R&B-pop artist Dawn Richard, singer-songwriter Valerie June, Nigerian guitar innovator Mdou Moctar and electronic artist Porches will perform at the 2026 Libera Awards, the Foundation for Independent Music and the American Association of Independent Music have announced. The awards are presented by Merlin. The awards take place in New York on Monday, June 8 at the historic Gotham Hall in New York City.
Also at the event, FIM and A2IM will honor Terry McBride and Mark Jowett, co-founders of Nettwerk Music Group, with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award. The recognition celebrates their decades-long commitment to artist development, innovation, and leadership within the global independent music sector.
+ Universal Music Group has expanded its mental health and wellbeing strategy with the announcement of two new partnerships with Amber Health and Project Healthy Minds.
Through a combination of partnerships and programs, the company is improving access to care within its creative community.
UMG is partnering with Amber Health to provide mental health services to its North American artists and songwriters. Amber Health specializes in delivering research-backed mental health care for music industry professionals through clinicians who understand the unique pressures and challenges of the entertainment industry. This partnership enables 24/7 access to clinical expertise, including crisis response, care planning, and specialized referrals. UMG will also work with Amber Health to provide additional behavioral health support to UMG employees in the U.S and Canada, which will include access to expanded mental health support and resources.
Since February 2025, a cornerstone of UMG’s strategy has been partnering with Music Health Alliance on their groundbreaking Music Industry Mental Health Fund. UMG has made a long-term commitment to support the Fund, which provides end-to-end mental health navigation services, including care coordination, resource identification, and ongoing support, ensuring continuity of care across all career stages within the music industry.
UMG continues to deepen its collaboration with leading organizations to broaden the delivery of practical tools and educational initiatives aimed at improving mental health literacy and reducing stigma.
Susan Mazo, Chief Impact Officer, Universal Music Group said, “Through our strategic partnerships with organizations like Amber Health and Project Healthy Minds— and our continued investment in groundbreaking programs like Music Health Alliance’s Music Industry Mental Health Fund, we are working to redesign how our industry supports wellbeing. Our focus is on expanding access to care, reducing stigma, and ensuring that our artists and songwriters, employees, and the broader music community have the resources they need to thrive.”
+ In the wake of the merging of indie giants BMG and Concord, the companies have announced that Björn Bauer will serve as chief financial officer of the combined company, effective upon closing of the transaction. Based in Nashville and reporting to designated CEO Bob Valentine, he will oversee the business’s finance functions and assume responsibility for the M&A team. Until the closing of the transaction, BMG’s current CFO, Mathis Wolter, will continue to oversee the finance function and support the integration efforts, before subsequently assuming new responsibilities within Bertelsmann. Concord’s current CFO, Kent Hoskins, will continue to serve in his role until the closing of the transaction, at which time it is anticipated that he will take on another senior leadership position for the combined company.
Bauer will join from entertainment company RTL Group, which is majority-owned by Bertelsmann. Where he he currently serves as an executive director and has been CFO since 2019. Prior to joining RTL Group, Bauer held senior leadership roles within Bertelsmann from 2007 onwards, including the group’s executive vice president of corporate controlling and strategy.
+ Big Loud Records / Songs & Daughters singer-songwriter Lauren Watkins has renewed her publishing deal with Big Loud Publishing. The renewed deal arrives as the Nashville native readies her first new release of 2026 with “Heartbreakaholic,” out this Friday.
“When I walked into Big Loud for the first time five years ago, I instantly felt they were the right team for me. What started in that room has turned into years of encouragement, challenge, support, and of course, hundreds of songs that were waiting to be written,” Watkins says. “I’m so grateful to be signing a new publishing deal with Big Loud and to start this brand-new chapter with the same hardworking, song-loving folks who believed in me from the very beginning. I feel so blessed to keep writing songs under this roof.”
