Mary Mueller

Summons Productions Announces Dual Bay Area Music Residencies for 2026 In a strategic expansion that reflects its rising influence in the independent music sector, Summons Productions, under the leadership of Chairman and CEO Drananda Summons, has secured two year-defining music residencies in the Bay Area—Berkeley and San Francisco—positioning the company for a landmark 2026. The Berkeley Residency, scheduled to launch January 2026, will serve as the flagship location for the Summons Productions performance series Summons Lounge. Designed as an incubator for independent musicians, vocalists, and cross-genre creators, Summons Lounge has rapidly become a proving ground for emerging artistry and an essential space for music discovery in Northern California. In May 2026, Summons Productions will extend its reach with a second Summons Lounge Residency in San Francisco, widening its platform for musicians seeking industry-level performance opportunities without the barriers often found in traditional venues. This dual-residency structure marks a significant evolution in the company’s music-driven programming, allowing Summons Productions to operate simultaneously in two of the Bay Area’s most competitive cultural markets. Both residencies are being established in partnership with North Beach Pizza Berkeley & San Francisco, whose venues have become hubs for live music, creative gatherings, and community-centered entertainment. Their collaboration with Summons Productions underscores a shared mission: to cultivate accessible performance spaces that elevate independent music while supporting the creative economy of the region. As Summons Productions enters 2026 with two anchored residencies, the company strengthens its position as a leading force in the Bay Area’s independent music landscape—bridging artists, audiences, and industry pathways through the ongoing evolution of Summons Lounge.

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#AI #WMG #UMG “Robert Kyncl has published a letter to Warner Music Group shareholders that pushes back against any under-appreciation of WMG’s value in the financial market, while talking up AI’s potential to drive that value higher. Recent context is important: despite healthy commercial momentum, both WMG and Universal Music Group shares are currently trading significantly below their 52-week peaks. Last Tuesday (February 24), a telling analyst note from Rothschild & Co Redburn argued that music rightsholders are particularly “exposed” to threats from AI-generated content….” “He writes: “With #Deezer reporting that more than 60,000 AI tracks are uploaded to its platform daily and with seven million #tracks generated per day on #Suno alone, [AI music’s] abundance has prompted understandable concern about oversupply, dilution, and the long-term value of recorded music….” Read the article for more: #WarnerMusicGroup #RecordedMusic #UniversalMusicGroup #MusicRoyalties #Music #MusicBusiness #Musica #MusicIndustry #Musique #Musik #MusicBiz #CreatorEconomy #CreatorsRights #RightHolders #MusicRights #MusicIncome #SongRights #RecordingRights #GenerativeAI #AIGeneratedContent #ArtificialIntelligence #InteligenciaArtificial #IA #InteligenciaArtificialGenerativa #IntelligenceArtificielle #KünstlicheIntelligenz #GeAi #AIGovernance #AIModels

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Melody is pleased to announce it has launched its Music licensing division for music placements and licensing across theatrical marketing, films and movies, streaming platforms, network TV, video games, and commercial advertising. Melody has also appointed Jesse Wright to Sr VP of Melody Music Licensing team. https://lnkd.in/ecwEF37i Over the last four years, the leader of Melody licensing division has successfully placed over 2000 + songs into film, tv, and commercial trailers.

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Decline of Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade: A Lesson by @alexmcalle The decline of Santa Monica’s Third Street Promenade offers valuable lessons for the location-based entertainment (LBE) industry. Once a thriving hub of shopping, dining, and street performance, the promenade suffered from shifting consumer habits, the rise of e-commerce, lack of fresh programming, and a failure to adapt to changing demographics and cultural tastes. For LBE operators, the key takeaway is that novelty fades quickly without continual reinvention. Just as retail tenants must refresh window displays and product lines, entertainment venues must evolve storylines, seasonal overlays, and interactive elements to keep locals returning—not just tourists. Stagnation breeds decline. Another lesson is the importance of diverse, layered experiences. The promenade relied heavily on retail and light entertainment; when retail faltered, the ecosystem collapsed. LBEs should balance anchor attractions with food, live events, pop-ups, and community-driven programming to ensure resilience. Finally, safety, accessibility, and ambiance are non-negotiable. As foot traffic dwindled, the promenade struggled with perception issues that further drove visitors away. LBEs must invest in atmosphere and guest comfort as much as in the main attraction. The story of Third Street is a reminder: in physical entertainment spaces, constant innovation, multi-dimensional experiences, and community connection are the lifeblood of long-term success. #realestateexpert #realestatedevelopment #themeparkdesigner #Storytelling #CreativeJourney #themeparkdesign #productioncompany #themedentertainmentdesign #themedentertainmentindustry #themedentertainmentdesigner #themedentertainmentassociation #architainment #losangelescounty #losangelescalifornia #losangelesart #creativebusiness #creativebusinesses #immersivestorytelling #immersiveentertainment

