The Deals
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Snoop Dogg teamed up with U.K. tech entrepreneur Sam Jones on Shiller, a live broadcast platform set to launch in April that will offer content creators a suite of tools to monetize their content, including the ability to token-gate their video and audio, share products from commerce sites and promote NFTs. According to a press release, the app “combines best of web3 technology with live, interactive video and audio streaming, to provide a one-stop-shop for creators, including NFT projects, artists, brands, and key opinion leaders, to monetize their following and connect with their audiences.”
B2B streaming technology company Tuned Global acquired Swedish music technology company Pacemaker, which holds several patents for its AI-driven DJ applications. “Thanks to Pacemaker, Tuned Global extends its B2B streaming technology dominance by now offering enhanced AI tools that will hook and excite users as part of our white-label music apps, as well as in a standalone product for companies who aren’t yet our customers,” said Tuned Global MD/founder Con Raso in a statement. Pacemaker’s AI DJ is capable of weaving together tracks and other audio, while a “match machine “can help curators instantly dig up great tracks in a massive catalog and keep the groove going for workouts, therapeutic sessions, or other playlist-driven moments,” according to a press release.
DJ/producer Steve Aoki launched Audio Media Grading in partnership with Collector Archive Services. The new company will provide grading, preservation and authentication services for grading vinyl records, cassettes, CDs and 8-track.
Cutting Edge Media Music (CEMM), a division of Cutting Edge Group, formed a strategic venture with Village Roadshow Entertainment Group that will encompass all of Village Roadshow’s past and future music publishing assets, soundtrack album releases and music supervision services for film and TV. The venture will be overseen by Brian McNelis, who heads CEMM division Lakeshore Records, along with Lakeshore’s Eric Craig, who will provide music supervision and music department support across the Village Roadshow slate. Village Roadshow COO Louis Santor will take the lead in implementing all aspects of the deal.
B2B distributor FUGA expanded its global user-generated content and rights management offering by completely integrating rights management company Adrev. Both are owned by Downtown Music. The integration formalizes months of collaboration between FUGA and Adrev, according to a press release, which states that with the integration, “both FUGA and Adrev clients will now be provided with an extended service aimed at amplifying and simplifying UGC and premium video content monetization into one, seamless environment.”
BMG partnered with Stockholm-based artist management company Scandinavian Talent Management (STM), which also specializes in music supervision, music publishing and live events. “We are delighted with BMG’s trust and are confident that we can create many synergies with their global resources and networks,” said STM founder/MD Henrik Johansson in a statement. STM clients include Swedish rock-pop singer-songwriter and BMG artist Kristofer Greczula; British guitarist, songwriter and producer Chad Neale; and Mando Diao bassist Carl-Johan “CeeJay” Fogelklou.
Chordal partnered with AI developer AudioShake to launch Auto-Instrumental, described as an “on-demand instrumental solution” for music supervisors that’s designed to streamline synch placement. “Auto-Instrumental reduces the time of obtaining an instrumental from days or weeks (if it even exists!) to a matter of seconds, making it immediately possible to trial music to picture,” said Chordal co-founder Grayson Sanders in a statement.
Film and TV company Gunpowder & Sky signed a multi-year, multi-project development and production deal with Audible. Under the deal, Gunpowder & Sky will provide Audible with an exclusive first look at the studio’s slate of audio initiatives covering music, pop culture and more. In February, Audible released In the Cut with Ghetto Gastro, an eight-episode Audible Original podcast executive produced by Gunpowder & Sky. Two upcoming music-oriented podcasts from the companies — Lighters in the Sky and Shelved — “will reveal iconic, often undercover, music stories to the masses,” according to a press release. The first-look deal builds on an existing collaboration that has spawned multiple installments in Audible’s Words + Music franchise.
Multimedia Music acquired the music publishing and music master rights for the entire film music library of STX Entertainment, which encompasses titles such as Bad Moms, The Gentlemen and Den of Thieves and music from composers such as Hans Zimmer, Cliff Martinez and Nicholas Britell. The eight-figure deal does not include rights in any of STX’s current or future films.
Deezer struck a long-term partnership with Sonos to power Sonos Radio and the subscription service Sonos Radio HD. Starting in April, Deezer will provide Sonos with a catalog of 90 million tracks, metadata, licensing, reporting & royalty management, business intelligence & data and strategic collaboration for growth and monetization of the service. Deezer and Sonos will deliver services to 16 countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, France and Germany.
Yusuf/Cat Stevens signed to Dark Horse Records, which will release the singer-songwriter’s forthcoming album as well as seven legacy albums from his catalog, which are owned by Yusuf’s Cat-O-Log Records. Dark Horse’s merchandising arm, DH Merchandise, will operate the official Yusuf/Cat Stevens store.
ClicknClear, a music tech company that provides access to officially licensed music for performance sports and fitness, signed a multi-year agreement with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS), a leading sports organization in the United States. The NFHS promotes amateur sports participation throughout all 50 states and Washington, D.C., serving 19,500 high schools and an estimated 12 million young people across the country. It also administers high school athletics and activities and establishes regulations for the sanctioning of events. Through the deal, ClicknClear will license the catalogs of its more than 800 label and publisher partners to NFHS’s performance sports participants, with the NFHS also using ClicknClear’s license verifications system to enforce that licensing. Performance sports include cheerleading, dance, gymnastics, figure skating, marching band and show choir. ClicknClear’s music catalog currently includes 5 million tracks and more than 15 million publishing rights from Sony Music, Warner Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, BMG, Kobalt, Concord and Downtown, among many others.
Cutting Edge Media Music (CEMM) secured $100 million in new financing from a consortium of banks led by Pinnacle Financial Partners. CEMM — a financing and investment company with expertise in music for film, TV, video games and more — is supported by other businesses under its parent company, the Cutting Edge Group (CEG), including Cutting Edge Music Publishing, Lakeshore Records, Broadway Records, Music.Film and White Stork. “I look forward to our partnership with Pinnacle to help give the next wave of film and TV composers the opportunity to monetize their catalogues,” said Cutting Edge Group founder/CEO Philip Moross in a statement. CEG’s head of mergers and acquisitions, Tim Hegarty, represented Cutting Edge in the deal.
Triller acquired Julius, a software solution for influencer marketing. “We are delighted to integrate the industry-leading technology from Julius into Triller’s Creator Platform,” said Triller CEO Mahi de Silva in a statement, adding that with the acquisition, “Our unique AI-powered platform now delivers an end-to-end solution for the creator economy from brand storytelling to driving e-commerce.”