+ Julia Wolf has signed a worldwide publishing deal with Pulse Music Group, the company announced this week. The deal includes the support from the A&R team of Michael Goldberg and Isaac Heymann at Rick Rubin’s American Songs. Wolf singer-songwriter gained early attention on TikTok before releasing her debut EP “Girls in Purgatory” in 2021, following with the albums “Good Thing We Stayed” and “Pressure,” and collaborations with Drake, Yeat and John Summit.
Wolf said, “I’m so excited to step into this next chapter of my career with the support of Pulse and American, and to join a roster I truly respect and admire. I know this is where I’ll create my best music yet and can’t wait to bring it all to life.”
+ WME has announced the appointment or promotion of five new agents. In London, it has hired Jana Recmanikova as an agent in the Contemporary Music department as part of WME’s International Festival team. The agency also announced the promotions of Kath Butler and Giulia Spadaro to agents; both will be focused on international touring.
Recmanikova joins WME after nine years at Festival Republic, where she most recently worked as a buyer and promoter for the Reading & Leeds Festival, Gunnersbury Park, and Finsbury Park.
The company has also hired Barbara Frum and Michelle Martinez as agents in its Contemporary Music department. Frum will be based in the agency’s Beverly Hills office, and Martinez will be in New York.
Prior to WME, Frum specialized in international touring at Outer/Most Agency, where she worked with Rhiannon Giddens, Hermanos Gutiérrez and others.
Martinez’s role at WME includes overseeing such artists as Jai’Len Josey, Soulidified, and Oliver Malcolm; she will also work across the entire WME roster for college bookings. Before WME, Martinez was an agent with CAA.
+ Merlin, the global digital music licensing partner for independent labels and distributors, has announced a series of senior promotions within its membership team.
Jim Mahoney, who joined Merlin in 2014, is promoted to chief membership officer and will focus on the organization’s membership strategy, engagement, and development globally. Prior to Merlin, he held roles at A2IM, SoundExchange Fat Beats Records, Roadrunner Records, and Profile Records.
Bela Zecker has been elevated to senior director of global membership development. Prior to joining Merlin, she held roles at the Exceleration and Ninja Tune labels and SoundCloud.
In London, Joe Mercer Danher has been promoted to director of member relations. Prior to joining Merlin in 2020 he held roles at Help Musicians and PRS Foundation and works as a commercial composer.
Finally, Ben Sperling has been promoted to manager of global membership development. Prior to joining Merlin, he worked as a distribution analyst at ASCAP.
+ Missing Piece Group founder and CEO Michael Krumper has announced that Erik Andersen has been promoted to vice president of publicity. Under his new role, he will lead the publicity team, oversee PR efforts company-wide, as well as continue to assist in the overall development and growth of Missing Piece Group.
“Erik has been a crucial part of our team at Missing Piece since his start at the company 13 years ago,” says Krumper. “His steadfast, extraordinarily thorough efforts have led to breakthroughs for developing artists and deserved coverage for living legends. Erik’s clarity of vision and guidance of staff has been essential, and I look forward to his support as Missing Piece continues to grow.”
+ Worldwide Entertainment Group (WEG) has officially signed veteran rock band Adema to its roster. The band has been recording the their fifth album, “Cruel Machine, » for Cleopatra Records. The group will be touring the U.S. with Powerman 5000 and the U.K. with Soil and Finger Eleven.
“We’re excited to join forces w/WEG, and have Dave Lory & Sandy Rizzo in our corner!,” the band’s Dave DeRoo said in a statement. “We have known Sandy for over 20 years when we worked w/her during our 1st few years as a band: and it’s great to be united! Excited for what the future holds!”
+ Florida native Kaden Jordan has signed with veteran hitmaker Rodney Jerkins’ Alienz Alive company, and releases a new single titled “Set Me on Fire.”
“Kaden’s artistry feels fresh, but his foundation feels timeless,” Jerkins says. “That combination is incredibly hard to find. At Alienz Alive, we don’t just sign talent with potential, we sign artists with purpose. Kaden Jordan has a voice, vision, and spirit that can genuinely impact this generation.”
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