1. L.A. Reid's Epic Reign, By the Numbers

    May 12, 2017 7:02 PM EDT "You know what comes after hot?" Antonio "L.A." Reid recently asked when paying tribute to and quoting departing Sony Music CEO Doug Morris . "Cold." It was Morris' departure (though he remains Sony Music chairma ...

  2. Help Wanted: Sony Music Faces Hiring Challenge as L.A. Reid Departs

    May 12, 2017 3:21 PM EDT The sudden, unexplained exit of veteran label executive L.A. Reid from Sony Music Entertainment jolted the music industry Thursday, given Reid’s turnaround in recent years of Sony’s Epic Records -- the label behind what is currently the No. 1 song ...

  3. Spotify Hires Advisors for Possible Listing on New York Stock Exchange

    May 12, 2017 2:39 PM EDT Spotify has decided to move forward with a direct listing, rather than a traditional IPO, when it goes public later this year or early next, according to multiple reports . While the music streaming service declined to comment on timing, a spokesp ...

  4. Music Biz 2017: Tribute to Glen Campbell and Jamming Music Execs Will Greet Opening Night Party

    May 12, 2017 9:57 AM EDT Last year at the Music Biz convention the music industry executives who toil behind the scenes making good records hit records decided to step on stage with the likes of Carmine Appice, Jim Peterik, John Densmore. They had so much fun that they� ...

  5. Epic Records Bids L.A. Reid Farewell on Social Media; DJ Khaled & Keyshia Cole React

    May 11, 2017 6:56 PM EDT Epic Records bid farewell to L.A. Reid on social media Thursday, following news that  the label's chairman and CEO of six years was out .  The Epic Records social accounts tagged Reid in a video post that read "WE LOVE YOU LA REID!" ...

  6. Google Releases Study Defending YouTube's Value To Music Biz; Trade Bodies Hit Back

    May 11, 2017 6:52 PM EDT A Google-commissioned report into how YouTube impacts on the wider music economy has—somewhat unsurprisingly—found that the hugely popular, yet much-maligned platform significantly drives sales and stops users from visiting pirate music services. ...

  7. Universal Music Group Revenue Rises 12.7%, Biggest First Quarter In 15 Years

    May 11, 2017 6:05 PM EDT Universal Music Group saw its revenues grow by 12.7% on a constant currency basis to 1.284 billion euros ($1.361 billion) in the first quarter ending March 31, 2017, from the 1.119 billion euros ($1.224 billion) it had in the first quarter of 2016 ...

  8. L.A. Reid Out at Epic Records

    May 11, 2017 4:20 PM EDT L.A. Reid is out as chairman/CEO of Epic Records after nearly six years at the helm of the Sony-owned label, Billboard has confirmed. The move comes just weeks after former Columbia Records chief Rob Stringer assumed his new role as CEO of Sony Mu ...

  9. Catching a Dopamine High With WMG Creative Officer Mike Caren In Charlie Puth's 'Attention Room'

    May 11, 2017 11:40 AM EDT The APG CEO takes the experiential music marketing to a whole other level. It started with plucked pizzicato strings and a soulful, unarticulated vocalized glissando that sounds something like 'Whoa-ooah, mmm-mmm." This while what seemed ...

  10. UK Music Trade Group Launches 5-Point Election Manifesto    

    May 11, 2017 10:49 AM EDT Umbrella trade organization UK Music has launched its own manifesto ahead of the forthcoming general election, which will determine who leads the country through Brexit negotiations. The five point plan sets out a number of priorities, including s ...

  11. ZZK Records Launches Buenos Aires Music Tours

    May 11, 2017 9:22 AM EDT Grant Dull, also known as  “El G,” is a recognized man about town in Buenos Aires. The Texas native first arrived in the Argentine capital in 1999. He founded a bilingual local culture web site, made a name as a DJ and party promoter, and then fou ...

  12. Gerry Lacoursiere, Former President of A&M Records Canada, Dies

    May 10, 2017 7:05 PM EDT He was nothing short of a legend in Canada. Gerry Lacoursiere , the man who launched A&M Records in Canada, died Tuesday in Windsor, Ontario. He had reportedly been ill for some time. Heartfelt postings from those who had worked with him began ...

  13. No 'Problem': Willie Nelson's New Album Bows at No. 1

    May 09, 2017 10:36 AM EDT Country legend Willie Nelson 's God's Problem Child bounds in atop Billboard 's Top Country Albums chart (dated May 20), earning 36,000 equivalent albums, with 34,000 in pure sales, during its first week (ending May 4), according to ...

