business
Facebook, Instagram Unveil New Controls for Kids
The new controls were outlined on Sunday by Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president for global affairs, who made the rounds on various Sunday news shows including CNN’s “State of the Union” and ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” where he was grilled about Facebook’s use of algorithms as well as its role in spreading harmful misinformation ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. “We are constantly iterating in order to improve our products,” Clegg told Dana Bash on “State of the Union” Sunday. “We cannot, with a wave of the wand, make everyone’s life perfect. What we can do is improve our products, so that our products are as safe and as enjoyable to use.” Clegg said that Facebook has invested $13 billion over the past few years in making sure to keep the platform safe and that the compa...
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber’s ‘Stay’ Snags 13th Week at No. 1 In Australia
The highest-placed debut this week belongs to homegrown band Rancid Eddie, whose controversial song “Dry” (Independent) starts at No. 17. “Dry” has been a hot talking point in Australia’s music press throughout the week, with some artists and observers slamming its lyrical content as harmful and misogynistic. The band responded with a statement in which its members admitted to exploring “the dark sides of relationships in our lyrics” though “oppose hatred or violence of any kind against women.” Over on the ARIA Albums Chart, Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (Universal) returns to No. 1 for a third non-consecutive week at the top, equaling Scorpion (July 2018) as the Canadian rapper’s longest stint at the penthouse. Meanwhile, Taylor Swi...
Inside Track: RCA’s Top Two Execs Move West
A source tells Billboard the shift is in large part “because the creative community is in Los Angeles, including artist managers.” RCA had no official comment. With RCA employees still working from home during the pandemic, a source says there is no word on if there will be more shifts from the East to West coast. Mark Pitts, who was upped to president earlier this year, is based in New York. The company announced a number of other changes today, naming Jamie Abzug senior vp/head of publicity. Based in Los Angeles, she replaces Mika El-Baz, who holds the dual title of executive vp West Coast/ executive vp, publicity. El Baz is leaving at the end of this month, as is senior vp publicity Sarah Weinstein Dennison, who is based in New York. Both El-Baz and Weinstein Dennison have been with the...
Joss Favela Inks Worldwide Co-Publishing Deal With Warner Chappell Music
The 30-year-old Regional Mexican star, who has penned over 100 songs for artists such as Alejandro Fernandez, Banda MS, and Natti Natasha, made history at the 2016 Premio ASCAP as the youngest person ever to win songwriter of the year. He nabbed the title in 2017 and 2018. On the Billboard charts, Favela has entered Hot Latin Songs, Latin Airplay, Top Latin Albums, Regional Mexican Albums, and Regional Mexican Airplay, where he has five top 10’s. “When my love for music started I never thought that I’d get to spend my life writing songs,” he said. “I’m continuously surprised by the beautiful things that happen to me, and joining the Warner Chappell family is one of them. I’m grateful for the songs that life has given me, but I’m even more grateful for the ones ...
Kobalt Music Names Jeannette Perez as President and COO
Based in Los Angeles, Perez joined the company from Sony Music in February 2014, where she served as VP, music for brands & advertising/licensing and, before that, as senior director, soundtracks, film & TV music at RCA. “Over the past couple of years,” comments Hubert, “Jeannette has played a key part in Kobalt’s success. From creating one of the best synch teams in the business to advancing key DEI initiatives at Kobalt, she is an integral part of the company. I am excited to work in close partnership with her and to achieve new milestones for our clients.” Perez has racked up awards during her time with Kobalt, including recognition in Billboard’s Women in Music (2020, 2019), Billboard Branding Power Player (2019, 2018), Billboard International Power Play...
Canada’s Kilometre Music Group Closes Catalog Deals Encompassing Drake, Dua Lipa Hits
Across the deals, Kilometre says it acquired underlying copyrights and royalty streams associated with all the songs, but it did not purchase master recordings or revenues from masters. The company declined to reveal purchase prices. According to calculations by Kilometre, the fund now co-owns 10% of the 100 most-streamed songs on Spotify of all time, and 7% of Spotify’s “Billions Club” – songs with one billion streams or more. The Kilometre deals, along with recent acquisitions by Dutch music management company Pythagoras Music Fund, are the latest purchases of publishing catalogs worldwide by investor-backed song funds like London-based Hipgnosis Song Funds as well as the publishing arms of major labels Universal Music Group, Warner Music Group and Sony Music Entertainment. In recent mon...
Inside Track: Where Does Music’s Love Affair With Gaming Go?
