Music
translate the whole text to kurdish sorani and kirdish bahdini and kurdish kurmanji and also arabic
The global music industry is developing in three important directions: stronger protection for royalty data, new revenue beyond streaming, and greater professional opportunities in emerging music markets.
The completed acquisition of Curve Royalty Systems, MIDiA’s recorded-music forecast and the return of Uganda’s Bayimba International Festival each reveal how music companies, labels and artists can prepare for the industry’s next stage of growth.
Jamen Capital and Merlin Complete the Acquisition of Curve Royalty Systems
Jamen Capital and Merlin have completed their acquisition of Curve Royalty Systems from Virgin Music Group following final approval from the European Commission.
What is Curve Royalty Systems? Curve is a royalty-processing platform that helps record labels, music distributors and publishers manage complex data relating to recorded-music and publishing income.
Following the acquisition, Curve will continue operating as a standalone and neutral company under its existing leadership. Its team, products and customer relationships are expected to remain unchanged.
The company’s independence is particularly important because royalty platforms process commercially sensitive information. This can include catalogue performance, revenue reports, ownership records, contractual royalty rates and payments owed to artists or songwriters.
Why it matters
Independent labels need confidence that their commercial and royalty information remains confidential.
Keeping Curve separate from a major music group helps address concerns that commercially sensitive data belonging to competing labels or distributors could become accessible within a larger corporate structure.
The transaction also demonstrates that royalty technology is no longer a secondary administrative service. It has become essential music-industry infrastructure. Labels depend on these systems to calculate earnings accurately, process large volumes of platform data and produce reliable statements for rightsholders.
For independent music companies, selecting a royalty platform should therefore involve more than comparing features and prices. Data ownership, confidentiality, audit trails, system neutrality and the ability to export historical records are equally important considerations.
Global Recorded-Music Revenue Could Reach $121.1 Billion by 2033
MIDiA forecasts that global recorded-music revenue could increase from $74.3 billion in 2025 to $121.1 billion in 2033. This would represent growth of approximately 62.9%.
The forecast, reported by Billboard Brasil, also estimates that the fan economy could generate $18.5 billion by 2033.
What is the fan economy in music? It includes products, services and experiences that allow committed listeners to support and engage with artists beyond standard streaming. These can include merchandise, brand partnerships, games, social-platform products, exclusive content and live events.
Streaming subscriptions are expected to remain important, but the forecast suggests that they will not be the industry’s only major growth engine. Labels and artists may generate more value by developing multiple products around music, audiences and intellectual property.
Because these figures are projections, they should be viewed as a possible market direction rather than guaranteed future revenue.
Why it matters
The forecast sends a clear message to record labels: streaming alone may not be enough to build a resilient long-term business.
Labels need to understand which rights they control beyond master recordings. Merchandise, branding, gaming, social-media products, live events and fan experiences can create valuable revenue, but only when ownership and participation are defined clearly.
Contracts should specify whether a label has any role in merchandise, brand partnerships, games, social products or live-event income. They should also define the applicable territories, contractual term, costs, approval rights and revenue splits.
Broad language that attempts to capture every future commercial opportunity can create conflict. Sustainable fan-economy strategies require transparent agreements and informed consent from artists and other rightsholders.
Bayimba Festival Expands Music and Industry Opportunities in Uganda
The Bayimba International Festival will return to Lunkulu Island in Uganda from August 28 to 30, 2026.
The programme will feature more than 20 Ugandan and international acts, alongside workshops and professional discussions. Bayimba also connects music with film, fashion and visual art, creating a wider cultural and commercial environment.
What makes Bayimba important for the music industry? The festival functions as more than a performance event. It can provide artists and labels with opportunities to showcase work, develop professional relationships and explore collaborations with distributors, promoters and organisations from other creative sectors.
For African artists, festivals such as Bayimba can become entry points into new markets. A strong performance may attract attention, but workshops, meetings and informal industry conversations can be equally valuable.
Why it matters
Artists and labels increasingly need professional networks as much as they need digital distribution.
Festivals can connect performers with event organisers, distributors, booking agents, media organisations and potential commercial partners. Their cross-sector programmes can also create opportunities involving film music, fashion partnerships, visual content and branded cultural projects.
The ability to combine music with other creative industries can help artists diversify their income and strengthen their public identity. However, participants need to arrive with professional materials, clear rights information and a plan for following up with contacts after the event.
Practical Implications for AC Music
These three stories provide several practical lessons for AC Music and the catalogues it manages.
1. Treat royalty systems as critical infrastructure
Royalty processing directly affects artist trust and company credibility. AC Music should evaluate royalty platforms according to calculation accuracy, data security, access permissions, reporting transparency and audit capabilities.
It is also important to confirm who owns the uploaded data, whether historical information can be exported and how access is controlled when staff members or commercial relationships change.
2. Prepare catalogue agreements for revenue beyond streaming
The projected growth of the fan economy creates opportunities for Kurdish artists and music catalogues. These may include merchandise, live events, games, branded content and exclusive fan products.
Each right should be addressed separately. Master rights, publishing rights, merchandise rights, image rights and live-performance income should not be treated as if they are automatically controlled by the same company.
AC Music can build stronger long-term relationships by explaining these distinctions clearly and using agreements that define responsibilities, approvals and revenue shares.
3. Develop fan-economy strategies around Kurdish music
Kurdish music has cultural value that can extend beyond audio streaming. Selected releases could be connected with physical products, concerts, documentary content, archival material or carefully developed collaborations.
The objective should not be to add merchandise to every release. It should be to identify artists and catalogues with committed audiences and create products that are culturally relevant, commercially realistic and approved by the rightsholders.
4. Use festivals as professional music markets
Bayimba demonstrates how festivals can combine performance with business development.
AC Music can approach regional and international festivals with a market strategy that includes artist showcases, distributor meetings, licensing conversations and cross-sector partnerships. Artists should have updated electronic press kits, professional photographs, music links, technical information and clear contact details.
After each event, contacts and opportunities should be documented and followed up systematically.
5. Maintain accurate rights and metadata records
All three stories depend on reliable information. Royalty platforms need accurate ownership data, fan-economy products need clearly defined rights, and international opportunities require delivery-ready catalogues.
AC Music should continue maintaining complete records for ISRCs, UPCs, master ownership, songwriter splits, publishing administration, contractual authority and territories. Accurate metadata is the foundation of correct payment, effective licensing and international catalogue growth.
A More Connected Music Economy
The Curve acquisition shows why independence and confidentiality matter in royalty processing. MIDiA’s forecast shows why labels must develop revenue beyond streaming. Bayimba demonstrates how festivals can connect music with professional networks and other creative industries.
Together, these developments suggest that successful music companies will need three capabilities: trustworthy rights administration, diversified commercial strategies and strong international relationships.
For AC Music, combining these capabilities can help Kurdish music catalogues become better protected, more professionally managed and more visible in the global market.
Sources
Merlin: Jamen Capital and Merlin complete the acquisition of Curve Royalty Systems
Music Business Worldwide: Curve Royalty Systems acquisition completed
Billboard Brasil: Global recorded-music revenue forecast
Music In Africa: Bayimba Festival 2026
