business
Neil Dominique Is Ready to Go From All-Star Manager to Top Label Owner
Interscope’s svp of A&R and creative director, Randall “Sickamore” Medford, seconds Wyskoarko’s thoughts and lauds Dominique for his commitment to improving daily: “It’s been amazing to watch Neil’s rapid ascension from Chairman’s assistant to entrepreneur and #JUSTAREGULARLABEL CEO. There’s absolutely nothing regular about his passion and ears. He’s starting off hot with Ryan Trey and Nia Sultana, But it’s only the beginning of a long relationship.” Dominique is looking to add more talent after St. Louis polymath Ryan Trey dazzled with his EP, A 64 East Saga, and Brooklyn singer Nia Sultana captivated listeners with her dulcet vocals, but outside the hip-hop and R&B spheres. “Don’t ...
Wannabe Everywhere: Spice Girls Partner with Universal’s Bravado for Merch and Licensing
UMG did not disclose financial terms for the deal. It marks the first time in two decades that the Spice Girls’ licensing rights across all channels have been assigned to a single partner. Bravado owner Universal Music Group holds the global rights to the Spice Girls’ recorded music catalog, which spans three studio albums — 1996’s Spice, 1997’s Spiceworld and 2000’s Forever – and 11 singles, although it doesn’t control their publishing rights. (Matt Rowe and Richard Stannard, who co-wrote many of the band’s biggest hits, including breakthrough hit “Wannabe,” are published by Universal Music Publishing Group, however). Later this month, Universal will release an expanded 25th anniversary edition of the Spice Girls’ debut album, Spice25, featuring previously unreleased songs, demos and mixe...
No. 1 Albums With Artists’ Birth Names in the Titles, From Jay-Z to YoungBoy Never Broke Again
Jay-Z’s Vol. 3…Life and Times of S. Carter: The album hit No. 1 on Jan. 15, 2000, for one week. It received a Grammy nomination for best rap album. Jay-Z’s real name: Shawn Corey Carter. Eminem’s The Marshall Mathers LP: The album hit No. 1 on June 10, 2000, and stayed on top for eight consecutive weeks. The Marshall Mathers LP 2 hit No. 1 on Nov. 23, 2013, and stayed on top for two nonconsecutive weeks. Both albums won Grammys for best rap album. The first also received an album of the year nomination. Eminem’s real name: Marshall Bruce Mathers III. LL Cool J’s G.O.A.T. Featuring James T. Smith the Greatest of All Time: The album hit No. 1 on Sept. 30, 2000, for one week. LL’s real name: James Todd Smith. Lil Wayne’s Tha Carter III: The album hit No. 1 on June 28, 2007, and stayed o...
Expect a Crowded Stage Following Grammy Rule Change for Album of the Year
You may be surprised to learn that, in the Grammys’ first seven years (1958-64), only artists were nominated for album of the year. So Judy Garland was the sole winner when Judy at Carnegie Hall won the 1961 award, and Barbra Streisand was the only winner when her debut, The Barbra Streisand Album, won the 1963 prize. The Academy gradually extended nominations to other pros who worked on album of the year contenders: producers in 1965, engineers/mixers in 1998, mastering engineers in 2001, featured artists in 2007, and songwriters in 2017. But in 2017, they also instituted the 33% rule, saying that nominations would be extended only to people who worked on at least one-third of the album’s playing time. Now, they’re back to saying anyone who worked on an album in these capacities, even if ...
The Script Searching for Sixth U.K. No. 1 Album
Coming in at No. 2 on the Official Chart Update is The Specials’ Protest Songs 1924-2012 (Island), for what should give the legendary Coventry ska outfit a fifth U.K. Top 10 album. The Specials’ last appearance on the chart was a No. 1 for their 2019 comeback LP, Encore. Queen drummer Roger Taylor beats a path to No. 3 with Outsider (EMI), which is set to become his first solo Top 10 title. Meanwhile, the original soundtrack for latest instalment in the James Bond franchise, No Time To Die (Decca), recorded by German composer Hans Zimmer, is at No. 4, while Taylor Swift’s former leader Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (via EMI) rebounds to No. 5 following its release on vinyl. Also aiming for a Top 10 berth is Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett’s collaborative album Love For Sale (Interscope...
Michelle Tigard Kammerer Named Amazon Music’s Head of Country Music
Kammerer launched her career at Creative Artists Agency, before joining Country Radio Broadcasters as senior director of brand marketing and strategic partnerships. In 2014, she helped re-launch Dot Records under Big Machine Label Group and was named national director of marketing and promotion. In 2017, Kammerer transitioned to the label group’s BMLG Records as senior national director of marketing and promotion, where she worked with artists including Florida Georgia Line, Brett Young and Lady A. She has also served on the board of directors for the Women’s Music Business Association, Society of Leaders in Development, Women Rock for the Cure and on the Country Radio Seminar Agenda Committee. Amazon Music recently shared that its Country Heat brand, which includes the Country...
