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☆ Wall Street says Europe's a better bet than the U.S. right now — and names its top stock picks
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-30 | by ( Zavier Ong | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

European stocks are are having a good year so far. While the underperformance has been marginal, the outlook for U.S. stocks is decidedly more muted — Wall Street is still wary of a recession. European stocks are therefore worth a look in the near term, according to Bernstein, which expects more upside for them. Stock picks One of Bernstein's top plays is low leverage stocks, which the bank defines as stocks with a low net debt to equity ratio. Bank of America has a number of European picks with exposure to higher Chinese consumer spending and improving overall demand in light of China's reopening.

☆ Want to quit your job and run your side hustle full time? Start by working at one of these 5 companies
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-29 | by ( Tom Huddleston Jr. | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

In the case of many a successful startup founder, that means working a day job before they're ready to strike out and start their own new business. Multiple big-name companies top the list, according to a new report from small-business lending platform OnDeck, which examined large U.S. companies with high rates of former employees launching their own businesses. The top four companies on OnDeck's list all hail from the consulting world, which isn't surprising: Consultants at those companies are often tasked with helping clients hone their management and business strategies. Goldman Sachs leads the way among financial services companies on OnDeck's rankings, with 5.92% of former employees becoming founders. By focusing primarily on large companies, OnDeck's report doesn't provide a comprehensive list.

They had hoped to represent a much larger class of artists who filed termination notices with UMG. A provision of U.S. copyright law allows artists to terminate agreements to transfer their copyrights and reclaim them after decades in some circumstances. Kaplan said Friday that the musicians could not represent a broader class of artists who sent termination notices to UMG with effective dates between 2013 and 2031. A related lawsuit filed against Sony Music by musicians including former New York Dolls singer David Johansen has been paused since 2021 for settlement discussions. The UMG case is Waite v. UMG Recordings Inc, U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, No.

Jan 27 (Reuters) - Rick Astley has sued the rapper Yung Gravy over a song that borrowed heavily from the British singer's signature "Never Gonna Give You Up," claiming that the new song illegally used an impersonator who imitated Astley's distinctive baritone. "In an effort to capitalize off of the immense popularity and goodwill of Mr. Astley, defendants ... conspired to include a deliberate and nearly indistinguishable imitation of Mr. Astley's voice," the complaint said. Among the defendants are Yung Gravy, whose real name is Matthew Hauri, and his record label, Universal Music Group's (UMG.AS) Republic Records. Universal and a representative for Yung Gravy did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The song saw resurgent popularity about two decades later through the "Rickroll" internet meme, where it unexpectedly interrupts unrelated content.

☆ I plan a Brit Awards after-party attended by celebrities like Katy Perry and Lorde. Here's what goes into organizing an event for the stars.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Lola Christina Alao | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Claire Haffenden is the director of artist relations and events at Universal Music. That planning experience helped me in my current role, director of artist relations and events at Universal Music, where I lead a team of five. I became head of artist relations and events in 2008 and director of artist relations and events in 2013. Claire Haffenden, the director of artist relations and events at Universal Music. I make sure every artist's team has an allocation of guest tickets, for the artist's family, friends, and contacts.

☆ Morgan Stanley reveals its 8 favorite stocks ahead of Europe's earnings season
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Ganesh Rao | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Morgan Stanley has named eight stocks to buy ahead of a hotly anticipated earnings season in Europe. Morgan Stanley says: "We expect the stock to rally into earnings, due in early March. Morgan Stanley says: "Teleperformance shares have been under scrutiny since November following the outbreak of negative news flow around its Content Moderation in Colombia. More importantly none of this news flow alters the fundamental growth and earnings profile of the company." Morgan Stanley says: "Elis offers resilient GDP+ growth through the cycle, which is expected to be structurally higher post COVID (driven by increased demand for hygiene, reliability, accountability and ESG)."

