Music Industry Moves: Bad Bunny’s Label Rimas Entertainment Acquires Stake in Dale Play Records

Rimas Entertainment has acquired a “significant” stake in Dale Play Records, the label home to Latin hitmakers Bizarrap, Duki, Nicki Nicole and Rels B. Rimas will work in partnership with Dale Play CEO, Federico Lauria, as well as Sony Music.

Rimas Entertainment is headed by Bad Bunny’s manager Noah Assad, and is home to the former as well as Arcángel, Cris MJ, Eladio Carrión, Mora and Quevedo. In a press release issued Thursday, Rimas said their deal with Dale was made possible “thanks to the support of Rob Stringer (chairman, Sony Music Group), Afo Verde [chairman and CEO Latin America, Spain and Portugal, Sony Music], the Sony Music family, as well as Brad Navin, Jason Pascal, and the team at The Orchard.”

“From day one, our mission has been to support and develop artists with authenticity and respect for their identity,” commented Assad. “With Federico and Dale Play, we’ve built a relationship founded on trust and mutual admiration. This alliance will allow us to break new boundaries and create opportunities for our artists and teams.”

Lauria added: “Afo and I have had a long-standing friendship for many years, united by a mission to elevate Latin music to the highest level. This partnership reflects a journey we have been on for many years with Noah, Jomy, and the Rimas team. We share the same vision and values, driven by a passion and a dream to take Spanish-language music and culture to the world.”

Verde said, “I have great admiration for the achievements of both Fede and Noah. They epitomize the new generation of executives and label leaders, characterized by their independent spirit and innovative approach. Their dedication to their artists and vision for the future is truly commendable. It is a privilege to continue our partnership with them, and I look forward to the remarkable opportunities and accomplishments we will share as we continue to collaborate.”

Pictured above (L-R): Noah Assad (CEO of Rimas Entertainment), Federico Lauria (CEO of Dale Play Records) and Jonathan Miranda (President of Rimas Entertainment).

+ Virgin Music Group has appointed Adrian Pope to the position of executive vice president, digital business and global partner relations at the company. In this newly created role, Pope will be a liaison between Virgin Music Group, its global client base, key digital partners and the independent music industry.

“Adrian played a significant part in building [PIAS] and [Integral] into a world class organization serving the independent music sector,” said JT Myers, co-CEO of Virgin Music Group. “We know his relationships and expertise will be important in our continued growth and success around the world and are grateful to have him play a key role on Virgin’s global leadership team.”

Pope most recently served as chief digital officer for [PIAS] and managing director of its label distribution and services business. During his lengthy tenure there, in addition to [PIAS] owned repertoire, he worked alongside independent labels including ATO, Domino, Epitaph, Heavenly, Mute, Ninja Tune, Partisan, Transgressive and Warp and with such artists as Arlo Parks, Cigarettes After Sex, Editors, London Symphony Orchestra, Moby, and Nick Cave and many others. Universal Music Group acquired [PIAS] in 2024.

+ Boutique publishing house Maison Arts has launched its own full-service record label, Maison Records. Under the new label are acts such as Arc De Soleil (Swedish multi-instrumentalist), Social House (songwriter-producers with credits on songs by Ariana Grande and Lil Yachty), Pauza (Cuban electronic duo), Roi Turbo (rising artist), Devault (DJ known for his collaborations with DJ Snake) and Not3s (a UK-based Afrobeats artist).

“Our goal at Maison Records is to create culturally significant currents around our artists,” said co-founder Simon Kessler. “We aim to add value to their careers in ways that go beyond what we see others doing. From hands on A&R, bespoke marketing and touring, to brand-building, synchronization and partnerships, we believe that every facet of an artist’s journey is critical to their growth, and we know we have the ability to make a difference for our roster through this all-encompassing approach.”

Maison Records is joined by seasoned executive Maya Michaelian, who will lead the marketing efforts, and the Maison Arts A&R team, including Livia Piomelli and Arielle Tindel, will also play a key role in shaping the label’s vision and artist roster. Maison Records has partnered with The Orchard for global distribution services.

Under its publishing house, Maison has released music from such artists as PartyNextDoor and Drake, Shaboozey, Suki Waterhouse and Danny Ocean.

