Industry News
GLOBAL
Donna Summer - In Memoriam: There Will Always Be a You
May 18, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Michael Paoletta for ten years was Billboard's esteemed dance/electronic music editor. He not only interviewed Donna Summer (and her producer Giorgio Moroder) on several occasions, but grew up with and was inspired by Summer's seminal music, meteoric success and sustained stardom. As such, there may be no better person to help put her greatness and loss in perspective. » Full Story
BBC 6 Radio Has Highest Numbers Two Years After Nearly Getting Axed; Digital Radio Up 5%
May 18, 2012 – Radio | Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile
Listenership to BBC 6 Music, the UK's BBC digital alternative station, grew to a record high last quarter, attracting an average weekly audience of 1.45 million, according to the latest RAJAR (Radio Joint Audience Research) figures. Digital radio listening grew 5% year-on-year with a weekly reach of 23.5 million people. » Full Story
Warda, Legendary Algerian Singer, Dies in Cairo at 72
May 18, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Rock & Pop
The Algerian singer Warda, "the Algerian Rose," whose sultry voice and range helped make her one of the giants of Arab song, has died. She was 72. Along with Lebanon's Fayrouz and Egypt's late Umm Kalthoum, Warda was one of the legendary singers of the Arab world, with a voice that has been described as both sweet and powerful. » Full Story
Business Matters: Critics of Universal-EMI Merger Still Lining Up, But Outcome Still in Doubt
May 17, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile
The proposed acquisition of EMI's recorded music division by Universal Music Group is expected to see a rocky road ahead, though not everybody is lining up against the merger. Elsewhere, Pandora continues to be lumped in with social media companies despite facing very different operating challenges. » Full Story
Adele, PJ Harvey, Lana Del Rey Win at 57th Ivor Novello Awards
May 17, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global
Adele took home two awards, Lana del Rey won Best Contemporary Song, PJ Harvey was handed the Album Award for "Let England Shake" and Ed Sheeran won Best Song Musically & Lyrically at the 57th Ivor Novello Awards, which are organized jointly by BASCA, the British songwriters and composers’ association, and collecting society PRS for Music. » Full Story
Breaking: Purple, Red, Yellow Wiggles Leaving Multi-Platinum Aussie Band
May 17, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | TV & Film | Branding | Rock & Pop
Three members of the children's music quartet The Wiggles will be hanging up their colorful outfits and leaving the Australian band this year, with the Blue Wiggle the lone original member left dancing. The band has sold more than 23 million DVDs and 7 million CDs worldwide, and its TV shows are broadcast in more than 100 countries, according to The Wiggles' website. » Full Story
Budweiser InBev Partners with Will.i.am on Playable Vinyl Magazine Ad
May 16, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Branding | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Budweiser has released a vinyl single that's quite a bit cooler than your average 7-inch. To promote its partnership in Brazil with Black Eyed Peas frontman Will.i.am, the Anheuser-Busch InBev brand pressed his new song "Great Times" into a vinyl magazine advertisement playable on any turntable. » Full Story
Facebook Boosts IPO Shares By 25 Percent
May 16, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Branding
Facebook says 25 percent more shares will be sold as investors clamor for shares in the year's hottest stock offering. The social networking behemoth said in a regulatory filing Wednesday that about 421 million shares will be sold, up from 337 million under its earlier plans. » Full Story
Black Sabbath's Bill Ward Pulls Out of Reunion Gigs Over Contract Terms
May 16, 2012 – Touring | Global | Legal & Management | Rock & Pop
Bill Ward will not be joining Black Sabbath for this year's performances, the band's original drummer confirmed in a letter to fans on his website. The lengthy, emotional note said that he had only been asked to participate "minimally" and on a trial basis. He said he didn't want to "risk not being able to play Download or Lollapalooza" festivals. » Full Story
spotify Business Matters: Facebook Says Spotify Has Hit 20 Million Users; Spotify Says It Ain't So
May 15, 2012 – Global | Digital & Mobile
Spotify has reached 20 million monthly active users, according to a count seen at Facebook. But Spotify is sticking with its latest publicly released numbers of 10 million active users and more than three million paid subscriptions. Speaking of Spotify, the company is going back to the future with a promotion aimed at university students in the United Kingdom. And Senzari reportedly has raised $1 million from “investors in both Miami and Silicon Valley » Full Story
