business
What Spotify Ratifying Ringer & Gimlet Unions Means for Music’s Labor Movement
“This is not just a significant victory, it’s also an innovative victory,” Bronfenbrenner says. “There’s language that prioritizes those that needed it the most. They’re fighting for the lowest-paid workers, workers of color and LGBTQ workers.” In recent years, unions have struggled to gain traction at Big Tech companies: Amazon warehouse workers lost an election Friday (April 9) to join the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union; Google workers formed the Alphabet Union in January, but it has only 700 members in a company of 130,000 employees. And although music workers aren’t specifically impacted by the Spotify ratifications, the streaming service’s action is the latest in recent small but positive signs for labor movements after indie rec...
NACC seeks quick visa facilitation for members
The Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce (NACC) has urged the American Embassy in Nigeria to do everything possible to facilitate the Visa processing for members of the bilateral Chamber especially when it involves business trips for national growth and development. The National President of the Chamber, Otunba Toyin Akomolafe, who spoke at the NACC’s 60th Anniversary Public virtual Lecture in Lagos, said this is imperative given the enormous benefits inherent in the natural resources of both countries to be harnessed by mutual benefit. “Given the wobbling economy all over the world occasioned by the global pandemic, it’s expedient for embassies especially the American Embassy in Nigeria to fastrack VISAs and other protocol involved for trade experts going to America for the sole purpose ...
Executive Turntable: Kardinal Offishall to Helm A&R at Universal Music Canada
In his new role, Kardinal will continue to discover, sign and develop artists, forge new creative partnerships and provide strategic direction to drive the international success and cultural prominence of UMC’s artist roster. He will work closely with UMC’s urban marketing team while continuing his roles as chair of UMC’s B.L.A.C.K. Coalition (BLC) and Canada’s representative on UMG’s Task Force for Meaningful Change. Republic Records promoted Xiarra-Diamond Nimrod to vp of marketing strategy. In her new role, she will continue to oversee marketing, rollout and release strategy for multiplatinum chart-topping rap artists such as Pop Smoke, Metro Boomin and Jacquees. “We’ve been lucky to have a front row seat to Xiarra’s evolution into a world-class marketing executive,” said Republic’...
Ozuna Joins Gaming Company XSET in ‘Match Made in Heaven’
“This is something that we’ve been looking to do for a while,” says Edgar Andino, Ozuna’s manager. “We’ve been looking at what gaming has been doing for artists, the masses and the unique engagement within the gaming community. We understand that this is the future. We realized this could be an interesting opportunity for not only gaming but also fashion and music.” In the upcoming months, Ozuna’s now-iconic teddy bear logo will be incorporated on the professional jerseys worn during XSET’s competitive games. “That’ll be a first for a team to have a musical logo presence,” says Selkoe. Future initiatives include an NFT dropping mid-May, and gaming will play a major role at Ozuna’s Cancun Fest scheduled for Nov. 4-8. &#...
Carrie Underwood Lands Fifth No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Album Sales Chart With ‘My Savior’
Of My Savior’s debut sales of 68,000, physical album sales comprise 43,000 of that figure (all in CDs) while digital album sales comprise 25,000. The CD was a strong performer with Internet and mail-order sellers (like Amazon) and mass merchants (Target, Walmart, etc.). Unlike a number of albums that have posted sturdy debut-week sales figures in recent times, My Savior’s first-week did not benefit from the availability of a vinyl LP. Instead, its vinyl edition will be released on April 30. My Savior also debuts at No. 1 on the Top Christian Albums and Top Country Albums chart, and at No. 4 on the all-genre Billboard 200. It’s her second No. 1 on Top Christian Albums, following last year’s My Gift (her first Christmas record) and her ninth consecutive leader on Top Country Albums (the enti...
IMPALA Unveils Sustainability Program for Europe’s Independent Music Sector
One specific initiative under the program will be the development of the first carbon-accounting tool specific to recorded music, covering both the supply chain and label activities. Collective offset investment options for IMPALA members will also be considered. Last month, IMPALA made one of its first strides in meeting the climate charter’s targets by asking streaming services to help assess and reduce the carbon footprint of digital music, which was unveiled as part of a comprehensive ten-step streaming plan. Among other things, the plan asks DSPs to help reduce artists’ reliance on touring by creating “new initiatives and products” to increase their earnings in the streaming space. In addition to Weidenmüller, the task force which developed the sustainability package includes Ali...
