California-bred artist Óscar Maydon is increasing his indie label, Rico o Muerto, by signing Victor Mendivil to a 360 deal in partnership with Downtown Artist and Label Companies.

The brand new settlement updates Mendivil’s earlier distribution partnership to a full-scale recording contract, solidified at Downtown’s Los Angeles places of work. Mendivil now turns into the flagship artist of Rico o Muerto.

Maydon launched his personal music profession in 2020 and shortly rose to prominence with hits like “Tu Boda,” that includes Fuerza Regida, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard World 200, and have become his first entry on the Billboard Sizzling 100.

He launched Rico o Muerto final yr, having since employed 15 staff throughout Mexicali, Mexico Metropolis, Tijuana and San Diego. The label additionally lists artists Omar Camacho, Regulo Molina, Carlos Manjarrez and Fernand Angulo.

+ TikTok has introduced the beta launch of TikTok Songwriter Options, a brand new set of options and instruments designed for songwriters.

Songwriters’ shared content material will sit side-by-side in a single place on TikTok for the primary time, giving songwriters the chance to spotlight the works they’ve written or co-written, to share tales about their work, their music and their lives, and to assist followers of their music to discover, use, share and save additional works from their catalog.

Songwriters together with Lauren Christy, Toby Gad and Justin Tranter are among the many first to make use of TikTok Songwriter Options. These instruments had been developed in response to the suggestions given by songwriters as a part of a complete songwriter survey by TikTok, that includes 871 songwriter respondents, and 18 in-depth interviews. The survey findings have knowledgeable the design of the TikTok Songwriter Options, with the aim of enhancing discovery, monetisation alternatives and elevating the profile of songwriters on TikTok.

Jordan Lowy, world head of music publishing licensing and partnerships at TikTok, stated: “We’re passionately dedicated to supporting songwriters at TikTok, which is why we constructed these instruments to have a good time and elevate songwriters and their work on our platform. TikTok is exclusive in its capability to supply songwriters a technique to spotlight their musical works alongside their very own content material, serving to them to inform tales about their music, their craft, and their lives, and to boost their profile and construct their viewers on TikTok, as lots of of hundreds of artist creators already do.”

+ CAA has signed platinum-selling duo, LOCASH. Comprised of singer-songwriters Preston Brust and Chris Lucas, the nation duo is managed by Skip Bishop and Jenn Littleton at Galaxy Leisure.

Final yr, the multi-hyphenates launched their very own file label, Galaxy Label Group, distributed by BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. The label permits Brust and Lucas to keep up full artistic management over their music whereas mentoring an entire new era of like-minded stars.

+ The T.J. Martell Basis, a basis that gives funds for progressive most cancers analysis, will have a good time its fiftieth anniversary yr on the Annual New York Honors Gala on Sept. 16 at Cipriani forty second Road in New York Metropolis. 

To mark this milestone, the Basis will debut the Circle of Legends, a brand new honor recognizing the visionary leaders and devoted champions whose perception in its mission has powered 5 a long time of progress within the combat in opposition to most cancers. Honorees embody Irving Azoff, Scott Borchetta, Tom Corson, Clive Davis and lots of extra. Further names could also be introduced within the coming weeks.

“This yr’s fiftieth anniversary marks greater than a milestone. It’s a robust reminder of the extraordinary individuals who constructed this Basis from the bottom up,” stated Steve Gawley, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. “With the launch of the Circle of Legends, we have a good time the visionaries whose generosity and dedication made 5 a long time of progress doable and we welcome the following era of leaders stepping as much as carry the mission ahead.”

“The music neighborhood’s help has at all times been on the coronary heart of our work,” stated Lynn-Anne Huck, CEO of the T.J. Martell Basis. “Their perception in our mission has pushed actual breakthroughs. As we look forward to the long run, we stay targeted on advancing daring, high-impact analysis that brings us nearer to a treatment for most cancers.”

+ Whitney Whitney, whose debut EP, “1.1” arrived Friday, has signed to Atlantic Data that day.

Raised between Connecticut and Manhattan, Whitney grew up a fan of Elton John, Fiona Apple, Regina Spektor and classical string preparations. She quietly launched music underneath a distinct title till she discovered producer Justin Lucas (Khalid, Alec Benjamin, and Daniel Caesar), and created her debut venture underneath Whitney Whitney.

