Global Chief Operating Officer at The Circuit Group
London
Joined January 2009
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Electronic music's next major won't be a major at all.
Independent. Artist-owned IP. Management, label services, publishing and capital under one roof.
That's The Circuit Group. I run operations across the group - and I'm back on here to show the working.
The Weeknd's 42-date Europe and UK run grossed more than $345m and drew 2.3m fans. Seven UK stadium shows alone brought in 450,000 people from nearly 150 countries. The tour is the product, not the victory lap.
France's recorded music market grew 3.5% in the first half. Subscription revenue grew 7.5% and now makes up 65% of physical and digital revenue. Growth is shifting to what fans choose to pay for. Build around that choice, not the old format map.
A&R instinct is now a $60-a-month subscription. Chartmetric's AI reads 14 million artists and writes the marketing plan for you. When everyone can rent the same eyes, the edge is what you own: your data, your systems, your judgment.
A jury found Ticketmaster an illegal monopoly in April. The DOJ settlement lets Live Nation keep it. AEG's verdict on that deal: it doesn't break Ticketmaster's grip, it tightens it. Live is the last gatekept layer of the music business.
EUR437m in songwriter royalties hinges on one word: bundle. Spotify added audiobooks to Premium and the mechanical rate dropped. Your money is decided in definitions and footnotes. Whoever owns the reporting owns the argument.
Spain's music business collapsed 80% in twelve years. This week it reported 11.6% growth - paid subscriptions up 15.1%, vinyl up 27.7%. Nobody sued their way back. They built something people happily pay for.
A vinyl, a t-shirt and a poster to a fan in Berlin now carries EUR9 in fees plus handling. Direct-to-fan is the one route independent artists fully own. Watch it get taxed - and build accordingly.
Every major music publisher is now suing the same AI company. This isn't about damages - it's about who sets the price of training data. Own your rights, own your data, or someone else prices them for you.
The majors are writing the rules for AI music, then licensing them back to everyone else. If you don't own your infrastructure, you'll rent the future from them.
Everyone watches the multiples on catalog deals. Wrong question. Money that only buys old hits rents the past. Money that builds with artists owns the future.
James Sutcliffe retweeted
We're excited to announce our new CIO, James Sutcliffe👏
James made the move to Seven20 after successfully working as Head of Partnerships at Seven20 affiliate Pixelynx
He's been working at the intersection of music, brands and technology for over 15 years.
Welcome, @JustJsut
James Sutcliffe retweeted
The news is out. @pixelynx_io is now part of the @animocabrands family!
I remember meeting @viewfromhk last year when PIXELYNX was still early in development. @animocabrands was our first investor and put full faith in the team, product and vision.
James Sutcliffe retweeted
Hats off to amazing people and an amazing team. Some of the most original ideation in the space! @inderphull22 @JustJsut
The news is out. @pixelynx_io is now part of the @animocabrands family!
I remember meeting @viewfromhk last year when PIXELYNX was still early in development. @animocabrands was our first investor and put full faith in the team, product and vision.
James Sutcliffe retweeted
Firstly, we want to say a huge thank you to all our followers! We have just hit 12,000 followers on 🎉👾... that's a great milestone for us! Here's another one: We'll be releasing the @elynxirgame litepaper today!
James Sutcliffe retweeted
Set a reminder for my upcoming Space! teapawt.net/i/spaces/1vAxRAalOERJl
@inderphull22 sits down with Jameson Thomas @sam__schoonover @amagdalina @RyanCrucible and Reggie Ba-Pe! What is the future of music? Tune in tomorrow to find out 💪🏾
James Sutcliffe retweeted
All weekly team updates should only be allowed to take place with cute cat filters. @JustJsut