Music credits database Jaxsta executed a heads of agreement (a.k.a. letter of intent) to acquire Vampr, a music industry social networking platform. The acquisition increases Jaxsta’s footprint in the creator community by 1.3 million creators. According to a press release, Vampr’s freemium business model successfully converts 4% of the app’s weekly active users into paying subscribers — a number that’s expected to increase when Vampr Pro is bundled with the Jaxsta Creator subscription. Vampr founder/CEO Josh Simons will join Jaxsta as chief strategy officer.
GreenCity Partners and ASM Global struck a deal to develop and operate the proposed 17,000-seat GreenCity Arena in Henrico County, Va., which is part of a planned $2.3 billion mixed-use/net-zero energy GreenCity development. The agreement allows ASM Global to partner in other aspects of the development, including its main street retail and hospitality uses. Construction is slated to begin in early 2024, with completion expected in 2026.
In more ASM Global news, the company struck a long-term lease agreement and $40 million renovation plan with the City of Glendale, Ariz., for the Desert Diamond Arena as part of a strategy to increase the venue’s returns and prominence as a key component in the city’s growth as an entertainment hub. ASM Global has operated the city-owned venue for the past six-and-a-half years. The firm HOK has been selected to help with the venue’s renovation and design.
ASM Global also signed with the city of Fishers, Ind., to provide pre-opening services and professional management for the city’s new $170 million sports and entertainment center, which is set to open in Dec. 2024. In addition to hosting concerts and other events, the forthcoming 7,500-seat venue will be home to the East Coast Hockey League’s Indy Fuel. Expected to break ground in March, the venue is part of the city’s $1.1 billion in economic and entertainment investments announced in September.
Los Angeles-based rock duo Loveless signed with BMG worldwide. The duo, which released their debut self-produced EP, End of an Era, last year, is slated to embark on a headline tour this spring in North America and Europe, in addition to festival dates.
Amazon Music is the new title sponsor of The Ivors, under a global deal that will see the company showcase the Ivors’ commitment to supporting songwriters via exclusive content offerings and live performances as well as an “immersive” red carpet and backstage interviews that will be livestreamed on the Amazon Music UK Twitch channel for the 2023 ceremony. Additionally, the company will integrate the Ivors’ 2023 “Rising Star” nominees into its global developing artist program, Breakthrough.
Micro-licensing and music solutions company Lickd struck a deal with EMPIRE and Kobalt Music Group to license their music catalogs to Lickd’s Chorus music player for use in the metaverse world of Decentraland’s Vegas City.
SESAC Digital Licensing and Wise Music Australia partnered on an exclusive digital licensing deal for the Wise Music catalog in Asia (excluding Japan, South Korea and China) for rights including performance, mechanicals, grand rights, hire materials and synchronization. SESAC Digital will negotiate agreements with online service providers on behalf of Wise Music in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. The partnership will be administered by Mint Digital Services, an alliance between SESAC-US and Swiss authors’ rights society SUISA.
Singer-songwriter Susan Tedeschi signed with Brian Greenbaum at CAA. The signing coincides with the 25th-anniversary reissue of Tedeschi’s 1998 album, Just Won’t Burn. Tedeschi and her husband, musician Derek Truck, are with Full Stop Management for their solo work.
Memphis-based music credit and information services provider Sound Credit partnered with PPL for neighboring rights collections in North America. Via its sister brand Soundways, Sound Credit’s North American artist community will now be able to take advantage of PPL’s international collections service.
Live Nation will serve as the exclusive promoter for BECU Live and the Pepsi Outdoor Summer Concert series under a new deal with Northern Quest Resort & Casino and the Kalispel Tribe of Indians in Washington state.
Grammy-nominated songwriter and artist Delacey signed to Photo Finish Records, which released her new single, “Man on the Moon,” on Friday (Feb. 17).
Underoath signed to MNRK Heavy on a global basis. The label released the rock band’s latest single, “Let Go,” on Feb. 15.
Virgin Music UK reached a sales and distribution deal with Liverpool-based independent label Modern Sky UK (Jamie Webster, Leah Weller, Red Rum Club).
Pop duo Crash Adams signed to Warner Music Canada/Warner Records, which released their latest single, “California Girl.”
British DJ/producer Riton signed with Atlantic Records/Big Beat, which released his first-ever solo single, “Sugar,” on Friday (Feb. 17).
Sony Classical signed organist Anna Lapwood and will release a five-track EP of film transcriptions in April, with an album to come later in the year.
Tuned Global singed a deal with Lululemon Studio to provide their B2B white-label playlist app for Lululemon’s in-person and virtual workouts.
Chicago trio Lifeguard signed with Matador Records. New music from the band — which previously released an album and two EPs — is expected in the spring.
Primary Wave Music struck a multimillion-dollar deal with Stevie Van Zandt through which Primary Wave will manage Van Zandt’s music publishing and recorded music catalogs, as well as a portion of his name and likeness rights. The agreement includes a stake in producer royalties from Van Zandt’s work with Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes as well as band member and producer royalties from his longtime collaboration with Bruce Springsteen. Encompassed by the deal are some of Van Zandt’s biggest songs, including Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes’ “I Don’t Want To Go Home” and “This Time It’s For Real”; his protest anthem “I Am A Patriot” (covered by artists including Jackson Browne and Pearl Jam); the theme song for his Netflix series, Lilyhammer; and Darlene Love’s “All Alone On Christmas.” Van Zandt will have access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure, including digital strategy, licensing, synch opportunities and film & TV production.
BandLab Technologies — parent company of social music creation platform BandLab, digital audio workstation Cakewalk and artist services platform ReverbNation — acquired beat marketplace Airbit. The acquisition expands BandLab’s creator toolset, which also includes DAW and AI musical idea generator SongStarter. According to a release, artists have earned over $50 million on Airbit, with more than 2 million beats sold. Airbit CEO Wasim Khamlichi will step down from the role after a transition period, though all current Airbit employees will be retained under the deal.
Utopia Music is selling ROSTR, a free-to-use music industry directory and data platform, back to ROSTR founders Mark Williamson and Adam Watson. Utopia purchased the company in December 2021 with the intention of strengthening its direct offerings for creators, but, following a recent strategic reorganization, it has since refocused its efforts on serving creators through third parties via its B2B offerings, according to a press release. “Utopia and ROSTR came together with a shared mission of making a better world for music, although we’ll be pursuing this mission on separate paths, we know ROSTR is an invaluable resource for the music industry and we wish Mark, Adam, and the whole ROSTR team the best of luck,” said Utopia Music executive chairman and founder Mattias Hjelmstedt in a statement.
