dotBlockchain Media has scored its first major label and music publisher partnership with Warner Music Group. Warner Chappell publishing and WMG labels will work with the startup to create new ways to track their assets on the blockchain. As the project scales, the dotBlochain partnership will enable the WMG companies…
Category archives: WMG
Spotify Set to Launch in the Middle East and North Africa This November
Spotify moves forward with its plan to go international and hopefully turn a profit in the process. But, does this mean major labels and publishers have already fallen in line? According to a leaked internal e-mail, Spotify will launch in the Middle E…
WMG Acquires EMP Merchandising For $180M
[UPDATED] Warner Music Group continues to diversify beyond recorded music with the $180 million acquisition of EMP Merchandising, a major European specialty music and entertainment merchandise e-tailer. EMP is currently owned by Sycamore Partners, a New York City private equity firm. The deal follows recent WMG acquisitions including Sodatone, the…
Hollywood Is Doubling Down on Streaming Piracy – But Is This a Problem for the Music Industry?
Will the RIAA benefit from the MPAA’s latest move against piracy? To tackle the ongoing rise of online piracy, the Motion Pictures Association of America (MPAA) has taken on a new strategy. The MPAA has hired an important government law and lobbying gr…
A Fresh Battle Erupts Between Spotify and the Music Industry Over Music Videos
Spotify needs major labels and publishers, and major labels and publishers need Spotify. But that doesn’t mean they have to like each other. Several months ago, Spotify unveiled an interesting plan. The company would offer select indepen…
Elektra Music Group Adds Two To A&R Team
WMG’s Elektra Music Group, which is relaunching as a standalone label group on Oct 1st, has announced two A&R appointments. Will McDonald has joined the label as VP President, A&R and Marketing, based in Nashville. Shawn Cohen has been named Senior Director, A&R, based in LA. McDonald and Cohen report…
Latest Industry: Russell Simmons, Yandex, Apple Music, House of Blues, Hispanic Music Consumption, Disney, More…
Amidst multiple sexual assault scandals, Russell Simmons quickly sells his home on the Sunset Strip. Sold for $8.13 million after just a month on the market, the music mogul’s home sits atop the Sunset Strip. Simmons bought the property for $5.9 milli…
Tencent Music’s $30 Billion IPO Is Reportedly Arriving In a Matter of Weeks
Expect Spotify to earn a massive windfall from Tencent Music’s upcoming IPO launch. According to a new report, Tencent Music has already set a date for its IPO in the US. Citing IPO Zaozhidao, a reputable WeChat-based news blog, TechNode reports Tencen…
Should the Music Industry Force ISPs to Become Copyright Enforcement Agents?
Grande Communications argues that no, American internet service providers shouldn’t have to do the music industry’s job. Yesterday, a federal judge dealt Cox Communications a fatal blow in its bitter case against BMG. Judge Liam O’Grady ruled in favor …
Latest Industry: Apple Music vs. Spotify, Warner Music Group, YouTube, Niniola, Riptide Music Group, UTA, More…
Apple Music tops Spotify once again in total streams – this time for Travis Scott. According to Music Business Worldwide, Travis Scott’s newest album, Astroworld, has drawn 80 million global streams on Apple Music within the first 24 hours, up 16.5 mil…