U.K.-based music company ATC Group has launched a transatlantic promotions company, Circa. It will be led by Matt Black (right), the former MD of Your Army’s American office.

Operating from Los Angeles, New York and London, Circa will assume the operations and services of Your Army America. It promises to deliver unique, fully integrated marketing and promo campaigns with an extended team and international reach.

Circa’s London office will be headed by Charlie Reid (left), who joins as General Manager following stints at Your Army, Decca, EMI and Columbia.

The rebranded American business will continue active campaigns for acts including Justice, Kelly Lee Owens, Disclosure, Milky Chance, Alice Merton and deadmau5.

Circa will operate as part of ATC Group’s Services division, alongside synchronization specialists Familiar Music Group, brand partnerships agencies companyX and Simpatico, digital studio [namethemachine] and merchandise company Sandbag.

ATC Group also encompasses divisions in artist management (with clients including The Smile, PJ Harvey, Yaeji, Nick Cave, Johnny Marr and Bring Me the Horizon through Raw Power Management), live booking agency ATC Live, music promoter Joy Entertainment Group and livestream specialists Driift and ATC Experience.

The launch of Circa presents the Group with the opportunity to further support Matt, Charlie and the team as they continue to build a successful and influential marketing and promotions agency, activating highly regarded campaigns for a host of amazing clients," said ATC Group CEO Adam Driscoll.

Annual recorded music revenues in the EU in 2023 reached €5.2b, according to a new report from the IFPI, which details how the region stacks up globally.

Last year, the revenue figure grew by 8.7%, which lags behind the global growth rate of 10.2%. It’s also significantly below growth seen in regions such as China, where revenue rose by 25.9% to €1.3b, and Mexico, which recorded an 18.2% increase to €454m.

The EU still sits behind the US at #1 in the list of total recorded music revenues by region for last year. The latter tallied €10.2b, with Japan taking third place with €2.5b and the U.K. fourth with €1.7b.

When adjusted for inflation, IFPI’s stats say that revenues in the EU are 61% of where they were in 2001. The US tallied 80% of its 2001 revenues last year, while Japan had 71% and the U.K. 61%.

In the 22 EU markets where the IFPI collects yearly chart data, on average, 60% of the Top 10s were tracks by domestic artists. That stat drops to 47% in non-EU markets.

When it comes to exports, other parts of the world are more successful. For instance, France’s David Guetta (pictured) is the only act who made an appearance on a Top 10 chart (Canada) outside of the region in 2023.

Naturally, the report comes with a call to action from politicians. IFPI CEO Victoria Oakley said, “The data in this report shows us that other parts of the world are developing and growing rapidly and the EU risks falling behind. Policymakers have an opportunity to help us to rectify this: by ensuring there is a well-functioning internal market, providing legal certainty and protection for music rightsholders, supporting the development of responsible and ethical AI and creating a competitive playing field on which today’s dynamic music sector can evolve.”

Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” (Island) has been named the U.K.’s song of the summer by the Official Charts Company after shifting 800k in sales across the last three months.

The track takes first place on the OCC’s seasonal Top 10 with 92.25m streams. It spent seven non-consecutive weeks at #1 on the singles chart and is also the summer’s biggest seller on physical formats.

Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” takes second place, while “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (American Dogwood/EMPIRE) by Shaboozey is #3. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” (Darkroom/Interscope) by Billie Eilish and Hozier’s first U.K. #1 single, “Too Sweet” (Island), round out the Top 5.

With his “Stargazing” (RCA) at #7, Myles Smith joins Hozier as the only two British/Irish talents in the Top 10, with the remaining releases coming from U.S. artists.

UMG has seven of the 10 songs, followed by Sony and Warner with one apiece.

As for HITS, the only thing we did this summer is try not to work.

Official Songs of the Summer 2024 - Top 10:

1. “Espresso” (Island), Sabrina Carpenter
2. “Please Please Please,” Sabrina Carpenter
3. “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (American Dogwood/EMPIRE), Shaboozey
4. “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” (Darkroom/Interscope), Billie Eilish
5. “Too Sweet” (Island), Hozier
6. “Houdini” (Interscope), Eminem
7. “Stargazing” (RCA), Myles Smith
8. “Beautiful Things” (Warner Records), Benson Boone
9. “Good Luck, Babe!” (Island), Chappell Roan
10. “I Had Some Help” (Republic), Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen

The expensive and lengthy process British musicians face to be able to tour in the EU won't ease anytime soon, according to report in the Financial Times.

Despite much lobbying from the industry to improve the situation caused by Brexit, which has resulted in costly permits and bureaucracy, the EU has reportedly ruled out making any changes.

The process of doing so, according to documents seen by the FT, would require a revision to the EU-U.K. Trade and Cooperation Agreement, which the European Commission has said it’s not prepared to consider.

However, there's still reason to be hopeful. Jon Collins, the CEO of live industry trade body LIVE, said changes could be made without a revision to the agreement and that there is “renewed impetus from both sides to solve this issue,” while recognizing that negotiations are needed to find a solution.

He continued, “It is widely recognised that improvements to these touring rules are needed to bring major economic and cultural benefits to both European member states and the U.K.”

The U.K.’s live music industry contributed more than £6b to the country's economy last year, a tally up 17% from 2022, according to data from trade body LIVE.