Codiciado signed an exclusive distribution deal with Virgin Music U.S. Latin via Golden Ink Entertainment. The signing comes shortly after the trap corridos singer, born Erick Aragon, launched his solo career independent from his longtime band Grupo Codiciado. As a soloist, he’s released a handful of singles, including “La Que Se Fue” and “Ando Enfocado.” About the deal, Frank Medina, executive producer and chairman at Golden Ink, said, “We are very excited for everything that is coming with Codiciado, Golden Ink and Virgin Music. We remain focused on producing quality music for our audience and carrying the Mexican flag high.” – Griselda Flores
Web3 record label and in-house entertainment studio Hume signed with CAA. The agency will help the company “identify and create opportunities across a variety of areas, including licensing and merchandising, brand partnerships, live events, film, and television and more,” according to a press release. “Working with CAA presents an opportunity to bridge the gap between traditional media and Web3 to bring metastars into the mainstream,” added Hume chief artist officer and co-founder Jay Stolar in a statement. Hume “metastars” include Angelbaby and the recently-launched Clio.
Warner Music India acquired a majority stake in Divo, a digital media and music company in India with a presence across all four South Indian language music markets. Divo works with labels, artists and musicians to help distribute and monetize their content across digital platforms, radio and TV stations. It released more than 30,000 songs last year in the Tamil, Kannada, Malayalam and Telegu music industries. “This move will strengthen our presence in the south of the country, enabling us to have a truly strong Pan-India presence,” said Warner Music India managing director Jay Mehta in a statement.
“Astronaut in the Ocean” rapper Masked Wolf reunited with Australian indie label Teamwrk under a new global distribution partnership with Ingrooves Music Group, which will now distribute releases for all Teamwrk artists. Masked Wolf’s first single under the partnership, “Never the Same,” drops on Friday (Feb. 10).
Warner Music Central Europe and Stefan Dabruck Management (SDM) extended and expanded their partnership. Under the new deal, the two companies “will build on their joint success and focus on taking European Dance music to a new global audience by marrying up Warner Recorded Music’s powerful global network and SDM’s second-to-none creative talent,” according to a press release. The new chapter of the partnership will kick off with a series of songwriting camps and releases in 2023.
Secretly Distribution reached a strategic partnership with independent royalty accounting platform Infinite Catalog. According to a press release, the partnership will make it easier for Secretly labels including Dead Oceans, Jagjaguwar, Saddest Factory Records and Secretly Canadian to pay their artists “more often.” Infinite Catalog is already in use by more than 20 Secretly Distribution labels. “Like us, Infinite Catalog is committed to bringing scale advantage to small and medium-sized labels, so that at a relatively low cost they can have the same caliber of royalty processing capabilities as the biggest music companies,” said Secretly Distribution co-CEO Darius Van Arman in a statement.
Electro-pop trio ARIZONA signed with Fueled By Ramen and will release a forthcoming project on the label. Their new single, “Moving On,” is the band’s first new music release in four years.
Singer-songwriter Dylan Marlowe signed with Sony Music Nashville in conjunction with Play It Again Entertainment, with whom Marlowe signed a publishing and artist development deal in 2020. He recently released the track “Record High” and was named one of Spotify’s 2023 country artists to watch.
SoundCloud and Pandora renewed their advertising sales agreement. Pandora parent company SiriusXM’s combined sales group, SXM Media, will continue to serve as the exclusive ad representative for SoundCloud into 2024. SoundCloud’s ad inventory will now be available through AudioGO, the new self-serve advertising platform owned by SiriusXM subsidiary AdsWizz.
Decca Classics signed composer and conductor Tan Dan, who in 2000 won an Oscar for his score to the blockbuster action film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The label will release several Dun projects this year, including Five Souls (Mar. 3), Buddha Passion (Apr. 7) and The Tears of Nature (September). It will also release five of his previously unavailable catalog albums.
Warner Music Asia signed Singaporean singer-songwriter Gentle Bones. The label will work to grow his fan base in key markets outside Singapore. Gentle Bones’ debut release on Warner Music Asia, “The Right Words,” is slated for release on Friday (Feb. 10) as the first single from his forthcoming EP.
ASM Global has assumed the management and operation of Wake Forest University‘s Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, N.C. The company’s purview will include facility operations, staffing, event-booking and production services for Truist Field, LJVM Coliseum and David F. Couch Ballpark. ASM Global’s Wake Forest team is led by GM Brandon Berry, who assumed the role in September; a total of seven ASM Global employees work at the venue, with two additional full-time positions due to be added this year. Wake Forest will sunset its formal booking collaboration with Greensboro Coliseum, which has been in place since 2013.
SaveLive announced two new venue partners: Eagles Entertainment, which boasts a network that includes Eagles Ballroom, Rave and the Rave II in Milwaukee; and The Fremont Theater in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
The Red Clay Strays signed with WME for global representation in all areas. The group will be represented by Jay Williams, co-head of WME’s Nashville office, as well as Aaron Tannenbaum, Alex Collignon and Kanan Vitolo. They’re slated to play 28 dates opening for Elle King this spring, as well as four dates opening for Eric Church this summer, in addition to various festival dates. The group, which released their debut album, Moment of Truth, last year, is managed by Cody Payne of Conway Entertainment Group.
Nettwerk signed Florida band The Haunt and alt-pop artist Kevitch. The first Haunt release by the label is the group’s new single, “Shake.” Nettwerk will also release Kevitch’s single, “Secrets,” on Friday (Feb. 10).
Country singer Aaron Watson signed with Roundhouse Entertainment for management. On Feb. 2, Watson embarked on a headlining tour, Roughstock Road Show, to support his current album, Unwanted Man.
Penske Media Corporation — the parent company of Billboard, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, Rolling Stone and other publications — has made a strategic investment in Vox Media, it was announced Monday (Feb. 6). Vox Media owns brands including Vox, New York Magazine, The Verge, The Cut, Eater, Vulture, The Strategist, Polygon, SB Nation, Intelligencer, Curbed, Grub Street, Recode, Thrillist, Popsugar, The Dodo and NowThis.
With the investment, Penske Media is now Vox Media’s largest shareholder and Penske CEO/founder Jay Penske will join Vox’s board of directors. The two companies will continue to operate independently.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“I have long admired Vox Media’s world-class editorial teams and brands,” said Penske in a statement. “We deeply respect the track record of both Jim Bankoff and the senior leadership team at Vox Media, and the company’s remarkable growth over the last decade. The Penske Media and Vox Media alliance will further cement both companies as leaders in modern media and take advantage of new opportunities at scale. Our two companies share a similar history of organic and acquisitive growth over time, and it made sense to invest for the future.”
