This week, Create Music Group confirmed to MBW that it has acquired a minority stake in DistroKid, investing alongside CVC Capital Partners.
Meanwhile, Universal Music Group posted $3.90 billion in Q3 revenues, up 11.7% YoY, with growth driven by subscription revenue, physical sales and artists including Mrs. GREEN APPLE, Olivia Rodrigo, Stray Kids, Ariana Grande, and The Beatles.
Elsewhere, Spotify lined up a Q1 2027 launch for its AI covers and remixes tool, reportedly weighing a $4–$5 monthly add-on.
Also this week, a Japan-linked investment group floated plans to acquire up to 50% of JYP Entertainment, the South Korean company behind Stray Kids and TWICE.
Plus: Universal and Sony won court approval to depose a former Menlo Ventures principal over a deleted post in which she said she had shifted most of her music listening to Suno.
Here are some of the biggest headlines from the past few days…
1. Exclusive: Create Music Group now owns a minority stake in DistroKid
Create Music Group has acquired a minority stake in DistroKid, MBW can reveal.
Los Angeles-based Create – which is backed by Flexpoint Ford and Ares – made the investment earlier this year.
Create’s investment was executed adjacent to CVC Capital Partners’ deal to acquire a majority stake in DistroKid, which closed in Q3. (MBW)
2. Universal Music Group generated $3.90B in Q3, up 11.7% YoY – driven by Mrs. Green Apple, Olivia Rodrigo, Stray Kids, Ariana Grande, and The Beatles
Universal Music Group generated revenues of EUR €3.394 billion (USD $3.90B) across all of its divisions (including recorded music, publishing, and more) in Q3 (the three months ending September 30, 2026).
That’s according to UMG‘s latest quarterly results, published on Thursday (October 29).
They reveal that UMG’s overall Q3 revenue grew 11.7% YoY at constant currency, a figure that includes the consolidation of Downtown Music Holdings. (MBW)
3. Spotify plans Q1 2027 launch for AI covers and remixes tool, weighing $4–$5 monthly price (report)
Spotify plans to launch its AI-powered covers and remixes tool in the first quarter of 2027.
That’s according to the Financial Times, which reported the timeline on Friday (October 30), citing people familiar with the plans.
The company is weighing a price of USD $4 to $5 per month for the tool, on top of existing subscription fees, one of those people told the FT. (MBW)
4. Stray Kids’ label JYP is worth over $1B. Is it about to sell a 50% stake?
A Japan-linked investment group says it plans to launch a tender offer for up to 50% of K-pop company JYP Entertainment.
The NEXROC Group and SVCV, Inc. said in a press release sent to Korean media on Monday (October 26) that they are considering an offer for between 25% and 50% of JYP’s issued shares.
The pair floated a price at a 30% premium to a reference share price, with the offer targeted to start on November 20. (MBW)
5. Universal and Sony cleared to depose ex-Menlo Ventures exec over deleted post: ‘I’ve personally shifted most of my listening to Suno’
Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment have been cleared by a federal court to depose a former Principal at Suno investor Menlo Ventures.
The major music companies want to question C.C. Gong about a since-deleted social media post in which she wrote: “I’ve personally shifted most of my listening to Suno. I was so tired of Spotify giving me the same overplayed recommendations.”
In March, MBW pointed to the potential legal significance of Gong’s post in an open letter to Suno CEO Mikey Shulman. (MBW)
