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Introducing Symphonic’s New Suite of Innovative Tech Tools for Artists

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Randi Zimmerman

Here at Symphonic, we’re excited to finally announce our latest rollout of four revolutionary tools for artists. Here’s everything you need to know about these new features, and what this means for Symphonic clients.

Introducing Symphonic’s New Suite of Innovative Tech Tools

Let’s break it down…

Our latest rollout of new, revolutionary tools in the SMS includes four heavy hitters: Transfer TrackSplitShareEnhanced Recoupments, and new Marketing Drivers process. These four new tools represent a significant step forward in music distribution, promotion, and royalty transparency for Symphonic clients, enabling them to operate with higher efficiency and integrity, save time, more easily manage their finances, and more.

“We don’t use the word revolutionary lightly, but that’s what we believe these new tools really represent for our users at Symphonic,” says Jorge Brea, CEO at Symphonic.

“These tools are built on unique approaches to solving common music industry problems that unlock powerful new abilities and make them more accessible to everyone. This highlights our continued mission to enable independent artists and labels to bring their music and message to the market, while being able to utilize the most state-of-the-art tools the music industry has to offer.”

TransferTrack

Starting with Symphonic’s patented TransferTrack, this tool allows clients to transfer their existing music catalog to Symphonic using just the link to their artist page on Spotify. This enables quick and efficient distributor switching for music labels, reducing the time and effort associated with music metadata re-entry and significantly lowering the barriers to change. TransferTrack also preserves playlist placements and stream history, consolidates catalogs for independent artists, maintains the consistency and integrity of metadata, including for re-releases, and consolidates analytics.

All combined, TransferTrack enables clients to have one single platform for monitoring and strategic planning for their music. 💪

Recoupments

Symphonic’s new Recoupments tool streamlines financial recoupments across various scenarios, serving the needs of artists, labels, and production teams. The tool caters to a variety of financial arrangements in which expenses or advances need to be recouped. Sypmohonic’s Recoupments feature walks users through these often complicated scenarios, demystifying the process with no need for labor-intensive manual calculations to determine artist balances and payouts.

The interface clearly defines who will pay back an expense and for what release. Automating the recoupment processes allow artists and labels to focus more on creativity and production instead of financial administration. 🔥

SplitShare

SplitShare offers unparalleled transparency and control in the management of royalty splits, empowering music creators and rights holders with tools that go well beyond a simple Excel spreadsheet. SplitShare offers the ability to provide detailed visibility of royalty percentages to collaborators, and is designed to streamline the royalty distribution process, making it more transparent and efficient for all parties involved. Through the tool, collaborators have access to their own, free Symphonic account where they can see analytics data to monitor performance of the music and independently verify that their royalties reflect the agreed-upon track percentages. This eliminates the need for distributing and maintaining complex spreadsheets.

All parties also have free and easy access to royalty information via their Symphonic account, reducing confusion and the need for countless emails or phone calls. 💰

Updated Marketing Drivers Process

Lastly, Symphonic has made new updates to their Marketing Drivers process, better aligning the collection of clients’ marketing and promotional details with the initial set-up of their releases in the Symphonic MS. The unique story, paired with the artists’ plans for digital advertising, touring, social campaigns, videos, and the like, help Symphonic’s Marketing team seek out features and editorial playlisting for releases by creating a meaningful and impactful “Elevator Pitch.”

Now, clients only have to enter this information once for each release. These tactics and spotlights become critical differentiators for their music, rather than an afterthought. 📚

Saudi Arabia’s First Alcohol Store Has Opened In The Diplomatic Quarter

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Praise GOD

Saudi Arabia has said it will open a shop in Riyadh selling alcohol to a select band of non-Muslim expats, the first to open in more than 70 years.

The clientele will be limited to diplomatic staff, who have for years imported booze in sealed official packages known as diplomatic pouches.

Saudi officials said the shop would counter “the illicit trade of alcohol”.

Prohibition has been law since 1952, after one of King Abdulaziz’s sons drunkenly shot dead a British diplomat.

The new store will be located in Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter west of the city centre, according to a document seen by the AFP and Reuters news agencies.

A source familiar with the plans told Reuters the shop was expected to open within weeks. There will be limitations, however:

Thirsty envoys would need to register beforehand and receive clearance by the government
No one under 21 will be allowed in the store and “proper attire is required” at all times inside
Drinkers will not be able to send a proxy, such as a driver
Monthly limitations would be enforced, the statement said.
However – according to the document seen by AFP – these will not be particularly stringent.