+ Film producer Eric Groth (Ethan Hawke’s “Wildcat”) and writer-director Andrew Hyatt (“Paul, Apostle of Christ” from Sony Pictures) of Sacred Arthouse and Zach Dasher and Korie Robertson of Tread Lively (“The Blind” and “Duck Dynasty: The Revival”) have announced a new film. “Forever And Ever, Amen.” The film observes the life of musician Randy Travis.

Hyatt is set to direct his own script, with Travis and his wife Mary Travis executive producing, alongside musician Clay Walker. “Forever And Ever, Amen” marks the first film for Sacred Arthouse.

“Forever And Ever, Amen” is currently being cast by Anne McCarthy, Kellie Roy, and Morgan Robbins at Engine Casting. Travis will be played by three actors of different ages. Walker will play Travis in his 40s and 50s in addition to serving as executive producer.

“We’ve been approached many times through the years about doing a movie… but the timing or team has never felt quite as good as it feels right now,” said Travis. “With Clay on our side, and the creative direction he and the producers have, I feel good about telling my story through this medium.”

“Randy Travis is the voice of a generation and one of the greatest country singers of all time. I am truly honored to be a part of this project, and cannot believe I get to play one of my heroes,” added Walker.

+ SailGP, an international sailing competition, has partnered with Roc Nation Sports International to appoint DJ Khaled their chief hype officer for U.S. events.

Khaled will participate in SailGP’s 2025 Season through a social media partnership with SailGP and Roc Nation Sports International, “driving awareness for the growing global racing championship and tapping into younger, mainstream audiences,” per a press release.

“I’m excited to join the SailGP team and further show the world how incredible the sport of sailing is! I’ve always had an affinity for water sports as a native of South Florida, and I’m looking forward to bringing my own experience to the team, taking it to the next level,” said Khaled. “This is a great opportunity to work alongside a remarkable group of people and take part in exciting races. Let’s Go Sailing!”

Roc Nation Sports International Chief Marketing Officer Robert Simpkins said: “At Roc Nation Sports International, we thrive at the intersection of sport and culture, so bringing DJ Khaled’s energy to the high-adrenaline world of SailGP is the perfect fusion. This partnership is all about excitement, both on and off the water. We can’t wait to make waves together.”

Wednesday, March 5

Ryan Tedder has inked a global publishing agreement with Runner Music, a publishing company co-founded by Tedder in partnership with Ron Laffitte and Andrew Sparkler. While Tedder, certainly one of the most publishing-savvy songwriters in the business, continues to operate as a co-founder of Runner, he makes a distinct move in signing with his own company for representation. He was previously with Sony Music Publishing.

After establishing its roots in 2023, Runner Music has cultivated a roster that includes Tyler Spry (co-wrote Bad Bunny’s “DtMF”), Grant Boutin (co-wrote and co-produced on Tate McRae’s “So Close To What”) and Ben Johnson (Jelly Roll co-writer), among others.

Tedder said, “Signing to Runner feels like the culmination of a dream I’ve had for years — not just about music, but about finding the right people to make it all come to life. With Amanda Hill, Andrew Sparkler [pictured above with Tedder] and the team they’ve assembled by my side, I’ve got a community of music-obsessed operators that share the same vision, passion, and relentless drive. I’m blown away with what Runner has accomplished in such a short period of time and I’m ecstatic about what’s to come. My first gig in the music industry at 19 was working for a publishing company in Nashville, I never dreamed one day I’d be signing to my own.”

Tedder’s recent chart domination includes viral hits with McRae such as “Greedy,” “Exes,“ ‘It’s Ok, I’m Ok,’ and “Sports Car,” as well as the Grammy-winning collaboration “II Most Wanted,” performed by Beyoncé and Miley Cyrus. Additionally, Tedder’s work with David Guetta on “I Don’t Wanna Wait” features OneRepublic, with Tedder as the lead vocalist, followed by “Run It,” a collaboration between Tedder, Guetta and Jelly Roll for “Sonic 3.”

Pictured above (L-R): Amanda Hill, Ryan Tedder, Andrew Sparkler.

+ Rancho Humilde, a Mexican-American recording label, has announced its first feature film, “Clika,” produced by CEO Jimmy Humilde and directed by Michael Greene. “Clika” will be released in theaters on August 15, 2025, by Columbia Pictures and Sony Music Vision.

Humilde, in partnership with Jose “JB” Becerra and Roque “Rocky” Venegas, envisioned “Clika” to follow an aspiring musician’s fight to preserve his family’s Mexican-American legacy. The film is executive directed by Humilde with director Greene, and executive produced by Humilde, Venegas, Becerra, and the star of the film, Jaydee, alongside producer Sean McBride.

