Deals
Erik Ron has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Position Music, covering his catalogue of over 500 songs. “From the moment I met with Position, I knew it was where I wanted my next home to be”, says Ron. Daniel Rubin of Element1 Music, Ron’s management company, adds: “We believe Position’s vision and drive will make for the perfect complement to Erik’s ambitions”.
Downtown Neighbouring Rights has signed a global deal with American singer-songwriter Lady Blackbird. The agreement covers Lady Blackbird’s existing catalogue, including singles ’Woman’ and ’Feel It Coming’, as well as her upcoming second studio album ‘Slang Spirituals’, set for release in September. “I am so excited to be partnering with Downtown in regards to my neighbouring rights collections”, says Lady Blackbird. Diane van Beekum-de Mooij, Director of Downtown Neighbouring Rights, adds: “It has been an exceptional year so far for Downtown Neighbouring Rights as we continue to represent and collect for groundbreaking global artists”.
Primary Wave Music has partnered with Steve Porcaro, co-founder of Toto, in a multi-million-dollar deal covering his music publishing catalogue, artist royalties and neighbouring rights. The agreement includes royalties from Toto’s hits and Porcaro’s film and television compositions, as well as rights to ‘Human Nature’, co-written for Michael Jackson. “We are THRILLED to welcome Steve Porcaro to the Primary Wave family,” says David Weitzman of Primary Wave. The deal grants Porcaro access to Primary Wave’s marketing team and publishing infrastructure for new opportunities in branding, digital and sync.
Appointments
Deezer has appointed Alexis Lanternier as its new CEO, effective 2 Sep. Lanternier, who brings fourteen years of experience in e-commerce and digital platforms, will succeed interim CEO Stu Bergen at the music streaming company. “I’m THRILLED to be joining Deezer at such a pivotal time”, says Lanternier, who will be tasked with accelerating the company’s growth and expanding its global footprint. Iris Knobloch, Chair of the board of directors, adds, “We are confident that his leadership will propel the company to new levels of success”.
Helena Kennedy has been appointed Chair of the Creative Industries Independent Standards Authority. The organisation, endorsed by government and industry leaders, aims to combat bullying and harassment in the creative sector. “The creation of an independent standards authority for the creative industries is a very important development”, says Kennedy, noting that CIISA “could provide a template for other sectors where such problems are also rife”. Caroline Norbury, Chief Executive of Creative UK, adds that Kennedy brings “a wealth of expertise and experience as we establish CIISA’s services to eliminate bullying, harassment and discriminatory behaviour in the creative industries”.
Labels
SCF, the performing rights organisation for the Italian record industry, has reported positive results for the first half of 2024, with distributions to rightsholders growing 3%. The company saw significant growth in the broadcasting and web (+30%) and public performance (+8.4%) segments compared to 2023, while private copy revenue fell 17%. “The growth in revenues in the broadcasting and web sector as well as in public performance, in addition to the increase in bilateral agreements and mandates, is a clear signal of the trust placed in our constant commitment”, comments Mariano Fiorito, SCF General Director.
Digital
Apple is likely to introduce AI generated imagery for Apple Music playlists in iOS 18, powered by its Apple Intelligence on-device artificial intelligence. According to code discovered in iOS 18 beta 4, users will be able to generate custom playlist artwork using AI-powered Image Playground. This will be via a ‘Create Image’ function that will allow users to input text prompts to generate stylised images, though not photorealistic options. According to 9to5mac the feature is still in development and unavailable to beta testers, with Bloomberg reporting that some AI features may be delayed until 2025.
Legal
Philip Glass has accused the Sevastopol Opera And Ballet Theatre in Russian-annexed Crimea of planning to stage a production of the ballet ‘Wuthering Heights’ which will use his music without permission. In an open letter published on social media Glass says, “The use of my music and the use of my name without my consent is an act of piracy”. The theatre, run by former Royal Ballet dancer Sergei Polunin – a prominent supporter of Putin – is set to premiere the ballet next week. Glass added, “I shall make my vehement objection to it known should you proceed”.
Ross Davidson, a former lead singer of Spandau Ballet who replaced Tony Hadley in the band, has been convicted of multiple sex offences against three women. The 36 year old was found guilty of rape, sexual assault and voyeurism at Wood Green Crown Court after a six week trial. Davidson, who performed under the stage name Ross Wild, joined Spandau Ballet in 2018 following roles in West End musicals. Prosecutor Richard Hearnden described Davidson as “an utterly manipulative and sadistic individual” who filmed some of his assaults. Davidson is remanded in custody and will be sentenced on 6 Sep.
