AI is in an early and rapid adoption phase among self-releasing artists who are using it to aid their creative process and for marketing, according to a study from Believe and TuneCore.

In a study of nearly 1.6k artists from more than 10 countries, 50% are aware and engaged in AI and have a positive perception of its benefits and opportunities. Thirty-nine per cent are unaware and apathetic toward the technology.

More than a quarter of the artists have used AI music tools to create artwork (57%), promo assets (37%) and engage fans (20%).

The artists surveyed are most interested in using AI in their creative process (35%), to help with marketing and promotion for release planning (31%), creating promotional content (18%) and engaging and developing their fanbase (16%).

Half of those surveyed show a willingness to offer their music for machine learning, while one-third would grant consent for their music, voice recognition and artwork creation to be used in Generative AI.

Of the artists who were willing to grant consent, the vast majority would only do so under specific conditions of control, compensation and transparency.

Artist’s main fear concerning AI is being replaced by music made by AI (77%), plagiarism (61%), incorrect attribution of creative input (58%) and unfair distribution of revenue (46%).

You can read the full report here.

Anne-Marie and Travis Scott are battling for this week’s U.K. Official Albums #1. Over on singles, might Billie Eilish displace Dave & Central Cee from the top?

Anne-Marie’s UNHEALTHY (Atlantic) is leading Scott’s UTOPIA (Epic) by just 100 chart sales at the midweek.

Post Malone’s AUSTIN (Island) is expected to bow at #3, while Dexys are at #4 with The Feminine Divine (100 Percent Records).

Just outside the Top 10, Joni Mitchell’s first live concert performance in 22 years—her 2022 appearance at Newport Folk Festival—Joni Mitchell at Newport (Rhino) starts at #11.

On the U.K.’s Official Singles midweeks, “What Was I Made For” (Interscope) by Eilish for the Barbie soundtrack is just 1.5k sales behind Dave & Central Cee’s long-running #1, “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood).

Following the release of Utopia, Scott has three tracks in today’s Top 10: “Meltdown” at #6, “Hyaena” at #7 and “Fein” at #9.

Following the news of Sinead O’Connor’s death, her biggest hit, “Nothing Compares 2 U” (Chrysalis), has re-entered the Top 40 at #12.

Aphex Twin could score a chart peak with “Blackbox Life Recorder 21F” (Warp) starting at #14, while “Desire” (Sony) by Calvin Harris and Sam Smith is set to debut at #15.

Duran Duran's Nick Rhodes gives manger Wendy Laister a big hug.

Duran Duran and their long-time manager Wendy Laister will receive the Artist & Management Partnership gong at the Artist & Manager Awards in London on 11/23.

The honor celebrates two decades of success. Laister and her company, Magus Entertainment, started managing the British band in 2002. After being reunited with original members Roger Taylor and Andy Taylor for 2004’s Astronaut, she secured Duran Duran a two-album deal with Epic Records before bringing them back to their original Warner Records home for 2015’s Paper Gods.

Since then, they’ve had three Top 5 albums in the U.K. and two that hit Top 20 in the U.S. Their latest, Future Past, was released via BMG and charted at #3 in the U.K. In 2022, Duran Duran were inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. New music is expected this year.

Laister is “one of the U.K.’s most legendary and successful managers” with an “astonishing track record” that stretches back to her stint as Aerosmith’s manager in the ’90s, said Anabella Coldrick, chief exec of the Music Managers Forum. During that time, Laister guided the band through three multiplatinum #1 albums, their first U.S. #1 single and two record-breaking world tours.

“Her partnership with Duran Duran epitomizes the spirit of our event, and we are delighted they will join us to celebrate more than two decades of innovation, inspiration and global success,” Coldrick said.

The Artist & Manager Awards, sponsored by beatBread, will take place at Bloomsbury Big Top in November.

Barbie is the first film soundtrack to land three Top 5 songs simultaneously on the Official Singles Chart. Blur, meanwhile, have their seventh U.K. Official Albums #1.

Blur’s The Ballad of Darren (Parlophone) reached the top on 44k sales, with nearly 90% of those on physical formats.

Greta Van Fleet’s Starcatcher (EMI) is the second highest new entry in today’s Top 10, landing at #8. Join the Club (ADF) from Nottingham band As December Falls is new at #11, while K-pop girl group NewJeans debut at #15 with their second EP, Get Up (ADOR).

On the Singles Chart, “Sprinter” (Live Yours/Neighbourhood) by Dave and Central Cee remains #1 for an eighth week. The track tallied over 8m streams over the last seven days.

The three songs from the Barbie movie in the Top 5 are: “What Was I Made For” (Darkroom/Interscope) by Billie Eilish at #3; “Dance the Night” (Warner Records) by Dua Lipa at #4; and “Barbie World” (10K Projects/Capitol) by Ice Spice, Nicki Minaj and Aqua at #5.

