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Concertgoers Seek Ticketmaster Terms of Use Click Rates in Antitrust Class Action
Concertgoers suing Ticketmaster and Live Nation over live event ticket fees believe no one actually reads the terms of service that bind them to arbitration and are asking a California federal judge for discovery that could help them prove the websites’ formats are to blame. Olivia Van Iderstine and Mitch Oberstein in April sued Ticketmaster and its parent Live Nation claiming the companies have a monopoly on live events and therefore can charge “extraordinarily high fees” for tickets. The companies responded in June with a motion to compel arbitration. They argue that in order to buy tickets through their sites users have to affirmatively agree to their terms of service at least three times — and those terms include a mandatory arbitration provision and a waiver of class...
Elton John’s Ex-Wife Renate Blauel Seeks High Court Injunction
Elton John’s ex-wife Renate Blauel has launched legal action against the “Rocketman” in London’s High Court. The German-born sound engineer filed paperwork last week to seek an injunction against the legendary British singer, according to various reports. The reasons behind the legal action remain unclear, though such cases are typically grounded in privacy matters or to prevent the publication of personal materials. Blauel’s lawyer confirmed to The Guardian that his client hoped the matter would be resolved “amicably,” but declined to elaborate on the case. John and Blauel became close during the recording sessions for his 1983 album Too Low for Zero album and the pair tied the knot the following year at a ceremony on Valentine’s Day in Sydney, footage of which aired live on Austral...
The Deals: Little Simz Renews AWAL Recordings Contract, Licensing Service Lickd Strikes UMG Partnership
Mercury Prize-nominated rapper and songwriter Little Simz (a.k.a. Simbi Ajikawo) has renewed her partnership with AWAL Recordings, which provides a full range of services including global marketing and promotion, digital and physical distribution, campaign coordination, A&R support, synch licensing and brand partnerships. Little Simz garnered acclaim with her most recent album, GREY Area, which was released on her own label, Age 101, via AWAL. In addition to the Mercury Prize, she has been nominated for AIM and BET Awards; additionally, she won the Q Award for best vocal performance and the NME Award for best British album. She has toured with Gorillaz, Lauryn Hill and Anderson .Paak and also starred in the Channel 4 crime drama Top Boy, which currently airs on Netflix. Little Sim...
U.K. Competition Regulator Launches ‘In-depth’ Investigation Into Viagogo StubHub Merger
Viagogo’s $4 billion acquisition of StubHub faces further scrutiny after the U.K.’s competition watchdog opened an “in-depth investigation” into the merger. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Thursday (June 25) that Viagogo has failed to address its concerns that the merger could result in a substantial lessening of competition, leading to music fans paying more for tickets. As a result, the regulator has launched a ‘Phase 2’ inquiry into the deal before deciding what, if any action, should be taken. Phase 2 investigations by the CMA are conducted by an independent panel and can last up to 24 weeks (extended by up to eight weeks in special circumstances). If the CMA rules that the merger of Viagogo and StubHub does substantially restrict competition in the U.K.’...
Trax Records Hit With Federal Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Over Royalties
Chicago-based Trax Records has been sued over its alleged failure to pay royalties. Artists Larry Heard and Richard Owens filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit June 23 against Trax Records. Two days later, TaP Music Publishing announced that they are co-funding the legal action. Heard, professionally known as “Mr Fingers” and Owens said in court papers filed in the Northern District of Illinois that their lawsuit highlights the exploitation of the artists and their works, including unpaid royalties for various musical compositions and sound recordings that they created in the 1980s. Heard and Owens are also suing the Trax Records president Rachael Cain, known professionally as “Screamin’ Rachael.” They accuse Trax of “building its catalogue by taking advantage of unsophisticated b...
How We Work Now: Academy of Country Music CEO Damon Whiteside
In a series amid the coronavirus pandemic, Billboard is asking individuals from all sectors of the music business to share stories of how they work now, with much of the world quarantined at home and unable to take in-person meetings, attend conferences or even go into the office. Read the full series here. This installment is with Damon Whiteside, the new CEO of the Academy of Country Music. Damon Whiteside: I started the job Jan. 6 and I was still getting to know everybody. I’m based in Nashville and was at [the ACM’s Los Angeles] office two weeks a month for those first couple of months. And then, suddenly, we’re isolated and quarantined after we decide to close the office in L.A. the week of March 16. That was literally the week that I was planning to go back to L.A., so that’s b...