Stormzy has pleaded guilty to driving a Lamborghini Urus with illegally tinted windows in Kingston Upon Thames. The rapper, whose real name is Michael Ebenazer Owuo Junior, faces an additional charge of using a hand-held mobile phone while driving a Rolls-Royce Wraith in West London. The case has been adjourned until 16 Oct at Lavender Hill Magistrates’ Court.
Meta’s Oversight Board has called for updates to the company’s policies on non-consensual deepfake images, citing a lack of clarity in current wording. The board reviewed two cases involving AI-generated explicit depictions of public figures, finding that Meta failed to promptly remove one image of an Indian woman until the board’s involvement. “This is worrying because many victims of deepfake intimate images are not in the public eye and are forced to either accept the spread of their non-consensual depictions or search for and report every instance”, the board states. The panel recommends replacing terms like “derogatory” with “non-consensual” in policy language and reclassifying deepfake nudes under “adult sexual exploitation” rather than “bullying and harassment”.
Live & Events
DHP Family has acquired Nottingham’s iconic 2500-capacity venue formerly known as Pryzm and plans to reopen it as The Palais in September. The venue, which first opened as the Palais de Danse in 1925, is undergoing renovations including a new stage and PA system. “As a local business deeply rooted in Nottingham’s music scene, we feel it’s only right to recognise the heritage of the venue and revive Nottingham’s original dancehall”, says The Palais manager Sam Dye.
BBC Introducing has announced its flagship music discovery event, BBC Introducing LIVE 2024, will take place across seven UK cities throughout October. The event will feature live performances, workshops, open mic and DJ sessions, feedback centres, and networking opportunities for emerging musicians and industry professionals. Chris Price, Head Of Music for BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra, says: “BBC Introducing LIVE is a vital part of our commitment to supporting new talent across the UK. We’re THRILLED to be expanding the event to more cities than ever before, giving even more artists the chance to showcase their music and connect with industry experts”.
Boxpark Shoreditch has announced its impending closure due to planning requirements, despite efforts to collaborate with local authorities and landlords in a bid to allow the pop-up retail and street food complex to continue operating at its current site for longer. Roger Wade, Boxpark’s founder, states: “We regret to announce that Boxpark Shoreditch will be closing. Unfortunately, the developers will not start building immediately, which makes this decision even more disheartening”. The Night Time Industries Association has launched a campaign to save the venue, with CEO Michael Kill commenting, “This exemplifies the exact issue faced across the country with red tape and restrictive regulatory controls stalling business investment. This has to stop”.
Other industry news
Pioneer DJ has released Deckades, a limited-edition fanzine celebrating 30 years of the CDJ. The 42-page publication chronicles the CDJ’s evolution from the 1994 CDJ-500 to current models, featuring interviews with DJs like Fatboy Slim and Anna Tur, as well as CDJ creator Kou Atsumi. “The CDJ was first created as an alternative to the vinyl turntable and built on technology developed by Pioneer for car radios”, explains the company. The fanzine is available digitally for free, with 1000 print copies distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Brighter Sound and the British Council have announced the twelve participants for their Global Music Leaders programme, supporting music industry professionals from eight countries. The initiative, part of the WOMEX 24 legacy programme, will run until early 2025 and includes online training, a residency in Manchester during WOMEX in October, and post-event support. “These twelve dynamic music industry professionals are delivering exceptional work in various sectors across the world”, says Yaw Owusu, Programme And Industry Partnerships Lead at Brighter Sound. WOMEX 24 is scheduled for 23-27 Oct in Manchester, with 2600 industry professionals from 90 countries expected to attend.
John Eliot Gardiner has stepped down as leader and artistic director of the Monteverdi Choir And Orchestras following an incident where he allegedly hit a singer. The decision comes after Gardiner withdrew from engagements, including a BBC Prom, following the August 2023 incident at the Festival Berlioz in La Côte-Saint-André, France. Gardiner states, “I have done a great deal of soul searching since the deeply regrettable incident… and have apologised repeatedly and unreservedly for losing control in such an inappropriate fashion”. The MCO board notes that while they considered a rehabilitation process, their “primary concern throughout has been to fully uphold values of inclusion, equality and respect for all its stakeholders”.