Marianas Trench Leads Drake, Justin Bieber With Seven Noms in Canada's MuchMusic Video Awards
May 15, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile
Pop band Marianas Trench has emerged with seven nominations for the 2012 MuchMusic Video Awards, topping other nominees such as Drake, Justin Bieber, Nickelback and Simple Plan. The annual awards will be broadcast live June 17 at MuchMusic, housed inside the Bell Media building in downtown Toronto. » Full Story
Universal Music Group Q1 Revenue Up 9.1%, Credits Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Gotye, Van Halen Releases
May 15, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Universal Music Group revenues increased 9.1% to $1.28 billion in the first quarter of 2012. Earnings before interest, taxes and amortization (EBITA) grew 47% to $90.8 million. Parent company Vivendi attributed revenue growth in part to a strong release schedule that included albums by Madonna, Nicki Minaj, Van Halen, Gotye, Lana Del Rey and Germany’s Unheilig. » Full Story
MTV Tr3s Schedules New Shows, "Unplugged" and "Making the Video" Specials
May 15, 2012 – Global | TV & Film | Latin
MTV Tr3s executives have announced plans for new programs including a reality show by singer/actress Dulce Maria, "Unplugged" shows and "Making the Video" specials, according to network officials. » Full Story
Sony Corp Logo Sony Closes Indiana Distribution Center, Lays Off 226
May 15, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Retail
Sony plans to cut 226 jobs from its Fishers, Ind. distribution center. » Full Story
Will.I.Am, Giorgio Moroder, Danny Tenaglia Added as International Music Summit Speakers
May 15, 2012 – Touring | Global | Dance
Will.I.Am is the latest big name to be added to the International Music Summit's impressive and growing list of keynote speakers, while Giorgio Moroder will also be on hand and Danny Tenaglia will be video confererencing in from Manhattan to speak about his career. » Full Story
Lady Gaga Denied Permit For Indonesia Stadium Concert Following Protests
May 15, 2012 – Touring | Global | Legal & Management | Rock & Pop
Lady Gaga will have to cancel her sold-out stadium show in Indonesia following protests by Islamic hard-liners and conservative lawmakers, who said her sexy clothes and dance moves will corrupt the youth. A national police spokesman said Tuesday that the permit for her June 3 "Born This Way Ball" concert has been denied. » Full Story
Sony Sued as Songwriter Alleges Alabama Stole His Song, Label Didn't Collect Royalties
May 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management
Australian singer-songwriter Allan Caswell is alleging in a lawsuit that the band Alabama stole its 1982 chart-topping hit, "Christmas in Dixie," from the song he penned as the theme for the 1980s Australian television soap, "The Prisoner," yet as both artists are signed to Sony, the company would be "suing itself." » Full Story
Music Attorney Paul Marshall, Who Repped EMI, PolyGram, Atlantic & More, Dies
May 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management
Paul Marshall, the legendary music attorney who brokered some of the most significant transactions the music industry has ever seen over his fifty-plus years in the entertainment law business, died May 10 in Aventura, Florida. He was 83. » Full Story
Keane, Rita Ora Top U.K. Music Charts
May 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
East Sussex melodic rock quartet Keane scored their fifth consecutive No. 1 on the U.K. album chart yesterday with “Strangeland” (Universal Isand). London starlet Rita Ora debuted atop the singles survey with “R.I.P.” (Roc Nation/Columbia/Sony Music Entertainment), which follows her chart-topping guest appearance on DJ Fresh’s  “Hot Right Now” in February. » Full Story
German Pirate Party Wins Fourth State Election
May 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management
The Pirate Party, once portrayed as a radical fringe group of Internet hackers and copyright thieves, on Sunday proved beyond doubt there are a political force to be reckoned with, claiming their fourth-straight victory in German state elections. » Full Story
Samsung Acquires mSpot, Cloud-Based Service Provider
May 11, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail
Samsung Electronics has announced it is acquiring mSpot, Inc., a mobile cloud-based content service provider. The acquisition will allow users of Samsung devices to access digital content, including music, video and radio. » Full Story
Billboard's 40 Under 40: Cast Your Nominations Here!
