Tony Harlow to Leave Warner Music UK

Tony Harlow is stepping down as head of Warner Music UK soon. He worked with many artists during his time. People at Warner say he was a good leader. Many are waiting to see who will take his place. This change may mean new ideas for the company.

Christopher Södergren Leads Sony Music’s New Plan

Sony Music picked Christopher Södergren for an important job. He will help them sell more music online. He has done good work in other jobs before this. Sony hopes he will help them reach more fans. Selling music right to fans is a new step for Sony.

Spotify Sells 74,000 Concert Tickets

Spotify has been working with different ticket websites. So far this year, fans have bought 74,000 tickets through Spotify. Over 228,000 artists were part of this. This makes it easier for fans to hear about shows. Spotify says more people use the service to find live music.

Bandcamp Starts ‘Bandcamp Clubs’ for $13 a Month

Bandcamp has started music clubs. They cost $13 each month. People can join to get new songs picked by music experts. No computers are used to choose the music. It’s a fun way for fans to hear fresh music they might like. Bandcamp thinks this will help artists find new fans.

Dynamite Songs Buys Keith Harris’s Songs

Dynamite Songs has bought music made by Keith Harris. Keith has worked with huge stars like Madonna and Usher. Now Dynamite owns the rights to some of his songs. This helps their collection grow. They hope to use these songs in movies, ads, and much more.

Divo Music Opens New Label in India

Divo Music, part of Warner, is starting a new label in India. This new company is called LOOPD. It will help artists from India share new songs. LOOPD wants to give independent artists a bigger chance. Now, more people in India may hear music from new singers and bands.

The Weeknd’s ‘Blinding Lights’ Gets 5 Billion Plays

“Blinding Lights” by The Weeknd reached 5 billion streams on Spotify. No other song has hit this number before. Fans all over the world love this song. The Weeknd thanked his fans for all their support. This shows how much people like to listen to music online.

SM Entertainment Makes AI Rap Music

SM Entertainment is in South Korea. They are working with a tech group called Verses. Together, they want computers to help make rap songs. The team thinks computers can add new ideas to music. Many people are watching to see what these new songs will sound like.

Vinyl and CDs Will Not Have New Taxes

Recently, there were talks about more taxes on vinyl records and CDs. But Donald Trump’s new rules will not add any extra taxes for now. People who love music are happy. This means prices for records and CDs should stay the same.

DEAG Aims to Sell 12 Million Tickets

DEAG is a big company in Germany that sells tickets for concerts and shows. This year, they want to sell 12 million tickets. Live music is getting more popular again after some quiet years. DEAG made more money this year than before, which is a good sign for music fans.

BeatBread CEO and Co-Founder Peter Sinclair Dies Aged 50

Music fintech company BeatBread has lost its CEO and co-founder Peter Sinclair, who passed away Saturday (August 23) surrounded by family in Los Angeles. Sinclair was instrumental in building BeatBread’s innovative artist funding platform that provided advances to independent musicians based on streaming data analytics.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/beatbread-ceo-and-co-founder-peter-sinclair-dies-aged-50/

Independent Rapper LaRussell Makes Millions with Fan-Pricing Model

Bay Area rapper LaRussell has generated millions in revenue through an innovative business model that allows fans to set their own prices for music and merchandise. The approach has created a community-driven economy around his music, with fans paying anywhere from $1 to thousands of dollars for the same content based on their personal connection and financial means.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/independent-rapper-larussell-made-millions-allowing-fans-set-prices-rcna227322

SoundExchange Distributions Top $242.5M in Q2 2025

The performing rights organization SoundExchange distributed over $242.5 million to artists and rightsholders in the second quarter of 2025, marking a significant increase in digital performance royalties. The growth reflects continued expansion in digital radio, satellite radio, and streaming platform usage across the U.S.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/top-music-business-news-last-week-7.html

Bandcamp Warns of Tariff Troubles for Music Sales

Music platform Bandcamp has issued warnings to thousands of artists and independent labels about potential disruptions to global sales and shipping due to escalating international tariff battles. The platform cites increasing complications in cross-border transactions and fulfillment as trade tensions impact the music merchandise and physical media markets.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/bandcamp-warns-tariffs-mean-trouble-for-music-and-merch-sales.html

Spotify’s Discovery Mode Accounts for 10% of Label Payouts

New data reveals that Spotify’s Discovery Mode feature, which promotes tracks in exchange for discounted royalty rates, now represents approximately 10% of major label payouts from the platform. One unnamed label executive reported the feature peaked at 15% of their Spotify revenue last year, highlighting its significant impact on streaming economics.
https://musically.com/2025/08/26/spotify-roundup-new-tier-tensions-price-rises-discovery-mode/

