Christmas break news 2024 05 Jan 2025
5/1/25 - Key news, features and more have been moved to the daily email, dated 6 January.
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BUSINESS
Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management is closing out an investment fund that held a stake in Universal Music Group and is distributing 47m shares of the music company to the fund’s co-investors. (MBW)
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NEWS
Drake claims Spotify helped UMG boost Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us', but Spotify now says the action is a "subversion" of the legal system and never should have been filed. (Billboard, MusicAlly)
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DIGITAL
Why Tidal is focusing on building new DJ tools and content in 2025. (MusicTech)
Is Amazon Music joining Spotify in implementing a 1,000-stream royalties minimum? (DMN)
So long, Kingship — Bored Ape ‘supergroup’ deletes social handles, YouTube channel, and website as NFT fallout continues. (DMN)
Spotify shuts down ‘Unwrapped’ artist royalty calculator with legal threats. (DMN)
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MEDIA
Zoe Ball thanks Radio 2 listeners for ‘special intimate relationship’ and signs off with message of female empowerment. (Guardian) Richie Anderson has also confirmed he will be leaving, as he moves to afternoons on Radio 2. (Sun)
Johnnie Walker was like a big brother to me. (Telegraph - Paul Gambaccini)
Radio 2 listeners vote 'Suspicious Minds' as their favourite Elvis song. (BBC)
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FEATURES
The Top 50 albums of 2024 (Sun) David Gilmour's 'Luck and Strange' tops the list.
Secrets of the best Christmas hits — by the stars who wrote them. (Times - Blanca Schofield)
Mud’s Rob Davis on Keir Starmer, Kylie and the legacy of Lonely This Christmas. (Telegraph - James Hall)
How Spotify and Apple killed the Christmas Number One. (Telegraph - James Hall)
Phil Collins’s physical decline has never been a secret. But a new documentary on his struggles makes for sobering viewing. (Telegraph - Neil McCormick)
How the Oasis reunion tour is fuelling a comeback for the Britpop look. (Observer - Lauren Cochrane)
From Beyoncé awards snub to Brat summer: This year's biggest cultural moments. (BBC)
Singer Alex Kapranos: 'Fatherhood's like the early days of Franz Ferdinand'. (BBC - Jonathan Geddes)
Will Slowthai be 'cancelled for the rest of time'? (BBC - Ethan Gudge)
TikTok is awash with would-be rock stars paying homage to the Beatles in their viral videos. (Times)
The Worst Songs of 2024. (Variety)
New music for 2025 (Guardian)
Inside the making of Bob Dylan film A Complete Unknown. (Guardian - Alexis Petridis)
My family call it Old Lady Clubbing, but my giddy ‘nights out’ have lit up a dismal 2024. (Guardian - Gaby Hinsliff)
The precipitous decline of UK nightclubs. (Guardian - Rob Davies)
Es Devlin: I didn’t fall out with Adele over her Las Vegas show. (Times - Richard Morrison)
The title of Charli XCX’s hit album heralded the return of recession pop and a new vibe for Gen Z (FT - Srinidhi Balakrishnan)
In the same way that the Boss became the poet of the working man, Taylor Swift’s secret is her ability to read the mind of the modern woman. (Telegraph - Neil McCormick)
How Co-op Live bounced back from chaotic launch. (Guardian - Hannah Al-Othman)
How Jay-Z’s bombshell rape case has cast a shadow over Beyonce’s bid to make lookalike daughter Blue Ivy a superstar. (Sun)
Better Man: How the film turned Robbie Williams into a chimp. (SundayTimes - Emily Prescott)
What music stars were really listening to in 2024. (Guardian - Michael Cragg)
Clubbing has changed dramatically in the past 25 years: is the party over, or just getting started? (Guardian - Joe Muggs)
‘We’ve been through the wringer’: Doves on addiction, breakdowns – and touring without singer Jimi Goodwin. (Guardian - Dave Simpson)
If popular culture is anything to go by, 2024 is the year we simply gave up. (Guardian - Kirsty Major)
Obituary: Alfa Anderson - singer best known for Chic’s Le Freak (Times)
Music to listen out for in 2025. (Guardian - Alexis Petridis)
Scissor Sisters on their reunion, rightwing reactionaries – and riotous origins. (Guardian - Kate Solomon)
Ranked: Petula Clark’s 20 best songs (Guardian - Alexis Petridis)
My shooting music stars of 2025 - and they're all Brits. (Mail - Adrian Thrills)
Back with a new solo album, Gary Kemp reveals why he wants to ‘die without enemies’. (Times - Michael Odell)
Is The True Adventures of the Rolling Stones the greatest rock chronicle? (Times - Adrian Sibley)
Franz Ferdinand discuss their rapid rise to fame in the early Noughties, reconciliation and writing about existential fears in their latest album. (Times - Will Hodgkinson)
How Bob Dylan is capturing gen Z. (Observer - Matt Thorne)
A Life in The Day: Bonnie Tyler (SundayTimes)
Debbie Harry opens up about fame, fashion — and dating at 79. (SundayTimes - Julia Llewellyn Smith)
Myles Smith talks about his musical hero Ed Sheeran, being on the president’s playlist and his Luton roots. (SundayTimes - Blanca Schofield)
