Iconoclast has acquired the songs catalogue, sound recordings, and name, image and likeness rights of American actor and musician David Cassidy in a deal valued at over $10 million. The acquisition, announced on 8 Oct, includes rights to Cassidy’s hit singles such as ‘I Think I Love You’. Beau Cassidy, David’s son, says, “My father’s music and legacy continue to resonate with fans around the world and I’m incredibly excited to partner with Iconoclast to keep his spirit alive”. Olivier Chastan, founder and CEO of Iconoclast, notes, “Cassidy’s legacy, art and aesthetic are ripe for reintroduction into the cultural bloodstream”.
Warner Music Group Benelux has acquired Cloud 9 Recordings, a leading Dutch independent record label. Raymond van Vliet will remain as President of Cloud 9 Recordings, which will continue to operate as a separate label. The acquisition includes an exclusive worldwide administration agreement between Warner Chappell Music Benelux and Blue Skies Publishing, representing around 100 songwriters and several catalogues. Niels Walboomers, President Of Recorded Music & Publishing at WMG Benelux, says, “We are very excited to welcome Raymond and the Cloud 9 team. Cloud 9 has made a significant impact on the Dutch music industry with its versatility and expertise”. Van Vliet adds that, on 1 Nov, “Cloud 9 Music will celebrate its 20th anniversary. It is a proud moment to sell this incredible company on the eve of this milestone”.
Downtown Music owned FUGA has announced a new partnership with UNIFIED Music Group, a multi-service music company operating across Melbourne, Sydney, Los Angeles, New York, Nashville and Toronto. The deal will enhance UNIFIED’s distribution and marketing capabilities, and provide neighbouring rights services for its labels, including UNFD, Domestic La La and Community Music. UNIFIED’s labels will also utilise FUGA’s technology platform and services, including strategic marketing, social video management and YouTube channel partnerships. Francesca Caldara, Vice President – Recorded Music at UNIFIED Music Group, says, “The addition of FUGA’s services supports UNIFIED Recorded Music’s ambitious growth plans”. FUGA President Christiaan Kröner adds, “We’re THRILLED to deepen our relationship with UNIFIED Music Group as they take full advantage of the diverse suite of services we offer across the Downtown ecosystem”.
Reservoir Media has acquired the producer royalties to the catalogue of Grammy-winning American record producer Jack Douglas. The deal includes hits by Aerosmith and Cheap Trick, encompassing Douglas’ work on multi-platinum albums such as Aerosmith’s ‘Toys In The Attic’ and ‘Rocks’. Douglas’s career spans decades, including collaborations with John Lennon and Yoko Ono on the Grammy Award-winning Album Of The Year ‘Double Fantasy’. Rell Lafargue, President and Chief Operating Officer of Reservoir, says, “Jack Douglas is a legendary producer who crafted some of the most iconic and sonically powerful rock records over the past 50 years”.
Insomniac Music Group has launched Insomniac Publishingl. The current roster includes 2Night Management, representing artists Matroda, San Pacho, and Bruno Furlan, along with Aryay, Avi Snow, Benni Ola, Jasper, Joris Mur, Mattilo, Nuala, Omer Horovitz, and Rami Jrade. Writers under Insomniac Publishing have credits on songs by artists such as Gordo and Drake, AMÉMÉ, Blond:ish, Dillon Francis and Galantis. The new division’s catalogue includes more than 1000 songs across various electronic music styles, with tracks already synced by companies including Apple, Coca-Cola, Netflix and NBC.
BMG has signed an exclusive worldwide publishing deal for the entire catalogue of multi-Diamond-selling singer and songwriter Ray Dalton. Dalton’s fourteen track debut solo album, ‘Thee Unknown’, was released in September, with his single ‘ALL WE GOT’ entering the European Airplay Charts and achieving top ten positions in several countries. The deal encompasses Dalton’s past works, including his feature on Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ diamond-certified hit ‘Can’t Hold Us’. Dalton says, “I am THRILLED to partner up with the incredible team at BMG for my publishing and copyright needs. It’s an exciting new chapter for me, and I couldn’t ask for a better team to help guide my music forward.”
