"NEW YORK, NY: June 13, 2023 – Hasbro, a toy and game company, today announced a worldwide administration deal with Sony Music Publishing to support Hasbro’s entire portfolio of world-class fan and family brands, including Peppa Pig, Transformers, My Little Pony and many more. Under the terms of the deal, Sony Music Publishing, will represent Hasbro’s existing global catalog spanning thousands of tracks from some of the most popular family entertainment shows of all time. Additionally, Magic Star, The Orchard’s official global division of children’s and family entertainment, has been appointed as Hasbro’s global recorded music distribution partner. Under the terms, Magic Star will release new music surrounding Hasbro’s powerhouse brand portfolio. These titles will have access to The Orchard’s full suite of artist and label services and global distribution network. Magic Star will use their expertise in the kids and family space to deliver music to support Hasbro’s product lines and future marketing initiatives, bringing Hasbro’s world-renowned characters to life to enhance storytelling moments through the power of music. “Music plays such an integral part in many of our children’s programming, as it allows kids to engage with our characters and storylines in exciting ways. Stories are meant to teach kids important life lessons, celebrate major family moments and so much more. By incorporating music into our storytelling, little ones can better understand and enjoy the content they’re watching,” said Matt Proulx, Vice President Location Based Entertainment at Hasbro. “Additionally, music featured on our beloved shows, like Peppa Pig, can be taken off TV screens or tablets, so families can listen to the tunes on the go and add to their playlists. We’re thrilled to work with Sony Music Publishing and Magic Star, true audio industry leaders, to expand upon those experiences. With their expertise and Hasbro’s Blueprint 2.0 strategy of finding innovative ways to connect with fans, we are set up for success in creating fun singable and danceable opportunities for families everywhere.” “We are thrilled to be partnering with Hasbro on their rich array of amazing kids and family brands and very much look forward to bringing their associated stories and characters to life through the power of music”, said Will Speer, Managing Director Magic Star. In 2022, Magic Star became The Orchard’s official global division of children’s and family entertainment. The new partnership expanded The Orchard’s current children’s roster to create a robust, expanded global pipeline and to support new music releases. Magic Star has built up a roster of both established and developing artists and since its launch in October 2019 and will now have access to even more of the most globally recognized entertainment brands. Children’s favorites and the number one most globally broadcast TV property in the world, Peppa Pig will now be complemented by Magic Star’s deep marketing reach around the world. Rob Stratton, Visual & Media Rights Director, Sony Music Publishing said: “We are unbelievably excited to continue our work with Peppa Pig and welcome Hasbro’s iconic brands into the Sony family. Hasbro is a creative powerhouse and through our market leading administration and digital services I’m confident this will enable Hasbro’s continued growth and future success.”

About Hasbro Hasbro is a toy and game company whose mission is to entertain and connect generations of fans through the wonder of storytelling and exhilaration of play. Hasbro delivers engaging brand experiences for global audiences through toys, consumer products, gaming and entertainment, with a portfolio of iconic brands including MAGIC: THE GATHERING, DUNGEONS & DRAGONS, Hasbro Gaming, NERF, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH and PEPPA PIG, as well as premier partner brands. Hasbro is guided by our Purpose to create joy and community for all people around the world, one game, one toy, one story at a time. For more than a decade, Hasbro has been consistently recognized for its corporate citizenship, including being named one of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens by 3BL Media, one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Institute and one of the 50 Most Community-Minded Companies in the U.S. by the Civic 50. For more information, visit https://corporate.hasbro.com. About Magic Star Magic Star is the Global Division of children’s and family entertainment at The Orchard. Launched in October 2019 as part of Sony Music Entertainment UK, Magic Star is dedicated to children’s audio and audiovisual content from pop music and spoken word to live events for the whole family. Magic Star’s partner offerings include music engagement & marketing strategy, video creation, global distribution, brand partnerships and press/publicity campaigns. www.magicstarkids.com About Sony Music Publishing Sony Music Publishing (“SMP”) is the leading global music publisher, home to the world’s greatest songwriters and many of the most iconic songs ever written. Headquartered in New York with an international network of 38 offices, Sony Music Publishing supports the vision, artistry, and goals of its songwriters by amplifying opportunities, fostering collaboration, and defending their rights.   SMP represents classic catalogues including The Beatles, Queen, Motown, Carole King, Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Leiber & Stoller, Leonard Cohen, Michael Jackson, Stevie Wonder, AC/DC and The Rolling Stones, as well as contemporary superstars such as Ed Sheeran, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, Olivia Rodrigo, Calvin Harris, Daddy Yankee, Gabby Barrett, Jay-Z, Luke Bryan, Luis Fonsi, Maluma, Marc Anthony, Miranda Lambert, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Sara Bareilles, Sean Love Combs, The Kid Laroi, Travis Scott and many more.  Sony Music Publishing is a part of Sony’s suite of powerful entertainment brands. Learn more about SMP here.  "

