Actor and artist Alexander Ludwig has signed a global recording deal with BBR Music Group/BMG, and his self-titled debut EP is due out May 21.

A lifelong country fan, Ludwig has already found success in Hollywood with leading roles in Vikings, Lone Survivor, The Hunger Games, and Bad Boys For Life. Raised outside of Vancouver, Ludwig wrote his first song at 12 and has been writing ever since. After years of fitting in as many trips as he could to Nashville to hone his songwriting chops, Ludwig crossed paths with Jason Aldean band members and songwriters Kurt Allison and Tully Kennedy who produced the debut project.

On the 5-track EP, inspired by the classic and contemporary country sounds he grew up listening to, Ludwig puts his love for storytelling on display. Among the songwriters contributing to the EP are David Lee Murphy, Brad Tursi, Jonathan Singleton, and Justin Wilson. The new EP follows Ludwig’s 2020 song, “Let Me Be Your Whiskey,” which he co-wrote with Mike Dulaney ( Faith Hill).

“Alexander is one of those rare individuals who excels at everything he does. A big reason is his work ethic. He never assumes anything will be handed to him and his music career is no exception. He’s been a long-time student of the genre and put in the time over the last several years coming to Nashville, spending time writing, learning from industry vets and honing his craft,” says Jon Loba, President of BMG Nashville. “When he first came to my attention, I was hesitant because often times when an actor or athlete wants to cross into music, it’s just a diversion or vanity project. BBR VP of Promotion Lee Adams assured me that wasn’t the case and pushed for a meeting. I’m so glad she did! Alexander is not only a special artist, but a special human being and I can’t wait for all our partners to meet him and hear his music. I like to say I signed him IN SPITE of his acting career!”

“I’ve been drawn to country music since I was handed my first guitar at nine years old. Life is about the journey and I am so grateful to take these next steps in music with Loba, BBR Music Group/BMG and the community in Nashville and want to thank them for taking a chance and believing in me,” said Ludwig. “I can’t wait to share this music that represents a taste of what I love about country music.”

Alexander Ludwig Track List:
1. “Love Today”— Greylan James, David Lee Murphy, Matt Roy
2. “Sunset Town” — Marv Green, David Lee Murphy, Justin Wilson
3. “How It Rolls” — Eric Arjes, Brad Tursi
4. “Malibu Blue” — Jonathan Singleton, Brad Tursi, Andrew Rollins
5. “Summer Crazy”— Alexander Ludwig, Kurt Allison, Tully Kennedy, Justin Wilson

Warner Music Group Corp. has announced its 2nd quarter financial results for the period ended March 31, 2021.

“Following a strong first quarter, I’m happy to report that our momentum continued in Q2, and our business is stronger than ever. Despite the ongoing pandemic, we generated double-digit revenue growth in both recorded music and music publishing,” says Steve Cooper, CEO, Warner Music Group. “Our success was driven by chart-topping new releases from our incredible artists and songwriters, as well as bold and imaginative execution from our world-class operators. We’re excited about the rest of year, as we have a fantastic slate of new music coming from established superstars and emerging talent.”

 

Financial Highlights:

Double-Digit Revenue Growth Highlighted by Strength across Recorded Music and Music Publishing

Recorded Music Streaming Revenue Grew 20% Driven by Chart-Topping New Music

Revenue Attributable to Emerging Streaming Platforms Continues to Show Accelerated Growth

Continued Margin Expansion and High Free Cash Flow Conversion

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2021:

Total revenue grew 17% or 13% in constant currency

Digital revenue grew 23% or 20% in constant currency

Net income was $117 million versus net loss of $74 million in the prior-year quarter

 

Read the complete report here.

Warner Music Group (WMG) has announced a new partnership with and investment in Wave, one of the leaders in virtual entertainment.

Through this collaboration, Wave will develop virtual performances, experiences, and monetization opportunities for WMG’s global roster of emerging and established artists. This includes new forms of ticketing, sponsorship, and in-show interactions for fans. The duo will also use Wave’s cutting-edge technology to transform participating artists into digital avatars, performing live and taking fans into an immersive virtual experience. The news comes after WMG announced their partnership with Genies, one of the world’s largest avatar technology companies.

“WMG has an incredible history of being a trailblazer in the music industry. They share our vision for pulling the future forward using new technologies that benefit artists and fans alike,” says Adam Arrigo, CEO and co-founder of Wave. “We’re excited to partner with them to create interactive events that are unlike any other virtual concerts ever experienced.”

Wave offers fans unique and interactive offerings including live chats, virtual gifting and voting, as well as real-time audience appearances during artist performances. Through Wave, WMG will be able to forge more powerful artist activations, incorporating new and fan-favorite features into their shows to fuel audience engagement.

“The commercial opportunity in the metaverse has exploded in the last several years, with the past few months seeing a tipping point for mainstream adoption of immersive social experiences and virtual communities,” says Oana Ruxandra, EVP, Business Development and Chief Digital Officer at WMG. “Wave is indisputably a leader in the interactive virtual entertainment space and the right partner to help us grow WMG’s efforts. Our artists and their fans will be getting best-in-class experiences, as we pioneer new forms of consumption and monetization.”

Rising songwriter John Byron has inked his first publishing deal with Big Loud.

Stacking co-writer credits on Sean Stemaly’s recent release, “Hello, You Up,” and Morgan Wallen’s “865” off his record-breaking Dangerous: The Double Album, Byron’s songwriting is centered around clever phrasing and melodies.

“From the moment John started sharing his songs and writing with our writers, working together felt like a perfect fit,” shares Michael Giangreco, senior director of A&R. “John’s attitude and work ethic speak volumes. We couldn’t be more proud that he chose Big Loud to be his publishing home.”

His latest cut, “Summer Job Money,” delivered by multi-Platinum country artist Chris Lane last Friday (April 30), marks Byron’s third consecutive release from a Big Loud Records artist.

“I feel immensely blessed to be a part of one of the most influential companies in the entire industry – Big Loud was the one place I wanted to sign with,” admits Byron. “It honestly still feels like a miracle every time I get to walk into the building; every single night, I thank God for making it part of His plan for me. It’s the same for being a co-writer on these songs. I love and respect these guys who I’m lucky enough to say have become my friends.”