from mellow to manic. Ultimately our goal is to continue providing impactful spaces for fans and artists to come together and celebrate special moments, empowering them to forge enduring relationships while building sustainable communities.”
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Sony Music Entertainment and Crux Global formed a strategic partnership to elevate Ghana’s music industry by offering support to artists at various stages of their careers. The collaboration provides three tiers of assistance: distribution for independent artists through The Orchard, comprehensive full-service support under Sony Music Africa for select artists, and a catalog music tier aimed at preserving the work of renowned Ghanaian musicians on digital platforms. The partnership will be headquartered in Accra, Ghana, which will serve as the hub for artist development, distribution and catalog management. Sean Watson, managing director of Sony Music Africa, will lead the initiative, supported by Christel Kayibi and Jean-Sebastien Permal.
Sony Music Entertainment Vietnam partnered with Great Entertainment, a leading Vietnamese music label, to acquire distribution and marketing rights for its catalog and frontline releases. This collaboration aims to boost the international presence of Great Entertainment’s top-charting artists, including B Ray, Quân A.P, Masew, Khanh ICM, and Khoi Vu. Several releases are scheduled as part of this partnership: Masew, known for hits like “Thiêu Thân” and “Túy âm,” will release a new album in October 2024. Quân A.P, famous for “Bông hoa đẹp nhất” and “You Are My Crush,” will drop new singles in early 2025, while rapper B Ray will also be releasing music soon. Sony Music Vietnam’s roster features popular local stars like Đức Phúc and Hoàng Thùy Linh. “This partnership marks a significant milestone for Sony Music Entertainment Vietnam as we continue to support and elevate the incredible talent emerging from Vietnam’s vibrant music scene,” said Angela Pong, GM of SMEV.
Universal Music Group and Tuned Global expanded their partnership through a global licensing agreement, granting Tuned Global clients access to UMG’s vast catalog of recorded music. This enables clients to use music from top artists in their projects, with integrated technological and licensing support provided by Tuned Global, a leading B2B music and streaming technology provider. The platform’s technology will also allow users to target specific repertoires, and will enable UMG sound recordings to be licensed and delivered securely, followed by timely and accurate usage reports and royalty payments. Tuned Global already hosts UMG’s repertoire on a cloud-based infrastructure, delivering music to clients and DSPs worldwide, further strengthening UMG’s global presence across various sectors. “This new way of working will help to enable ideas to be enhanced by UMG repertoire all over the world,” said James Healy, UMG’s svp of digital strategy and business development.
Indie label Dirty Hit extended its UK physical distribution partnership with Universal Music UK for another three years. This collaboration, which began in 2010, has helped drive the success of several major artists, including The 1975, Beabadoobee, Wolf Alice, Bleachers, Japanese House and Pale Waves, among others. The partnership has led to numerous UK No. 1s, including Beabadoobee’s debut This Is How Tomorrow Moves and all five of The 1975’s studio album releases. “As an independent label, we are always cautious of comprising our artist integrity,” said . “However, working with Warren [Querns at UMUK] and his incredible team has proven to be a fantastic partnership that has helped deliver impressive results time and time again.”
Audiomack, a major music streaming service with a strong presence across Africa, partnered with royalty tracking platform Mogul. This collaboration enables Audiomack’s 30 million-plus monthly users to track their royalties alongside other revenue streams through Mogul’s platform. The partnership aims to bolster transparency and accuracy in royalty distribution, especially for independent artists. The companies said Mogul has already tracked $100 million in royalties, helping artists recover an additional $150 million, since launching earlier this year. “The Audiomack team shares deeply in our vision of financial transparency and through this integration we look forward to helping artists on their platform build longstanding careers in music,” said Mogul CEO Jeff Ponchick.
Creative content company Toikido formed a global partnership with Magic Star, the kids and family division of Sony’s The Orchard, to distribute its music worldwide. Magic Star will serve as Toikido’s official global music distribution partner, using The Orchard’s vast network to share Toikido’s catalogue, which includes soundtracks, original songs, and dynamic audio content, with international audiences. Magic Star will offer Toikido comprehensive services, such as music engagement strategies, video production, brand partnerships and global marketing campaigns. CEO Darran Garnham sees this partnership as a major milestone, highlighting Toikido’s pride in its creative achievements and excitement for future growth with Magic Star’s support.
Music marketing platform SongTools partnered with Sonicbids, the artist development and booking platform recently acquired by Advance Music Technologies. This pairing gives SongTools customers access to Sonicbids’ enhanced artist services, marking the first of many future collaborations for SongTools, which recently raised $3 million to expand internationally and develop more wrist-centric tools. Sonicbids artists will also benefit from exclusive access to SongTools’ one-click Playlisting and advertising services, which are becoming essential for independent musicians. SongTools CEO Danny Garcia sees this collaboration as furthering their commitment to empowering artists with the marketing resources they need to succeed in the competitive music industry, adding “we can’t wait to see how artists make the most of this new opportunity.”
Salt, a digital rights and royalties solutions provider, has secured a multi-million-pound grant from Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation. This funding will accelerate Salt’s development of AI-powered tools to better support music creators and rightsholders. The grant will help Salt improve operational efficiencies and strengthen its leadership in rights management solutions. In collaboration with Queen Mary University’s Centre for Digital Music, Salt aims to leverage AI and digital music expertise to push the boundaries of innovation in the sector. “With Salt’s pioneering AI work and the added horsepower from this funding, our partnership with Queen Mary University becomes a game changer so badly needed in the labyrinthine system that exists today,” said Dave Stewart, Salt investor and Eurythmics co-founder. “We’re poised to continue redefining the music industry landscape, empowering creators and protecting their rights with unmatched innovation.”