BMI will honor songwriter Johnny McDaid with its President’s Award at the 2026 BMI London Awards. The accolade recognizes his songwriting catalog, which spans collaborations with Ed Sheeran, BTS, P!nk, Robbie Williams, Alicia Keys, Lewis Capaldi, Jung Kook, Weezer, Shawn Mendes, David Guetta and Kelly Clarkson.

The award adds to McDaid’s industry recognition as one of the most sought-after co-writers in pop, with credits spanning multiple genres and territories over the past decade.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Julie Swidler, a longtime senior executive at Sony Music, discussed her career trajectory in a new interview, including formative lessons learned working alongside the late Clive Davis. She addressed the range of personalities she has managed over her tenure, from volatile industry figures to ambitious newcomers.

Swidler also touched on efforts to modernize the Recording Academy and the Grammy Awards, an institution she has been involved with pushing toward reform. The interview offers insight into how a veteran label executive views the changing demands of the music business and what she expects from the next phase of her career.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

A new industry analysis argues that the rappers with the most cultural influence among Gen Z listeners are not necessarily the ones putting up the biggest streaming or chart numbers. The piece, authored by Diana Umana, contends that traditional measures of mainstream scale are failing to capture where hip-hop’s real cultural weight now sits.

The disconnect points to a broader shift in how relevance is built and measured, with smaller or less commercially dominant artists shaping trends, language and taste in ways that don’t always translate into conventional metrics. The analysis suggests labels, marketers and A&R teams may need to recalibrate how they identify rising talent and cultural momentum rather than relying solely on chart position or streaming totals.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Universal Music Group has secured a global agreement to handle merchandise, licensing, and e-commerce for The Beatles, extending a relationship that already includes management of the band’s recorded music catalog.

The new pact deepens UMG’s control over the Beatles brand beyond music rights, giving the label a broader stake in how the group’s name and image are commercialized worldwide.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.

Jessie Parker is departing as director of Laneway Festival, ending a 16-year run with the Australian touring festival. She announced the decision in a LinkedIn post on Monday (Aug. 17), confirming her exit will take effect at the end of August.

Parker did not detail her next move or name a successor in the post. Laneway has not yet issued a statement on the leadership transition.

Read the full story at Billboard.

Spotify is debuting a new artist series called “Hometown,” with Beabadoobee, Jorja Smith and Nemzzz set as the first headliners. The initiative ties each artist to their local roots as part of the platform’s content push.

Beyond the content component, Spotify said it will partner with each artist to support community initiatives in their respective hometowns, linking the series to on-the-ground charitable or civic efforts rather than just streaming promotion.

Read the full story at Billboard.

OzzFest is set to return in 2027, with organizers confirming a venue in Birmingham, England, the hometown of the late Ozzy Osbourne. The festival launched in 1996 as a touring showcase for hard rock and metal acts and last took place in 2018.

The revival marks the first edition of the event since Osbourne’s death, positioning the festival as both a business relaunch and a tribute to its founder. Further details on lineup and ticketing have not yet been announced.

Read the full story at Billboard.

Jamen Capital and Merlin have finalized their purchase of Curve Royalty Systems from Virgin Music Group, the companies confirmed Tuesday. The transaction closed after receiving final approval from the European Commission.

The deal marks the completion of a sale process that had been pending regulatory clearance, transferring ownership of the royalty distribution platform to its new owners.

Read the full story at Music Business Worldwide.