☆ Stars flock to Dakar for All-Africa Music Awards
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

DAKAR, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Musical heavyweights gathered in Dakar, Senegal on Sunday for the eighth All-Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) that aim to celebrate and promote the continent's best veteran and cutting-edge musicians. Globally recognised stars including Senegalese maestro Youssou Ndour, and Nigerian artists P-Square and Tiwa Savage are among those set to perform during the main awards ceremony at the 15,000-seat Dakar stadium. Companies are cashing in on rising global interest in African music. Last June, Universal Music Group (UMG.AS) launched a label for independent African labels and artists, while music streaming platforms, including Spotify (SPOT.N), have sought to expand their offerings by African artists. Reporting by Bate Felix and Ngouda Dione Writing by Alessandra Prentice Editing by Christina FincherOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Universal Music CEO Grainge decries spam music on streaming platforms
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

AMSTERDAM, Jan 11 (Reuters) - Universal Music Group (UMG.AS) CEO Lucian Grainge on Wednesday lamented the increasing use of short, low-quality music clips on streaming music platforms, saying they undermine the experience of fans and are aimed at evading royalty payments to artists. In a New Year's note to staff, Grainge said platforms use popular music to entice customers, but algorithms guide them to cheaper "lower-quality functional content that in some cases can barely pass for 'music'." He said Spotify's pioneering launch of a subscription model in 2011 had proved a boon for the industry, but that that was more than a decade ago. "As technology advances and platforms evolve, it’s not surprising that there’s also a need for business model innovation," he said. "We need an updated model... (that rewards) artists, fans, and labels alike."

☆ Triller missed its target for going public again, as it waits for the SEC to OK its confidential filing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-10 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Triller is in a holding pattern on its path to becoming a public company. A spokesperson said that once its registration statement is declared effective, it will make the filing public for the required time ahead of its public listing. The long slog toward becoming a public company as lawsuits pile upTriller has been pursuing a public offering for over a year. In December 2021, Triller announced it instead planned to go public via a reverse merger with the video-tech company Seachange International. "After much deliberation, Triller has determined that the best course of action is a direct listing for Triller."

☆ Warner Music upgraded at Atlantic Equities, says shares could jump 20% on growing global music streaming market
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-19 | by ( Sarah Min | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Shares of Warner Music Group could jump more than 20% from current levels, according to Atlantic Equities. Q4 showed an acceleration in streaming revenue growth as growth in emerging streaming offset cyclical declines in advertising streaming," Faber wrote in a note Monday. Atlantic expects that Warner Music Group will capitalize on the growing music streaming market around the world. WMG is clearly working hard to ensure it participates in global streaming growth," Faber wrote. Shares of Warner Music Group are off by more than 22% this year, underperforming the S & P 500's near 19% decline.

☆ Elon Musk is bringing in new faces for Twitter 2.0 — including his cousins and Bari Weiss
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-08 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The makeup of Elon Musk's Twitter is changing, and not just because the offices are now bedrooms. With the majority of the company's former staff having been laid off — or fired, or resigned — Musk has brought in some of his own picks to work at Twitter 2.0. There's more on the new faces at Musk's social media company below, so let's get to it. Elon Musk is bringing in new faces for Twitter 2.0. And these aren't the only new faces at Twitter — hundreds of people have applied for a chance to work at Musk's new company.

☆ Triller is planning to go public in a few weeks despite removing major-label music from its app
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-05 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The update comes as the company removed last week the song catalogs of major labels from its video app. In 2020, Triller partnered with Billboard to publish weekly "Top Triller US" and "Top Triller Global" charts. In its statement to Insider, Triller suggested that removing music from major labels could help save the company money. The Triller app remains just one piece of the company's overall business. Triller even invoked TikTok in its statement about its decision to remove the catalogs of major music labels, writing that, "TikTok and the labels have aligned so closely."

☆ How TikTok is changing the music industry
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-25 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +15 min

TikTok is an essential promotional tool for music artists and record labels. Watch a full replay of Insider's webinar on TikTok's impact on the music industry, featuring execs from TikTok, Universal Music Group, and UnitedMastersFor some, the hyper-focus on TikTok can be draining. "The argument from TikTok's side is TikTok is now so important to the music industry that they can't afford to not have their music on the platform." Read more about the 'complicated' and codependent relationship between TikTok and music rights holdersBut the industry's attention on TikTok isn't unfounded. Read about why TikTok music marketers are turning to general-interest accounts to promote songsCreating TikTok music challenges to spark user-generated videosAnd some marketers are opening the door for social-media users who wouldn't traditionally be considered influencers to get paid to promote music.