“We couldn’t ask for a better partner than Jay and Penske Media to invest in our company’s future success, and help us build on and accelerate the leading creative and business strength across our organization,” added Vox Media co-founder/CEO/chair Jim Bankoff. “In addition, this investment by Penske Media will allow Vox Media to continue scaling its existing brands and operations, while providing resources for future acquisitions, and is another step forward in the ongoing ascent of Vox Media.”
LionTree acted as a financial advisor to Vox Media, while White & Case served as its outside legal advisor. Morgan Lewis was Penske Media’s legal advisor, in addition to Panarae Group, which acted as a corporate advisor.
Grouplove signed with Glassnote Records ahead of their sixth album, which is due out this year. “We just made the best album of our career and on our first call with Daniel, we could immediately tell that he agreed,” said the band in a statement. “Glassnote has so many amazing artists we respect and admire and we are so proud to call it our new home.”
B2B distributor FUGA, a division of Downtown Music, struck a distribution deal with Marathon Music Group that will see Marathon utilizing FUGA’s global digital and physical distribution offering for its own roster and all labels under the group’s umbrella, including Moves Recordings, New Soil, Mahogany and DMY. Marathon will also have access to other FUGA services including marketing, enhanced trends and analytics, synch and brand partnerships, YouTube services and audience strategy.
Spotify added over 10,000 Arabic songs to its platform via a new licensing deal with Rotana Music for the label’s full catalog. The songs will be available to Spotify users in Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Chad, Comoros, Cyprus, Djibouti, Egypt, Georgia, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Niger, Oman, Pakistan Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates. Spotify will provide on-platform support by introducing “This is Rotana,” a destination that will serve as the home for some of the label’s most popular songs.
Music strategy and supervision agency Premier Music Group closed its second round of financing led by MEP Capital, which will join Premier’s board of directors. The investment will power Premier’s ongoing acquisitions, including, most recently, sonic identity and sound design firm We Are Listen. Premier, which did not disclose the dollar amount of the current round, was advised by Arnaud Levy at Qualia Legacy Advisors.
ASM Global‘s Tech Port Center + Arena in San Antonio has been renamed Boeing Center at Tech Port. Additionally, Boeing entered a seven-year partnership with the Kelly Heritage Foundation — an educational nonprofit affiliated with Port San Antonio, on whose behalf ASM Global manages the arena — to expand STEM learning and workforce development in South Texas via a $2.3 million investment from the aerospace company.
Music technology platform Orfium — which provides software, data and licensing solutions to the entertainment industry — acquired music cue sheet reporting and audio recognition company Soundmouse. “Over the past 20 years, Soundmouse has been building and setting the standard in cue sheet management and monitoring for the broadcast and entertainment production space,” said Soundmouse co-CEO Charles Hodgkinson in a statement. “Combine that with Orfium’s expertise in UGC tracking and claiming for publishers, labels and production music companies and we bring the worlds of digital and broadcast together in an integrated way.”
RECORDS Nashville, Barry Weiss‘ joint venture with Sony Music Entertainment, signed the James Barker Band. The group’s first single under the label, “Meet Your Mama,” drops Friday (Jan. 27). Comprised of James Barker, Taylor Abram, Connor Stephen and Bobby Martin, the band is signed with BOOM Music Group for publishing and Starseed Entertainment for management.
Live entertainment and concert production company Décibels Productions has acquired a majority stake in Olivier Gluzman‘s French talent agency Les Visiteurs du Soir (Rufus Wainwright, Angélique Kidjo, Pink Martini). The deal will allow Les Visiteurs du Soir artists to “tap into [Décibels’] production skills and global network,” said Gluzman in a statement. Morgan Production, the audiovisual company and festival organizer that first invested in Les Visiteurs du Soir in 2011, will remain a key stakeholder in the agency.
Sony Music and Todd Moscowitz‘s new artist and label services company Santa Anna signed a distribution agreement with indie label Listen to the Kids (Yeat, Alexander 23, Ericdo, Sally Bossa). Under the deal, Listen to the Kids’ roster will have access to Santa Anna’s marketing, distribution, legal and promotional support, among other services.
Big Loud Records artist Mackenzie Porter (“Thinking ‘Bout You,” “Pickup”) signed with CAA. She will be represented by the agency’s Bennett Beckner and Jeff Krones.
Riser House Records artist Meghan Patrick signed with WME for global representation and Make Wake Artists — where she will work with Chris Kappy and Randi McFadden — for management. Patrick released her new song “She’s No Good For Me” on Friday (Jan. 20).
Compass Records Group signed alt-country artist Robbie Fulks, who will release a new studio project on the label this spring. Fulks is ramping up for a U.S. tour that kicks off in April.
Kelsey Hart signed with Curb Records; he previously signed to Curb | Word Music Publishing as a songwriter for artists including Jake Owen, Dylan Scott and Trace Adkins. The label recently released two songs from Hart: “Forget to Remember You” and “My Daddy’s Fault.”
Nettwerk signed producer Donovan’s Playground, a new project from Fallen Roses member Donovan Ferra; Smile High, the solo project of Ben “Smiley” Silverstein of The Main Squeeze; and Malaysian alt-pop artist A Kid Named Rufus. The label will soon release Donovan’s Playground’s debut album To My Past Self, Smile High’s EP Snack Pack and Rufus’ single “Eighteen” featuring Cole Bauer.
Matador Records signed Brooklyn duo Water From Your Eyes and will release their new album in the first half of the year. Water From Your Eyes will host a weekly live residency in New York throughout the month of March leading up to the release.
Independent label +1 Records has signed a strategic global partnership with Exceleration Music, the companies announced Wednesday (Jan. 25).
Under the terms of the deal, Exceleration has made an investment in the +1 catalog and will provide support in distribution, marketing, operations, administrative services and more to power the label’s past and future releases. Jonny Kaps, +1 ‘s co-founder and CEO, will continue to lead the label while co-founder Nat Hays Boas is stepping down to pursue other opportunities.
The first new music under the partnership will include releases from Rejjie Snow, Nate Husser, Lo Village and Anna Shoemaker. Additional artists on the +1 roster include Anna of the North, Argonaut & Wasp, DavidTheTragic, Geordie Kieffer, is0kenny and Japan, Man. The label was established in 2008 by Kaps, Boas and Josh Swade; past releases include music by The Heavy and The Kooks.