Patrons will be limited to 240 “points” of alcohol per month. One litre of spirits will be worth six points, one litre of wine three points and one litre of beer one point.

There are also no suggestions that the clientele will be widened to “ordinary” foreigners in the kingdom without diplomatic privileges, who officially have no access to alcohol.

While alcohol will become part of Riyadh life, drinkers would be wise to be mindful of where they drink and how they behave afterwards.

Under current Saudi law, penalties for consumption or possession of alcohol can include fines, jail time, public flogging and deportation for unauthorised foreigners.

The document also said authorities are planning a “new regulatory framework” that would also allow “specific quantities” of alcohol to be brought in by diplomats to “put an end to… an uncontrolled exchange of such goods”, it added.

For years diplomatic staff have had to use their “pouches”, which cannot be tampered with by authorities in their host country, to bring in limited amounts of alcohol.

The moves are the latest in a series of initiatives known as “Vision 2030” to liberalise Saudi society under the crown prince and de facto ruler of the country, Mohammed bin Salman.

Other Gulf states operate similar alcohol regimes.

However, the UAE and Qatar also allow the sale of alcohol to non-Muslims over 21 in hotels, clubs and bars.

There is no suggestion from the Saudi document that the government there is considering doing the same.

While alcohol is forbidden under Islam, Saudi Arabia had until 1952 held a conciliatory attitude to its presence inside the kingdom.

That changed after Mishari bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud, a prince, shot dead Cyril Ousman, the British vice-consul in Jeddah, in 1951 for refusing to pour him another drink at a function.

A year later, King Abdulaziz imposed a total ban on alcohol. Mishari was convicted of murder.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68085190.amp

Saudi Arabia’s first alcohol store has opened in the diplomatic quarter of its capital Riyadh.

Globe Eye News

Inside story of Tinuade Sanda’s corporate downfall from grace to grass

The embattled boardroom lioness, Dr. Tinuade Sanda who was recently removed as the Chief Executive Officer of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EkoDISCO), has now been dismissed from her present position at the holding company, West Power & Gas (WPG).

She was removed from her role at EkoDISCO following a Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC directive aimed at improving governance and operational efficiencies within the distribution sector.

Following her removal from Eko Disco, Tinuade was replaced by Rekhiat Momoh as the Acting CEO.

Tinuade, who was said to have spent each day rueing her disregard for caution, feeling she understood early enough and now could turn back the hands of time to avoid her current travail.

Losing her job with Eko Disco was a great tragedy as she hoped against reason that somehow, she would be reinstated.

She fought to be reinstated but contrary to her expectation, she wasn’t restored to her position, instead, she was seconded but later given the boot from West Power & Gas (WPG), the parent company of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), weeks after she was asked to return to the firm (WPG).

Tinuade, following a boardroom crisis at the distribution company, was relieved of her duties at WPG via a letter dated April 17, 2024, and signed by the company’s Chair, Charles Momoh.

Sources said Tinuade may have been a victim of an internal shareholder jostle for control between the company chairman Oritsedere Otubu and majority shareholder Walter Wagbatsoma.

Until she was posted to the EKEDC as a Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (MD/CEO), Tinuade served as the Chief Finance Officer (CFO) of WPG, a consortium of local businesses owning a 60 per cent stake and controlling interest in Eko Disco.

Her sack from WPG concludes a series of high-profile shifts in leadership within the organization, driven by directives from the NERC.

But sources said her journey into infamy started with a step leading to her falling with a stumble.

Tinuade’s tragedy may be attributed to her arrogance which has cost her the much dream job.

She enjoyed a perfect opportunity to prove her prowess, puncture the anti-female boardroom stereotype, and tower twice her natural size, above her male and female peers but she blew it.

So disgusted was the company’s board with her perceived misconduct that all the members allegedly voted for her immediate dismissal as the company’s MD/CEO.

Aside that she was booted out of her high offices at EKEDC and WPG as a consequence of high-wired politics and power play that took place over several months, Tinuade, until her removal, carried on like a lioness and roared at will, threatening the peace of both the old and young in her orbit.

