Islington Assembly Hall // Assistant Bars and Duty Manager (London)

Wienerworld // Social Media and Marketing Assistant (London/Hybrid)

FEAT // Junior Policy Officer/Industry Liaison (Remote/London)

Ninja Tune // Marketing Assistant (London/Hybrid)

Erased Tapes Records // Label & Production Manager (London)

ICE Licensing // Senior DSP Audit & Assurance Manager (London)

ICE Licensing // DSP Audit and Assurance Manager (London)

Today's music business news

TOP STORY

“Name, image, likeness and voice” should be “afforded the same protection as copyright” says Warner Music CEO Robert Kyncl, as major labels look set to hit $30 billion in combined annual revenues

Warner Music has announced its figures for the last quarter and the last financial year, to the end of 30 Sep 2023. It had quarterly revenues of $1.58 billion and brought in $6.03 billion for the full year, the first time the company has booked more than $6 billion in annual revenues, and a notable milestone for the smallest of the majors.

In the quarter up to 30 Sep, Universal Music and Sony Music respectively reported quarterly revenues of €2.75 billion and ¥408.7 billion - which adjusted to US dollars comes in at $2.99 billion and $2.83 billion respectively.

This means, in total, in the three months from 1 Jul 2023 to 30 Sep 2023, the three majors brought in just shy of $7.5 billion between them. Projected forward this would suggest the three companies could book more than $30 billion in combined revenues in the twelve months through to 30 Jun 2024.

Warner Music boss Robert Kyncl also made some interesting comments about the music rights market alongside the financials. Of particular note were his remarks on four topics. Three of those - his thoughts on physical music products, streaming revenues and opportunities for growth - we cover in more detail here.

The fourth and perhaps most significant topic covered saw Kyncl make unambiguous statements about the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence. Responding to a question from JPMorgan analyst Sebastiano Petti, Kyncl drew a comparison between AI and the file-sharing debacle of the early 2000s.

Making specific reference to Warner’s partnership with Google Deepmind and YouTube’s music AI experiments, he said: “Imagine if the file-sharing companies had come to the music industry and said ‘Would you like to experiment with this new tool that we built and see how we can work together?’”

Old timers might argue that some file-sharing companies did just that and were told to fuck off. But Kyncl is nevertheless optimistic about the potential of those companies seeking to develop AI tools in partnership with the music industry. “This is the first time that a large platform at a massive scale that has new tools at its disposal is proactively reaching out to its partners to test and learn”, he mused.

However, the “opportunity to develop a great blueprint” for AI, he went on, is reliant on various constituent parts: licensing content for training and keeping records of inputs so that provenance can be tracked, as well as control, attribution and monetisation of generative AI music products. And creator rights beyond copyright must also be respected.

“We are working hard to make sure that regulation around AI respects the creative industries and music industry specifically”, he confirmed. “From our standpoint, licensing for training is required” and it’s important that “name, image, likeness and voice is afforded the same protection as copyright”.

ONE LINERS

One Liners: HER x Foo Fighters, Blackpink, Gossip + more

DEALS

Pitbull has extended his global publishing deal with BMG. “It’s truly an honour to continue our relationship with BMG”, he says. “We are longtime partners who believe in each other. We look forward to continuing the relationship and appreciate the support over the last ten years”.

Wu-Tang Clan’s RZA has teamed up with Ballentine’s Whisky and beer maker Flying Goose to create a limited-edition sriracha sauce. For some reason. “I’m bringing Ballantine’s and Flying Goose together to break the mould of what incredible flavour should taste like, to bring something truly original, surprising and unexpected to the world”, says the producer. “This condiment is a one-of-a-kind fusion, and I can’t wait for everyone to try it on different recipes at home”.

Tate McRae has signed up to be an ambassador for Spotify’s Equal programme, which aims to boost female creators. "The more we support each other and the more we talk about it and speak up I feel like that always encourages me as a young artist”, she says in a statement. "So I feel like hopefully I can start to do that even more and more and inspire other people as well”.

APPOINTMENTS

Beggars Group’s Director Of Live Licensing Ruth Barlow has been announced as the new Chair of the Association Of Independent Music, taking over from Nadia Khan. “As AIM’s new Chair, I want to make all members feel valued and heard and help strive for consensus, increasing engagement among all members of our community”, she says. “Above all I want to support AIM’s efforts to attract new members, particularly from regional and under-represented groups, and to help arm a new generation of independents with a shared sense of community and knowledge”.

