DEALS
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Seeker Music has announced a new partnership with Mark Morrison in a deal that includes the company acquiring some of the singer’s rights. “Mark is exactly the kind of innovative artist that Seeker loves to create with”, says CEO Evan Bogart. “He’s a legend who continues to inspire countless music creators, genres and culture, successfully collaborating with other artists, visual media and brands for the past 30 years”.
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TikTok has partnered with CTS Eventim to offer more concert tickets on the video-sharing platform, initially in Germany but with other territories set to be added. “Artists gain incredible reach through the TikTok platform, so we’re delighted this new partnership will allow them to translate that reach into an effective new marketing channel”, says CTS Eventim COO Alexander Ruoff.
APPOINTMENTS
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Universal Music’s Island Records in the US has promoted Jenny Gorotiza to VP Marketing. “Jenny is part of the foundation of the Island Records team at a pivotal time for our label”, says Head Of Marketing And Business Development, Jay Schumer. “We couldn’t be more excited to acknowledge her passion and tenacity in driving A-level campaigns for our artists”.
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Concord Label Group has promoted Joe Dent to EVP Operations and Jill Weindorf to EVP Marketing. “Having Jill in this role will certainly allow Concord to remain competitive in an increasingly complicated and global market”, says CEO Tom Becci. “Joe has an incredible understanding of how to look at a classically messy system, identify areas for improvement, and make real and lasting corrections”.
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Nick Ghelakis and Nicole Thomas have been named Co-Country Managers of Virgin Music Group South Africa. “Nicole and Nick both bring with them decades of experience in the South African music market, characterised by a fierce devotion to local artists and a real vision to spread the country’s incredible music far beyond its own borders”, says JT Myers, Co-CEO of Virgin Music Group. “Their leadership ensures continuity as we continue to grow this hugely important music market both within the country and around the world”.
LEGAL
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Apple is trying to get the first Astroworld trial, due to begin next week, postponed after failing to get itself removed as a defendant in the case. The tech giant is named as a defendant because it livestreamed the Travis Scott performance during which ten people died as a result of a fatal crowd surge. It filed two motions to be dismissed from the proceedings, but both failed. It says the trial should now be stayed while it appeals the judge's ruling on those motions. Representatives for the Astroworld victims say the latest move by Apple is a “bad faith, desperate attempt” to “derail” the proceedings.
ARTIST MANAGEMENT
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The eighteen managers taking part in this year’s Music Managers Forum Accelerator programme have been announced. “The goal of Accelerator is to provide these incredible people with a support network, and to help them forge the bedrock of a successful and sustainable business”, says MMF Professional Development Director Paul Bonham. “I am absolutely over the moon with 2024’s intake and can’t wait to get started on another rich and rewarding year”.
ARTIST NEWS
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Jess Glynne has bagged a BRIT Billion Award for passing a billion streams in the UK. “I am so grateful to be presented with this award and so overwhelmed by the continued love and support”, she says. “To have over a billion streams in the UK feels very surreal and I can only say thank you to everyone who listens to my music and brings my stories and my voice into their world”.
GIGS & FESTIVALS
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Cradle Of Filth have announced UK and Ireland tour dates in October and November this year, including a show at the Kentish Town Forum in London on 31 Oct. Tickets go on general sale tomorrow.
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Cavalera - aka Max and Iggor Cavalera - have announced UK and Ireland tour dates in June, tickets for which are on sale now. The former Sepultura members are also continuing on their Taylor Swift-style plan to re-record their former band’s early releases. Having already tackled 1986’s ‘Morbid Visions’ and ‘Bestial Devastation’, they’ve announced that a new version of 1987’s ‘Schizophrenia’ will arrive on 21 Jun.
RELEASES
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Kendrick Lamar continues to effortlessly dominate in his ongoing feud with Drake on latest diss track ‘Euphoria’. It remains to be seen what woefully out of his depth response Drake comes back with this time.
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Jon Hopkins has announced that he will release new album ‘Ritual’ on 30 Aug. Out now is new track ‘Ritual (Evocation)’. The album will be premiered with three spatial audio playbacks at the ICA in London on 12 May.
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La Luz have released new single ‘I’ll Go With You’. Their new album ‘News Of The Universe’ is out on 24 May.
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Hamish Hawk will release his third album ‘A Firmer Hand’ on 16 Aug. Out now is new single ‘Big Cat Tattoos’.