Member Updates
Music Biz broadcasts the latest announcements from around our community on our social feeds as our member companies continue to push the industry forward. 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.
NEW FOR 2024 Music Biz’s member news will be shared exclusively on our social channels, as the Member Updates section of our website is set to go offline later this year.
September 16, 2021 – Music Biz Member Spotify Planning to Release New “Enhance” Feature For Playlists
Audio streaming platform Spotify is in the process of releasing a new, algorithm-based “Enhance” feature that automatically adds recommended songs to user playlists. The platform will analyze users’ playlists and base recommendations off of styles and themes of selected songs. Enhance will add a maximum of 30 songs per playlist and will not replace existing songs. The new feature will be available for Spotify Premium subscribers within the next month. Click here to read more from The Verge.... Read More
September 16, 2021 – Music Biz Member Utopia Music Appoints Roberto Neri as COO
Music tech company Utopia Music has appointed Roberto Neri, Downtown Music Holdings’ former EVP of Business Development, as its Chief Operating Officer. Based in London, Neri will oversee Utopia’s commercial & business operations, and expand the firm’s international office footprint. He will report to Utopia’s CEO, Markku Mäkeläinen. Prior to joining Utopia, Neri joined Downtown in 2015 after it acquired his own company, Eagle-i Music. In 2019, he was named Downtown’s EVP, U.K., and Head of European Business Development.... Read More
September 15, 2021 – Music Biz Member Apple Music Creates New Process To ID & Pay Rightsholders For Songs Used in DJ Mixes
Apple Music is using Shazam’s music recognition technology to power a new process of identifying songs used in DJ mixes, in order to directly compensate song rightsholders, DJs and mix suppliers. Additionally, Apple Music has reserved funds to pay DJs and mix suppliers quarterly royalties based on the percentage of streams they accrue out of the total streams all mixes accrue on the service. “For a lot of dance music and DJs who make music, the music never really found it to streaming services because there just wasn’t a great process for how labels could clear the music that’s in a DJ mix,... Read More
September 15, 2021 – Music Biz Member Spotify Recruits Julie McNamara As Head Of U.S. Studios & Video
Spotify has named Julie McNamara as the company’s Head of U.S. Studios & Video, a role that will find her overseeing key partnerships for Spotify Originals and setting the creative vision for its studios. She will report to the company’s Chief Content Officer and Advertising Business Officer, Dawn Ostroff. Before joining Spotify, McNamara served as the EVP and Head of Programming for Paramount+ until exiting that role this past May. Click here to learn more from Deadline.... Read More
September 14, 2021 – Music Biz Member Sony Music Announces Bobby Ju As New Managing Director in Korea
Sony Music Entertainment Korea (SMEK) has named Bobby (Youngchan) Ju as the company’s new Managing Director. In this role, he will oversee SMEK’s operations in the country by building & strengthening strategic partnerships and growing SMEK’s local roster. Ju joined SMEK’s A&R team in 2012 as the A&R, distribution and label relations manager. Last year, he was promoted to lead the A&R, distribution, label relations, artist management and outbound marketing departments. “Korea is a fast-growing market and continues to deliver global hit after hit,... Read More
September 14, 2021 – MEMBER DISCOUNT: Trusted Advisor Summit 2021
Momentous Insurance Brokerage and Marsh McLennan are set to host the Trusted Advisor Summit, an invite-only event at the historic Mayan Theatre in Los Angeles on Wednesday, November 10! The summit will gather more than 150 top entertainment advisors for interactive panels, presentations and networking opportunities! We’ve partnered with the event organizers to offer active Music Biz members a $100 discount on event registration — click here to learn more about the event and register.... Read More
September 13, 2021 – Music Biz Member RCA Records Promotes Val Pensa to SVP, Head of Marketing
RCA has announced that Val Pensa will serve as the company’s next SVP, Head of Marketing. In this position, she will oversee the label’s entire marketing department, as well as serve as marketing lead for several artists on RCA’s roster. Prior to this role, Pensa served as the label’s SVP, Pop/Rock Marketing, and worked on a series of campaigns for artists including Doja Cat, P!NK, Becky G, Kygo, Pentatonix and Cam. This appointment follows recent news that Carolyn Williams will take on a newly created EVP role with the company.... Read More
September 13, 2021 – NEW MEMBER PROFILE: Renaissance
We’d like to welcome Renaissance to the Music Biz member community! The company is dedicated to bringing artists and fans closer together through their fan engagement mobile app. Artists can use Renaissance as a platform to amplify the early traction needed to land on popular playlists and engage with their community of superfans by hosting streaming parties and more. For fans, the app combines gamification with music streaming by providing shareable stats about their listening habits,... Read More
September 8, 2021 – Music Biz Member Apple Music Acquires Classical Music Service Primephonic
Apple Music has acquired Classical music service, Primephonic, in preparation for the release of its own Classical music app. The company is promising Apple Music subscribers a, “…significantly improved Classical music experience,” by harnessing Primephonic’s capabilities to offer fans playlists, exclusive audio content, and improved browsing & search functions. Current Primephonic subscribers will receive a prorated refund and six months of Apple Music access for free. “We love and have a deep respect for classical music,... Read More
September 8, 2021 – Music Biz Members The Recording Academy and Berklee College of Music Partner For Women In The Mix Study
The Recording Academy and Berklee Institute for Creative Entrepreneurship, in partnership with Arizona State University, have launched the Women In the Mix Survey, which will study the roles and realities of women and gender-expansive people working in the American music industry. Data from the survey will help inform diversity, equity and inclusion objectives initiatives both within the Recording Academy and in the music industry at large. Women and gender-expansive individuals are encouraged to participate in the study.... Read More
