Music Business Worldwide

The latest music news from Music Business Worldwide, News, jobs and analysis for the global music industry and on artists new releases and where to get new mp3 songs.

1. Tencent Music’s $2.4B Ximalaya takeover cleared by China’s competition watchdog – with conditions

   Tencent Music Entertainment‘s acquisition of Chinese audiobooks and podcasting platform Ximalaya has cleared China’s competition watchdog. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) issued an announcement on Tuesday (May 12) granting conditional approval to the USD $2.4 billion cash-and-stock deal, nearly a year after Tencent Music first unveiled the transaction...

2. Jury orders Kanye West to pay over $438,000 over unauthorized sample at ‘Donda’ listening party

   A manager for Artists Revenue Advocates said they will appeal the larger part of the case, hoping to secure larger damages.

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3. HYBE overhauls brand identity as it pushes further into superfans and technology

   HYBE says it looks to become “an entertainment lifestyle platform company built on both music and technology.”

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4. Indie-pop duo The Twigs sues FKA Twigs back, seeking to ban her from performing under the name

   The indie-pop duo that registered the trademark “The Twigs” in 1996 asked the court to block her pending US trademark application.

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5. Samsung blames content partner for Dua Lipa TV box image dispute, denies ‘intentional misuse’

   Samsung said the image was used to reflect the content of its third-party partners available on Samsung TV, and was provided by a content partner.

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6. Warner Music launches Atlantic Records Finland, led by Fredi Lundén and Kristiina Wheeler

   Lundén promoted to Director, Atlantic Records Finland; Wheeler joins as Senior A&R

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7. Warner Music Group’s Armin Zerza adds COO role to his remit, just one year after joining as CFO

   Zerza's new remit as COO will encompass corporate development, central marketing, business and market intelligence, and WMX

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8. Bertelsmann veteran Björn Bauer named CFO of combined BMG-Concord music company

   The appointment will take effect upon closing of the BMG-Concord merger, which is expected to fall in the second half of 2026.

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9. If you thought the US music industry was concerned about AI, you should hear what they’re saying in China.

   Tencent Music has explicitly blamed the 'proliferation of unauthorized AI-generated content' for creating 'headwinds' for its music subscription growth.

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10. Jim Mahoney promoted to new Chief Membership Officer role at Merlin

    Mahoney’s promotion is accompanied by a series of senior Membership team promotions, including Bela Zecker, Joe Mercer Danher, and Ben Sperling.

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