Launched in January of 2021 by industry veterans Glen Barros, John Burk, Charles Caldas, Amy Dietz and Dave Hansen, Exceleration Music has made a number of big moves in the indie label space over the past two years. Among other deals, the company has invested in labels including Alligator Records, Mom + Pop and SideOneDummy and acquired Bloodshot Records, Kill Rock Stars, Heroic Music Group and jazz label Candid Records. Exceleration also has an agreement with the Ray Charles Foundation for special releases from the music legend’s vault.
Said Kaps in a statement, “+1 Records has always been different. We are an independent record label that comes from a management perspective, specializing in artist development. Our A&R prioritizes music and artists over data. I am so happy to partner with an independent company whose values, philosophies, strategies, and resourcefulness mirror our own. Together we will be an even great resource for independent artists.”
Added Dietz, “Jonny and the +1 team have built a vibrant and impactful label by focusing on artist development and being agile and innovative. From my first meeting with Jonny it was clear his passion, vision, and artist-first ethos, completely aligned with our mission at Exceleration Music. I know that by combining the talented +1 team, with the expertise and resources of the growing and talented Exceleration team, we will together take +1 and its artists into a bright future.”
“Our investment in +1 underscores one primary way in which Exceleration serves the independent music community,” said Barros. “Jonny has done a remarkable job of creating a cutting-edge label. We believe that, with our added human and financial resources, he will have the ability to take the label to the next level and beyond – way beyond! We can’t wait to see what the future holds for this partnership.”
ASM Global acquired talent buying agency Madison Entertainment, which works with both small-capacity venues and larger concert series/multi-day festivals. “We are committed to add resources to our promoter and live content division in order to ensure that all of our managed venues continue to be leaders in live-event performances,” said ASM Global president/CEO Ron Benison in a statement. “Under Roger’s leadership, the addition of Madison Entertainment will further grow live music content for our clients, particularly within our industry-leading nationwide theater network.”
DJ Pee .Wee, the “vinyl-spinning alter ego” of rapper Anderson .Paak, signed with the Las Vegas-based MAC Agency for representation. DJ Pee .Wee has several headlining dates on the schedule, including appearances at the Sundance Film Festival and a slot at the Bud Light Super Bowl Music Fest in February. Previous appearances included Spotify Beach with Kendrick Lamar in Cannes, the Ami After Party at Paris Fashion Week and Dave Chappelle‘s set at the Netflix Is a Joke festival at the Hollywood Bowl, among other engagements.
TikTok signed a licensing deal with Saudi Arabia-based Rotana Music Group, whose portfolio includes artists across the Arab world and Gulf region such as Mohamad Abdo and Amr Diab, among many others. “We at Rotana are very thrilled with this licensing agreement, which will facilitate Arab Music reach into the MENA music industry and young communities,” said Rotana Music Group CEO Salem Al Hendi in a statement. “The creative culture in MENA is so vibrant and diverse, and this agreement will enhance the exchange of music content, while promoting and supporting local artists on a proven leading platform for short-form videos.”
Vevo partnered with TikTok to create and program Trending on TiKTok, a new weekly Vevo show that will round up the music videos for the top trending songs on the TikTok platform, alongside clips of creators using the songs in their content. The show will be available across the Vevo networks in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Brazil and will be a staple TV premiere on Vevo’s FAST (free ad-supported streaming TV) channels, with consecutive airing during peak viewing hours throughout the week.
Warner Music Group (WMG) partnered with digital fashion retailer DRESSX to provide WMG artists with a new revenue stream. Under the agreement, select WMG artists will collaborate directly with DRESSX to design and launch 3D and AR virtual clothing that fans can collect on Instagram, Snapchat and other platforms.
Independent singer-songwriter Cody Jinks’ Late August Records signed a partnership with The Orchard, under which the latter company will provide Late August artists “with the tools and support to build, sustain and elevate their global reach.” The first artist signed to Late August (other than Jinks, who previously started the label as a home for his own music) is singer, songwriter and guitarist Erin Viancourt, who will release her debut album in May 2023. Late August Records will continue to be led by Jinks and his longtime manager Arthur Penhallow, Jr., while Stephanie Hudacek will lead the label’s new Nashville office.
Event technology company Events.com secured a capital commitment of $100 million in the form of a share subscription facility (SSF) from Gem Global Yield (GGY). The investment will accelerate the company’s growth strategy through acquisitions, partnerships and other initiatives. Under the deal, Events.com will be able to draw down up to $100 million following an equity exchange listing. The company — which previously acquired an AI event discovery company, an event sponsorship technology company and a ticketing company — is set to announce a new acquisition soon.
Mastercard will use the Polygon blockchain to host its newly-announced Mastercard Artist Accelerator, which will connect five artists from across the globe with mentors and a “dynamic fanbase as they learn and create in Web3,” according to a press release. Slated to launch this spring, the program will give selected artists exclusive access to special events, music releases and more while teaching them how to build their brand via Web3 experiences including minting NFTs. Music fans will also be invited to purchase a limited-edition “Mastercard Music Pass” NFT that will give them access to the new platform. The Mastercard Artist Accelerator will culminate in a livestreamed artist showcase later this year.
Music marketing firm Feature.fm partnered with YouTube in a deal that will allow Feature.fm users to enjoy access to conversion and attribution data reporting to track streams in YouTube and YouTube Music that came from a Feature.fm smart link. Under the partnership, artists, managers and labels will be enabled to automatically connect YouTube and YouTube Music to their smart links, allowing them to better understand how to effectively market their music on the YouTube platform.
Music and influencer management firm Innovo Management invested in content aggregation platform JamFeed, marking them as the first investor in JamFeed’s second round of financing. JamFeed manages over a dozen TikTok creators/artists — enabling them to build their businesses and connect with fans — and also boasts a brand marketing division. As part of the investment, Innovo co-founder Sam Saideman has been added to JamFeed’s board of advisors to assist in the next phase of the company’s expansion.
Rapper Asian Doll signed a distribution partnership with music tech company Vydia, which will provide her with a suite of services, including video and audio supply chain, global distribution, analytics, rights management, payments and detailed revenue reporting in support of her forthcoming EP slated to drop on Jan. 31. The first new music released under the deal is the single “Sky Falling.”
Country singer Bryan Martin signed with WME for global representation. Martin has a national tour and a new album in the works, with a single, “Wolves Cry,” slate for release on Jan. 27 via Average Joes Entertainment.
Talking Stick Resort is the new name-in-title sponsor of Live Nation‘s 20,000-capacity outdoor Phoenix venue the Ak-Chin Pavilion. The venue is now known as the Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre.