Spotify’s New Superfan Tier Faces Development Challenges

Bloomberg reports that Spotify’s highly anticipated superfan subscription tier remains in development limbo due to disagreements over features and ongoing negotiations with rightsholders. Major record labels are reportedly pushing for premium pricing structures around early access to new releases, while concert promoter discussions about ticket presales continue.
https://musically.com/2025/08/26/spotify-roundup-new-tier-tensions-price-rises-discovery-mode/

Music Marketing Shifts to Sound-On Formats in 2025

Industry performance marketers report a significant pivot toward immersive sound-on advertising formats as traditional Facebook and Instagram feed ads show sound-off rates between 20-50%. Platforms like TikTok, YouTube, and Connected TV are seeing increased music marketing investment due to higher sound-on engagement rates and more efficient CPMs.
https://www.guptamedia.com/music-marketing

Holodigm Academy Launches Artist Management Course

A new academic program specifically designed for aspiring artist managers has launched through Holodigm Academy, addressing the knowledge gap in professional music management education. The course aims to provide structured learning for those entering the artist management field without prior industry experience.
https://www.ajournalofmusicalthings.com/random-music-news-for-saturday-august-30-2025/

Music Industry Jobs Market Shows Continued Growth

Multiple high-level positions have opened across major music companies this week, including roles at Universal Music Group, BMG, Epitaph Records, and peermusic. Notable openings include Director of New Digital Business & Innovation at UMG and Head of Northern European Administration at peermusic, indicating continued expansion in digital and international markets.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/

Italy’s Paid Streaming Subscriptions Jump 12.7% Year-Over-Year

Italy’s music streaming market shows robust growth with paid subscriptions increasing 12.7% in the first half of 2025, driven by strong local content performance. Italian artists dominated the charts, accounting for 90% of the top 10 albums and singles during this period, demonstrating the power of localized content strategies.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/italys-paid-streaming-subscriptions-jump-12-7-yoy-in-first-half-of-2025-as-local-acts-dominate-the-charts/

UK Tribunal Rejects Blur Drummer’s Class-Action Lawsuit Against PRS

The UK Competition Appeal Tribunal has dismissed Dave Rowntree’s (Blur drummer) class-action lawsuit against PRS for Music over “black box” royalties. The case challenged how the performing rights organization distributes unallocated revenue, with significant implications for songwriter royalty transparency across the industry.
https://musically.com/2025/08/29/prs-class-action-lawsuit-knocked-back-by-uk-competition-appeal-tribunal/

YouTube Expands Creator Promotion Tool ‘Hype’ to 39 Markets

YouTube has rolled out its “Hype” feature to 39 new markets, allowing viewers to promote videos from creators with fewer than 500,000 subscribers. The tool represents YouTube’s effort to democratize content discovery and help emerging creators compete with established channels for visibility.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/youtube-expands-creator-promotion-tool-hype-to-39-markets/

Royalties Inc. Acquires Additional $525,000 in Music Royalties

Investment firm Royalties Inc. has purchased an additional $525,000 worth of shares in Music Royalties Inc., signaling continued institutional confidence in music royalty investments as an asset class. The move reflects growing investor appetite for music intellectual property portfolios.
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/264434/Royalties-Inc.-Acquires-an-Additional-525000-in-Shares-of-Music-Royalties-Inc.

Johnnie Walker Announces Global Partnership with Sabrina Carpenter

Scotch whisky brand Johnnie Walker has secured a global partnership with Grammy-winning artist Sabrina Carpenter, whose recent album “Short n’ Sweet” debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200. The deal represents a significant brand alignment with one of 2025’s breakthrough pop stars and demonstrates the growing value of music artist partnerships in premium brand marketing.
https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/johnnie-walker-scotch-whisky-announces-global-partnership-with-grammy-award-winning-music-artist-and-international-superstar-sabrina-carpenter-302541721.html

‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Longest-Reigning Album in Australia for 2025

The Netflix animated film’s soundtrack has maintained the #1 position on Australia’s ARIA Albums Chart for seven consecutive weeks, making it the longest-running #1 album of 2025. The soundtrack’s track “Golden” also holds the top singles position for five weeks, demonstrating the crossover potential of entertainment properties into music charts.
https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/kpop-demon-hunters-longest-reigning-album-australia-2025-1236054529/

Gen-Z’s Music Discovery Shift Away from Streaming Platforms

New research reveals Gen-Z consumers are increasingly abandoning traditional music streaming services in favor of TikTok and YouTube for music discovery and consumption. This behavioral shift poses significant challenges for subscription-based streaming models and suggests a fundamental change in how younger audiences engage with music content.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/gen-z-dislikes-streaming-discovers-music-on-youtube-and-tiktok.html

