Sony Is The Latest Investor In Roli’s Totally Reimagined Keyboards

The Sony Innovation Fund joins a healthy list of Roli investors. Sony has just been added to the list of investors of Roli, with a highly-strategic intent.  Roli, established in 2013, is best known for Seaboard, which now has several models.  Basically…

TuneGO’s ‘Big Data’ Talent-Spotting Idea Raises $7.7 Million — But Is It Fair?

TuneGO is betting that ‘Big Data’ will find the next big superstar faster.  But will the platform ultimately favor artists willing to pay more to make it in the music industry? TuneGO is raising big money on a ‘big data’ idea.  And it just …

Merlin Just Cashed 100% of Its Spotify Shares — And Is Giving 100% to Its Members

Guess it pays to stay indie!  According to Merlin CEO Charles Caldas, the independent has cashed all of its Spotify shares, with all of it passing through to its members. Sony Music Entertainment and Warner Music Group have liquidated more than a …

Billionaire Vincent Bolloré Grabs 24 Percent of Vivendi as Universal Music’s IPO Looms

French billionaire Vincent Bolloré is now assuming a much bigger stake in Vivendi — just moments before an expected UMG public offering announcement. Looks like Vincent Bolloré wants to call the shots at Vivendi ahead of Universal …

Who Says Spotify Gets to Have All the Fun? Tencent Music Prepares for an IPO

Will investors readily line up behind Tencent Music’s IPO? Following Spotify’s debut on the New York Stock Exchange, Tencent Holdings has now started preparing to launch its own IPO. The Wall Street Journal reports that the company’s …

After a Decade of Extreme Bootstrapping, Mixcloud Closes an $11.5 Million Round

Investors are making it rain at Mixcloud. Mixcloud is often plunked in the shadow of SoundCloud, though these musical ‘clouds’ are now quite different.  These days, SoundCloud is emerging as a hotbed of ‘Xanax’ rappers, whi…

Songtradr Secures $4 Million to Bring the Synch Space to Its Knees

Songtradr just finalized a $4 million round to revolutionize the synch music marketplace. If you’re an old school ‘synch agent,’ you probably hate this company.  Everyone else is benefiting from a brand-new approach to a stodgy, restr…

Spotlite, The “Next Talent Incubator,” Earns $10 Million in Funding

If and when the next music superstar emerges, Spotlite will be more than ready to help them take the next step. SoundCloud gave the music industry Chance the Rapper and Post Malone.  Musical.ly launched the careers of Anna Zak and Baby Ariel.  Justin B…

What Is Splice and Why Did It Just Raise $35 Million?

Splice just earned $35 million in funding.  But, what is it and why does it matter? Four years after its launch, Splice has announced that it has paid independent artists $5 million. The company also said that it has earned $35 million in a Series B fu…

Report Confirms That Spotify’s Valuation Has Increased To Well Over $19 Billion

In nine months, Spotify’s valuation has grown over an additional $6 billion.  So, why are investors so worried? Just three months ago, private trading in Spotify shares have valued the company at around $16 billion.  Earlier this year, the company was …