As Universal Music-TikTok Fight Continues, Company Sets Expansion Of Strategic Relationship With Spotify

IAC, the Barry Diller-owned company that controls The Daily Beast, has landed a strategic partnership with former Disney executive Ben Sherwood and Hearst veteran Joanna Coles to define the digital publication’s next chapter in a struggling media climate.

Perrie Edwards was just a teenager when she auditioned on the X Factor. Now, the 30 year old is about to embark on a solo career after being part of one of the best selling girl groups of all time.

Taylor Swift’s music has returned to TikTok, after her label Universal withdrew all of their artists from the platform earlier this year.In January, Universal Music Group (UMG) announced that it would withdraw its artists’ songs from the platform, citing unfair compensation for the artists and the harmful effects of AI.But now, as reported by Variety, Swift’s catalogue has returned to the site, which may be a consequence of the fact that the singer now owns the masters to her recordings.Other artists signed to the label continue to be absent from TikTok, including Bad Bunny, The Weeknd, Drake, Billie Eilish, Justin Bieber, Adele, Coldplay, J Balvin, Post Malone and Sophie Ellis-Bextor.The timing is opportune, as Swift’s latest album ‘The Tortured Poets Department’ is released next Friday (April 19).At the time, UMG explained that its licensing agreement with TikTok expired on January 31, and that negotiations to renew the contract had fallen short.“In our contract renewal discussions, we have been pressing [TikTok] on three critical issues—appropriate compensation for our artists and songwriters, protecting human artists from the harmful effects of AI, and online safety for TikTok’s users.”“TikTok proposed paying our artists and songwriters at a rate that is a fraction of the rate that similarly situated major social platforms pay”, which it says accounts for one per cent of its revenue.

EXCLUSIVE: When Murray Ferguson left UK drama house Clerkenwell Films in 2021 after more than two decades, it was a true changing of the guard. Today marks a big day for his successors, Petra Fried and Wim de Greef.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief TF Entertainment, the company behind Chinese pop sensations TFBoys and Teens in Times (aka TNT), has struck a strategic alliance with Universal Music Greater China. The deal includes global digital distribution for TF Entertainment’s roster of talent and the targeting of markets outside Mainland China. The objective is to leverage parent group Universal Music Group’s global distribution capabilities and marketing network to elevate Chinese pop’s global prominence. TF Entertainment was founded in 2009 and developed a trainee system to cultivate idol groups within Chinese pop.

Annika Pham Norwegian leading indie prodco Seefood TV, credited for the Canneseries and Rockie Awards entry “Dumbsday”, is attending the Cannes’ TV festival and content market MipTV, with the quirky romantic comedy “Still Looking” (“Evig Singel”). Prolific star actor Trond Fausa Aursvåg (“Oppenheimer” “Lilyhammer”, “Christmas on Blood Mountain”) toplines the Norwegian ensemble cast, next to Kristine Grændsen (“Dumbsday”, “Basic Bitch”), Kevin Vågenes (“What Happened to Solveig?”), Tuva Billing (“Lunch”), Lene Kongsvik Johansen (“Christmas on Cobble Street”) and Amir Asgharnejad (“Christmas on Blood Mountain”). The six-part 22 minute episode “Still Looking” is penned by Andreas Rand (“Dumbsday”), Oddne Lekang Hølaas and Mike Torsvik Johansen (“Superhero Academy”).

that her upcoming album will document her breakup with —and her latest promotional tool will only add fuel to that particular fire.Ahead of the release of on April 19, the curated , categorizing her own catalog into “the five stages of heartbreak,” namely denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. While Swifties are no doubt searching the lists for Alwyn-related Easter eggs, they won’t have to dig very far.

Stacey Solomon is about to make her mark across the pond with her latest venture, a DIY show set to air on Channel 4 in the US. Renovation Rescue, produced by none other than Hollywood icon Reese Witherspoon’s company Hello Sunshine, has already generated buzz before its premiere. Stacey herself was pleasantly surprised when she learned of Reese's interest in her.

