| TOP STORIES | BMI announces shift to for-profit business model READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LEGAL | Ticketmaster's allegedly biased arbitrator criticised over moves to limit discovery READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| LABELS & PUBLISHERS | Warner's Julie Greenwald to head up new division connecting Atlantic and 300 Elektra labels READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| DIGITAL & D2F SERVICES | Wall Street Journal says TikTok music service talks on going but strained READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| RELEASES | Stormzy announces new album Mimi Webb announces debut album, tour dates READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| ONE LINERS | Una Healy, Muddy Waters, See Tickets, more READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
| AND FINALLY... | Mercury Prize announces details of rescheduled ceremony READ IN THIS EMAIL | READ ON THE WEBSITE |
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PSYCHOTIC REACTION - A&R MANAGER (LONDON/REMOTE) We are looking for a creative A&R Manager whose primary responsibilities will be to find and organise creative opportunities for our existing artists, alongside our colleagues at Warp, bring in new artists, producers and writers, developing our roster and our catalogue, and find opportunities to exploit and grow awareness and commercial potential of our writers and catalogue. For more information and to apply click here. |
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GOODLIFE MANAGEMENT - ARTIST MANAGEMENT ASSISTANT (LONDON) We are looking for an individual who is passionate about the music industry and our roster, who has outstanding organisational skills and a can-do attitude. The job on offer is incredibly busy and varied and so it is essential that you are dedicated, able to multitask, prioritise and think on your feet. For more information and to apply click here. |
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TICKETLINE - BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (MANCHESTER/HYBRID) Ticketline are looking for an experienced and passionate Business Development Manager to join our team. We are looking for someone who is dynamic, tenacious, hardworking and determined with solid negotiation skills to develop, manage and contribute to the business development strategy to support our growth plans. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING - CHARTER MANAGER (LONDON) We are looking for a dynamic, well organised and enthusiastic individual to drive the development and implementation of our ground-breaking Live Events Access Charter. For more information and to apply click here. |
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AEG PRESENTS - DIGITAL MARKETING EXECUTIVE (LONDON) Our AEG Presents marketing team are looking for a Digital Marketing Executive, to make sure our venues maintain a strong fan-first digital presence. Your digital expertise will be instrumental in ensuring our content is deployed on time and complies with core brand guidelines. For more information and to apply click here. |
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WIENERWORLD - SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING ASSISTANT (LONDON) We are looking for a Social Media and Marketing Assistant who will be responsible for increasing our artist, press, PR and social media presence, implementing and running digital and traditional marketing campaigns, as well as assisting in various administrative office duties. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ISLINGTON ASSEMBLY HALL - ASSISTANT VENUE MANAGER, MARKETING (LONDON) Islington Assembly Hall is looking for an Assistant Venue Manager who has experience of ticketing and/or marketing to join our team. A passion for coordinating and working events, problem-solving and a good eye for detail is essential for the role. For more information and to apply click here. |
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BLANKS FACTORY - E-COMMERCE MANAGER (LONDON/HYBRID) We are currently looking for an E-commerce Manager to oversee, develop and manage our own in-house brand as well as clients stores and accounts. This position is ideal for a self-motivated, hard-working individual who is willing to take the initiative and be involved in different aspects of the company. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DOMINO - JUNIOR DIGITAL MARKETING MANAGER (LONDON) Domino Recording Company is seeking a full-time Junior Digital Marketing Manager to be based in our London office, joining the label’s Marketing team. We are seeking an individual to be one of the central conduits for digital marketing and advertising initiatives for our artist’s campaigns. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DOMINO - PRODUCTION & DIGITAL OPERATIONS COORDINATOR (LONDON) Domino is recruiting for a Production & Digital Operations Co-ordinator to join the team in our London office. Responsibilities include booking new release mastering, ordering vinyl test pressings, and loading mastered music into the Domino release manager system. For more information and to apply click here. |
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ASSOCIATION OF INDEPENDENT FESTIVALS - CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (UK) We are looking for a new Chief Executive Officer to lead the Association, providing overall strategy and direction. The CEO represents the collective interests of AIF members to government, media outlets and the wider live music industry in addition to leading on all public facing AIF campaigns. For more information and to apply click here. |
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DOMINO - WAREHOUSE & D2C COORDINATOR (LONDON) Domino is recruiting for a Warehouse & D2C Coordinator. Responsibilities include packing and shipping orders to distributors and mail order customers, processing incoming deliveries of stock, and maintaining the physical conditions of the warehouse. For more information and to apply click here. |
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INVOLVED PUBLISHING - SYNC & LICENSING MANAGER (LONDON) Involved Publishing is looking for a Sync & Licensing Manager working out of our London or LA office. You'll be working with the Involved Group catalogue - comprising some of the most cutting edge producers, writers and artists from around the world including Above & Beyond, Dusky, Lane 8, Seven Lions and others - to procure placement opportunities across film, TV, games and advertising. For more information and to apply click here. |
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| THE MUSIC INDUSTRY | MUSIC COPYRIGHT |
| THE RECORD INDUSTRY | THE MUSIC PUBLISHING SECTOR |
| THE STREAMING BUSINESS | THE LIVE MUSIC SECTOR |
| THE DIRECT-TO-FAN BUSINESS | MUSIC MARKETING |
BMI announces shift to for-profit business model
US song rights collecting society BMI has announced plans to shift from operating on a not-for-profit business model to a for-profit business model. Why? Because doing so will "open up new and important opportunities for us to invest in our business and ensure we can continue to deliver on our mission to support our affiliates and grow the value of their music". Or that's what CEO Mike O'Neill reckons.