May 11, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Indies | TV & Film | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Branding | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Who do you think are the rising young executives under forty years old who are driving the music business forward? Billboard's new Power Players special feature "40 Under 40" will identify these individuals -- and we invite our readers to offer their nominations online here. Make your voice heard here. » Full Story
Deezer Signs Worldwide Licensing Deal With Merlin
May 11, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Indies | Digital & Mobile
Streaming service Deezer has signed a global licensing deal with independent rights agency Merlin which will bring labels, including Warp, Yep Roc, Epitaph, Tommy Boy, !K7, Merge, Koch to the digital platform. Meanwhile, in an interview with .Biz, Merlin CEO Charles Caldas stated his vigorous opposition to the EMI-Universal merger. » Full Story
Australia Cuts Funding For Radio Broadcasters
May 11, 2012 – Radio | Global | Legal & Management | Indies
The Australian Government has failed to renew funding for AMRAP, which helps broadcasters promote Australian music on-air and online and which critics say will damage community radio and create a tougher route for independent artists to find an audience. » Full Story
Global Retail, Labels Plan For Record Store Day 2013 at NARM
May 10, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Indies | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop
While this year's Record Store Day was a resounding success, retailers and labels met in a townhall meeting to figure out how they can make next year's event even bigger. Labels and retailers from around the globe gathered at NARM to discuss everything from lack of product available to issuing exclusive items from big-name artists. » Full Story
Danish Music Industry Hosts SPOT Festival, Looks to Invade Germany
May 10, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Retail
The Viking invasions of over 1,000 years ago changed the map of Europe. Now, a different sort of invasion has been launched from Denmark. This year’s annual SPOT festival had neighboring Germany in its sights, with seminars, networking sessions, breakfasts and live shows specifically aimed at the 140 German delegates attending the event. » Full Story
Live Nation Logo Live Nation's Q1 Report: Ticket Sales, Net Loss Up
May 10, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Branding
Through April 30, 2012, Live Nation concert ticket sales are up 23% over the same period in the prior year, with North America up 25% and International up 19%, according to financial reports disclosed Wednesday.  Live Nation’s growing stake in the robust North American concert business helped boost ticket sales by more than 30% for the period. » Full Story
Sony Reports $463 Million Music Profit While Parent Corp. Posts Record $5.7 Billion Loss
May 10, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Retail
Sony Corp. racked up a record annual loss of $5.7 billion in its fourth straight year of red ink while Sony posted an operating profit in music of $463 million for the year on sales of $5.5 billion. The label's best-sellers included Adele's "21" and Beyonce's "4." » Full Story
Jamaica's Reggae Film Festival Tells Island's Rich Music Story
May 10, 2012 – Touring | Global | Legal & Management | TV & Film | Branding
While it’s unlikely any of the movies presented at the 5th Annual Reggae Film Festival will attract the widespread interest generated by director Kevin McDonald’s “Marley” doc, films such as "Studio Drummie One," "Showtime!" and "Sing Your Song" are just as significant in chronicling the multifaceted narrative that is Jamaica's popular music history. » Full Story
streaming music Germany and the UK Launch Music Streaming Charts
May 10, 2012 – Global | Indies | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Much like Billboard did this past March when it launched its On-Demand Songs chart with Nielsen and DigitalMusic.org, the UK and Germany have followed suit, announcing the launch of national digital music streaming tallies. » Full Story
Gotye's 'Somebody' Makes History -- First Song to Top Hot 100, Alternative and Dance Club Songs
May 9, 2012 – Radio | Record Labels | Global | Retail | Rock & Pop | Chart Alert
Gotye makes history in a few different categories, as "Somebody That I Used to Know" is the first song to top the Hot 100, Alternative and Dance Club Songs charts, and becomes the longest-reigning No. 1 song by a soloist on Alternative at ten weeks. » Full Story
SiriusXM Launches Latin Grammy Show
May 9, 2012 – Radio | Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Latin