Pat Saperstein Deputy Editor Kevin Smith could have bought the Quick Stop market he made famous in his first film, “Clerks.” But when the opportunity arose, the indie director instead put his hard-earned cash into his childhood movie theater in Atlantic Highlands, N.J., reopening it in 2022 as SModcastle Cinemas. Now he’s fighting to keep the 103-year-old theater going, even if “exhibition is in the toilet,” as he likes to say. In other words, local audiences sometimes prefer to watch big hits like “Avatar” in modern multiplexes, and keeping a repertory theater vibrant without the help of a pricey beer and wine license is not for the faint of heart, he has found.

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s relationship is doing great. Kelce’s sister-in-law, Kylie, recently discussed Kelce’s notorious romantic life, and has shared that his dynamic with Swift is “amazing.” Is Taylor Swift endorsing Joe Biden’s presidential campaign in 2024?Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce attended Madonna’s Oscar partyKylie Kelce made an appearance on the Today Show, where she shared an update on Swift and Kelce, one of the most watched couples in the world. She revealed that she and her family will always support Kelce, no matter what he does.

Kristin Cavallari and Mark Estes may have only been dating for over a month, but they are already having big talks about their future together!

Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift‘s relationship has Kylie Kelce‘s stamp of approval!

Kylie Kelce is spilling the tea on Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift!

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Universal Music Group and Spotify — the world’s largest music company and the world’s largest paid music-subscription service — have unveiled an expansion of their “strategic relationship” in an announcement that has very few details but is likely the opening of a new maneuver in UMG’s ongoing battle with TikTok. UMG and the China-based platform, which has been the leading source of music discovery for the past five years, have been in a standoff over multiple issues, primarily the platform’s low royalty payments and AI policies, since their licensing agreement expired earlier this year.

Prince Harry is feeling the heat from his wife Meghan Markle to mend ties with the Royal Family for business reasons, a royal expert claims.

Katcy Stephan Ryan Gosling and Apple Original Films exec Jessie Henderson have launched General Admission, a production company with the objective to collaborate with world class filmmakers to create bold theatrical and streaming events within all genres. In introducing their new venture, the duo has signed a three-year first-look film deal with Amazon MGM Studios. Under the pact, Amazon MGM Studios will have a first look on narrative features, some of which Gosling will star in, that General Admission intends to produce for both theatrical and streaming.

HYBE, home to K-pop juggernauts BTS, have inked a new 10-year “global alliance” with Universal Music Group (UMG).HYBE – also home to other K-pop groups such as SEVENTEEN, NewJeans and more – announced an expanded agreement with UMG. The new deal will give UMG “exclusive distribution rights” to HYBE releases for the next 10 years, while HYBE’s roster of artists will have access to the former’s “global network”.The new agreement will also see UMG further working with HYBE’s fan platform Weverse, in order to “[bring] more of a direct connection between UMG artists and their fandom[s]”.

K-pop music purveyors HYBE today announced an expanded long-term agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG), providing them exclusive distribution rights across HYBE music for the next 10 years.

Patrick Frater Asia Bureau Chief Hybe, the Korean firm behind K-pop’s BTS, has struck an expanded 10-year deal with Universal Music Group (UMG), providing Hybe’s roster of artists and labels access to UMG’s leading global network. UMG will further collaborate with Hybe’s global superfan platform Weverse, bringing more of a direct connection between UMG artists and their fandom. Hybe and UMG will additionally collaborate on artist promotions and marketing activities in North America under the oversight of Scooter Braun – who, in his time as CEO of Hybe America, acquired QC Media Holdings and incorporated SB Projects as well as Big Machine Label Group into the existing roster. Hybe and UMG first teamed up in 2017 on BTS, through a distribution agreement in Japan. In 2021, the companies expanded their relationship with a global strategic agreement which saw collaborations across multiple projects and use of Weverse for fan communication.

Wellington Love has started the w/Love production company, and already has an inaugural slate of projects lined up.