Most of the music industry's collecting societies around the world are not-for-profit organisations owned by their members, which are usually some combination of artists, songwriters, record labels and/or music publishers. BMI, somewhat unusually, is actually owned by a group of broadcasters, it being established by the US radio sector in the 1930s as a rival to the existing US society ASCAP. But it's still a not-for-profit set-up.
However, there are some societies that are for-profit enterprises, including BMI and ASCAP's smaller competitors in the US, ie SESAC and GMR. BMI has been reviewing how it operates for a while now, for a time as part of an investigation into whether or not there were any investors out there which might be interested in buying the organisation from its current owners.
In the end, plans for a sale were called off, but that process likely informed the new for-profit strategy. "After a comprehensive and careful assessment on how best to position BMI for the future, we will be changing our business model, moving from operating on a not-for-profit making basis to for-profit", O'Neill wrote yesterday in a memo to the society's members - or 'affiliates' if you prefer.
"This will open up new and important opportunities for us to invest in our business and ensure we can continue to deliver on our mission to support our affiliates and grow the value of their music", he added. "And, most importantly, our goal is to continue to grow our distributions at an even greater rate than we have before".
He then explained: "As you all know, we began a strategic review earlier this year to evaluate opportunities to grow our company and make the most of our evolving industry for our affiliates. The one thing we continually heard throughout that process reinforced what we have been thinking for some time: the need for us to invest in BMI and operate in a more commercial and forward-thinking way".
"Growth requires investment", he went on. "And in this new model, we can now structure, fund and operate new strategic opportunities, adopt new technologies and enhance and expand our services and products in a way that under our old model would have come at the expense of distributions".
"I know this is a big change for us", he then mused. "There is no question that the old model served BMI well. But it also held us back and limited our ability to invest in the future in a meaningful way. Our move to for-profit gives us more financial flexibility and makes us nimbler to do what we need to do".
In terms of the kinds of projects that the new approach - and any new investment it allows BMI to secure - might enable, O'Neill's memo talked about innovations and possible acquisitions that might provide better royalty tracking, or allow members to draw down advances on future royalties, or which would provide other useful business services to songwriters.
"In short", he said, "this new model will enable us to approach our business in ways we were never able to do before to stay ahead of the industry and the needs of our affiliates. It unleashes so many more options".
According to Billboard, any new investment secured via the new approach would come from external parties, not the society's current broadcaster owners. Though those current owners won't share in any future profits via dividend, or at least not in the short term, though they would profit from any future sale.
Meanwhile, when asked by Variety to what extent the now abandoned plans to sell the society had influenced this shift, O'Neill said: "Initially, we hired Goldman Sachs to help us view strategic opportunities, and there were discussions about how do we change the model".
"But", he went on, "we had already been looking at that, and at the end of the day, the board and BMI decided that it was in our best interest to control how we do this, and how we grow and how we can ultimately benefit our affiliates".
Ticketmaster's allegedly biased arbitrator criticised over moves to limit discovery
The use of arbitration services by Live Nation's Ticketmaster whenever a customer raises a significant issue with the ticketing giant is in the spotlight again, with one group of aggrieved ticket-buyers saying that the new arbitrator used by the ticketing firm should be forced to hand over more documentation so that accusations of bias can be properly assessed.
A number of lawsuits filed against Ticketmaster by customers have ended up being forced into an arbitration process outside of court and behind closed doors, because when people buy tickets from the ticketing site the terms and conditions say that that is how grievances should be dealt with.
