So You Want in on the Music Biz? Fred Wilson Has 4 Things to Tell You

2 weeks, 1 day ago

Bill Ackman’s Pershing raises $1.4 billion in Universal Music Group stake sale

LA Times

A group of Universal Music Group shareholders affiliated with billionaire Bill Ackman’s hedge fund Pershing Square raised more than $1.4 billion from the sale of a 2.7% stake in the world’s largest music company. The placement comes as Taylor Swift’s record label plans a U.S. share sale agreed in order to fulfill an agreement with Pershing Square, the company said …

Music Sale Universal Share Bill Universal Music Pershing Square

1 month ago

Madverse Music Becomes First Indian Startup to Reach 100,000 Artists in Just Two Years

Deccan Chronicle

Madverse Music, India's leading independent music distribution platform, has officially surpassed 100,000 artists on its platform, becoming the first Indian startup to achieve this milestone in just two years. While deeply rooted in the Indian music scene, Madverse Music is helping artists reach audiences worldwide. Speaking on the achievement, Rohan Nesho Jain, Founder and CEO of Madverse Music, shared: “Since …

Music India Indian Artists Platform Madverse Music Distribution

1 month, 3 weeks ago

Warner Music buys Bruno Mars, Adele songs in $450-million deal

LA Times

Warner Music Group has acquired a controlling stake in Tempo Music, the owner of a catalog of song rights spanning recordings by Bruno Mars, Adele and Wiz Khalifa. Warner is buying the stake from private equity firm Providence Equity Partners with cash and by assuming Tempo’s debt, said the person, who asked not to be named discussing confidential terms. Tempo …

Music Song Warner Tempo Warner Music

1 month, 4 weeks ago

Save the Music Foundation looks to expand its school education support by going independent

Hindustan Times

With a launch party that included Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey, the VH1 Save the Music Foundation never had any problem getting attention in the late '90s. Save the Music Foundation looks to expand its school education support by going independent But a lot has changed since the music education nonprofit's early years, with the glitzy, star-studded cable …

Music Support Students School Education Foundation Save Music Education

1 month, 4 weeks ago

Save the Music Foundation looks to expand its school education support by going independent

Associated Press

With a launch party that included Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion and Mariah Carey, the VH1 Save the Music Foundation never had any problem getting attention in the late ‘90s. “It was pretty clear, from a Save the Music perspective, that it would be helpful for us to be viewed as a music industry initiative as opposed to a corporate social …

Education Music Support Students School Foundation Save

2 months ago

Paramount ends funding to Save the Music, prompting foundation to go indie

CNN

New York CNN — Save the Music, the nonprofit foundation that grew in popularity on cable TV in the late 1990s through the 2000s, is going indie. Given all of that, Paramount’s decision to end its relationship with the foundation was for “obvious reasons,” Save the Music’s Executive Director Harry Donahue told CNN. “Save the Music was founded nearly 30 …

Music School Foundation Million Save Paramount Vh1

2 months, 2 weeks ago

Celebrities are opening their homes — and their wallets — to help those affected by California fires

Salon

As the Los Angeles-area fires tear through the city, the entertainment industry has shown solidarity with the thousands of people affected by the fast-moving blaze. And be sure to check in with any disabled or elderly neighbors to see if they need help evacuating.” Other celebrities like Sharon Stone and Halle Berry have banded together to donate gently used clothes …

Music Industry Los Los Angeles California Fires

3 months, 1 week ago

Virgin Music Group acquires Downtown Music Holdings for $775 million

LA Times

Beverly Hills-based Virgin Music Group on Monday said it will acquire Downtown Music Holdings for $775 million, boosting its capabilities in the independent music industry. Virgin Music Group, the independent-music division of Universal Music Group, said the acquisition of the New York-based publishing and royalties company will bring a “broadened and enhanced suite of services to clients,” including in areas …

Independent Independent Music Virgin Music Group 775 Million Downtown Music Holdings Virgin Music

4 months, 1 week ago

Warner Music Tumbles After Results Show Streaming Slows

Live Mint

-- Warner Music Group Corp. stock dropped the most in 18 months after the company reported disappointing fourth-quarter results and said streaming growth stalled. Recorded music streaming revenue increased 2.1% in the quarter, a significant slowdown from the 9.6% growth in the same period a year earlier and softer than some analysts expected. In the first quarter, “streaming growth will …

Music Results Revenue Million Warner Music Bmg Quarter Streaming Growth

5 months, 2 weeks ago

Limp Bizkit sue Universal Music Group for enormous figure in unpaid royalties

The Independent

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Limp Bizkit, frontman Fred Durst …

Music Independent Sign Free Band Umg Limp Bizkit

6 months, 1 week ago

The company behind ‘Sound of Freedom’ is going public. What’s Angel Studios really worth?

