Vol 57 - Look at my newsletter, she the baddest (whoa)

Happy Friday,

Olivia Dean strongarms Ticketmaster, Bonnaroo drops lineup, Wiggles feeling some type of way & how old was your Wrapped?

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 Lil Baby, Sam Fender, Dove Ellis, JADE, Alison Wonderland, SAILORR, Jane Remover, chloe moriondo, Zac Brown Band, dodie, Mother Soki, redveil…

♪ Notable singles from Baby Nova, Lil Uzi Vert, Tucker Wetmore, Disclosure & Leon Thomas, Esha Tewari, Blxst, Flea, Bazzi, Bilmuri, Tiga & Fcukers…

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

#1 - Lil Baby celebrates his birthday by dropping The Leaks, a surprise mixtape compiled of teased snippets and leaked songs over the years with ‘Let’s Do It’ featuring Playboi Carti & Skooly landing at #1.

#3 - APG client and rising star Baby Nova shares her 7th single 'Death Wish,' which features on her debut album Shhugar due next January.

#8 - Disney and Hollywood Records’ Freya Skye releases ‘silent treatment’ after being ghosted.

⭐ #10 - Rising Irish artist Dove Ellis unveils his debut album Blizzard with ‘Heaven Has No Wings’ landing a spot in the top ten.

#11 - It’s ‘Heaven’ on Earth when Alison Wonderland recruits buzzy Australian electronic act Ninajirachi off the artist’s 4th LP GHOST WORLD.

#14 - Sam Fender treats listeners to 8 new tracks on the deluxe version of People Watching out today with existential track 'The Treadmill' landing on the playlist.

#35 - After announcing his debut solo album, Red Hot Chili Peppers member Flea drops his first single ‘A Plea.’

#42 - Marshmello and INJI collab on ‘Kissin My Friends,’ co-written with And The Writer Is’ Ross Golan and more.

#44 - The Band CAMINO finally drops ‘Afterthought,’ a track teased since 2022 and debuted live this fall.

#49 - Pop newcomer Maeve releases ‘Hotel’, co-written & produced by Griff Clawson.

#55 - The Brook & The Bluff share ‘Baby Blue,’ a little song about feeling blue, ahead of their new project Werewolf, dropping in March.

#78 - Guns N’ Roses drop brand new track ‘Nothin’,’ a power ballad ahead of their upcoming world tour.

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

The Schedule

Notable upcoming releases

Fred again.., DJ Premier & Nas, This Is Lorelei all have new projects expected to come out next week.

Peso Pluma & Tito Double P, Nick Jonas, Subtronics, Conway, Flea, Masicka, Ella Mai, Voxtrot, Sébastien Tellier, Daniel Lopatin (soundtrack album), Chet Faker, Niontay all announced new albums this week.

ICYMI

Industry news that mattered this week

Last chance to book your ad spot in the ROSTR x NIF Voter Guide, launching soon!

Bad Bunny was the most-streamed artist of the year on Spotify. Ticketmaster offered partial refunds to Olivia Dean fans after the artist criticized the company over resale prices. The European Composer and Songwriter Alliance called out the lack of transparency around AI licensing deals with major labels. A new documentary produced by 50 Cent, “Sean Combs: The Reckoning,” is out on Netflix; Diddy’s lawyers sent a cease and desist. A federal judge in LA allowed a class-action lawsuit brought by Taylor Swift fans against Live Nation and Ticketmaster to proceed. Daddy Yankee accused his former manager and producer Raphy Pina as well as his ex-wife of diverting millions of dollars in royalties in a scheme over many years. Trump pardoned former OVG CEO Tim Leiweke.

Jorja Smith’s label FAMM demanded she be credited on the AI-assisted song “I Run” by HAVEN. Gene Simmons will testify before the U.S. Senate to support artist radio play compensation. Cher won the majority of a lawsuit against Sonny Bono’s estate. The Wiggles issued a statement after two of their members appeared in a music video for a song allegedly about drug use. Megan Thee Stallion won in her defamation lawsuit against a blogger. Warner Music sued PacSun for copyright infringement. Cradle of Filth vocalist Dani Filth was sued by six former members. Oasis will open pop-up merch stores in London and Dublin in December.

