UK independent ticketing platform Skiddle has secured its first external investment since launching in 2001, with Soho Square Capital taking a minority equity stake. Founders Ben Sebborn and Richard Dyer retain control of the business and continue to lead it alongside CFO Peter Hinnigan, with Soho Square director Joe Tebbutt joining the board.

The company says the capital will support expansion into lifestyle events such as comedy, food and drink, theatre and sport, as well as continued investment in technology and marketing. Skiddle also plans European expansion, building on its existing presence in the Republic of Ireland and markets including Ibiza, Mallorca, Malta, Tenerife and Marbella.

According to the announcement, Skiddle generated £178 million in face-value ticket sales across 180,000 listed events in 2025, with a 98 percent promoter retention rate, and has grown revenue by more than 20 percent annually over the past two years. The deal is Soho Square’s second investment from its Partnership Capital Fund II.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Neighbourhood PR, neighbourhoodpr.com.

Juliet Russell, a vocal coach known for her work with Jennifer Hudson, Kelly Rowland and Tom Jones on The Voice UK, criticized artificial intelligence in music during an appearance on the Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast, calling it “massive plagiarism at a commercial scale” at a time when artists are already under financial pressure, according to the podcast’s producers.

In the episode, Russell also argued that touring singers should receive the kind of physical support given to professional athletes, describing them as “vocal athletes.” She discussed the role of emotional expression versus technical perfection in performance, citing Adele, RAYE and Rosalía as examples, and addressed common vocal myths such as drinking honey and lemon or singing from the diaphragm.

Russell named singer Ruti as an emerging artist to watch. The full interview is available on YouTube and Spotify as part of the Blinding Talent Music Industry Podcast series.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Mark Adams, blindingtalent.com.

Fender and children’s instrument maker Loog are adding two instruments to their joint collection, marking Loog’s first bass guitar and a new color option for its Telecaster line. The releases are timed to the 75th anniversary of both the Fender Precision Bass and Telecaster.

The Fender x Loog Precision Bass is a three-string, short-scale instrument designed to replicate the look and feel of the original 1951 Precision Bass in a smaller format aimed at young and beginning players. The Butterscotch Blonde Telecaster introduces that classic finish to the existing Fender x Loog Stratocaster and Telecaster collection, which already pairs Fender body designs with Loog’s simplified three-string fretboard.

Both instruments include a Fender headstock, a standard quarter-inch output jack, access to the Loog Guitar learning app, and a Fender-themed activity book. According to the companies, the collaboration is intended to make entry-level instruments feel more approachable for kids while introducing them to Fender’s instrument heritage. The Precision Bass carries a listed MSRP of $229.99.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Emily Frances, rockpaperscissors.biz.

The Music Moves Europe Awards, the European Union’s prize program for emerging artists, has announced its 15 nominees for 2027. The nominees were unveiled on Nov. 4 at Riga Music Week and include TeddyBear (Belgium), Ida The Young (Czech Republic), panicbaby (Germany), Ángeles Toledano (Spain), Vilma Jää (Finland), Jersey (France), DA TI (Georgia), Alkyone (Greece), Palo Canto (Hungary), MOIO (Ireland), dóttir.x (Iceland), TÄRA (Italy), Nusantara Beat (Netherlands), Petra (Slovakia) and Olga Myko (Sweden).

Winners will be selected by a jury that includes BBC Radio 1 presenter Jess Iszatt, Colours of Ostrava artistic director Filip Košťálek, journalist Kenza Naaïmi El Fezzazi, Spotify’s Marta Belay and 2026 Public Choice winner Lia Kali. Seven prizes will be awarded in total: five Music Moves Europe Awards worth €10,000 each, a Grand Jury Prize that adds a €5,000 green touring voucher, and a Public Choice Award worth €5,000 plus a Spotify Single recording session in Stockholm. Public voting for the latter is open through Dec. 31.

The winners will be announced Jan. 14, 2027, at Stadsschouwburg Groningen during Eurosonic Noorderslag, where all 15 nominees are also scheduled to perform and take part in an accompanying education program. According to the announcement, past nominees recognized through the program include Rosalía, Dua Lipa, Stromae, Hozier and Christine and the Queens.

Based on a press release provided to Music Industry Weekly by Nikki McNeill, globalpublicity.co.uk.

HYBE is moving its entire stake in South Korean crypto firm Dunamu, valued at $285.6 million, to its US subsidiary HYBE Americas. The transfer is set to close on November 30.

The move restructures how HYBE holds one of its more unusual investments, placing the crypto asset under its American business unit rather than the Korean parent company.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

MSG Entertainment posted calendar Q3 revenue of $217 million, up 37% year-over-year, with executives crediting a Harry Styles residency at Madison Square Garden as a key driver of the record concert quarter.

On the earnings call, the company’s CFO addressed booking trends and venue demand, pointing to residencies as a reliable revenue model for the Garden. The results underscore continued strength in live entertainment bookings at the venue heading into the next fiscal period.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Sony’s recorded music and publishing operations generated a combined $3.15 billion in calendar Q3 2026, a record for the division and an 8.9% increase from the same period last year.

Streaming remained the primary growth driver, with recorded music streaming revenue reaching $1.52 billion, up 7.4% year over year.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.