Sony Music partnered with Saudi entertainment company LuxuryKSA to develop and promote Saudi talent. Specializing in Khaliji pop, LuxuryKSA has developed artists including Sultan, Ayed Youssef and Sultan Al Murshed. “Our partnership with LuxuryKSA is part of a broader strategy to deepen our roots in the region, champion local voices, and support sustained artist development,” said Shridhar Subramaniam, president of Sony Music in Asia and the Middle East, in a statement.
FUGA partnered with Single, a direct-to-consumer app for artists and record labels. Through the deal, FUGA clients can now deliver music directly to their Shopify storefronts via Single, thereby “bridging distribution and direct sales in a single workflow,” according to a press release. “By integrating Single’s powerful direct-to-fan app into our platform, we’re providing artists with the tools they need to monetize content, engage fans, and optimize revenue — everything they need, all in one place,” said FUGA president Chrstiaan Kröner in a statement.
In other Sony Music news, Tokyo-based Sony Music Labels acquired full rights to Spookiz, a series featuring 1 to 3 minute non-verbal animated content that has captured a fanbase in the U.S., Asia, Latin America and Europe. Sony Music is planning to produce new Spookiz animations and develop and introduce new characters to the series, while focusing on creating content that incorporates music to reach a wider age group. The Spookiz YouTube channel boasts roughly 6.1 million subscribers.
MNRK Music Group acquired metal label Prosthetic Records, which will now operate under the MNRK Heavy umbrella. Prosthetic is slated to release new music from hardcore/mathcore band Pupil Slicer and math/noise rock group God Alone. MNRK Heavy is planning anniversary reissues, remastered editions and curated collections from Prosthetic’s catalog.
Boutique artist management company and record label Mick Management struck a partnership with U.K. firm Hunger Management. Through the agreement, both companies will be able to tap into services for artists on both rosters, helping raise Hunger Management’s U.S. presence and Mick Management’s U.K. footprint. Hunger’s roster includes singer-songwriter Alessi Rose, Gracey and Anne-Marie, while Mick’s roster includes Maggie Rogers, Leon Bridges and The Marías.
Venu Holding Corporation awarded Aramark Sports + Entertainment the contracts for food and beverage concessions, artist and branded venue retail, and facilities management, including custodial and grounds maintenance. The agreement, which includes an equity investment in Venu, will be implemented across three Venu amphitheaters: Sunset Amphitheater at Broken Arrow, outside Tulsa, Okla., slated to open in spring 2026; Sunset Amphitheater at McKinney powered by EIGHT Beer in McKinney, Texas, set to open in summer 2026; and Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs, Colo., where the companies will expand on an existing relationship.
ONErpm partnered with Australian indie label BIORDI, through which BIORDI artists will be granted access to ONErpm support across marketing, algorithm strategy, YouTube growth and international expansion.
Los Angeles-based label Sargent House expanded its 15-year global deal with Redeye Worldwide, with Redeye now handling digital as well as physical distribution. The first release under the deal will be The Armed’s forthcoming album, The Future Is Here and Everything Needs to Be Destroyed.
Base for Music, a France-based startup that specializes in fan acquisition for artists and labels, announced a 1.5 million euro ($1.73 million) fundraise from strategic investors including LeanSquare; Spotify director of sales, Europe, Tristan Toulemonde; and Teads co-founder Gilles Moncaubeig. The platform collects data from fans to allow it to analyze their engagement, which is then cross-referenced with ad campaigns to measure those campaigns’ effectiveness. The new funding round will allow the company to speed up its expansion and enter new markets.
Knitting Factory Entertainment signed a deal to exclusively handle talent buying duties at The Argo, a new 750-capacity venue located in the restored Fox Bay Theater in Whitefish Bay, Wis., just north of downtown Milwaukee. Knitting Factory Presents senior vp James Irvine will book The Argo from the Knitting Factory offices in Colorado. The Argo will donate $1 from every ticket sold “to support music industry well-being, prioritizing programs in mental health, sustainability, and longevity,” according to a press release. The venue is slated to open in late fall.
