BIBI Label Pacts With Warner Music Korea & More Music Deals

Prediction market Kalshi and Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) struck a multi-year partnership for the Madison Square Garden (MSG) venue and MSG Networks. Through the deal, Kalshi will become an official prediction market for MSG, where the sixth-floor concourse will be renamed the Kalshi Concourse. Kalshi will be integrated throughout the venue for fans, with visibility on the digital boards on the exterior of the venue, including MSG’s signage on Seventh Avenue, among other locations. The company will also have a presence on MSG Networks via advertising and branded content.

“As leaders in live entertainment, we are always searching for opportunities to partner with forward-thinking brands on innovative partnerships, and as such, are proud to welcome Kalshi as the first prediction market partner of Madison Square Garden,” said Doug Jossem, executive vp of flobal sports & entertainment partnerships at MSGE. “By bringing The World’s Most Famous Arena together with Kalshi, we are providing fans with a unique way to experience both brands, and we look forward to exploring how our companies can collaborate through this exciting new partnership.”

Added Adam Barrick, head of sports partnerships at Kalshi, “Madison Square Garden is an iconic staple in the lineage of New York cultural history and we couldn’t be more thrilled to officially become a part of the MSG family. Both MSG and Kalshi share a common vision of engaging consumers on the interests they are most passionate about – whether that be pop culture, sports, music or entertainment. As ‘The World’s Largest Prediction Market,’ partnering with ‘The World’s Most Famous Arena’ is a major milestone in Kalshi’s history — we’re extraordinarily proud to partner with the best.”

BMI acquired Soundmouse, described in a press release as “a global leader in music cue sheet reporting and monitoring for the broadcast and entertainment production industries,” from Orfium. With the purchase, BMI and Soundmouse will combine to “create the largest and most comprehensive cue sheet database in the global audiovisual marketplace,” the release adds.

Soundmouse utilizes AI and other technologies to monitor TV, radio broadcasts and music production globally to automate the creation of cue sheets, which report musical elements used in films, TV shows, commercials, video games and other projects. This is designed to increase revenue and visibility for songwriters, composers and publishers.

The transaction will be funded through BMI’s operating cash and won’t impact BMI’s distributions to its affiliates, the release notes. BMI will operate Soundmouse as an independent company. BMI president and COO Todd Horvath will oversee Soundmouse’s operations.

The deal is expected to close in mid-2026.

“This acquisition is just one element of our plans to invest in technology and expand the services we offer to our songwriters, composers and publishers,” said Mike O’Neill, BMI’s CEO, in a statement. “The global audiovisual marketplace is one of the fastest growing sectors of our industry, and the income stream it provides for our creators continues to grow in importance. By establishing the most comprehensive cue sheet database in the industry, BMI will be in the best position to collect and distribute the royalties our songwriters, composers and publishers are entitled to whenever their music is used in an AV production, anywhere around the world.”

“We’re very excited for this partnership given the key service Soundmouse provides to music creators, studios, broadcasters and global collective rights organizations,” added Horvath. “Just as we are investing to grow BMI’s business, we will support Soundmouse to ensure it continues to thrive and serve the needs of the industry in the best possible way.”

Rob Wells, Orfium’s CEO, added: “During the three years that Soundmouse was owned by Orfium, we invested significantly in both the business and its technology, transforming it into one of the world’s leading cue sheet management platforms and making it an attractive proposition for an organization like BMI. With its scale, global reach and the strength of its relationships across the music industry, we believe BMI is the ideal partner to take Soundmouse through its next stage of growth for the benefit of composers and songwriters around the world.”

Music IP acquisition company AntiFragile Equity Partners, backed by Corrum Capital, completed its first catalog acquisition with the purchase of a majority stake in the Hot Vibes Records catalog. Founded in 2020 by producer-artist ConKi, Hot Vibes boasts an electronic and dance catalog that’s generated more than 1 billion cumulative streams across nearly 200 releases and more than 250 artists.

“This acquisition is an important step in executing our vision,” said Tom Sarig, founder & CEO of AntiFragile Equity Partners. “With Corrum’s support, we’re focused on identifying catalogs with real scale and engagement, and unlocking additional value through a modern, strategic approach.”