Live Nation and the Music Forward Foundation have awarded scholarships worth $10,000 each to five college students pursuing careers in live entertainment and the music industry in the US. Recipients include Adina Aaron (USC), Cristian Meza (NYC College Of Technology), Jasmine Gordon (Spelman College), Michael Brown (Howard University) and Raagavi Venkatesh (Drexel University). Nurit Smith, Music Forward Foundation Executive Director, states: “With the support of our generous partners, we are once again able to award impactful scholarships to deserving young people, providing a plethora of opportunities as they work to achieve their goals and dreams”. Meza adds, “This scholarship means so much to me. It shows me that there are people out there that do believe in me, and my dreams are reachable”.
The K-pop industry’s overseas sales surpassed 1 trillion won ($722.28 million) for the first time in 2023, according to a report by the Korea Culture & Tourism Institute. The industry’s combined revenue reached an estimated 1.2377 trillion won, a 34.3% increase from the previous year. Revenue from overseas performances made up the largest share at 47.5%, followed by album exports at 31.4% and overseas streaming services at 21%. The report notes, “Overseas sales are expected to increase in 2024 as well, considering the diversification of K-pop’s overseas markets, the rise of new artists, and consistent efforts to expand globally”.
Artist News
Kool DJ Red Alert – credited with inventing the mixtape while working with Afrika Bambaataa – has been honoured with a statue in New York City’s Montefiore Park. The piece, titled ‘YEAA-a-a-a-a-ah!’ after Red Alert’s signature chant, depicts the hip hop pioneer at his turntables and includes a solar-powered audio mix. “This is something that’s very rare, but in blessings, I’m here to witness it”, Red Alert says of the statue, which is part of artist Sherwin Banfield’s Sustainable Sonic Statues series.
King Crimson guitarist Jakko Jakszyk has announced his autobiography, ‘Who’s The Boy With The Lovely Hair? The Unlikely Memoir Of Jakko M Jakszyk’, to be released on 10 Oct through Kingmaker Publishing. The 400-page hardback, inspired by Jakszyk’s 2022 Edinburgh Festival show, chronicles his musical career and explores his heritage as an adopted child. “It’s a voyage of self-discovery from an orphanage in rural France, a Polish mining village, to a terraced house in Hertfordshire”, explains Jakszyk.
Blur bassist Alex James has announced a new book, ’Over The Rainbow: Tales From An Unexpected Year’, set for release on 5 Dec via Penguin Random House. James says the book “chronicles the mayhem of exactly what happened when I hooked back up with my Blur brothers”, covering the band’s reunion, their Wembley shows, and his personal experiences during a busy year. He adds: “It’s about what it felt like to be living in the eye of a superstorm, where past and present collided, and I’d wake up every morning thinking, ’What on earth is going to happen next?’”
Releases & Tours
Aitch has collaborated with D-Block Europe on new single ‘Gold Mine’.
Porter Robinson has released his new album ‘SMILE! :D’.
Jorja Smith has released her new single ‘High’.
BABii has released her new single ‘Scarface’. Her new album ‘DareDeviil2000’ is out 11 Oct.
Muni Long has released her new single ‘Ruined Me’. Her new album ‘Revenge’ is out 30 Aug.
Raleigh Ritchie has released his new album ‘DEAD ENDS AND DIVERSIONS’.
Poppy Ajudha has released her new single ‘Girl Next Door’.
Written By Wolves have released their new album ‘THE LIGHTHOUSE’ alongside the video for the title track here.
Central Cee has released his new single ‘gen z luv’.
Twin Atlantic have released their new album’s title-track single ‘Meltdown’. The new album is out 9 Aug.
COBRAH has released her remix EP ’SUCCUBUS XXXTENDED’. Featuring remixes from Amanda Lepore, Only Fire, MCR-T and more.
Sam Tompkins has released his debut album ‘hi, my name is insecure’.
Razorlight have released their new single ‘Scared Of Nothing’, alongside the announcement of a UK headline tour; including a show at O2 Academy Brixton on 21 Nov. Tickets are available here.
Blur have released their new live album ‘Blur: Live At Wembley Stadium’. The feature-length film of the Wembley concert will be showing in cinemas across the UK and Ireland from 6 Sep. The trailer is live to watch here.
Cults have released their new album ‘To The Ghosts’.
grentperez and Lyn Lapid have collaborated on new single ‘Room For You’.
Bastille have released their new EP ‘“&” (Ampersand) Part One’.
Jake Isaac has released his new single ‘EVER YOURS’. His new album ‘BENJAMIN’ is out 25 Oct.
Boys Noize has released his new single ‘FVKVRVND’.