Although there was initially some vigorous push-back by her supporters, Tinuade, who openly challenged her removal and dismissed it as unacceptable, lost in the acrimonious battle to reclaim her spot.

The scariest aspect of being sacked from her exalted positions at EkoDISCO and WPG, is her alleged lack of moral and emotional support at the homefront.

Tinuade allegedly looked down on the world, her husband, Sola Sanda, included, thinking how ugly and despicable they all were.

The Corporate lioness was said to have deserted her matrimonial home and ended her marriage at the cusp of the ascent of her career ladder.

Insiders revealed that Tinuade brazenly called it quits with her husband, Sola, and moved out of their matrimonial home with the kids, into a posh residence in Ikoyi.

Thus as her ordeal persists, she has no shoulders to cry on and no one to wipe her tears. And this revealed sources very close to her, has aggravated the emotional strain that she has been experiencing since she became embroiled in the high-wired power play that cost her job.

German Police Arrest Nigerian Mafia Group Behind Over €5.3m Dating Scam

German police said Wednesday they had arrested 11 suspected members of a Nigerian mafia group behind a large-scale dating scam.

The gang was involved internationally in “multiple areas of criminal activity”, with a focus in Germany on dating scams and money-laundering, Bavarian police said in a statement.

The dating trick was a “modern form of marriage fraud”, police said.

Using false identities, the fraudsters for example signalled their intention to marry and in the course of further contact repeatedly demand money under various pretexts,” police said.

The money was subsequently transferred to in Nigeria “via financial agents”, authorities said.

In the process, the gang used a “commodity-based money laundering” scheme where products, often with a seeming “charitable purpose” were bought and delivered to Nigeria.

Some 450 cases of romance scamming had been reported in the region of Bavaria in 2023 alone, with the damages rising to 5.3 million euros ($5.7 million), police said.

The suspects, who all held Nigerian citizenship and were aged between 29 and 53, were arrested in nationwide raids on Tuesday.

Law enforcement swooped on 19 properties, including both homes and asylum shelters, police said.

The gang had “strict hierarchical structures under leadership in Nigeria” operating different territorial units, police said

Police Arrest Three Car-Snatching Suspects, Recover Twelve Vehicles In Delta

The Police in Delta State have apprehended three individuals suspected of car theft, and they have successfully recovered twelve vehicles from the suspects.

In a statement released by SP Bright Edafe, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Delta State Command, it was revealed that the suspects were apprehended on 11/04/24 at approximately 16:32 following a tip-off from an individual, whose identity remains confidential, residing on Abuja Road in DSC Township, Oruwhorun. The informant reported that his Toyota Corolla Saloon Car had been stolen from its parking spot in Oruwhorun.

According to the statement, “the said Toyota Corolla Saloon Car was sighted along Eku/Warri road by Oha Junction in Okpe LGA. Sequel to the tip-off, DPO Orerokpe CSP Paul Oboware swiftly mobilized patrol teams alongside members of Oha community vigilantes and gave the suspects a hot chase to Army checkpoint at Orerokpe Junction and double-crossed the vehicle.

“Consequently, one Dickson Omage “m” age 47yrs of Post Office Road Effurun Warri was arrested, the vehicle was recovered, and a master key which the suspects used to carry out his nefarious activities was also recovered.

“Preliminary investigation revealed that the suspect and his gang are notorious for stealing cars from where parked both in the daytime and at night. Further investigation and interrogation of the suspect led to the arrest of two other suspects; Samson Ekwunwa ‘m’ age 40yrs and Kanebi Michael ‘m’ age 39yrs in Benin City on 19/04/24.

“The two suspects specialize in removing old chassis numbers and engine numbers and replacing them with new ones before putting the vehicles for sale and equally demobilizing vehicles with car trackers.

“A total of twelve (12) suspected stolen vehicles were recovered from Benin City and Warri respectively with registration and Chassis numbers as follows: Toyota Corolla– Reg.No: SAG 625 AT, Chassis No: 2T1BR32E040135167; Toyota Corolla- Reg.No: KMR 965 AE Chassis No: 2T1BR32F030700145; Toyota Corolla- Reg. No KMR 963 AR Chassis No: JTDBR32FX02011119; Mercedes Benz Reg. No: NIL Chassis No: WDDGF810X19F271625; Toyota Camry V6 Reg.No: ABJ 681 HB Chassis No: 4T1BF30K44U068578.