The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) partnered with r.Cup, a sustainable platform that provides reusable cups to replace single-use plastic cups. Under the deal, NIVA members in r.Cup operating cities Denver and Seattle will be able to reduce their environmental imprint by using r.Cup’s reusable cup system, with $.01 of every cup used by a NIVA member donated to NIVA’s National Independent Venue Foundation (NIVF). NIVA members in Los Angeles and Milwaukee will also soon have the option to utilize the platform.
Griffen Palmer, winner of a 2020 episode of NBC’s Songland, signed with Big Loud Records, which will release his solo debut single “Second Guessing” — originally crafted during his appearance on Songland — on Friday (Dec. 13). Palmer’s debut album is slated to drop later this year. He previously signed a publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing in 2019.
Get Physical Music added the master and publishing catalog of house-music imprint Definitive Records (Jetstream, Dance Fever, Robot Man) to its portfolio of labels. Definitive co-founder John Acquaviva will remain with the label and continue to be active on the A&R front while working with the Get Physical team.
Canadian lifestyle brand October’s Very Own (OVO) partnered with FaZe Holdings, parent company of gaming and lifestyle brand FaZe Clan, on a collection that will include FaZe Clan and OVO co-branded gaming controllers, mouse pads, hoodies, varsity jackets and more. The collection was made available starting Dec. 21 at OVO’s online store and OVO retail locations. Further initiatives under the partnership are expected later this year.
Warner Music Group signed a multi-year partnership with blockchain companies LGND.io and Polygon Companies to launch LGND Music, a new collaborative project set to debut in January 2023. Through the partnership, select WMG artists will launch digital collectibles on LGND Music’s app and desktop platform, which will be built on Polygon, a blockchain development network. WMG’s Spinnin’ Records is one of the first label collaborations under the deal.
The Bojangles restaurant franchise signed a franchise development agreement with Melanbo, a group partly owned by music execs Mel Carter and Kevin “Coach K” Lee. Melanbo will develop 14 new Bojangles locations in greater Atlanta, building upon their acquisition of 18 existing Bojangles restaurants in Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina — making Melanbo the largest Black-controlled Bojangles franchise. In the music sphere, Carter recently signed a joint venture deal with Warner Music for his label, Second Estate Records. Lee currently serves as COO at Quality Control Music, which he co-founded in 2013.
UMG-owned rock label Spinefarm Records (Bullet for My Valentine, Atreyu, Killing Joke) joins the [PIAS] Group‘s roster, effective Jan. 1; Spinefarm will be distributed on a global basis through the [PIAS] services division [Integral]. The deal marks the first significant repertoire partnership following UMG’s purchase of a 49% stake in [PIAS] last month. Spinefarm will continue to operate as a standalone label from its New York headquarters under the leadership of GM Jonas Nachsin. Existing Spinefarm teams across the world will continue to handle all A&R, marketing and promotion activities for the label.
TSX Entertainment — owner of a 74,000 square foot space in New York that includes recording studios, a supper club, galleries, restaurants, bars, rooftop terraces and immersive experiences integrated with the TSX Metaverse — signed a long-term partnership with Roc Nation. Under the deal, the companies will collaborate on tentpole performances and annual events out of the TSX space — which also includes a massive digital billboard connected to the TSX app — spanning music, fashion, film, sports, gaming and lifestyle.
Warner Music Group’s WMX is launching three FAST channels exclusively on The Roku Channel: WMX Pop, XMW Rock and WMX Hip-Hop. All three will feature music videos and concerts from WMG’s global catalog, as well as original programming from WMG media brands including UPROXX, HipHopDX, Songkick, Cover Nation, The Pit and Lasso Nation.
Warner Music India (WMI) signed popular Indian singer King. The label recently released King’s third studio album, Champagne Talk.
Connect Music, which provides distribution and publishing administration services, acquired London-based artist and label services provider MTX Music. Connect co-founder Askia Fountain will lead MTX Music’s operations as managing director, focusing its services on the hip-hop and R&B community in the U.K. Under the agreement, Connect is granting MTX Music access to its $10 million credit facility (backed by Preserver Partners) to support the development of emerging U.K. talent, with up to $1 million available per artist. Fountain will look to grow MTX Music’s A&R and marketing teams over the coming months. MTX Music’s roster includes Judith Owen, Lost Society and Jonathan Antoine.
Downtown Music Services signed several new artists out of Los Angeles: Colbie Caillat, Francis Karel, Lily Meola, Loren Gray, Rebecca Black and Yung Bae. All will utilize Downtown’s suite of services including global distribution, creative marketing and synch licensing.
B2B distributor FUGA partnered with U.S. indie label Polyvinyl Record Co. (Alvvays, of Montreal, American Football). Through the deal, Polyvinyl will utilize FUGA’s suite of distribution and marketing services. Polyvinyl is also entering a partnership with Downtown Neighbouring Rights, a recently-launched division of Downtown Music that brings Downtown Music Services,Downtown Neighbouring Rights and FUGA together into a single offering that aligns, tech solutions, label & artist services and distribution.
Merlin signed two new partnerships: one with Supernatural, a VR fitness app for Meta Quest headsets, and the second with STYNGR, a B2B technology platform that offers a turnkey music licensing solution for video games and the metaverse. Under the deals, both Supernatural and STYNGR will be provided with music released by Merlin members.
NOFX founding member Fat Mike launched a new record label, Bottles To The Ground. According to a press release, the label will serve as a “halfway house” for Fat Mike’s new band, Codefendants, and a home for British punk duo The Meffs and Melvinator, the EDM project from NOFX’s Eric Melvin. The label, a collective owned by all members of NOFX, is an imprint of Fat Wreck Chords and will house bands that don’t fit the traditional Fat sound.
Indie label Dirty Hit (The 1975, Wolf Alice, Rina Sawayama) extended its worldwide distribution deal with Ingrooves Music Group.
British-Nigerian rapper, MC, producer and label owner Skepta signed with Los Angeles-based Wasserman Music agent Brent Smith for global representation. Skepta launched his own label and creative agency, Big Smoke, in October.
Session, the developer behind music collaboration app Session Studio, signed a one-year partnership with Brazil’s largest collection society, the Brazilian Union of Composers (UBC). Under the deal, Session will offer UBC members free access to the Session Studio app, which allows creators to capture song and recording data at the point of creation and deliver it downstream to managers, labels, publishers, CMOs and digital service providers while ensuring all participants are properly credited.
B2B streaming company Tuned Global announced two MedTech clients, MediMusic and Nue Life Health, who will use Tuned’s music APIs to provide streaming music to patients in a variety of settings. MediMusic customizes therapeutic playlists for patients to reduce resting heart rate, anxiety and stress responses via biofeedback and machine learning. Nue Life Health offers ketamine therapy to people with PTSD and treatment-resistant depression; music is one component of an app-supported therapeutic experience that guides Nue Life patients through the ketamine sessions. Tuned Global will provide the companies with metadata, music content and streaming service functionality.
