This week, BMG and Harmony confirmed their long-rumored merger, with Bertelsmann as majority-owner and Harmony boss Bob Valentine named CEO of the mixed firm.
In the meantime, The Orchard acquired OniMusic, a outstanding Brazil-headquartered Christian music label, distributor, and “digital intelligence” firm.
Plus, Major Wave Music closed its fourth flagship music fund at $2.225 billion in complete commitments, which it says is the “largest devoted closed-end music royalties fund raised to this point within the trade”.
Elsewhere, Consider and TuneCore revealed that they’re mechanically blocking the distribution of AI-generated tracks produced on unlicensed “pirate studios,” whereas inking new licensing agreements with ElevenLabs and Udio.
Additionally this week, Common Music Group confirmed it’ll promote half of its fairness stake in Spotify, producing round $1.4 billion.
Listed here are among the largest headlines from the previous few days…
1. BMG AND CONCORD CONFIRM MERGER, WITH BERTELSMANN AS MAJORITY-OWNER; BOB VALENTINE NAMED CEO OF COMBINED COMPANY
It’s been rumored since again in January, and now it’s official: BMG and Harmony are merging.
Each corporations confirmed the transfer on Tuesday (April 28), alongside some fascinating particulars.
For instance, Harmony boss Bob Valentine will function CEO of the brand new mixed firm, with Thomas Coesfeld as Chairman. (Coesfeld, presently CEO of BMG, additionally steps as much as develop into CEO of BMG dad or mum Bertelsmann in January 2027.)
The newly mixed firm’s international headquarters is in Nashville (presently dwelling to Harmony’s HQ) whereas its European headquarters might be in Berlin (presently dwelling to BMG’s HQ)… (MBW)
2. THE ORCHARD ACQUIRES BRAZIL’S ONIMUSIC, A PROMINENT CHRISTIAN MUSIC DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM
The Orchard has acquired OniMusic, a Brazil-headquartered Christian music label, distributor, and digital intelligence firm, dwelling to greater than 120 related artists.
In response to a press launch from The Orchard, the transaction “marks a landmark enlargement into the Latin American gospel market,” which it stated is “one in all the fastest-growing segments in the international music trade”.
OniMusic was based in September 2004 by Nelson and Christie Tristão in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais… (MBW)
3. PRIMARY WAVE RAISES $2.2 BILLION FOR FOURTH MUSIC FUND
Major Wave Music has closed its fourth flagship music fund at $2.225 billion in complete commitments. The fund exceeded each its unique $1.5 billion goal and its $2 billion laborious cap, Major Wave stated on Wednesday (April 29).
Major Wave Music IP Fund 4 is the fourth consecutive oversubscribed fund from Major Wave, which says the car is the “largest devoted closed-end music royalties fund raised to this point within the trade”.
The fund was backed by a worldwide investor base spanning insurance coverage corporations, pension funds, endowments, and huge household workplaces, based on a press launch, which additionally famous that Major Wave is a strategic associate of monetary big Brookfield Asset Administration. The fundraise comes at a second of fast enlargement for Major Wave… (MBW)
4. BELIEVE AND TUNECORE ARE BLOCKING DISTRIBUTION OF GENERATIVE AI TRACKS MADE ON ‘PIRATE STUDIOS’ LIKE SUNO – WHILE INKING NEW PARTNERSHIPS WITH ELEVENLABS AND UDIO
Consider has unveiled a big replace to its Generative AI coverage – one which concurrently hardens the corporate’s stance on unlicensed music AI platforms, whereas deepening its funding in different AI instruments.
On the primary entrance: Consider and its international platform for self-releasing artists, TuneCore, are mechanically blocking the distribution of AI-generated tracks partly or absolutely produced on unlicensed “pirate studios”.
Talking to MBW, Consider founder and CEO, Denis Ladegaillerie, reveals that Consider (together with TuneCore) has deployed Gen-AI detection applied sciences whose capabilities have develop into “99% dependable” – enabling them to determine the particular AI mannequin and platform that spawned any given observe. When stated mannequin/platform is recognized as originating from an unlicensed service, Consider and TuneCore will block distribution of any content material.
In the meantime, Consider has additionally confirmed to MBW that it has inked new music licensing agreements with two notable Gen-AI corporations: ElevenLabs and Udio… (MBW)
5. UNIVERSAL IS SELLING 50% OF ITS SPOTIFY STAKE, GENERATING AROUND $1.4 BILLION
Common Music Group will promote half of its fairness stake in Spotify and use the proceeds to assist fund an expanded share buyback program totaling EUR €1 billion (USD $1.17 billion), the corporate confirmed on Wednesday (April 29) alongside its Q1 2026 outcomes.
The choice comes three weeks after Invoice Ackman’s Pershing Sq. launched a $64 billion takeover bid for UMG that proposed liquidating the corporate’s complete Spotify stake to assist fund the deal. UMG’s board has but to decide on the Ackman proposal.
A UMG press launch on Wednesday confirmed: “Per the Firm’s strategy to artist compensation, artists will share within the proceeds. UMG’s share will initially be directed in direction of its buyback program.”
That dedication to artist participation in any Spotify sale dates again to 2018… (MBW)
Associate message: MBW’s Weekly Spherical-up is supported by BMI, the international chief in performing rights administration, devoted to supporting songwriters, composers and publishers and championing the worth of music. Discover out extra about BMI right here. Music Enterprise Worldwide