The US Country Music Association has announced a number of appointments and promotions. Ryan Nelson joins as Senior Director, Event Operations; LeighAnn Rodd joins as Director, Insights; and Victoria Rutledge joins the CMA Foundation as Director, Major Gifts. Meanwhile, Justin Randall has been promoted to Senior Director, Information Technology and Megan Wise moves up to Senior Director, Brand Partnerships.

BBC Radio 1 has announced that Chrissy Cameron, Joel Mitchell, Lauren Layfield and Chris Howard will take over the station's early breakfast show on a monthly rotation. “This slot has been a huge success in showcasing the best new and emerging presenters over the last two years so I can’t wait to see what this next wave of presenting talent do with their shows”, says Head Of Radio 1 Aled Haydn Jones. “I’d also like to specially welcome Lauren and Chris who are brand new to the station”.

EDUCATION & EVENTS

English Teacher have been announced as Artist Ambassadors for next year’s Independent Venue Week, which takes place at the end of January. “We’re delighted to be the ambassadors for next year’s Independent Venue Week”, says the band’s Lily Fontaine. “Over the years that we’ve developed as a band, we’ve always tried to be vocal about our relationship with the local venues, organisations and scenes that have supported us in our careers and practice, and that continues next year with our tour of some of the most vital grassroots music halls in the country”.

RELEASES

Gossip have announced that they are reuniting to release their first album for fourteen years. Titled ‘Real Power’, the Rick Rubin-produced record is out on 22 Mar 2024. “When we began, so much about Gossip was about running away - that was always in the music”, says vocalist Beth Ditto. “We survived. We came from nothing and we got the fuck out of there. And to be here 20 years later and still making music together is just incredible”. Out now is new single ‘Crazy Again’.

Foo Fighters have released a double A-side single, on which they both perform her song ‘The Glass’. Here's the brand new Foo Fighters version of the song.

For 50 years now, everyone has spent every Christmas wishing that Noddy Holder shouting “IT’S CHRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAS!” on Slade’s ‘Merry Xmas Everybody’ was more enveloping. I can’t tell you the number of times the sadness that this brings has ruined Christmas lunch for my family. Well, thank the sweet little baby Jeezo, there’s now a Dolby Atmos mix for the song’s 50th anniversary. And there’s a new video too. Best Christmas present ever.

Tom Odell’s put out a new song. And why the hell not? It’s called ‘Answer Phone’. “It’s a song that explores the idea of loneliness and the desire to be looked at, a longing to not be on your own”, he says. “There’s a lot of shame in it, but there’s a degree of self-awareness and humour as well”. His new album ‘Black Friday’ is out on 26 Jan.

Porno For Pyros have released their first new song in 26 years, ‘Agua’. “The ocean doesn’t look right, doesn’t feel right, doesn’t surf right”, says frontman Perry Farrell. “You go and swim in it, and you get the creeps. The sunsets are different. We are really, really screwing it up. We have to do something about it. I wanted to bring attention to it through the best megaphone that I know, which is music”.

Bugzy Malone has released new single ‘Lean’.

Daisy World has announced that she will release her debut album ‘Toothpick’ on 2 Feb 2024. Out now is new single ‘Break It Off’. "I wrote this one morning after my second and final date with a guy who wasn't looking for the same kind of relationship as me”, she says. “In the past I would have just gone along with it but as I've gotten older I've learned that, to get what I really want, I need to say “No! Goodbye!” to the things I don’t want. So I walked away even though he was a really good kisser”.

Shooting Daggers have released new single ‘Not My Rival’. It is, they say, “a song about dismantling the male gaze, fighting against the internalised patriarchal messages that we all unconsciously absorb. It’s about breaking the cycle of female rivalry. We want to encourage lifting each other up instead of tearing each other down”.

Halo Maud has released new single ‘Terres Infinies’. “A friend suggested that I see the film ‘Stalker’ by Tarkovski”, she says of the inspiration for the song. “The general ambience haunted me for some time. I began to have a recurring dream of a dried-up and deserted landscape that I had to traverse, without looking back, to find fertile lands. Then I realised this wasn’t too far from the actual state of affairs. I needed to cultivate a sense of humour about it. Simply put, turn this vision upside down. I imagined a place where we could drink directly from the clouds and read our futures in the trees, which is where this song came from”. Her new album ‘Celebrate’ is out on 22 Mar.

