DEALS
🇰🇷
The South Korean Broadcast Music Identifying System - aka BROMIS, which brings together South Korea’s key broadcasters and collecting societies - has announced Orfium’s Soundmouse as its music reporting partner for broadcast in the country. “We are excited to be growing our presence in the Asian market to support local creators and rightsholders and look forward to working with all of BROMIS’ stakeholders to strengthen the transparency and accuracy of music reporting processes in the multi-billion dollar broadcast industry”, say Orfium CEO Rob Wells. Soundmouse, acquired by Orfium in January 2023, also works with PRS in the UK.
APPOINTMENTS
💦
Former SoundCloud exec Tracy Chan has joined AI music company Splash as its CEO. “I’m absolutely THRILLED Tracy is joining the team”, says former CEO Stephen Phillips, who moves into the role of Chair. “His experience working across tech and music, always with an eye on creating value for creators and fans, is going to be a huge accelerant for Splash”.
🇧🇷
Adriana Ramos has been named Managing Director of Universal Music Publishing Brazil, replacing Marcelo Falcao. “I am excited to mould the future of Universal Music Publishing Brazil alongside our outstanding team, creating new possibilities for our songwriters and pushing UMP forward as the most innovative, proactive and creative-driven publisher”, she says. “It is also a historical moment and I’m very proud to extend UMP female leadership to Brazil”.
🇨🇳
Tencent Music CTO Zhenyu Xie has announced his resignation from the company, citing “personal reasons” for his decision to depart. In a statement, Chair Cussion Pang said: “On behalf of the board and the company, we would like to express our gratitude to Mr Xie for his remarkable service at TME, as well as his dedication to the innovation and growth of the digital music industry. Zhenyu has played a vital role in leading our teams to significant breakthroughs, which has greatly enhanced TME’s product appeal and user experience. We appreciate his contributions and wish him well in all future pursuits”.
LEGAL
🌹
According to The Blast, merchandise company Ceremony Of Roses has dismissed its lawsuit against Travis Scott and Live Nation in relation to its involvement in the 2021 Astroworld festival, where ten people died in a crowd surge. Ceremony Of Roses provided “carnival-style games and amusements on the festival grounds", but was unable to recoup its costs when the second day of the festival was cancelled following the tragic events of the previous day. It's not known if the dismissal of the lawsuit means a settlement deal was reached.
LIVE BUSINESS
💼
UK Parliament’s Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee this morning held a hearing on issues facing grassroots music venues in the UK. Speakers included LIVE CEO Jon Collins, Music Venue Trust boss Mark Davyd, and Kilimanjaro Live chief exec Stuart Galbraith. You can watch the hearing here. We will be reporting on the session in detail tomorrow.
🎪
Shindig Festival has announced that its 2024 edition will be its last. Says Association Of Independent Festivals CEO John Rostron, "We are sure that if the government were to intervene with a temporary reduction of VAT on ticket sales to 5%, Shindig and many of the independent festivals that have fallen in 2024 would have continued. According to AIF's ongoing research, this is the 28th festival to have suffered such a fate so far this year. We require action and support now, before our hugely successful commercial and cultural sector is eroded further”.
🇺🇸
UK live company Broadwick and New York promoter TCE Presents have announced that they are joining forces for a series of US-based events. Details are yet to be announced.
MANAGEMENT
🚀
Glasgow-based artist management company Mañana Music Management has launched new electronic music-focussed full service company Mañana Electronic, which will offer management, recording and publishing services. “It seems to me that there is endless talent making incredible music in the electronic sphere, especially in Scotland” says co-founder Nathan Dunphy. “Mañana Electronic is here to serve that talent”.
DIGITAL
🎓
Having filled its app with music, podcasts and audiobooks, Spotify is now moving into online learning. The streaming service has partnered with companies including BBC Maestro, PLAYvirtuoso, Skillshare and Thinkific to test out offering video-based learning courses in the UK. “Testing video courses in the UK allows us to explore an exciting opportunity to better serve the needs of our users who have an active interest in learning”, says Babar Zafar, VP Product Development.
INDUSTRY PEOPLE
📃
UK Music has launched its 2024 survey for music creators. The study will aid the trade body in calculating the economic contribution of people who make music, which it can then use to lobby government for greater support. It is open to all full-time and part-time professional music-makers, including artists, musicians, composers, songwriters, lyricists, singers, producers and sound engineers. Fill out the questionnaire here to take part and be in with the chance of winning a £100 voucher.
⚖️
Music industry gender equality initiative Keychange has announced that it will unveil a report looking at its impact during its first five years and an updated manifesto at Tallinn Music Week next month. Both documents will be available from the Keychange website following the launch event on 5 Apr.
AWARDS
💋
Mariah Carey has received a Hall Of Fame Award from US collecting society SoundExchange. “It should come as no surprise Mariah Carey is among SoundExchange’s most streamed creators”, says CEO Michael Huppe. “She is an accomplished artist who has reached cultural icon status and that is reflected in the data. Mariah has created an enduring catalogue of incredible music that delights across generations. We are honoured to present Mariah Carey with the SoundExchange Hall Of Fame Award”.
RELEASES
🕊️
Kiasmos - aka Ólafur Arnalds and Janus Rasmussen - have released a three track EP called ‘Flown’ - their first new music together since 2017. Watch the video for the title track here.
🌴
Charlotte Day Wilson has released new single ‘Canopy’. Her second album ‘Cyan Blue’ is out on 3 May.