Armada Music Group‘s catalogue acquisition fund, Beat Music Fund, has completed three new deals in the electronic music sector. The fund has acquired artist shares from a portion of Kevin Saunderson‘s Inner City catalogue, including the tracks ‘Good Life’ and ‘Big Fun’, as well as securing deals with trance DJ Markus Schulz, and recordings and artist royalties for Robbie Rivera‘s label Juicy Music. Maykel Piron, head of Armada Music Group, says, “Each of these artists have played an integral role in shaping dance music and pioneering sub-genres like techno, house and trance”. The fund reports it has acquired 20,000 assets to date, which have collectively generated nearly 100 million streams.
Big Machine Label Group has launched a synchronisation licensing division called Big SYNQ, with Maria Alonte appointed as Senior VP Of Synchronization. The new division will manage sync licensing and placement for Big Machine Label Group and its publishing arm Big Machine Music, as well as collaborate with sister companies HYBE North America, SB Projects and Quality Control Music. Alonte, based in Los Angeles, will report to Big Machine Music President Mike Molinar and BMLG‘s Executive VP Pf Label Operations Clay Hunnicutt. Molinar says, “The growth of the team reflects the priority we are placing on sync and other offerings like creative original catalogue”.
Yazz Ahmed has signed to Night Time Stories, with the label set to reissue the British-Bahraini jazz composer and trumpeter’s catalogue on vinyl. The deal includes the first vinyl release of Ahmed’s 2011 debut album ‘Finding My Way Home’, as well as a reissue of her sought-after ‘Polyhymnia’ album. Ahmed says, “I’m absolutely THRILLED to have found a new home for my music with Night Time Stories. The care and support from the team at NTS has been second to none and they are a dream to work with”. Night Time Stories, an independent record label, specialises in releasing innovative and experimental music across various genres.
River House Artists has signed producers and songwriters Mike Lohmeier and Lukas Scott to worldwide publishing deals. Lohmeier previously co-wrote the 2017 hit ‘Unforgettable’ for French Montana and Swae Lee as part of the production trio 1Mind. Scott has been collaborating with various Nashville-based artists. Kayla Adkins, Creative Director at River House Artists, says, “Both Mike and Lukas are incredible additions to our roster. Aside from their talents and accolades in the world of production, each of them holds the value for the craftsmanship of lyrical composition in high esteem”.
Sixth Street Growth has made a $130 million equity investment in atVenu, a leading provider of live event software and payments solutions. atVenu, founded in 2012, offers a purpose-built platform for inventory management, forecasting and financial settlements in pop-up commerce environments. The investment aims to accelerate atVenu’s expansion into new markets such as sports, food and beverages, while maintaining its position in music merchandise. Ben Brannen, atVenu Co-Founder and President, says, “We’re THRILLED to partner with Sixth Street for atVenu’s next chapter”. atVenu currently processes over $1.6 billion in merchandise and food and beverage volume annually, serving more than 125,000 events each year.
Believe UK has promoted Johnny Pinchard to Head Of A&R. Pinchard, who joined Believe from RCA Records in 2021, will report to Believe UK’s Director Of Artist Services Malena Wolfer and Head Of Label And Artist Solutions Panos Polymatidis in his new London-based role. Since joining Believe, Pinchard has overseen signings including Sea Girls, who peaked at number four in the Official UK Albums Chart this year, and Blanco, who has earned over 140 million streams in under a year. Pinchard says, “It’s an extremely exciting time for Believe and I feel very fortunate to work with such an incredible team who are, at their core, driven by their love of music”.
BMG has appointed Melanie McAllister as its new global Chief Human Resources Officer, effective 1 Nov. McAllister, who will report to BMG CEO Thomas Coesfeld, will oversee people excellence, performance, development, analytics and DE&I across the company’s 20 offices in thirteen core music markets. Previously, McAllister served as Chief People Officer at EasyPark Group and Megaport, and held the Chief HR Officer role at BMG’s sister company, Arvato. Coesfeld says, “Her expertise, vision, and proven track record of combining innovative thinking with people excellence will have a transformative impact on our company”.
Canvas Music has announced that former Spotify Managing Director UK & Ireland Tom Connaughton has joined the company as Partner and Senior Advisor. Connaughton says, “I’m delighted to be coming on board as a Partner and Senior Advisor to Canvas Music. Rich has been quietly building an impressive company over the last few years, and I’ve seen how distribution has become one of the most exciting pieces of the new music industry.” The UK-based independent boutique distributor has also signed a long-term joint venture with US partner Symphonic Distribution. Richard Lyne, Founder and Chief Executive of Canvas Music, comments, “Having a US partner of their calibre is a huge opportunity and provides us with level of access into the US market that is invaluable for our UK and international clients.”
