Also Lost In the Universal Fire: A Master Recording of One of Martin Luther King’s Last Speeches from 1968

The speech, titled ‘Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,’ was delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. just days before his assassination in 1968. An important speech delivered by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., just days before his assassination i…

The Week’s Top U.S. Festivals & Tours, Presented by SeatGeek

The most popular concert tickets, tour stops, and artists around the country, through Wednesday, June 26th. Welcome back to our weekly report on the world of live music, based on exclusive data from SeatGeek, a ticketing platform that enables fans to b…

Vivendi’s Sale of UMG Enters ‘Indefinite Pause’ as Fire Crisis Worsens

Vivendi’s planned sale of a portion of Universal Music Group may be delayed substantially into 2020, according to sources to Digital Music News. Last week, Vivendi SA suspended its planned sale of Universal Music Group for six months, for unspecified r…

Another Major Spotify Executive Is Jumping Ship — Global Head of Ad Sales Brian Benedik

Spotify’s VP Global Head of Ad Sales — Brian Benedik — will be departing the company later this fall. At present, Spotify doesn’t have a clear replacement but is actively seeking to fill the role.  News of the departure leaked earlier this week, and is…

Guggenheim Partners Is Extremely Bullish on Spotify’s Podcast Expansion, Citing App Install Increases

While Spotify struggles to become a profitable company, a number of Wall Street analysts see podcasts as a safe bet. Spotify’s most recent financial results emphasized just how much of a focus podcasts will have in the company’s future. Spotify plans t…

Amoeba Music Will Get Torn Down to Make Way for 26-Story Complex; New Location Still Unknown

Four years ago, and through a holding company, GPI Companies purchased Amoeba Music for $34 million. The legendary Los Angeles record store currently sits on Sunset Blvd.  Years after the purchase, however, Amoeba’s owners – Marc Weinstein and Dave Pri…

UMG Kept a Secret List of Masters Destroyed In the Fire — The New York Times Just Published It

Previously, Universal Music Group had refused to disclose any list detailing its losses in the 2008 Universal Studios fire. Now, the New York Times is releasing it for them. Late Tuesday, Times investigatory reporter Jody Rosen released a list of more …

OneRPM Files Bitter Lawsuit Against Rival CmdShft for Stealing Clients; CmdShft Countersues for Bullying Its Clients With Lawsuits

ONErpm has filed a lawsuit against CmdShft and its two co-founders, Sonny Findlay and CEO Jarrod Cooper. Filed at the Chancery Court for Davison County, Tennessee on April 16th, digital distributor ONErpm has accused CmdShft, a label boutique services …

Kanye West Files Motion to Dismiss EMI Music Publishing’s Countersuit in New York

Taking a jab at Sony Music’s EMI Music Publishing division and Universal Music Group (UMG), Kanye West told his fans artists should have the right to purchase their publishing catalog whenever they want. There’s just one problem.  Typically, artists ca…

SGAE Members Vote Against Much-Needed Anti-Corruption Reforms Following CISAC Suspension

Following nearly twenty years of corruption, CISAC suspended Spanish collecting society SGAE’s membership. Between 2003 and 2007, SGAE executives knowingly misappropriated millions of euros in royalty payments.  Authorities in Madrid had arrested Enriq…