Vol 51 - Thought I would never go back, but just every Friday

Happy Friday,

Sorry we’re late - ROSTR had a party last night.

Have thoughts on this week’s news? Just hit reply.

New Music Friday

What you need to know about today’s new releases

🎶 New albums and EPs from Tame Impala, Ty Dolla $ign, Ruel, Gucci Mane, Silvana Estrada, Elias Rønnenfelt, They Are Gutting a Body of Water, elijah woods…

♪ Notable singles from Charlie Puth, Militarie Gun, Magdalena Bay, Morgan Wallen, 5 Seconds of Summer, King Princess, Jean Dawson, jigitz, bar italia, hey, nothing…

Each week, we go through Spotify’s New Music Friday playlists to highlight releases you should know about…

#1 - Only took 5 years, but Tame Impala return with their 5th LP Deadbeat with ‘My Old Ways’ taking #1.

#3 - Singer, producer & Internet personality Joji returns after 3 years with ‘PIXELATED KISSES’ under new label Virgin Music.

#4 - Charlie Puth and Bloodpop® collab on ‘Changes’ as Charlie prepares to be a dad.

#5 - Ella Langley drops ‘Choosin’ Texas,’ co-written with Miranda Lambert, Joybeth Taylor and Luke Dick.

#13 - Sudan Archives continues to ramp up for her upcoming album, this time with ‘A BUG’S LIFE.’

#17 - Carly Rae Jepsen (love her) drops the 10th Anniversary Edition of her 2015 album Emotion with new song ‘Lost In Devotion.’

#35 - Jean Dawson announces his new project Rock A Bye Baby, Glimmer Of God out next month with lead single ‘White Lighter’ landing this week.

#60 - Daddy Yankee drops his first album in 3 years, LAMENTO EN BAILE, featuring focus track ‘EL TOQUE.’

#64 - Terror Jr are back nearly 10 years after their hit ‘3 Strikes’ with a ‘Fourth Strike’ featuring King Kylie AKA Kylie Jenner.

#77 - Another week and another millennial favorites collab, this time from All Time Low and JoJo on ‘Sugar.’

⭐ #100 - Capitol Records’ Truman Sinclair (who released his debut album with R&R earlier this year) is back with single ‘dustland.’

⭐ = our pick of the week. Usually an under the radar artist to keep an eye on.

The Schedule

Notable upcoming releases

Bon Jovi, Dave, Demi Lovato, Miguel, People R Ugly, Brandi Carlile, Big Wreck, The Lemonheads, Bahamas, Sigrid, Tortoise, Mammoth, Circa Waves, Just Mustard all have new projects expected to come out next week.

Charlie Puth, Jordan Ward, Jean Dawson, Lauren Jauregui, This Is Lorelei, Julianna Barwick and Mary Lattimore, Peaches, Monte Booker, McCoy Moore, Drake Milligan all announced new albums this week.

ICYMI

Industry news that mattered this week

ROSTR had a party last night in LA & we debuted our EARLY showcase. Thanks to all who came out & to the amazing performers.

Soul music legend D’Angelo passed away at 51 following a prolonged battle with cancer. Kiss’ original lead guitarist and founding member Ace Frehley died at 74. Argentine singer Fede Dorcaz was fatally shot in Mexico City last week in what authorities think was an attempted robbery. Spotify and Netflix announced a new video podcast collab. Taylor Swift announced a 6-part documentary series, “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The End of an Era,” premiering on Disney+ December 12th, as well as a new concert film “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show.” Neil Young is now boycotting Amazon, pledging to remove his catalog from Amazon Music. Future is facing a new lawsuit from a photographer who accused his company of stealing the art for his album and merch. Rod Wave filed a countersuit against the promoter suing him for $27M. Frank Sinatra’s estate sold his image and likeness rights to Irving Azoff. IFPI shut down Y2mate and 11 other piracy sites.

Carlos Santana congratulated Bad Bunny on his upcoming Super Bowl Halftime Performance.

