From Pershing Sq.’s $64 billion bid for UMG to Wi-fi Competition’s Kanye West cancellation… it’s MBW’s weekly round-up

This week, Invoice Ackman’s Pershing Sq. submitted a non-binding proposal to amass Common Music Group in a deal price roughly $64 billion — with Ackman telling traders he expects “overwhelming shareholder help”, whereas JP Morgan analysts expressed skepticism that key stakeholder Bolloré would again the transaction.

In the meantime, Udio signed a licensing settlement with Kobalt, marking the AI music platform’s fourth main deal since settling copyright litigation with UMG in October 2025 — and its newest step in its transformation from courtroom defendant to licensed service supplier.

Elsewhere, Wi-fi Competition was canceled after the UK authorities blocked headliner Ye (Kanye West) from getting into Britain, ruling that his presence wouldn’t be conducive to the general public good — prompting promoter Competition Republic to substantiate that refunds will probably be issued to all ticket holders.

Additionally prior to now seven days: UMG and Consider settled the copyright infringement lawsuit filed towards the Paris-headquartered firm and its distribution platform TuneCore in late 2024, with all claims dismissed with prejudice.

Listed below are a number of the greatest headlines from the previous week…

1. BILL ACKMAN CONFIDENT HE’LL WIN OVER UMG SHAREHOLDERS TO $64 BILLION BID, SAYS BOLLORÉ RESPONSE WAS ‘MUSIC TO MY EARS’

Invoice Ackman instructed traders on Tuesday (April 7) that he expects “overwhelming shareholder help” for Pershing Sq.’s $64 billion takeover proposal for Common Music Group.

The deal — a cash-and-shares supply — would see UMG shareholders obtain EUR €9.4 billion in money, plus 0.77 shares of a newly created firm for every share held.

Ackman mentioned that his first name earlier than launching the bid was to the Bolloré Group, UMG’s largest single shareholder, and that the preliminary response was encouraging.

Nonetheless, not everybody shares Ackman’s confidence. In a analysis word circulated on Tuesday, JP Morgan analyst Daniel Kerven mentioned he would “be shocked” if Bolloré supported the deal, arguing there’s nothing in Pershing’s proposal that UMG couldn’t do itself with the backing of its main shareholders and board… (MBW)

2. AFTER UNIVERSAL, WARNER, AND MERLIN DEALS, NOW UDIO INKS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH KOBALT

Udio has signed a licensing settlement with impartial music writer Kobalt, including to a rising roster of trade companions because the AI platform continues its transformation from copyright defendant to licensed service supplier.

The deal, introduced on Thursday (April 9), will see Udio’s forthcoming subscription platform skilled on licensed and licensed music from Kobalt’s catalog, with taking part creators credited and paid for remixes, covers, and new songs made utilizing their voices and compositions.

The settlement marks Udio’s fourth important licensing deal because it settled copyright infringement litigation with UMG in October 2025. That settlement was adopted by an analogous settlement with Warner Music Group in November 2025, and a licensing cope with Merlin in January 2026… (MBW)

3. SECRETLY DISTRIBUTION ACQUIRES MUSIC DATA AND ANALYTICS FIRMS ENTERTAINMENT INTELLIGENCE AND BABEL OPS

Secretly Distribution has acquired Babel Ops, the expertise firm behind music information and analytics platform Leisure Intelligence (Ei).

The deal, introduced on Wednesday (April 8), brings each corporations beneath the possession of the impartial distributor, which says Babel Ops will proceed to serve its current shopper base of impartial labels and music companies.

Secretly Distribution CEO Darius Van Arman framed the acquisition within the context of rising consolidation in main label-land, pointing to the majors’ current acquisitions of digital provide chain corporations like FUGA and Revelator, in addition to Invoice Ackman’s $64 billion bid for UMG… (MBW)

4. WIRELESS FESTIVAL CANCELED AFTER UK GOVERNMENT BLOCKS KANYE WEST FROM ENTERING BRITAIN

London’s Wi-fi Competition has been canceled after the UK authorities denied headliner Ye (Kanye West) permission to enter the nation, with the Residence Workplace ruling that his presence wouldn’t be conducive to the general public good.

The transfer adopted a wave of political condemnation over the announcement that West had been booked as the only headliner for all three nights of the competition, scheduled for Finsbury Park from July 10-12.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer referred to as the reserving “deeply regarding” in view of West’s earlier antisemitic remarks, whereas not less than three sponsors — together with headline associate Pepsi, drinks large Diageo, and Rockstar Vitality — had withdrawn from the competition… (MBW)

5. UMG AND BELIEVE SETTLE LAWSUIT THAT ALLEGED ‘INDUSTRIAL-SCALE’ COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT OF UNIVERSAL’S MUSIC

Common Music Group and Consider have settled the copyright infringement lawsuit filed towards the Paris-headquartered music firm and its distribution platform TuneCore in late 2024.

UMG had filed a criticism towards Consider and TuneCore on November 4, 2024, in search of damages of not less than $500 million. On the coronary heart of the case was a sweeping allegation that Consider had constructed its enterprise by means of what UMG described as “industrial-scale copyright infringement,” focusing closely on the distribution of so-called “manipulated” audio — sped-up or remixed variations of copyrighted recordings uploaded to streaming platforms… (MBW)