“Ten years ago, BTS wouldn’t have made it in the U.S.,” says Shin Cho. “Western audiences just weren’t ready. Now, people get it.” Cho is the new head of K-pop for Warner Music Asia, where he leads strategy for the genre’s global growth. For Cho, who joined Warner Asia nine …
Read More »While Waiting for Live Music to Return, One Artist Is Taking Ticket Reservations
As Covid-19 has befogged any realistic timetable for the return of live music, English singer-songwriter Jacob Collier is trying something new while he prepares for his yet to-be-dated 91-show tour. Rather than announce new dates and ticket sales and hope touring can resume in a given time slot, Collier will …
Read More »The Music Industry Has an Advertising Problem
The biggest news in the music industry last week was a bit of a damp squib. Universal Music Group and Spotify jointly announced Wednesday (July 22nd) that they’d re-upped their global licensing deal — but aside from a vague commitment from Universal to utilize Spotify’s “two-sided marketplace” tools (something we’ll …
Read More »Spotify Debuts a 'Premium Duo' Subscription Tier Aimed at Couples
Spotify is launching a new subscription plan, Spotify Premium Duo, that allows two people living at the same home address to each have their own premium account for a flat fee. Premium Duo subscriptions are available starting Wednesday, July 1st, for $12.99 a month, in 55 markets around the world …
Read More »Prince's Catalog is Now Available to Use on TikTok
In a move that further reflects TikTok‘s growing presence in music marketing and song discovery, the popular video app has landed a deal with the Prince estate to get all of the late artist’s catalog onto TikTok. Prince’s music is the latest and one of the most high-profile legacy holdouts …
Read More »TikTok Is Helping Launch a Songwriter Academy for Diverse Students
In the wake of conversations around race and equality in the music industry, TikTok and nonprofit youth program After-School All-Stars are partnering with music publisher Sony/ATV and Syracuse University’s Bandier Program in Recording and Entertainment Industries to create a “songwriter academy” this summer for underrepresented communities. The students selected for …
Read More »UMG Establishes $25 Million 'Change Fund,' Task Force for Meaningful Change
Universal Music Group has announced the formation of a Task Force for Meaningful Change (TFMC) and a dedicated $25 million “Change Fund.” In a letter to colleagues obtained by Rolling Stone, TFMC co-chairs Jeff Harleston, Executive VP, General Counsel, UMG and Interim Chairman and CEO Def Jam; and Ethiopia Habtemariam, …
Read More »Could Hip-Hop's Next Global Superstar Emerge From India?
Raja Kumari was not born in New Delhi or Mumbai or Kolkata — rather, 8,000 miles away, in Claremont, California. But Kumari and her record label have a huge ambition this year: to smash down doors for Indian rappers all over the world. Kumari, whose parents emigrated from India to …
Read More »Lizzo, Shawn Mendes, and More Pledge to 'Press Pause' on Music Gatherings
Ricky Reed, a producer behind four songs on Lizzo’s Grammy-winning Cuz I Love You album — six, if you’re looking at the deluxe version, which includes megahit “Truth Hurts” — is imploring musicians, songwriters, producers, artists, and executives to press pause on songwriting sessions, meetings and shows. And “no going …
Read More »Surprising No One, TikTok Is Driving a Lot of New-Artist Growth
In 2008, Jay Sean released “Ride It,” a dance-floor come-on that became a hit everywhere — except for the U.S. Now, it’s enjoying a second life. A house-music remix by Regard became popular on the video app TikTok, which allows users to set short clips to music. After the “Ride …
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