Attempts to circumvent arbitration by arguing that this commitment is hidden away from customers in hard to find terms have generally been unsuccessful. However, in one more recent dispute plaintiffs have tried to argue against arbitration by raising issues with Ticketmaster's chosen arbitrator.
The ticketing firm used to use a company called JAMS for arbitration, but then switched over to a newer player in the arbitration space called New Era ADR. Ticketmaster argues that New Era ADR are better set up to deal with complaints where there are lots of concurrent complainants, as is common in the ticketing market.
However, the aggrieved ticket-buyers argue that New Era ADR is more biased in favour of Ticketmaster than JAMS, and that therefore their complaints won't get a fair hearing.
With that in mind, the ticket-buyers have been seeking access to various documents from New Era ADR that provide more information about the specific arbitration processes it employs, and its connections with Ticketmaster.
For its part, New Era ADR has been trying to cut back a subpoena from the court that orders it to share such documents with the ticket-buyers. And said ticket-buyers formally objected to those moves in a court filing this week.
According to Law360, they said: "Defendants switched from JAMS, an established arbitration provider, to New Era, a two-year-old start-up that touts its ties to defendants and has little experience administering arbitrations. New Era now seeks to flaunt the court's order by producing only cherry-picked materials that it selected through a black-box search process".
In case you wondered, the actual complaint from the ticket-buyers here relates to those allegations that Live Nation and Ticketmaster - as dominant players in both tour promotions and ticketing - act in an anticompetitive way. But this lengthy detour around arbitration obligations and systems is proving quite the distraction from all that.
Warner's Julie Greenwald to head up new division connecting Atlantic and 300 Elektra labels
Warner Music has announced another little structural rejig in the US, with Julie Greenwald becoming CEO of an all-new Atlantic Music Group that will encompass the major's Atlantic Records US label and its imprints, plus the recently established 300 Elektra Entertainment division.
So, for fans of major label brand names, that means Greenwald's empire now includes Atlantic, ATCO, Big Beat, Canvasback, 300, Elektra, Fueled By Ramen, Roadrunner, Low Country Sound, DTA and Public Consumption. Imagine all those logos on a big screen - fun times!
She will also continue to jointly lead the Atlantic Records side of that new super division in partnership with Craig Kallman. The 300 Elektra Entertainment side is headed up by 300 co-founder Kevin Liles.
"I love nurturing the next generation", Greenwald confirms, "contributing to culture, and building vibrant communities for our artists. We have the most fantastic talent at Atlantic, 300, and Elektra, from superstars to baby bands, from expert execs to young people just starting out in the business. I want them all to feel that this is the best place to do bold, brave, creative work, and build real careers".
"I'm so proud to be in it with them, shoulder to shoulder, every day", she adds. "I'd like to thank Craig and Kevin for being my partners, Max and Steve for their leadership, and our allies across the industry who help us bring great music to the world".
The Steve of whom Greenwald speaks is, of course, Mr Cooper, the CEO of the entire Warner Music company (for now), while the Max that she mentions is good old Mr Lousada, who oversees all of the major's recorded music operations.
"Julie's a force of nature", says Lousada, "a fearless champion of original talent, a mentor to countless artists and executives, and the visionary behind game-changing moves, such as Atlantic's early embrace of streaming and the spin-off of the Elektra Music Group".
"She's made artist development an artform in its own right", he waffles on, "by combining passion and intelligence, gut sense and strategic thinking, the big picture and the smallest detail. This new role only hints at the full scope of her influence and impact across our industry, but it's still much deserved recognition of her dynamic leadership at our company".
Wall Street Journal says TikTok music service talks on going but strained
The Wall Street Journal has reported that - while talks are ongoing between TikTok parent company Bytedance and the music majors about the former expanding its subscription streaming operations - significant hurdles remain to be crossed before any deal can be agreed.
It's been known for a while that Bytedance wants to expand its music streaming service Resso - currently available in India, Indonesia and Brazil - into many more markets, and to more closely connect Resso and TikTok.
So, you know, when a track goes viral on TikTok and everyone starts streaming it, that streaming happens within the Bytedance ecosystem rather than everyone jumping over to Spotify or Apple Music, or worse still YouTube.
However, Bytedance is negotiating with the majors about the Resso expansion just as the music companies are starting to think they should be earning much more from their licensing deals with the main TikTok platform, given just how big TikTok has become and the key role music arguably plays in many of the videos uploaded to the service.