Opry Entertainment Group has promoted Jordan Pettit to Vice President Of Artist Relations and Jenn Tressler to Director Of Artist & Industry Relations. Pettit, who joined the company in 2018, has been key in creating artist-driven initiatives and fan experiences, including the Opry NextStage programme. Tressler, who joined in 2020, has built partnerships with labels, artists and industry leaders while highlighting new talent. Patrick Moore, Opry Entertainment Group CEO, says, “Both Jordan and Jenn have been instrumental in building the trusted industry relationships and unique fan experiences that set Opry Entertainment Group apart”. He adds that their leadership will help unlock more opportunities to connect artists with fans as they approach the Opry’s centennial.
Live music promoter Peachtree Entertainment has expanded its team with several key hires and strategic developments. Holly Doscher has joined as SVP Of Marketing, bringing over a decade of experience from companies like Danny Wimmer Presents and Live Nation. Justin Andrews has been appointed VP Of Ticketing & Revenue, with ten years of experience in ticket sales and revenue optimisation. The company has also introduced a new territory system, appointing Chris Drizen, Thomas Trainer and Charlsie Grace to oversee key markets across the United States. Nathan Baugh, CEO of Peachtree Entertainment, says, “We are THRILLED to welcome Holly, Justin, Chris, Thomas and Charlsie to the Peachtree family. Each of these individuals brings unique expertise and a passion for live entertainment that will be invaluable as we continue to expand our presence across key markets”.
Position Music has hired Chandler Thurston as the first A&R team member for its new Nashville location. Thurston will work from the company’s Music Row office, currently under construction and set to open in 2025. Mark Chipello, Partner/Head Of A&R at Position Music, says, “Chandler is an immensely-respected publisher who deeply cares about songwriters and their craft.” Thurston, previously Senior Creative Director at Anthem Entertainment, adds, “I am incredibly excited to be in this new role and am looking forward to helping Position Music establish itself in Nashville.”
Super Hi-Fi has appointed Bo Matthews as its new Director of Radio Programming Services. Matthews, who has over two decades of experience in the entertainment, media and music industries, will work with broadcast radio companies and their talent rosters to ensure Super Hi-Fi’s AI-powered radio solutions express the creative intent of programme directors. Brendon Cassidy, CTO and Co-Founder at Super Hi-Fi, says, “Bo’s unparalleled expertise in radio programming combined with his deep industry insights will be invaluable as we continue to enhance the quality and impact of our AI-powered radio solutions”. Matthews adds, “I’m THRILLED to join such a forward-thinking and innovative team at Super HiFi”.
Barry White’s estate has filed a copyright infringement lawsuit over the song ‘Like That’ by Future and Metro Boomin. The legal action, lodged in Manhattan federal court, targets Rodney-O & Joe Cooley, creators of the 1986 track ‘Everlasting Bass’, which was sampled in ‘Like That’. The estate claims ‘Everlasting Bass’ contains elements stolen from White’s 1973 song ‘I’m Gonna Love You Just A Little More Baby’. Notably, the lawsuit does not accuse Future and Metro Boomin of wrongdoing, as Rodney-O & Joe Cooley reportedly agreed to defend against such claims when clearing the sample. Attorneys for White’s estate say, “[‘Everlasting Bass’] was released prior to the internet and was not widely distributed”, explaining the decades-long delay in legal action.
Nirvana and Marc Jacobs have officially settled their dispute over the band’s ‘smiley face’ design, ending a legal battle that began in 2018. The settlement, which follows a mediator’s recommendations in July 2024, was approved by Judge John A Kronstadt, who dismissed all claims and counterclaims with prejudice. Robert Fisher, who had intervened in the case claiming ownership of the logo, did not object to the settlement by the 10 Oct deadline. The judge’s order states, “All parties are responsible for their own attorneys’ fees and costs incurred in this action”.
A California psychiatrist, Charles Sophy, has filed a lawsuit against Dr Dre, seeking at least $10 million in damages for alleged harassment. The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claims that Young subjected Sophy to “unbearable harassment” following his work as a mediator in Young’s divorce proceedings. Sophy alleges that Young sent threatening text messages and engaged in intimidating behaviour, causing him to fear for his safety. Howard King, Young’s lawyer, says, “Dr Sophy inserted himself into a contentious divorce while he simultaneously ‘treated’ not only Mr and Mrs Young, but their children.”