  14. It's Official: The Grammys Will Return to NYC in 2018

    May 09, 2017 9:00 AM EDT After months of widespread rumors and coy non-confirmations from both city officials and Recording Academy sources, it's now official: the Grammy Awards will return to New York City in 2018 for the first time since 2003, after spending more t ...

  15. Rebecca Allen Named President of Decca Records Group UK

    May 08, 2017 4:36 PM EDT Universal Music UK has appointed Rebecca Allen as the new president of Decca Records Group UK. The seasoned veteran with 17 years of experience at the music label, held previous positions including director of media, general media and managing dir ...

  16. Kobalt Music Secures $75 Million in Fresh Funding, Led By Hearst

    May 08, 2017 12:58 PM EDT In raising $75 million in growth capital, Kobalt pulled two rabbits out of a single hat. It can continue its strategy of pursuing growth at the expense of profits; and it achieved a $700 million valuation for the company. Hearst Entertainment and ...

  17. Executive Turntable: New Hires at BMG, Interscope, Kobalt & More

    May 08, 2017 12:10 PM EDT -- BMG makes waves with the promotion of music executive Daniel Lee to vp creative under BMG Nashville.  -- Sony Music Masterworks welcomes Drew Thurlow as senior vice president of A&R. In his new active role, he will lead all A&R activiti ...

  18. Birdman & Slim on Cash Money's Wild Two Decades of Success: 'We Did It Our Way'

    May 08, 2017 12:02 PM EDT Bryan “Birdman” Williams is easy to find -- if you know where to look. The 48-year-old co-founder and co-CEO of Cash Money Records established a hip-hop empire that has reigned for 20-plus years by sticking close to one place: the studio. “We live ...

  19. Publishers Quarterly: Ed Sheeran's 'Shape of You' Dominates, Sony/ATV Stays On Top

    May 08, 2017 11:31 AM EDT In a first quarter defined by continuity, Sony/ATV Music Publishing extended its market share lead for the 19th straight period, having kept the top spot since it became a shareholder in -- and took over administration for -- EMI Music Publishing ...

  20. Warner Music Reports Strong Quarterly Earnings, With Streaming Revenue Trouncing Physical

    May 08, 2017 10:04 AM EDT Warner Music Group enjoyed double-digit growth in total revenue in the second quarter, with the streaming-led digital segment accounting for more than 50 percent of the company's total revenue. Total revenue at the label group grew 11 percen ...

  21. Jack White Takes 'CBS This Morning' Inside Third Man Records: Watch

    May 08, 2017 7:02 AM EDT Jack White’s Third Man Records just released Forever And Then Some , the debut solo album from White’s touring fiddler Lillie Mae . [readmore:7710372] And before she performed on CBS This Morning’s  "Saturday Sessions", White welcomed co ...

  22. Business

    Irving Azoff Hopes Warner Music Avoided 'Step Backwards' On YouTube Deal

    May 06, 2017 1:47 AM EDT Neither Warner Music Group nor YouTube has disclosed the terms of their freshly inked licensing agreements . But the details are of keen interest to artists and their managers, who’ve been calling on the massive video platform to give them both mo ...

  23. Warner Music Group Extends Deal With YouTube

    May 05, 2017 9:09 PM EDT Renews deal without hope of 'free-market' negotiation. Warner Music Group has extended its recorded music and publishing deals with YouTube, according to  the video platform and a memo from WMG CEO Stephen Cooper obtained by Billboard. W ...

  24. How A&M's Jerry Moss Shifted From Music to Horses and Keeps Leading the Derby Pack

    May 05, 2017 2:52 PM EDT The first thing that catches the visitor’s eye upon entering Jerry Moss ' modern Beverly Hills offices? The art-covered walls. A legendary music executive -- with Herb Alpert , he co-founded A&M Records, guiding the careers of Quincy Jone ...

  25. Live Nation, Roots Manager Shawn Gee Launch Live Nation Urban: Exclusive

    May 04, 2017 2:00 PM EDT Shawn Gee , a founding member of management consortium Maverick and lead manager for The Roots and Jill Scott , is partnering with Live Nation in a new venture, Live Nation Urban (LNU). Its goal: to better cater to the genres' underserved aud ...

