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Pete Tong's Essential New Tune
Solfa (feat. Rindss)
Francis Mercier, Ginton & MoBlack
Cercle Records
27 Feb 2025
Comment
"It's a world exclusive, due out on 27th February on Cercle Records. It's a bit of an epic collaboration with some heavy hitters from the world of Afro House. Keeping the vibe around that sound 'Hot Hot Hot', this week's ENT is 'Solfa' from Francis Mercier, Ginton and MoBlack, featuring Rindss." 
This week's featured Essential New Tune was featured in last week’s Friday show on BBC Radio 1. Listen again and forward to 31.04 here.
Contact
Label: Clemence Maillard, Phil Tuchmann & Jeanne Rivoallan, Cercle Records
Management: Cameron Williams & Rodney Kolf
Publishing: Eroll Antonie, BMG
Radio: Vanni G & Panagiotis Loulourgas, Panik Records
Online: Abi White, Kartel Music Group
Live Agents: Sol Varó & Roy Gerritsen, One World Artists, Rakesh Sharma, Jamie Lens, Ron Ververs & Dounia Ververs, Storm Agency
25 Feb 2025
Business
  • Live Nation reported its fourth-quarter earnings for 2024, putting its year-end revenue at a record-setting $23.1bn. The stock price closed at $152.3, up 8.6% in the last three months, and up 62.9% overall in the last 12 months. (HR) 
News and Features
  • The 2025 Electronic Dance Music Awards is now officially open after the nominees were officially revealed. (EDM)
  • beatBread, a funder for independent musicians and labels, has launched its Deal Comparison Tool to enable artists and labels to compare and fully understand their funding offers, avoid unexpected traps, and make better funding choices. (RotD) 
  • Sony Music has asked a New York court to dismiss the copyright infringement lawsuit filed against it by Ultra Music Publishing which, it insists, is simply retaliation by Ultra founder Patrick Moxey, previously a business partner of Sony, for its decision to sue Moxey’s Ultra publishing business for trademark infringement. (CMU)  
  • The winners of the Radio 1 Dance Awards 2025 were: Charli XCX - 'BRAT' (Dance Album); Adam Port, Keinemusik, Stryv, Orso ft. Malachiii - 'Move' (Dance Track); Confidence Man (Breakthrough Artist); The Blessed Madonna (Outstanding Contribution to Dance Music); Sammy Virji (Essential Mix of the Year); Defected Records (Record Label); Chase & Status at Milton Keynes National Bowl (UK Clubbing Event); Jazzy (Dance Vocalist); Gonzo's Two Room, Norwich (Venue UK & Europe), Boomtown (Dance Festival UK & Europe) & Save Our Scene UK (Impact). (BBC) 
  • UK’s creative sector pushes back against opt-out AI training proposal. (MusicAlly) 
Digital
  • LANDR has released a new iOS and Android app that combines AI mastering, distribution and collaboration tools. (DJMag) 
  • TuneCore has launched an Advanced Trends & Analytics Dashboard, designed to equip artists with deeper insights and performance metrics to accelerate their growth. (RotD) 
  • Amid renewed indications that the remix and mashup wheels are in motion at Spotify, DIY distributors including CD Baby are updating their terms with expanded permissions for derivative works. (DMN) 
  • Discovery Mode gets artists noticed in exchange for a 30% royalty reduction. A new book suggests that Spotify is squeezing musicians and misleading listeners. (Guardian) 
  • SoundCloud has emerged as the leader in Legitary’s latest DSP transparency and accuracy rankings, delivering the most reliable data on play counts. (DMN) 
  • SoundCloud announced a partnership with Ticketmaster and Universe, owned by Live Nation, to let artists list events on their profile in a customised way. (TechCrunch) 
Live
  • Floating Points, Kerri Chandler, DVS1, and more have joined the Italian festival Kappa FuturFestival. (RA) 
  • Shanti Celeste, Or:la and Ben Klock are among the artists to play London's Maiden Voyage Festival on 9 August. (RA) 