LA Times

On July 4, 2023, a firm out of Provo, Utah, called Angel Studios released one of the biggest out-of-nowhere surprise hits and cultural flash points of the year, the child trafficking drama “Sound of Freedom.” But will investors take a leap of faith with the company’s plans to go public? Angel Studios hasn’t reached those lofty heights since, though it …

Business Disney Hollywood Company Public Nfl Million

6 months, 2 weeks ago

Pink Floyd close to selling back catalogue for £380m despite band’s bitter feud

The Telegraph

Pink Floyd are closing in on a $500m deal to sell its music rights to Sony despite a bitter feud between the rock band’s members. The catalogue, which includes hits such as Another Brick in the Wall and Money, attracted interest from several potential buyers including rival record labels Warner Music and BMG and music rights firm Hipgnosis. But the …

Music Rights Pink Floyd

6 months, 4 weeks ago

You use Spotify to listen to music. Here’s how money from ads and subscription fees flows to artists

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Every day, millions of people use Spotify to stream music. So, if a rights holder like Universal Music Group accounted for half of all the streams in the U.S., they’d “get half of all the revenue generated in the U.S.” Liz Pelly, a journalist whose first book, “Mood Machine: The Rise of Spotify and the Costs of …

Music Rights Money Streaming Subscription Revenue Artists

7 months ago

Spotify Has a Fake-Band Problem. It’s a Sign of Things to Come.

Slate

If you ask their shareholders, Spotify is in a great place right now. “In this instance, the content was removed by the content providers.” “Content providers” could be pretty much anyone on the artist side of things—the “bands” themselves, their management, the label—but Henderson Cole, an entertainment and music lawyer, suspects it might be the third-party intermediaries many artists use …

Music Content Artists Songs Ai Spotify Label

7 months, 2 weeks ago

Spotify quotas, $250 fees and a 24-hour rage channel — these are solutions Australian musicians say can save the industry

ABC

When Damien Johnson wakes up in the morning, he has a set routine. McDonald's versus the local burger shop Johnson said he had reservations about enforcing a flat rate for gigs, but said there were ways for the governments to help finance Australian music. "We need average people in Australia to hear the names and music of local artists over …

Arts International Local Inquiry Music Industry Artists Johnson

8 months, 3 weeks ago

Hipgnosis founder quits amid plans to ‘spend time’ backing songwriters over pay

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The founder of Hipgnosis Songs …

Songs More Time Mercuriadis Hipgnosis Hipgnosis Songs Fund

9 months, 3 weeks ago

Spotify price rise: What is happening to the music streaming service?

Slate

Spotify is going through something right now. The National Music Publishers’ Association, a powerful trade group for big songwriter-publishing firms, also objected to Spotify’s new “bundles” and served the company a cease-and-desist over its alleged platforming of unlicensed lyrics, music videos, and podcasts. The bundling controversies earned condemnation from outside the legal realm, with Spotify’s own former global head of …

Music Price Company Spotify

11 months, 1 week ago

Concord agrees £1.1bn deal to buy music rights fund Hipgnosis

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The acquisition represents an attractive opportunity for our shareholders …

Music Share Concord Hipgnosis

11 months, 1 week ago

Spotify Lossless Hi-Fi Music Could Come With A New Pro Subscription Plan: Know More

News 18

Spotify has been touting its lossless music service for a few years now and people are still waiting to see it made official. The company could add a new Music Pro subscription that will offer the much-awaited lossless audio quality along with other features. Spotify Music Pro Plan Rumours: What It Says The Music Pro plan from Spotify is likely …

Music Plan Pro Spotify Lossless

11 months, 3 weeks ago

Hits for sale: Notable artists who have had their music catalogs sell for big money

Associated Press

On Thursday, it was announced that American rock band Kiss had sold their catalog, brand name and IP to Swedish company Pophouse Entertainment Group in a deal estimated to be over $300 million. Paul Simon In 2021, Sony Music Publishing acquired Simon’s catalog for an undisclosed amount, including his solo work and Simon & Garfunkel hits such as “The Sound …