Oliver Sim, Romy and Jamie xx — collectively The xx — signed with Huxley‘s brand partnerships division. The company will represent the members of the band and support on-brand relationships for their individual and creative projects. Also signing with the division is Alastair McKimm — creative director, design consultant, i-D editor-in-chief and founder of creative agency MCKIMMCORP.
The estate of Luther Vandross tapped Epic Rights — part of Universal Music Group’s merchandise and brand management company Bravado — as the global merchandise management agency to develop a multi-category worldwide retail and e-commerce program for the late singer. The agreement will see a roster of new licensing partners create branded merch and other elements to extend Vandross’ legacy in advance of multiple anniversary celebrations slated for next year. Vandross released his solo debut album, Never Too Much, in 1981; he went on to release 11 consecutive platinum albums and win a total of eight Grammys. According to a press release, over his more than 30-year career, he sold in excess of 40 million albums worldwide and also produced records for Aretha Franklin, Diana Ross and Dionne Warwick. Next year is the 20th anniversary of both his Dance With My Father album and Live at Radio City Music Hall, which marked his final live performances. Other activations will include the launch of the Luther Vandross Foundation and a remix collaboration for Black History Month.
Full-service B2B distributor FUGA, a division of Downtown Music, partnered with electronic label Insomniac Music Group for a deal that will see FUGA provide a range of distribution, marketing and label services for several labels under the Insomniac umbrella, providing access to over 260 DSPs globally. Insomniac will also be utilizing FUGA’s sync and audience engagement services and have access to its trends and analytics platform. Insomniac additionally reached a deal with Downtown Neighbouring Rights.
China-based online music platform NetEase Cloud Music struck a licensing renewal agreement with Japanese entertainment company Avex. Under the deal, the companies will collaborate on promoting the presence of Avex artists on the NetEase platform. Avex’s roster includes Ayumi Hamasaki, Ai Otsuka, Kumi Koda, Awesome City Club, HIRAIDAI, I Don’t Like Mondays and NAQT VANE.
Actor and singer-songwriter Reneé Rapp signed with WME in all areas. Known for her role on the HBO Max series The Sex Lives of College Girls, Rapp recently signed with Interscope Records, which released her debut EP, Everything to Everyone, on Nov. 11. She continues to be represented by Adam Mersel of Immersive Management, Lisa Socransky Austin and Sloane, Offer, Weber & Dern LLP.
Universal Music Group (UMG) partnered with Artist Partner Group (APG) on The Fast & Furious: Drift Tape (Phonk Vol 1), “a fan-first mixtape” released in conjunction with character pieces from Universal Pictures’ Fast & Furious franchise that are meant to reintroduce characters to fans. Led by APG CEO Mike Caren and UMG’s Steven Victor, the project features music and collaborations from Phonk music’s biggest artists, including Kordhell, MUPP, Kaito Shoma, SCXR Soul and more. The full mixtape will be released Dec. 16.
Montreal-based pianist and composer Alexandra Stréliski signed to XXIM Records/Sony Music Masterworks. The first release under the deal is the song “The Hills,” which is Stréliski’s first new music in four years; she’s slated to put out a new album in spring 2023. All forthcoming music will be released by XXIM Records/Sony Masterworks worldwide, excluding Canada, in partnership with Montreal-based Secret City Records, her Canadian label home since 2018.
MOBO Group welcomed The Orchard to its recruitment and mentoring platform MOBOLISE, which launched in beta in 2020. MOBOLISE “supports and connects career opportunities to empower diversity, excellence and transformation in the workplace,” according to a press release, via a jobs board, mentoring and career development events and educational resources. It aims to create a more equitable industry by overcoming systemic obstacles faced by Black professionals. “MOBOLISE directly supports The Orchard’s goal to attract diverse talent by providing resources and information to the MOBOLISE community as well as direct recruitment opportunities to add to our workforce,” said Naledi Nyahuma Seck, vp of diversity & inclusion at The Orchard.
The Tahoe Douglas Visitors Authority and Oak View Group reached an exclusive multi-year naming rights agreement with Tahoe Blue Vodka for a new live entertainment, sports and conference center on the south shore of Lake Tahoe. Located in Stateline, Nevada, the 6,000-capacity Tahoe Blue Center is projected to open in July 2023 and host 130 events annually. The deal includes prominent exterior and interior signage. This is the first naming rights sponsorship for the vodka brand.
Payton Smith (“Like I Knew You Would”) signed with Combustion Masters, which recently released his latest single “Need You To Not.” Smith is currently in the studio with Combustion president Chris Warren at the production helm. New music from the singer, who’s signed with Eclipse Music Group for publishing, is expected early next year.
Independent digital distributor IDOL signed a full-service digital distribution partnership with independent label Fire Records, which boasts acts including Black Lips, Jane Weaver, The Lemonheads and Vanishing Twin on its roster. IDOL will handle the digital distribution of Fire Records’ repertoire to its global network of DSPs, excluding South Korea. Fire Records will also work closely with IDOL’s international audience development team on marketing and release strategy for frontline releases, with a dedicated specialist working on the label’s back catalog.
Q Prime South signed singer-songwriter Paul Cauthen for management. Cauthen, who will be on tour throughout December and into early 2023, is working on new music for release next year. His most recent album, Country Coming Down, was released by Thirty Tigers.
Warner Music Latina has signed emerging Mexican singer-songwriter Arriola to “continue the development” of his career within the regional Mexican genre, according to a press release. Arriola (real name Eduardo Arriola Gómez) — who released his first single “En Eso Estoy” when the label announced his signing — is also currently working on additional new music that will be part of his first album under the label. – Griselda Flores
Synch clearance and licensing software Trevanna Tracks partnered with music and cue sheet reporting company Soundmouse. The deal will allow Trevanna users to move song metadata, including splits and usage, from Trevanna to Soundmouse in order to generate accurate cue sheets. “Trevanna’s data and documents give production teams everything needed to air a synced song, but it doesn’t take the next step to ensure ongoing downstream payments,” said Jennifer Freed, founder and CEO of Trevanna Tracks. “This process was brilliantly sorted by Soundmouse.” Added Soundmouse head of business development Mark Vermaat, “This partnership enables collaboration between music supervisors and editors, saves time, and significantly lessens the margin for error in reporting royalties.”
Irish singer-songwriter Lisa O’Neill signed with Rough Trade Records for the release of her next album, All of This Is Chance, which is slated for release Feb. 10.
