From The Orchard buying Brazil’s OniMusic to the BMG-Harmony merger… it’s MBW’s weekly round-up

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 distinguished Brazil-headquartered Christian music label, distributor, and “digital intelligence” firm.

Plus, Main 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 thus far within the trade”.

Elsewhere, Consider and TuneCore revealed that they’re robotically 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 would promote half of its fairness stake in Spotify, producing round $1.4 billion.

Listed below are a number of 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 attention-grabbing particulars.

For instance, Harmony boss Bob Valentine will function CEO of the brand new mixed firm, with Thomas Coesfeld as Chairman. (Coesfeld, at present CEO of BMG, additionally steps as much as change into CEO of BMG father or mother Bertelsmann in January 2027.)

The newly mixed firm’s international headquarters is in Nashville (at present residence to Harmony’s HQ) whereas its European headquarters will probably be in Berlin (at present residence 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, residence 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 mentioned is “one among 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

Main Wave Music has closed its fourth flagship music fund at $2.225 billion in complete commitments. The fund exceeded each its authentic $1.5 billion goal and its $2 billion exhausting cap, Main Wave mentioned on Wednesday (April 29).

Main Wave Music IP Fund 4 is the fourth consecutive oversubscribed fund from Main Wave, which says the car is the “largest devoted closed-end music royalties fund raised thus far within the trade”.

The fund was backed by a worldwide investor base spanning insurance coverage corporations, pension funds, endowments, and huge household workplaces, in response to a press launch, which additionally famous that Main Wave is a strategic companion of monetary big Brookfield Asset Administration. The fundraise comes at a second of fast enlargement for Main 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 robotically 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 change into “99% dependable” – enabling them to establish the precise AI mannequin and platform that spawned any given observe. When mentioned 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 total 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: “In step with 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)