Virgin Music's Downtown Acquisition: What It Means for Independent Artists Worldwide
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Virgin Music's Downtown Acquisition: What It Means for Independent Artists Worldwide
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Virgin Music Group just sealed a blockbuster deal, completing its acquisition of Downtown Music Holdings on February 20, according to Music Business Worldwide and Universal Music's official announcement. This caps a year-long saga first revealed in December 2024, greenlit by the European Commission after Universal pledged to divest Downtowns Curve royalty arm. Pieter van Rijn, Downtowns CEO since last year and ex-FUGA boss, steps up as Virgin Music Groups new COO, reporting to co-CEOs Nat Pastor and JT Myers from his Amsterdam base. Downtown founder Justin Kalifowitz bid a heartfelt farewell in an open letter, reflecting on building the indie powerhouse from 2007 ringtone days amid CDs collapse, now serving 5000 clients and four million creators in 145 countries across FUGA, CD Baby, and more. Andrew Bergman shifts to advisor, with execs like Pastor praising the merger as a game-changer for indies global reach.
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia flexed operational muscle, topping Australias major airlines with an 82.7 percent on-time departure rate and 99.1 percent completion in January, per the carriers February 20 newsroom release citing BITRE data. CEO Dave Emerson hailed his teams summer hustle amid peak travel.
On the telecom front, Virgin Media O2, the Liberty Global-Telefonica joint, warned of 2026 profit dips amid 397500 mobile losses last year post-price hikes, as reported by The Independent, while eyeing cost cuts. Separately, AandO Shearman confirmed on February 19 advising the trio on a 2 billion pound buy of Substantial Group via Nexfibre JV, bulking UK fiber to eight million premises by 2027.
Virgin Galactic teased its Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings call date on February 17 via investor site. WestJet and Virgin Atlantic deepened loyalty ties for cross-network points, per TravelPulse. No fresh Virgin Group honcho sightings or X buzz surfaced, but this music merger could etch lasting legacy for Richard Bransons indie empire. Word count: 378
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