Piers Morgan has apologised for airing allegations against Jay-Z and Beyoncé during an interview on his show’ Uncensored’. The apology comes after singer Jaguar Wright made accusations against the couple during a discussion about Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs‘ recent arrest. Morgan explains, “We had lawyers contact us to say that those claims were totally false and have no basis in fact, and we’ve therefore complied with a legal request to cut them from the original interview”. Morgan adds, “Editing interviews is not something we do lightly at a show called ‘Uncensored’, but like the proverbial cries of fire in a crowded theatre, there are legal limits on us, too”.
NewJeans member Hanni has confirmed she will testify at an upcoming national audit on bullying in the K-pop industry. The Vietnamese-Australian singer was invited by the Environment And Labor Committee of South Korea to appear as a reference witness at the audit addressing workplace harassment issues in entertainment. Hanni announced her decision on 10 Oct via fan community app Phoning, saying, “I’m going to the National Assembly! For the National Assembly hearing! I’ll go alone.” She added, “I’m uncertain about the outcome, but I believe this experience will be a valuable learning opportunity.”
Delphos has launched an AI-powered music generator that allows creators to control machine learning for their own music production. The London-based company, founded by Anglo-Ukrainian father and son team Roman and Ilya Tolchenov, enables users to create a ‘Soundworld’ by uploading their existing stems and using AI tools to compose, remix and generate beats. Ilya Tolchenov, CEO of Delphos, says, “It’s like collaborating with yourself on your best day”. The company has also partnered with Roland Williams, lead manager for Atlanta-based producer Zaytoven, to launch beatworld.ai, a self-service portal powered by Delphos for professional-grade beats at competitive prices.
TuneCore has reported a 91% increase in streaming in West and East Africa. The company’s TuneCore Accelerator programme facilitated over 3 billion track discoveries, leading to nearly 10 billion new streams in the first half of 2024. Artists in the early ‘Start’ and ‘Amplify’ segments of the programme saw earnings increase fivefold and threefold respectively compared to the previous year. Andreea Gleeson, CEO of TuneCore, says, “With the constant evolution of the industry, independent artists, especially early-career musicians, need more than just distribution. They require access to marketing programmes that can help their music reach the right audiences”.
Beatdapp and Tuned Global have formed a strategic partnership to combat streaming fraud in music apps. Beatdapp, a music data tracking company, estimates that “at least 10% of global streams are fraudulent” based on analysis of “4 trillion streams and 40 trillion user events”. The collaboration will integrate Beatdapp’s fraud detection tools into platforms built by Tuned Global, a business-to-business streaming tech provider. Spiro Arkoudis, Chief Revenue Officer at Tuned Global, says, “Fraud prevention is moving from being a ‘nice-to-have’ to an industry requirement. Beatdapp is the leader in this space and their technology is the obvious choice to provide this vital service to our clients”.
Meddling has launched a free listing service that says it can automatically detect artist signings and label departures, while allowing users to report changes in deal status. The service, accessible to nearly 300 verified A&Rs across over 30 record labels, tracks label affiliations of artists as they change between releases based on copyright changes. Travis Rosenblatt, founder and CEO of Meddling, says, “As independent market share continues to explode, I want Meddling to be helpful to all segments of the industry without compromising on the premium data platform”. The company, which has provided data tools for A&R coverage for a decade, aims to democratise A&R through this new offering.
Beatport has added lossless FLAC audio to its streaming service for DJs. The new feature is available as part of the Beatport Streaming Professional and Beatsource Streaming Pro+ plans, offering more than 12 million and 7 million lossless tracks respectively. Lossless streaming is currently accessible through partner tools including djay Pro, VirtualDJ, DJ.Studio, Edjing Mix, Tribe XR and Serato DJ Pro for Macs. Beatport says integrations with other key platforms such as rekordbox, Traktor Pro, and Serato for PCs are “coming soon”.
Tencent Music Entertainment has revealed it is using advanced AI tools to combat copyright infringement on its platforms amid the rise of AI-generated content. In its inaugural Environmental, Social And Governance report, the China-based music streaming company says it is implementing compliance assessments and continuous monitoring of AI products to ensure AI-generated musical content is properly licensed. TME, which operates QQ Music, Kugou and Kuwo platforms, had 117 million paying users on its online music services at the end of June, according to its Q2 report. “We believe AI should be a supportive tool rather than a substitute for musicians creating original works”, TME says in the report.
