SW BLOG
Royalties, AI in songwriting, advocacy, and the evolving music industry. Knowledge is power.
Fabio Wardley vs. Daniel Dubois Livestream: How to Watch the Pay-Per-View Boxing Event Online
Livestream the PPV heavyweight title bout live from Manchester, England, on Saturday, May 9.
Here’s Where to Buy Affordable Tickets to aespa’s SYNK: COMPLaeXITY Tour Online
The K-pop girl group hits the road in North America, with tour dates starting September.
NewJeans Members and HYBE Sued Over ‘How Sweet’: Songwriters Claim ‘Blatant Copying’
Four writers are suing for a share of royalties from the 2024 song, which hit No. 7 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart.
This MasterClass Mother’s Day Deal Lets You Take Online Courses From Mariah Carey, Usher and Others for 50% Off
If you need a last-minute Mother's Day gift, all Masterclass plans (including gift subscriptions) are 50% off for a limited time.
Taylor Swift Trademarks: Every Word & Symbol She Owns, From ‘Swiftie’ to ‘Taylor’s Version’
Billboard has collected and contextualized a running list of more than 150 trademark registrations held by the pop superstar.
Katy Perry, Future, LISA, J Balvin, Alanis Morissette & Tyla to Perform at 2026 FIFA World Cup Opening Ceremonies: Report
Anitta, Michael Bublé, Alessia Cara and Jessie Reyez will also perform.
How Noah Kahan Landed His Best Chart Week Yet With New Album ‘The Great Divide’
"Patience was key, and our belief in Noah's ability never wavered," says manager Drew Simmons.
From Tencent Music’s 250K song takedowns to Sony and WMG’s calendar Q1 results… it’s MBW’s weekly round-up
The biggest headlines from the past few days... Source
Law firm Serling Rooks rebrands as McKoy Worob Averill Scott & Koenig LLP, elevates Jeffrey Koenig and adds Margo Scott as named partner
The change, which took effect in January 2026, follows the departure of named partners Reid Hunter and Joe Serling Source
Sony generated $3.03bn from recorded music and publishing in calendar Q1 2026, up 19.5% YoY
Recorded music streaming revenue (combining subscription and ad-funded streaming) was up 13.6% YoY. Source
Jieun Kim promoted to President of Warner Music Korea
Exec to lead the company’s operations and strategic expansion within the world’s seventh-largest recorded music market Source
Warner Music Group generated $1.73B in calendar Q1 2026; subscription streaming revenues rose 12.7% YoY
Warner Music Group published its calendar Q1 results today (May 7) Source
Paladin Artists names Rick Levy CEO – and enters ‘advanced discussions’ to acquire Wayne Forte’s Entourage Talent
The moves mark a significant expansion push for the independent live agency founded by Andy Somers and Steve Martin in 2021. Source
Tencent Music took down over 250,000 songs and reviewed 600,000+ ‘high-risk’ copyright cases in 2025 amid ’emerging AI risks’
TME said it took down over 27,000 songs specifically involved in what it categorizes as "song theft," "song laundering," and "trend hijacking" Source
South Korean prosecutors reject arrest warrant request for HYBE’s Bang Si-hyuk again (report)
Prosecutors rejected an initial request in April Source
New Global Booking Agency from ATC and Arrival Artists Now Reps 800 Artists
This week on the New Music Business podcast, Ari sits down with Ethan Berlin and Skully Kaplan of Roam Artists to break down the modern landscape of booking and live touring.
Songwriting Royalties & Income Streams Explained
How Songwriters Get Paid: Income Streams Every Songwriter Should Know Every song begins with a songwriter. Whether crafting lyrics, melodies, or chord progressions, songwriters are responsible for the foundation of the music we hear across streaming platforms, radio, television, and film. While the
How This UK Indie Label Sold 25K Records For 1 Band First Week
This week, Ari is joined by Mark Orr, founder of Lab Records, to break down modern indie label deals, marketing, and artist strategy.
This Artist-Run Record Label is Competing with the Majors in a Big Way
This week, Ari is joined by Michael Turner, founder of Rebellion, to discuss viral marketing, short-form content, and new artist-first label models.
How SXSW Works For Music
This week, Ari is joined by Brian Hobbs and Dev Sherlock of SXSW to break down everything you need to know about the festival.
Artist Managers on Music Videos, Artist Development, Long-term Strategy and True Fandom
This week, Ari is joined by Slush Management to explore world-building, artist development, and how true fans grow beyond streams.
Doja Cat’s Managers Have It Down
This week, Ari is joined by Doja Cat managers Gordan Dillard & Josh Kaplan to discuss building superstar careers, features, deals & fanbases.
DIY Band Couch on World Tours, Self Managing, and Fan Building
This week, Ari is joined by Boston soul-pop band Couch to discuss their DIY rise, seven-member dynamic, and managing a band from within.