NEWS & PRESS
Youth Music warns that young people across the UK will lose access to grassroots music within ten years
Youth Music, the UK’s leading charity helping marginalised young people make and monetise music, has today announced its urgent £1 million ‘Rescue the Roots’ fundraising campaign to address the funding crisis threatening grassroots youth music projects across the country. The sector...more
Amazon Music, DistroKid Face Major Lawsuit for Unpaid Royalties, Shadowbanning
Marc Mysterio is an award-winning musician and multi-faceted celebrity who was tapped by IBA Boxing to compete for its vacant championship vs. Jake Paul and collaborated with a who's-who–according to Billboard–including: Flo Rida, Crash Test Dummies, David Guetta, Avicii, Samantha...more
Abbey Road launches the Abbey Road Music Photography Awards podcast - celebrating the photographers behind the lens
PRESENTED BY ACCLAIMED MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHERS CHARLOTTE PATMORE & KATY CUMMINGS THE FIRST EPISODE WITH RANKIN AND BETH DITTO IS OUT NOW - LISTEN HERE 2024 ABBEY ROAD MUSIC PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS WINNER TOM PALLANT ANNOUNCES DEBUT EXHIBITION BATTERY EXHAUSTED FROM 4-7 APRIL AT OUTERNET LONDON Abbey...more
Bauer Media Audio UK announces new Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio sub brands
Greatest Hits Radio 70s, Greatest Hits Radio 80s, Hits Radio 90s and Hits Radio 00s launch on 31st March on DAB+ The Hits Radio and Greatest Hits Radio brands are growing, as Bauer Media Audio UK announces the launch of four new...more
DawBell Founders Rich Dawes And Stu Bell Top The PRWeek Power Book (Entertainment Agency)
DawBell co-founders Rich Dawes and Stu Bell have been named the Number 1 entertainment PRs by PR industry bible PR Week. The Power Book, published annually by PRWeek, is an extensive list of the most influential and respected comms professionals...more
Green Man festival launches 2025 edition of the Green Man Rising Competition for grassroots UK artists
Inviting UK artists to submit for the chance to open the iconic Mountain Stage at sold out 2025 edition of Green Man, entries open now Green Man 2025 takes place 14th - 17th August Green Man, Wales’ largest music, arts and science...more
Louise Redknapp partners with Absolute Label Services
Iconic singer Louise Redknapp has partnered with Absolute Label Services for the release of her sixth studio album. Titled ‘Confessions’, the album will be released on May 23 on Louise’s own Lil Lou Records, with Absolute providing a range of services...more
Music Export Growth Scheme's latest £1.6 million round helps 58 acts across the UK reach new global audiences
Independent artists receiving support in 23rd round of funding include Nubiyan Twist, Wunderhorse, corto.alto, Far Caspian, Jadu Heart and Fat Dog MEGS has supported over 450 artists over 11 years, generating a return on investment of nearly £14 for every...more
The Flints sign to Nettwerk
The Flints share whirlwind new single 'The End is the End' Out now on Nettwerk Stream and share 'The End is the End' Manchester-based pysch-pop duo and multifaceted creative powerhouse twins, The Flints, share an addictive whirlwind new single, 'The End is the End' out...more
Lang Lang International Music Foundation To Expand She's A Star to Empower More Young Women in Music
On International Women's Day, the Lang Lang International Music Foundation (LLIMF) is proud to announce plans to expand She's A Star, its groundbreaking programme dedicated to empowering young women through the arts. Following a successful launch in October 2024 at Hornsey School...more
Lauren Laverne awarded the MPG Special Recognition Award
Nominees for the 2025 MPG Awards Revealed Today, the Music Producers Guild, in association with Dolby & Mix with Masters has announced Radio DJ and TV presenter, Lauren Laverne as 2025 winner of the gifted, MPG Special Recognition Award. This announcement...more
UMG's juggernaut strategy rages on - 8Ball Music acquired in the Netherlands and disproportionate streaming 2.0 push from Amazon
As we warned in our statement last week, UMG's juggernaut strategy of rapid acquisitions continues, with 8Ball Music, a Dutch independent label and IMPALA member, being the latest independent to be bought. Helen Smith, IMPALA's Executive Chair commented: "It's credit to Tony and Floris...more
Reservoir and Poparabia acquire catalog of Egyptian star Omar Kamal
Reservoir Media, Inc. (NASDAQ: RSVR), an award-winning independent music company, in conjunction with PopArabia, the leading music publisher and independent music company in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), today announced the acquisition of the catalog of Egyptian star...more
Frontiers Label Group's BLKIIBLK Records and Dave Mustaine's Tradecraft imprint announce partnership for global release of new Megadeth studio album
Grammy-winning, multiplatinum heavy metal band MEGADETH has announced an agreement for founder and frontman Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft imprint with the Frontiers Label Group’s new imprint, BLKIIBLK. In this new arrangement, BKLIIBLK—which is dedicated to pushing the boundaries of heavy music—will...more
YOUROPE wraps up successful 3F project
The European Festival Association’s Future-Fit Festivals (3F) project finished after three years. Besides advocating for the popular music festival sector and building capacities, YOUROPE used the EU funding to release useful guides and toolkits. Publications like the European Green Festival...more
Kobalt Signs Global Publishing Deal with UK Band South Arcade
Kobalt, the largest independent music publisher in the world, announced today they have signed South Arcade, a band that recently came onto the scene in a major way, driven by over 20 million streams across their debut EP (released in...more