Outside the Top 10, Byron Messia’s “Talibans” (Ztekk Records) rises 17 places to #12, while “Disconnect” (Polydor) by Becky Hill and Chase & Status is up eight to #17.

Nominees for the U.K.’s 2023 Mercury Prize have been revealed, with releases by RAYE, J Hus and Arctic Monkeys in the running. UMG label EMI has three contenders.

EMI’s releases are Jessie Ware’s fifth set, That! Feels Good; the third set from Loyle Carner, Hugo; and Olivia Dean’s debut, Messy.

Other notable nominees include The Car (Domino) by Arctic Monkeys—the band’s fifth nomination to date—and RAYE’s widely praised (and long awaited) debut, My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources).

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 9/7. BBC Music will provide coverage of the event across TV, radio, online and social media.

The nominees are:

Arctic Monkeys The Car (Domino)
Ezra Collective Where I’m Meant to Be (Partisan)
Fred again… Actual Life 3 (January 1 - September 9 2022) (Atlantic)
J Hus Beautiful and Brutal Yard (Black Butter)
Jessie Ware That! Feels Good (EMI)
Jockstrap I Love You Jennifer B (Rough Trade)
Lankum False Lankum (Rough Trade)
Loyle Carner Hugo (EMI)
Olivia Dean Messy (EMI)
RAYE My 21st Century Blues (Human Re Sources)
Shygirl Nymph (Because Music)
Young Fathers Heavy Heavy (Ninja Tune)

Gathered to admire CTM’s art collection are, from left, CTM adviser Steve Lewis, Fraser T. Smith’s manager Sarah Thorneycroft-Smith, Smith and CTM Outlander CEO André de Raaff.

CTM Outlander has acquired a catalog from British songwriter and producer Fraser T. Smith that includes songs by Tiësto, Stormzy, Dave, Craig David and Raye.

The deal also includes the writer’s share for most compositions with the songs being administered on a global basis by CTM Outlander.

CTM Outlander CEO André de Raaff, who called Smith “a once in a generation songwriter,” said “We look forward to shining a light on these compositions for years to come.”

Since launching two years ago, CTM Outlander has stated an ambition to invest more than $1b in acquiring music publishing and master rights. It has since acquired TEN Music publishing’s assets and the catalogs of Natalie Hemby, Ben Burgess, Michael Tyler and Grammy-Award winner Shane McAnally. Further acquisitions will be announced this summer.

Swiss tech company Utopia Music has appointed liquidators for its U.K.-based R&D division, according to a report in CMU.

The start up said last week it would be winding down the operation in an effort to consolidate its R&D offices. However, as the CMU report notes, news of its liquidation suggests the company can’t meet its financial obligations. The move is said to impact 25 members of staff.

“We could not maintain the U.K. entity’s sustainability, which is why we have entrusted it to the liquidators. Nevertheless, we remain committed to delivering services to the music industries through our other 10 operational entities,” a spokesperson said.

News follows hot on the heels of an announcement that Absolute Label Services, which Utopia acquired in 2022, is the third company it has let go of recently following a spending spree. Utopia Founder Mattias Hjelmstedt told press that this is due to “a strategic evolution” that will allow his company to “refine” its focus and double down on core service offerings.

In November, Utopia laid off what MBW reports to be around 20% of its global headcount. In the U.S., it's currently battling a $37m legal case from SourceAudio, which accuses it of bailing on an acquisition deal. Acquired companies still under its ownership include physical distributors Proper and Cinram Novum in the U.K., and Lyric Financial, which provides royalty advances, and tech startup Musimap in the U.S.

Negla Abdela has been promoted to managing director of Sony Music U.K. label Ministry of Sound.

She moves up from her previous position as general manager and takes over the role from Amy Wheatley, who moved over to Columbia Records as MD at the end of last year.

Dipesh Parmar, president at Columbia Records (which Ministry operates under), called Abdela “a natural leader” whose commitment across her eight years at Ministry of Sound “has helped shape the label’s vision for artist signings and overall development.”

“Negla’s passion for both the roster and team make her one of the most respected and dynamic executives in the business and I’m excited for her to take the label into its next phase of growth in the electronic music scene.”

Abdela joined Ministry of Sound in 2015 as social media manager before being promoted to head of Digital in 2018, then to GM in 2021. She has been responsible for managing the marketing and digital teams, working across the label’s roster to deliver multi-platinum selling single and album campaigns.

During that time, Ministry has increased its market share across every measure year-on-year. It has achieved a string of multi-platinum hits from artists including Paul Woolford, Ewan McVicar, Riton and Majestic as well as successfully spearheading global campaigns for domestic talent such as Regard, London Grammar and Sigala. The team has simultaneously achieved success with international artists including Doja Cat, Tate McRae and Lil Durk.