Industry Transactions and Partnerships
Concord and BMG have announced intentions to merge their operations. Concord has also finalized the acquisition of Mothership Music Publishing and its catalog of 5,000 songs. Discussions are reportedly underway between iHeartRadio and SiriusXM regarding a potential merger. Björn Bauer Appointed CFO of Combined BMG and Concord Music Company will oversee the financial aspects of this significant consolidation.
Universal Music Group and Spotify
Universal Music Group is planning to sell a 50% share of its Spotify holdings to finance a stock repurchase program. Spotify has established a partnership with Peloton to integrate guided workout experiences and has implemented new verification procedures to address concerns related to artificial intelligence. Spotify Pays a Record $11 Billion+ to the Music Industry in 2025 demonstrates the platform’s growing financial influence.
Artist Rights and New Music
Taylor Swift has filed for trademarks to protect her voice and likeness, anticipating potential unauthorized use through artificial intelligence technology.
New album and EP releases this week include projects from Kacey Musgraves, Zara Larsson, Isaiah Rashad, Shoreline Mafia, American Football, Durand Bernarr, Lil Tjay, Asake, and Junior Varsity.
Singles released this week feature contributions from Madonna & Sabrina Carpenter, Lizzo, The Black Keys, Vince Staples, Hannah Cohen, Mikayla Geier, Graham Barham, Alana Springsteen, Madeon & Slayyyter.
STELLA LEFTY released “I Know I Know,” a track co-written by JKash & Joe Reeves, following its online popularity and her performance at Stagecoach. Mikayla Geier’s “HOTLINE,” produced by CJ Baran, represents her first new release of the year. Chanel Beads released “Song for the Messenger” as a preview of their upcoming album. Hannah Cohen released “Golden Chain,” signaling a new direction in her musical work. Bella Poarch released “Ribcage,” her debut track with MNRK Records. Madeon and Slayyyter collaborated on “Fire Away,” coinciding with the announcement of Madeon’s upcoming project, Victory. Jensen McRae released “One More Cowboy.” Brutalismus 3000 and Boys Noize released a collaborative track, “I Bring My Gun To The Function.” Graham Barham released “I’M THE ONE,” continuing his work in the “club country” genre. Alana Springsteen released “i loved you then,” her fourth single since signing with Santa Anna earlier this year.
Upcoming Releases
Artists scheduled to release new projects in the coming week include Lykke Li, MUNA, Stephen Sanchez, Royal & the Serpent, Deb Never, Black Veil Brides, Neil Diamond, The Lemon Twigs, Chris Brown, Jason Mraz, glaive, kurtains, Amy Grant, Ray Bull, Social Distortion, Testament, ZEP, and Aldous Harding.
Album Announcements
Ariana Grande, Lizzo, Kali Uchis, Vince Staples, Madeon, TAEYONG, Arc Iris, Horse Lords, and Born At Midnite have all announced forthcoming album releases. Industry Updates: New Releases and Legal Developments provides a broader overview of these announcements and other industry news.
Promotional Activities
Madonna collaborated with Grindr to promote the release of her new album.
