DEALS
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Warner Chappell has agreed a partnership with the BandLab-owned ReverbNation to provide publishing services to the platform’s users. "By joining forces with Warner Chappell Music, we'll open new doors for the ReverbNation community, creating even more opportunities for artistic growth”, says BandLab CEO Meng Ru Kuok. “This partnership not only unlocks additional potential avenues for artistic development and innovation, it also bridges the gap between emerging talents and established industry platforms, allowing a new generation of artists to find their voice and place in a continuously adapting and expanding landscape”.
🎫
NEC Group has announced a new ticketing partnership with AXS for two of its arena venues, Resorts World Arena and Utilita Arena Birmingham. “We want to make every customer’s experience brilliant, from the moment they think about buying a ticket, to the experience they have at our venues, and every interaction beyond”, says NEC Group CEO Mel Smith. The deal basically sees AEG-owned AXS take over the operations of NEC’s own ticketing unit The Ticket Factory. It will also see AXS open a new base in Birmingham.
LEGAL
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Britney Spears and her father Jamie Spears have settled a legal dispute stemming from the end of the singer’s conservatorship in 2021 - which saw him seeking compensation for acting as conservator and asking her to cover his legal fees. "Although the conservatorship was terminated in November 2021, her wish for freedom is now truly complete”, said the musician’s attorney Mathew Rosengart in a statement. "As she desired, her freedom now includes that she will no longer need to attend or be involved with court in this matter”. Terms of the agreement have not been disclosed, but TMZ reports that she will pay the $2 million for legal fees that her father had been pushing for.
🕺🏽
A legal dispute over the management of the Prince estate continues. Earlier this year L Londell McMillan and Charles Spicer - the music industry executives involved in Prince Legacy, one of the businesses that manages the estate - filed a lawsuit against some of the late musician’s family members in a disagreement over how the company is run. In the latest court hearing on Friday, the four family members being sued asked for the case against them to be thrown out on the grounds that it is “unconscionable and unreasonable”.
🤖
Drake has taken down his Kendrick Lamar diss track ‘Taylor Made Freestyle’, which featured lines by AI-generated Tupac and Snoop Dogg clones, following legal threats from the Tupac estate.
🤳🏽
TikTok has removed a ‘task and reward programme’ from its TikTok Lite app in Europe after the European Union launched legal action over its potential addictiveness. The EU said that there may have been a breach of the Digital Services Act, because the feature was launched in France and Spain without any risk assessment on the potential mental health impacts on young people of the feature. It offered rewards for carrying out activities on the app.
LIVE BUSINESS
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Oak View Group boss Tim Leiweke has been talking about his company’s plans to build a new arena venue in London. “If you guessed Hammersmith, it would be a good guess”, he told The Telegraph. “We’re pretty focused on a particular site. We’re excited about the site”. The interview presumably took place before Oak View’s new Manchester arena Co-op Live had a disastrous first week. Leiweke has also given an interview about that with the Manchester Evening News.
ARTIST NEWS
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BBC Radio 2 listeners have voted ‘Dancing Queen’ as their favourite Abba song. "’Dancing Queen’ is one of those songs that just makes you happy every time you hear it and still gets any dancefloor full to this day - a guaranteed singalong”, says presenter Gary Davies, who will unveil the full top 30 in a special programme on 11 May. “Thank you Radio 2 listeners for crowning such a brilliant track your ultimate Abba song”.
GIGS & FESTIVALS
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Janet Jackson has announced UK tour dates in September and October this year, including a performance at The O2 in London on 28 Sep. Tickets go on general sale on Friday.
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Craig David has announced a UK arena tour in February 2025. The run will finish with a show at The O2 in London on 20 Feb. Tickets go on general sale on Friday.
RELEASES
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The Chainsmokers have released new single ‘Friday’ featuring Fridayy. Why not play it this Fridayyy?
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Emilíana Torrini has released ‘Miss Flower’, the title track of her new album, which is out on 21 Jun.