Member Updates

Music Biz broadcasts the latest announcements from around our community as our member companies continue to push the industry forward, and make introductions for our newest members via New Member Profiles.

Association Members: If you are launching a new product, have been featured in an industry trade publication, or have a major announcement coming soon, we’d love to help spread the word — share it with Henryk Bik, Music Biz’s Communications & Content Manager, at henryk.bik@musicbiz.org.

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November 2, 2021 – Music Biz Member Warner Music Group Launches Asiatic Records To Support Rap and Hip-Hop Artists In Asia

Warner Music Group has launched Asiatic Records, a new label to support Rap and Hip-Hop artists based in Asia. The label will offer its roster “an integrated array of marketing and promotional services” through combined resources and experiences from the company’s regional affiliates. While the label plans to support talent across the continent regardless of gender, Asiatic will lean heavily into supporting female artists to combat the underrepresentation of female Rap and Hip-Hop talent in recorded music from Asia. ... Read More

October 25, 2021 – Music Biz Member Amazon Music Debuts Spacial Audio Formats for Unlimited Subscribers

Amazon has begun to offer subscribers to its Amazon Music Unlimited service the ability to listen to spacial audio music tracks via the Amazon Music app for iOS and Android. The tracks come in two formats, Dolby’s Atmos and Sony’s 360 Reality Audio, and are available for the first time with users’ own headphones. Amazon previously offered the spacial audio format, but only with select supported hardware. The company says that spacial audio delivers users a,... Read More

October 25, 2021 – Music Biz Member Nettwerk Music Group Appoints Dan Medland to Lead Australia/New Zealand Operations

Independent music company, Nettwerk Music Group has announced that Dan Medland, a veteran artist manager with more than 20 years of industry experience, will represent the company’s expanding operations in Australia and New Zealand. In this role, he will also contribute to the company’s A&R and signing efforts. Medland has history with Nettwerk, previously partnering to promote British artist Passenger, whom he manages to this day. “I am extremely honored to be given such a wonderful opportunity in an incredible market,” Medland offered.... Read More

October 25, 2021 – Music Biz Member Spotify Adds Shopify Merch Sales To Artist Profiles

Music streaming service, Spotify has launched a new integration with e-commerce platform, Shopify that allows artists to connect their Spotify and Shopify profiles to sell their merchandise directly from Spotify’s user interface. Fans will then be able to browse whichever items artists choose to make available on the platform. “Artists today are entrepreneurial. They’re building multifaceted brands and businesses, and now we’re making it easier for them to meet fans where they are,” said Shopify’s Director of Product,... Read More

October 25, 2021 – Music Biz Member Facebook Launches New Audio Hub in U.S.

Social network Facebook has launched a new dedicated “Audio” hub to its mobile app in the U.S. This new destination will house all audio content the platform hosts — podcasts, Live Audio Rooms, and short-form audio — in one place. This launch also complements the company’s global expansion of its Live Audio Rooms offering, as well as the launch of its Soundbites offering for shorter audio clips. Facebook says the Audio hub will assist creators in having their shows found by new audiences,... Read More

October 25, 2021 – Music Biz Member Apple Music Debuts New Voice Plan

Music streaming service, Apple Music will debut a new subscription based around Apple’s Siri voice assistant. For $5 a month, users can access their favorite music and curated playlists solely via Siri. This launch comes after Apple built up its Siri integrations with its streaming service, allowing users to request music any playlists by a variety of moods they elicit or activities they compliment, such as hiking, cooking or relaxing. The Apple Music Voice Plan will be available later in Fall 2021 in 17 countries including the U.S.,... Read More

October 21, 2021 – Music Biz Member BMI Is Hiring

Celebrating over 80 years of service to songwriters, composers, music publishers and businesses, Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI) is a global leader in music rights management, serving as an advocate for the value of music. BMI represents the public performance rights in 18.7 million musical works created and owned by more than 1.2 million songwriters, composers, and music publishers. The company negotiates music license agreements and distributes the fees it generates as royalties to its affiliated writers and publishers when their songs are performed in public.... Read More

October 21, 2021 – Music Biz Member Utopia Music Acquires Emotional AI Startup, Musimap

Music-minded financial tech company, Utopia Music has acquired Musimap, a metadata enrichment startup that uses proprietary AI to generate “emotional” data for clients. This new data can be used to match playlists with personality profiles; search for similar songs; and create playlists based on certain genres, moods, and beyond.. “The acquisition of Musimap represents yet another milestone on our journey of becoming the world’s preferred technology supporting the entire music industry by creating new revenue streams,... Read More

October 21, 2021 – Music Biz Member Def Jam Names Lena Franklin as VP of Marketing

Def Jam has recruited Lena Franklin as the label’s new VP of Marketing. Franklin’s recent projects include Alessia Cara’s newest album, In the Meantime, and Ludacris’ Netflix children’s show, Karma’s World. Prior to joining the company, Franklin worked in Interscope Records’ marketing department for five years. “Def Jam has a rich history of breaking incredible artists,” said Franklin. I believe marketing is a core pillar of that success story, and I can’t wait to break the next generation of stars.”... Read More

October 19, 2021 – Music Biz Members MRC Data and Soundtrack Your Brand Share Study On Impact of Background Music In Retail, Hospitality Environments

MRC Data and Soundtrack Your Brand have partnered to conduct a study on U.S. consumers’ music listening habits while visiting brick-and-mortar businesses such as grocery stores and fitness centers. As U.S. consumers collectively make 90.9 billion business visits each year, the study reports that background music has the potential to reach 95% of U.S. adults. In addition, 79% of respondents notice music being played in the background to a varying degree. The findings also analyzed the following: Music has the ability to affect behavior like time and money spent at a businessHow listening to music that consumers enjoy will make them more likely to return to a businessThe competitive edge of businesses with an enjoyable atmosphere “The insights uncovered demonstrate the power of background music in engaging consumers,... Read More