Your daily Drop May 7th
🎶 Music Industry & Artist News
SM Entertainment Reports Q1 Revenue Increase
South Korean entertainment giant SM Entertainment announced a 5.2% year-over-year revenue growth in Q1 2025, totaling $166 million, driven by increased music and concert revenues.
👉 Read more via Music Business Worldwide
Benson Boone Announces 'American Heart' Tour
Rising pop and alt-rock star Benson Boone has announced his American Heart tour following a standout performance on SNL.
👉 Coverage via Evrimagaci
India's Music Market Eyes Major Growth
India's recorded music industry is valued at ₹3,200 crore (~$380M), and experts forecast 30–50% annual growth—pending policy clarity on streaming, copyright, and AI.
👉 Analysis via Music Ally
🧪 Music Tech & Innovation
Ohm Force Launches Bohm: Stereo Kick Synth Module
Ohm Force just introduced Bohm, a stereo dual-voice kick synthesizer for Eurorack setups. Featuring multiple synthesis engines, it’s built for modular pros and synth-heads alike.
👉 Details via Synth Anatomy
Utoniq Raises $3.5M for Fandom Tech Platform
Japanese startup Utoniq raised $3.5M to scale its U Dom platform—designed to let artists create immersive, gamified fan experiences and earn new revenue.
👉 Read via Music Ally
📺 Streaming & Entertainment (Music-Focused)
NetEase Cloud Music Partners with Soundcharts
NetEase Cloud Music is partnering with Soundcharts to provide artists and labels access to real-time global analytics, helping shape A&R, marketing, and tour strategy in China and beyond.
👉 More via Yahoo Finance
'Squid Game' Final Season Teaser Drops
Netflix just released the teaser for Squid Game Season 3—its last. The global phenomenon closes with one final, brutal round.
👉 Watch via EurovisionFun
🏛️ U.S. Politics
Biden Criticizes Trump's Ukraine Policy
Former President Biden publicly condemned Trump’s approach to Ukraine, calling it “modern-day appeasement” after reports Trump encouraged territorial concessions to Russia.
👉 Read via Reuters
Dartmouth Study: Trust in U.S. Democracy Plunges
New data from Dartmouth shows that public confidence in American democracy has sharply declined during Trump’s return to office—particularly among Gen Z and independent voters.
👉 Full analysis via Maine Morning Star