Yes, you read that correctly. It’s not news that the music business wants in on that money. For years there have been collaborations across industries, including soundtracks for games like Grand Theft Auto IV way back in 2008 and ongoing partnerships spanning well over a decade to provide music for sports franchises like Madden and NBA 2K. But over the past two years, that relationship has rapidly expanded, reaching a fever pitch during the pandemic when gaming, in general, exploded around the world as people were confined to their homes and artists looked for new revenue streams (think Travis Scott partnering with Fortnite and Lil Nas X working with Roblox). Now many are wondering where this leads next. For rights holders, lawsuits are shifting to cooperation, most recently with the NMPA ...
Neil Dominique Is Ready to Go From All-Star Manager to Top Label Owner
Interscope’s svp of A&R and creative director, Randall “Sickamore” Medford, seconds Wyskoarko’s thoughts and lauds Dominique for his commitment to improving daily: “It’s been amazing to watch Neil’s rapid ascension from Chairman’s assistant to entrepreneur and #JUSTAREGULARLABEL CEO. There’s absolutely nothing regular about his passion and ears. He’s starting off hot with Ryan Trey and Nia Sultana, But it’s only the beginning of a long relationship.” Dominique is looking to add more talent after St. Louis polymath Ryan Trey dazzled with his EP, A 64 East Saga, and Brooklyn singer Nia Sultana captivated listeners with her dulcet vocals, but outside the hip-hop and R&B spheres. “Don’t ...
Wannabe Everywhere: Spice Girls Partner with Universal’s Bravado for Merch and Licensing
UMG did not disclose financial terms for the deal. It marks the first time in two decades that the Spice Girls’ licensing rights across all channels have been assigned to a single partner. Bravado owner Universal Music Group holds the global rights to the Spice Girls’ recorded music catalog, which spans three studio albums — 1996’s Spice, 1997’s Spiceworld and 2000’s Forever – and 11 singles, although it doesn’t control their publishing rights. (Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard, who co-wrote many of the band’s biggest hits, including breakthrough hit “Wannabe,” are published by Universal Music Publishing Group, however). Later this month, Universal will release an expanded 25th anniversary edition of the Spice Girls’ debut album, Spice25, featuring previously unreleased songs, demos and mixe...
No. 1 Albums With Artists’ Birth Names in the Titles, From Jay-Z to YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Jay-Z’s Vol. 3…Life and Times of S. Carter: The album hit No. 1 on Jan. 15, 2000, for one week. It received a Grammy nomination for best rap album. Jay-Z’s real name: Shawn Corey Carter. Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP: The album hit No. 1 on June 10, 2000, and stayed on top for eight consecutive weeks. The Marshall Mathers LP 2 hit No. 1 on Nov. 23, 2013, and stayed on top for two nonconsecutive weeks. Both albums won Grammys for best rap album. The first also received an album of the year nomination. Eminem’s real name: Marshall Bruce Mathers III. LL Cool J’s G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith the Greatest of All Time: The album hit No. 1 on Sept. 30, 2000, for one week. LL’s real name: James Todd Smith. Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III: The album hit No. 1 on June 28, 2007, and stayed o...
Expect a Crowded Stage Following Grammy Rule Change for Album of the Year
You may be surprised to learn that, in the Grammys’ first seven years (1958-64), only artists were nominated for album of the year. So Judy Garland was the sole winner when Judy at Carnegie Hall won the 1961 award, and Barbra Streisand was the only winner when her debut, The Barbra Streisand Album, won the 1963 prize. The Academy gradually extended nominations to other pros who worked on album of the year contenders: producers in 1965, engineers/mixers in 1998, mastering engineers in 2001, featured artists in 2007, and songwriters in 2017. But in 2017, they also instituted the 33% rule, saying that nominations would be extended only to people who worked on at least one-third of the album’s playing time. Now, they’re back to saying anyone who worked on an album in these capacities, even if ...
The Script Searching for Sixth U.K. No. 1 Album
Coming in at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is The Specials’ Protest Songs 1924-2012 (Island), for what should give the legendary Coventry ska outfit a fifth U.K. Top 10 album. The Specials’ last appearance on the chart was a No. 1 for their 2019 comeback LP, Encore. Queen drummer Roger Taylor beats a path to No. 3 with Outsider (EMI), which is set to become his first solo Top 10 title. Meanwhile, the original soundtrack for latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, No Time To Die (Decca), recorded by German composer Hans Zimmer, is at No. 4, while Taylor Swift’s former leader Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) rebounds to No. 5 following its release on vinyl. Also aiming for a Top 10 berth is Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s collaborative album Love For Sale (Interscope...
