👋 Welcome to The Mail Cart. This is Warner, founder of AvA. Connect with me here + follow our IG page for daily resources.
🎥 Catch up on our new show AvA LIVE that airs every Wednesday at 12:30PM PT / 3:30PM ET LIVE on YouTube.
📝 Did a 4th major label just enter the chat? Taylor Swift fights back against AI. Visa debuts a new card in the UK for creators, & more.
💼 Looking for open Entertainment jobs? Scroll to the bottom of this email.
Our Job Board now has 230+ early career Entertainment roles as well.
Not subscribed yet? Join 37,500+ of your peers. Your future self will thank you.
We have an amazing show today:
Catch Harvey Mason Jr. CEO @ The Recording Academy LIVE
Note: 1pm PT today start time
His Story is INSANE:
✅Played on the Arizona Final Four bball team in 1988 with Warriors coach Steve Kerr
✅ Has produced records and worked with Aretha Franklin, Michael Jackson, Beyoncé, Whitney Houston, Justin Bieber, and Ariana Grande
✅ Nominated for 5 Grammys
✅ Produced the LeBron James biopic More than a Game in 2008
✅ CEO of The The Recording Academy (aka GRAMMYs) and MusiCares since 2021
Tune in to AvA LIVE today @ 1:00pm PT | 4:00pm ET
Also on LIVE TODAY:
Rashaun Williams: Founder of Harbinger Sports Partners | Guest Shark on ABC's Shark Tank
Josh Kurfirst: Partner & Global Head of Festivals @ WME
Adam Faze: Producer @ Gymnasium
⭐ BMG & Concord have merged to form ‘the 4th major music label’
This deal would leave the company valued close to $7 billion, and while that is still far off from Universal and Sony, it’s not far from Warner based on certain metrics.
⭐ Taylor Swift is pursuing another route to fight against AI fakes of her likeness
She has filed 3 trademarks including her saying “Hey, it’s Taylor” and “Hey, it’s Taylor Swift,” with the intention likely to be able to challenge AI re-creations in court. If this works then it will surely become a path forward to protect an artist’s image, but only time will tell on that front.
“Hey it’s Warner” is still up for grabs..
⭐ Visa has teamed up with TikTok in the UK for a ‘creator card’ that is tailored to better fit the cash flow needs of the rising profession
Platforms are in a constant war to retain creators, in the era of not only content abundance but platform abundance you see social media cos adding in more value, like Meta launching edits and now this “creator credit card”
I mean even Netflix is throwing pods up and paying the creators 🤑
⭐ Avex Music enters the catalog acquisition space with staggering $100 million purchase of producer ‘Infamous’ (AKA Marco Rodriguez)’s work
The Japanese music company now owns part of the rights to ‘Lose Control’ by Teddy Swims, as well as a handful of songs by Charlie Puth, Saweetie, and more.
⭐ Spotify’s revenue increased by 8% in Q1, with their Premium subscribers count reaching 293 million
🧠 Today’s big brain fact: $11 billion, that’s how much Spotify paid out to the music industry in 2025
⭐ Michael Jackson’s catalog shot up by 5 million monthly listeners to 73 million after ‘Michael’ biopic opening weekend
Our new job board features 230+ early career roles in Entertainment, including:
💼 Client Services Coordinator - SUPER (Superfan Live) - Apply Here
💼 Web & Digital Coordinator - SUPER (Superfan Live) - Apply Here
💼 Electronic Music Touring Agent Training Program - UTA - Apply Here
💼 Event Specialist - Warner Bros. Discovery - Apply Here
💼 Media Asset Management - Miami Heat - Apply Here
💼 Talent Agent Assistant - Gersh - Apply Here
💼 Content Programming Strategy Associate - Netflix - Apply Here
💼 Public Relations Coordinator - Pop Mart - Apply Here
💼 Contemporary Music Assistant - WME - Apply Here
💼 Influencer Specialist - Amazon - Apply Here
💼 Premium Services Pricing Manager - AEG - Apply Here
💼 Campaign Management Admin - Paramount Skydance - Apply Here
💼 Marketing Coordinator - The Egg (Center for the Performing Arts) - Apply Here
💼 Publicity Assistant - Shore Fire Media - Apply Here
💼 Subsidiary Rights Assistant - Penguin Random House - Apply Here
💼 Associate Project Manager (Mastering) - Disney- Apply Here
💼 Assistant People & Culture (Temp) - Warner Bros. Discovery - Apply Here
🎒Film Distribution & Theatrical Marketing Intern - MUBI - Apply Here
👋 See you back here on Friday
What do you find most valuable about The AvA Connection?
Want this newsletter in your inbox every week?
The Mail Cart is written by Warner Bailey and edited by Riley Furey and Dominik Sansevere.
Get in touch! Email us at [email protected].
Want to partner with us and reach 300,000+ music and entertainment professionals? Reach out to [email protected]
Want to write your own newsletter? Check out our friends at Beehiiv