The estate of John Lennon has appointed U.K.-based PRO PPL to collect neighboring rights royalties on all sound recordings where Lennon or Yoko Ono are listed as a performer.
PPL will collect broadcast and public performance royalties in markets where such rights exist for the estate’s interests in Lennon, Ono and The Beatles.
The deal covers Lennon’s 11 solo albums, 23 singles and, as a performer, writer or co-writer, 25 #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100. In total, he’s accumulated 23m record sales as a solo artist and three Billboard #1 albums. Ono’s 14 studio albums, eight collaborative LPs and 40 singles, are also included.
“Our team works hard to ensure no stone is left unturned in the collection of neighbouring rights royalties around the world," said PPL CEO Peter Leathem. "It is a privilege to advocate for and collect public performance and broadcast rights globally for such a revered catalog of recorded music.”
A list of the top 10 most played Lennon recordings of the 21st century, compiled by PPL, reveals that “Woman” takes the top spot, receiving 1m more seconds of airplay than “Imagine.”
The track, released in 1980, makes up 24% of Lennon’s total airplay this century, the equivalent of broadcasting the song for six months non-stop. “Imagine" totals 23%, comparable to five and a half months of continuous play.
U.K. music charity Music Support, which aids music industry personnel struggling with mental health and substance abuse issues, experienced a 51% increase in calls to its helpline across the last year.
Results from the survey, which was deployed across the org's Safe Hubs at festivals this summer, were released in conjunction with World Mental Health Day on 10/10.
26% of respondents said they have experienced drug and/or alcohol problems in the last 12 months (up from 19% in 2023), 49% reported experiencing mental health problems (up from 40%) and 21% have had suicidal thoughts (up from 18%).
Music Support CEO Joe Hastings said, “Whilst the increase in demand for our services is a concern, we are also encouraged that stigmas around mental health and problematic substance use are breaking down and people are more willing to reach out for help.”
The charity has directly impacted at least 1,000 people from the U.K. music industry in the last year through its core services. In order to support its ongoing work, which is entirely dependent on external funding, Music Support has launched an awareness campaign at London’s Curzon Soho cinema via the promotional film titled Without You, There is No Music, which was made by BBC Creative.
The former MD of Spotify U.K. and Ireland, Tom Connaughton, has joined growing independent distributor Canvas Music as Partner and Senior Adviser.
The company has also signed a long-term JV with its U.S. partner, Symphonic Distribution.
Connaughton exited Spotify at the end of 2023 after nearly six years at the streaming platform. Beforehand, he was SVP of Creative Content & Programming for Vevo.
Canvas Music Founder and Chief Executive Richard Lyne, pictured (left) with Connaughton, described his new hire as “a world-class executive who will bring a level of knowledge and experience to the company that we could only have dreamt of when we launched.”
He continued, “In a crowded market, it’s time to do distribution differently. The aim for us is to provide a great service with a great product but with more focus and less volume. Tom is exactly the sort of person we need to help us grow and achieve those goals.”
The U.K.-based Music Managers Forum has appointed Niamh Byrne, co-founder of Eleven Management, and Jill Hollywood, founder and MD of Echo Beach Management, as its new Chair and Vice Chair, respectively.
Byrne (pictured) and Hollywood succeed Paul Craig and Kwame Kwaten, who stood down last month after completing two three-year terms.
“Niamh and Jill are two of the U.K.’s most respected music managers. In addition to building enormously successful businesses, both have contributed greatly to the MMF Board over recent years. As our new Chair and Vice Chair, I’m really looking forward to working more closely with them as a source of support, expertise and inspiration building on the legacy of Paul and Kwame," said Music Managers Forum Chief Executive Annabella Coldrick.
In 2011, Byrne co-founded Eleven Management with Régine Moylett, achieving commercial and creative successes with Damon Albarn, Gorillaz, Blur and Graham Coxon. They’ve subsequently invited new artists, and managers, to join the team, adding The WAEVE, Riz Ahmed, Bashy, Bastille, Naomi Scott and Meyy to their roster.
Hollywood is one of the U.K.’s leading producer/writer-focused managers. After more than a decade at Big Life Management, she founded Echo Beach Management in 2016. Her current roster includes Ash Howes, Cameron Blackwood and Jacknife Lee, among many others.
A new London-based label, Heatwave Records, has arrived, helmed by former Syco Music MD Tyler Brown and Harold Serero, who until recently held a senior A&R role at Ultra Music Publishing and Payday Records.
Focused on signing artists from emerging markets, the label describes itself as “borderless” and aims to connect the dots for music worldwide, nurture a global audience for its artists and produce global hits.
Heatwave Records has enjoyed early success with Nigerian artist Fido’s track “Awolowo” going to #1 at Spotify viral, Apple Nigeria, Shazam Nigeria and Spotify Nigeria.
