After delaying the sale of Universal Music Group, Vivendi is now auctioning off a small chunk of the major label to Tencent. Vivendi SA’s on-again, off-again sale process of Universal Music Group is apparently back on. And with it, the beginnings of a…
Category archives: Mergers and Acquisitions
FUGA Acquires Songspace
Late last year, digital distribution company FUGA unveiled a new deal with an eSports giant. Expanding its business, Riot Games signed a deal with the distributor to handle its music catalog for League of Legends. Under the agreement, FUGA would distri…
Rogers & Cowan and PNK-BMC Announce Merger
Two powerhouse marketing and PR agencies have unveiled a substantial merger. Alongside PMK*BNC, Rogers & Cowan has confirmed both companies will now operate as a single entity. The combined company – still unnamed – will manage over 500 clients acr…
Big Hit Entertainment Acquires GFriend’s Talent Agency, Source Music
BTS powerhouse Big Hit Entertainment has been on a roll. Last October, K-Pop boy band phenomenon BTS re-negotiated a long-term deal with the Korean entertainment agency. The newly-extended seven-year contract sees Big Hit representing BTS for a thirte…
As Universal Music’s Revenues Explode, Vivendi Starts Appointing Investment Banks to Lead Its 50% Sell-Off
According to a Reuters report, French media conglomerate Vivendi is now appointing a number of investment banks to divest as much as 50% of its share in Universal Music Group. The move coincides with an explosive first-half financial report for UMG. T…
Exaggerating His Acquisition, Businessman Henry Cárdenas Purchases Arena Bogotá
Cardenas Marketing Network’s (CMN) top boss has confirmed a major acquisition. Henry Cárdenas, the company’s President and Executive Director, has reportedly returned to Colombia to “fulfill his professional dream” of owning and operating Arena Bogotá….
As TikTok’s Music Licensing Reportedly Expires, Owner ByteDance Purchases AI Music Creation Startup JukeDeck
Capitalizing on the rapid growth of music consumption in the app, TikTok parent company ByteDance has confirmed a major acquisition. The Chinese conglomerate has purchased Jukedeck, an AI music startup in the UK. As with most AI-centered music startups…
Paradigm Assumes Full Ownership Over UK-Based Music Agency Coda
Talent agency Paradigm has taken full ownership of UK-based CODA, merging the agencies. Los Angeles-based Paradigm acquired its first stake in CODA in early 2014. Paradigm’s stake saw the companies join forces to pool expertise. CODA has since expand…
Etsy Purchases Online Music Marketplace Reverb for $275 Million
Etsy has confirmed a major acquisition. The publicly traded e-commerce website has acquired online music marketplace Reverb for $275 million. The former company focuses primarily on the sale of handmade and vintage items as well as craft supplies. Con…
Targeting “Underserved” Genres on Streaming, Warner Music Group Acquires First Night Records
Warner Music Group (WMG) has confirmed a new acquisition. The major label has acquired First Night Records. The London-based indie label focuses in both West End and Broadway theatre recordings. Its well-known musical recordings include Les Misérables…