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Believe in Music: What to Expect From NAMM’s First-Ever Virtual Gathering
Highlights of the five-day event, which is free to attend, include opening sessions with Garth Brooks and Melissa Etheridge at 9 a.m. PT on Jan. 21 and Jan. 22, respectively; conversations with artists including Jackson Browne, Perry Farrell, Deadmau5, Nathan East, LZZY Hale , Anthrax‘s Scott Ian and Charley Pride (in one of his last interviews); a products preview on Jan. 20 at 4 p.m. PT featuring merchandise from C.F. Martin & Co., Roland, Yamaha, Avid, Gibson, Shure and more; and the Grand Rally for Music Education, an annual event that brings together music education advocates “for a celebration of the benefits and pleasures of making music.” The NAMM Show’s long-running annual events and awards ceremonies will also be incorporated. These include the 36th TEC Awards, whi...
ASCAP & BMI Responds to DOJ’s Consent Decrees Inaction: Read the Open Letter
Read the full letter below. January 15, 2021 An Open Letter from ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews and BMI President and CEO Mike O’Neill in Response to the DOJ Closing Statement on the ASCAP and BMI Consent Decrees Two years ago, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it would conduct a review of the ASCAP and BMI consent decrees to determine if they still served their intended purpose. Today, the DOJ has formally closed its review and will take no action to modify or terminate the decrees but left open the possibility of changes in the future. While we were disappointed that no action was taken, we are encouraged to see how the DOJ’s approach to these issues has evolved. In his closing remarks, AAG Makan Delrahim recognized several important truths that we have long understood: S...
Spotify Stock Downgraded by Citi, as Podcast Competition Heats Up
Spotify’s share price was already in retreat, dropping 12.5% from an all-time high of $370.95 reached on Wednesday (Jan. 13), however. Some experts would argue it’s still too high. The 25 analysts covering Spotify have a median price target of $298.53 with a high of $425.90 and a low of $141.30, according to Refinitiv. Key Takeaways: 1) The three leading audio streaming companies — Spotify, Apple and Amazon — are pushing hard into podcasts. If turning a music service into an all-around audio service attracts subscribers and reduces churn, record labels and publishers will benefit.2) Regardless of how its podcasts perform in the next year or two, Spotify has the resources to see its strategy through. It had €1.18 billion ($1.43 billion) on its balance sheet on Sept. 30, 2020, en...
Apple Music’s Africa Strategy Is Starting to Pay Off
“Africa has birthed a lot of special talents that have been creating amazing music for a long time and we’re happy to finally have the platforms and the means to share our music across the continent and to the rest of the world,” Tems tells Billboard. “[The Africa Rising program] allowed my music to reach new listeners and [has] also given my supporters and myself something to be excited about in these tough times.” ALL EYES ON AFRICA Over the past several years, labels, distributors and industry trade groups have turned their focus towards the African music market, and Apple Music is not the only streaming service making inroads on the continent, or supporting its local artists. (Tems, for example, was also included as part of the latest class of YouTube’s Foundry program, whi...
Carleen Donovan Launches The Oriel Company With Chloë Walsh and Jen Appel
“Collectively, Chloë, Jen, and myself share so many great memories and an incredible 20 plus year history of collaborating together,” Donovan said. “We also share the same philosophy regarding our clients. By teaming up, we wanted to leverage the reach of a larger agency with the concentration of a boutique. The Oriel Company presents the opportunity to do just that and deliver the gold standard in commitment to our roster and projects.” Walsh and Appel will join The Oriel Company from Grandstand Media where they worked with Meghan Helsel, Kate Jackson, Dana Erickson and Lisa Gottheil, who they said provided “expert support,” telling Billboard, “We feel lucky to be a part of such a strong female-led community of entertainment executives and lo...
AEG’s Isabel Brougham and More Join Mint Talent Group
According to Mint, the 47-point plan covers everything from marketing asset recommendations, utilizing digital tools and socials to enhance exposure, exploring new opportunities with their list of marketing partners, to new and innovative ways that an agency can help bridge the gap between artists and buyers. “We are extremely excited about welcoming Isabel to the Mint team,” said Mint co-founder Patrick McAuliff in a release. “Her experience, knowledge and passion for the job will help push Mint forward as we continue to reimagine the talent agency and fully service our clients.” In addition to Brougham, Mint has also announced that Amanda Levine will be representing the Mint artist roster and sports properties in the extensive brand community as its...