  26. Joie Manda Promoted to EVP of Interscope Geffen A&M

    May 04, 2017 12:46 PM EDT Interscope Geffen A&M Records has promoted Joie Manda to executive vice president of the label group, Billboard has confirmed. As with his previous job, head of urban music at Interscope, Manda will continue to report to IGA chairman and CEO J ...

  27. Sony's Orchard Scoops Up Pair of Top European Distributors; Merlin Reacts

    May 04, 2017 11:03 AM EDT The Orchard is growing its global footprint with the acquisition of leading European distributors Finetunes and Phonofile in a deal that the Sony-owned company describes as a ‘win-win' for all parties. Under the terms of the deal, Germany-bas ...

  28. Warner Bros. Records Expands Relationship With Drake's OVO Sound

    May 03, 2017 2:21 PM EDT Warner Bros. Records has announced an expanded partnership with OVO Sound, the Toronto-based record label co-founded by platinum-selling artist Drake . As part of the expansion, OVO Sound executive Mr. Morgan will now be based in WBR's office ...

  29. Maren Morris, Jana Kramer Put Country's Gender Disparity Back Under Scrutiny

    May 03, 2017 12:17 PM EDT It has been almost two years since the controversy that came to be known as Tomatogate riled up the country music community, particularly its women. But in the last two weeks, separate comments from two female country artists have returned the dis ...

  30. Sony Music Sues Applebee's Over Licensing Fees for AC/DC, C+C Music Factory Songs

    May 03, 2017 11:10 AM EDT Sony Music is suing Applebee's over the use of copyrighted songs by AC/DC and C+C Music Factory in its commercials. Sony says the restaurant used "Rock and Roll Ain't Noise Pollution" and "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody D ...

  31. The Damned Sign Label Deal With Search and Destroy (Despite Captain Sensible's Banana Antics)

    May 02, 2017 3:14 PM EDT The Damned, one of the UK's classic punk rock bands who are amidst something of a resurgence, have signed a record deal with Search & Destroy. The London-based label operates under Raw Power Management and has a joint venture with Spinefa ...

  32. Brad Paisley's 'War' Breaks Out at No. 1; John Mayer Makes Country Chart Debut

    May 02, 2017 1:37 PM EDT Brad Paisley 's Love and War bounds in atop Billboard 's Top Country Albums chart (dated May 13), earning 29,000 equivalent album units (26,000 in pure sales) in its first week (ending April 27), according to Nielsen Music. On the all-ge ...

  33. Jay Z's Roc Nation Accused of Undermining $204 Million Licensing Deal

    May 02, 2017 11:25 AM EDT Jay Z ( Shawn Carter ) might have once boasted that he "made the Yankee hat more famous than a Yankee can," but according to a new lawsuit, he long ago traded away his company's right to sponsor such a hat. The lawsuit comes from Ic ...

  34. Mike Dean Talks Launching New M.W.A. Label & Signing First Artist Dice Soho

    May 01, 2017 1:24 PM EDT Since his start in the '90s, heavyweight producer  Mike Dean  has deftly found a way to grow with the times. After establishing his career by working with Texas brethren  Scarface , UGK , and Devin the Dude , Dean then forged relationships wi ...

  35. City of Hope & The Warrior of The Light Foundation Honor Late Music Exec Yassy Hosseini at Butterfly Ball

    April 30, 2017 8:22 PM EDT Last night (Apr 29), the music industry gathered to celebrate and reflect on the life of the late music exec Yassy Hosseini at the Peppermint Club in Los Angeles for City of Hope's Music, Film, and Entertainment Industry group and The Warrior ...

  36. Kendrick Lamar's 'DAMN.' Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200, Incubus & 'Guardians 2' Debut in Top 10

    April 30, 2017 3:00 PM EDT Kendrick Lamar ’s DAMN. rules the Billboard 200 albums chart for a second week, as the set earned 239,000 equivalent album units in the week ending April 27, according to Nielsen Music. That’s a decline of 60 percent as compared to its debut frame ...

  37. Digital Accounted for More Than Half of Sony Music's 2016 Recorded Music Revenues

    April 28, 2017 4:58 PM EDT Sony Corp.'s music operations reported $677 million (75.8 billion yen) on sales of $5.8 billion (647.7 billion yen) for the year ended March 31. That represents a 7.6% decline from the $773 million (86.5 billion yen) in operating income from ...

  38. 5 Questions: Sony/ATV's Guy Henderson on Closing the Value Gap & Why China Is on the 'Cusp of Something Big'

    April 28, 2017 1:11 PM EDT Recently promoted to Sony/ATV President International, Guy Henderson oversees all of the publishing giant's operations and sub-publishers outside of North America and the U.K -- a remit that spans continental Europe, South East Asia, Russia, ...

