Create Music Group is investing $300 million in Nettwerk Music Group to support the managers of the Vancouver-based label buying out their existing investors, according to a statement from Nettwerk seen by Billboard on Friday.

The companies did not disclose which investors Nettwerk’s management is buying out, but previous investors includ Flexpoint Ford, Beedie Capital and Vistara Growth. As part of the agreement, Create will also give Nettwerk, which represents Passenger, Paris Paloma, SMYL and Mon Rovîa, access to “substantial” follow-on capital and support services to support its growth.

As part of the deal, Nettwerk’s management team, including co-founders Terry McBride and Mark Jowett, will increase their ownership stake and continue to lead day-to-day operations of the company. The agreement will also provide Nettwerk with access to Create Music Group’s infrastructure, global distribution and label services.

News of the deal comes soon after Nettwerk conducted a round of layoffs that impacted around 10% of its workforce, sources tell Billboard.

Founded and headquartered in Vancouver, Nettwerk was founded more than 40 years ago. It has since built the careers of some of the most respected singer-songwriters in the world. In 2016, the company sold its publishing assets to Kobalt’s investment fund, KMC, including songs by 10,000 Maniacs, Teenage Fanclub, Wayne Hancock, the Wild Strawberries, the Submarines, the Lucky Nine, Soulfully, Robert Orrall, Roger Greenaway, Paul Brady, Mutiny Within, Kirsty Hawkshaw, Jesse Malin, Young The Giant, Trivium, Sinead O’Connor, Bauhaus singer Peter Murphy and Delirium. It continued to build a new catalog of songs by inking a go-forward administration deal with Kobalt as well.

In 2023, the company recapitalized, bringing in a new investor in the form of Flexpoint Asset Opportunity Fund II and additional funding from existing investors Beedie Capital and Vistara Growth. At the time, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We’re excited about this next chapter in Nettwerk’s journey,” said McBride, co-founder and CEO of Nettwerk, in a statement. “Partnering with Create allows us to continue to build on our foundation, grow our capabilities, and provide even more value to the artists we represent — while staying true to our roots as an artist-focused, independent Canadian label.”

“Terry and his team at Nettwerk have built one of the most enduring and influential independent music companies in the modern era,” added Create Music Group CEO and co-founder Jonathan Strauss. “We are excited to put all of the resources at our disposal behind Terry and his management team to fuel Nettwerk’s continued global growth.”

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The 2026 Winter Olympics has finally begun. Fans of hockey, figure skating, curling and snowboarding can already start cheering on their country, but the “start” of the Olympics happens today, Feb. 6, during the Opening Ceremony. The grand spectacle often features a large event held by the host country, celebrating their history, honoring the athletes from each country and lighting the Olympic flame, which Snoop Dogg already took part in.

Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, At a Glance:

The Milan Cortina Olympics inauguration will held mainly in Milan’s 76,000-capacity San Siro stadium, which is often referred to as the La Scala of Football, in reference to the city’s famed opera house and the venue’s association with legendary soccer matches. However, for the first time at the Olympics history, the event will feature multiple locations during the Opening Ceremony. Cortina d’Ampezzo, one of the game’s host cities and around 250 miles northeast of Milan, will also stage a celebration of its own.

Who’s performing at the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony?

The Opening Ceremony will be headlined by six-time Grammy award winner Mariah Carey and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. Joining them to usher in the games will be Chinese pianist Lang Lang, Italian actor Sabrina Impacciatore, singer-songwriter Laura Pausini, opera star Cecilia Bartoli and rapper Ghali.

How to Watch the 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony Online for Free

The 2026 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Milan will broadcast on NBC, USA Network, CNBC and NBCSN. The best way to stream the event is the channel’s official streaming platform, Peacock. While there is no free trial for new users, the platform offers affordable plans starting at just $10.99 per month, or an annual plan for $109.99 per year (which gets you 12 months of streaming for the price of 10).

DIRECTV

With DIRECTV, new subscribers can take advantage of a 5-day free trial, so you can watch a week’s worth of Olympic games live and for free. The streaming platform carrier every network broadcasting the 2026 Winter Olympics and the Opening Ceremony, so you’ll never miss a sports moment. With so many different sports happening. DIRECT offers unlimited DVR storage so you can record, save and watch your favorite olympic moments whenever you’d like.

Hulu + Live TV

For the most content offerings, you can sign up for Hulu + Live TV and get access to the Hulu library in addition to more then 95 live TV channels (including NBC). The streaming platform starts at $89.99 per month, but there’s also 3-day free trial for new users.

And, for even more programming, Hulu + Live TV now comes bundled with Disney+ and ESPN Unlimited, which gives you everything within the Hulu library, in addition to exclusive content on ESPN for even more sports coverage.

Sling TV

Sling TV offers the Blue package, which comes with NBC, USA Network, CNBC, MS NOW, Bravo and others. Blue is one of the most affordable options and comes with more than 40 channels and can be streamed on up to three device at a time. Please note: Pricing and channel availability varies from market-to-market.

Louis Tomlinson’s third studio album, How Did I Get Here?, makes a top 10 debut on five Billboard album charts (dated Feb. 7), including a No. 2 bow on Top Album Sales – his third top five-charting set on the tally. The set also launches in the top 10 on Vinyl Albums (No. 2), Top Current Album Sales (No. 2), Indie Store Album Sales (No. 3) and Independent Albums (No. 3).