26% of UK Nightclubs Have Closed in the Last Five Years

The Night Time Industries Association reports that a quarter of all UK nightclubs have permanently closed since 2020, highlighting the ongoing crisis in live music and entertainment venues. The closures represent significant revenue losses for the broader music ecosystem and impact artist development opportunities.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/26-of-uk-nightclubs-closed-in-last-5-years.html

Time Traveler Records Launches Muse Catalog Reissue Series

Record producer Zev Feldman has launched Time Traveler Recordings with the Muse Master Edition Series, beginning with three historic jazz albums set for October 17 release. The venture represents continued investment in catalog reissues and vinyl market expansion, with quarterly releases planned from legendary artists.
https://www.thevinyldistrict.com/a-morning-mix-of-news-for-the-vinyl-inclined/in-rotation-8-29-25/

MusiCares Expands Health Support for Music Professionals

MusiCares has partnered with Maven virtual health clinic to provide free health support services for music industry professionals and musicians. The initiative addresses healthcare access challenges within the music community and represents industry efforts to support artist welfare beyond traditional financial assistance.
https://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2025/08/musicares-adds-free-health-support-for-music-professionals.html

TikTok Launches Marketing Campaign for Music Discovery

TikTok has debuted “See Where Music Takes You,” its first large-scale marketing campaign dedicated to highlighting the platform’s role in music discovery. The campaign features Ravyn Lenae’s hit “Love Me Not” as an example of TikTok’s hitmaking power, showcasing how 84% of all songs that entered the Billboard Global 200 Chart in 2024 first gained traction on TikTok.
https://musically.com/2025/08/28/tiktok-has-launched-a-marketing-campaign-for-music-discovery/

BMG’s Revenue Falls Despite Strong Profitability Gains

BMG saw organic revenue decline 4.4% year-over-year in the first half of 2025, yet its EBITDA margin jumped to 28.7% from 26.5% in H1 2024. The company attributes the revenue dip to strategic scaling back of lower-margin activities to focus on digital revenue sources and long-term profitability.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/bmgs-organic-revenue-fell-4-4-yoy-in-h1-2025-as-ebitda-margin-jumped-underlying-streaming-revenue-up-high-single-digits/

Apple Music Radio Expands Beyond iOS with TuneIn Partnership

Apple Music has partnered with TuneIn to make its six commercial-free radio stations available to TuneIn’s 75 million monthly users worldwide for the first time outside Apple’s ecosystem. The move aims to convert radio listeners into paying Apple Music subscribers as the service competes with Spotify’s dominance.
https://completemusicupdate.com/apple-music-makes-its-radio-stations-available-to-everyone-via-radio-streaming-app-tunein/

Jamendo Launches AI-Powered Music Search Platform

Music platform Jamendo has unveiled “Search with AI,” allowing clients to find tracks by typing sync briefs, scene outlines, pop culture references, or describing vibes and moods. The platform represents over 300,000 tracks from 70,000+ independent artists and aims to make music licensing more efficient.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250827253611/en/Llama-Group-Jamendo-Licensing-Reinvents-Music-Discovery-with-AI-Powered-Search

Universal Music India Partners with Maddock Films

Universal Music India has formed a strategic alliance with Maddock Films and its music label Mad For Music, positioning UMI as the global partner for Maddock’s upcoming film soundtracks. The partnership marks UMI’s re-entry into India’s thriving film music industry with enhanced global reach.
https://www.billboard.com/pro/orlando-jones-launches-record-label-umg-maddock-films-deals/

Beatoven.ai Launches ‘Fully Licensed’ Music AI Model with Artist Payouts

Beatoven.ai has unveiled its Maestro AI model that promises ongoing royalty payments to artists, composers, and rightsholders. Built on partnerships with rights management companies, the system tracks which licensed songs contribute to generated tracks and distributes payments accordingly—a contrast to other AI music platforms facing lawsuits.
https://www.musicbusinessworldwide.com/beatoven-ai-launches-fully-licensed-music-ai-model-with-artist-payouts/

Too Lost Ranks #90 on Inc. 5000 List

Music technology company Too Lost, specializing in digital distribution and rights management, secured the #90 position on the prestigious Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies in America, demonstrating significant growth in the music tech sector.
https://www.digitalmusicnews.com/2025/08/28/too-lost-inc-5000-inclusion/

Orlando Jones Launches GangStirRock Record Label

Actor and comedian Orlando Jones has launched GangStirRock, a new record label in partnership with KMG Distribution, encompassing project management, synchronization licensing, and digital service provider promotions to directly sign and nurture artists.
https://www.billboard.com/pro/orlando-jones-launches-record-label-umg-maddock-films-deals/

Ticketek Acquires New Zealand’s Eventfinda

Australian ticketing giant Ticketek has acquired New Zealand ticketing business Eventfinda, marking a strategic move to aid the platform’s global expansion in the live events ticketing sector.
https://newindustryfocus.com/tags/mergers-acquisitions