Solange was appointed USC Thornton School of Music’s first scholar in residence. Questlove received the 2025 Peabody Trailblazer Award. A judge ruled that Nelly should be reimbursed for legal fees he spent defeating a lawsuit from his former St. Lunatic bandmate. Netflix released the trailer for the upcoming Juan Gabriel docuseries, “Juan Gabriel: I Must, I Can, I Will,” premiering October 30th. James Norton was cast as Beatles manager Brian Epstein in the upcoming Beatles 4-part biopic. Britney Spears responded to ex Kevin Federline’s claims that she used to watch her kids sleep with a knife in her hand. Nicki Minaj claimed that multiple people have been using her Amex card without her permission. Documentary “King of Them All: The Story of King Records” premiered on PBS last week and dives into the story of the label founded in Cincinnati in 1943. Mark Ronson wants to DJ Taylor Swift’s wedding. Danielle Jonas revealed her struggle with Lyme Disease.

small print

Updates on companies, acquisitions, takeovers and more

• Spotify’s new feature to put focus on music credits?

• UK festival Trade Bodies announce strategic alliance

• beatBread rolls out $100M fund supporting global Indie music scene

• Musixmatch signs AI innovation deals with major publishers

• Sacred Bones Records partners with All Flowers Group

• Good Boy Records and Virgin renew global distribution agreement

• Complex relaunches Verzuz with new strategic partnership

• Ticketmaster secures foothold in New South Wales, Australia

• Trip.com Group announces strategic partnership with Live Nation Asia

• Project Healthy Minds and Music Health Alliance form strategic partnership

• Deezer adds cross-platform playlist sharing

• James Fauntleroy launches record label AESTHETIC FORM: GOODWILL

• Bristol’s Noods Radio is back with a live listening party

• Endlesss founder unveils his latest creation: Finalist

• Jukebox Ventures launches a $15M fund to back early-stage music startups

• Nina to share revenue with fans who help discover new music

• The Circuit Group launches Red Wire Publishing

Group Chat

The section that’ll probably get us in trouble one of these days

No fucking way 🤦‍♂️

Please make it stop.

This is rage bait, do not interact

🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜️⬜️ Suno x Major labels (40%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ ChatGPT x Spotify (20%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Sora 2 x You not having access yet (20%)

🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ WME opting out of Sora blah blah (20%)

The Live World

Tour, festival and other live news

🎸 Biggest tours announced this week: Amber Mark, Rod Wave, LANY, glaive, Subtronics

ROSTR (our parent company) debuted their new showcase series EARLY in partnership with Bandsintown last night at El Cid. The event, which doubled as the company’s birthday party, featured dedicated performances from upcoming acts Alex Bone, PAMÉ, Bruvvy & Kinder. We’ll be sharing more content from the event next week.

Hot off his Sphere residency, Anyma wrapped a double set at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza last Friday. Speaking of, No Doubt added 6 more dates to their Sphere run next May. Carín León additionally added a 7th date to his September Sphere residency.

Beatport Tickets launched, allowing promoters, labels, and venues across Europe and the UK to sell tickets directly on Beatportal. The service is powered by Weeztix and will expand to the US next.

Rod Wave is countersuing his former tour promoter who alleged the rapper owes $27M in un-recouped tour advances. He also just announced a NA tour.

Megan Thee Stallion announced her hometown Hottieween party will return to Humble, Texas. Meanwhile, Janelle Monáe revealed LA fashion, music, art & film event Wondaween, which will include the inaugural Vampire Beach music festival.

Alt-rock group Sugar have reunited after 3 decades with new music and plans for live shows in London and New York next May.

🏟️ Venue News:

• 55-acre facility Rock Nashville will open later this year. Designed to be “a place where artists, crews, and companies come together to create, collaborate and prepare for the road,” the space will feature large-scale rehearsal facilities, 13 production studios, and a vendor hub

• AEG France will premiere multi-venue electronic music festival The Nightclubbing Festival next September with DJ / label founder Jennifer Cardini serving as artistic director

• Doral Amphitheater, Miami’s first new music venue in 20 years, officially opened this week. The ~5K capacity open-air, state-of-the-art venue will host touring acts, cultural festivals, and civic events

🎟️ Festival Headlines:

• iHeartRadio festival ALTer Ego announced Green Day, Twenty One Pilots & Cage The Elephant will headline next January

• Rock The Ocean Tortuga Music Festival announced Post Malone, Riley Green & Kenny Chesney as headliners for the 13th edition

• Australia’s Electric Island is expanding into a 3-city, 5-show run with Armand Van Helden & Flight Facilities headlining

• UK’s Mighty Hoopla will debut in Australia next February with headliner Kesha

Fresh Ink

Interesting artist signings

Psych-rock’s The Marías have signed a worldwide publishing deal with UMPG. The band headlined a sold-out international tour with standout sets at festivals like Coachella & Lollapalooza and landed a Pop Song of the Year Latin GRAMMY nom for ‘Ojos Tristes.’