+ Songwriter and producer Steve Solomon has signed a world publishing take care of Place Music.

Solomon co-wrote James Arthur’s “Say You Gained’t Let Go,” and was consequently nominated for 2 Brit Awards and went on to provide nearly all of James’ latest album, “Bitter Candy Love.” He additionally co-wrote and produced Forest Blakk’s hit single “If You Love Her.” Extra just lately, Steve co-wrote Perrie’s single “Overlook About Us” with Ed Sheeran and David Hodges.

“I’ve been a fan of Steve for years. He’s a dynamic producer, songwriter, guitar participant and only a artistic pressure throughout,” stated Mark Chipello, accomplice and head of A&R, Place Music. “He got here up touring, so he has a deep understanding of artists and easy methods to meet them the place they’re, one thing that basically exhibits in the best way he works. Attending to accomplice with somebody that I’ve revered for therefore lengthy is thrilling and doing it with Lucas Keller and the Milk & Honey workforce makes it really feel like we’re positioned to do one thing actually significant on this subsequent chapter of Steve’s profession.”

+ Sony Music Nashville has signed pop singer-songwriter Ian Harrison. Harrison’s first launch on the label, “Not The One,” was launched Friday.

A Columbus, Ohio native and present Nashville resident, Harrison grew up listening to a mix of folks, pop, nation and rock. “So blessed to be part of the Sony Nashville workforce,” stated Harrison. “I’m grateful that I’m surrounded by a gaggle that really believes within the music!”

Harrison is represented by Zach Beebe of OTRmgmt and WME with publishing by Warner Chappell.

+ Rising singer-songwriter Juan Freer and label D Luna Music have signed an unique distribution take care of Downtown Artist and Label Companies. In simply six months since becoming a member of forces with revered govt Daniel Luna, Freer has surpassed 300 million streams throughout digital platforms.

The take care of Downtown Artist & Label Companies covers the worldwide distribution of Freer’s total current catalog, in addition to his debut album, slated for launch later this yr.

“Once we found Juan, we approached his venture with imaginative and prescient and technique, and in simply 4 months, we helped him develop from 300K to over 5 million month-to-month listeners,” stated Freer. “We had already constructed a powerful relationship with Downtown, and now, with this alliance between D Luna Music and Downtown Artist and Label Companies, we’re reaffirming our dedication to continue to grow collectively.”

Ben Patterson, president of Downtown Artist and Label Companies, added: “It’s an honor that D Luna Music is selecting to work with Downtown to proceed growing the following era of Música Mexicana artists and advance the style Daniel is an distinctive A&R and advertising pressure. In partnership with Downtown’s world workforce, instruments and applied sciences, D Luna Music is positioned to develop a marquee unbiased label of future superstars like Juan Freer.”

Thursday, July 17

Eslabón Armado, the California-borne band of brothers Pedro and Brian Tover together with Damian Pacheco that has achieved crossover success with its trendy tackle Mexican sierreño, has partnered with Interscope Data. Particular phrases of the deal weren’t disclosed.

The trio from Patterson, Calif. was based in 2017 and has launched eight studio albums, most just lately “Vibras Del Noche 2.” The group has notched a number of large hits together with “Ella Baila Sola,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Sizzling 100 singles chart and spent 19 weeks on the high of the Sizzling Latin Songs chart. It’s at the moment on the “Vibras de Noche” tour.

“Interscope is dedicated to supporting Pedro on his imaginative and prescient for this subsequent chapter of his profession,” stated Jose Cedeño, senior vice chairman and common supervisor at Interscope Data, in an announcement. “It’s thrilling to be a part of the group’s new journey,” stated Manny Prado, vp of selling and A&R at Interscope, additionally in an announcement.

Pictured above (L-R): Brian Tovar, Nir Seroussi, Pedro Tovar, Manny Prado, José Cedeño

+ Grammy-winning country-pop act The Band Perry is marking an “official return to nation music” with its signing to Nashville Harbor Data, a division of Huge Machine Label Group; the band additionally introduced signing to Make Wake Artists for administration.

“Coming again residence to our Huge Machine/Nashville Harbor household seems like an exquisite full-circle second for us,” singer Kimberly Perry stated in an announcement. “To carry the inspiration of every part we’ve constructed collectively into a brand new season of creativity means the world.”