Country trio Track45 signed with UTA for booking. Comprised of siblings Jenna, Ben and KK Johnson, the group will be working with UTA agent Lance Roberts as its day-to-day. Track45 is signed to BBR Music’s Group’s Stoney Creek Records and managed by T.R.U.T.H. Management’s Missi Gallimore.
Nettwerk Music Group signed several new artists: lo-fi hip-hop producer linanthem; Sun Lo, a new project from artist-producer Attlas and songwriter-vocalist Richard Walters; alt-pop duo Bestfriend; beatmaker and producer Mr. Käfer; and disco-pop artist and producer Wingtip. The label recently released linanthem’s single “wind in my sails,” Sun Lo’s debut single “Factory Gates”; Mr. Käfer’s single “Blurred”; and Wingtip’s single “Mr. 29.” On Dec. 9, the label will release Bestfriend’s new single “LEMON LIME.”
Natalie Carr signed with Dallas Austin‘s distribution company DAD, which will release her new song “Drive.”
Mailboat Records signed yacht rock group Yachtley Crew. The outfit, which is managed by Andy Gould and is revving up for a series of monthly performances at Palms Casino Resort’s KAOS, recently released their first original song, “Sex On the Beach.”
Irving and Jeffrey Azoff‘s recently-launched Giant Music record label signed Detroit rapper Tay B in partnership tie AFLN Music Group. Tay B released his most recent album, 4Eva In My Bag, earlier this year. Run by Shawn Holiday, Giant Music previously signed Atlanta-based trap artist SwaVay in partnership with Def Jam. Giant Music is a resuscitation of the Giant name for the Azoffs, with Irving having launched Giant Records in 1990 as a joint venture with Warner Bros. Records.
Podcast company Audio Up, which focuses on trying to create hit tracks by leveraging podcasts as the launch pad, announced a new strategic partnership with WME to support the development of artists from Audio Up’s podcast slate. Under the deal, WME will advise Audio Up on its touring and content opportunities across film, TV and digital and provide the company with access to its network across music, entertainment and brands. One of the first initiatives under the partnership is the development of Latin artist Balam, who will star in and contribute original music to the forthcoming Audio Up scripted podcast Day of the Dead. In tandem with promotional efforts around the podcast, WME served as an advisor on booking Balam’s Dec. 10 debut performance at reggaeton festival Viva Urbano. WME will also work with Audio Up on the podcaster’s Apple Music show The Ballad of Uncle Drank by turning the show’s title character into a real-life touring country experience.
Sony Music Masterworks made a majority investment in Dubai-based concert promotion, talent management, events and production company MAC Global. Day-to-day operations of MAC Global will continue to be led by co-founders Rob McIntosh and Daniel Goldberg, who will work with Sony Music Masterworks president Mark Cavell, senior vp of business development Josh Lerman and managing director of Senbla Ollie Rosenblatt. Under the arrangement, MAC Global will expand its remit to include comedy, sports, virtual events, orchestral events and immersive music experiences.
The Black Music Action Coalition (BMAC) teamed with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis for the Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis Music Makers Grant, which will award $5,000 annually to an emerging BIPOC songwriter or producer. BMAC will screen applicants, with Jam and Lewis personally picking the finalist. Online applications for this year’s grant close Nov. 15, with the winner to be announced in December.
Townsend Music signed Kaiser Chiefs in partnership with Absolute Label Services/Utopia, V2 and The Orchard for the band’s next studio album, which is slated for release next year. Townsend and Absolute will provide physical and digital distribution for the album in the U.K. under Townsend’s D2C+ model, while V2 will distribute it in France and Benelux and The Orchard will distribute it in other territories.
SoundExchange struck deals with Zelle and Cash App allowing registered creators to elect to receive their royalty payments via either of those mobile payment apps. Creators can contact the SoundExchange customer services team to learn more about app-specific eligibility requirements and sign up to receive royalty payments via the platforms.
Country newcomer Dalton Dover, who appeared on Season 16 of The Voice and has since garnered a following on TikTok, signed with Universal Music Group Nashville. He will release his upcoming music via Mercury Nashville.
Pop and melodic rap artist Zzz. signed with Warner Records in partnership with Lil Bibby‘s Grade A Productions. His major-label debut single is “All I Never Wanted.”
Live Nation has signed on as the exclusive booking partner for the nonprofit Capital One City Parks Foundation SummerStage festival. Ahead of the 2023 summer season, Live Nation will book all benefit concerts between June and October at the flagship Rumsey Playfield site in New York’s Central Park.
Composer Max Richter appointed Huxley as his global publicity and brands agency, which will also represent Richter and Yulia Mahr‘s Oxfordshire recording studio and multi-arts production facility Studio Richter Mahr.
U.K.-based Logan Media Entertainment teamed up with BMG to create a new record label, Tag8 Music, that will “specialize in the growing market for resurgent established artists,” according to a LinkedIn post by Logan Media. The label will launch with a roster including Blue, Pixie Lott, Roachford and a cast album of The Drifters Girl musical featuring Beverley Knight.
Naxos Music Group signed an extensive partnership with Downtown-owned FUGA. Under the deal, Naxos will have access to FUGA’s full suite of services including digital distribution, marketing services, royalty accounting and use of FUGA’s trends and analytics platform for Naxos and associated labels.
Los Angeles-based queer singer-songwriter Olive Klug (they/them) signed with Nettwerk, which will release their single “Out of Line” on Nov. 18.
European music royalty investing marketplace ANote Music partnered with Revelator, which provides digital IP infrastructure to music rights holders and music companies, for an arrangement that will allow Revelator clients to list their shares of tracks in their catalogs on ANote. The two companies will also collaborate on integrating Revelator’s technology, data management, predictive models and payment systems into ANote.
Symphonic partnered with music company Ropeadope for exclusive global distribution and marketing. Under the deal, Symphonic will provide digital and physical distribution and playlist pitching for Ropeadope’s full back catalog and key new releases. The partnership will encompass forthcoming releases by The Headhunters, Sarah Elizabeth Charles and Mthunzi Mvubu.
North Dakota pop-punk band Brooklane signed to Los Angeles-based Adventure Cat Records, an indie label from the artist management team at KMGMT. The band has new music in the works with producers Andrew Wade and Steve Knight. They are managed by David Pinder and Desanka Ilic at Cold Coffee Entertainment.
Vancouver-based artist management company Macklam Feldman Management signed on to represent acoustic folk-pop trio Tiny Habits, comprised of Maya Rae, Cinya Khan and Judah Mayowa.