Music Industry Moves: Kane Brown Re-Ups With Sony Nashville, Bruno Mars Strikes Publishing Admin Deal With Avex

Sony Music Nashville and chart-topping country artist Kane Brown have officially extended their decade-long partnership with a new multi-album global agreement. The renewal, commemorating ten years together, was launched alongside Brown's latest single and music video, "Woman." Brown expressed his enthusiasm, stating, "I'm really excited about my partnership with Sony Music. We've built something special together over the years, and I've got so much respect for Taylor, Ken, Margaret, and the whole Sony Nashville team. It feels like we're just getting started." The sentiment was echoed by label leadership, with Sony Music Nashville Chair & CEO Taylor Lindsey praising Brown as "an undeniable force" who has expanded country music's boundaries through his talent and deep fan connection.

In other major publishing news, Bruno Mars, the 16-time Grammy Award-winner recently named Variety's Hitmakers 2025 Songwriter of the Year, has entered a global administration pact with Avex Music Group. The deal will see Avex become the exclusive global publishing administrator for songs Mars writes after his current agreement with BMG/Warner Chappell concludes. Industry analysts note this move could signal a strategic shift for Mars's catalog management as he prepares new material. Katsumi Kuroiwa, CEO of Avex Inc., called Mars "one of the most culturally impactful songwriters of his generation," a view supported by the global success of hits like "Uptown Funk" and "24K Magic."

Universal Music Group's merchandise division, Bravado, has restructured its leadership team, appointing Matt Young as CEO. The company also announced several key hires and promotions: Eric Mackay joins as General Manager in Los Angeles from Warner Chappell Music; Dan Goldberg is the new SVP of Strategy & New Ventures, a role focused on expanding into new verticals; Amy Zaglauer is promoted to SVP of Artist Strategy; and Rachel Redfearn continues as SVP of A&R in London. UMG COO Boyd Muir emphasized that these appointments strengthen the company's focus on creating authentic products for superfans, a rapidly growing revenue stream in the music industry that deepens artist-audience relationships beyond streaming.

Following the recent relaunch of Big Machine Records, founder Scott Borchetta has unveiled a new management arm under his Borchetta Entertainment Group, signing acclaimed country singer Carly Pearce as its first client. Pearce's longtime manager, Mike Blong, joins the venture. Borchetta, who famously discovered Taylor Swift in 2005, stated this new division kicks off "a new season" for Pearce, beginning with her recent duet with Riley Green. Separately, Republic Records has hired Touré Shiver as VP of Marketing Strategy, where he will oversee campaigns for hip-hop and R&B artists like Ayra Starr and DJ Khaled, bringing experience from his previous role at Columbia Records working with Tyler, the Creator.

Further industry movements include TMWRK management promoting Renee Brodeur to General Manager after 14 years with the firm, and Creative Artists Agency (CAA) hiring Nikos Kazoleas as an Agent in its Global Touring division, based in London. In a strategic investment aimed at growth markets, Universal Music Group has taken a stake in Thailand's prominent independent label What the Duck. As part of the deal, WTD founder Moy Samkwan Tonsompong will also become Managing Director of Universal Music Thailand, leveraging the label's expertise with local acts like Bowkylion and Landokmai to bolster UMG's regional presence.