ElevenLabs, a start-up specialising in AI tools for audio applications, has been approached by investors about a new funding round that could value the company at up to $3 billion. The two-year-old company, which creates AI-powered synthetic voices for audiobook narrations and real-time video dubbing, has reportedly seen its annualised recurring revenue grow from $25 million at the end of last year to approximately $80 million in recent months. A source at an interested venture capital firm told TechCrunch, “Investors are scrambling to get into the fast-growing company”.
X has changed its creator payment policy, shifting from ad revenue-based compensation to engagement-based payouts from Premium users. The social media platform says creators will now earn money directly based on engagement with their content from Premium subscribers, rather than receiving a percentage of ad revenue from advertisements shown in their replies. The new system could potentially encourage creators to generate more engagement-driven content, including posts designed to spark debates or elicit responses.
Collaborative listening platform Stationhead has launched Voice Notes, a new feature allowing artists to record and publish voice memos to their channels on the streaming platform. The feature enables artists to reach tens of thousands of fan-run stations and millions of fans across the Stationhead network, with recorded notes playing intermittently during listening experiences. Voice Notes can include custom banner assets to promote tours, merchandise, or new music. Ryan Star, Stationhead Co-Founder and CEO, says, “Voice Notes is our fan-first platform’s next step in building tools designed to help artists connect with their loyal fans and provide meaning to the online music experience”. South Korean boy band NCT 127 debuted the Voice Notes feature for their new album ‘Walk’, engaging fans on Stationhead in the lead-up to the official release party hosted by the band on the platform.
Orange Room Media has announced plans to launch a music streaming service in South Africa next month. The Mabopane-based company, led by CEO Johnny Mashigo, aims to offer a platform with 80% local content, including music, radio stations, and podcasts. In addition to the streaming service, Orange Room Media is introducing ads to help local businesses reach a wider audience. The company says it is creating an open ecosystem for local developers to contribute to its services, in the hope of increasing the impact of musicians, businesses, and consumers in the South African music industry.
Spotify has launched its free, ad-supported tiermusic and podcast streaming service in South Korea. It means The audio streaming platform says the move will help connect its global audience with Korean music, including K-pop. Uusers in South Korea can now access Spotify’s playlists, podcasts, and daily mixes for free, with the option to upgrade to thea premium ad-free service. Spotify reports that since its 2021 launch in South Korea, average monthly streams of artists from the country on the platform now exceed 5.8 billion. In addition, the company also reports a significant increase in K-pop streams globally, with a 362% surge over the past five years. The growth has been particularly strong in Southeast Asia, where streams have increased by 423% since 2018. Park Jung-joo, Head of Spotify Korea’s music team, says, “K-pop has become a global force, with artists breaking into international charts like Billboard”.
Apple has introduced new sharing functionality between Apple Music and TikTok in its iOS 18.1 beta 6 update. The feature allows users to share songs from Apple Music directly to TikTok, where they can be posted as photos, videos, or sent via private message. When sharing a song as a video, users can record themselves with the track playing in the background.
Snap has begun testing two new ad placements on Snapchat: Sponsored Snaps and Promoted Places Oon Snap Map. Patrick Harris, Snap Ppresident, Americas, says, “We’re enhancing our ad offerings to meet Snapchatters where they are, and we are excited to help brands show up in surfaces where attention and engagement is high, like chat and Snap Map”. Disney is the launch partner for Sponsored Snaps, which deliver full-screen vertical video Snaps to users’ chat inboxes. The company reports that marking locations as ‘”Top Picks’” on Snap Map typically results in a 17.6% visitation lift for frequent Snapchat users compared to unmarked places.
Fortnite has launched a new parkour map featuring a live DJ set and music debut from Tescao’s ‘Dragon’s Tale’. The map, accessible using the code 8234-5164-8809, introduces players to two key figures from the Tescao collective: Shen Lee, representing Earth, and Aaron, embodying Air. As players navigate the parkour course, Aaron performs a live DJ set, infusing the gameplay with the atmosphere of an open-air music festival. The project incorporates innovative stem mechanics, allowing players to mix tracks and create a customisable auditory experience, representing a fusion of electronic music and gaming within the Fortnite ecosystem.