“Others are Lexus 350 RX -Reg No: WWW 130 TA Chassis No: 2T2GK311067C010488; Toyota Camry (Spider) Reg.No: WWW 913 TJ X Chassis No: 4T1BE46K37U058354; Toyota Corolla- Reg.No; FKJ 560 GJ X Chassis No: INXB932E25Z354431; Toyota Corolla- Reg.No: FKJ 744 CZ Chassis No: 2T18R32540225038; Toyota Corolla- Reg.No: NIL Chassis No: INXBR32E90Z096084; Toyota Camry V6-Reg.No: EHR 48 AE Chassis No: 4T1BF30K46U11562 and Toyota Highlander Reg.No: BRS 99 AJ Chassis No: JTEGB650108007”, it added.

Cultism: Nigeria Police Appoints Ayo Ogunsan As Chairman, Lagos POCACOV

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Oki Samson

Praise GOD

Cultism, recognized as one of the top three security challenges in Lagos, will soon be nipped in the bud going by the preventive strategies that the Nigeria Police is deploying nationwide, National Association of Online Security News Publishers, NAOSNP can report.

This preventive strategies spearheaded by the Police Campaign Against Cultism and other Vices (POCACOV), Force HQ Abuja has led to the appointment of the Board Member of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayo Ogunsan as the new Chairman of POCACOV in Lagos state. This appointment by the High Command of the Nigeria Police Force is a due recognition of the firm commitment to the functionality of the community in handling security matters, adroit competence, and super capability which Dr. Ogunsan is known for over the years.

With this appointment, the Chairman/CEO of Executive Group, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan will discharge ‘responsibilities which includes but not limited to presiding and overseeing the activities of POCACOV initiatives within Lagos state alongside the Police coordinator’.

His appointment letter dated 19th April 2024 also adds: ‘You are responsible to the leadership of POCACOV while facilitating the effectiveness of the Crime Prevention Steering Group (CPSG) in achieving the objectives of POCACOV in the state, as well, by working closely with various stakeholders to promote community-oriented policing and combat more effectively through preventive policing strategies’.

The letter signed by the National Coordinator, POCACOV, Force HQ Abuja, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi noted that the suitability of Dr. Ayo Ogunsan stems from his vibrant contribution to enhancing internal security. Okuwobi cited about the Patron of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Lagos, ‘Your outstanding contribution and dedication to enhancing internal security mechanism for the nation will be instrumental in achieving our objectives and ensuring the success of this vital program.’

‘In due course, the date for the inauguration of State Chairmen nationwide by the Police High Command will be communicated soonest’, CSP Olabisi Okuwobi noted.

JUST IN: Keyamo Suspends All Dana Air Operations

Minister of aviation, Festus Keyamo, has suspended the operations of Dana Air.

Report has it that the directive followed the incident involving a Dana Air plane at Lagos airport on April 23, which forced aviation authorities to divert flights from local to international airport.

Minister of aviation, Festus Keyamo, has suspended the operations of Dana Air.

This is a developing story.

Nollywood Actor appeals five years jail term over s3xual assault

Nollywood Actor appeals five years jail term over s3xual assault

Popular Yoruba Nollywood actor Olanrewaju James, aka Baba Ijesha, has appealed his five-year jail term at the Lagos Division of the Appeal Court.

Baba Ijesha urged the Appeal Court to set aside his conviction by a Lagos State High Court for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor.

On July 12, 2022, Justice Oluwatoyin Taiwo (retd.) of the Ikeja Domestic Violence and Sexual Offences Court, convicted the Yoruba Nollywood actor to five years imprisonment over the sexual assault of a minor.

Dissatisfied with the judgment, Baba Ijesha approached the Appeal Court to challenge the term.

Baba Ijesha, through his counsel, Kayode Olabiran on Tuesday, told the Appeal Court that his client was set up and that he acted according to a script that he was invited to act on by his colleague.

“The appellant was set up. The appellant is an actor. He acted in a script that he was invited to act by his colleague (PW1), Damilola Adekoya,” he said.

But the Director of Public Prosecution, Babajide Martins, urged the court to dismiss the appeal for lacking in merit and also a misconception.

He urged the court to affirm the judgment of the lower court.