Joji’s first music since 2022 has landed him with Virgin Music Group via his own imprint Palace Creek. He was previously with 88rising since his debut EP Tongues Rising in 2018.

Rock band Pierce The Veil signed with Darryl Eaton, Jared Martin & Rick Roskin of CAA (WW ex-EU). The San Diego natives recently performed at ACL & have been in the midst of a huge world tour alongside Sleeping With Sirens & others.

Canadian folk outfit Wild Rivers joined Brandon Epstein & Mackenzie Fey at Loft Entertainment for management. The trio landed on main stages for Lolla, ACL, All Things Go & is in the studio making their next album independently for now.

Artist managers Eddie Sikazwe & Erin Spain joined the team at newly-formed ALTA Music Group bringing over rising R&B artist Jordan Ward with them.

Jonny Taylor launched new management and consultancy company Chalet 4 Management. After stints with MMF, ATC Management and elsewhere, Taylor’s London-based firm houses Hak Baker, Caitlyn Scarlett, Maya Lane & more.

+180 signings on ROSTR this week

On The Move

New hires, exec moves and other people news

Warner Music Central Europe merges its Benelux and GSA recorded music divisions, with Niels Walboomers overseeing six countries and Markus Holzherr remaining as Chief Business Officer. Saumil Mehta takes over as Ticketmaster global president, tasked with executing AI opportunities, while former president Mark Yovich shifts to chairman to focus on global growth. Warner Chappell Nashville has promoted Christina Wiltshire to VP, A&R. Believe has appointed Kazunari Imai to the newly created role of Chairman & Strategic Business Relations Sr. Executive Director of Believe Japan. Avex Music Group has rolled out a new leadership lineup as part of a major U.S. expansion. Hannah Carlen has been named Nonesuch Records’ VP of Marketing and Communications. Nettwerk UK appoints Owen Lloyd to lead global catalogue marketing strategy and initiatives from its London office. After more than 30 years leading Sónar festival, founders Enric Palau, Ricard Robles, and Sergio Caballero have stepped down, with François Jozic, founder of Brunch Electronik, taking over as CEO. Alissia joins NYU’s Sony Audio Institute as its first Artist-In-Residence, bringing real-world music experience into the classroom.

Untitled Group strengthens its leadership with strategic hires and promotions, including former Astral People exec Dan Morgan as Artist Manager, Stef Russin and Lillian Birch as Tour Operations Managers, and Mia Leigh Ford promoted to Tour Director, supporting major tours and festival operations.

Ruchir Mohan has been promoted to Partner at 1916 Enterprises, where he’ll drive the launch of the company’s Artist Management & Services Division and oversee a roster that includes Tommy Genesis, Christian Hayes, LOVELI LORI, and gavn!.

Shore Fire Media announces five promotions across its publicist teams with Mary Claire MC Miskell promoted to Sr. Account Executive, Anna DeNelsky and Henry Thomas appointed AEs, and Anna Billy and Patrick Nitii named Jr. Account Executives.

Artist management collective The Circuit Group has unveiled Red Wire Publishing, with Co-Founder David Gray stepping in as President and relocating to Nashville to grow the company’s publishing footprint.

Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group has established an all-female C-suite under CEO and Founder Lou Taylor, with Peggy Stephens as COO, Heather Kinder as Chief of Staff, and Deedra Carroll as Chief Deputy Director, marking a rare example of female representation in executive leadership in the financial and entertainment management sectors.

Nashville Harbor Records & Entertainment has expanded its team with Bridget Herrmann as Sr. Director of Promotion & Marketing, Dexter Bensman as Head of Digital Marketing, and Christina Hunt as Label Coordinator.

Dope Jobs

Interesting jobs in music

• Director, Marketing at UMG in Santa Monica

• Sr Financial Analyst - USA ONLY at DistroKid (Remote)

• Partnerships Executive at TIDAL (Remote)

• Director, Finance/HR at WHY&HOW in Nashville | Austin (Hybrid)

• VP, Marketing at Big Loud in Nashville

↗ Find these and 330+ open roles at Jobs by ROSTR