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BIZARRE: Umg - What They Never Told You

All the people Drake shades on his three new albums, from Kendrick Lamar to LeBron James

The Canadian star’s new music is packed full of dismissive references to the likes of A$AP Rocky, J.Cole and Dr Dre

The Independent UK

Drake can still produce gold. So why does he insist on being such a loser?

COMMENT: The Canadian star has returned two years after his smackdown by Kendrick Lamar with no less than three new albums, all released on the same day. Listening to this mixed bag of tracks, Roisin O’Connor is exasperated by his insistence on being his own worst enemy

The Independent UK

How Taylor Swift's 2018 contract negotiations will see ALL Universal Music Group acts benefit from Spotify sale

A deal made by Taylor Swift when signing her recording contract back in 2018 will see Universal Music Group's artists profit from the record label's planned sale of their Spotify stake.

BANG Premier

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One man can kill Bill Ackman’s $64 billion bid for Universal Music Group—and no one knows what he’ll do

The $64 billion fight for the label behind Taylor Swift, Drake, and Billie Eilish comes down to a single French billionaire.

Fortune

Splice launches generative AI tools that fairly compensate sample creators

Variations creates five unique spins on a chosen sound, letting you specify a key and tempo and dial in a chosen level of complexity

MusicRadar

Universal Music Group, home to Taylor Swift, Drake, Elton John and other stars receives record $63bn buyout offer

Bid for the world’s largest music group proposes to “address” UMG's share price issues

MusicRadar

Bill Ackman’s $64 billion Universal Music play is part of his strategy to become the next Warren Buffett

Ackman, a self-described Buffett “devotee,” is following his idol’s playbook to access “permanent capital” by trying to jointly list his hedge fund, Pershing Square Capital, and Universal Music Group.

Fortune

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Trump-backer Bill Ackman makes pitch to buy record label that is home to Taylor Swift, Drake and Adele

Bill Ackman, once a Democrat supporter, backed Trump in 2024, calling him ‘the most pro-business president’

The Independent UK

Bill Ackman proposes €56 billion acquisition of Universal Music Group

Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has proposed a €56 billion deal to merge Universal Music Group with a US acquisition vehicle, delivering shareholders a 78% premium and a potential New York Stock Exchange listing.

Euronews

US billionaire plots £48bn takeover of Universal Music Group

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square investment vehicle has proposed a deal to take control of the Dutch-US business, which runs Abbey Road studios.

Evening Standard

Billionaire investor plots huge £48bn takeover of Universal Music Group

UMG boasts an extensive catalogue featuring artists from The Beatles and Queen to Adele, Taylor Swift, and Kendrick Lamar

The Independent UK

Universal Music, home to Taylor Swift and Drake, receives €55bn takeover offer

Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square claims world’s biggest music company has suffered because of delay of US listing

The Guardian - UK

Universal Claims Drake Used Label Against Kendrick Lamar, Now Seeks New Defamation Standard

Universal Music Group has filed a blistering response to Drake's defamation appeal over Kendrick Lamar's 'Not Like Us.' Discover why UMG calls the move a threat to hip-hop.

International Business Times UK

“The truth is that a 12-year-old girl pre-sold her creative output before she knew what it would be like, and before she knew what she was signing away”: Lorde confirms that she no longer has a recording deal with UMG

Her previous contract expired at the end of 2025, and she says that she now has a feeling “of openness and possibility”

MusicRadar

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Evening Standard

How the fan economy is making everyone a winner

There’s a new business model in town — now devoted followers are participating directly with their heroes, writes Chris Blackhurst

Pedestrian.tv

2026 Grammys Afterparties: Heated Rivalry Stars Fuel Dating Tea & Charli xcx Lets Loose

Step inside the 2026 Grammys afterparties, where the celebs mixed, mingled and danced the night away and the pics are to DIE for.

The Independent UK

Judge dismisses Salt-N-Pepa's lawsuit to reclaim master recordings from Universal Music Group

A federal judge has dismissed Salt-N-Pepa's lawsuit to reclaim ownership of their master recordings from Universal Music Group

MusicRadar

"Did not establish that they ever owned the copyrights to their sound recordings, let alone transferred them to anyone else": Salt-N-Pepa lose battle over ownership of masters to Universal

Label had withdrawn their first three albums from streaming

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Euronews

Nvidia and Universal Music Group join forces to develop 'responsible AI' for music

Described as an "antidote to AI slop," the strategic partnership will expand Nvidia's AI music models and develop new AI-powered music creation tools with direct input from artists.

MusicRadar

Splice partners with UMG on the development of AI-powered tools and virtual instruments

Details are scarce, but the two companies say the tools will enable "UMG artists to bring their own sounds into Splice's AI workflows"

The Guardian - UK

Musicians are deeply concerned about AI. So why are the major labels embracing it?

Companies such as Udio, Suno and Klay will let you use AI to make new music based on existing artists’ work. It could mean more royalties – but many are worried

BANG Premier

21 Savage warned Drake about Kendrick Lamar feud

21 Savage warned Drake not to get into a rap feud with Kendrick Lamar, telling him "there’s no way you can win".

The Guardian - UK

Big content is taking on AI – but it’s far from the David v Goliath tale they’d have you believe

Deals between media conglomerates and tech companies serve both sets of interests, while leaving artists by the wayside, says video essayist, writer and researcher Alexander Avila

The Conversation

Universal Music went from suing an AI company to partnering with it. What will it mean for artists?

Last week, artificial intelligence (AI) music company Udio announced an out-of-court settlement with Universal Music Group (UMG) over a lawsuit that accused Udio (as well as another AI music company called Suno) of copyright infringement.

MusicRadar

"We've seen this before - everyone talks about 'partnership,' but artists end up on the sidelines with scraps": Music Artists Coalition on Universal/Udio deal – More Details Please!

Artists' advocacy group fear that AI deal will stitch up musicians

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