The label has also announced the signings of Ivory Coast artist døpelym, whose track “Guala” went #40 on Shazam in France and Top 10 on the viral chart, and Firstklaz from Nigeria, whose “Gen-Z Area” went Top 20 on the viral chart there.
Andrew Birchall has been hired in an A&R role, and there are plans to build a creative presence in several key territories around the world before the end of the year.
Discussing the inspiration for the label, Serero, who oversaw Payday’s African music division, said, “Countries like Nigeria, South Africa and India have some of the most vibrant and ambitious music communities in the world. At any given moment, there are hundreds if not thousands of artists competing for a place at the top. The songs, the melodies, the engagement of the music community, it’s unmatched. The artists we are talking to each day are so ambitious and are pushing the boundaries of creativity in new ways. Heatwave is a celebration of the simple fact that any artist from any country can rise to the top."
Breakthrough British singer-songwriter Myles Smith has found a new home at Sony Music Publishing, which has inked him to a global deal.
The Luton native and RCA signee has amassed more than 26m monthly listeners on Spotify and more than 1.3m TikTok followers, thanks to the success of songs such as "Stargazing" and "Solo." The former scored Smith his first U.K. Top 20 single earlier this year.
"I’m grateful for their belief in my music and looking forward to sharing more of my story with the world," Smith said of the SMP partnership. Added SMP U.K. Senior Director of A&R Saul Fitton, "Myles is a once-in-a-generation talent, with exceptional drive and dedication."
The artist is touring North America through early November. He'll return next year for another run beginning 3/31 in Vancouver.
Pictured collectively ignoring HITS' emails are SMP’s David Ventura, Eric Parker (manager, Extended Play Group), SMP’s Megan Fitzsimons, Smith, Paul Jeboda (management) and Fitton.
U.K.-based music company ATC Group has launched a transatlantic promotions company, Circa. It will be led by Matt Black (right), the former MD of Your Army’s American office.
Operating from Los Angeles, New York and London, Circa will assume the operations and services of Your Army America. It promises to deliver unique, fully integrated marketing and promo campaigns with an extended team and international reach.
Circa’s London office will be headed by Charlie Reid (left), who joins as General Manager following stints at Your Army, Decca, EMI and Columbia.
The rebranded American business will continue active campaigns for acts including Justice, Kelly Lee Owens, Disclosure, Milky Chance, Alice Merton and deadmau5.
Circa will operate as part of ATC Group’s Services division, alongside synchronization specialists Familiar Music Group, brand partnerships agencies companyX and Simpatico, digital studio [namethemachine] and merchandise company Sandbag.
ATC Group also encompasses divisions in artist management (with clients including The Smile, PJ Harvey, Yaeji, Nick Cave, Johnny Marr and Bring Me the Horizon through Raw Power Management), live booking agency ATC Live, music promoter Joy Entertainment Group and livestream specialists Driift and ATC Experience.
The launch of Circa presents the Group with the opportunity to further support Matt, Charlie and the team as they continue to build a successful and influential marketing and promotions agency, activating highly regarded campaigns for a host of amazing clients," said ATC Group CEO Adam Driscoll.
Annual recorded music revenues in the EU in 2023 reached €5.2b, according to a new report from the IFPI, which details how the region stacks up globally.
Last year, the revenue figure grew by 8.7%, which lags behind the global growth rate of 10.2%. It’s also significantly below growth seen in regions such as China, where revenue rose by 25.9% to €1.3b, and Mexico, which recorded an 18.2% increase to €454m.
The EU still sits behind the US at #1 in the list of total recorded music revenues by region for last year. The latter tallied €10.2b, with Japan taking third place with €2.5b and the U.K. fourth with €1.7b.
When adjusted for inflation, IFPI’s stats say that revenues in the EU are 61% of where they were in 2001. The US tallied 80% of its 2001 revenues last year, while Japan had 71% and the U.K. 61%.
In the 22 EU markets where the IFPI collects yearly chart data, on average, 60% of the Top 10s were tracks by domestic artists. That stat drops to 47% in non-EU markets.
When it comes to exports, other parts of the world are more successful. For instance, France’s David Guetta (pictured) is the only act who made an appearance on a Top 10 chart (Canada) outside of the region in 2023.
Naturally, the report comes with a call to action from politicians. IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley said, “The data in this report shows us that other parts of the world are developing and growing rapidly and the EU risks falling behind. Policymakers have an opportunity to help us to rectify this: by ensuring there is a well-functioning internal market, providing legal certainty and protection for music rightsholders, supporting the development of responsible and ethical AI and creating a competitive playing field on which today’s dynamic music sector can evolve.”