Sanford Panitch, president of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group, said: “Jimmy is a visionary producer whose groundbreaking approach has reshaped the sound of Mexican music. Now, his significant contributions in the world of music open the door for new voices, new kinds of stories, and new movie stars. We are thrilled to partner with Sony Music Latin to release his first feature film Clika.”

Rancho Humilde has helped to launch such acts as Fuerza Regida, Junior H, Natanael Cano and more.

Alex Gallardo, president of Sony Music U.S. Latin, added: “We are very excited to be part of this film alongside Rancho Humilde and Sony Pictures. Jimmy Humilde is a visionary who has revolutionized Mexican culture, and CLIKA is the first film born from his vision and creative drive. From the moment we first learned about the project, we knew we wanted to be a part of it and that Columbia Pictures was the ideal partner to bring it to life.”

Humilde said, “This film paves the way for a whole new era of opportunity and representation for Mexican American creators in Hollywood. We’ve been grinding in the background, but now we’re stepping into the spotlight, ready to show the world what we’re really about. This moment changes the game, not just for us, but for the next generation and everyone who’s ever felt like they didn’t have a seat at the table. We’re not just part of the conversation anymore — we’re leading it. This is just the beginning.”

+ See Tickets US, a ticketing partner for independent venues and promoters, has rebranded to Eventim.

Following its acquisition by CTS Eventim Group in June 2024, the transition aims to “strengthen the company’s position in the U.S. market by offering enhanced ticketing solutions and greater opportunities for promoters and venues while ensuring continuity for its valued clients,” per a press release.

Alongside the rebranding, Eventim announces several new and continuing partnerships that further strengthen its commitment to live events, including:

“Our transition to Eventim represents an exciting new chapter for our clients and the entire live entertainment industry in North America,” said Joe Salem, managing director, “Since joining the Eventim family, we’ve been able to unlock new opportunities, invest in cutting-edge technology, and offer more robust support to our partners. And the best part? We’re just getting started.”

+ After 24 years at Universal Music New Zealand as managing director and chairman, Adam Holt will retire from his role, effective April 30. He will be succeeded by Myra Hemara and Matt Kidd, who have been promoted as co-managing directors, effective May 1, and will report directly to Universal Music Australia and New Zealand President and CEO, Sean Warner.

In making the announcement, Warner said, “Adam’s commitment to our company, our artists, our people, and the greater New Zealand music industry has been nothing short of exemplary. Throughout his tenure he consistently promoted a positive culture of both UMNZ and UMA garnering him enormous respect from both employees and artists alike. Adam is a passionate music man, caring mentor and consummate professional, who led from the front and made lifelong friends across the UMG, the artist community artists and with our partners around the world.”

Warner added, “I am thrilled to announce that the current UMNZ General Managers, Myra Hemara and Matt Kidd, will become the new Co-Managing Directors of the company. Matt and Myra have incredible experience within UMNZ and have been at the forefront of the changes we have made in New Zealand over the past couple of years, Together, with the support of UMNZ Chief Financial Officer & Commercial Director, Tony Jenks, they will form a strong executive leadership team that will drive a new era of success for Universal Music New Zealand.”

Myra Hemara joined UMNZ in 2006, helping to establish UMNZ’s digital department and strategy. She was appointed general manager in 2017, taking on the additional responsibilities of leading UMNZ’s international artist marketing and audience development teams.

Kidd has been with UMNZ for 12 years. He began his label career in promotions and public relations, before stepping up to lead UMNZ’s domestic repertoire and business development teams.

Monday, March 3

Vermillio, an AI licensing and protection platform, has raised $16 million in Series A funding from Sony Music Entertainment and DNS Capital, among others. With this new investment, Vermillio has promised to protect the creative rights of talent, record labels and studios as generative artificial intelligence continues to evolve, changing the dynamic of artistic consent, credit and compensation.

Vermillio is supported by TracelDTM, a technology that monitors IP and NIL content, alerts and takedowns and lost revenue, in addition to preparing IP and NIL assets for AI licensing, auditing of authorized AI licenses and payment management.

“We are setting a new standard for AI licensing — one that proactively enables consent, credit, and compensation for innovative opportunities,” said Dan Neely, co-founder and CEO of Vermillio. “With the support of an innovation leader like Sony Music, Vermillio will continue building our products that ensure generative AI is utilized ethically and securely. At this critical moment in determining the future of AI and how to hold platforms accountable, we are proud to protect the world’s most beloved content and talent.”

