After Turning Down a $3 Million Major Label Deal for UnitedMasters, NLE Choppa Signs to Warner Music Group

Maybe Warner Music offered $4 million? It was the high-profile coup that Alphabet-funded UnitedMasters was waiting for. After provoking a high-priced, major label bidding war earlier this year, Memphis rapper NLE Choppa turned them all down — including…

Warner Music Group Launches a New Kids Sub-Label With Build-a-Bear

Warner Music Group’s Arts division and Warner Chappell Music are partnering with Build-a-Bear Workshop for a new kids-focused label. The global music partnership will produce a label called — appropriately — Build-a-Bear Records. If all goes according …

‘Think Billie Eilish meets Lil Nas X, but more organic…’

Lucas Keller, founder of Milk + Honey, sounds off on record label A&R…
The post ‘Think Billie Eilish meets Lil Nas X, but more organic…’ appeared first on Music Business Worldwide.

Warner Music Is Making Moves In Central Europe — Acquires Forza Music In Slovakia

Warner Music Group has acquired Forza Music, a major player in the Slovakian music scene. Warner Music Group (WMG) has just acquired a solid catalogue of international music — and an important chip in Central Europe.  As of July 5th, Forza Music, a pro…

Troy Carter’s Q&A Seals an ‘Upstreaming’ Deal With Warner Music

After an understated announcement at MIDEM, Troy Carter’s Q&A is formally splashing a deal with Warner Music Group to ‘upstream’ artists. Last month, Carter criticized the presumption that every artist wants to remain independent.  “It’s a false na…

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…

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 …

Logic Announces a Joint Venture With Def Jam – Introducing BobbyBoy Records

Logic — Sir Robert Bryson Hall II — has announced a joint venture with Def Jam Recordings. His label, formerly known as Elysium Records, will be relaunched as BobbyBoy Records. The artist roster for BobbyBoy Records includes singer-songwriter John Lind…

UMG Secured a Massive Settlement from NBCUniversal After the 2008 Fire — But Shared Nothing Back With Artists

The crisis surrounding UMG’s handling of the Universal Studios Fire of 2008 is worsening with news of a massive settlement. As Universal Music Group faces the specter of dozens of lawsuits stemming from its mishandling of the 2008 Universal Studios fir…