Rights Million Sold Group Swift Deal Including

1 year ago

Spotify paid $9 billion in royalties in 2023. Here’s what fueled the growth

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — Spotify paid out $9 billion in streaming royalties last year, the streaming giant said Tuesday in its latest “Loud and Clear” report. “This is everything we know about how much is being paid out, how many artists are achieving different levels of success,” says Charlie Hellman, the vice president and global head of music product at Spotify. …

Music Royalties Artists Spotify Hellman

1 year ago

You Can Now Buy Shares in Music by Beyoncé or Taylor Swift

Live Mint

A startup is offering securities backed by the royalty streams from songs recorded by such artists as Beyoncé, Taylor Swift and the pop-rock band OneRepublic. Suppose you buy shares in the sound-recording rights to Beyoncé’s “Halo," which are available on JKBX for $6.78 apiece. Essentially, JKBX investors are placing bets that an oldie could enjoy a revival of listener interest, …

Music Rights Royalties Song Songs Investors Beyoncé

1 year, 1 month ago

Warner Music Group is planning to lay off 600 employees, chief executive announces

LA Times

Warner Music Group will lay off approximately 10% of its workforce this year, Chief Executive Robert Kyncl said in a staff memo. Warner Music Group will part ways with approximately 10% of its workforce as part of the company’s latest efforts to keep up with a “constantly morphing” music industry. The cuts are expected to affect 600 employees, a majority …

Music Warner Music Group Kyncl

1 year, 1 month ago

Taylor Swift, Drake, Weeknd and other music stars to ‘exit’ TikTok, here's why

Hindustan Times

Universal Music Group, the world's largest music company, has declared its intention to cease licensing content to TikTok if a new contract is not reached by the expiration of the current agreement on Wednesday. In response, a TikTok spokeswoman disputed Universal's narrative, asserting that the music company has opted to withdraw from a platform with over a billion users, serving …

Music Universal Taylor Swift Artists Tiktok Swift File Photo

1 year, 2 months ago

Hipgnosis hopes to entice bidders for song catalogues with £20m payment

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. We are pleased, having discussed this proposal with many …

Hipgnosis Song Catalogues

1 year, 2 months ago

What’s the Value of 3 Million LPs in a Digital World?

Wired

Kindle libraries; troves of infinitely streamable songs on Spotify and Apple Music; scores of shows and films on Netflix, Max, and Hulu. Encompassing more than 3 million recordings, including the personal holdings of collectors like Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards, businessman Zero Freitas, late director Jonathan Demme, and A-Square Record label founder Jeep Holland, the ARC holds an impressive array …

Music Record New York Arc

1 year, 3 months ago

Hipgnosis delays financial results over concerns songs are being under-valued

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Hipgnosis Songs Fund, which owns the rights to tracks …

Financial Results Hipgnosis Delays Financial Results Delays Financial

1 year, 3 months ago

Spotify CEO Explains Why 1500 People Were Laid Off In December 2023: Know More

News 18

Spotify continues to churn out high subscriber numbers in the market which gives it a clear lead over Apple Music and other services. Generally, companies decide to remain silent when they lay off employees but Spotify CEO has done the right thing by highlighting the reason for 1500 Spotify employees losing their job this month. According to a report by …

Work Spotify

1 year, 3 months ago

Spotify axes 17% of workforce in third round of layoffs this year

Associated Press

LONDON — Spotify says it’s axing 17% of its global workforce, the music streaming service’s third round of layoffs this year as it moves to slash costs while focusing on becoming profitable. In a message to employees posted on the company’s blog Monday, CEO Daniel Ek said the jobs were being cut as part of a “strategic reorientation.” The post …

Spotify

1 year, 4 months ago

Angel investing in financing the growth of entrepreneurial ventures

Hindustan Times

The world of startups wouldn't be the same without early supporters who dare to take the plunge. In the dynamic universe of startups, there exists a band of early believers, who we fondly call angel investors, and they truly are the backbone of this thrilling entrepreneurial saga. Angel investors bring a wealth of experience to the table and a network …

Angel

1 year, 5 months ago

Abba star warns of AI ‘challenge’ as music royalties bounce back post-pandemic

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Abba’s Bjorn Ulvaeus has warned …