How Did I Get Here? additionally starts at No. 16 on the overall Billboard 200, marking the singer-songwriter’s third top 20-charting effort. The album earned 26,000 equivalent album units in the United States in the week ending Jan. 29, with 21,000 of that sum in pure album sales.

How Did I Get Here? is one of five debuts in the top 10 of the Top Album Sales chart, where Megadeth’s self-titled set bows at No. 1 with 69,000 copies sold (the band’s best sales week since 1999). The latter marks the biggest sales week for any hard rock album since Sleep Token’s Even in Arcadia debuted at No. 1 on the May 24, 2025-dated chart with 73,000 copies sold in its first week.

ENHYPEN’s THE SIN : VANISH falls 1-3 in its second week with 19,000 sold (down 84%) whileStray Kids’ chart-topping DO IT rises 5-4 (11,000, down 34%).

Rounding out the debuts in the top 10 are XG’s THE CORE at No. 5 (8,000; the act’s first top 10 and best sales week ever), Poppy’s Empty Hands at No. 6 (nearly 8,000; the act’s second top 10 and best sales week) and The Format’s Boycott Heaven at No. 7 (7,000; marking the act’s first top 10).

Closing out the top 10 of the latest Top Album Sales chart: KATSEYE’s SIS (Soft is Strong) (18-9 with 6,000, up 39%) and Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving (8-10 with 5,000, down 19%).

Twisted Sister frontman Dee Snider has left the group due to “a series of challenges,” a situation that has forced the cancelation of the rock band’s planned 50th anniversary concerts.

A statement reads, “due to the sudden and unexpected resignation of Twisted Sister’s lead singer Dee Snider brought on by a series of health challenges, the band has been forced to cancel all shows scheduled, beginning April 25th in Sao Paolo Brazil and continuing through the summer.”

The future of the ‘80s rockers “will be determined in the next several weeks,” reads a social media message signed by Jay Jay French and Eddie Ojeda, the founding and longtime guitarists for the heavy metal outfit.

Snider suffers from degenerative arthritis, which has required multiple operations. The rocker, known for his wild hair, bright makeup, and impressive abs, recently revealed that his heart has been impacted by life on the road.

“A lifetime of legendarily aggressive performing has taken its toll on Dee Snider’s body and soul,” reads a separate statement from the band, posted to the Twisted Sister website. “Unbeknownst to the public (until now) Snider (70) suffers from degenerative arthritis and has had several surgeries over the years just to keep going, able to only perform a few songs at a time in pain.”

Snider “can no longer push the boundaries of rock ‘n’ roll fury like he has done for decades,” the band’s statement continues.

Twisted Sister is best known for their 1984 song “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” which crashed the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 21 and continues to play where people gather – and at times during conservative rallies and in campaigns that, more than once, has seen Snider step in and call time.

“We’re Not Gonna Take It” appeared on the band’s third studio album, Stay Hungry, which peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200, and is one of their six titles to impact the all-genres tally.

The band also charted with “I Wanna Rock” (No. 68 in 1984) and their cover of the Shangri-Las’ “Leader Of The Pack” (No. 53 in 1985).

Speaking on his abrupt departure from the band, Snider remarks: “I don’t know of any other way to rock. The idea of slowing down is unacceptable to me. I’d rather walk away than be a shadow of my former self.”

Olivia Dean closes out a winning week by scooping another double on the ARIA Charts.

The British singer and songwriter retakes top spot on the national albums tally, as The Art Of Loving lifts 2-1 for its eighth non-consecutive week at the summit, and her quadruple platinum certified hit “Man I Need” retains the singles chart crown for a 12th straight week.

With that streak, “Man I Need” becomes the longest-reigning single by a solo female artist since Miley Cyrus’ Flowers in 2023.

There’s more love for Dean, as “So Easy (To Fall In Love)” lifts 4-2 on the ARIA Singles Chart, for a new peak position; while “Nice To Each Other” improves 12-11; “Rein Me In” with Sam Fender jumps 20-16, a new peak; “A Couple Minutes” is up 19-17; and “Baby Steps” walks 30-28.

It’s been a dream week for Dean, who on Sunday, Feb. 1, collected the Grammy Award for best new artist.

The top debut on the latest frame, published Friday, Feb. 6, belongs to Noah Kahan as “The Great Divide” makes its mark at No. 15. It’s Kahan’s fourth top 50 appearance on the ARIA Singles Chart, including his breakout “Stick Season,” which logged three weeks at No. 1 in early 2024.

Tame Impala was also in the winner’s circle at the 68th Grammy Awards, where Kevin Parker’s psychedelic pop project won best dance/electronic recording for “End Of Summer,” his second golden gramophone (both in the same category). Deadbeat cut “Dracula” is the only homegrown title in the top 50 this week, dipping 26-32.

Over on the ARIA Albums Chart, Don Toliver charges in at No. 4 with Octane, his fifth solo studio album, and first to crack the top 10.

Stranger Things has all wrapped up, but there’s fresh action for the popular Netflix series’ season 5 soundtrack. It’s new at No. 11.

Further down the chart ladder, Brisbane band Radium Dolls make their first appearance on the ARIA Charts with sophomore effort Wound Up, new at No. 17. Wound Up is their second studio album.

Finally, Velvet Trip, the psychedelic-pop project of singer, songwriter and producer Zeppelin Hamilton, bags a top 40 debut with Glimmers Continued. It’s new at No. 33. Glimmers Continued is the followup to Velvet Trip’s debut Harmony Blooms, which reached No. 19 in 2024.