Music Week

We are the leading trade media brand for the UK music industry with unrivalled access to game-changing artists and executives. Music Week remains essential reading for anyone who needs to understand the business of music.

Music Week

Welcome to Music Week…

THE BIG STORY Grand central: Outernet revives live in heart of London with cutting-edge tech • Chief exec Philip O'Ferrall and JV partner Karrie Goldberg reveal their vision for the ambitious new venue in the historic music district

Week point: Prolifica challenges chart economics for indie bands • Executives explain their “disruptive” strategy as Two Door Cinema Club abandon multi-format sales and outstore gigs for their latest album campaign

FOR THE RECORD

TAKE A BOW

SPOTLIGHT SHINING A LIGHT ON MUSIC’S BIGGEST NAMES • Licensing organisation Merlin recently signed a series of big digital deals for its members in the independent sector, including partnerships with Lickd, Twitch and Boomplay. Here, CEO Jeremy Sirota talks regional streaming services, social music and the metaverse…

START ME UP • THE NEW COMPANIES DRIVING MUSIC’S FUTURE

IN POD WE TRUST • INSIDE THE BEST MUSIC PODCASTS

WRITE THE FUTURE-CONVERGENCE • Music drives connection. This has never been more apparent than in recent years: when sharing a physical space hasn’t been possible, music and technology have combined to connect audiences in new ways. In the first of a four-part series, Meta’s creative lead, entertainment, Jane Kinnard, and global client partner, entertainment, Vanessa Bakewell, write about what to expect next…

TWEETS OF THE MONTH

RISING STAR • Meet the industry’s brightest new talents…

AYRA STARR • With millions around the world falling for her progressive sound, Ayra Starr’s rise is already stratospheric. We meet the Nigerian trailblazer to talk empowerment, revolution and hits…

ESSENTIAL INFO

THE PLAYLIST

TASTEMAKERS • The industry’s favourite new sounds

MAKING WAVES • THIS MONTH’S HOTTEST BRAND NEW ACT

HEARTSTOPPER/ORLA GARTLAND

INCOMING • Tom Chaplin is back with his third solo record and first on BMG, which explores leaving behind his youth and embracing middle age. Here, the Keane frontman talks getting sober, being vulnerable, and the next chapter…

HOTSHOTS

NO HOLDS BARRED • Rina Sawayama is on a mission to change the music business for good, and the next phase of her masterplan is upon us. Already a pandemic breakout star and industry innovator, she is aiming for new heights with bombastic second album Hold The Girl. Music Week ventures into the eye of the storm with pop’s most provocative new voice, alongside label Dirty Hit and management team House Of Us, to tell a story of identity, growth and rebellion…

THE Music Week INTERVIEW MICHAEL WEISSMAN • Five years ago, SoundCloud seemed to be on the verge of collapse, set to fall by the wayside in the streaming gold rush. But now, under the leadership of CEO Michael Weissman, it is on an innovative new path. Following this year’s Music Week Awards win, we meet the New Yorker to find out how he’s rebuilding the company and to talk NFTs, the metaverse and why the industry needs to take a long, hard look at its relationships with artists and fans…

The Black Music Coalition presents… The Class of ’22 • To mark its second anniversary, the Black Music Coalition (BMC) has launched the inaugural edition of its Excellence Honourees list, a collection of 15 Black executives making waves across the industry. Here, executive committee member and chair Sheryl Nwosu writes exclusively for Music Week about why the business must pay attention to Black talent and the organisation’s ongoing fight for change…

BBC RADIO 1 THE NATION’S FAVOURITES • Aled Haydn...