business
The Weeknd, H.E.R. and Motown’s CEO Honored at First BMAC Music in Action Awards
That mission statement remained front and center throughout the nearly three-hour ceremony/dinner during which emotions ran high. The Weeknd, co-recipient of The Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award for his philanthropic support of various charities and organizations including COVID relief, Black Lives Matter and MusiCares, recalled the first time he met the industry icon. “He pulled up to one of my club gigs in Las Vegas; he’s one of the reasons why I started making music,” said the emotional singer, to whom Jones presented the award via videotape. “He said he’d wait for me to visit with fans first before we talked. He was teaching me the lesion that nothing is more important than people and giving back. This is the best award I’ve ever gotten in my life, I swear. I won’t take this for g...
Jenifer Smith Now Heads Urban Tour Marketing at Live Nation Concerts
Jenifer Smith has been named head of urban tour marketing & strategy at Live Nation Concerts. Smith, who oversaw the global marketing efforts for the recently announced Fugees reunion tour, will supervise the team supporting the concerts division’s roster of R&B/hip-hop tours. Among the established and rising artists that Smith will be supporting across tours and key festivals are Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Drake, The Weeknd, Travis Scott, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, H.E.R., Young Thug and Jack Harlow. She will also be developing and building out Live Nation’s urban tour marketing team. In a statement announcing Smith’s new executive post, Omar Al-joulani, head of talent & touring for Live Nation Concerts, said, “Whether it’s artists or our own internal team, Live Nation is always inve...
Sony US Latin President Alex Gallardo Is Leaning Into Data and Diversifying Deals
Gallardo has been doing that by trying new things, both musically and commercially. Encouraging artists like Rauw Alejandro (“Todo de Ti”), Farruko (“Pepas”) and Camilo (“Kesi”) to venture outside of reggaetón has paid off with the biggest hits of their respective careers. And building out Sony Latin’s business intelligence department — which parses data to help inform A&R, marketing and sales strategies — helped identify Rochy RD’s “Ella No Es Tuya” as it was gaining momentum on Dominican independent label Vulcano Music. The Sony Latin remix hit No. 30 on Billboard’s Hot Latin Songs chart, and was an even bigger sensation in Spain and South America. With each step, Gallardo is keeping an eye on the future. “As a label, we need to reinvent,” he says. “Nowadays, artists can ...
Lean Latin, Go Global
As Latin music continues to grow, Deep Dive looks at what’s happening now and what’s next, from the current explosion of regional Mexican acts like Grupo Firme to the new wave of stars. Plus: a data-driven look at the top Latin acts globally, and a directory of key labels, bookers, digital marketers and other businesses. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are looking for Dates Online. So we reimagined what a dating should be. It begins with giving you back power. Get to meet Beautiful people, chat and make money in the process. Earn rewards by chatting, sharing photos, blogging and help give users back their fair share of Internet revenue.
Universal Music Group Stock Jumps in Stock Market Debut
Universal Music Group (UMG) management, led by chairman and CEO Lucian Grainge, has touted the business momentum and outlook of the label home of the likes of Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift. The music firm was a key growth driver of Vivendi’s first-half 2021 results, with its earnings soaring 38 percent. UMG’s earnings of 753 million euros represented more than 70 percent of Vivendi’s total first-half earnings of 1.07 billion euros. As such, UMG spin-off also means that Vivendi, led by CEO Arnaud de Puyfontaine, will lose its crown jewel. That is why analysts during a recent earnings conference call asked Vivendi management how it may support the company’s stock price. CFO Hervé Philippe has said that a stock buyback program was one option. UMG management has said it was bullish...
Australia’s Top Promoters Launch Contest for Concert Tickets, But You Must be Vaccinated to Apply
To be eligible, you must be over 18; be a resident of Australia; enter within the competition window (Sept. 15-Nov. 30); answer a simple question; and “be fully vaccinated under the Australian national COVID-19 vaccination program,” a statement reads. Winners will get a plus-one to see the likes of Dua Lipa, Alanis Morissette, Kiss, Lorde, David Gray, Tyler, the Creator and many others, with the concerts calendar adding dates on a daily basis. The novel campaign is an extension of #VAXTHENATION, a nationwide call-out launched earlier this month, and led by hundreds of musicians, industry leaders and businesses. It’s an initiative of the so-called LIVE Alliance, a gathering of industry stakeholders and advocates, including the Association of Artist Managers (AAM), APRA AMCOS, ARIA, Australi...
