business
Korean Supermodel Irene Kim Launches Capsule Collaboration Project With TikTok
The combination of TikTok’s playful world and Irene’s vibrant aesthetics are said to encourage individuality and carry the important message of spreading positivity, especially during 2020’s difficult times. The #GoodFriendChallenge was created to capture the spirit of friendship and invite users to co-create with friends and share viral-worthy moments. The challenge has so far seen more than 65 major TikTok creators take part, as well as K-pop stars, models and influencers like Eric Nam, Red Velvet’s Seulgi, Jessica Jung, CLC’s Sorn, Holland V, Heize, Nayoung Kim, Hojung Lee, and Lia Kim. The challenge has garnered more than 37.9 million views and 10,000 videos since its launch. The 15-second track, titled “Good Vibes,” was composed by R&B star Jooyoung, $un and Mins...
Phoebe Bridgers Launches Saddest Factory Label With Dead Oceans: Exclusive
That dream comes to fruition today with the launch of Bridgers’ own Dead Oceans imprint, Saddest Factory. The name is a tongue-in-cheek mispronunciation of the word “satisfactory” — which also happens to be a term used frequently in record deals — that was originally made on Twitter by her former Sloppy Jane bandmate Haley Dahl. “It’s always been a dream of mine to have a label, because I’m also such a music fan,” says Bridgers. She says she has been essentially pitching artists to Dead Oceans for years, and finally decided to ask Secretly for a label of her own when indie band Bright Eyes announced their signing to Dead Oceans in February — a deal that came together after Bright Eyes frontman Conor Oberst and Bridgers formed the indie-rock du...
Logic Demands Def Jam ‘Pay My Friends and Musicians’ Who Worked on ‘No Pressure’
“My boy 6ix ain’t been paid all his money! Like who produced the intro hasn’t been paid all his money! Kevin Randolph who the RattPack know as the voice of Kai who I’ve worked with for years hasn’t been paid his money!!!!!! Lil keke hasn’t been paid his money! AND MY DJ RHETORIK, AFTER I HIT YOU UP 2 MONTHS AGO TO PAY THIS MAN HE STILL HASN’T GOTTEN HIS MONEY,” he said. “These are just the calls I’ve received I don’t even know who else of my friendships you’re f—in up!” Logic added. Billboard has reached out to Def Jam for comment. Later in his post, Logic said, “Pay these people what is wrong with you! I pay all my Debts. This is not my debt to pay. these are friends but they are hired musicians and I demand you stop f—ing up my personal relations...
Recording Academy, MusiCares Cut 13 Staffers in Reorganization
The moves stem from a major reorganization the Recording Academy began this summer when it streamlined into three divisions: the entertainment/consumer divisions (led by new COO Branden Chapman), the trade/industry group (led by label veteran Ruby Marchand) and organizations/cross verticals (led by CFO Wayne Zahner, chief diversity and inclusion officer Valeisha Butterfield Jones and chief people & culture officer Shonda Grant). “We did our reorganization in July and as part of that, we really have been doing deep dives into all the verticals,” interim president/CEO Harvey Mason Jr. told Billboard Friday night. “There’s some new alignment [and] some crossover in different sections and because of that we wanted to make sure the skill sets ...
Executive of the Week: Nonstop Management Founder/President Jaime Zeluck Hindlin
How does a typical writing credit for one of your songwriters come to fruition? Jaime Zeluck Hindlin: It’s different for everyone, to be honest. No story is the same. For writers, it’s all about the people they meet, whether it’s another writer, an artist, or an A&R that believes in them and their song and helps bring it to life. It’s about finding the champions who believe in what they’re doing. For example, with our writer Ryann, we had been setting up sessions for her with newer artists since she was a young, new writer with not too many credits just yet. We paired her with Tate McRae, who was also not as known at the time, and they wrote Tate’s breakout single “you broke me first.” Connecting those dots and people resulted in a song that is ...
The Deals: Burna Boy Signs With SESAC, Waterparks & Smallpools Soak Up New Record Contracts
Singer-songwriter and Nigerian pop star Burna Boy has signed with performing rights organization SESAC for direct U.S. representation. Born Damini Ogulu, Burna Boy recently released his fifth studio album Twice As Tall, executive produced by Ogulu, Sean “Diddy” Combs and Bosede Ogulu. It was the follow-up to 2019’s African Giant, which nabbed Burna Boy a Grammy nomination this year for Best World Music Album. Burna Boy’s U.S. stardom took off only recently, thanks in part to collaborations with American music stars including Coldplay’s Chris Martin (“The Monsters You Made”) and Sam Smith (“My Oasis”). He was also featured on last year’s Lion King soundtrack The Gift, curated by Beyoncé. “With his empowering lyrics and enrapturing beats, it’s no surprise that Burna Boy is leading the w...
