This week, Universal Music Group struck a new multi-year agreement with superfan-focused platform EVEN.
In other UMG-related news, Virgin Music Group announced on Friday (February 20) that it has completed its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings LLC (Downtown).
Also this week, Live Nation Entertainment posted annual revenues of USD $25.2 billion for 2025, up 9% – or by $2.05 billion – year-over-year.
Elsewhere, HYBE AMERICA’s Nashville-based country, Americana, and roots rock division was rebranded as Blue Highway Records, with veteran entertainment executive Jake Basden appointed as Chief Executive Officer.
Meanwhile, it was reported that Casey Wasserman is putting his namesake talent agency up for sale.
Here are some of the biggest headlines from the past few days…
1. Universal Music strikes deal with superfan platform EVEN to power D2C sales for artists worldwide
Universal Music Group has struck a new multi-year agreement with EVEN, a superfan-focused platform that lets artists sell music and engage with fans directly.
The deal establishes EVEN as a direct-to-fan resource for UMG, providing the major’s labels and artists with “turnkey” tools for engaging superfans through early access to music, exclusive content, and community features.
The agreement will also allow UMG artists to offer physical music and merchandise through EVEN using UMG’s global D2C, vinyl, and merch infrastructure.
The partnership marks the latest expansion of UMG’s D2C and broader superfan strategy… (MBW)
2. Live Nation annual revenues top $25B in 2025, up $2B YoY, with adjusted operating profit of $2.4B
Live Nation Entertainment has posted annual revenues of USD $25.2 billion for 2025, up 9% – or by $2.05 billion – year-over-year.
The live entertainment giant has also reported that a record 159 million people attended Live Nation-promoted shows in 2025 (across 55,000 concerts) – up by 8 million YoY.
A standout fact about these 159 million attendees?
For the first time, in 2025, more music fans attended Live Nation concerts outside the United States than inside it… (MBW)
3. VIRGIN MUSIC GROUP COMPLETES DOWNTOWN ACQUISITION; PIETER VAN RIJN NAMED COO AS DOWNTOWN FOUNDER JUSTIN KALIFOWITZ STEPS AWAY
Virgin Music Group (VMG) announced on Friday (February 20) that it has completed its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings LLC (Downtown).
The closure follows the European Commission’s approval of the deal last Friday (February 13), subject to Universal Music Group’s commitment to divest Downtown’s Curve royalty accounting business.
UMG’s Virgin Music Group first announced the transaction in December 2024.
Alongside the deal’s completion, it was announced that Pieter van Rijn has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of VMG, having been CEO of Downtown since last year.
He will report to co-CEOs Nat Pastor and JT Myers and will continue to be based in Amsterdam.
Downtown Founder Justin Kalifowitz confirmed he is stepping away from the company he founded in 2007. Andrew Bergman, previously Chairman of Downtown, will transition into a senior advisory role. (MBW)
4. HYBE AMERICA launches Blue Highway Records in Nashville, names Jake Basden as CEO
HYBE AMERICA’s Nashville-based country, Americana, and roots rock division has been rebranded as Blue Highway Records (previously BMLG).
Veteran entertainment executive Jake Basden has been appointed as Blue Highway Records’ Chief Executive Officer.
Basden most recently served as President of Sandbox Management, where he oversaw all aspects of the talent division’s representation and business development, guiding the careers of multi-platinum and multi-award-winning talent, including Kacey Musgraves, Brandi Carlile, Kate Hudson, Kelsea Ballerini, Baby Nova, and Little Big Town… (MBW)
5. Casey Wasserman to sell talent agency amid fallout over Epstein files (report)
Casey Wasserman is putting his namesake talent agency up for sale. The move comes after documents linking him to Jeffrey Epstein’s associate Ghislaine Maxwell triggered significant backlash from the company’s clients and staff.
The sale was first reported by The Wall Street Journal on Friday (February 13), citing a memo to staff.
Wasserman, grandson of entertainment mogul Lew Wasserman, built Wasserman Agency into one of Hollywood’s largest sports-marketing and talent-management firms with roughly 4,000 employees, according to the WSJ.… (MBW)
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