Concord Music has announced that it has acquired Independiente Records, a London-based indie label with a storied history. Andy Macdonald began Independiente Records in 1997, and the company has produced a significant number of influential artists sinc…
Tag archives: Labels
It’s Official: Universal Music Group Inks a Multi-Year Lionsgate Deal
Universal Music Group + Lionsgate. It’s kind of a big deal. Word of this deal has been bubbling for awhile, and the companies have been partnering on projects for years. Now, that relationship is going to intensify, with music-themed TV project…
Rich the Kid Calls 300 Entertainment ‘The Worst, Worst Label Ever’
300 Entertainment took another hit to its image this week, thanks to harsh comments from Rich the Kid. The rough commentary follows a high-profile dispute between 300 Entertainment and Migos, easily one of the biggest rap groups in the world. Rich the…
Sony’s Q1 2018 – 100% Stake in EMI, Spotify Payday, and Surging Streaming Revenue
Streaming revenue continues to climb, while Sony Music confirms hefty Spotify payday and a 100% stake in EMI Music Publishing. Sony Corp. has released its fiscal Q1 / calendar Q2 2018 financial report. Sony Music’s streaming revenue for the first half …
Vivendi Is Selling 50% of Universal Music Group — But Who’s Buying?
The biggest label in the world is for sale — or at least half of it is. In case your Monday was getting lackluster, here’s a bombshell to spice things up. French media conglomerate Vivendi is now planning to sell 50% of Universal Music Group, an…
The Streaming Exclusive Is Back, Baby — But Is That Good for Business?
Streaming music services are storming back with a different flavor of exclusive. But is this still damaging to the business? Last year, a surge in album release exclusives on rival platforms raised some serious concerns within the industry. And chief…
Universal Music Group Is Making a Huge Move Into Nigeria
Universal Music Group (UMG) is making a big expansion into Western Africa. That now includes a brand-new Universal Music Nigeria division. Once upon a time, pop superstars typically hailed from a small list of countries. That includes export-heavy re…
Major Labels Are Upset That They Aren’t Getting More Songs Onto Spotify Playlists, Deutsche Bank Says
Deutsche Bank’s analysts recently reported that the top three record labels are not happy that Spotify doesn’t include enough of their songs in its curated playlists. If playlists are the new radio, then Spotify controls one of the most imp…
Universal Music Makes a Serious Move Into French-Speaking Africa
Universal Music Group means business in the French-speaking African market, with a brand-new office in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Abidjan office will be responsible for increasing the company’s presence in the market, and it will be headed by Mo…
Universal Music Fights Back Against Malu Trevejo’s Attempt to Void Her Contract
The legal battle between Malu Trevejo and Universal Music Group heated up recently when the record company filed a challenge to the singer’s recent attempt to nullify her contract. Trevejo and her legal team say that her recording and co-manageme…