The group launched its debut single, “Hip to My Coronary heart,” in 2009 and finally went on hiatus in 2023. The Band Perry joins Nashville Harbor Data labelmates Florida Georgia Line, Woman A, Noah Hicks, Riley Inexperienced, Shaylen and Brett Younger.

+ Veteran govt Tracey J. Jordan has joined Emmy Award-winning, Oscar-nominated producer and pioneering Motown Data govt Suzanne de Passe and her enterprise accomplice Madison Jones at de Passe Jones Leisure as consulting producer. The Los Angeles-based firm sources, develops, acquires, and produces a wide range of tv, movie, theater, animation, e-book publishing and new media content material; nevertheless, Jordan will stay New York-based, engaged on a various vary of initiatives for dJE and unbiased initiatives for JordanLazin Productions, the corporate she co-founded with MTV veteran Lauren Lazin.

Jordan’s earlier roles embody senior govt positions at Arista Data, Motown Data, MTV Networks, ABKCO Music & Data, and SiriusXM.  She is presently a governor for the New York Chapter of the Recording Academy and a member of the artist relations committee for the Hip-Hop Museum. 

+ The American Affiliation of Impartial Music (A2IM), a commerce group that represents over 700 indie labels, has introduced its new board of administrators and govt committee for 2025-26.

New members elected to the board will probably be David Barnes of Rhymesayers Leisure, Glen Barros of Exceleration Music Companions, Jason Peterson from Godigital Media Group and Vic Zaraya of Harmony. Returning board members are Nabil Ayers of Beggars Group, Hays Rudolph of Secretly Group, Tony Alexander from Made in Memphis Leisure, Steven Hill from Warp Data, Nettwerk Music Group CEO Terry McBride, Louis Posen of Hopeless Data and Zena White of Partisan Data.

A2IM’s govt committee will probably be chairperson Nabil Ayers, treasurer Glen Barros of Exceleration Music and secretary Hays Rudolph.

“As I put together to step down originally of 2026, I’m reassured figuring out their management will information A2IM by the challenges and alternatives forward,” stated A2IM CEO and president Richard James Burgess in an announcement.

+ Sony Music Publishing has upped Sarah “Pixie” Pickering to vice chairman of artistic and author companies and co-head of sync, the corporate introduced at the moment.

Pickering will proceed to co-lead SMP UK’s Sync division and can “advance artistic exercise” for SMP songwriters and catalogs, “working in shut collaboration with Sony’s sister firms to gasoline synergies,” the corporate writes.

“I’m delighted to work even nearer with our unbelievable roster of songwriters, creating new alternatives past the normal sync mannequin,” Pickering stated in an announcement on the information.

+ Harmony Music Publishing is selling Tom Coulson-Smith from senior director of A&R to vice chairman, A&R, the corporate introduced. Coulson-Smith first joined Harmony in 2020.

Whereas at Harmony, Coulson-Smith has labored with Zach Nahome (Olivia Dean, PinkPantheress Bakar, Celeste, Tendai, BiigPiig), digital duo Mount Kimbie, rock group Biff Cyro, Ivor Novello nominee Wesley Joseph, Grammy-winning producer Fred Ball and Yazmin Lacey. Current signees embody Ed Thomas, co-writer and producer on single “The Manner I Love You” from Jorja Smith.

Previous to becoming a member of Harmony, Coulson-Smith labored as A&R supervisor for Warner/Chappell, working with artists together with Lianne La Havas and Marina.

Monday, July 14

Empire has introduced their growth into the Nordic area with a model new rent, Iman Hazheer, as territory supervisor. On this newly established position, Hazheer will lead Empire’s strategic initiatives throughout Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland,and Iceland. He’ll drive artist relations and market improvement, along with regional partnerships.

Based mostly in Stockholm, Hazheer will work intently with Empire’s worldwide workforce to amplify the corporate’s footprint. “The Nordic area has lengthy been a world pressure in music, however the path to worldwide recognition is turning into more and more slender particularly for unbiased and rising artists,” stated Hazheer.

He continued, “All through my profession, I’ve seen firsthand the challenges proficient creators face when making an attempt to scale past their residence markets. That’s why I’m excited to hitch Empire, an organization that not solely understands the nuances of native tradition but in addition presents a very artist-first mannequin. We’re right here to problem the established order, champion artists on their very own phrases and provides the Nordic expertise pool the platform they deserve, globally.”