Bob Harris says Johnnie Walker's warmth and adventurous spirit set the bar for broadcasting. (SundayTimes)
Will Timothée Chalamet’s biopic A Complete Unknown win over Bob Dylan’s diehard fans? (SundayTimes - Jonathan Dean)
Q&A: Julian Lennon (Observer)
My holidays: Rachel Stevens (SundayTimes)
Life of a Song: I Will Survive (FT - Neil Armstrong)
Laufey speaks about learning to love her distinct voice, her pivot to Christmas music – and her chance encounter with Hollywood star Bill Murray. (Independent - Ellie Muir)
Jade on Little Mix, going solo, and her candid new single ‘IT Girl’. (Independent - Annabel Nugent)
What Oasis can learn from the Stone Roses reunion. (Independent - Ed Power)
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SHOWBIZ & NEWS
Stormzy has been given a nine month driving ban for using his mobile phone while driving. (Guardian)
The Robbie Williams song 'Forbidden Road' from Better Man, shortlisted for best original song at the Oscars, has been disqualified, as it “incorporates material from an existing song that was not written for the film”. (Variety)
Court hears Digga D supplied cannabis to entourage. (BBC)
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra hopes to attract new audiences with the likes of Lady Leshurr and Big Dog Yogo — after relaxing its rules on the filming of performances on phones. (Times)
R&B singer and songwriter Muni Long claimed that a high-ranking executive at Atlantic Records requested she write soul music for non-Black artists, an offer she immediately declined. (Vibe)
Live Aid campaigner Bob Geldof was ‘scathing about African leaders’, files reveal. (Guardian)
Speech Debelle has been ordered to compensate Arts Council England after an employment tribunal dismissed her claims of racial discrimination and harassment. (Times)
A dark web dealer who stole unreleased music and sold it has been given a suspended 21-month jail sentence. (Guardian) She had illegally accessed cloud storage accounts linked to the artists.
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REVIEWS
Albums
Moonchild Sanelly (FT - 3* Ludovic Hunter-Tilney)
Ethel Cain (Guardian - 3* Alexis Petridis)
Film
Better Man — Robbie Williams (Times - 1* Kevin Mahar, Telegraph - 4* Robbie Collin, FT - 4* Danny Leigh, Mail - 4* Brian Viner, Guardian - 3* Peter Bradshaw, Observer - Wendy Ide)
Becoming Madonna (Guardian - 3* Peter Bradshaw)
Live
Paul McCartney - O2 arena, London (Observer - 4* Kitty Empire)
Beyonce - NFL Christmas Gameday (Guardian - 4* Ben Beaumont-Thomas, Telegraph - 4* Ed Power)
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INTERNATIONAL
Plans for concerts at Real Madrid’s stadium are on hold following ‘noisy neighbour’ complaints. (FT)
NEWS & PRESS
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
ERA recognises entertainment's future leaders
New programme to celebrate emerging executive talent First cohort includes representatives of Amazon, Google, Resident, Sky Store and Songtradr Digital entertainment and retail association ERA has created a new Future Leaders Programme to celebrate new executive talent in digital entertainment companies and retailers. The objective...more
ERA publishes 25th annual Yearbook
Latest edition provides definitive statistical guide to the performance of the music, video and games sectors in 2024 Entertainment market is nearly three times larger than in ERA's first yearbook in 2000 Digital entertainment and retail association ERA today publishes its 25th anniversary edition...more
WAR CHILD PRESENTS SECRET 7"
RETURNS WITH A STELLAR LINEUP OF ARTISTS AND DESIGNERS FOR 2025THE ICONIC CHARITY RECORD SALE IS BACK700 UNIQUE RECORD SLEEVES TO BE EXHIBITED AND AUCTIONED FOR WAR CHILDSLEEVES DESIGNED BY:ANTONY GORMLEY OBE RAYINKA ILORI MBESIR PAUL SMITHROBERT SMITHRANA BEGUMHAROON MIRZAKEN...more
Moises Live: Real-Time Audio Control for All Your Apps
Imagine having full control over everything you hear on-screen. Moises, the award-winning app with 50+ million users, has reinvented the audiovisual experience with Moises Live—the ultimate master volume. Using AI Smart Volume to adjust individual audio elements from any audio...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
Frontiers Music sign guitarist and songwriter Don Felder
Frontiers Music Srl proudly announces the signing of renowned guitarist and songwriter Don Felder, best known for his role with the Eagles. This partnership marks the start of an exciting new chapter, with plans to release Felder's highly anticipated solo...more
THE HEADLINES
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)
Social came for music streaming’s lunch – now is the time for streaming to bite back (see Comment)
The desperate need for optimism and action in the music industry (see Comment)
BRIT Awards viewed as a great success (see Comment, News)
Impala warns on Universal Music's stranglehold on the music market (see News)
Lucian Grainge: AI can’t match the human creativity needed for music (see Comment)
BBC Music Radio: playback data, artist development and the charter (see Analysis)
Prioritise artists over tech in AI copyright debate, MPs say (see News)