Tim Ingham, founder and publisher of the UK’s Music Business Worldwide, has entered into a content deal with Penske Media Corporation, based in Hollywood, where Ingham participated last year in the MUSE expo. (Photo: Paula Parisi / MaxTheTrax)

In a move that will solidify Variety and Rolling Stone music coverage on the international stage while providing UK-based Music Business Worldwide a heightened profile stateside, MBW has entered into a content-sharing arrangement with Penske Media Corporation, owner of both Variety and Rolling Stone. 

MBW founder and publisher Tim Ingham will write  a weekly industry-focused column for Rolling Stone, appearing first on the media outlet’s website and going on to a presence in the monthly print magazine. For his part, Ingham will regularly feature news and feature content from Rolling Stone and Variety.

Ingham, who is based in London, broke away from a journalism grunt job in 2015 to strike out on his own, launching what has become an authoritative source of global pop music industry news (often even beating the US trades, particularly — though not always necessarily — on stories about Euro-based labels). He succeeded against all odds, largely on his own steam. Until September, Ingham  served as sole editor (and primary generator) of MBW content. His energetic output had many in the music industry re-thinking the maxim about the hardest-working man in show-biz, and we know that Penske was not alone in pursuing the prolific entrepreneur.

“We’re thrilled to deepen Rolling Stone’s editorial coverage of the music business with Tim’s consistently high caliber industry insight and analysis, with an eye on trends and impact at the global scale,” Rolling Stone Editor Jason Fine said in a printed announcement.

Ingham will “delve into the biggest issues in today’s music industry, contextualizing how they’re affecting artists, audiences and executives alike,” the announcement promises.

“Music Business Worldwide is delighted to announce this alliance,” said Ingham said in his printed statement. “Rolling Stone is a peerless brand with an amazing history, reputation and reach. Its website and print magazine are going through an exciting resurgence at the hands of smart people. This is an important step forward for MBW, and we are honored to play a role in the modern evolution of Rolling Stone.”

In addition to its core online and email services, Music Business Worldwide publishes a premium UK-focused magazine, Music Business UK, plus its annual physical almanac, The MBW Yearbook.

MBW is also the force behind the London-based A&R Awards, which this year feted Syco founder Simon Cowell, among others.