Music Business Worldwide

UMG’s hospitality arm to open its first UK hotel on London’s Denmark Street

Mandy Dalugdug — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 17:53:14 +0000

It will be UMHL's first hotel in the UK, and its second in Europe after UMusic Hotel Madrid, with Madrid the only UMusic Hotel currently operating.

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HarbourView, on track to surpass $4B in assets under management, acquires David Kershenbaum’s producer royalties – including Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car

Tim Ingham — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:53:25 +0000

The transaction was announced on Thursday (September 3). Financial terms were not disclosed.

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Wilson Pickett estate strikes deal with Primary Wave covering publishing catalog and name, image & likeness rights

Tim Ingham — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:35:20 +0000

Primary Wave announced the deal on Wednesday (September 2). Financial terms were not disclosed

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DEAG founder Peter Schwenkow and Swiss private equity firm Ufenau plan European live and family entertainment group, with up to €100m of equity to deploy

Music Business Worldwide — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 15:58:34 +0000

Ufenau intends to back the initiative as investor and majority shareholder, and says it is already reviewing initial investment opportunities.

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Donald Trump’s administration just sided with OpenAI in a key ‘fair use’ case. Here’s what it means for music’s fight with Anthropic and Suno.

Tim Ingham — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 21:20:17 +0000

It appears to be the first time Washington has intervened in any of the copyright cases now stacked up against AI companies

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SM Entertainment and Tencent Music establish Beijing joint venture STE, with Super Junior-M’s Zhoumi as CEO

Music Business Worldwide — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:37:28 +0000

STE will develop and manage artists for the Greater China market, and says it's preparing a new Chinese idol group for a debut within two to three years

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Mateusz Smółka named Managing Director of Warner Music Eastern Europe

Rafaela Fornitani — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:17:56 +0000

Smółka, who joins from Spotify after eight years at the company, will take up the newly created role on Monday (September 7).

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After two failed arrest bids, Korean police say HYBE Chairman Bang Si-hyuk will be referred to prosecutors this week – without detention

Mandy Dalugdug — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:12:57 +0000

The move would close a police investigation into the K-pop company's 2020 stock market listing that has been running since December 2024.

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Bad Bunny wins crucial reggaeton ‘dembow’ rhythm ruling

Mandy Dalugdug — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 19:00:50 +0000

Judge André Birotte Jr. ruled that plaintiffs failed to identify a single copyrighted work of their own combining the elements they say defendants took.

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Now Canada’s SOCAN sues Suno, claiming it illegally copied hits like ‘Both Sides Now’ and ‘Sk8er Boi’

Tim Ingham — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 18:48:16 +0000

SOCAN is the third collecting society to take Suno to court – and the first to file since one of them won

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