THE DAILY DROP: Monday, April 28, 2025
AMPLIFIED NEWS HEADLINES in Sync, Licensing & Music Publishing
@americanmusicmedia
Sony Music Publishing Partners With Universal for AI Rights Protection
Sony Music Publishing has joined forces with Universal Music Group to co-develop a platform aimed at detecting and protecting against unauthorized AI-generated uses of music. The move signals an escalation in major publishers banding together to protect intellectual property amid growing legal uncertainty around AI and music.
Paramount+ Debuts New Trailer Featuring Major Syncs from Emerging Artists
Paramount+ launched a new marketing campaign over the weekend with sync placements from rising indie artists. The trailer — promoting its summer 2025 slate — features a heavy rotation of under-the-radar tracks, a continued signal that platforms are actively seeking lower-cost, fresh music for marketing instead of relying solely on legacy hits.
Concord Acquires High-Profile Trailer Music Library STEM and Investment in Tone Platform
Concord announced on March 24, 2025 that it has officially acquired Stem, the music distribution and payments platform. As part of the deal, Concord is also investing in Tone — a royalty accounting and financial services platform developed by Stem’s leadership team in 2023.
Tone will spin off and continue operating independently as a standalone company.
Meanwhile, Stem will become a distinct division under the Concord Label Group umbrella. The company will continue to be led by CEO Milana Lewis and President Kristin Graziani, maintaining its existing leadership as it integrates into Concord's broader operations.
Soundstripe Acquires 'The Rights' to Enhance Sync Licensing Capabilities
Soundstripe announced the acquisition of 'The Rights', aiming to deepen its focus on sync licensing. This move is part of Soundstripe's strategy to streamline music licensing processes and expand its catalog for content creators.
Artist Legacy Protections Gain Ground in Ongoing Legislative Push
A growing body of legislation is emerging to safeguard the rights and legacies of artists in the face of evolving legal and technological challenges. Known collectively by some in the industry as part of the “Artist Legacy Protection Act” movement, these efforts include California’s pioneering Art Preservation Act (CAPA), the federal Restoring Artistic Protection Act (RAP), and the Music Modernization Act (MMA). Together, they address the moral rights of artists, aim to block the use of lyrics as evidence in criminal trials, and ensure legacy artists receive digital royalties for pre-1972 recordings.
The momentum behind these laws reflects a broader industry commitment to defending artistic expression and ensuring long-term protections for both living creators and their estates. As AI-generated content and digital licensing reshape the landscape, publishers, advocacy groups, and lawmakers are aligning to reinforce fair treatment and respect for creative work across visual and musical domains.
"The Bear" (FX/Hulu) Season 3 Trailer
Features Fleetwood Mac's “Dreams” — showing legacy songs continue to dominate premium TV placements.
Adidas x Bad Bunny Campaign
Debuted Sunday with an exclusive track by Bad Bunny licensed directly through Rimas Publishing.
Prime Video’s "Fallout" Season 2 Teaser
Syncs the 1970s classic "White Room" by Cream, paired with apocalyptic visuals.
'Star Trek: Strange New Worlds' Season 2 Trailer Showcases Iconic Soundtrack
The trailer for Season 2 of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds was released, featuring a compelling soundtrack that blends classic orchestral elements with modern tones. The music selection aims to bridge the franchise's rich history with its contemporary storytelling approach.
'The Flatshare' First Look Trailer Debuts with Fresh Musical Accompaniment
Paramount+ UK & Ireland shared the first look trailer for The Flatshare, a new series adaptation of Beth O'Leary's novel. The trailer features an upbeat and modern track that captures the show's romantic and comedic essence, appealing to a younger demographic.
Paramount+ Releases 'Kiss the Future' Trailer Featuring U2's Music
Paramount+ unveiled the trailer for its upcoming documentary Kiss the Future, which prominently features music by U2. The film chronicles the resilience of Sarajevo's citizens during the Bosnian War and U2's involvement in bringing global attention to the crisis. The use of U2's music underscores the band's longstanding commitment to social and political causes.
Preston Berger Joins Big Machine Music as Senior Manager of Publishing
Preston Berger has been appointed as the Senior Manager of Publishing at Big Machine Music. In this role, he will collaborate with the publishing creative team, representing Big Machine's catalog and managing the company's roster of songwriters. Berger's experience and dedication to the publishing community were recently recognized when he received the Friend of NSAI award.
Kourtney Kirkpatrick Promoted to SVP of Synchronization at Concord Music Publishing
Concord Music Publishing has promoted Kourtney Kirkpatrick to Senior Vice President of Synchronization. In her new role, Kirkpatrick will oversee synchronization efforts, further enhancing Concord's presence in the sync licensing arena.
Matt Turner Elevated to VP of A&R at Concord Music Publishing
Alongside Kirkpatrick's promotion, Matt Turner has been elevated to Vice President of A&R at Concord Music Publishing. Turner will be responsible for identifying and developing talent, contributing to the company's growth in artist and repertoire initiatives.
Jamie Kinelski Named Senior Vice President of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group
Jamie Kinelski has been appointed as the Senior Vice President of A&R at Universal Music Publishing Group. In this position, Kinelski will sign, develop, and guide the evolution of emerging and established songwriters, artists, and producers, strengthening UMPG's U.S. A&R team.
Warner Chappell Music's Emerging Talent Associate Advances to Sync Coordinator Role
Kate Kresser announced her transition from Sync Licensing and Clearance Emerging Talent Associate to Sync Coordinator (Temp) at Warner Chappell Music. During her tenure, she contributed to projects like a comprehensive pitch for Euphoria Season 3, demonstrating the company's investment in nurturing in-house talent for sync opportunities.