TikTok’s SoundOn distribution service helped UK rapper Tkandz achieve chart success with his September track NOW OR NEVER. The song appeared on 1.5 million platforms and reached number 30 on the British singles rankings. German charts placed the recording at number 12, while Austrian audiences brought it into the top 10. Spotify lists the track…
Japanese entertainment company Avex expanded its American leadership team after acquiring S10 Publishing and appointing Brandon Silverstein as chief executive. The firm named Zeke Silvera to head East Coast operations and artist development from New York. Spencer LeBoff will manage West Coast operations and publishing acquisitions from the new West Hollywood headquarters. Megan Timko became…
Music distribution company Believe named Kazunari Imai as chairman and strategic business relations senior executive director for its Japanese operations. Imai will work under Erika Ogawa and Sylvain Delange to develop business strategy and explore mergers and partnerships. The appointment strengthens the company’s presence in Japan after entering the market in October 2023. Believe launched…
Music distributor FUGA extended its agreement with classical specialist Naxos Music Group after its initial 2022 partnership. The expanded deal adds marketing strategy, YouTube management, product creation and royalty oversight to existing digital distribution services. FUGA integrated streaming data from Presto Music into its analytics platform for the first time, allowing Naxos to track performance…
Warner Records executive Tom Corson accepted the Spirit of Life Award from City of Hope at a Los Angeles ceremony that raised nearly $6 million for cancer research. The entertainment industry has contributed $170 million through this annual campaign since 1973. The organization allocates funds toward treatment programs and music therapy services for young cancer…
Spotify will create artificial intelligence music tools with three major labels and independent distributors through partnerships announced Thursday. Sony Music Group, Universal Music Group, and Warner Music Group have joined forces with Merlin and Believe to develop what the streaming platform terms artist-first products. The company has established a generative AI research laboratory and product…
Beatport will connect its digital music marketplace to live event ticket sales through a new service focused on electronic dance music. The platform launched Thursday with European ticketing provider Weeztix and targets labels, promoters and venues across the United Kingdom and European Union. Event organizers can sell tickets through Beatportal while attaching custom playlists that…
Spotify added text input on Wednesday to its artificial intelligence disc jockey for premium members who prefer typing over speaking. The company launched Spanish-language commands through DJ Livi after rolling out voice requests earlier this year. Users can submit genre preferences, artist selections, or activity themes, such as fall folk songs or Halloween party tracks….
An IndiGo aircraft traveling from Kolkata to Srinagar diverted to Varanasi on Wednesday after crew members identified a mechanical problem. The plane carried 166 people and touched down without incident at Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport. Ground staff evacuated all passengers safely and positioned a replacement aircraft to complete the journey. The airline grounded the…
Chinese export limits on rare earth materials pushed global automakers toward electric motors that avoid these elements. The Indian Institute of Technology Delhi works on designs that reduce or eliminate rare earth dependence. Companies across America, Germany, and Japan develop vehicles without these materials after Beijing tightened controls in October following earlier restrictions in 2018…
