Welcome back to the MMBC Newsletter!

MMBC had an explosive end to last semester. The 3rd annual MMBC Conference was a massive success, with over 400 attendees, 30 sponsors and 20 speakers. Our group of a-list speakers all gave phenomenal talks, ranging in topics from agency, merchandising, management, live, and being an artist. The conference concluded with a captivating performance by Isaac Slade, former lead singer of the Fray. This was MMBC’s biggest conference to date!

To wrap things up just before finals, MMBC partnered with UMG to put on a spectacular FREE concert featuring the UK-based band Good Neighbours. With support from a local student band “The Joeys,” this free live concert was one of MMBC’s best to date. MMBC’s VP of Creative, Olivia Platt, designed shirts which were given to the first 100 attendees of the show. What an amazing way to end off the year!

Go Blue!

A&R & Creative Intern (Pop/Electronic) @ OPIA

📍United States, Hybrid

Business Development Manager @ One More Time

📍NYC, LA, Nashville

Marketing Manager @ Vector Management

📍Tennessee

Digital Rights Intern @ Create Music Group

📍LA

Sammy Virji Is Taking UK Garage Global

If you’ve been anywhere near a festival stage, warehouse rave, or even remotely tapped into today’s house music scene, chances are you’ve heard the name Sammy Virji. Over the past two years, the UK-based artist has risen to international stardom as a leading force in the global resurgence of UK garage, blending electrifying basslines with playful samples to create a signature sound all his own.

Virji’s musical influences stem from his father’s diverse record collection, ranging from Michael Jackson to dubstep icons like Plastician. He began releasing tracks in 2015 and gained significant underground traction around 2019, after dropping out of university to focus on music full-time.

In 2023, Virji had a breakout year that saw him move from underground favorite to main stage attraction. His euphoric DJ Mag HQ set went viral across TikTok and YouTube, and that momentum only grew with the release of his single “If U Need It”, which became one of the defining tracks of the UKG revival.

This month, Virji’s live presence reached new heights with his first stadium show at Forest Hills Stadium in New York, which sold out in advance. The day before, he surprised fans with a pop-up set in Times Square, where he announced his upcoming album, Same Day Cleaning, along with part two of his North American tour.

With a global fan base that keeps growing, viral tracks dropping left and right, and his debut album on the way, Sammy Virji isn’t just riding the UK garage wave — he’s pushing it to a whole new level. As he continues to pack out shows and shape the sound of the scene, one thing’s clear: he’s only getting started.

If you enjoyed “A Complete Unknown,” you should definitely consider going to the Newport Folk Festival this July. Taking place from the 25th to the 27th, this historic festival in Newport, Rhode Island has a wide variety of artists, including Luke Combs, Mt. Joy, Public Enemy, Remi Wolf, Obongjayar, and Goose, among others.

Although it may be hard (and expensive) to get a ticket this late, Tomorrowland Belgium is one of the most incredible festivals in the world. With the magical theme “Orbyz,” this year Tomorrowland is spread over two weekends (July 18-20th and July 25-27th), features 16 different stages, over 500 artists, and 400,000 attendees from over 200 countries.

If you’re looking for a big city summer blowout, Lollapalooza in Chicago is hard to beat. Held in Grant Park from July 31st to August 3rd, this four-day mega-festival brings together some of the biggest names across pop, hip-hop, EDM, indie, and rock. This year’s lineup includes Olivia Rodrigo, Tyler, the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter, A$AP Rocky, and Gracie Abrams, with plenty of gems lower on the bill like Dom Dolla, The Marías, JPEGMAFIA, and Foster the People.

In this special live episode from our annual MMBC Conference, we sit down with Jeremy Zimmer, Co-Founder and CEO of United Talent Agency (UTA). From starting in the mailroom to leading one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, Zimmer shares his journey through the entertainment industry—and the pivotal moment UTA expanded into music.

We dive into everything from his favorite artists and first concert to his philosophy on leadership, mentorship, and what makes a great agent today. As he prepares to step down as CEO, Zimmer reflects on legacy, fatherhood, and the future of representation in a rapidly changing music landscape.

What happens when you mix a country singer, an attorney doubling as a musician, and 2 giant lawsuits? Justice (maybe).

In recent months the battles between the music industry and AI music generation platforms like Suno and Udio have been limited to the mega-corporation labels, which is why the next round of challengers is coming from the indie world. Country singer Tony Justice and his label 5th Wheel Records partnered with attorney/musician/YouTuber Miss Krystle who claim that the same battles fought by big labels with Suno and Udio are ignoring independent artists whose rights have been “trampled” while they remain “unrepresented” in the current major label lawsuits.

Last June, there was a major development in the AI vs music industry battle, where multiple companies admitted to using copyrighted materials to train their content generation models. This led to Justice’s complaint that the companies are simply “stealing” the material they work off of. This is especially crucial as Justice cited US Copyright Office guidelines that fair use does not excuse unauthorized access to materials as training data. The lack of proper licensing between the AI companies and labels is the main culprit, and now there is a serious argument of whether the resulting works of these models can be considered infringement by default.

So what is Justice asking for? Along with a preventative measure to protect future works, Justice is proposing up to $150,000 per infringed work in addition to any damages. And Justice’s lawsuit is one of many, and Suno is also facing claims from German music licensing company GEMA in tandem who want proper licensing fees and potentially equity to compensate their losses.

One thing is clear, though: the fight is just beginning and the “little guy” is getting just as involved as the big players. As the story develops, it will be interesting to see where real life fans spend their attention because that is what ultimately decides who wins. In the meantime, we’ll be sitting with our popcorn watching it all unfold.

Honorary shoutout to all our members who are interning at these wonderful companies, and the incredible employers who have partnered with us!

Wasserman Music continues to set the standard in global touring and artist representation. With a focus on long-term career building, their team brings unmatched dedication, strategic insight, and a deep love for music to every client relationship. Backed by industry-leading resources and a collaborative spirit, Wasserman remains a trusted partner for artists shaping the future of live music worldwide.

Donations to the Michigan Music Business Club are always welcome and greatly appreciated.

All monetary gifts fund our wide range of events, including concerts, speakers, and other professional and creative development events.

MMBC has brought an accomplished lineup of musicians, agents, producers, publicists, lawyers, and composers to speak and perform for the club and the greater Michigan community. To pay the generosity of others forward, many of our events have raised money for charity and local Ann Arbor businesses. Regardless of the amount, all donations help our organization bring authentic and memorable experiences to fans and aspiring industry professionals here at the University of Michigan.