“Corrum Capital Management is pleased to support AntiFragile’s launch with this first acquisition. The Hot Vibes catalog is a scaled, streaming-proven catalog with upside from active management. We look forward to building a meaningful portfolio alongside Tom and the AntiFragile team,” added Sam Filer of Corrum Capital Management.

Virgin Music Group has signed a global distribution agreement with U.K.-based indie label Chess Club Records, which has released music by Alfie Templeman, Coach Party, Wolf Alice, Jungle, SOFY, Pixey, Mumford & Sons, The xx, Siobhán Winifred, Zander, Bon Iver and more. New music from Templeman and Coach Party, along with new signing jo, is slated to drop in the coming months.

Bonita McKinney, head of business development, Europe at Virgin Music Group, said in a statement: “With their strong track record, deep credibility, and highly experienced team, this partnership with Chess Club feels like a natural fit. We’re excited to see what we can achieve together on a global scale.”

Added Will Street, A&R and co-founder of Chess Club: “I’m delighted to usher in this new chapter of Chess Club Records with Virgin Music Group. As we eagerly look ahead to the label’s 20th anniversary next year and celebrating 2 decades of dedication to artist development, this exciting new partnership with the amazing team at Virgin Music Group provides us with all of the resources needed for Chess Club to continue to thrive and support new music for years to come.”

FUGA renewed its global distribution partnership with Insomniac Music Group. Through the deal, FUGA (part of Downtown) will continue providing support for Insomniac’s releases globally, including catalog management, distribution and content support.

Additionally, Insomniac extended its neighboring rights agreement with Downtown Neighbouring Rights.

“Insomniac Music Group has long been a pioneer in electronic music, with global reach and deep cultural influence,” said Sarah Landy, senior vp, Americas at FUGA. “We value our shared commitment to high-quality curation and driving opportunities for artists. We are energized by their renewed confidence in our partnership as we continue working with such an instrumental label group that is inspiring and moving audiences on a massive scale.”

“Downtown has been a true partner in amplifying the voices of our artists and we’re thrilled to extend our partnership,” added Joe Wiseman, director of Insomniac Music Group. “We’re looking forward to building on that momentum and exploring new ways to grow together.”

Insomniac is home to imprints including Insomniac Records, HARD Recs, Factory 93 Records, and Bassrush, along with artist-led labels such as Max Styler’s Nu Moda, Joseph Capriati’s Metamorfosi and Slander’s Heaven Sent.

Nederlander Concerts acquired the 3,000-capacity Vina Robles Amphitheatre and adjacent properties — including the Vina Robles Hospitality Center — in Paso Robles, Calif. According to a press release, Nederlander “will continue to welcome partnerships with other promoters” at the venue.

“This marks an exciting new chapter for both Vina Robles Amphitheatre and Nederlander,” said Alex Hodges, CEO of Nederlander Concerts. “The local team can take great pride in what they’ve built. We value their thoughtful approach to working with artists, promoters, and fans. To ensure seamless continuity, the current team will remain in place. Together, with our shared commitment to delivering a best-in-class entertainment experience, we can take this already world-class venue to the next level.”

Music-making app Overtune has announced a strategic partnership with SoundCloud that will pair Overtune’s music creation suite with SoundCloud’s global distribution capabilities. Per the partnership, Overtune — which was developed in Iceland and launched in 2020 — will integrate direct publishing to SoundCloud into the app.

“Together, we’re creating a more seamless connection between music creation, distribution and discovery,” said SoundCloud’s senior director of business development Jordan Pettinato. “This partnership is about giving the next generation of creators accessible tools while ensuring human creativity remains at the center of the experience.”

“Overtune and SoundCloud together are building more than a toolchain, we’re building the biggest stage on the planet for anyone in a creative mindset,” added Overtune CEO Sigurður Ásgeir Árnason. “Together we’re building the largest creator to artist pipeline in music where you can start creating, find your voice, grow your audience and evolve into a fully realized artist.”

To launch the partnership, on June 15, SoundCloud and Overtune will debut a vocal creator competition that’s inviting artists to create and upload original vocals or rap performances using official Overtune instrumental templates, with submissions hosted exclusively on SoundCloud. — Katie Bain

Venu Holding Corporation entered an agreement to purchase a 15-acre parcel of property for Sunset Amphitheater Chattanooga, a planned amphitheater in Chattanooga, Tenn. The project is being developed in partnership with Urban Story Ventures. The completion of the partnership is contingent upon the “completion of public-private partnership incentives currently under negotiation,” according to a press release.