National Latino Broadcasting (NLB) is launching a daily radio show on SiriusXM produced jointly with the Latin Recording Academy and centering on the Latin Grammy Awards and its nominated and winning artists. » Full Story
Kim Dotcom Doc Co-Produced by Donovan Leitch, Biography By Neil Strauss In the Works
May 9, 2012 – Global | Legal & Management | TV & Film | Digital & Mobile | Branding | Rock & Pop
Kim Dotcom, the indicted founder of shuttered file-sharing service Megaupload, will reportedly be the subject of a documentary and biography according to co-producers Donovan Leitch and Alex Mardikain. The duo also say former New York Times music writer Neil Strauss has a book on Dotcom in the works.  » Full Story
Pete Tong on Ibiza's International Music Summit & Keeping The EDM House In Order
May 9, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Global | Retail | Dance
Long-standing BBC Radio 1 DJ, Pete Tong has been at the forefront of electronic dance music (EDM) for over twenty years. Speaking exclusively to Billboard.biz, Tong discussed how IMS has grown, why the explosion of dance music in North America is set to last and how EDM patrons "can't be doing illegal s--t" if they want to attract big money sponsors and investment. » Full Story
One Direction Gets Global Toy Deal With Hasbro; Lee 'Scratch' Perry Has His Own Figurine
May 8, 2012 – Global | Retail | Branding
Artists of all ages and genres are getting into the toy business, as near-polar opposites such as boy band One Direction and influential reggae and dub artist Lee "Scratch" Perry are both getting dolls. » Full Story
Queen Manager Jim Beach on EMI-Universal Deal: EMI Shouldn't Be Owned by a Private Equity Firm
May 8, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Rock & Pop
Jim Beach, manager of U.K. rock band Queen, has spoken out in support of the proposed Universal-EMI merger in a letter published in the British newspaper The Times on May 5. » Full Story
Universal U.K Partners With Liam Gallagher's Pretty Green Clothing Label To Open Virtual 'Shop-Front' Record Stores
May 8, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Branding
Launching May 24, Universal Music U.K. is to partner with British fashion company Pretty Green – the clothing label and retail chain set up by former Oasis, now Beady Eye singer Liam Gallagher – to host a U.K.-wide chain of virtual shop-front record stores, whereby customers can use their smart phones to scan and purchase a range of vinyl albums displayed in shop windows. » Full Story
Bebo Valdes Proposed for Spain's Prince of Asturias Prize
May 8, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Jazz | Latin
Spanish pop singer Miguel Bosé and Academy Award-winning director Fernando Trueba are among supporters of a proposal to honor Grammy winning Cuban pianist Bebo Valdés with Spain’s prestigious Prince of Asturias Award. Past winners include Bob Dylan and Paco de Lucia. The campaign was started by Barcelona's gladyspalmera.com. » Full Story
Kimbra Is First '90s-Born Woman to Top the Billboard Hot 100
May 7, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Rock & Pop | Chart Alert
The 22-year-old is just third soloist born in the ‘90s to reign overall, following Sean Kingston and Soulja Boy in 2007, as "Somebody That I Used To Know" maintains its No. 1 position for a third week. » Full Story
Sainsbury's, UK's Third-Largest Supermarket, Launches Music Download Store
May 7, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Branding
Sainsbury’s, the U.K.’s third-largest supermarket, has launched a music download store. Sainsbury's Entertainment website offers a catalog of over 2.3 million tracks with song prices starting at £0.89 ($1.44) and the majority of chart albums costing £6.99 ($11.29). » Full Story
Marina & The Diamonds Debut At No. 1 On UK Album Charts
May 7, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Marina and the Diamonds debuted at No. 1 on the U.K. album chart yesterday with sophomore album “Electra Heart” (679/Atlantic/Warner Music). Tulisa, known as a member of pop/R&B band N-Dubz and as a judge on “The X Factor,” went straight to the top of the singles survey with “Young” (All Around The World/Universal Island). » Full Story
German Pirate Party Scores Third Election Win
May 7, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | TV & Film | Digital & Mobile
Germany's Pirate Party, which calls for copyright law to be radically reformed or abolished, has won a third victory in state elections. The Pirates took 6 seats with 8.2 per cent of the popular vote in state elections in the small Northern state of Schleswig-Holstein on Sunday. » Full Story
 
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