Hazheer arrives at Empire with a decade of expertise and a various background on the intersection of music, tradition and model technique. He spent almost seven years at Spotify, the place he led editorial technique for the Nordics as a senior editor, curating playlists and shaping the regional music narrative. Previous to that, he labored with artists throughout Northern Europe as a part of the leisure division at Nike in Amsterdam.

“The additional growth throughout Europe into the Nordic area additional cements EMPIRE as champions of bringing music and tradition to a world viewers,” stated Empire Founder and CEO, Ghazi. “Iman’s information of the music enterprise makes him one of the best match to spearhead these efforts and we’re completely satisfied to welcome him to the workforce.”

Pictured above (L-R): Nima Etminan, Iman Hazheer and Ghazi.

+ Harmony Music Publishing has signed Tropkillaz, the Grammy-nominated Brazilian manufacturing duo of Zegon and Laudz, to a world publishing settlement protecting all new copyrights. The deal was orchestrated in shut collaboration between Harmony’s London, New York, and Miami places of work, marking the corporate’s first-ever signing out of Brazil.

Tropkillaz boast collaborations with artists together with Anitta, J Balvin, Marshmello, Justin Bieber, Doechii, Main Lazer, Snoop Dogg, Bob Marley, and Infantile Gambino, in addition to work with such songwriters and producers as Ryan Tedder, Stargate, Jason Evigan and extra.

Tropkillaz in a joint assertion commented: “We’re thrilled to be becoming a member of the Harmony household and specializing in creating numerous new music. We have now constructed a powerful catalogue with unique Tropkillaz releases whereas additionally producing for different artists from the world over—particularly in Asia, Latin America, and the U.S.— and we really feel fortunate to see that work resonate globally. We’re additionally so excited to have discovered a brand new residence at A-Record Administration, constructing this subsequent chapter collectively – there’s a lot extra to return!”

+Nashville-based hit songwriter and producer Mark Holman has inked a brand new publishing take care of Huge Loud Publishing/ERN’s Cadillac Music. Holman has penned songs for chart-topping hitmakers like Morgan Wallen, Submit Malone, Blake Shelton and lots of extra.

“Huge Loud has believed in me from the soar and I’m grateful to continue to grow with them,” shared Holman. “Including Cadillac to the combo simply takes it to a different degree. I’ve a ton of respect for Ern — as a author, as an artist and as a visionary — and I’m wanting ahead to what we will create.”

“I’ve loved working with Mark all through the years. We at all times have a good time within the room, and he’s such a pleasure to work with,” ERN’s Cadillac Music Founder and CEO Ernest provides. “He has been a weapon on the town for just a few years, and we have now clearly already made slightly magic along with ‘Flower Outlets.’ I stay up for persevering with to develop collectively as songwriters and producers. I’m grateful he needed to be part of the Cadillac crew as a lot as I needed him to be.”

+ Grammy and CMA-nominated songwriter Derrick Southerland has inked a world publishing take care of Kobalt. As a part of the deal, Kobalt has acquired a portion of Southerland’s intensive track catalog.

“Derrick is likely one of the most gifted, prolific songwriters working in Nashville at the moment,” stated Stephanie Cox, common supervisor/senior VP of artistic at Kobalt Nashville. “He has the extremely distinctive capability to write down throughout genres which makes him an ideal match for Kobalt’s world ecosystem.”

Southerland’s repertoire contains co-writing tracks for Carrie Underwood, Jordan Davis, Vince Gill, Fletcher, Laci Kaye Sales space, Hunter Hayes, Breland, Charlotte Sands, Excessive Valley, Charles Kelley, Muscadine Bloodline, Tanner Adell, Blair Davie, Dallas Smith and lots of others. Moreover, he has labored on Kane Brown’s Sizzling 100 licensed gold single “Like A Rodeo” and Joshua Bassett’s “Disaster.”

“I’m so excited to be partnering with Kobalt,” stated Southerland. “Once I met with Laurent Hubert, Jeannette Perez, Stephanie Cox, Rani Hancock, Kenny McGoff and so many others of the artistic workforce, I knew this was the place I wanted to be. Their enthusiasm not solely about my writing and songs, however my desires and imaginative and prescient for the long run made this the proper partnership to assist me accomplish my objectives. Big due to Kevin, who was with me for my first main label outdoors reduce and introduced me to this wonderful workforce. I’m wanting ahead to what’s coming on this subsequent chapter of our careers.”