☆ How TikTok and the music industry are bound to each other as 'frenemies,' even as they battle over licensing
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-17 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

All of these promotional functions have benefited the music industry, boosting streams on platforms like Spotify or Apple Music and helping artists grow their fan bases. The company filed a US trademark application in May for a potential music-streaming product called "TikTok Music," Insider first reported. Licensing negotiations to either expand Resso or introduce TikTok Music into other markets are underway, a person with direct knowledge of the process told Insider. Licensing negotiations are nearly constant in the music industryByteDance and TikTok already have existing agreements in place with major record labels and publishers like Warner Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, the National Music Publishers' Association, and ICE. Last quarter, YouTube's head of music wrote that the company paid out $6 billion to the music industry over a 12-month period.

☆ Taylor Swift holds all top 10 spots in Billboard Hot 100 as she announces first major tour in nearly 5 years
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Jack Stebbins | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Taylor Swift performs on the stage in concert at Mercedes-Benz Arena on May 30, 2014 in Shanghai, China. Taylor Swift said Tuesday she's heading back out on tour, as she occupies all of the top 10 spots of the Billboard Hot 100 with songs from her new album "Midnights." "Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour" is scheduled for 27 dates at U.S. stadiums beginning in March. Along with "Midnights," Swift has yet to tour with her albums "Folklore" and "Evermore" which were released in 2021. She also released "Red (Taylor's Version)" and "Fearless (Taylor's Version)" the same year, as she looks to reclaim the rights to her early works.

☆ Kanye West has a disturbing history of admiring Hitler, sources tell CNN
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Chloe Melas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Several people who were once close to the artist formerly known as Kanye West told CNN that he has long been fascinated by Adolf Hitler — and once wanted to name an album after the Nazi leader. The executive told CNN that West spoke openly about reading “Mein Kampf,” Hitler’s 1925 autobiographical manifesto and expressed his “admiration” for the Nazis and Hitler for their use of propaganda. Four sources told CNN that West had originally suggested the title “Hitler” for his 2018 album that eventually released as “Ye.” They did not want to be named, citing concern for professional retribution. TMZOne of the sources who spoke to CNN and was at the TMZ interview said West had favorably referenced Hitler. The revelation of West’s alleged history of admiring Hitler comes amid a wave of inflammatory actions by West that began earlier this month.

☆ Spotify criticizes Ye's comments, keeps his music
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Dawn Chmielewski | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Oct 25 (Reuters) - As corporations around the world including Adidas AG (ADSGn.DE) cut ties with Kanye West, music streaming service Spotify Technology SA(SPOT.N) said it would not remove the rapper's music unless his label requested it. Music from the artist now known as Ye did not violate anti-hate policies, Spotify chief Daniel Ek told Reuters. The music also can be found on Apple Music and YouTube Music. Since the remarks, Ye has lost high profile and lucrative partnerships. If Ye's label asks for the rapper's catalog to be removed, Ek said, "Obviously we'll respect their wishes."

☆ Brands have fled Kanye. What about his music career?
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Frank Pallotta | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

New York CNN Business —Ye — formerly known as Kanye West — has lost partnerships with fashion brands including Gap, Balenciaga and Adidas following his antisemitic comments in recent weeks. But what does this all mean for Ye’s music career? A career in two partsYe, formerly known as Kanye West, has had a lucrative music career. Will Spotify and Apple Music pull Ye’s music? One area that could see a financial impact for both Ye and Universal Music Group is the licensing of his music.

Oct 19 (Reuters) - Renowned talent scout Simon Cowell is back, but this time he is focused on the social media platform, TikTok. With the international “Got Talent" TV series, “American Idol” and many more projects already under his belt, Cowell is ready to help aspiring musicians on TikTok share their unique sounds with the world. Cowell is partnering with TikTok to give users access to new unnamed songs by famous producers through the service StemDrop, which launches through the TikTok app on Oct. 26. From his Malibu mansion, Cowell shared that his and Martin's mutual interest in a project outside of a conventional TV show came after TikTok sparked in popularity. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com RegisterReporting by Phil Lavelle and Danielle Broadway; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

☆ Buy Warner Music Group as it will fare better than other streamers during a recession, Goldman says
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Alex Harring | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Goldman Sachs sees a resilient growth story in Warner Music Group as music should fare better among subscription services during recessionary periods. Warner Music Group is one of the "big three" music labels in the U.S., along with competitors Universal Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. Music streaming is also considered an under-monetized sub-sector, creating room for revenue growth within the ad-supported tier. "Simply stated, we believe paid streaming music services will be one of the last services consumers pull back on because of its value proposition," he said. He also balked at claims music streaming is contracting.

