1. Legendary Sound Engineer Ray Dolby Dies at 80

    September 12, 2013 9:34 PM EDT Ray Dolby, the inventor and engineer whose surname became synonymous with high-quality cinema sound, died Sept. 12 at home in San Francisco at 80. "Today we lost a friend, mentor and true visionary," Kevin Yeaman, President and CEO of ...

  2. Here's Why Warner Music's Deal with Clear Channel Could be Groundbreaking for the Future of the U.S. Music Biz (Analysis)

    September 12, 2013 7:32 PM EDT There's been a lot of confusion online about a groundbreaking new partnership between Clear Channel and Warner Music Group (WMG), but here's what you need to know: Clear Channel is paying artist performance royalties for terrestrial ...

  3. Twitter Files For IPO

    September 12, 2013 5:35 PM EDT In a Tweet (what else?), the Silicon Valley micro-blogging service said it had filed papers with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission outlining a proposal to sell shares in the company on the open market. Those looking for details of its ...

  4. New Pandora CEO Faces Royalty Fight with Artists

    September 12, 2013 2:33 PM EDT One of the biggest challenges facing Brian McAndrews, the new CEO of Pandora, will be renegotiating the royalty rates the Internet radio giant pays to the music industry. If Pandora doesn't prevail, the outcome could impede the company' ...

  5. Turntable.fm, at Critical Juncture, Shutters Piki and Plugs In Soundcloud

    September 12, 2013 2:08 PM EDT Turntable.fm, the social music service that enraptured hundreds of thousands of fans in 2011 when it came out, has switched off a feature that allowed its users to upload songs in a move to cut costs and "keep the service running." The ...

  6. Maker Studios Raises $26 Million to Fuel International Expansion

    September 12, 2013 1:38 PM EDT Maker Studios, a network of independent YouTube channels, closed $26 million in financing, bringing the total amount raised by the four-year-old start-up to more than $70 million. Investors in the most recent round include Canal+, Astro, SingTel ...

  7. Resolution’s Phil Casey on Chris Brown’s Upcoming World Tour, John Singleton Doc, Community Service, and More (Q&A)

    September 12, 2013 12:00 PM EDT Chris Brown is well on his way to becoming the new hardest-working man in show business. In the coming year, the Grammy-winning multiplatinum singer/songwriter will have his hands full with releasing a new studio album, embarking on a world ar ...

  8. Icona Pop Teams With Absolut For Music Video, Ad Campaign (Exclusive)

    September 12, 2013 8:00 AM EDT Icona Pop is about to host a “Paris Is Burning”-esque vogue-off in their latest video for “All Night,” which Billboard exclusively teases below. In the clip, which was filmed in New York and inspired by the city’s “house ballroom” culture, Icona ...

  9. Sony, Universal, Warner, ABKCO File Copyright Lawsuit Against SiriusXM

    September 11, 2013 8:28 PM EDT As expected, Sony Music Entertainment, UMG Recordings, Warner Music Group and ABKCO have filed suit against SiriusXM for allegedly continuing to ignore state copyright laws and refusing to pay artist performance royalties for pre-1972 music it ...

  10. Ylvis' Viral Hit 'The Fox' Debuts On Hot 100

    September 11, 2013 6:13 PM EDT Norwegian comedy duo Ylvis' viral sensation "The Fox," which has taken the Internet by storm in recent days, debuts at No. 29 on the Billboard Hot 100, fueled almost exclusively by its online traction. It's the highest-bowing ...

  11. David Correy's 'The World Is Ours' Is Coca-Cola's 2014 World Cup Anthem (Exclusive)

    September 11, 2013 5:35 PM EDT "The World is Ours," performed by singer David Correy and Brazilian percussion troupe Monobloco, is Coca-Cola's global 2014 FIFA World Cup anthem, Coca-Cola sources have revealed exclusively to Billboard. Listen to "The World ...

  12. Pandora Names Brian McAndrews New CEO, President and Chairman

    September 11, 2013 5:26 PM EDT Digital advertising veteran Brian McAndrews will replace Joe Kennedy as CEO, president and chairman of Pandora, the company announced Wednesday. Kennedy announced in March he would be stepping down.   McAndrews is "uniquely qualified to lea ...

  13. Jeff Toig Out at Muve Music (Exclusive)

    September 11, 2013 2:57 PM EDT Jeff Toig, the Senior Vice President in charge of Cricket Wireless's Muve Music subscription service, has left the company. The prepaid mobile carrier bundles the first-of-its kind music service with its all-you-can text, voice and data pla ...

  14. Katy Perry's 'Roar' Rules Hot 100 For Second Week, Lorde Reaches Top 3

    September 11, 2013 2:27 PM EDT Once again, Katy Perry's "Roar" makes the loudest noise on the Billboard Hot 100, as the song rules the survey for a second week, fueled in large part by the premiere of its video last week. Meanwhile, Lorde and Lana Del Rey & ...

  15. Vivendi Considering Splitting Media and Telecom Companies

    September 11, 2013 12:28 PM EDT French conglomerate Vivendi, which owns Universal Music Group, today announced that its supervisory board has unanimously voted to launch a study to split into two separate companies – an international media group and the SFR telecom group.  V ...

  16. BitTorrent Tests Self-Serve Bundle for Publishers

    September 11, 2013 10:59 AM EDT BitTorrent Inc., a San Francisco company founded by the creator of the BitTorrent file transfer protocol, on Wednesday released a test version of its Bundles product, a self-service platform that would allow content creators to release content i ...

  17. Village People's Victor Willis Wins Copyright Victory

    September 10, 2013 9:21 PM EDT Victor Willis, the Village People lyricist and performer of such songs as "Y.M.C.A." and "In the Navy," says he's reclaimed the rights to 33 songs he wrote. Under a copyright law from 1978, he told the New York Times he& ...