  39. Using Blockchain, Russian Music Orgs Creating Single Database for Intellectual Property

    April 28, 2017 10:06 AM EDT Collecting societies are teaming up with innovation agencies in Russia to create an intellectual property platform based on blockchain technology. Music publishers, such as Warner, are reportedly interested in joining it. Named IPChain, the platfo ...

  40. Six Singles in, Mercury Records Nashville Finally Scores a Hit for Lauren Alaina

    April 28, 2017 9:17 AM EDT For a record-label promotion executive, every chart-topper is a victory. But imagine working with an artist for six years, and through six singles, before finally achieving that elusive hit. It’s a scenario Mercury Records Nashville vp national pr ...

  41. UK Music Appoints Labour MP Michael Dugher as New Chief Executive

    April 27, 2017 2:45 PM EDT Trade organization UK Music has appointed politician and former shadow cabinet member Michael Dugher as its next chief executive. Dugher will be only the third person to lead UK Music since it launched in 2008, and replaces Jo Dipple , who announc ...

  42. Business

    China Rising & Downloads Falling: 5 Takeaways From the IFPI's Global Music Report

    April 27, 2017 1:20 PM EDT This week on April 25, the International Federation of the Phonograph Industry, or IFPI, released its annual Global Music Report , analyzing the health of the global recorded-music industry in 2016. And while the overriding storylines -- 5.9 perce ...

  43. Power Panelists Cardenas, Kolm, Juarez, Diego Medina On The Changing Latin Music Business

    April 26, 2017 9:47 PM EDT Four veterans of the music industry,  Henry Cardenas, Walter Kolm, Jorge Juarez and Juan Diego Medina told participants at the 2017 Latin Billboard Music Conference Wednesday that the business has changed drastically in the last 20 years. And, may ...

  44. Latin Trap's 'Big Big Future' Panel With Messiah, Bad Bunny, Farruko and More at Billboard Latin Music Conference

    April 26, 2017 8:23 PM EDT Latin trap music is not necessarily new. Messiah has been creating trap songs for almost a decade. But the subgenre of urban Latin music has certainly grown by leaps and bounds this year, fueled by a new crop of “trapperos” and led by Farruko , wh ...

  45. Dr. Luke Is No Longer the CEO of Sony's Kemosabe Records Amid Kesha Legal Saga

    April 25, 2017 4:08 PM EDT Sony Music may be distancing itself from Dr. Luke (Lukasz Gottwald) after a long relationship that generated dozens of smash hits for stars including Kelly Clarkson , Avril Lavigne and Miley Cyrus , as well as controversy when rape allegations wer ...

  46. Latin America Leads the Way in Music Revenue Growth, Fueled By Gains in Streaming: IFPI

    April 25, 2017 10:34 AM EDT Music revenue grew 12 percent in Latin America in 2016, the highest increase for any region internationally, according to IFPI's just-released Global Music Report 2017 . It was the seventh year in a row that growth in Latin America topped tha ...

  47. Sara Evans Launches Born to Fly Records: No More 'Following the Rules of Anyone Else'

    April 25, 2017 8:33 AM EDT Sara Evans  is the latest country artist to establish her own record label, with the first album due this summer, Billboard has exclusively learned. Evans named the imprint Born to Fly Records , branding it after her 2000 single, which embraced ad ...

  48. IFPI Global Report 2017: Industry Sees Highest Revenue Growth in Decades, But the YouTube Issue Remains

    April 25, 2017 8:08 AM EDT Strong growth in streaming throughout the world helped lift global music sales by almost 6 percent in 2016, the biggest year-on-year rise in revenues since the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) began tracking the market ...

  49. Streaming Propels U.S. Latin Recorded-Music Industry to First Revenue Growth In More Than a Decade

    April 24, 2017 4:20 PM EDT Revenue from the Latin sector of the U.S. recorded-music industry grew last year for the first time since 2005, up three percent over 2015 to $176 million, according to the RIAA. As with the broader U.S. recorded-music industry -- which last year ...

  50. Record Store Day Second Annual Crawl: Here's What Went Down

    April 23, 2017 1:30 PM EDT Record Store Day's 10th anniversary took place in New York on Saturday (April 22), marking the second annual Record Store Day Crawl . The impressive event began with a breakfast buffet and morning drinks at Baby's All Right, providing cr ...

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