Category archives: Major Labels

Def Leppard Finally Available Online: Here’s Why Now

Def Leppard, one of a handful of major artists whose music was not available digitally, have licensed their catalog to both download and streaming services. Here’s why it took so long. ________________________________________ Def Leppard is final available digitally. Starting today, their entire catalog is available online, both to download and…

NME Awards 2018 Nominations Announced

“Once again the NME readers have shown just how switched on, diverse and exciting their tastes are in coming up with these shortlists, which themselves highlight what an amazing twelve months it’s been for music," NME Editor Mike Williams said in a statement. "It’s brilliant to see some old favorites…

Kendrick Lamar Eyes $20-$40 Million Publishing Bonanza

Rapper Kendrick Lamar is one of the hottest tickets in music, but the cash said to be on offer for his music rights are still an eye-popping, with reported offers of up to $40 million. According to a report in Billboard, Top Dawg Entertainment, which manages Kendrick Lamar, is considering…

Do You Really Want A Record Deal? How To Legally Ensure An Artist Can Even Sign One

As the music business has changed, so too has the process by which artists sign a ‘record deal’. Here Justin M. Jacobson looks at the legal infrastructure artists must have in place in order to make sure they can actually sign to a label. ______________________________ Guest post by Justin M….

QUICK HITS: Atlantic • Sony • Pandora • Anti- • BMI • More

Pete Ganbarg has been promoted to the newly created position of President of A&R for Atlantic Records, based in NYC. He will also continue to oversee A&R for Atlantic, as well as its subsidiary labels, including Fueled By Ramen and Roadrunner. • Tiana Turner joins Pandora as director of pop…

3 Factors Shaping The Music Industry In 2018

With 2017 already having been a busy and reformative year for the music industry, 2018 looks to be headed in a similar direction. Here we visit three important factors which will have a major effect on the industry in the coming year. ___________________________ Guest post from the Royalty Exchange blog…

WMG Offers Worker Buyouts As Streaming Shift Accelerates

As it adapts to the shifting landscape for recorded music, WEA, Warner Music Group’s global distribution, marketing and sales division, is reportedly offering buyouts to 130 employees who deal with physical product. According to Billboard, WMG did not clarify their revised staffing goals, but the publication noted that the buyouts…

Ed Sheeran, Tim McGraw & Faith Hill Face Copyright Battle

Ed Sheeran may be credited as a writer of Tim McGraw’s new duet with Faith Hill, but two Aussies claim in a federal complaint that the ballad is a shameless ripoff of a song they penned in 2014. “The copying is, in many instances, verbatim, note-for-note copying of important and…

Universal Music Q4 Revenue Up 10%, Reports Vivendi

In a financial guidance released by Vivendi ahead of a full financial disclosure in mid February, the conglomerate said that it’s Universal Music Group division will lead Fourth Quarter earnings with 10% revenue growth and an improvement in EBITA of close to 20%, at constant currency. The full Vivendi statement…