GIGS & TOURS

Blackpink have announced that they will screen a virtual reality concert in Meta’s Horizon Worlds video game next month. “We’re THRILLED to embrace the dynamic world of VR because it allows us to reach an even wider global audience and share our music in an entirely new, immersive way”, say the band. “This VR concert is not just a show; it’s an extension of the tour we poured our hearts into. We can’t wait for you to see the magic we’ve created”. It all goes live at 1am UK time on 27 Dec. Here’s a trailer.

Maverick Sabre has announced an acoustic performance of his debut album ‘Lonely In The Brave’ at Bush Hall in London on 18 Dec. Tickets are on sale now.

Texas have added a show at London’s O2 Arena to the start of their 2024 UK tour. They will play the venue on 5 Sep. “This will be the first time we play The O2”, says frontwoman Sharleen Spiteri. “We’re all incredibly excited and it’s definitely going to be a night to remember”. Tickets go on general sale on 24 Nov.

Promoter DF Concerts is bringing its long-running Summer Sessions concerts to Stirling Castle next summer. “Summer Sessions has gone from strength to strength with the announcement of more cities hosting events in 2024 and Stirling Summer Sessions will be a very welcome addition to Scotland’s event calendar next year”, says DF CEO Geoff Ellis. “Stirling City Park is a very unique event space, sitting in the dramatic shadow of Stirling Castle, and we cannot wait to bring some world-class acts to the city as it celebrates its 900th anniversary”.

HORIZON

🌅Horizon Jobs: CMU's new newsletter for early-career music business professionals

Each week CMU publishes a newsletter that brings you a hand-picked selection of early-stage career opportunities from across the music industry. Whether you're looking for your first job in music or you're ready to take a step up, Horizon is here to help you find your dream job faster.

Horizon is focused on highlighting the best and most exciting roles we've seen, and is made for people who are building their careers with ambition.

This week's selection includes roles from: Soundcloud, Think Tank Creative, The Fire Station, Kobalt, Warner Music, Believe, Brixton Academy, 229, AEG Presents + more

LIVE

SeatGeek publishes poll in bid to show US consumers support break up of Live Nation and Ticketmaster

US ticketing company SeatGeek published the results of a survey earlier this week which, it said, shows that the majority of American consumers would support a government-forced break up of Live Nation and Ticketmaster.

According to The Hill, a research firm hired by SeatGeek surveyed just over 1000 people. Respondents were given a short overview of the 2010 merger of Live Nation and Ticketmaster, and the ongoing investigation by the US Department Of Justice into allegations that the live giant acts in an anti-competitive way, exploiting its dominance in live entertainment as a major promoter, venue operator and ticket agent.

Across the respondents, 60% said they'd be supportive of the DoJ forcing a break up of Live Nation and Ticketmaster so that they became two separate companies again. Because the poll was part of SeatGeek's own lobbying activities, the results were also broken down by political persuasion. 72% of the Democrat voters surveyed supported break up, 50% of Republicans and 46% of independents.

The ticketing sector has been back in the political spotlight in the US this year, in no small part because of the debacle that occurred when tickets for Taylor Swift's tour went on sale via Ticketmaster last year. Lots of issues with ticketing have been raised and different stakeholders have been trying to get the politicians to focus on different things.

Live Nation has supported new regulation to force all-in pricing - so that all ticketing platforms declare the full cost of ticket including ticketing fees upfront - and some new regulation of secondary ticketing. Unlike in Europe, Ticketmaster is still involved in secondary ticketing in the US. However, Live Nation would still rather that any new regulation be focused on ticket resale rather than its primary ticketing business.

Other stakeholders would prefer the focus to be the dominance of Live Nation and Ticketmaster. Including SeatGeek, which began as a secondary ticketing platform, though is now also involved in primary ticketing. This is why it commissioned this poll, which had input from a relatively small group of consumers, but nevertheless provides the bold statement: "A majority of Americans support breaking up Ticketmaster and Live Nation".

LEGAL

Sean Combs sued by former partner over allegations of sexual and physical assault

Sean 'Diddy' Combs has been sued by singer, actress and model Cassie Ventura over allegations of sexual and physical assault. The allegations relate to a number of incidents that occurred during the more than a decade that Combs and Ventura were in a relationship. The singer was also signed to the rapper’s Bad Boy Entertainment company.