Sunset Amphitheater will include roughly 12,500 seats, making it one of the largest live entertainment venues in the state. It will be multi-seasonal, with a canopied roof that can function as both partially enclosed and open air.

“This is exactly the kind of strategic expansion opportunity our shareholders expect from us,” said JW Roth, founder, chairman and CEO of Venu Holding Corporation. “Chattanooga is a high-growth market with a proven appetite for live entertainment and a city leadership team that understands the economic power of what we are building together. We are grateful for the trust of this community and committed to delivering a destination that makes Chattanooga proud for generations to come.”

“This is a transformational moment for Chattanooga and for the Bend,” added Jimmy White, president and managing partner of Urban Story Ventures. “At present, the city only has indoor live entertainment venues with capacities topping out around 3,800. This venue will be Chattanooga’s first open-air venue of this scale, with a capacity of 12,500, more than doubling what the city currently offers. This will fundamentally change the types of artists and events Chattanooga can attract and position us for national and international opportunities.”

The project is projected to generate more than $42 billion in direct and indirect regional economic impact, according to the release.

Two Rivers Distribution, a brand of Ingram Publisher Services, signed a U.S. sales and distribution agreement with Z2, the New York-based publisher of comics and graphic novels known for its collaborations with musicians. The partnership launched on May 1.

“If you love music, you’ll love Z2. They have produced an astonishing portfolio of graphic novels and art books that will resonate with every fan” said Nick Parker, vp of Ingram Publisher Services. “We’re extremely happy to welcome them to the Two Rivers and we look forward to expanding their global reach across all formats.”

Added Josh Bernstein, president of Z2, “This partnership with Ingram and Two Rivers represents a massive leap forward for Z2. We’ve always believed in meeting fans where they are—whether that’s in comic shops, record stores, or bookstores—and this deal truly cranks that philosophy up to eleven. Ingram’s global reach and Two Rivers’ expertise allow our books to show up in more places than ever. It means bigger shelves, broader reach, and fewer barriers between our work and fans. This isn’t just growth for Z2—it’s a game changer for how music, pop-culture and graphic storytelling can live side by side in the marketplace.”

Vietnam-based DAO Music Entertainment, described in a press release as a “music-focused ecosystem,” signed a deal with The Orchard that covers global distribution, marketing and more, providing an opportunity to launch DAO’s artists onto the global stage.

“We are excited about our partnership with The Orchard and look forward to bringing Vietnamese music to the world together,” said Chien Dao, CEO and founder of DAO Music Entertainment. “DAO was built as a complete music ecosystem to develop the next generation of Vietnamese artists and music companies and strengthen the connection between Vietnam and the global music business. Leveraging The Orchard’s global footprint gives us the expertise and network to accelerate that mission.”

Music streaming and download platform Qobuz struck a global partnership with leading indie music retailer Rough Trade. Through the deal, Qobuz will become the official streaming service for all Rough Trade stores worldwide through 2028.

The initial two-year partnership will directly integrate Qobuz into the in-store experience across all Rough Trade locations in the U.S., U.K. and Germany. Qobuz and Rough Trade will co-produce performances and program live in-store events at Rough Trade locations, while music from the Qobuz download store will be available via the Rough Trade retail website. Additionally, special streaming deals and other offers will be available to Rough Trade customers, while Qobuz subscribers and employees will be able to access discounts at Rough Trade stores.

“Rough Trade is one of the best known and most respected names in music retail, and Qobuz is honored to have been chosen as their Official Music Streaming Service. We are looking forward to working closely with the Rough Trade team to create meaningful new experiences for dedicated music fans” said Dan Mackta, Qobuz managing director for North America and Northern Europe.

Stephen Godfroy, co-owner of Rough Trade, added, “As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, there couldn’t be a more fitting partnership than expanding our artist-focused community into high-quality digital streaming with Qobuz — a likeminded independent platform that connects audiences and artists through deep curation, and champions emerging talent as passionately as established voices.”