So while Bytedance likely sees the marketing power of TikTok as a way to get a better deal around the global growth of Resso, the labels and publishers see Bytedance's Resso ambitions as a way to get a better deal from TikTok. Which is presumably making for some fun deal negotiations. And that's before you even consider Sony Music's recent issues with Resso as it is currently operating.
Citing various sources, the WSJ reported yesterday that: "TikTok parent ByteDance Ltd has begun talks with music labels about expanding its music-streaming service globally to compete with industry leaders including Spotify Technology SA". However, "significant hurdles remain in the negotiations", and "talks have been strained at times over disagreements about how to value TikTok's promotional benefits for the labels".
Spotify doom-sayers reckon that a big move by TikTok into the subscription streaming space globally could pose a significant challenge for the current market leader in premium music streaming, with Yahoo Finance reporting yesterday that "Spotify stock erased gains on Wednesday after a new report from the Wall Street Journal revealed that TikTok parent company ByteDance has begun talks with music labels to expand its music streaming service".
Spotify's share price has been below the $100 mark for nearly a month now and continues to wobble, but there are various reasons for that. And while a big push into music streaming by TikTok would definitely be a challenge for the Spotify business, it's never assured that a digital platform that dominates in one kind of content consumption can achieve similar success in another kind.
I guess we'll see how Bytedance performs in the wider subscription streaming domain if and when these major label deal talks reach some sort of conclusion.
| Approved: Isla Craig Isla Craig is set to release her latest album, 'Echo's Reach', next month, and has just released its second single 'Moon'. The new track is grounded by a circling bassline that runs throughout, and which sucks you into the song like a whirlpool, while other instruments bob to the surface and duck below the waterline again. Of the track, Craig says: "The new single is my humble offering into the canon of 'Moon' songs across the ages. A song that is more a vibe and a vibe that asks us to suspend the harsh frequencies of earthbound folly for a moment of reflection and feeling. Keeping it psyche and casting a spell, the lessons of the moon of which I live to tell!" "The album is a collection of songs that express an earnest desire for meditative paces and spaces, absorbing and reflecting the sacred grounds beneath concrete city life", she goes on. "'Echo's Reach' describes a desire to illuminate and walk in the transmissions and meditations of life between the fallow and the seed". 'Echo's Reach' is out on 4 Nov. Listen to 'Moon' here.Stay up to date with all of the artists featured in the CMU Approved column by subscribing to our Spotify playlist. |
Stormzy announces new album
Stormzy has announced that he will release his third album, 'This Is What I Mean', next bloody month. It's happening, guys.
Like many a musician before him, to make the album the rapper retreated to the remote Osea Island in Essex, where he camped out with a variety of yet to be revealed musicians and producers and took in the 'Wicker Man' vibes.
"When you hear about music camps they always sound intense and sombre", he says. "People saying: 'We need to make an album', [or] 'We need to make some hit records'. But this felt beautifully free. We're all musicians but we weren't always doing music. Some days we played football or walked around taking pictures".
"The bi-product to that was very beautiful music", he goes on. "Because when you marry that ethos with world class musicians and the best producers, writers and artists in the world, and we're in one space, that's a recipe for something that no one can really imagine. You can't even calculate what that's going to come up with. And it came up with a big chunk of this album".
Everything is currently pointing to Stormzy having made a folk album. It's probably safe to say he hasn't. But if he has, that's fine. The last track is called 'Give It To The Water', which does sound quite folky.
Anyway, there's nothing for you to listen to at the moment, but I'm sure there will be in due course. 'This Is What I Mean' will be out on 25 Nov.
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Mimi Webb announces debut album, tour dates
Mimi Webb has announced that she will release her debut album, 'Amelia', next spring. She will also be touring the UK and Ireland in support of the record.
"Announcing my first ever album is such an important moment in my career that honestly, sometimes I wasn't even sure would happen", she says. "But after three years of hard work, I just can't wait to share this body of work with all of you who have helped me get to where I am today".
"The album is named 'Amelia', my full first name, as there are two sides of me that I want people to get to know", she goes on. "There's Amelia, the girl from the UK countryside who loves to be at home with her family, friends and dogs; and Mimi, the pop artist who loves to be up on stage traveling the world. It was important for me to capture this duality with songs written for both of those girls, and I'm excited for you all to get to know them!"
The album is set for release on 3 Mar. UK and Ireland shows will follow in April, with tickets for those going on sale on 20 Oct.