Sony Music UK announce Beyond The Instrument 2025
City Academy, Hackney awarded grant for music equipment Sony Music UK has announced the latest edition of Beyond the Instrument, its youth initiative dedicated to promoting music and creativity in schools and encouraging career development in the music industry. In partnership with...more
BMG combines sync and production music to form new global Sync Services team
A first-of-its-kind full-service global music-to-picture powerhouse For the first time, BMG is uniting its Sync and Production Music teams under a single global Sync Services structure, offering a seamless, full-service experience across creative sync and production music. This one-stop shop offering...more
On International Women's Day, Impala's EDI Task Force and co-chair talks about her work five years on
As the IMPALA EDI task force marks its fifth anniversary, along with the launch of the EDI Charter, we sat down with Eva Karman Reinhold, co-chair of the EDI task force, for a conversation on International Women’s Day. With this year’s...more
Polygon Live LDN announces the final wave of artists
Polygon Live LDN announces the final wave of artists, including Acid Pauli, Âme DJ, ANONM, Kiasmos (UK exclusive), nimino and Red Axes Polygon Live LDN line-up (A-Z) Acid Pauli | ANONM | Âme DJ | Arooj Aftab | Cosmo Sheldrake | Gold Panda...more
Games Meets Music: Official London Games Festival Side Event Unites Video Games and Music Leaders
As part of this year’s London Games Festival, Games Meets Music brings together some of the biggest names from the video games and music industries for an afternoon of insight, collaboration, and future-gazing. Taking place on 10th April, this official London Games Festival side event is designed...more
The BRIT Awards 2025 with Mastercard highlights biggest-ever uplift across its social channels
66.7 million total views across all BRITs channels - and a 45% increase from 2024 Red Carpet livestream views increase by 50% to 2.1 million Instagram views double on show day to 32.4 million 1.65 million total votes cast across WhatsApp fan-vote for BRIT Awards...more
Concord Music Publishing ANZ sign global publishing deal with Glass Beams
Concord Music Publishing ANZ have announced a worldwide publishing deal with enigmatic Melbourne artist Glass Beams. Led by founder Rajan Silva, the mysterious masked live act draws inspiration from their Indian and South Asian heritage, blending hypnotic, cyclical melodies with psychedelic soundscapes. Their...more
Amplify Her announces 2025 showcase tour championing women in music
FEATURING TEN FEMALE ARTISTS OVER THREE EVENTS Thursday 13 March - The Water Rats, London Thursday 17 April - Hope and Anchor, Brighton Wednesday 21 May - The Louisiana, Bristol Amplify Her, a UK-based organisation dedicated to supporting women in the music industry through...more
Unchained Music chooses Sei and Dynamic for on-chain payouts
Music services company uses Web3 tech to offer 100% free DSP distribution. Latest move will mean faster payouts, greater transparency and reduced streaming fraud. Pioneering distribution and services company Unchained Music has chosen blockchain network Sei and wallet-based authentication and identity solutions...more
What Voyage is to Abba… Live Odyssey is to six decades of British Music
Live Odyssey, London’s newest music experience taking fans on a journey through British Music History, opens its doors for the first time this May. This is an immersive and interactive ground-breaking tribute to the sounds that shaped Britain set in...more
Key Production Group, launches new product development group, Key Intel and expands into the Irish market
The product development group, Key Intel, will research new, innovative formats and turn creative ideas into market-ready products Key Production Group is the first music manufacturing broker to have its own, in-house development team - presenting new commercial opportunities to bring...more
Amazon Music Returns to Manchester for City Sessions with Mumford & Sons
Live from Aviva Studios, the landmark home of Factory International, in Manchester from 9pm on Wednesday 2nd April Tune in to watch live on the Amazon Music UK channel on Twitch and Prime Video HERE Amazon Music announces the latest City Sessions livestream...more
Revel Music Summit sees young creatives taking the lead
Friday 21stMarch, 12.30-10pmContact Theatre, Manchester Tickets on sale now Revel, a dynamic collective of young creatives, are breaking new ground with a one-of-a-kind music event on Friday 21st March at Contact Theatre in Manchester. Unlike conventional industry events, the Revel Music Summit has...more
LIVE Announce 'Statement of Commitment' to Eradicating Misogyny in the Live Music Industry
Challenges Government to Action Women & Equalities Committee Recommendations LIVE (Live music Industry Venues & Entertainment), has underlined its commitment to eradicating misogyny in the live music Industry, with a four point strategic plan backed by all 15 member organisations. This plan...more
THE HEADLINES
Pop stars used to rail against injustice – now they’re too afraid of getting cancelled (see Features)
A global phenomenon: The creative community’s viral outrage against AI theft (see Features)
Sony Music: AI copyright plans are “rushed, unbalanced and irreversible” (see News)
How much will the Grassroots Levy raise? And what should we do with it? (see Comment)
Spotify’s algorithms have pushed artists to make joyless, toothless music (see Opinion)
Musicians have one of the highest suicide rates in the world (see News)
Is old music eating new music? (see Analysis)
Mood Machine by Liz Pelly "a savage indictment of Spotify" (see Books)
Mining fandom: Music’s Drive to Survive moment (see Comment)