DEALS
Universal Music Publishing has expanded its relationship with the Irving Berlin estate and will now represent its catalogue worldwide. That catalogue includes songs like ‘White Christmas’, ‘Let’s Face The Music And Dance’, ‘Puttin On The Ritz’ and ‘There’s No Business Like Show Business’. “I’ve been in the music publishing business my entire working life”, says President of UMPG North America, Evan Lamberg. “It doesn’t get any better than UMPG having the honour of representing the timeless cultural songs of Irving Berlin, as well as working with the wonderful Irving Berlin family and estate”.
Classical music company Naxos Music Group has announced a new partnership with Downtown-owned music distributor FUGA covering releases on its various labels. “FUGA’s established commitment to music and technology aligns with our vision to provide the best possible service to our labels”, says Naxos Digital Services CEO Håkan Lagerqvist. “Together with our classical music expertise and deep catalogue, this new partnership will amplify the global presence of classical music and raise the standard for its discoverability throughout the digital ecosystem”.
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APPOINTMENTS
Solo Music Agency has appointed Jonathan Lomax as its new Managing Director, he having most recently been with PR firm Blakeney, which supported live industry trade group LIVE on its campaigning during the pandemic. “It was one of the privileges of my career to support the live music industry during the pandemic, when I met the most interesting and committed people. Despite everyone telling me that I was mad, I was determined to work in the industry permanently and I am THRILLED that [company founders] John and Caroline [Giddings] have taken me into the Solo family”.
Artist management company YMU has appointed Sophia Margerison to the position of Global Business Development Director. ”I’m really excited to be joining the very talented and dynamic team at YMU”, she says. “Working in this global role will allow me to work across the whole business to help create new opportunities and expand the amazing roster of artists the company represents”.
Indie label digital rights group Merlin has named Adam Wright as its new Chief Financial Officer. He joins from talent agency CAA, where he was Director Of Finance. “I’m delighted to take on the role of CFO at Merlin”, he says. “It’s such a dynamic time for the Merlin organisation and the industry as a whole – I’m very excited to have this opportunity to come back to the independent sector where my music industry career first began”.
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RELEASES
Ed Sheeran has confirmed that he will release a new album next year. In a video on Instagram noting that his song ‘Shivers’ has passed one billion plays on Spotify, he said: “I’m going to celebrate by shooting a music video for my brand new album, which is out next year”.
Just thought you’d like to know that Everything But The Girl have made a new album. It’ll be out next spring. In a statement on Twitter, the duo said: “Just thought you’d like to know that we have made a new Everything But The Girl album. It’ll be out next spring”.
Trivium frontman Matt Heafy – under the name Kiichi Chaos – has teamed up with Nuclear Blast Records and esports organisation Team Vitality to release new track ‘Metality (The Vitality Anthem)’. “Metal and gaming are two constants in my life that I hold near and dear”, he says. “I’ve always found that gaming and metal go so well together… it’s as if they belong together”.
Yves Tumor has released new single ‘God Is A Circle’.
Yo La Tengo have announced that they will release their new album, ‘This Stupid World’, on 10 Feb. Here’s new single ‘Fallout’. The band have also announced UK shows in April next year.
Check out our weekly Spotify playlist of new music featured in the CMU Daily – updated every Friday.