Believe - CMU | the music business explained

Universal Music claims Believe has built its business on “industrial-scale copyright infringement” and wants $500 million

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Believe • 3 min read

Universal Music claims Believe has built its business on “industrial-scale copyright infringement” and wants $500 million

Universal Music has filed a bombastic $500 million lawsuit against Believe accusing it of facilitating rampant copyright infringement by allowing fraudsters to illegally deliver tracks owned by the major to the streaming services, claiming royalties when those uploads are streamed…

Chris Cooke • 05 Nov 2024

Upbeat news for Believe as shareholders show resounding support for founder’s “amicable buy-back”

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Believe • 3 min read

Upbeat news for Believe as shareholders show resounding support for founder’s “amicable buy-back”

The glow of a deal done right is spreading like a warm hug across the finance bros of Paris as 95% of Believe’s shareholders cash in their shares. As early investor Ventech exits - banking a 36x return - former Shazam exec Andrew Fisher joins the Believe board…

Sam Taylor • 25 Jun 2024

Believe board backs buyout bid - but company will remain listed on Paris exchange

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Believe • 5 min read

Believe board backs buyout bid - but company will remain listed on Paris exchange

Believe’s move to private equity backing now looks like a done deal. The twist is that shareholders won’t be forced to sell their shares and can participate in Believe’s long term growth through a continued public listing, while sources point to “upcoming consolidation” in music industry…

Sam Taylor • 19 Apr 2024

Warner Music Group pulls out of Believe takeover race

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Warner Music • 2 min read

Warner Music Group pulls out of Believe takeover race

Warner ditches Believe takeover ambitions a day before bid deadline expires…

Sam Taylor • 06 Apr 2024

French indie label body UPFI calls on French government to intervene in potential Warner Music Group takeover of Believe

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Believe • 5 min read

French indie label body UPFI calls on French government to intervene in potential Warner Music Group takeover of Believe

In a statement issued by UPFI the French independent label trade body says that it is concerned about the "potentially devastating consequences" if Warner Music Group is allowed to take over Believe saying that music creation in France would suffer…

Sam Taylor • 29 Mar 2024

As BMG’s 2023 numbers show continued growth, could a merger with Warner Music or Believe be on the cards?

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BMG • 4 min read

As BMG’s 2023 numbers show continued growth, could a merger with Warner Music or Believe be on the cards?

BMG’s renewed spend on acquisitions - primarily music rights - over the past three years is starting to pay off. With €847 million invested since 2020 it could make a lot of sense for WMG to buy BMG. Or could BMG make a bid for Believe?…

Sam Taylor • 27 Mar 2024

French regulator AMF knocks back Believe consortium’s accelerated bid, giving Warner Music a chance to make a formal offer

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Believe • 5 min read

French regulator AMF knocks back Believe consortium’s accelerated bid, giving Warner Music a chance to make a formal offer

WMG has access to Believe’s data and fourteen days to make a binding offer for the business. What does that mean and what does it look like? Can Warner find the cash? Even if it can, the deal would bring Warner, Believe and Deezer under common ownership - and will that pass regulatory oversight?…

Sam Taylor • 25 Mar 2024

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: US politicians want TikTok to sell up or be banned

US politicians vote in favour or proposals to ban TikTok in the country, Labour commits to cap secondary ticket prices, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 15 Mar 2024

Believe x WMG takeover dance warms up as financial regulator is called in

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Believe • 10 min read

Believe x WMG takeover dance warms up as financial regulator is called in

We’re not calling it a takeover battle - yet. After Warner quietly threatened to get the French financial markets authority to step into its maybe/maybe-not bid for Believe the independent committee at the French indie giant has gone straight for the throat and called them in itself…

Sam Taylor • 12 Mar 2024

Setlist Podcast: Apple blames Spotify for €1.8 billion fine

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Setlist • 4 min read

Setlist Podcast: Apple blames Spotify for €1.8 billion fine

Apple's €1.8 billion over its App Store rules, Live Nation's insistence that it's not to blame for rising ticket prices, and more…

Andy Malt & Chris Cooke • 08 Mar 2024

WMG is toying with an offer for Believe that would wipe out Warner’s cash reserves - but is it serious, would Believe shareholders sell and can WMG afford to bet the farm?

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Believe • 6 min read

WMG is toying with an offer for Believe that would wipe out Warner’s cash reserves - but is it serious, would Believe shareholders sell and can WMG afford to bet the farm?

As Believe moves forward with its plans to go private, Warner Music might have tossed a great big Kyncl-shaped two billion dollar spanner in the works, presaging a potentially long-drawn out and bloody boardroom battle for control of the French company…

Sam Taylor • 07 Mar 2024

Believe is going private and - backed by hypergrowth investors - has its sights set on being music’s “first global major independent”

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Believe • 6 min read

Believe is going private and - backed by hypergrowth investors - has its sights set on being music’s “first global major independent”

Denis Ladegaillerie is taking Believe private in a deal backed by investors TCV and EQT that could mark the start of an intensely competitive deal landscape for the music industry over the next few years.…

Sam Taylor • 12 Feb 2024