"LAGOS, NIGERIA - (June 12, 2023) Music Business Academy (MBA) for Africa has renewed its partnership with global distribution and artist and label services company The Orchard as the academy launches the 2023 Edition of The MBA Talent Project. The MBA Talent Project is the practical aspect of the annual MBA For Africa program geared towards developing the next generation of music industry executives in Africa. The partnership with The Orchard will give 10 emerging African artists and the 2023 cohort of the annual MBA For Africa program an opportunity to learn key tenets of the global music business through practical, hands-on experience. The students will have the opportunity to apply what they are being taught in real time as they write, produce, record, market, and release an album which will be distributed by The Orchard. Founder of the Music Business Academy For Africa, Godwin Tom said, “This partnership with the Orchard helps us ensure the students get a chance to practise all the things they learn from the programme. It also gives new, unsigned, and amazing artists a chance to move their careers forward, to learn about the business, and engage potential representation. This partnership not only means a lot to the team behind the MBA for Africa, but it will change lives and that is what we are here for. This year will be even more exciting!” The Orchard will invest in developing the 2023 edition of The MBA Talent Project, helping to steer students’ journeys from music creation to release. The Orchard will also participate in the 2023 edition of the MBA For Africa program by offering education and mentoring to the students, providing marketing and promotional support for the release of the album and distributing the final output. Vice President, Africa at The Orchard, Ben Oldfield said, ""The African continent is rich with an enormous talent pool of emerging artists. As The Orchard continues to grow its presence across the region, a key focus is to discover, support, and develop new talent. Via our ongoing partnership with MBA, we can introduce these artists to a global audience, and give them access to brand-building resources that will help grow and sustain a fanbase.” The Open Call for artists to join the 2023 MBA Talent Project starts today and runs through June 30. Interested parties should submit music HERE. Application is open to all unsigned African artists. Selections will begin on July 3rd, with The Talent Project beginning in earnest on August 1. The program will run through March 2024, culminating in the album’s release and class graduation. The top 40 talents will be selected by MBA’s A&R team, followed by a vote for the top 20 by the general public via The MBA Talent Project’s website. Final voting for the top ten winners will be done by the students of the 2023 cohort of the Music Business Academy for Africa. In 2022, the MBA Talent Project gave 290 students from over 35 cities across Africa and other continents the opportunity to work with 8 African artists to create, market, promote, and release the Fuel & Flames album, film over 3 music videos, execute music recording contracts, and more. Music business enthusiasts or artists interested in starting or advancing their careers in the music industry, or those just curious about how the African music industry works can register for the 2023 edition of the Music Business Academy (MBA) for Africa program at www.mbaforafrica.com.

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About MBA For Africa: The MBA For Africa is an initiative of the Creative Industries Initiative For Africa (CIIFA), in partnership with Music Ally, and Dr. Carlos Chirinos of the Music Business program at the New York University. The Music Business Academy for Africa began as an internship scheme in 2017 before evolving into a talent management training program, and ultimately the full music business education initiative that launched in 2020. For more information, visit www.mbaforafrica.com About The Orchard: The Orchard is a full-service music distribution company operating in more than 45 cities worldwide. The Orchard's comprehensive artist & label services offering harnesses innovative technology, transparent data analysis, and expertise to reach fans and grow audiences. Offerings include digital and physical sales and marketing, advertising, brand partnerships, rights management, video monetization, collaborator splits and royalty accounting, publishing administration, neighbouring rights, and more. Championed by an exceptional community of music lovers and experts, The Orchard empowers creators and entrepreneurs to grow and adapt in the dynamic, global industry. For further information, visit www.theorchard.com."