Shakira Sells Full Song Catalog to Hipgnosis
“Being a songwriter is an accomplishment that I consider equal to and perhaps even greater than being a singer and an artist,” said Shakira in a statement. “At 8 years old — long before I sang — I wrote to make sense of the world. Each song is a reflection of the person I was at the time that I wrote it, but once a song is out in the world, it belongs not only to me but to those who appreciate it as well.” The amount paid for Shakira’s catalog was not disclosed, but the high-profile sale highlights the potential in international catalogs in general and Latin catalogs in particular. Although there have been few major sales of high-profile Latin catalogs, in November Hipgnosis announced that its acquisition of 42 catalogs from Kobalt included hits by Enrique Iglesias, among them ...
Jimi Hendrix’s Brother, Niece Found in Contempt of Court for Violating Trademarks
Tina Hendrix tells Billboard that her family is “devastated and disappointed about the judge’s decision and I strongly feel that it was incorrect and unjust for several reasons.” The contempt ruling against Leon and Tina Hendrix follows a lengthy court battle that began in 2017 when Experience Hendrix LLC — the sole owner of the late rocker’s musical compositions, sound recordings, copyrights and trademarks — and Authentic Hendrix LLC, the licensing arm for Hendrix, filed an infringement case. Experience and Authentic Hendrix sued Leon Hendrix and a business associate for trademark infringement, deceptive acts and false advertising, among other claims. In Oct. 2019, the court entered a permanent injunction against Leon Hendrix and his corporate entities, finding they...
Changes at Capitol Studios: Consolidation, Layoffs, New Role for Studio Manager Paula Salvatore
The historic Capitol Studios in Hollywood, home to recordings by Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, Bob Seger, Tony Bennett, Ray Charles and thousands of other artists, is undergoing some major changes. Among the moves is consolidating administration services across all of the North American studios. Parent company Universal Music Group operates three studios in Los Angeles, one in Nashville, one in New York and at least one each in Canada and Mexico. That switch led to a shift in roles for longtime vp/studio manager Paula Salvatore, who recently celebrated her 30th year with the studio. A source says Salvatore, who could not be immediately reached for comment, will continue working with the studio in a different capacity still to be announced. As word spread of Salvatore’s departur...
Beyond Save Our Stages: NIVA Director Details Next Steps for Venue Owners
“One of the components of Save Our Stages Act is that should this continue longer than any of us want it to continue — which it already has — but should there be a need for additional funds, it’s part of the language of this program,” said Rev. Moose on the panel, adding that the act takes into account that more funding could be necessary depending on the duration of the pandemic. Rev. Moose continued that while he is not a “political soothsayer,” he does believe the bipartisan appeal of the SOS Act could mean an easier and more efficient path to additional funding if venues are forced to keep their doors shuttered for longer than expected. “I don’t know what the future is going to bring, but I would hope that if there is a need for additional COVID funding, that the government...
Latin Alternative Music Conference Sets Dates for Virtual 2021 Event
The Latin Alternative Music Conference is set to return in virtual form this year with dates scheduled for the week of Cinco de Mayo (May 4-7). Like last year, when it was held online for the first ever due to the novel coronavirus, the 22nd annual LAMC will offer free registration for panels, workshops and showcases. The second edition of the Wonder Women of Latin Music recognitions honoring women making a difference in the Latin music industry is also set to take place this year. Launched in 2020 and presented by Amazon Music, past Wonder Women honorees include Rebeca León (Lionfish Entertainment), Jennifer D’Cunha (Apple Music), Yvonne Drazan (peermusic) and Billboard‘s own Leila Cobo, among others. You Deserve to Make Money Even When you are lo...
JBL & Culture Creators Partner on HBCU Mentor Program
JBL/HARMAN, in partnership with the Black-owned agency Culture Creators, is launching JBL Campus SoundSessions. The new mentorship program will focus on expanding opportunities for minority college students aspiring to build careers in music production, marketing, business, technology or engineering. The chosen students will also be given a chance to win a $25,000 scholarship toward their education. Starting Jan. 26 and running through Apr. 6, 2021, select HBCU (historically Black colleges and universities) students will be able to virtually attend six curated conversations featuring JBL executives, engineers and influential music industry speakers who will share their respective career journeys, challenges and other insights. Accepted students who participate in all of the 60- to 90-minut...