Here are the dates:
1 Apr: Norwich, UEA
3 Apr: Newcastle, City Hall
4 Apr: Glashow, Academy
6 Apr: Belfast, Ulster Hall
7 Apr: Dublin, Olympia Theatre
10 Apr: Liverpool, Guild Of Students
11 Apr: Manchester, Victoria Warehouse
14 Apr: Sheffield, Academy
15 Apr: Leeds, Academy
17 Apr: Nottingham, Rock City
18 Apr: Birmingham, Academy
20 Apr: Bristol, Academy
21 Apr: Plymouth, Pavilions
22 Apr: Bournemouth, Academy
24 Apr: London, Brixton Academy
DEALS
Sony Music Publishing has announced a new worldwide deal with the estate of Muddy Waters to administer the full catalogue of the late blues musician. "Muddy Waters was without a doubt one of the most impactful songwriters in modern music", says SMP CEO Jon Platt. "His vibrant, expressive sound is embodied in music today and continues to inspire generations. We look forward to working with the Muddy Waters estate to build upon its enduring songwriting legacy".
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APPOINTMENTS
See Tickets Group has promoted Boris Patronoff to COO. He will remain CEO of the company's North American business. Meanwhile, Marijke Van den Bosch has been upped to CEO of Benelux and Germany, and Adriana García-Abril Ruiz becomes MD of Iberia. The company also has a new hire, in the form of Laurent de Cerner, as CEO for France.
Warner Chappell Music Nordics has promoted Petter Walther Walthinsen to Head Of A&R. "I couldn't be prouder to take on this wider role as Head Of A&R for the Nordics", he says. "Our region has such a rich and diverse pool of amazing songwriters who can make a real impact on the global stage, and I hope in this new position I can help propel the next stars to international success".
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RELEASES
Una Healy has released new single 'This Is Your Life'. "I originally started writing 'This Is Your Life' nearly 25 years ago when I was a teenager, when I was just beginning my career as a singer-songwriter", she says. "I went back to it many times over the years, but was never able to finish it until recently. I realise now that I never had the life experience or perspective to get to the heart of the song until now".
Avawaves have released 'Surf High', taken from their soundtrack to upcoming documentary 'Savage Waters'. The full album is out on 11 Nov.
Rozi Plain has released new single 'Prove Your Good', taken from her fifth album 'Prize', which is out on 13 Jan. "'Prove Your Good' is thinking about the often silent fight within us", she says. "Trying to come good, trying to not be bad. Feeling judged and judging ourselves. The small re-writing we can do of bits of our own history. The painful shift of changing favourites. Rearranging the leader board. Knowing things must be simpler but going after the tricky stuff anyway". She and her band will also be touring the UK from January through to March.
Joan have released their first single of 2022, 'Don't Wanna Be Your Friend'.
Maja Lena has released new single 'Clear As The Water'. "I was feeling very inspired by mountain-scapes when I wrote it, and the feelings of clarity and fresh perspective I often have when immersed in nature, especially in a vast and dramatic landscape where you can feel very small and insignificant yet very free", she says. "I wanted the music to have a feeling of euphoria to mirror this and also be fun and uplifting". Her new album, 'Pluto', is out on 2 Dec.
Mellow Rackz has released new single 'Rich Bitch Party'.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily - updated every Friday.
Mercury Prize announces details of rescheduled ceremony
The Mercury Prize has announced details of its rescheduled 2022 ceremony, which is set to take place next week - the original show having been pulled at the very last minute due to the death of the Queen last month.
Eleven of this year's nominated artists - Fergus McCreadie, Gwenno, Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler, Joy Crookes, Kojey Radical, Little Simz, Nova Twins, Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Wet Leg and Yard Act - will perform live.
Harry Styles will be the only absence, because he just can't be bothered. Also, he's on tour in the US. I suppose thats a fairly good excuse. A video of him doing a turn will be played instead. Though, if you're thinking that we're missing out on a Harry Styles live set because of the postponement, he wasn't available for the original date either.
So, actually, the line-up for the rescheduled show - with the other eleven shortlisted acts all playing - is the exact same line-up from the event that was cancelled last month.
Also the same: Lauren Laverne remains on board as host; it all still takes place at the Hammersmith Apollo in London; and the whole thing will still be broadcast by BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music, with additional programming in the lead up to the big show. It's basically like nothing ever happened and the Mercury Prize 2022 just time travelled a few weeks.
So, everything's sorted and it's looking good for this all to go ahead as planned on 18 Oct. Just as long as no more monarchs die. Or the venue goes out of business because it can't pay its energy bill. Or the government collapses and the entire country descends into anarchy. Oh, or that pending nuclear apocalypse happens. But let's all keep it pencilled in anyway, for now.
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