The org’s annual Live Music Report also says the sector rose 35% compared to pre-pandemic figures from 2019. Live music in the U.K. supported jobs for nearly 230k people in 2023, up 9.4% from 2019.

Thanks to major tours by artists such as Beyoncé and Coldplay (pictured), the growth is largely attributed to concert revenues, which increased 19% year-on-year to account for 73.5% of the £6b.

In 2023, London accounted for nearly a third (30.6%) of total live music revenue. Manchester took the second highest at 7.4%, while Glasgow took the lead in Scotland with 5.5% of the U.K.’s share.

Despite the positives, LIVE CEO Jon Collins warned of the "significant" challenges that remain for festivals and venues. Last year, 36 festivals were cancelled and 125 grassroots music venues in the U.K. permanently closed.

Collins urged the new Labour Government to reintroduce a lower rate of VAT on tickets in order to “bring the U.K. into line with international competitors.” He continued, “With a lower rate of VAT on tickets, we could see the sector grow further, supporting more jobs, generating more investment and putting on more gigs, festivals and tours for people to enjoy.”

As for HITS, we're still in the online queue for Oasis. Click refresh on our behalf?

U.K.-based digital entertainment and retail association ERA has hired Linda Walker, most recently SVP of Commercial Partnerships and Analytics at Warner Music U.K., as Chair.

Walker begins her new rolw 9/1. She succeeds Ben Drury, CEO of family-orientated audio platform Yoto, who served for 18 months.

Walker began her music industry career working behind the counter of her local East Midlands indie record shop, Shooting Star Records. She joined Warner Music U.K. as a Sales and Radio Promotions Representative covering the South Coast, before becoming its first Digital Account Manager in 2005, responsible for what was then Apple’s iTunes.

After driving commercial partnerships with artists including Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, Dua Lipa, Michael Bublé, Liam Gallagher and Stormzy, Walker was appointed SVP of Commercial Partnerships and Analytics, a role she held until November 2023.

ERA CEO Kim Bayley said, “Linda Walker’s experience spans all areas of ERA’s membership from independent stores to some of the world’s largest streaming services, and she brings with her a reputation for clarity of thought and pragmatic commercialism, making her the ideal candidate for ERA Chair.”

“For artists and creators to succeed, they need digital services and retailers to prosper too, and I look forward to playing my part in ensuring we create the conditions which make that possible," Walker said.

Independent entertainment company The Other Songs has signed a publishing pact with Universal Music Publishing Group. British singer and songwriter Bruno Major (pictured) is the first signing under the new arrangement.

In addition, British publishing exec Jacque O’Leary has joined The Other Songs as General Manager. She formerly held roles at [PIAS], Beggars Group, Downtown, Roc Nation and Sony Music Publishing.

UMPG U.K. Head of A&R Pete Simmons called it "a real privilege to be able to team up with The Other Songs," adding that what "their wonderful team have built is inspiring, and us getting to be a part of that moving forward is so exciting—especially with an incredible talent like Bruno.”

Major, an AWAL artist, has garnered 1.8b streams with his three albums. His tracks “Easily” and “Nothing” are Platinum and Gold certified, respectively, and he’s completed sold out tour dates across North America, Europe, Australia and Asia.

The Other Songs co-founders and brothers, Alastair and Billy Webber, said: “After a 13-year wait, it is a dream come true to welcome Bruno Major to The Other Songs Publishing with the support of UMPG.

“Bruno is an extraordinary storyteller. His songs continue to change people’s lives and this partnership is an opportunity for Bruno to expand his reach into theatre, TV and film, whilst continuing to build his remarkable artist journey. Special thanks to his manager, Sam Bailey, and Harbour Artists & Music, and to our publishing partners, Mike McCormack and Pete Simmons.”

The Other Songs, based in New York and London, was founded in 2018. Its roster, made up of artists, songwriters, producers and animators, has garnered 2+b streams, including hits from SUPER-Hi, Endor, Raffa FL, Starsmith, and the 2023 U.K. chart-topping album, Sick Boi, by Ren.

TikTok has revealed the most popular tracks in the U.K. this summer across its platform, with “Nasty” (Nice Life) by Tinashe topping the list with more than 10m video creations.

Blood Orange takes second place with “Champagne Coast” (Domino), followed by "MILLION DOLLAR BABY (VHS)” (ISO Supremacy/PULSE) by Tommy Richman and “Pink Lemonade (Str8 Reload)” (Str8 Reload Ent) by London rapper LeoStayTrill & Mr Reload It.

Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” (Island), which spent five weeks at the top of the U.K. Official Singles Chart, takes fifth place. Her other seven-week #1, “Espresso,” lands at #10.

Other songs by British artists on the list include “BAND4BAND” (Columbia) by Central Cee & Lil Baby at #7, “Stargazing” (RCA) Myles Smith at #8 and “KEHLANI” (300) by Jordan Adetunji at #9.

As noted by Record of the Day, four of the songs have yet to even crack the Official U.K. Singles Chart Top 40. We’ll let you make of that what you will.

Meanwhile, the U.S. version of the same list is led by “MILLION DOLLAR BABY,” while the platform’s global Top 10 is headed by FloyyMenor & Cris Mj’s “Gata Only.”