Here Are All the Livestreams & Virtual Concerts to Watch During the Coronavirus Crisis: Week of June 22
We’re nearing the end of June, which means the summer concert schedule is heating up, even if it doesn’t look quite like we planned. Most live events and large gatherings remain in hold throughout the country due to the coronavirus crisis, leading artists to continue the trend of livestreaming shows to connect with fans. With music venues still shut down from coast to coast, here’s your guide to the best live-streamed music content right now, for the week of June 22. As additional events are announced for the week, we’ll add them to this list. Check out the list of shows and musical events to stream from the comfort of your home this week below. June 23: Teddy Swims will kick off Cover Nation’s new livestream performance series Takeover Tuesday a...
Kennedy Center Honors, Mark Twain Prize Events Postponed
Add the Kennedy Center Honors and the Mark Twain Prize to the long list of prestigious awards and honors that are being postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 43rd annual Kennedy Center Honors have been moved to March 7, 2021 (the event is usually held in early December). The 23rd annual Mark Twain Prize has been moved to June 20, 2021 (it’s usually held in October). Many award shows have been delayed due to the pandemic. The Oscars were postponed from Feb. 28 to April 25, 2021. In the wake of that move, the Golden Globes moved from their usual early January date to the Oscars’ vacated date, Feb. 28. A Recording Academy spokesperson said this week that, despite the Oscars’ move, the Grammys’ plan for now is to keep their Jan. 31, 2021 date. Other signature events at the Kennedy Center...
Bob Dylan’s ‘Rough and Rowdy Ways’ Races to Lead on Midweek U.K. Chart
Bob Dylan should complete his comeback with a U.K. No. 1. The master songwriter’s new album Rough and Rowdy Ways (Columbia) leads the midweek U.K. chart by a handy margin. According to the Official Charts Company, Dylan’s 39th studio album is outselling the rest of the top 5 combined by a margin of three-to-one, and is the best-seller across CDs and downloads. Should Rough and Rowdy Ways hold its spot when the Official U.K. Albums Chart is published this Friday (June 26), it’ll give Dylan his ninth U.K. No. 1, and his first since 2015’s Shadows In The Night. Also, Rough and Rowdy Ways will become his landmark 40th top 10 in a chart career spanning 56 years, the OCC reports. The best-seller on vinyl belongs to another Hall of Famer, Neil Young, whose “holy grail” ’70s...
Ed Sheeran Named Most-Played Artist In The U.K. In 2019
Ed Sheeran had a laid-back year in 2019, by his standards. But his music continued to pump solidly across the U.K. The English singer and songwriter was the most played artist of 2019, according to new data published this week by Phonographic Performance Ltd. (PPL), with fellow Brits Calvin Harris and Sam Smith close behind. It’s the fourth time in five years Sheeran has taken the top honor. PPL’s Most Played Charts are based on music usage and airplay data supplied by the organization’s licensees, including music both on radio and TV and at all live locations including clubs, shops, pubs and other premises. Homegrown artists dominate the top 10, snagging eight spots. Just two internationals crack the top tier, with Pink at No. 5 and Maroon 5 at No. 10. It’s a similar story on PPL’s ...
New COVID-19 Rules Mean That the Party Is Over for Ibiza Super-Clubs This Season
Sweeping new rules designed to curb “alcohol abuse” on the island also outlaw party boats, pub crawls and balcony jumping. The verdict is in, and the party is over for Ibiza super-clubs this summer. On Sunday (June 21), the Balearic government announced new rules pertaining to nightclubs and outdoor venues for the dance mecca of Ibiza in the context of COVID-19. These regulations ensure that the island’s biggest clubs and other mid-sized venues will stay closed for the 2020 season. For indoor spaces, the rules state that only venues with a stated capacity of 300 or less are allowed to open for the season and will only be allowed to open at one-third capacity. This means there can only be up to 100 people at a time inside a club, that they must be seated and that there can...
DaBaby’s ‘Rockstar’ Blasts to Early Lead In U.K. Chart Race
DaBaby’s “Rockstar” featuring Roddy Ricch is on track for a sixth week atop the U.K. singles chart, while Jawsh 685 and Jason Derulo’s “Savage Love (Laxed – Siren Beat)” (RCA) could be the week’s big chart surprise. Based on weekend sales and streams activity, “Rockstar” (Interscope) has a lead of 1,000 chart sales as it rules the Official Chart: First Look, ahead of Lady Gaga and Ariana Grande’s “Rain on Me” (Interscope) and Topic’s “Breaking Me” featuring A7S, respectively. Teenage Polynesian artist Jawsh 685 (real name Joshua Nanai) is converting TikTok buzz into a chart burst as “Savage Love” flies 22-4. The fastest debut on the sales blast belongs to M Huncho and Dutchavelli, whose “Burning” opens at No. 15. If the track holds its p...
