Soundstripe, a provider of royalty-free music, video and sound effects for creators, received $9 million in Series B financing led by Topmark Partners, with participation from Overline Ventures, Escalate Partners and Craft Ventures. Series A investor Vocal Partners also participated in the new round. The new funding will be used to invest in new B2B products and services to boost Soundstripe’s expanding enterprise business, as well as new tools to serve its core business. The company will additionally use the money to continue investing in its publishing business.
Warner Music México signed emerging Mexican music group Efecto Elegante. Led by brothers Carlos Uriel Pérez Alvarado and Axel Ulises and hailing from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, the group was founded four years ago and, with songs such as “Yo Te Amaré” and “Quise Ver Como Empecé,” they’ve carved a lane for themselves in the sierreño-campirano style, powered by prickly requinto guitars. – Griselda Flores
ICM Crescendo Music Royalty Fund acquired late manager Albert Grossman‘s commission rights to recordings performed by Janis Joplin and Gordon Lightfoot. Songs covered by the deal include Joplin’s “Me and Bobby McGee,” “Piece of My Heart,” “Cry Baby” and “Get It While You Can”; and Lightfoot’s “Sundown,” “If You Could Read My Mind,” “Carefree Highway” and “Rainy Day People.”
UTA signed Indian singer, songwriter and record producer AP Dhillon — who recently announced his first-ever North American tour — for artist representation. The agency will help expand Dhillon’s global presence by finding new opportunities across brands, film, TV and other verticals. He’ll continue to be represented by manager Kevin Butter and attorney Miro Oballa of Taylor Oballa Murray Leyland.
Maldy, one of the pioneers of reggaeton music, signed a record deal with Warner Music Latina to further develop his solo career and consolidate industry relationships. The Puerto Rican artist formed part of the iconic urban duo Plan B, known for timeless hits such as “Fanatica Sensual,” “Si No Le Contesto,” “Candy” and many more. Maldy kicked off his solo career three years ago and made his comeback on Karol G’s new single “Gatubela.” – Jessica Roiz
Jazz Spinder‘s international management company Forward Motion Artists joined Three Six Zero‘s expanding global management and entertainment partnership business. Under the deal, Spinder will bring Forward Motion clients and members of his management team — the latter including Attilio Pugliesee and Chris Schiraldi — in-house at Three Six Zero and take a partner position at the company. Forward Motion’s roster includes artists Jamie Jones, Lee Burridge and Lee Foss and event brands and labels including Paradise, All Day I Dream, Repopulate Mars, Hot Creations and One Tribe.
ASM Global struck a long-term partnership with Fuze Technology (chargeFUZE), which will make mobile chargers available at ASM venues worldwide — enabling fans to charge any device from their seats. The charging devices will be made available for rental via a QR code scan, with customers able to return them at any chargeFUZE kiosk installed inside the venues. The technology has already been rolled out across ASM Global venues including U.S. Bank Stadium, Allegiant Stadium, Oakland Arena, RingCentral Coliseum, Gila River Arena, Greek Theater, Target Center, Fiserv Forum, Mechanics Bank Arena, Pechanga Arena, Toyota Arena, Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, INTRUST Bank Arena, Cowtown Coliseum and Tech Port Center + Arena.
In more ASM Global news, the company announced a decade-long partnership with Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment, under which ASM’s 18,000-seat Glendale, Ariz. arena will be renamed Desert Diamond Arena. The partnership will open new opportunities and synergies between ASM Global, Desert Diamond Casinos and the arena, including headline events, interconnected promotions and special offers. The partnership kicks off this fall.
Singer, songwriter and producer Gus Dapperton signed with Warner Records. Known for his feature on Benee‘s hit 2019 track “Supalonely,” Dapperton’s first single with Warner is a cover of Fleetwood Mac‘s “Landslide.”
Secretly Publishing signed songwriter-producer-mixer Steph Marziano (Hayley Williams, Tegan and Sara), singer-songwriter-artist Leith Ross (Republic Records), songwriter-producer-mixer Jorge Elbrecht (Japanese Breakfast, Sky Ferreira) and Asheville, N.C.-based band Wednesday along with its guitarist MJ Lenderman, who released his solo album Boat Songs earlier this year.
All Access Anonymous, which helps unlock new creative and monetization opportunities for promoters and festivals in Web3, has announced partnerships with nine festivals in Southeast Asia: Indonesia’s We the Fest and Djakarta Warehouse Project; Vietnam’s Ravolution; Malaysia’s Rockaway and Good Vibes festivals; Thailand’s Together Festival and 808 Festival; the multi-country S2O Festival; and festival-at-sea It’s The Ship.
B2B distributor FUGA, owned by Downtown Music Holdings, partnered with Berlin-based artist management and label services agency Odyssey Music Network and Vienna-based label and management company Phat Penguin. Under the deal with Odyssey, FUGA will provide a full suite of digital and physical distribution for the company’s roster, along with marketing services including content management across YouTube and access to FUGA’s trends and analytics platform and sync offering. The agreement with Phat Penguin will see FUGA handling global distribution and marketing strategy services for the company, including digital account management. Phat Penguin will additionally utilize FUGA’s content management across YouTube and be given access to the company’s sync and analytics service.
“Neotraditional” country artist Wynn Williams signed a marketing and distribution deal with ONErpm, which just released his new single, “I Love Her for Leaving.”
Global music distribution platform Bonfire Global signed an extended distribution and label management deal with digital creators XO Team and their record label, XO Music. The partnership encompasses the XO Team as a collective as well as individual XO creators. XO Team is a popular TikTok team that boasts 193 million followers across its group and individual accounts on the platform.