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MORTON RECORDS, label founded and run by 6x GRAMMY®-winner PJ MORTON, inks new deal with the SRG-ILS Group (Virgin Music/Universal Music Group) February 17, 2026, - On the heels of winning his sixth GRAMMY® Award, the SRG-ILS Group proudly welcomes PJ Morton’s own Morton Records to its label roster. PJ Morton is a soul singer, songwriter, performer and producer based in New Orleans. He is a 6x GRAMMY-winner and 22x GRAMMY nominee who has earned numerous nominations for BET, Soul Train and NAACP Image Awards, in addition to selling out countless shows at historic venues like the Apollo Theater and others around the world. On top of running Morton Records and serving as Maroon 5's full- time keyboardist for the past 15 years, he has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Jon Batiste, Nas, Lil Wayne, JoJo, Jill Scott and many others, and is the first Black composer to write an original song for a Disney attraction, Tiana's Bayou Adventure, now open at both Disney World and Disneyland. “PJ Morton is a generational talent and everyone here at SRG/ILS is extremely excited to be part of his upcoming projects,” shares Claude Villani, CEO and Founder of The SRG-ILS Group. Under Morton Records’ partnership with the SRG/ILS Group, PJ Morton will start introducing songs from his next album later this year. PJ Morton is a soul singer, songwriter, performer and producer based in New Orleans. He is a 6x GRAMMY-winner and 22x GRAMMY nominee who has earned numerous nominations for BET, Soul Train and NAACP Image Awards, in addition to selling out countless shows at historic venues like the Apollo Theater and others around the world. On top of running his own record label (Morton Records) and serving as Maroon 5's full- time keyboardist for the past 15 years, he has collaborated with Stevie Wonder, Erykah Badu, Jon Batiste, Nas, Lil Wayne, JoJo, Jill Scott and many others. ABOUT THE SRG/ILS GROUP The SRG/ILS group is globally distributed by Virgin Music Group. We embrace new technologies and business models that empower artists and labels to fully engage and participate in their careers, their recording, and ownership. Through a spectrum of services, SRG/ILS is redefining the relationship between music creators and the marketplace. The company is headquartered in Norwalk, CT with satellite offices in Los Angeles, CA and Toronto, Canada. The executive staff includes Claude Villani; Group CEO, Michael Cusanelli; General Manager, Walter W. Millsap III; VP of Artist Relations, Craig Davis; VP, Dominique Zgarka; Shareholder and Executive VP / Senior Advisor for Distribution Services, Dan Patrick; Shareholder and Brand/Media Consultant, Charles Phillips; Key Shareholder and Strategic Advisor, Charles Hinnant; Shareholder and Advisor to the CEO, Sander Shalinsky; Senior Advisor to the CEO, Jay Reason; Senior Director, Label Catalog, Ra-Fael Blanco: VP of Public Relations, Sydney P., Social Media and DSP Coordination, and H “Bee” Boisseau; Project Manager.

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Issue¹: The Eras – Evolution of Music Tech In our debut Miller Tech Talk (MT²) issue - we explore the groundbreaking evolution of music technology - one era at a time. Starting next week, we’ll journey through six iconic eras that shaped the way we experience music: 🎶 Vinyl Era 📻 Radio Era 🎥 Video Era 🎧 Portable Era 🌐 Digital Era 📱 Streaming Era Each week, we’ll spotlight a new era with compelling stories, immersive visuals, and cultural moments that defined how music has evolved from vintage vinyl to modern streaming! This video is just the beginning—a visual preview of how far we’ve come. The future of music has a history worth hearing. Let’s tech together. 3D Cinematic Designer: Anton Firko

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Great news for the Film & TV community in Los Angeles. All 9 measures passed at LA City Hall, marking another important step toward supporting and strengthening production in our city. These efforts help keep jobs local, support thousands of hardworking crew members, and ensure Los Angeles continues to be the heart of the entertainment industry. Proud to be part of an industry and community that continues to advocate for growth, opportunity, and the future of production in LA. 🎬 #FilmIndustry #FilmLA #Production #EntertainmentIndustry #LosAngeles #FilmAndTV #KeepFilmingInLA

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Warner Bros. Discovery isn’t the story. The media operating system is. • This showdown is a fight between theatrical preservation and streaming sovereignty. • A Netflix-WBD outcome likely accelerates the fastest collapse of U.S. syndication economics in decades. • When syndication weakens, local stations and cable ad models lose their last durable cash engine. • The hidden casualty is ecosystem diversity: WBD has supported content breadth across FAST and multi-platform mixes. • A Netflix absorption could compress that breadth into a single-platform gravity well. • If Paramount wins: three-horse era (Netflix–Disney+–Paramount+). • If Netflix wins: one-strong, one-mid, two-weak (Netflix 1-strong, Prime /Disney+ 2-mid, Peacock/Paramount+ 2-weak). • For Korea/Asia, a Netflix-WBD deal may tighten regional rights and incentivize global-slate efficiency over local optionality. This is less about ownership and more about what media pluralism still looks like after consolidation.

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LANDMARK FILM DISTRIBUTION DEAL! Award-winning filmmaker and storyteller Jorge Xolalpa has signed a groundbreaking distribution agreement with Lumexx Media, paving the way for his complete eight-film canon to premiere on Apple TV+ in 2026. The multi-picture deal marks a career-defining milestone for one of independent cinema’s most daring and emotionally resonant voices, offering Xolalpa’s decade of work its first unified global streaming home. Full Article: https://lnkd.in/ghp8Zmaf #jorgeXolalpa Lumexx Media #Indiefilmmakers @appletv #indefillmmaker #distributiondeal

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California Steps Up for Indie Film Fantastic news for creators—especially independent ones! So encouraging to see real investment in reviving California’s film, TV, and animation industry. It would be even better to see a built-in incentive specifically designed to support lower-budget films. Those stories often carry the most grit and heart—and with the right boost, they can go far. #IndieFilm #FilmIncentives #CaliforniaFilm #CreativeEconomy #SupportIndieVoices #Filmmaking #StorytellingMatters #WomenInFilm #NarrativeNonfiction #ContentThatMatters #GetInTheBoat

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