IMS Industry Insider

Pete Tong's Essential New Tune

I See U

HotLap

Siamese

out now

Comment
"It goes to duo who span the North Sea. Joris Mur hails from the Netherlands and Chris Mears is UK-based. They've been working together since 2022 and building up a hefty back catalogue. I played their last release 'Recall' earlier in the show. This week they're back with a heavyweight new release via Adriatique's Siamese label. You might have caught Adriatique playing these in the last couple of months. It's very much a double A side but we had to pick one, and we think HotLap's star is very much in the ascendant."
This week's featured Essential New Tune was featured in last week’s Friday show on BBC Radio 1. Listen again and forward to 27.50 here.

Contact
Label: Siamese
Management: The Shalizi Group
Publishing: Enhanced Music Publishing / Rendezvous Sound; Insomniac Publishing
Live Agents: Metropole

23 Jun 2026

Business

UTA and its private-equity partner EQT are said to have dropped out of the competition to acquire the sports-and-entertainment powerhouse THE•TEAM, formerly known as Wasserman. (Hits)

News and Features

A new tool allows artists to check whether their tracks are used in AI. (RA)
A global coalition of artists, songwriters and music managers have issued a warning to the world's record labels and publishers to stop the misuse of their rights in AI deals. (RotD) The statement asserts that music-makers are being sent letters by major labels and publishers informing them that their work has already been included in new AI licensing agreements without prior discussion or agreement.
A Spokesperson for the IFPI has responded "We are strongest when united as a music community and would encourage all who share our goal of a healthy and prosperous music ecosystem to work alongside us as we confront those advancing irresponsible AI." (RotD)

Digital

Tuned Global is supporting the launch of SongPicks, FanLabel's new paid-entry, skill-based music contest app. (RotD)
SoundCloud has named free-to-use platform RepostExchange as its first community promotion partner, exclusively for SoundCloud artists. (RotD)
As it battles YouTube for video supremacy – and grapples with an intensifying AI audio avalanche – Spotify is now enabling artists to directly upload full-length music videos, live performance videos, and more. (MusicAlly)

Live

Canada's Rifflandia Festival to permanently close after 18 years. (EDM)
Houghton 2026 line-up announced. (DJMag)

News Update from AFEM
(Association for Electronic Music)

New AFEM podcast episode: Market Focus Brazil
This edition of the AFEM Industry Insider brings together five leading voices from across the Brazilian electronic music ecosystem to take stock of where the market is, what is driving its momentum, and what structural challenges still need to be addressed.
Speakers include Nazen Carneiro (NZPR), Rafael Nazareth (Hot Beats Music Conference), Marian Flow (Artist & Lady of the House Brazil Ambassador), and Fernanda Almeida (TuneCore Brazil).
Listen on Spotify, Apple, or YouTube here.

Comment, Opinion and Analysis

Creator groups have poured scorn on a UK government-commissioned report urging greater adoption of generative AI in the creative industries saying it fails to recognise the “harms and risks” that unregulated AI poses to individual creatives, and the protections they urgently need. (ChartingGenAI - Graham Lovelace)
Social media is the go-to form of marketing in the digital age, resulting in a predicted combined $737.1bn in annual revenue by 2031 per MIDiA’s forecast. (Midia - Hanna Kahlert)
Electronic Music Report 2025–2026 from Elevate Artists explores electronic music industry growth, streaming revenue, touring challenges, emerging markets and artist development trends shaping the sector. (Attack)

Beatport

Beatport launches mobile track identification for DJs. (Beatportal)

Clubs

Berlin nightclub Cassiopeia has been given two weeks to vacate its current premises in Friedrichshain after being served an eviction notice by the site’s owner. (Mixmag)
Amsterdam club TILLATEC announces closure. (RA)

Deals

Bucks Music Group has signed Scottish songwriter, producer, DJ, and multi-instrumentalist Jack McNeilage, professionally known as Jack David, to an exclusive worldwide publishing deal. (RotD)

Streams & Podcasts

Alison Limerick ‘Where Love Lives’ | The Making Of A Dance Classic (DJMag)
Armand Van Helden & Duane Harden ‘You Don’t Know Me’ | The Making Of A Dance Classic (DJMag)
RA.1044 Love Injection (RA)
Chris Luno live DJ Mag HQ (DJMag)

Artist and Music Features

Local artists are breaking into global markets faster than ever... And it's what’s holding them back from capitalising on it. (Hypebot - Rob Israch, President at Tipalti)
Even in a shifting media landscape, artists and labels still seem to want reviews. Here's an updated guide on how to effectively pitch releases and solicit editorial coverage. (FirstFloor - Shawn Reynaldo)
Caroline Hansen (Warp Records) outlines how the independent sector can lead the way in reducing the carbon footprint of physical and digital music. (RotD)
How do you stay current in the modern music industry? ‘Stay on TikTok four hours a day’ (MusicAlly)
"Sónar is not something frozen in the past," says the tastemaking Barcelona festival's new CEO, François Jozic. "It must evolve, and it must anticipate new trends." (Billboard)
In his latest album, Baauer wants to bring 'U' joy. (NPR)
Bladee, the Drain Gang cofounder, talks about mysticism, Gen Z and his new album, Sulfur Surfer. (RA)
In 1998, Tricky and his entourage beat up Craig McLean in the VIP tent at Glastonbury. Now the two adversaries have a shot at reconciliation. (Observer)
James Curd on Pixar, GTA and the Long Game of House Music. (Decoded)
“This is not an assembly line. I’m literally just a girl making art”: For DJ_Dave, there are no musical shortcuts. (MusicTech)
Inside Honey Dijon’s role in shaping pride through dance music culture. (Playy)
From keyboard to EDM: How ‘jedag-jedug’ subculture is shaping Indonesia’s electronic music scene. (The Conversation)
How Tomodachi is reviving Ibiza’s underground spirit. (DJMag)
Inside Berlin’s electronic jazz underground. (DJMag)

Artist News

Purple Disco Machine has cancelled several upcoming performances after revealing he is suffering from “severe” tinnitus and hearing loss. (EDMTunes)
Mount Kimbie to release fabric presents mix. (RA)
Gareth Emery speaks against AI and launches new Human-only label, called Emotional Intelligence Records. (EDMTunes)
Jazzy announces debut album, ‘Peace & Patience’. (DJMag)
A Swedish appeals court has reinstated the lawsuit filed by Avicii‘s former manager, Ash Pournouri, against the late EDM icon’s estate, giving him a fresh shot at claims a lower court had thrown out earlier this year. (EDM)

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