Last year, Vermillio announced a partnership with talent agency WME to shield their clients from IP theft and deliver opportunities to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL) by securely licensing their data. To demonstrate the unique opportunity that authenticated AI with TraceIDTM presents, Vermillio launched a Spider-Verse AI engine with Sony Pictures where fans created their own unique digital version of themselves in the animation style of the Spider-Verse artists. Each of the 1.5 million fan creations was tracked using TraceID and with the ability to trace back to the filmmakers’ source IP.

Alongside Sony Music and Legacy Recordings, Vermillio then collaborated with The Orb and David Gilmour of Pink Floyd to develop a project where fans “remixed” their album and created original artwork. Each of these partnerships are rooted in the seamless and secure control of TraceID.

+ Sevdaliza has signed a global partnership with Create Music Group. Under this new deal, the Iranian-Dutch singer-songwriter’s upcoming music will be released through Create’s renowned indie label, Broke, co-founded by Andre Benz and Brandon De Oliveira.

“Sevdaliza is one of the most exciting and forward-thinking artists in the world, a true cultural force with a massive global fanbase,” said Jonathan Strauss, co-founder and CEO of Create Music Group. “She could have partnered with any company in the world. The fact that she and her brilliant team elected to make Create Music Group and broke her home is hugely gratifying to everyone at this company. We look forward to being a part of her incredible journey.”

Svedaliza scored a global hit last year with “Alibi,” which she performed on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” The single was Shazam’s No. 1 “Song of the Summer,” with the anthem spending 15 weeks on the Billboard Global 200 chart.

“We’re beyond thrilled to welcome Sevdaliza to the Create/broke family,” said Benz. “She is a true visionary that embodies everything that our company stands for—creativity, independence, and a relentless pursuit of breaking boundaries. Sevdaliza’s ability to innovate and connect with audiences across the world is unmatched, and we’re excited to work alongside her as she enters the next phase of her career.”

+ Jody Williams Songs (JWS) has promoted Nina Jenkins Fisher to vice president/general manager, with Tenasie Courtright also been promoted to creative director.

Fisher has signed songwriters, developing artists, major label artists, writer producers and pure songwriters. In addition to handling day-to-day operations, Fisher also supports in overseeing the company’s partnership with Warner Chappell Music.

“Thank you to Jody for giving me the space to grow—both creatively and in my understanding of the inner workings of the music publishing industry I love so much,” shared Fisher. “It has been a true joy to help build a company that has been embraced by the writers, publishers and song people in our community.”

“Starting a publishing company from scratch is a daunting task to say the least. But from day one, Nina took the reins of calendar management, pitching songs and attracting writers, all while interacting with the community in meaningful ways,” shared Williams. “We were always an exceptional team because of our different approaches to the business. Never shying away from offering opposing opinions, we have both learned from each other in a very healthy way.”

+ Sony Music Nashville and Provident Entertainment has appointed Lauren Kilgore as senior vice president, business and legal affairs.

Kilgore will oversee the legal activities associated with both labels to shape and execute SMN and PE’s legal, business and operational strategies. Kilgore will start with the company effective immediately and report to Sony Music Nashville Chair and CEO, Taylor Lindsey and President and COO Ken Robold.

“We are so excited to have Lauren join Sony Music Nashville and Provident Entertainment,” said Kilgore. “Her vast knowledge and sharp acumen will only help to continue to provide the best and most competitive deals for both our company and the artists we’ve partnered with.”

Kilgore brings nearly fifteen years of experience as an entertainment attorney. She has worked with a diverse roster of clients, including Paramore, Jackson Dean, Ben Williams, Black River Entertainment, Shenandoah and Walk Off Entertainment.

Kilgore has spent the entirety of her legal career based in Nashville, and most recently, was a Shareholder in the law firm of Buchalter, P.C., where she handled a broad range of transactional entertainment matters.

+ The Empower U Grant by Colture Cares, a 501(c)(3) organization, are launching submissions for their grants supporting women entrepreneurs from underserved communities through funding, mentorship, and business resources.

Each year during Women’s History Month, five women-led ventures receive $10,000 grants and 12 months of mentorship to help grow or scale their businesses. Applicants can submit for consideration starting March 3 at 12 p.m. PT, with submissions closing on March 5 at 12 p.m. PT.