UNLIMITED SUPPLY with Digital Music News A musical weekend, retaliation insurance, and now that I've bought this thing, what do I do with it?
Mar 9, 2026
A whirlwind recap of a packed SXSW weekend with indie set impressions. A discussion on building catalog value through YouTube strategies. Coverage of Reservoir Media’s corporate defense and public statements. A look at Spotify’s Australian payouts and the unfolding Cumulus Media bankruptcy. An explanation of Live Nation’s retaliation insurance and festival programming shifts like Sips and Sounds.
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A Compressed SXSW Weekend And A Standout R.E.M. Night
- Lars Murray attended a condensed SXSW-style weekend featuring Rat Boys, Flory, and five acts at Pianos including Lucy Dreams and Sunday Club.
- He also saw a high-quality R.E.M. cover night with Michael Shannon, Jason Nardusi, John Wurster, and Michael Stipe joining at the end, underscoring strong legacy-band experiences.
Buy Catalogs Then Invest To Grow Them
- Developing purchased catalogs is essential; buyers must actively invest post-acquisition to grow value rather than just hold assets.
- Murray and Billboard writers point to Primary Wave as the model and recommend treating catalogs like front-line artists with promotion strategies.
Reservoir Uses PR During Takeover Pressure
- Reservoir Media faces a hostile takeover from investor Irenic while CEO Golnar Khosrowshahi issues a public statement about strategy and the global landscape.
- The timing highlights how catalog companies under acquisition pressure use PR to shape stakeholder views.