Yahaya Bello Transferred $720,000 From Kogi Account To Pay Child’s School Fees In Advance – EFCC Chairman

The Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ola Olukoyede (EFCC), has disclosed that a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, moved $720,000 from the government’s coffers to a bureau de change before leaving office to pay in advance for his child’s school fee.

Olukoyede revealed this during an interview with journalists on Tuesday in Abuja,  The Punch reports.  

He said, “A sitting governor, because he knows he is going, moved money directly from government to bureau de change, used it to pay the child’s school fee in advance, $720,000 in advance, in anticipation that he was going to leave the Government House.

“In a poor state like Kogi, and you want me to close my eyes to that under the guise of ‘I’m being used.’ Being used by who at this stage of my life?”

Olukoyede added that he personally contacted Bello, offering him an opportunity to address the matter in a polite setting at the EFCC office. However, the former governor allegedly refused to participate, citing concerns about being harassed by an unidentified woman.

The EFCC boss added, “I didn’t initiate the case; I inherited the case file. I called for the file, and I said there are issues here.

“On my own, I called him, which I am not supposed to do, just to honour him as an immediate past governor. ‘Sir, there are issues. I’ve seen this case file. Can you just come let us clarify these issues?’

“He said, ‘Ha! Thank you, my brother. I know, but I can’t come. There’s one lady that has surrounded EFCC with over 100 people to come and embarrass me and intimated me.’

Bello was said to have suggested that the EFCC come to his village rather than conduct an investigation at the agency’s quarters.

“I said if that is the issue, I’m going to pass you through my own gate, and you will come to my floor. We will accord you that respect. I will invite my operatives; they will interrogate and interview you in my own office. What could be more honourable than that to allay the fear?

“You know what he said: ‘Thank you, sir, but can’t they come to my village? Olukoyede added.

The chairman also highlighted the agency’s achievements during his tenure, stating, “We have recovered close to 120 billion and secured over 1,600 convictions in six months.

“I’m so passionate about the need for us to move forward in this country. We need the EFCC to survive. There are so many victims that we have wiped tears off their eyes, people that have been swindled in their millions. Every day, we keep recovering money for victims.”

Meanwhile, EFCC chairman in a chat with editors at the EFCC headquarters, Jabi, Abuja on Tuesday, vowed to resign from his position if the embattled former Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State is not prosecuted.

The anti-graft agency chairman, who swore to follow the prosecution of Bello to the logical conclusion also vowed to bring all those who obstructed the arrest of the former governor to justice.

Breaking: Nigeria loses another veteran Nollywood actor

Nigeria has lost another veteran Nollywood actor, Zulu Adigwe.

A movie producer, Stanley Nwoko, announced the death of the actor in a post on his Instagram page on Tuesday.

“What caused his death yet to be reviewed.

“Rest in peace Good actor.”

The death of Adigwe comes after that of John Pope and Mr Ibu among many others.

Adigwe was best known for paternal roles in Nollywood movies.

He first achieved fame as Mr. B in the sitcom: “Basi and Company.”

He featured in the 2019 blockbuster: :Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.”

Adigwe was born in Enugu State, where he spent most of his childhood, but moved to Austria, where he attended primary and secondary school.

Prior to acting, he studied French and German, worked as a teacher, and briefly studied Medicine before returning to Nigeria after his father’s death.

He enrolled with the University of Ibadan where he studied Theatre Arts, graduating with First Class Honours.

Adigwe’s interest in acting started when he was seven.

His earliest appearance on Nigerian television was in Basi and Company where he played the lead character, Mr. B, replacing former actor. Albert Egbe. who left the series after a dispute with the show’s creator, Ken Saro-Wiwa.

Adigwe’s introduction to the cast saw Mr. B re-invented as a guitar-strumming layabout composing and singing get-rich-quick ditties.

He also performed Basi and Company’s new theme song, and an album coinciding with the series – Mr. B Makes His Millions – was released under Polygram Nigeria in 1990.

In 1991, Adigwe was among the original cast of Checkmate, playing lecherous university lecturer Monday Edem in the pilot episode, but the role was recast after production moved from Enugu to Lagos.

His first movie was Blood of the Orphan, which earned him acclamation and recognition.

In 2004, he also starred in Living Abroad, directed by Elvis Chuks, which also featured Ernest Asuzu, Emeka Enyiocha, and Anne Njemanze.

In 2019, Adigwe featured as Pascal Nworie in Living in Bondage: Breaking Free.

 

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