Triller, Universal Music Group Trade Shade as Licensing Battle Escalates Publicly

Jesy Nelson left Little Mix – also made up of Perrie Edwards, Jade Thirlwall and Leigh-Anne Pinnock – last year and it's thought she could now be working with Little Mix’s producers for the release of her own music. The singer, who shared a picture from a recording studio this week, recently followed two of Little Mix’s former producers, Patrick Jordan Patrikios and Sunny on Instagram.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorUniversal Music Group has announced the launch of Virgin Music Label & Artist Services, a “new global network delivering premium and flexible artist and label services to the industry’s most dynamic entrepreneurs and independent talent worldwide, inspired and influenced by the spirit and ethos of the iconic Virgin Records label.” The long-running label, originally founded by Richard Branson in 1972, came to Universal as part of its acquisition of EMI’s

Having built one worldwide sensation, Big Hit Entertainment, the management company and record label behind BTS, is looking to do it again. Big Hit and UMG announced Wednesday a strategic partnership in which they will assemble and debut a new global K-pop boy group together in the United States for the first time.The members will be selected from a global audition process that will be televised sometime next year with a U.S.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBig Hit Entertainment, the South Korean company that brought BTS to the world, and Universal Music Group today announced an expanded strategic partnership that will see the two companies working together to “increase opportunities for artists through innovation and technology, whilst expanding the global reach of K-pop music and culture around the world,” according the announcement.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWarner Music Group has announced an investment in the Arab world’s largest independent record label, Rotana Music, which is part of Rotana Group, widely considered the largest entertainment company in the region.

Rita Ora has discussed her upcoming third studio album, and teased the potential of more new music with Imanbek.

Pancake Day.Shrove Tuesday will fall on February 16 in 2021 and is always celebrated 47 days before Easter, meaning the date changes every year.The Pancake Day blowout tradition is before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent, because they are a way to use up rich foods such as eggs, milk, and sugar.This year, the nation will be celebrating at home - but will you be experimenting with sweet of savoury toppings this year?If you've got a craving for something a bit different this year, we've

Naman Ramachandran U.K. and U.S.

The French media conglomerate Vivendi says it plans to spin off Universal Music Group in an IPO by the end of 2021. UMG, one of the "Big Three" record labels alongside Warner Music Group and Sony Music, is based in Santa Monica, California and led by CEO Lucian Grange.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVivendi plans to list 60% of its share of Universal Music Group on the Euronext market in Amsterdam by the end of the year, according to announcements from the companies in the early hours of Saturday.

Rebecca Davis editorUniversal Music Group (UMG) and K-pop giant YG Entertainment have invested an undisclosed sum in an up-and-coming global digital live-streaming platform established by BTS backer Big Hit Entertainment and cloud video tech firm Kiswe, the companies announced Tuesday.Leading K-pop firm and YG rival Big Hit first linked up with New Jersey-headquartered Kiswe in an MOU last May.

Also Read: Oscars Eliminate Executive Committee Picks for International Feature, Expand ShortlistThe rest of the list: Bosnia and Herzegovina’s “Quo Vadis, Aida?,” Guatemala’s “La Llorona,” Hong Kong’s “Better Days,” Iran’s “Sun Children,” Norway’s “Hope,” “Russia’s “Dear Comrades!” and Tunisia’s “The Man Who Sold His Skin.”Normally, the general voters would choose all but three of the films on the shortlist, and then an executive committee would look at the results and add three additional

TikTok have announced an “expanded global alliance” that will benefit both users of the app and artists signed to the label group.The short-form video app, which launched in 2016, allows users to use clips of songs to soundtrack their 15-second or 60-second videos.In a press release, UMG announced that a new deal between the two parties would see their full catalogue be made available for use on the app.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJust days after Triller and Universal Music Group essentially declared war on each other, UMG has unveiled a global agreement with TikTok “that delivers equitable compensation for recording artists and songwriters and significantly expands and enhances the companies’ existing relationship, promoting the development of new innovative experiences,” the announcement reads.Via the agreement, which covers recorded music from artists at UMG’s labels and songwriters with

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterUniversal Music Group has promoted veteran music attorney Michael Seltzer to executive VP of business & legal affairs and head of commercial transactions.According to the announcement, Seltzer oversees a team of 15 attorneys helping shape and negotiate the company’s agreements including recording contracts, label ventures, label distribution, merchandise, vendors, trademark entities, brand partners, film, TV and theatrical productions and equity and asset

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorUniversal Music Group has removed its entire music library from video app Triller, a would-be TikTok competitor, alleging Triller has withheld payments to the music giant’s artists.“We will not work with platforms that do not value artists. Triller has shamefully withheld payments owed to our artists and refuses to negotiate a license going forward,” a UMG rep said in a statement to Variety.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorUniversal Music Group has announced the promotion of Will Tanous to Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative Officer, effective immediately. He will continue to serve as a member of the company’s executive management board.In his new position, Tanous, who will continue to report to UMG Chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, will retain his current responsibilities and add new ones involving several major strategic and corporate endeavors.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Los Angeles-based music and technology company Create Music Group has launched a beta version of Create Carbon, a credit card that it says will give music creators the ability to access their royalties as soon as they’re earned, rather waiting to receive them via regular monthly payouts.The company prides itself on showing artists how much money they’re making on a daily basis by pulling millions of different data points from sources like Spotify, Apple Music