"THE SHREDDERVERSE - The Shredderz have officially been released from Hell. Five musical misfits - Raz, Vincent, Weasel, Donny, Nigel, and their manager Lydia - had a chance encounter with The Devil Himself. This clandestine meeting led to a deal that set The Shredderz on a path to multi-dimensional superstardom backed by the power of darkness. The road, however, was a rocky one mired in misadventure. The consequences of a perilous business relationship with Mr. D landed the band in his fiery lair. Following some deal-altering discussions, The Shredderz have been released back into the metaverse in search of fame and fortune once again. Fans are invited to play a role in their new journey. “Join us on our mission to unleash a relentless storm of sonic fury upon your ears! We are armed and ready to conquer every corner of the universe with our hell-powered bone-crushing riffs, earth-shattering beats and mind-blowing melodies,” said The Shredderz. The Shredderz are marking this newfound freedom by opening their virtual world, The Shredderverse, to fans, collectors, and metalheads with the release of a trademark single. “ Shredderz” is a blistering, anthemic headbanger featuring Alex Skolnick. Metal Injection premiered the track which will be available globally on May 5. Neither Skolnick nor Metal Sucks personnel signed any paperwork with the bad guy downstairs. “If you make a deal with me, you pay the price. I’ll be watching,” said The Devil.  The Shredderz have enlisted other friends as they make their way toward global domination: Alex Skolnick (Testament), Gary Holt (Slayer, Exodus), Derrick Green (Sepultura), Brandon Ellis (Black Dahlia Murder), George Lynch (Dokken, Lynch Mob), Dan Lilker (Anthrax, Nuclear Assault), Taina Bergamaschi & Jessica DiFalchi (Crypta), Dave Davidson (Revocation), and Jessica Pimentel (Brujeria, Orange is the New Black). All will appear as guests on The Shredderz debut album, due out this summer. Meanwhile, back in THE UNIVERSE… The Shredderz is a Web3 native, community-driven, virtual supergroup and PFP project that lives in the metaverse. They have partnered with The Orchard to integrate their vision into the global music and Web3 communities.  On May 16, at 10AM EST, a collection of 1000  SHREDDERZ ACCESS PASSES will be available to claim for free on NFT Marketplace OpenSea. The Access Pass is a dynamic digital token and the key to unlocking The Shredderverse. By owning a pass, the fan community will be granted access to a gated channel on The Shredderz dedicated Discord server where they will be able to co-write the Shredderz’ narrative alongside the band. Serving as crowd-sourced band co-managers, the Shredderz community will have tangible input on crucial band decisions such as single choice, collaborations, merch design, artwork, touring plans and other factors that play out in real life. Holders will receive priority access to all future Shredderz drops and exclusive content. The Shredderz is notably the first music project that features automated dynamic NFTs that are directly linked to streaming data. Powered by Web3 services platform blockchain technology Chainlink and The Orchard’s development partner Clique, Access Passes will visually change based on The Shredderz’ streaming performance on major DSPs. As The Shredderz reach streaming milestones, each Access Pass will transform to showcase new art and simultaneously reward community members as new achievements are unlocked.  Tom Wheeley, SVP New Business, The Orchard said, “The Shredderz are the first virtual band to connect streaming data with a dynamic NFT, facilitated by The Orchard’s existing partnerships with major DSP’s and new relationships with Chainlink and OpenSea. By owning a Shredderz Access Pass, fans will become members of an engaged community that participates in determining the future of the project, and be rewarded for it with both artist access and utility.” The Shredderz is the collaborative brainchild of veterans of the stage and industry. The Shredderz can be reached at [email protected].  

