In the past 24 hours, the music industry has seen several significant developments across various genres and sectors.

Starting with industry updates, Brian Wagner has been appointed as the Executive Director of the International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA), effective March 1, 2025, succeeding Pam Matthews who is retiring after over a decade in the role. Meanwhile, Katie Fagan has joined Mom+Pop Music as the President of its Nashville office, bringing her extensive experience from a 14-year tenure at Prescription Songs. Major Bob Music has also made key promotions, with Andy Friday becoming the Chief Operating Officer and Emily Hasty taking on the role of Creative Director, along with the recruitment of Aubrey Daniels as the new Head of Publishing[1].

In label news, Hardy is launching his new label, Crow Records, in partnership with Big Loud Rock, with Sikarus as the first signing. Big Machine Records has welcomed the new duo Something Out West to its roster. Additionally, the Los Angeles College of Music (LACM) is launching 370 Music Group, a non-profit, non-exclusive record label and music licensing company, at its inaugural Music Industry Summit. This initiative aims to support LACM students and alumni by providing a platform for professional development and exposure[1][4].

On the performance front, the Grand Ole Opry saw notable debuts, including Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Ringo Starr and Warner Music Nashville newcomer Redferrin. Both artists performed on the Opry stage for the first time, marking significant milestones in their careers[1].

In publishing news, several major deals have been announced. Hit songwriter David Garcia has renewed his global publishing deal with Spirit Music Group, while Western rapper Ryan Charles has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Concord Music Publishing. Songwriter and producer Cameron Montgomery has also signed with Downtown Music Publishing[1].

The music charts have also seen some movement, with Zach Top achieving his first No. 1 on the MusicRow CountryBreakout Radio Chart with his song “I Never Lie”[1].

On a broader industry level, 2024 was marked by significant financial investments in music, including the sale of major catalogs and the acquisition of rights to iconic artists' music. For instance, Sony Music bought the recording and publishing rights to Queen’s music for nearly $1.3 billion. This trend indicates a return of investment in the music industry after the economic downturn in 2022[3].

Controversies have also been making headlines, with notable lawsuits involving Live Nation-Ticketmaster, accused of operating an unfair monopoly, and a copyright infringement suit against Miley Cyrus over her song “Flowers,” which some argue was influenced by Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man”[3].

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