The Latest Music Industry Jobs: Maverick, Spotify, Pandora, Big Label, AEG Presents, Island, More…

Maverick appoints a new top executive. Katherine Keating will serve as Chief Sustainability and Strategy Officer at Maverick Management.  She’ll provide strategic resources to partner companies in tech, entertainment, and direct-to-consumer industries….

Spotify Unveils Inaugural Advertisers for the MENA Region

Because when you listen to music on Spotify’s ad-supported tier, you suddenly want to get a bite to eat. Prior to its launch in the region, Spotify had posted the price tag for advertising on its platform. For $200,000, major advertisers could purchase…

Taylor Swift Bids Farewell to Big Machine Label Group, Joining Universal Music Group

Despite leaving BMLG, Taylor Swift still doesn’t have ownership of her masters from her previous label. Taylor Swift has signed a major deal with Universal Music Group (UMG). The move comes less than a month after her contract with Big Machine Label Gr…

Universal Music Group’s Revenues Jump 13.5% as Sales Chatter Intensifies

Thanks to the massive success of UMG ahead of its upcoming sale, Vivendi’s own bottom line rose 5.5% in Q3 2018. Last summer, after discarding the idea of a $40 billion IPO for its major record label, Vivendi unveiled a new idea.  The French media cong…

Defending Article 13, IMPALA’s Helen Smith Calls Out YouTube’s Lopsided Business Model

Despite YouTube’s opposition, IMPALA’s Helen Smith says the Copyright Directive – and Article 13 – would guarantee a balanced online ecosystem for artists, producers, songwriters, and labels. Last week, in a lengthy op-ed in the Financial Times, Susan …

Glitter, Mariah Carey’s Worst-Selling Album, Is Surging on iTunes

Mariah Carey’s latest album, Caution, has sparked renewed interest in Glitter. Seventeen years ago, at the height of her fame, Mariah Carey starred in a music romantic comedy. In Glitter, Carey played an up-and-coming club dancer destined for greatness…

A SoundCloud Troll Successfully Rips Down Artists’ Works Using DMCA ‘Hacks’

After a flaw in SoundCloud’s copyright infringement system was exploited, artists and producers on SoundCloud had their tracks abruptly removed. Dr. Egg, a notorious troll, filed copyright violation claims against multiple artists and producers.  Using…

RCA Records Unveils District 18, a Joint Venture Label with Brooklyn Johnny

Brooklyn Johnny, the man responsible for bringing Cardi B to Atlantic, has just unveiled a new joint venture with RCA Records. Entering into an exclusive partnership with Brooklyn Johnny, RCA Records has launched a new label.  Johnny will serve as the …

Sony Has Officially Acquired EMI Music Publishing. Officially.

Officially, Sony has completed its acquisition of EMI Music Publishing.  Unofficially, expect the Japanese conglomerate to dwarf the competition – including indies – in the music publishing space. You probably know the story by now. In 2012, alongside …

Liberty Media ‘Absolutely’ Interested in UMG Stake

If and when Vivendi offers up a part of UMG, Liberty Media ‘absolutely’ wants in. Several months ago, Liberty Media finally achieved what owner John Malone had long aimed for. After years of negotiations and purchasing a minority stake, SiriusXM acquir…