The Johnny Cash estate sued Coca-Cola. Coco Jones, Brandi Carlile and Charlie Puth will perform as pregame entertainment for the Super Bowl. A$AP Rocky was named a brand ambassador for Chanel. Priscilla Presley won the latest round in her financial elder abuse lawsuit. Burna Boy offered to cover the funeral costs of children killed in a mass shooting in Stockton, CA last week. Miley Cyrus got engaged to Maxx Morando. Ellie Goulding is pregnant with baby #2.

small print

Updates on companies, acquisitions, takeovers and more

• Merlin and karaoke company Singa sign licensing deal

• Eventbrite to be acquired by Bending Spoons for $500M

• Xposure Music secures $42.5M in new funding round

• Music fans in Quebec reject plan for French-language streaming quotas

• ECSA voices concerns over major label AI deals

• Amuse reaches milestone of paying $10M in artist advances

• ‘Realize Music: Sing’ becomes one of gaming’s largest music collaborations

• Australian music is being killed by streaming algorithms, says report UMG

• UK’s ‘Pause’ Studio converts music videos into art prints

• StubHub faces class action lawsuit from investors following poor quarterly earnings

• Reservoir launches partnership with Jamaica’s Skatta Burrell and Abood Music

• The Snuts’ Happy Artist Records partners with Virgin Music Group

• Suno and WMG strike licensing deal

• Red Bull Records to cease operations

• Warner Music India and Ultra Music sign global distribution agreement

• Futures Music Group joins Chordal’s enterprise sync licensing technology platform

• Impressed Recordings & ie:east launch ‘Circle Distribution’

Group Chat

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

These are good.

In other news…

LOUDER.

What are you most thankful for this year?

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ sombr catching heat (10%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜️ UMG struggling to acquire Downtown (40%)

🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩⬜️ ROSTR (40%)

🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ The 'Wicked' press tour coming to an end (10%)

The Live World

Tour, festival and other live news

🎸 Biggest tours announced this week: ROSALÍA, Megan Moroney, FKA twigs, Tyler Childers, Snow Tha Product

Bella Hadid & Pedro Pascal will host the Artists for Aid benefit concert next January to raise funds for humanitarian relief in Palestine & Sudan. The event is organized by artist Mustafa and will feature performances from Clairo, Shawn Mendes, Geese, Blood Orange, Omar Apollo, Alex G & more.

Foo Fighters will play a benefit concert for homeless non-profits at LA’s Kia Forum next January. They will subsequently travel to Tasmania later that month for their first performance on the Australian island ever. The one-off show has been dubbed Tasmania’s “biggest concert ever.”

Live Nation is set to acquire Copenhagen’s 17K-capacity venue Royal Arena, which it has operated since 2017. LN plans to invest in renewable energy systems and improve the venue’s infrastructure.

The entertainment conglomerate also announced a partnership with Hiyo Social Tonics, a move highlighting its efforts to stock its US venues and festivals with more non-alcoholic beverage options.

Gorillaz’ immersive 25th anniversary exhibit House of Kong will travel to Los Angeles next February, accompanied by a full-length album performance of their upcoming album The Mountain.

🏟️ Residencies:

• Jam band fans will be turning towards the Sphere once more with rock outfit Phish set to play a 9-show residency through April & May next year

• LCD Soundsystem will claim Chicago as their next temporary home for a 4-night run, wrapping their Knockdown Center residency in NY this month

• Backstreet Boys announced a 6-night residency in Germany kicking off next September

• Hilary Duff announced a short and sweet Vegas residency across Valentine’s Day weekend next February

🎟️ Festival Headlines:

• Bonnaroo unveilied its 2026 headliners with Skrillex, The Strokes, GRiZ, Turnstile, RÜFÜS DU SOL, Teddy Swims, The Neighbourhood, Noah Kahan & Kesha

• Reading & Leeds announced its first lineup with only UK & Irish acts in 25 years with headliners Charli xcx, Chase & Status, Dave, Florence + The Machine, Fontaines D.C. & RAYE

• Rolling Loud debuted in India last weekend. The two-day festival brought in 65K fans and featured 30+ international and local stars

• Ultra is coming to New Zealand. The EDM brand is partnering with NZL promoter Audiology Touring to bring ~20K attendees to Wellington next April