The Independent has launched as a global curator on Apple Music, starting with four playlists curated by music editor Roisin O’Connor. The partnership includes the long-running Now Hear This playlist, featuring new tracks across various genres, and themed selections such as Hung Up Oon You, showcasing Madonna’s career. Roisin O’Connor, music editor at The Independent, says, “I’m so THRILLED to be joining Apple Music as an official curator. The Independent prides itself on being ‘the home of music’, where we’re constantly thinking about new ways to bring music we love to our readers”. The collaboration aims to expand The Independent’s music coverage, which already includes news, reviews, and festival partnerships.
Music Venue Trust has been named the “Independent Music Champion” at the 2024 Association Oof Independent Music (AIM) Independent Music Awards. MVTThe UK registered charity, celebrating its tenth anniversary, was recognised for its decade-long work in championing and protecting grassroots music venues across the UK. ItsMVT’s founders and CEO Mark Davyd and COO Beverley Whitrick received the award in a surprise presentation at the ten10th anniversary edition of the organisation’s Venues Day event. The Independent Music Awards are scheduled to take place at The Roundhouse on 17 Oct. Gee Davy, interim CEO of AIM, says, “MVT have been a hugely impactful force for good in their support and advocacy work for the UK’s grassroots venues, increasing visibility of the challenges they face in the highest corridors of power, and actively helping save venues from closure”.
Glastonbury Festival has announced that tickets for its 2025 event will go on sale in November. Coach ticket packages will be available from 14 Nov, with standard tickets following on 17 Nov, priced at £373.50 plus a £5 booking fee, up by £18.50 from last year. The festival is scheduled to take place from 25 to 29 Jun 2025. Organisers have confirmed that the event will take a fallow year in 2026, a practice they say is necessary to give the ground at Worthy Farm a rest, with more than 200,000 people attending the event every year.
Field Day festival has announced its relocation to Brockwell Park in south London for 2025, after four years at Victoria Park. The event will take place on 24 May 2025 as part of the Brockwell Live Bank Holiday Weekender. Field Day joins other established festivals at the venue, including Wide Awake, Cross The Tracks, City Splash, and Mighty Hoopla, collectively offering a diverse range of music and cultural experiences to London audiences.
Manchester City Council has confirmed it will charge Oasis for additional costs associated with their upcoming hometown concerts in 2025. The council, which owns the 600-acre Heaton Park where the band will play five nights to an estimated 80,000 fans per show, will bill for extra toilets and security arrangements. John Hacking, Manchester’s executive councillor for leisure, says, “The staging of next year’s concerts at Heaton Park come at no cost to the public purse”. This decision follows a similar policy recently announced by the City Oof Edinburgh Council, which will apply 100% cost recovery to commercial events.
Music City San Francisco Epicenter has announced its grand opening on 19 Oct, 2024. The 29,000 sq ft complex at 1355 Bush St, developed by Rudy Colombini, aims to revitalise the city’s music scene. The venue features seven performance stages, 20 rehearsal studios, a San Francisco Music Hall Oof Fame Gallery, and a music-themed hotel. Colombini says, “For musicians, this is truly a place of innovation and opportunity, where they can rehearse, record, perform, instantly live stream, and even book gigs for events”. The grand opening will include an outdoor Songwriters Festival and an evening party showcasing 20 acts across multiple genres.
Yungblud has revealed plans to expand his Bludfest festival into a two-day worldwide event. The musician hopes to take the festival to Paris, Prague, and Australia in the future. Speaking to Kerrang!, Yungblud says, “I’d love for it to be a two-day event.” He expresses interest in having Bring Me The Horizon and The Cure as potential headliners for future editions. The inaugural Bludfest took place on 11 Aug at the National Bowl in Milton Keynes, featuring performances from artists such as Lil Yachty and Soft Play.
L E M F R E C K has won the Welsh Music Prize 2024 for his album ‘Blood, Sweat & Fears’, receiving a £10,000 award at a ceremony held at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff. The album, which draws from the 30 -year -old’s experiences growing up in Newport and his involvement in various music scenes, was chosen from a shortlist of fifteen15 albums made in Wales or by Welsh people worldwide. Speaking at the ceremony, L E M F R E C K says, “Thanks to my mum and my dad – as young black kid growing up, they constantly told me I could do anything and be anything.” The event also honoured Eric Martin and DJ Jaffa with the Welsh Music Inspiration award for their contributions to Wales’ music scene, particularly in pioneering hip-hop in the country.
