A weekly update on all things music, entertainment and technology, coming straight to you from Anthony Vanger at MassiveMusic. #TWIM
ARTIST OF THE WEEK: YEBBA
With an iconic sound similar to the likes of Adele, this singer from Tennessee is currently being represented by One Too Many Records over here in the UK. Watch Yebba singing ‘Evergreen’ in the video below.
MARTIN SORRELL BEATS WPP TO £266M MEDIAMONKS DEAL
Martin Sorrell beats WPP to £266m MediaMonks deal
Mogul’s first acquisition since he was forced out of media group he founded
Sir Martin Sorrell has bought Dutch firm MediaMonks for €300m (£266m) in a deal that marks his return to the forefront of the advertising industry and an escalation of hostilities with his former employer, WPP, the Guardian Reported 2 days ago.
(L. to r.) CEO and Main Monk Victor Knaap and founding COO Wesley ter Haar. MediaMonks
The €300m deal is understood to have seen private equity firm Bencis, which owns 55% of MediaMonks, take cash. MediaMonks’ management is taking a 50% split of cash and shares, giving about a 20% shareholding in the enlarged group.
Not bad for a couple of guys who founded the company in their early 20s.
SOCCER BOOSTS MUSIC AS ‘THREE LIONS’ TOPS U.K CHART
With over 2.6 Million Streams!
Sadly, it isn’t coming home. “Three Lions” accumulated 24,000 downloads and 2.6 million audio streams since last Friday alone.
The patriotic song, referencing the English lions on the players’ shirts, is particularly known for its optimistic chant, “it’s coming home,” referring to the sport’s premier prize returning to the nation where the rules of footy were first codified.
Unfortunately the England team couldn’t quite get through to the final this World Cup but I’m certain David Baddiel and Frank Skinner, who wrote the singalong with Ian Broudie of The Lightning Seeds, will be looking forward to a nice royalty payout in the near future.
STORMZY LAUNCHES #MERKY BOOKS
With the help of Penguin Random House
The huge Grime star announced via his Instagram that the publisher’s first book, titled Rise Up: The #Merky Journey So Far, would arrive on 1st November.
The imprint will be taking submissions from young writers in an attempt to inspire further generations of authors and by seeking out young writers via school competitions. Stormzy also revealed that #Merky books would be offering a position for a paid internship in 2019.
Pre-Order his new book here.
ORCHESTRAL AVICII TRIBUTE TO BE HELD AT CREAMFIELDS
A 40-piece orchestra will play homage to “one of dance music’s biggest talents”
The Kaleidoscope Orchestra will play their debut performance, which is said to include a tribute to the late EDM megastar, as well as a number of other dance classics.
Announcing on social media, Creamfields said the 40-piece instrumental would “deliver an unmissable set to honour one of dance music’s biggest talents”. We hope this gets recorded for those who cannot attend the festival in person.
TECH OF THE WEEK: SKULPT
Beautifully designed kit for under $300!
UK-based Modal Electronics (makers of high-end boutique synths) is looking to enter the category with a new under-$300 synth called SKULPT, which is set to go live on KickStarter July 13th.
In short, it’s got MIDI in and out, room to store 128 patches and 64 sequences and is powered either by USB or six AA batteries. Take a look at the demo video below.