Universal Music Pulls Song Catalog From Triller, Saying TikTok Copycat ‘Shamefully’ Withheld Artist Payments

America Ferrara is set to make her feature directorial debut with an adaptation of the young adultnovel I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter for Netflix. The New York Times bestseller from Erika L.

Emmy and Golden Globe winner America Ferrera is set to make her feature directorial debut with an adaptation of the New York Times bestselling novel, I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter by author Erika Sánchez, who will serve as a co-producer on the film. Anonymous Content and MACRO are producing the pic, which will be released on Netflix.

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.

Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are heading out on a getaway.

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.

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

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorThe war of words between Ryan Kavanaugh’s Triller and Universal Music Group escalated Friday, after UMG pulled its catalog from the video-sharing app citing Triller’s failure to pay licensing fees for songs used on its service.Early Friday, Universal Music said it was removing its music from Triller — which positions itself as a rival to popular social-video app TikTok — because, “Triller has shamefully withheld payments owed to our artists and refuses to

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

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.

Pussy Riot have shared a video for their new track ‘RAGE’, a political song that calls for the release of Alexei Navalny from jail.The Russian art collective’s song arrives days after members Masha Alekhina, Viktoria Naraxsa and Lucy Shteyn were arrested in Moscow after attending one of several mass co-ordinated protest in support of the imprisoned Kremlin critic.According to Pitchfork, Pussy Riot’s Nadya Tolokonnikova and Chris Greatti wrote ‘RAGE’, which is produced by Greatti and Crazy