NPR has released a new book titled “How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History”, exploring the role of women in popular music over decades. Ann Powers, NPR’s music critic and correspondent, says the book celebrates the history of women in popular music while acknowledging their struggles and marginaliszation. Powers notes, “The beauty and achievement of women throughout popular music history has always been marked by struggle”. The book, which grew out of NPR Music’s ‘Turning The Tables’ series, includes archival interviews and essays examining how women have advanced popular music through their artistry and by increasing representation in the industry.
Nordoff Aand Robbins has announced that Liverpool will host the 2025 Northern Music Awards on 27 March at the Liverpool Olympia. The event, supported by Ticketmaster and Live Nation, will celebrate the North’s best artists, festivals, venues, and industry figures. Sandra Schembri, CEO of Nordoff Aand Robbins, says, “We’re incredibly excited that Liverpool will be the next host of the Northern Music Awards. The city has as rich a music history as anywhere in the world so it’s a perfect place to celebrate the North’s exceptional musical talent.” The charity has also revealed the shortlist for the Newcomer Oof Tthe Year category, featuring six emerging northern artists including Luvcat, Pixey, and The KTNA.
DJ Mag has announced it will shift from monthly to quarterly print publication starting January 2024. The new format will feature three cover stars per issue, with covers distributed evenly and at random to subscribers. Carl Loben, editor of DJ Mag, says, “Along with the rest of the team, I’m excited to be bringing DJ Mag into its next phase of evolution. Electronic dance music is a perpetually exciting movement, forever changing, and is now bigger globally than ever.” The new quarterly edition will be priced at £7.99 per issue, with a twelve 12-month subscription available for £27.99.
European Talent Exchange has secured four years of funding from the European Commission’s Creative Europe programme and announced a rebranding. ESNS Exchange, a platform focused on internationalising European music for over two decades, will adopt the new name European Talent Exchange from 1 Dec 2024. The organisation says the rebrand better reflects its mission to support cross-border collaboration and showcase emerging European artists globally. Since its inception in 2003, the platform has supported over 2,000 artists from 36 countries, leading to more than 5,300 shows at 190 partner festivals in 44 countries. The platform says, “Between 2024 and 2027, the platform will focus on supporting emerging talent, education, enhancing live music sustainability, fostering diversity, and driving innovation”.
Björk has announced a new book documenting her five -year ‘Cornucopia’ tour. ‘Cornucopia: The Book’, set for release on 15 Nov, will feature over 300 images from photographer Santiago Felipe across 480 pages. Björk says, “Before this tour, I spent a decade working with 360-degree sound and visual software in virtual reality and animation, creating ‘Biophilia’, the first app album, and later ‘Vulnicura’ as a VR album”. The announcement follows recent hints about an accompanying climate-focused concert film for ‘Cornucopia’, filmed live in Lisbon, Portugal.
Hat & Beard Press has announced the publication of ‘S/he Iis Still Her/e: The Final Interview’, a book featuring transcripts of Genesis P-Orridge‘s final interviews before their death in 2020. The book, written by David Charles Rodrigues, comprises six interviews conducted over the preceding year and includes rare archival photos curated by P-Orridge’s daughter, Genesse P-Orridge. Coinciding with the book’s announcement, a new documentary about Genesis P-Orridge, also directed by Rodrigues, is set to screen at sixteen16 film festivals in October. The book and documentary focus on P-Orridge, a founding member of COUM Transmissions, Throbbing Gristle, and Psychic TV, who was influential in the global avant-garde music scene. No suitable quotes were found in the source material.
Slayer has launched a new digital museum called the Slaytanic Verses. The free online archive, announced on 9 Oct, chronicles the thrash metal band’s history from 1981 to the present day. The museum features personal archives, previously unseen photos, instruments, art, and collectibles, with Slayer stating, “The collection is always growing, so come back often. It gets you when you least expect it”. Currently, the Slaytanic Verses showcases nearly 30 entries, including a flyer for the band’s first gig in 1981 and new content from their 2019 farewell tour.
Rita Ora is set to host the MTV Europe Music Awards in Manchester next month. The singer, who previously presented the ceremony at Wembley Arena in 2017, is reportedly in advanced talks with MTV to reprise her role. A source tells The Sun newspaper’s Bizarre column, “Rita couldn’t be more excited. She is spinning a lot of plates at the moment but her first love will always be music, which is why when she was asked to present the ceremony, she jumped at the chance”. The awards are scheduled to take place on 10 Nov at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena.