Kesha Seizes on New Free Speech Law for Counterattack Against Dr. Luke
But as the case creeps along, now towards a trial date that’s expected to come this autumn, the ground beneath the parties’ feet has shifted. Last year, inspired by individuals like Donald Trump and Harvey Weinstein, New York passed a law intended to protect free speech from frivolous lawsuits. The anti-SLAPP legislation has many components, and it may be working as libel defendants are on a massive winning streak. Now, Kesha — advised by O’Melveny’s Daniel Petrocelli and Leah Godesky — is hoping to use the anti-SLAPP’s law’s allowance for a counterclaim to pursue compensatory and punitive damages plus attorneys’ fees and costs that she has incurred over seven long years defending what Kesha’s legal team believes to be a meritless defamation suit. ...
This Consultant Wanted Countries to Invest in Music. So He Took His Case to the U.N.
Shapiro was especially perplexed by the absence of music in discussions around the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), a collection of 17 intertwined objectives to tackle such systemic issues as poverty, gender inequality, climate change and lack of access to quality education included in the U.N.’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (adopted by all U.N. member states in 2015). “In most countries, governments choose how they’re going to spend money based on SDG targets and indicators,” says Shapiro. “So the way to get music projects embedded into government policy is to embed it into SDG policy.” Unfortunately, he found there was “no framework to engage with music” at the U.N. Shapiro’s first significant stab at rectifying the i...
Danny Wimmer Presents Launches BrandMark, With Maureen Valker-Barlow at Helm
Danny Wimmer Presents has spun off its sponsorship and branding department into BrandMark Agency, a wholly owned standalone business run by DWP’s evp Maureen Valker-Barlow who will now serve as president of BrandMark. Valker-Barlow joined DWP in 2019 after holding various sales roles at record labels and at agencies with clients that include Anheuser-Busch, BMG, Bushmills Irish Whiskey, Cantu Beauty, Jack Daniel’s, KAMP (K-Pop Festival), Kona Brewing Co., Manic Panic, Proof Media Mix, Rockstar Energy Drink, Shelter Music Group and Zenni Optics, among others. 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 cha...
Maureen Esisi: Leaving my marriage was my best decision ever
Maureen Esisi, ex-wife to popular Nollywood actor, Blossom Chukwujekwu, says she once contemplated suicidal thoughts after her divorce. Maureen talked about her failed marriage to the Nollywood actor in a monologue on her Youtube page. According to her, although it was not easy leaving the 2-year-old marriage, it “was the best decision ever.” “Let’s look back two years ago when I left my marriage. I left my marriage penniless broken and penniless. I can remember it like it was yesterday. I have no money in my account. My business had suffered so much,” she disclosed. “And I was broken. I had a friend who felt it in her heart to be there for me. I love her to bits. I moved out of my then home and moved into this place that you all love today. “It wasn’t easy, I swear. For the first time in ...
Demi Lovato’s ‘Dancing With The Devil’ Shuffling to Strong U.K. Chart Debut
Also new on the midweek chart is Dry Cleaning, the South London post-punk outfit whose debut LP New Long Leg (4AD) opens at No. 3. The late, great David Bowie could nab a 35th Top 10 as The Kit Kat Klub (Live New York 99) (Parlophone) bows at No. 6 on the chart blast, just ahead of The Fratellis‘ sixth album Half Drunk Under a Full Moon (Cooking Vinyl), at No. 7. Half Drunk could give the Scottish rockers’ a fourth Top 10. Finally, U.S. rapper Lil Tjay has the most-streamed album of the week with Destined 2 Win (Columbia). It’s new at No. 9 on the Official Chart Update. Over on the midweek singles survey, Lil Nas X has the upper hand with “Montero” (Call Me By Your Name) (Lil Nas X). “Montero” leads the Official U.K. Singles Chart Update, ahead of Nathan Evans’ “Wellerman” (Pol...
Adam Leber Launches New Management Company, Rebel, With Live Nation
Leber manages Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X and Labrinth, among others. Adam Leber, the longtime manager for Miley Cyrus, Lil Nas X, Labrinth and more, is launching a new management company in conjunction with Live Nation, he announced today (April 5). The new company will be called Rebel, which is Leber’s name spelled backwards, and he will retain his clients for worldwide representation. Leber was most recently a partner at management conglomerate Maverick, which he co-founded in 2014 alongside other music management heavyweights Clarence Spalding, Larry Rudolph, Guy Oseary, Gee Roberson, Scott Rodger, Cortez Bryant, Ron Laffitte and Caron Veazey. With the formation of his new company, Leber will be leaving Maverick. “This is a new chapter for me,” Leber said in a statement. “It’s e...