Activision Blizzard Officially Under SEC Investigation for Workplace Practices
For the latter part of the summer, Activision Blizzard has faced multiple allegations regarding workplace abuse. In August, the company was accused of getting rid of any evidence that supported those claims. Last week, the company was hit with worker intimidation allegations as well. According to The Wall Street Journal, the Securities and Exchange Commission have officially opened a “wide-ranging” investigation into the company for its workplace culture practices. The government agency officially subpoenaed the company and several of its top executives including CEO Bobby Kotick. Various documents are asked to be turned in, including correspondences with Kotick related to any sexual harassment complaints that are linked to Activision contractors and employees. Earlier this summer, the Cal...
Lil Nas X’s ‘Montero’ Leads U.K. Chart Race
At the halfway stage, just 400 combined sales separate Montero from the No. 2-placed album, Bob Dylan’s Springtime in New York – Bootleg 16 (Sony Music CG), the market leader on physical sales. Springtime is on pace to be the legendary singer and songwriter’s 41st U.K. Top 10 album. Meanwhile, Drake’s former leader Certified Lover Boy (OVO/Republic Records) is at No. 3, while prog-rock titans Genesis bow at No. 4 with the career-retrospective The Last Domino (UMC/Virgin), which could give the British band their first Top 10 album in seven years. According to the OCC, just 2,500 combined sales separate Montero and the fifth-placed album Green With Envy (Atlantic), the debut from British rapper Tion Wayne. Also chasing top tier debuts are titles from Spiritbox (Eternal Blue at No. 8 via...
In India’s Price-Sensitive Market, Will Customers Finally Pay For Streaming?
Only two countries — China (45% ad-supported), the seventh-biggest market, and Venezuela (58%), IFPI’s lowest-ranked sector — rely more on ad-supported audio streams than India (38%). And China, for the first time, generated more revenue last year from subscription-supported streams than ad-supported streams, IFPI figures show. Lodha, who previously was an executive at hospitality chain OYO Rooms, says it’s time to change India’s revenue paradigm. To help Gaana regain its edge in India’s crowded streaming market against its well-financed competitors, he’s focusing on boosting subscription income, which he says is more important than hitting Gaana’s target of 500 million MAUs — a figure at which he says the streaming platform would finally turn profitable. Subscription income fell from 33% ...
Eco-Conscious, Safety-Centric, Tech-Savvy: 35 New & Renovated Venues to Watch in 2021
Madison Square Garden’s ambitious Las Vegas Sphere continues to be one of the most anticipated music venues in the world, with a price tag of $1.8 billion. Set to open in 2023 following pandemic-related construction delays, the structure will be anchored by what is touted as the largest and highest-resolution LED screen on earth, which will cover an area larger than three football fields. The screen is intended to create an immersive, virtual reality-style experience for ticket holders. In June, MSG completed the construction of the Sphere’s steel frame, while the exosphere is still under construction. Nashville Yards (Nashville)Concert capacity: 4,000 Developed by Southwest Value Partners, the 18-acre Nashville Yards complex will include a 1.3-acre park, two office towers for Amazon Nashv...
Ed Sheeran Debuts at No. 1 In U.K. With ‘Shivers’
It’s not the first time Sheeran has knocked one of his own tracks from the summit. The first time he did it was in January 2018, when Eminem’s “River,” on which he featured, replaced his solo release “Perfect.” Elsewhere on the chart, Elton John and Dua Lipa’s Cold Heart” (Pnau Remix) (via EMI) vaults 11-4, for Lipa’s eighth Top 5 single, and Elton John’s 21st. Meanwhile, Central Cee completes the Top 5 with “Obsessed With You” (Central Cee), new at No. 5. The track samples Pinkpantheress’ “Just For Me” (Parlophone), currently No. 43 on the chart, and becomes the West London rapper highest-charting single. Over on the albums chart race, Manic Street Preachers hold on for a second No. 1 with The Ultra Vivid Lament (Universal), their 14th studio album. The Welsh rockers’ latest LP captu...
2021 Emmy Awards: Complete Winners List
Here’s a complete list of winners. The categories are listed in alphabetical order. Outstanding comedy series black-ish, ABCCobra Kai, NetflixEmily in Paris, NetflixThe Flight Attendant, HBO MaxHacks, HBO MaxThe Kominsky Method, NetflixPen15, HuluTed Lasso, Apple TV+ — WINNER Outstanding competition program The Amazing Race, CBSNailed It!, NetflixRuPaul’s Drag Race, VH1 — WINNERTop Chef, BravoThe Voice, NBC Outstanding directing for a comedy series James Burros, B PositiveSusanna Fogel, The Flight AttendantLucia Aniello, Hacks — WINNERJames Widdoes, MomZach Braff, Ted LassoMJ Delaney, Ted LassoDeclan Lowney, Ted Lasso Outstanding directing for a drama series Julie Anne Robinson, Bridgerton, “Diamond Of The First Water”Benjamin Caron, The Crown, &#...