☆ Inside the growing business behind TikTok song remixes, which are transforming the way music is discovered on the app
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-16 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

TikTok users are increasingly finding new music through song remixes and mashups. In the middle of August, music artist Sam Smith's somber 2014 ballad "I'm Not The Only One" reentered Spotify's top 200 chart nearly a decade after its release. Marketers embrace TikTok remixes and mashupsAs with any social-media trend, music marketers are adjusting their strategies to stay in tune with TikTok's audience. TikTok music talent can earn anywhere from $500 to $5,000 to produce a remixed version of a track, according to Cloherty. Outside of monetary compensation, having a track go viral can help TikTok talent grow their audience off the app.

But the company was recently found liable for using songs in TikTok videos without a license. But over the last year, the company has been embroiled in a lawsuit around its use of music in TikTok videos. The early days of companies blindly jumping into TikTok music trends are over. The takeaway, Elton said, is that this lawsuit should never have happened: "Bang Energy should have known better." "With a few simple inquiries, they could have easily found out that the TikTok music licensing model would not cover their intended use of the music."

☆ How TikTok is changing the music industry and the way we discover new, popular songs
▼ + stars: | 2021-06-10 | by ( Dan Whateley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +19 min

In July, it rolled out a dedicated music-streaming service called TikTok Music in five countries. Read about why TikTok music marketers are turning to general-interest accounts to promote songsCreating TikTok music challenges to spark user-generated videosAnd some marketers are opening the door for social-media users who wouldn't traditionally be considered influencers to get paid to promote music. Read more about TikTok's private listening sessionsA dedicated TikTok Music streaming app is bornIn July, TikTok stepped deeper into the music business by launching its own dedicated music-streaming app, TikTok Music, in Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, and Singapore. Insider tested TikTok Music in Singapore, where it launched in a closed beta, to learn more about how it works. Like TikTok, TikTok Music includes a "For You" feed of recommended content and a variety of social features that set it apart from incumbents like Spotify and Apple Music.

Persons: TikTok, Here's, they've, influencers, TikTok influencers, Read, Jonny Kaps, Halsey, Charli XCX, Taylor Upsahl, Upsahl, Steve Jennings, Kristen Bender, Lyor Cohen, Ted Suh, Elissa Ayadi, Sydney Bradley, Getty, Jesse Callahan, It's, Zach Friedman, Dan Asip, Pearpop, Cole Mason, There's, Johnny Cloherty, Andy McGrath, Tarek Al, Hamdouni, Tiagz, John Arano, Tiago Garcia, you'd, Nima Nasseri, Ole Obermann, Rita Franca, NurPhoto, Taylor Swift, Miley Cyrus, Olivia Rudensky, Cyrus, Hailey Bieber, Guillermo Legaria, Khalid, Demi Lovato, Marshmellow, ByteDance, Tatiana Cirisano, Jeffrey Ramsay, Steve Blatter Organizations: Getty, TikTok, MRC Data, Universal Music Group, YouTube, GQ, Snap Inc, Agency, 10K, Records, Sony Music, RCA Records, Warner Music, Getty Images, Movistar Arena, Spotify, Apple, MIDiA Research, MTV, SiriusXM's TikTok Locations: Tempe , Arizona, TikTok, Bogota, Colombia, Brazil, Indonesia, Australia, Mexico, Singapore, India, Denver , Colorado

☆ How DREAMSTAGE is taking live music streaming by storm, with global streaming service Deezer by its side
▼ + stars: | 2021-05-07 | by ( Sarah Finkel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

Deezer, a Paris-based music streaming service, recently made a significant investment in DREAMSTAGE in a symbiotic deal that will fuel both companies' growth. DREAMSTAGE, a ticketed live music streaming platform launched in the spring of 2020, has plans to reverse this fate and to even go as far as transforming the traditional live music business model for years to come. Now, the startup has caught the attention of the Paris-based music streaming service Deezer, which houses a catalog of 73 million tracks, including content from major record labels like Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group. "Even when live concerts start again, live streaming will become a natural addition to live shows," Albrecht wrote. The live music streaming industry is expected to generate $6.4 billion by 2027, according to MIDiA Research.

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