Mark Isherwood, who leads DDEX’s Secretariat, says the persistent failure to reliably link musical works to their sound recordings is the most pressing unresolved issue in music data. The gap continues to complicate royalty matching and payment accuracy across the industry.

Isherwood’s comments come ahead of a DDEX summit next month backed by Meta, where the topic is expected to feature prominently. DDEX, which develops data standards used widely across labels, publishers, and streaming services, has long worked to improve metadata exchange industry-wide.

The renewed focus signals continued pressure on the sector to fix foundational data infrastructure as streaming revenue and catalog valuations increasingly depend on precise rights attribution.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Warner Music Central Europe has named Nici Ochmann as Head of Culture & Creator Marketing. She joins after a decade at Adidas, where she most recently led global culture marketing for the brand’s GSA (Germany, Switzerland, Austria) cluster.

The appointment brings an outside-industry perspective to Warner’s regional team, reflecting a broader push by major labels to recruit executives with brand and lifestyle marketing experience as they court creator-economy partnerships.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Universal Music Group has broadened Frank Briegmann’s responsibilities, naming him Chairman & CEO of Universal Music Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Deutsche Grammophon. The expanded post consolidates several regional and label operations under his oversight.

Briegmann will continue reporting to Sir Lucian Grainge, UMG’s Chairman & CEO. The promotion underscores the major’s push to tighten coordination across its international territories and classical music arm.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

AI audio company ElevenLabs has completed a $300 million employee tender offer that values the firm at $22 billion, doubling its previous valuation. The figure puts ElevenLabs roughly four times ahead of AI music generation rival Suno in market value.

The tender offer structure allows current and former employees to cash out shares without the company raising new primary capital. The jump underscores investor appetite for AI voice and audio technology as the sector continues to attract capital at a rapid pace.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Willard Ahdritz has launched Ahdritz Capital Partners, less than three months after departing Kobalt, the music rights company he founded. The new venture signals his return to dealmaking in the music investment space.

Joining him at the firm are former Lazard banker Stephen Langer and Isabel Keulen, who previously served as CEO of SSE Ventures. Their appointments suggest the firm will focus on investment and advisory work tied to music rights and catalog assets.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Westminster City Council has designated Heaven, the London LGBTQ+ nightclub, as an Asset of Community Value, following a nomination submitted by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). The listing formally recognizes the venue’s cultural and social significance to London’s LGBTQ+ community since it opened in 1979.

NTIA chief executive Michael Kill said the designation acknowledges the broader importance of LGBTQ+ venues as spaces of belonging and connection, and called on other local authorities to similarly recognize and protect such venues. Heaven owner Jeremy Joseph said the recognition supports the club’s ongoing transition into a charity-run venue, which he said is intended to help secure its future.

The NTIA, which represents more than 10,000 UK nightlife businesses according to the organization, said it will continue to advocate for protections for Heaven and other LGBTQ+ venues nationally.

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

Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) will launch a new Wednesday programme for Delegate Pass holders on January 13, 2027, adding a dedicated day of professional networking and showcases before the festival’s main conference gets underway at De Oosterpoort in Groningen, according to the announcement.

The day includes an invite-only Meet the Agencies session organized with the European Talent Exchange, YOUROPE and the European Festival Awards, bringing together European booking agents and festival programmers. Agencies including United Talent Agency, Primary Talent International, Karsten Jahnke Konzertdirektion and International Talent Booking have confirmed attendance, with more expected to be announced. The afternoon also features an opening ceremony highlighting Irish music, the festival’s 2027 focus, plus delegate-only showcases of recently signed artists ahead of their official Eurosonic sets.

ESNS is also introducing NEXT GEN, a programming track running throughout the conference aimed at younger industry professionals, alongside a discounted Young Delegate Pass for those under 28. ESNS, held annually in Groningen, pairs the Eurosonic emerging-artist showcase and the Noorderslag festival of Dutch talent with an industry conference, and has previously featured early-career sets from artists including AURORA, Stromae, Fontaines D.C. and Sigrid.

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