Music Billion Ai Euros Creators Cisac

1 year, 5 months ago

Gloomy mood music reigns at Hipgnosis Songs Fund after dividend ditched

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A music fund that owns …

Dividend Fund Million Hipgnosis Songs Fund

1 year, 5 months ago

Epic Games’ Sale of Bandcamp Has Left the Artist-Friendly Music Platform in Limbo

Wired

After work hours on September 27, employees of Fortnite maker Epic Games received a calendar invite informing them of a mandatory meeting the next morning, according to an employee who received the message. Just before the surprise all-hands was scheduled to begin, employees of the online record store Bandcamp, which Epic bought in March 2022, received another email, says the …

Music Epic Bandcamp Songtradr

1 year, 6 months ago

Streaming service Deezer signs Universal Music deal for artist-centric royalty payments

The Independent

Sign up to Roisin O’Connor’s free weekly newsletter Now Hear This for the inside track on all things music Get our Now Hear This email for free Get our Now Hear This email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Universal Music has struck a …

Streaming Song Artists Sign Free Universal Music Deezer

1 year, 7 months ago

How hip-hop went from being shunned by big business to multimillion-dollar collabs

The Independent

Get Nadine White's Race Report newsletter for a fresh perspective on the week's news Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Get our free newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “Hip-hop goes beyond the music,” said C. Keith Harrison, a professor and …

Business Music Brand Friedman Krishnamurthy Saweetie Healan

1 year, 7 months ago

How hip-hop went from being shunned by big business to multimillion-dollar collabs

Associated Press

NEW YORK — The signs of hip-hop’s influence are everywhere — from Pharrell Williams becoming Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director to billion-dollar brands like Dr. Dre’s Beats headphones and retail mainstays like Diddy’s Sean John and Jay-Z’s Rocawear. “Hip-hop goes beyond the music,” said C. Keith Harrison, a professor and founding director for the University of Central Florida’s Business of …

Business Music Brand New York Saw Friedman Krishnamurthy

1 year, 7 months ago

How hip-hop went from being shunned by big business to multimillion-dollar collabs

Associated Press

NEW YORK — The signs of hip-hop’s influence are everywhere — from Pharrell Williams becoming Louis Vuitton’s men’s creative director to billion-dollar brands like Dr. Dre’s Beats headphones and retail mainstays like Diddy’s Sean John and Jay-Z’s Rocawear. “Hip-hop goes beyond the music,” said C. Keith Harrison, a professor and founding director for the University of Central Florida’s Business of …

Business Music New York Saw Friedman Bronx Krishnamurthy

1 year, 10 months ago

Fair play, fair pay: The Indian music industry and royalties

The Hindu

Here is a maths problem starring singer Lata Mangeshkar, composer R.D. On April 28, the Bombay High Court passed a historic verdict directing FM radio stations Radio Tadka and Radio City to pay royalties to a song’s “authors” for using copyrighted music — setting a legal precedent for stations across India to do the same. “This forward-looking and exemplary judgement …

Music India Legal Industry Rights Royalties Indian

2 years ago

Venture Capitalists Think Only Top-Line Start-Ups Are Important, It's Like Ponzi Scheme: Narayana Murthy

ABP News

Infosys Co-founder N R Narayana Murthy on Thursday said that venture capitalists who propounded the theory that only the top-line Start-ups are important and not the bottom line looks like a ponzi scheme. Speaking at a fireside chat at the Nasscom Technology and Leadership Forum 2023, Murthy also blamed the venture capitalist community for inculcating a culture among entrepreneurs to …

Venture Venture Capitalists Infosys Narayana Murthy Ponzi Scheme

2 years, 1 month ago

YouTube launches 'Creator Music' to monetise licensed music: All you need to know

India TV News

YouTube has rolled out Creator Music, its new marketplace which is a new and easy way for the creators in YouTube Partner Program in the US. YouTube Help page mentioned: "We're excited to start rolling this out to monetising creators in the US over the coming weeks and continuing to explore expansion to more countries in 2023 -- subscribe to …

Music Youtube Creators Creator Music

2 years, 1 month ago

Warner Music India acquires majority stake in southern music company Divo

Live Mint

New Delhi: Warner Music India has signed a deal to acquire majority stake in Divo, a digital media and music company in India with presence across all four south Indian language music markets. This investment will help deliver Warner Music India’s strategy of having a leading presence in the entertainment sector across the whole country, the company said in a …