Her lawsuit, filed with the courts in New York, states that: "Ms Ventura has now fully escaped Mr Combs, but the harm that the assaults and sexual abuse he caused her to experience for nearly a decade will forever haunt her. She has required intensive medical and psychological care to recover from the trauma she lived through".

"Ms Ventura met Mr Combs in 2005, when she was nineteen years old and he was 37 years old", the legal filing explains. "He signed her to his label Bad Boy Records and, within a few years, lured Ms Ventura into an ostentatious, fast-paced and drug-fuelled lifestyle, and into a romantic relationship with him - her boss, one of the most powerful men in the entertainment industry, and a vicious, cruel and controlling man nearly two decades her senior".

The lawsuit, which begins with a trigger warning, then sets out a number of specific claims about Combs’s conduct, including allegations of rape and other sexual assaults and physical violence, and in relation to his use of firearms.

Ventura has gone legal now because of the Adult Survivors Act in New York state, which provides a one year window in which victims of alleged sexual offences can file new proceedings even if an incident took place sufficiently long ago that legal action would usually be prevented by the statute of limitations. The deadline for filing lawsuits under the act is 24 Nov.

A legal representative for Combs has confirmed that his client "vehemently denies these offensive and outrageous allegations". He added that Ventura had previously demanded $30 million from Combs "under the threat of writing a damaging book about their relationship", but that this demand "was unequivocally rejected as blatant blackmail".

"Despite withdrawing her initial threat", the lawyer continued, "Ms Ventura has now resorted to filing a lawsuit riddled with baseless and outrageous lies, aiming to tarnish Mr Combs's reputation, and seeking a pay day".

Ventura’s lawyers, meanwhile, have unsurprisingly hit back at the blackmail claim. “Mr Combs offered Ms Ventura eight figures to silence her and prevent the filing of this lawsuit", they told reporters. "She rejected his efforts and decided to give a voice to all women who suffer in silence. Ms Ventura should be applauded for her bravery".

RETAIL

HMV to reopen its Oxford Street store next week

HMV's new Oxford Street store - housed in HMV's old Oxford Street store - will open next week just in time for Christmas shopping. You know, if you want to do some old fashioned browsing for entertainment-based Christmas presents before submitting your order on the Amazon app.

The new shop will be, we are told, "a hub for entertainment in the capital and the largest entertainment outlet in London offering an unparalleled range of music, film, merchandise and technology products as well as performance spaces".

It will stock "over 4000 popular culture merchandise lines, over 20,000 vinyl albums and CDs [and] over 8000 4kUHD, Blu-ray and DVDs", as well as all those techie gadgets.

It was announced earlier this year that HMV would return to London's big shopping street after a four year absence, operating from 363 Oxford Street, where the very first HMV store was opened in 1921.

The Oxford Street branch of HMV closed the last time the entertainment retailer fell into administration shortly after Christmas 2018. Canadian company Sunrise Records - headed up by Doug Putman - bought HMV out of that administration, which kept the majority of the HMV shops open, but not the Oxford Street one.

Commenting on HMV's return to Oxford Street next week, Putman says: “Our new HMV shop concept and fan-focused offer is really working for us, with HMV once again becoming a mainstay on the UK high street. The return to Oxford Street and re-opening of our flagship is a culmination of the team’s hard work over the past four years and as a business we see it as the launchpad for an exciting new era for HMV".

ARTIST NEWS

Dolby teams up with Ed Sheeran on Atmos promoting campaign

Dolby has teamed up with that Ed Sheeran fella for a new global brand campaign that is using the slogan 'Love more in Dolby' because, well, why not? I think the point is that you will love your favourite artists’ music even more when experienced in a Dolby format.

The tie-up sees Sheeran stating that Dolby's spatial audio format Atmos pushes him in the studio to make music that "sounds perfect". You can decide for yourself whether that perfection has yet been achieved with Sheeran's output.

To help you with that, Dolby has produced what it calls "a short concert vignette" focused on his track 'Magical' from recent album 'Autumn Variations'.

Directed by filmmaker Colin Tilley, it "explores how Dolby Atmos unlocks artistic expression at its fullest creative capacity while visualising how fans can 'love' Sheeran’s music even more when experienced in Dolby".

Says Sheeran: “When Dolby Atmos first came out, I remember going around a mate’s house and trying it out and thinking ‘this is amazing’. Seeing companies like Dolby continue to make music better pushes me as well because, when you are in the studio, you want to make something that sounds perfect. I think it’s incredible that Dolby Atmos is pushing music to new boundaries".

