Music Industry News
- UMG’s hospitality arm to open its first UK hotel on London’s Denmark Street
It will be UMHL's first hotel in the UK, and its second in Europe after UMusic Hotel Madrid, with Madrid the only UMusic Hotel currently operating. Source
- HarbourView, on track to surpass $4B in assets under management, acquires David Kershenbaum’s producer royalties – including Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car
The transaction was announced on Thursday (September 3). Financial terms were not disclosed. Source
- Wilson Pickett estate strikes deal with Primary Wave covering publishing catalog and name, image & likeness rights
Primary Wave announced the deal on Wednesday (September 2). Financial terms were not disclosed Source
- DEAG founder Peter Schwenkow and Swiss private equity firm Ufenau plan European live and family entertainment group, with up to €100m of equity to deploy
Ufenau intends to back the initiative as investor and majority shareholder, and says it is already reviewing initial investment opportunities. Source
- Donald Trump’s administration just sided with OpenAI in a key ‘fair use’ case. Here’s what it means for music’s fight with Anthropic and Suno.
It appears to be the first time Washington has intervened in any of the copyright cases now stacked up against AI companies Source
- SM Entertainment and Tencent Music establish Beijing joint venture STE, with Super Junior-M’s Zhoumi as CEO
STE will develop and manage artists for the Greater China market, and says it's preparing a new Chinese idol group for a debut within two to three years Source
- Mateusz Smółka named Managing Director of Warner Music Eastern Europe
Smółka, who joins from Spotify after eight years at the company, will take up the newly created role on Monday (September 7). Source
- After two failed arrest bids, Korean police say HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk will be referred to prosecutors this week – without detention
The move would close a police investigation into the K-pop company's 2020 stock market listing that has been running since December 2024. Source
- Bad Bunny wins crucial reggaeton ‘dembow’ rhythm ruling
Judge André Birotte Jr. ruled that plaintiffs failed to identify a single copyrighted work of their own combining the elements they say defendants took. Source
- Now Canada’s SOCAN sues Suno, claiming it illegally copied hits like ‘Both Sides Now’ and ‘Sk8er Boi’
SOCAN is the third collecting society to take Suno to court – and the first to file since one of them won Source