Bonnaroo Postpones for Third Time, Moves Festival to September 2021
The 2021 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival has been pushed yet again over concerns about the length of the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the third time dates for the festival were shifted due to the virus. The annual event will now take place Sept. 2-5, 2021. The festival, which typically takes place in mid-June, was moved to September 2020 in March after the coronavirus took hold in the U.S. In June, it was moved a second time to June 2021, before being rescheduled for a third time earlier today. The original dates for Bonnaroo 2021 have changed. Bonnaroo will now take place on Sept. 2-5, 2021. Stay tuned for info on lineup, camping + more. We encourage you to rollover your tickets to the new dates, but refunds will be available for those who cannot attend. pic.twitter.com/i78MnMITdY —...
Round Hill Music Signs Rob Thomas to Worldwide Publishing Deal
Round Hill Music has signed multi-Grammy-winning singer and songwriter Rob Thomas to a long-term worldwide publishing deal, which will cover his full catalog, including past and future works. Best known as the frontman for Matchbox Twenty, Thomas has led the rock band through four studio albums beginning with debut Yourself or Someone Like You in 1996, which peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, was certified twelve-times platinum by the RIAA and included hit singles like “Push” and “3AM.” Other top-charting songs from the band include “If You’re Gone,” “Unwell” and “How Far We’ve Come.” Arguably Thomas’ biggest hit, however, came from outside of the band: “Smooth,” his 1999 col...
BTS Set to Make Millions as Big Hit Entertainment Goes Public
The seven members of the K-pop supergroup BTS are set to make millions when their label Big Hit Entertainment goes public in October. Demand for shares in Big Hit has hit record levels, driven in part by fans of the boy band, giving the music giant a valuation of $4.1 billion. Big Hit’s Oct. 15 IPO will be South Korea’s largest in three years. The IPO will make Big Hit founder and co-CEO Bang Si-hyuk, known widely as “Hitman” Bang, a billionaire. In August, Bang gave each BTS member shares in the company, which are currently valued at almost $8 million. As well as being home to RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook, Big Hit’s roster includes the five-member boy band TXT and singer Lee Hyun. BTS makes up the vast majority of Big Hit’s revenue, gen...
Warner Music Australasia President Niko Nordström Is Returning to Finland
Warner Music Australasia president Niko Nordström is returning to his homeland, Finland, to take on a familiar role with the music major. Announced Tuesday, Nordström is named executive vice president, Warner Music Nordics and managing director of Warner Music Finland, based in Helsinki. Nordström will report to Mark Fry, the newly appointed president of Warner Music Nordics. “It’s fantastic news that Niko is returning home to the Nordics,” Fry comments in a statement. “He’s a friend and a partner, as well as one of the most admired figures in the history of the Finnish music industry. He moved the business and culture into the modern age, while nurturing an entire generation of groundbreaking artists.” Niko played a “central role in making Finland a pioneering global music market,” ...
Keith Urban Snags Australian Chart Crown With ‘Future Of Now’
Australia’s country superstar Keith Urban bags a fourth chart crown in his homeland as Future Of Now opens at No. 1. Urban, a five-time ARIA Awards winner, previously ruled the ARIA Albums Chart with The Story So Far in May 2012, Fuse in September 2013, and Ripcord in May 2016. Future Of Now is the followup to 2018’s Graffiti U, which peaked at No. 2 on the national albums survey. Also new to the ARIA Chart this week is Ava Max’s long awaited debut album Heaven & Hell, which starts at No. 7. The LP contains the U.S. pop artist’s breakout single “Sweet But Psycho,” which hit No. 2 in Australia following its release in 2018. Just one place below is Mildlife’s sophomore album Automatic at No. 8. It’s the award-winning Melbourne psych-jazz outfit’s first appearance on the ARIA Albums Chart...
Miley Cyrus’ ‘Midnight Sky’ Makes Its Move on U.K. Singles Chart
Miley Cyrus’ “Midnight Sky” (RCA) is looking to climb high on the U.K. singles chart this week as 24kGoldn’s “Mood” (Black Butter) featuring Iann Dior gets set for a second week at No. 1. Miley’s latest single races 11-5 on the Official Chart: First Look, which measures sales and streaming activity for the first 48 hours in the chart cycle. Based on early data published by the Official Charts Company, “Mood” continues at the top of the leaderboard, ahead of Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion’s “WAP” (Atlantic) and “Ain’t It Different” (Relentless) by Headie One, AJ Tracey and Stormzy, respectively. Last Friday, “Mood” ended the three-week reign of “WAP.” 24kGoldn could land another track in the Top 10. The rising British rapper is a guest artist on Clean Bandit’s “Tick Tock” (Atlantic),...