Adds Dolby Laboratories marketing chief Todd Pendleton: “Today, we kick off the celebration of ‘Love more in Dolby’ with Ed Sheeran, one of the most remarkable global artists of our time. We take viewers on a journey exploring the artistry of Ed’s latest song ‘Magical’ while visually illustrating how Dolby Atmos unlocks a more intimate listening experience, which allows fans to love their favourite artist even more when experienced in Dolby".

As well as the 'vignette', there's also a short interview with Sheeran on Dolby's website.

LEGAL

Prosecution in Young Thug criminal case have 737 witnesses lined up

Prosecutors in the upcoming Young Thug trial in the US state of Georgia have identified 737 possible witnesses, including 479 expert witnesses. Though presumably only a small selection of those people will actually testify in court, given one lawyer has noted that if the jury were to hear from that many people the trial would take two years to complete.

Atlanta broadcaster 11 Alive notes that "the witness list number brings into clearer focus the wide-ranging scope of a trial that will question whether Young Thug is, as prosecutors have alleged, the kingpin ... of a YSL street gang or if, as his defence attorneys have argued, YSL is simply a record label and lifestyle brand miscast by overly aggressive prosecutors".

The rapper, real name Jeffery Williams, was charged last year with numerous counts of racketeering. It's alleged that the YSL gang that he co-founded went on to commit murders, shootings and carjackings, which he then bragged about in his tracks and music videos. The case against Williams and five others will get to court at the end of this month.

Although the vast list of witnesses presented by the prosecution in the case might suggest that case is strong, one lawyer who spoke to Rolling Stone argues it demonstrates the opposite. “If you need 737 witnesses to prove your case you shouldn’t be bringing it”, Bradford Cohen tells the music magazine.

“That is certainly not a normal amount of witnesses", he confirms. “At a trial, if that was the true amount of witnesses, this case would take two years to try. Courts have become complacent with prosecutorial misconduct and the issues that plague discovery. This is one example of the state purposefully listing witnesses they have no intent to call to keep the defence busy and not concentrating on the issues at hand".

In addition to all those witnesses, the prosecution also plans to present Williams’ lyrics as evidence in court. Doing so is controversial, with critics arguing that jurors are prone to assume rap lyrics are rooted in reality when they could, of course, be describing entirely fictitious events. Nevertheless, the judge overseeing this case confirmed last week that he will allow Williams' lyrics to be used in court.

AND FINALLY

Andre 3000 recalls the time he “actually turned into a panther” that inspired a song on his new ambient flute album

Seventeen years on from Outkast’s last album ‘Idlewild’, Andre 3000 is back with his first proper solo album, which is called ‘New Blue Sun’. Yes, that is the sort of thing it would be reasonable to get excited about.

Although, if you haven’t already heard, you should probably know that it’s an album of lengthy flute-led instrumentals. No, this is not a joke. The first track on the album is apologetically titled ‘I Swear, I Really Wanted To Make A ‘Rap’ Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time’.

An intriguing title, although not even close to matching the name of another track on the record, ‘That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control… Sh¥t Was Wild’.

Sounds like that’s a story that needs telling. Thankfully, while he isn’t rapping right now, he is talking quite a lot. Speaking to NPR, he explained: “I was actually in Hawaii and it was my second night of the first time I'd ever taken ayahuasca. We did it like a three-night kind of phase”.

“The first night was inviting and beautiful and the most powerful love and connection with all things I've ever felt in my life”, he went on. “The second night was different and everybody knows that aya will do you that way. The second night my stomach was hurting, my mouth contorted like a panther and I actually turned into a panther. And I was doing like ‘GRRRRRRRRRRRRR’ - like, that kind of thing”.

Yeah, but he didn’t actually turn into a panther. “I actually turned into a panther”, he insists. “It was doing this thing called toning. Toning is another way of purging. And toning is where you make these vibrational noises that you can't control. It started playing me like an instrument. I started as a panther and then it would make me do these long kind of tones and started changing the notes”.

When it came to recording the new album, he says that he tried to recreate this experience. “So, on the album I'm mimicking [it]”, he explains. “That's what I'm talking about in that title”.

‘New Blue Sun’ is out now. Have a listen to ‘That Night In Hawaii When I Turned Into A Panther And Started Making These Low Register Purring Tones That I Couldn't Control... Sh¥t Was Wild’ here.