Imagine Sets Production and Financing Pact With Warner Music Group (EXCLUSIVE)

Spotify and Universal Music Group have finalized a new and expanded multi-year global licensing agreement. As part of the arrangement, announced Wednesday, the label group deepens its role as an early adopter of Spotify's marketing tools and other tech features that both parties hope will foster more impactful connections between fans and artists in innovative ways.

Spotify and Universal Music Group have finalized a new and expanded multi-year global licensing agreement.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSpotify and Universal Music Group, one of the industry’s three biggest music companies, announced a multiyear global music licensing pact.Under the deal, UMG will “deepen its leading role as an early adopter of future products” on Spotify’s platform and “provide valuable feedback to Spotify’s development team,” the companies said.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorSpotify and Universal Music Group, one of the industry’s three biggest music companies, announced a multiyear global music licensing pact.Under the deal, UMG will “deepen its leading role as an early adopter of future products” on Spotify’s platform and “provide valuable feedback to Spotify’s development team,” the companies said.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterThe Warner Music Group / Blavatnik Family Foundation Social Justice Fund has announced the external members of its Board of Directors. According to the announcement, the five leaders will help ensure the Fund’s governance will include independent oversight and accountability.

Warner Music Group (WMG) and the Blavatnik Family Foundation have announced the external board of directors for their joint Social Justice Fund, including executives from a wide range of backgrounds and disciplines. The $100 million fund was announced in June following "#TheShowMustBePaused," an industry-wide campaign to sho

Chris Atlas has been promoted to executive vp, urban music & marketing for Warner Records, following a three-year tenure as the label’s senior vp, head of urban marketing. Based at the company’s Downtown Los Angeles headquarters, Atlas reports to Warner’s co-chairman/COO Tom Corson.“With 25 years in this business, Chris’s breadth of experience and knowledge is extraordinary, and he has forged deep relationships throughout the industry,” said Corson in a statement.

Universal Music Group is making voting easier for its U.S. employees by making Election Day 2020, Nov. 3, a paid company holiday. The company announced the news to staffers in an internal memo Friday (July 17) and obtained by Billboard.  “After all, the right to vote is the very foundation of democracy -- perhaps of freedom itself,” read

Garrett Hedlund goes shirtless and shows off his toned body in this new clip from his movie Dirt Music, which is premiering exclusively on JustJared.com.

John Reilly has launched his own public relations agency called JRPR Music & More, Billboard exclusively reveals today (July 16).Reilly, who was the former senior vice president of Rogers & Cowan music department and whose long-standing clients include Juanes and Los Tigres del Norte, will be joined by publicist Sylvia Bedrosian.Initial clients for the new JRPR Music & More include Juanes, Rosalia, Los Tigres del Norte, The Hispanic Heritage Awards, The Mavericks, Lunay, Sebastian Yatra, St.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterSony Music Group, which includes of Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, announced it has named non-profit leader Towalame Austin executive vice president, philanthropy and social impact.

DEALSSony/ATV has signed the songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist Linus Wiklund to a global publishing deal. He is known for his work with Avicii, Zedd, David Guetta, Rita Ora and more.

Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy has set out a plan for reparations to be made within the music industry.It comes after Tweedy last month announced that he would be donating 5% of his songwriting royalties to Black Lives Matter moving forwards.“The modern music industry is built almost entirely on Black art.

As music biopics on superstars like Elton John, Elvis and Aretha Franklin continue to dominate the big screen, Imagine Entertainment has inked amulti-year strategic partnership with Warner Music Group. Under the pact, the banner from Ron Howard and Brian Grazer will co-produce and co-finance a slate of projects that will span film, television, documentary and short-form content.

Brian Grazer and Ron Howard, has announced a multi-year strategic partnership with Warner Music Group that will see the two industry leaders collaborate closely on music-focused projects across film, TV, documentaries and more.The partnership gives Imagine access to the music libraries of WMG's family of labels, as well as publisher Warner Chappell.

Also Read: Nat Geo Pushes 'Genius: Aretha' Premiere From Memorial Day to 'Later This Year'“I’ve always looked for new ways to bring a story to life. This is my passion.

immediately shutting down again the same day to ramp up COVID-19 testing.Also Read: 'General Hospital,' 'Days of Our Lives,' 'The Young and the Restless' Lead Daytime Emmys Nominations“We have paused very briefly to modify our testing protocol to better accommodate the large volume of testing needed,” a rep for the show said in a statement.

Daniel Holloway Executive Editor, TV“Days of Our Lives” producers plan to resume production later this summer.In a memo sent Friday to cast and crew, producer Corday Productions announced plans to begin work on new episodes of the long-running NBC daytime drama Sept. 1.

Also Read: 'Curb Your Enthusiasm' to Return for Season 11 on HBOThe cast includes Jurnee Smollett (“Birds of Prey,” “Underground”), Jonathan Majors (“Da 5 Bloods,” “The Last Black Man in San Francisco”), Aunjanue Ellis (“When They See Us”); Abbey Lee (“Mad Max: Fury Road”), Jada Harris (“The Resident”), Wunmi Mosaku (“Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them”), and Michael Kenneth Williams (HBO’s “The Wire” and “Boardwalk Empire”). Recurring guests include Courtney B.

 Addison Rae.The two have been teasing their millions of followers when it comes to the status of their relationship since last year, getting flirty on social media as fans root for them to be together. ET's Katie Krause spoke to 20-year-old Bryce on Monday, who talked about his complicated relationship with 19-year-old Addison.«We are hanging out,» he says.