Warner Music Raises $250 Million for Catalog Acquisitions

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBrazilian superstar singer Anitta is the latest performer to join the lineup for the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards, taking place on Nov. 6.She will be performing a medley including her latest hit “Me Gusta” from the Lapa Arches in Rio de Janeiro.“I am so happy to once again join the Latin Grammys,” Anitta said.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorKen Hensley, keyboardist, guitarist and chief songwriter for long-running British hard rock band Uriah Heep, died Wednesday, according to a post by guitarist Mick Box on the band’s official Twitter account. He was 75.5th November 2020: I received devastating news this morning from Ken’s manager Steve Weltman that Ken Hensley has passed away.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHipgnosis Songs has acquired 42 catalogs, comprising more than 33,000 songs, from Kobalt Music Copyrights S.à.r.l. for a total consideration of $322.9 million.

MEXICO CITY -- Armando Manzanero still has music to give. At 84, the Mexican master of romantic music, who has penned Spanish classics such as “Somos Novios” and “Contigo Aprendí”, is still working the tunes on his piano.When answering the phone for an interview about the Lifetime Achievement Award he'll receive at the Latin Billboard Awards on Wednesday, he was in the middle of a recording session.“Everything I say and I compose, or feel, I record so it doesn't get lost,” he said.

Gaming and entertainment news network VENN unveiled on Tuesday $26 million in Series A fundingco-led by investors including BITKRAFT, Josh Kroenke and Nexstar Media Group. "With this new funding round, VENN is positioned for its next phase of growth as we plan to further expand our content creation capabilities and continue to enhance the distribution of our ‘instant and everywhere’ viewing experience" said Ben Kusin, VENN’s co-founder and co-CEO.

Denise Petski Senior Managing EditorEXCLUSIVE: The Originals‘ alum Steven Krueger is returning to the CW for a recurring role on the upcoming third season of Roswell, New Mexico. The role also reunites Krueger with Roswell, New Mexico creator Carina Adly MacKenzie, who was a writer on The Originals.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVivendi, parent company of Universal Music Group, confirmed that it plans to take UMG public in 2022.

Todd Spangler NY Digital EditorStreaming startup VENN, two months after its official launch, announced that it has closed a $26 million Series A round of financing to expand its gaming and esports network.The funding brings VENN to $43 million total raised to date. The latest round was led by broadcaster Nexstar Media Group and esports investment fund Bitkraft, which had previously invested in VENN’s seed round.

Rebecca Davis editorWarner Music’s independent distribution division ADA launched on Monday in Japan, the world’s second-largest music market.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWhile there’d been vague talk about an Apple music channel for years, it was still a surprise when Apple Music TV suddenly appeared at 9 a.m. ET on Monday morning.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorApple has launched Apple Music TV, a free 24-hour curated livestream of popular music videos that will also include “exclusive new music videos and premiers, special curated music video blocks, and live shows and events as well as chart countdowns and guests,” according to the announcement.Apple Music TV will be available to U.S. residents only on the Apple Music app and the Apple TV app.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe pandemic has crushed the live-entertainment business, and concert venues in particular, all over the world — but New York’s may have been hit the hardest in the U.S. Due largely to the density of the city and its mass-gathering-based culture, the virus struck New York first and fastest, and has claimed nearly 33,000 lives.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHipgnosis Songs and its Investment adviser, The Family (Music) Limited, announced that Grammy Award-winning songwriter, producer and music executive L.A.

Ed Meza @edmezavarGermany’s Maze Pictures has boarded Moscow-based Metrafilm’s KGB comedy series “Pawns,” from writers Michael and Lily Idov, who penned the award-winning 2018 Cannes competition screener “Leto.”The company, which has offices in Munich, Berlin and Lucerne, Switzerland, is also developing a miniseries based on “Ghosts of Berlin,” a book of supernatural stories by filmmaker Rudolf Herzog (son of Werner Herzog), and the tentatively titled mystery series “Parallels.”On the film

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLava Records founder Jason Flom (pictured above, right) has long been known as one of the most successful label heads and A&R reps of the past 30-odd years.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNew York-based publisher Round Hill Music is aiming to raise $375 million for its new royalty fund when it on the London Stock Exchange next month, according to reports in the U.K.’s Times and Music Business Worldwide.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn World Mental Health Day, Saturday, October 10, MusiCares is launching a new Wellness in Music survey. According to the announcement, this new annual survey will help the organization to assess the music community’s mental health and wellness to better inform MusiCares of the needs facing their clients.“As we settle into month seven of the global pandemic, MusiCares is asking music professionals with 5+ years of experience to share their honest realities,

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBritish soul singer Celeste has dropped the video for her new single “Hear My Voice,” via Interscope Records.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJay-Z and Meek Mill’s Reform Alliance announced today that it has bolstered its executive leadership team with the hiring of Janet Choi as Chief Content and Communications Officer.