Music India Presence Divo Warner Music India

2 years, 2 months ago

Justin Bieber sells his ENTIRE music catalog for whopping $200MILLION to Hipgnosis Songs

Daily Mail

Justin Bieber has sold his entire music catalog - featuring songs from his entire 15 year recording career - for a whopping $200million. Justin Bieber has sold his entire music catalog - featuring songs from his entire 15 year recording career - for a whopping $200million Veteran: Sources also told Variety that Bieber's songs will continue to be administered by …

Music Justin Timberlake Justin Bieber Song Songs Sold Justin

2 years, 2 months ago

Lack of paid work for musical theatre performers prompts creation of new theatrical company

ABC

Lacinda Fisk has worked in musical theatre around the world, but says the only way to get paid as performer in Australia is to be cast in one of about five big stage shows annually. She hopes her new theatre company, Ikigai Entertainment, will be able to provide paid opportunities for performers and act as a professional entry point en …

Theatre Work Company Paid Musical Professional Fisk

2 years, 3 months ago

Justin Bieber, 28 'closes in on $200million deal to sell his ENTIRE music catalog'

Daily Mail

Justin Bieber is closing in on a deal to sell his entire music catalog for nearly $200million, reports The Wall Street Journal. Wow: Justin Bieber is closing in on a deal to sell his entire music catalog for nearly $200million, reports The Wall Street Journal Hipgnosis Song Management offer investors the chance to earn royalties from the work of a …

Music Justin Timberlake Justin Bieber Song Deal Hipgnosis Bieber 28

2 years, 4 months ago

Harry Nilsson song rights sold to BMG in latest catalog deal

LA Times

American singer-songwriter Harry Nilsson, whose song catalog is among the latest to be acquired. He got rich penning hits including “One,” performed by Three Dog Night, released successful 1970s albums with “Nilsson Schmilsson” and “Son of Schmilsson,” won a couple Grammys and composed for films including Robert Altman’s “Popeye.” But heavy drinking and smoking contributed to a downturn in his …

Music Rights Company Artists Including Nilsson Bmg

2 years, 5 months ago

How does the music industry work? Planet Money started a record label to find out

NPR

How does the music industry work? Planet Money started a record label to find out Enlarge this image Sasha Fominskaya/NPR Sasha Fominskaya/NPR Earlier this year, a musician named Kinny Landrum sent Planet Money an email, and he made an unusual proposal. Enlarge this image Sarah Gonzalez/NPR Sarah Gonzalez/NPR The creation of Planet Money Records Because we love Earnest Jackson — …

Music Record Industry Money Records Song Jackson

2 years, 6 months ago

‘Not for sale’: Kanye West claims his music catalog was put up without his knowledge

LA Times

Kanye West claims that his valuable music catalog was being put up for sale behind his back. “Not for sale.” The announcement comes amid a Billboard report that suggested West, who goes by Ye, has been quietly shopping his catalog around for potential buyers, which could draw a sale as large as $175 million. Swift eventually re-recorded her albums, starting …

Music Sale West Share Million Instagram Billboard

2 years, 8 months ago

Music streaming market is offering ‘good outcomes’ for consumers, watchdog says

The Independent

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Technology is opening the door to many new artists …

Music Streaming Artists Cma Real Terms

2 years, 9 months ago

Silicon Valley investors give startups survival advice for downturn

Live Mint

After years of funneling cash into startups’ grand ambitions, Silicon Valley’s investors are engaging in the grim ritual of delivering survival advice to their portfolio companies. The slide presentation, titled “Adapting to Endure," called this a “Crucible Moment" and advised companies to cut expenses quickly and preserve cash, noting, “It will be a longer recovery." The Silicon Valley accelerator, which …

Tech Startups Companies Capital Silicon Valley Investors Cash

3 years ago

Music industry records double-digit growth worldwide in 2021

China Daily

The global recorded music market grew by 18.5 percent in 2021 despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the annual global music report released by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry on March 22. Driven by growth in paid subscription streaming, the total revenues for the global music market were $25.9 billion last year, the report showed. …

Global Record Market Music Industry

So You Want in on the Music Biz? Fred Wilson Has 4 Things to Tell You

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The music industry is broken – but we can make it fairer for all musicians

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