From JYP’s AI artist enterprise to UMG’s Downtown deal inquiry pause… it’s MBW’s weekly round-up

This week, the European Fee paused its investigation into Common Music Group‘s proposed $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings whereas awaiting requested info.

In the meantime, JYP Leisure revealed its formidable plans to create an “unprecedented” digital Okay-pop artist, hiring AI and Unreal Engine specialists for the challenge.

Elsewhere, Chopping Edge Group continued its growth, buying AMC Studios’ total TV music catalog together with compositions from hit collection The Strolling Lifeless.

Additionally this week, Warner Music Group revealed an enormous change to the corporate’s UK operations, aligning its Atlantic and Warner Data UK labels with US management to supply “extra firepower” for British artists.

Listed here are a number of the largest headlines from the previous few days…

1. EU PAUSES PROBE INTO UNIVERSAL’S $775M DOWNTOWN DEAL

The European Fee has quickly suspended its investigation into Common Music Group’s proposed $775 million acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings whereas awaiting requested info.

The pause comes in the course of the EC’s in-depth Part 2 investigation, which started in July following preliminary considerations that the transaction might scale back competitors within the wholesale marketplace for recorded music distribution within the European Financial Space.

“We look ahead to persevering with to work constructively with the Fee to convey the advantages this transaction will deliver to the impartial music group in Europe,” a UMG spokesperson instructed MBW on Thursday.

”This deal is about providing impartial music makers entry to world-class instruments and assist to assist them succeed. We’re assured that the Fee will acknowledge the advantages of the transaction for artists, labels, and impartial music in Europe, and clear the transaction.” (MBW)

2. JYP ENTERTAINMENT IS HIRING FOR AI AND UNREAL ENGINE EXPERTS TO DEVELOP AN ‘UNPRECEDENTED’ VIRTUAL Okay-POP ARTIST

Seoul-based JYP Leisure is recruiting specialists in synthetic intelligence, movement graphics, and Unreal Engine to develop what it calls an “unprecedented” AI artist by way of its tech enterprise unit Blue Storage.

Job listings on the corporate’s web site reveal a number of openings, from Inventive Manufacturing and Product Design executives to LLM Engineers, 3D Artwork Administrators, Character Interplay Engineers, and Character Modelers.

JYP’s digital artist ambitions coincide with the worldwide success of its flagship group Stray Children, whose newest album KARMA debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200, making them the primary act to have their first seven Billboard 200 entries debut on the prime spot.

JYP said its purpose is to reply whether or not “AI can grow to be a being that calls followers’ names and interacts with them,” with Blue Storage Co-CEO Jeong Min-jong describing it as “the primary try to recreate the essence of leisure by way of AI”... (MBW)

3. CUTTING EDGE ACQUIRES AMC STUDIOS’ FULL CATALOG OF TV MUSIC RIGHTS, INCLUDING COMPOSITIONS FROM HIT SERIES ‘THE WALKING DEAD’

UK-born Chopping Edge Group has acquired each publishing and grasp rights to AMC Studios’ total TV music library for an undisclosed quantity, including compositions from The Strolling Lifeless franchise and Anne Rice diversifications to its portfolio.

The compositions and recordings be a part of CEG’s portfolio of over 400,000 owned and managed media music rights, valued at greater than $1 billion.

Led by CEO Philip Moross, the corporate accomplished a $500 million debt refinancing in April 2024 and recognized a “circa $1.5 billion pipeline” of potential investments… (MBW)

4. WMG PROMISES ‘MORE FIREPOWER’ FOR BRITISH ARTISTS AS ATLANTIC AND WARNER RECORDS UK LABELS ALIGN WITH US LEADERSHIP

Warner Music Group introduced on Tuesday (September 3) that its flagship Atlantic and Warner Data labels within the UK and US will “collaborate extra intently” throughout A&R and advertising and marketing to present artists from each nations larger world affect.

On this new framework, Ed Howard and Briony Turner, the Co-Presidents of Atlantic UK, will be a part of the worldwide management group of Atlantic Music Group (AMG) and report back to AMG CEO Elliot Grainge.

Joe Kentish, President of Warner Data and Parlophone Label Group within the UK, will be a part of Warner Data’ world management group and report back to Warner Data Group Chairman & CEO Aaron Bay-Schuck and Chairman & COO Tom Corson.

The modifications observe the introduced departure of Warner Music UK CEO Tony Harlow, who will step down in October after virtually six years within the function… (MBW)

5. ARRIVAL ARTISTS AND ATC LIVE MERGE TO CREATE GLOBAL BOOKING AGENCY ROAM

North American reserving company Arrival Artists and UK-based ATC Reside have merged to type ROAM, an impartial company representing over 800 artists with greater than 80 workers throughout London, New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Paris, and Glasgow.

The businesses described the merger as establishing ROAM because the “fifth largest” impartial reserving company globally, although monetary phrases weren’t disclosed.

The mixed roster consists of main acts reminiscent of The Lumineers, Japanese Breakfast, Sufjan Stevens, Mac DeMarco, Huge Thief, Black Pumas, Fontaines D.C., Jungle, Khruangbin, Nick Cave & The Dangerous Seeds, and PJ Harvey.

ROAM’s purchasers collectively carry out over 10,000 exhibits yearly at venues together with Madison Sq. Backyard, O2 Area, and Hollywood Bowl, whereas showing at festivals like Glastonbury, Coachella, and Primavera… (MBW)

Accomplice message: MBW’s Weekly Spherical-up is supported by BMI, the world 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