QUICK HITS: Highnote + $2.5M • Sony Music buys Songwhip, Fansifter • UnitedMasters + TikTok • Live Nation earnings • Music Marketing Awards

Audio collaboration platform Highnote has secured an additional $2.5M in funding with participation from Dropbox Ventures.

With the rise of AI-powered platforms like Splice and BandLab, Highnote offers a streamlined workflow that enables creators to collaborate from demo to distribution. More here.

• Sony Music has acquired Songwhip and Fansifter as part of its superfan strategy.

Sony Music exec Jacob Fowler described Songwhip as “a mini website ‘Link in Bio’ solution for the music industry.”

“The easiest way for our labels, on behalf of our artists, to be able to quickly spin up a mini website that would pull material into one spot where fans could consume and engage, and then also where they were able to link that directly into their profiles on platforms,” said Fowler.

• Indie and DIY music distributor UnitedMasters has inked a multi-year direct partnership with TikTok.

Through this deal, TikTok’s billion-plus users can access UnitedMasters’ full catalog of independent music, while UnitedMasters’ artist will have additional commercial opportunities via TikTok’s Commercial Music Library.

• Live Nation will release its third quarter financial results at 5:00 a.m. PT on Tuesday, November 12, 2024. Michael Rapino, Live Nation Entertainment’s President and Chief Executive Officer, will host a teleconference that day at 6:00 a.m. PT.

• Music Ally has announced the finalists in its annual Music Marketing Campaigns competition. See the full list here.