• LIV Golf Adelaide announced John Summit, Peking Duk, Royel Otis & FISHER as headliners for the 2026 tournament next February

❌ Cancellations:

• While Thom Yorke recovers from an “extreme throat infection,” Radiohead postponed 2 of the 4 scheduled performances at Royal Arena in Copenhagen

•  Yusuf/Cat Stevens officially cancelled his NA tour following an initial postponement due to visa issues

• All-American Rejects & Knocked Loose both pulled out of their Australian shows due to respective “family emergencies”

• Parkway Drive’s traveling debut Park Waves Festival will not move forward because the “numbers don’t stack up” due to a “combination of challenges”

Fresh Ink

Interesting artist signings

GRAMMY winner Carín León has landed at WME for representation in all areas with Kirk Sommer handling touring duties for WW (ex-MEX). The Latin powerhouse is slated to perform at the Sphere next year and already has checked off Coachella & Stagecoach last year. 

Rina Sawayama has gotten some new BEST FRIENDS. with Brandon Goodman & Danny Rukasin joining her management team. She recently confirmed that she’s working on her third studio album which she described as “reflecting the darkness in the world.”

Rising popstar Alexander Stewart inked a global publishing deal with Position Music. The Canadian singer has racked up over a billion streams globally and recently released his new album What If?.

Newly-launched Soft Shock continues to bolster their management roster, this time adding alternative band Wallows with Michelle Jubelirer, Arjun Pulijal & Caitlin Bosse signing on. The band has been busy this year, including a collaboration with board game Settlers of Catan.

After recently releasing her new album Get Out of Town via Nettwerk, Jazz singer Laura Anglade has signed with Aaron Johnson of Knitting Factory Management. 

LA-based singer/songwriter (and former studio intern for Mark Ronson) Chitra locked in a recording deal with Queens Road Music & 10K Projects.

Longtime Lyrical Lemonade A&R/manager Jake Millan brings the project as well as other clients SahBabii & smokedope2016 to Night. He also recently landed on Forbes 30 Under 30 for music.

+60 signings on ROSTR this week

On The Move

New hires, exec moves and other people news

Rob Markus promoted to Head of International Music at WME. A2IM names Lisa Hresko COO and President of the Foundation of Independent Music. Alex Black has been appointed VP, A&R at independent music publishing and neighboring rights company peermusic. Oak View Group names Chris Granger CEO. Atlantic Music Group elevates Dave Rocco to the newly created position of CCO where he will guide creative strategy globally.

Wasserman has appointed three new executives to its London office and promoted a fourth, significantly expanding its UK operations. The new hires include Paul Ryan (SVP, Agent), Chris Lander (VP, Podcasts), and Rebecca Laurie (Manager, Tour Marketing), bringing expertise in rock, comedy podcasts, and global tours.

ASCAP has appointed former Paramount Global executive Marc Zelanko as its new Chief of Staff, reporting to CEO Elizabeth Matthews. UK D2C firm Townsend has named veteran Mike Walsh as D2C Sales and Product Consultant, reporting to Sales Director Bruce McKenzie and focusing on new business and product strategy. Sony Publishing elevates Jeff Smarr to SVP, Global Copyright.

Capitol Christian Music Group has expanded its executive leadership team by promoting Carlos Monnaco to EVP, Finance, Garrett Davis to SVP, A&R, and Elizabeth Brock to VP, National Promotions, while also adding Michael Fogarty as VP, Digital Marketing. The AristoMedia Group has promoted Taylor Dickens to Sr. Publicist and welcomes Liza Anderson as Publicity Coordinator and Amanda Anderson Digital Marketing Coordinator.

Bruce Houghton, Founder and President of Skyline Artists Agency, has announced he is closing the boutique after 35 years.

Dope Jobs

Interesting jobs in music

• Head of Commercial at The ROSTR Group in LA 👀

• VP, Tour Finance & Strategy at SUPER (Superfan Live) Remote

• Ticketing Director at Belly Up Aspen in CO

• Sr. Sales Executive at Opendate in IN

• Head of Marketing at Mogul in CA

↗ Find these and 480+ open roles at Jobs by ROSTR