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"The Orchard today announced the promotion of Tricia Arnold to Executive Vice President, Global Artist/Label Services and Sales. Arnold is based in New York and will continue reporting to Colleen Theis, President and Chief Operating Officer. Arnold has served as The Orchard’s SVP, Global Label Management and Sales since 2019. In her elevated role, she will continue to oversee the company’s global distribution strategy and international sales and label services teams. Under Arnold’s direction, The Orchard has achieved unprecedented global success for high visibility releases across the company’s 45 territories worldwide.  Arnold said, “The Orchard is a true home for creators from across the world. That spirit affects clients and team members alike, fostering an environment for growth. I am proud of what we have achieved over the past 10 years, and look forward to discovering new ways and opportunities for our artist and label clients to thrive on a global scale.” Theis added, “Tricia has exceptional leadership skills and extensive international experience, the last decade of which she fostered at The Orchard. In this elevated role, I’m confident she will guide our business to even greater heights while continuing to provide the best in class service to our clients and mentorship to our team.” In 2022, Arnold and her team helped push Bad Bunny’s Un Verano Sin Ti (Rimas Entertainment) to career-high chart positions in 15 territories. She led The Orchard to commercial successes with Nas’ Kings Disease II charting in 12 global territories; Jack White’s Fear of the Dawn and Entering Heaven Alive each charting in over 10 territories; Noel Gallagher’s Back the Way We Came Vol 1 reaching #1 on the UK album charts; and recently RAYE earning her first #1 UK single with “Escapism.” Arnold’s successes with releases from Kelsea Ballerini, Phoenix, Nina Nesbitt, Magdalena Bay, DPR IAN, and $uicideboy$ continue to grow The Orchard’s profile as a global industry leader. Arnold has been with The Orchard for over 10 years, starting her tenure in 2012 at the Company’s UK office as the European Sales & Distributor Director. Later, she was promoted to Senior Director, Retail Marketing and moved to The Orchard’s New York office. In 2017, Arnold was elevated to Senior Director, Global Sales & Marketing, and was promoted to Vice President the following year, her scope of responsibility expanding to include oversight of international label management. Before joining The Orchard, Arnold began her career at Rykodisc International and helped launch ADA Global across Europe. Today, Arnold’s teams lead global release strategy, client relations, best practices, and communication for many of The Orchard’s artists. Arnold was recently recognized by Billboard in their esteemed Women In Music issue for 2023.

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"The Orchard today announced the strategic acquisition of Above Board, a dance and electronic music distribution and artist/label services company. As part of the agreement, Above Board’s roster will have access to The Orchard’s full suite of global distribution and artist and label services. Additionally, The Orchard’s existing clients in the genre will benefit from the expertise Above Board brings to the Company. London-based Above Board Founder and Managing Director Dan Hill will report to The Orchard’s Managing Director Ian Dutt. The team is now based in The Orchard’s UK headquarters. The partnership marks a new chapter for Above Board. Since its inception in 2007, Above Board has played an integral role in developing some of the UK and Europe’s most prolific electronic music artists including Peggy Gou, Charlotte de Witte, Patrick Topping, Jamie Jones, and Maceo Plex. The Orchard’s infrastructure will enhance Above Board’s already robust service offerings to include cutting-edge technology and supply chain, digital and physical distribution, analytics and business development opportunities, advertising, publishing administration, neighboring rights, and the global reach of teams operating in 45 territories worldwide. In his role, Hill will continue to sign and develop global dance/electronic talent for Above Board, adding to The Orchard’s roster as the Company grows its global footprint in the genre. Of the partnership, Hill said, “The Above Board team is excited about this new chapter of our company and we are now fully immersed into The Orchard’s ecosystem. The new relationship gives Above Board the global infrastructure and resources to match our artists’ and labels’ ambition, plus gives them the platform to ensure they retain the rights to their music."" Dutt added: “We are delighted to welcome Dan and his team to The Orchard. Their standing and experience in this genre of music are second to none. It was crucial to The Orchard that we partnered with a company entirely immersed in the culture of electronic music. Collectively we want to make a positive impact in this space by providing exciting, future-facing options for producer and DJ owned independent labels globally.” The Orchard’s already impressive roster of dance labels includes Liquid State/Dimitri Vegas, Amtrac, TMRW Music Group, Rose Avenue, and more. Recent label signings include Perfect Havoc (UK) and Solomun’s DIYnamic (Germany), among others. These partnerships contribute to the Company’s stature as the leading distributor of EDM in the US*. The addition of Above Board to The Orchard’s family of brands along with key hires in the US and Europe firmly cements the company’s expansion into the dance/electronic music genre. Hill founded Above Board in 2007, having worked in electronic music since his early teens. His 20-plus years of music industry experience includes record labels, record shops, events management plus club promotion and an unwavering love for the genre.

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