  • Curated by Tale Of Us' Anyma and MRAK, Afterlife Festival will be held in two locations across North America and Europe. (EDM) 
  • Carl Cox has postponed his headlining set at Detroit's Movement. Jeff Mills will join the lineup as a Day 1 headliner. (RA) 
Comment, Opinion and Analysis
  • Why are creatives fighting UK government AI proposals on copyright? (Guardian) 
Tech
  • Synthesizer Museum opens in Berlin. (DJMag) 
Beatport
  • Jeff Mills is releasing a new album with his Jazz fusion project, Spiral Deluxe (Beatportal)
  • Boys Noize launches new label, ONES and ZEROS, with massive compilation (Beatportal)
  • Take an inside look at Beatport’s Community Event with Black House Radio (Beatportal)
  • Playlist of the Week: Busy P (Beatportal)
  • Eight emerging artists on our radar: February 2025 (Beatportal)
  • Adam F: The story behind 'Colours Revisited' (Beatportal)
  • djay x Beatport: Streaming Sessions with Coco Calypso (Beatport)
Clubs
  • Ibiza: 
    The Martinez Brothers announce Hï Ibiza 2025 residency. (DJMag) 
    Ibiza 2025 clubbing updates (Ibiza Spotlight) 
  • Berlin club Tresor announces programme for 34th anniversary. (RA) 
  • Brooklyn's TBA nightclub to close next month. (Mixmag) 
Deals
  • Reservoir Media announced the acquisition of UK dance and electronic label New State. The deal includes New State’s entire recorded music catalogue of over 13,000 tracks. The acquisition will also see Reservoir continue to market and release new music by New State artists via Reservoir-owned Chrysalis Records. (RotD) 
  • Armada Music has signed an exclusive recordings deal with Manchester-born British DJ and producer D.O.D. (RotD) 
  • Three Six Zero Recordings has signed a global distribution deal with ADA. (RotD) 
Streams & Podcasts
  • Bizarre Inc. ‘I’m Gonna Get You’ | The Making Of A House Classic (DJMag) 
  • Sidetracked with Kelly Lee Owens (BBC) 
  • Confidence Man live from 3Olympia Theatre, Dublin (DJMag) 
  • Skin On Skin | Boiler Room: Sydney (Boiler Room) 
  • STÜM | Boiler Room: Brisbane (Boiler Room) 
Artist and Music Features
  • Selections: LUXE (DJMag) 
  • How Primal Scream’s ‘Loaded’ became Andrew Weatherall’s first masterpiece. (DJMag) 
  • 10 Chaotic Questions: Fatboy Slim (Guardian) 
  • Rave against the regime: Serbia’s club scene is helping to fuel a revolution. (Mixmag) 
  • Traxman is the essence of Chicago dance music (Mixmag) 
  • James Blake on how musicians can take control of their careers, touring and releasing music off the grid. (Variety) 
  • Odesza on their 23-minute remix of the ‘Severance’ Score: It’s got ‘Odesza Energy’ but keeps the ‘subversive’ vibe. (Billboard) 
  • Kevin Saunderson: "Techno is more than just music; it's culture, history, and a movement that deserves recognition" (Mixmag) 
  • Whether TikTok stays or goes is irrelevant to many in the music industry — now, players like Chartmetric are developing far more sophisticated solutions for spotting future superstars. (DMN) 
  • The late Gwen McCrae brought emotion to dance music like no one else. (Guardian) 
Artist News
  • Martin Garrix has opened up about his own experience with tinnitus. (EDM) 
  • FISHER and Dom Dolla were reportedly paid $2.5m AUD (or £1.2 million) to play at a Saudi-backed golf tournament in Australia. (Mixmag)  
  • A fundraiser has been launched to help legendary Chicago DJ Boo Williams “become mobile again” after being hospitalised earlier this month. (Mixmag) 
  • Armin van Buuren played a surprise set at Rotterdam Centraal railway station this week ahead of his ASOT (A State of Trance) Festival.  (DJMag) 
  • Gwen McCrae, the beloved disco and soul vocalist, has died aged 81. (RA) 
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