The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber Extend Their ‘Stay’ Atop Australia’s Singles Chart
Fields holds off a pair of former leaders in Drake’s Certified Lover Boy (up 3-2 via Universal) and Olivia Rodrigo’s hit debut Sour (up 4-3 via Interscope/Universal), respectively. Melbourne country quartet Darlinghurst crack the Top 10 with their self-titled first album (via MGM), new at No. 9. Formed in 2019, the group was nominated for New Talent Of The Year at the 2021 Golden Guitars. Natalie Imbruglia makes her first chart appearance in more than six years, as Firebird flies in at No. 30. Firebird is the “Torn” singer’s first album of original material since 2009’s Come to Life, and her first release through a new deal with BMG. With their 12th week reigning over the ARIA Singles Chart, The Kid Laroi and Justin Bieber join some elite company. Only five singles have spent m...
Coldplay and BTS’ ‘My Universe’ Shines Bright on U.K. Chart
It’s the biggest seller across both digital downloads and CD in the current frame, clocking up 27,000 pure sales over the seven-day cycle. According to the OCC, digital downloads account for 21,400 of the sum, marking the biggest single week of downloads for a song in 2021. “My Universe” draws level with the chart peaks for BTS’ “Dynamite” and “Butter,” for the K-pop superstars’ fourth U.K. Top 10. It’s Coldplay’s 19th appearance in the Top 10. Lifting into fourth spot is Nigerian singer and songwriter CKay, with his viral hit “Love Nwantiti (Ah Ah Ah)” (Parlophone). It’s up five places for his first stint in the U.K. Top 5. Wigan guitar band The Lathums enjoy the best possible start with their debut album How Beautiful Life Can Be (Island), which starts at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Album...
Ed Sheeran’s ‘Shivers’ Set for Fourth Week at No. 1 In U.K.
“Cold Heart” is remixed by the Sydney electronic act Pnau, who teamed up with Elton on the U.K. chart topping album from 2012, Good Morning to the Night. According to the OCC, “Cold Heart” is Elton’s highest-charting single as a lead artist since his re-release of “Are You Ready For Love” hit No. 1 in 2003, following its appearance in a Sky Sports football campaign. “Cold Heart” is lifted from Elton’s forthcoming album The Lockdown Sessions, which includes collaborations with Nicki Minaj, Lil Nas X, Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks. Further down the list, Oxford band Glass Animals could see a new peak with “Heat Waves,” which lifts to No. 5 on the chart blast.“Heat Waves” was deemed the most popular song in 2020 by listeners of Australia’s triple j, who voted the song to No. 1 in t...
Electronic Livestream Mainstay Boiler Room Acquired by Ticketing Platform Dice
The company plans to work with Boiler Room on enhancing its programming and creating additional revenue for artists, rights holders, collectives, festivals and clubs. U.K.-based ticketing platform Dice has acquired the long-running electronic livestream series Boiler Room. According to a statement from Dice, the company plans to work with Boiler Room on enhancing its programming and creating additional revenue for artists, rights holders, collectives, festivals and clubs. The news comes just a week after Dice announced that it would use its newly-acquired $122 million in Series C funding to grow its team, reach new artists and venues and expand its livestream offerings. Founded in 2014, Dice is a discovery and events app that works with over 3,600 venues, festivals and promoters ...
‘Squid Game’ Drives Netflix Stock to All-Time High
Netflix’s popular survival K-drama Squid Game has catapulted the streaming platform’s stock to new highs, Forbes reported. The stock closed at $610.34 USD as of yesterday. Executives at the streaming service predicted that the Korean-language series will be Netflix’s most popular show ever, already ranking at #1 in several countries, including the United States, since it made its debut on September 17. Earlier this year, Netflix launched a plan to channel $700 million USD into building its Korean content and it appears that the investment is already paying off. Following Squid Game’s release, Netflix’s user growth “is most evident in the Asia-Pacific region,” according to Bloomberg, although “downloads jumped globally” as well. The platform has been angling to expand its subscriber base in...
Billy Strings Is Top Winner at 2021 IBMA Bluegrass Music Awards
Appalachian Road Show, Dale Ann Bradley and Sierra Hull were also two-time winners. Appalachian Road Show took instrumental group of the year and new artist of the year. Bradley took female vocalist of the year for the sixth time and tied for gospel recording of the year. Sierra Hull took mandolin player of the year and was among the featured artists on the winner for collaborative recording of the year: Bobby Osborne‘s “White Line Fever.” Other repeat winners in marquee categories included Sister Sadie, which won vocal group of the year for the third consecutive year; and Danny Paisley and Del McCoury, who tied for male vocalist of the year. This was Paisley’s second straight win in that category (and his third overall). It was McCoury’s fifth win in the category, ...