  18. Miley Cyrus' 'Wrecking Ball' Video Breaks Vevo Record

    September 10, 2013 6:42 PM EDT Miley Cyrus has swung her way to a new 24-hour record for views across Vevo, as her "Wrecking Ball" video racks up 19.3 million views, smashing previous champs One Direction and the 12.3 million views their "Best Song Ever" c ...

  19. Clear Channel Hires Greg Strassell as SVP of Programming Following CBS Radio Exit

    September 10, 2013 3:45 PM EDT Just one day after announcing his exit from CBS Radio following a 15-year stint, Greg Strassell has landed at Clear Channel. Clear Channel Media and Entertainment has appointed Strassell to senior VP of programming. He reports to CCM+E president ...

  20. Universal Music Launches uDiscover Spotify App

    September 10, 2013 3:00 PM EDT Universal Music has launched the uDiscover Spotify app, joining a slew of other record labels that have also developed their own Spotify apps, many of which enable listeners to navigate the label's catalog and discover new releases. Unlik ...

  21. Apple iTunes Radio Launching Sept. 18, Called 'Pure Dose of Awesomeness'

    September 10, 2013 2:30 PM EDT Apple Inc. on Tuesday announced it will flip the switch for its Internet radio feature on Sept. 18, when the company releases its next operating system, iOS 7.  The radio streaming function, which will catapult Apple into the ad-supported str ...

  22. Apple Debuts Upgraded iPhone 5S, Lower Cost 5C

    September 10, 2013 2:24 PM EDT For the first time since introducing the device that changed cellphones forever, Apple will offer two distinct versions of the latest iPhones -- a cheaper one made of plastic and another that aims to be "the gold standard of smartphones&quo ...

  23. Songza Raises $4.7 Million in Funds for Advertising

    September 10, 2013 11:59 AM EDT Internet radio company Songza announced Tuesday it has raised $4.7 million in fresh funding that will help grow its advertising business. Investors include Amazon.com, William Morris Endeavor, Lerer Ventures, Deep Fork Capital, Metamorphic Ven ...

  24. 2013 CMA Awards: Full Nominations List

    September 10, 2013 9:29 AM EDT Sheryl Crow and Florida Georgia Line today announced nominees for the 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards. Kacey Musgraves and Taylor Swift led all nominees with six nominations each, including nods for Female Vocalist of the Year and A ...

  25. WME's John Marx on Bruno Mars' Super Bowl Gig, Sold-Out Arena Tour Strategy, Not Having Presales (Q&A)

    September 10, 2013 8:00 AM EDT Bruno Mars has not only proven to be a master at creating multiple hit songs, but he’s also solidified himself as one of today’s top live performers. In addition to being named the halftime performer at next year’s Super Bowl XLVIII, Mars re ...

  26. Megaupload’s Kim Dotcom Teases New Baboom Music Service

    September 10, 2013 7:53 AM EDT Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom is getting back into the music business. Just days after resigning as director of his latest project Mega, the German Internet entrepreneur has dropped details for his new music service, Baboom . While the official ...

  27. CBS Radio senior VP of Programming Greg Strassell Exits Company

    September 09, 2013 8:18 PM EDT In a move that surprised many in the radio industry, CBS Radio senior VP of programming Greg Strassell exited his position on Monday after more than 15 years with the company. During his time at CBS, Strassell oversaw many format changes at CBS ...

  28. Alex Pham's Digital Notes: SourceAudio Gets $1.2 Million; Google Glass Adds Sound Search; VEVO Grows Views

    September 09, 2013 6:46 PM EDT SourceAudio Gets $1.2 Million in Funding   Who says there's no money in music? AudioSource, a Los Angeles company that connects music supervisors with music catalogs, on Monday said it's snagged $1.2 million in seed financing led by Em ...

  29. Big Machine Signs Licensing Deal With Greater Media

    September 09, 2013 5:02 PM EDT Greater Media today announced a multi-year licensing agreement with Nashville-based Big Machine Label Group for the performance of Big Machine’s recorded music on Greater Media's digital and terrestrial broadcast platforms. Big Machine has ...

  30. What to Expect from Apple's Expected iTunes Radio Announcement

    September 09, 2013 1:50 PM EDT There has been a lot of speculation about iTunes Radio since word first broke last year that Apple had started discussions with record labels. Although opinions won't come until people get actual hands-on experience with the product on T ...

  31. Xbox Music Adds Freemium Option, Expands to iOS, Android As App

    September 09, 2013 12:01 AM EDT Xbox Music is breaking out of the Microsoft box. The on-demand music service will be available as apps on Apple's iOS and Google's Android devices starting Monday (Sept. 9), a move designed to broaden Xbox Music's distribution and ...

  32. Chart Moves: Imagine Dragons’ ‘Night Visions’ Celebrates One-Year Anniversary on Billboard 200

    September 06, 2013 8:55 PM EDT This week on the Billboard 200, rock band Avenged Sevenfold claimed its second No. 1 album as "Hail to the King" started atop the list with 159,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was one of four new arrivals into the top 10, ...

  33. Ariana Grande vs. Tamar Braxton In Battle for No. 1 on Billboard 200

    September 06, 2013 8:21 PM EDT New albums from Ariana Grande and Tamar Braxton are battling it out in a race for No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart next week. Industry sources suggest that Grande’s debut effort, "Yours Truly," may sell between 115,000 and 120,000 copi ...

  34. Biz Stock Ticks: This Week's Entertainment Indices 8/31 - 9/6

    September 06, 2013 7:24 PM EDT Biz Stock Ticks looks at publicly traded entertainment stock prices over the last week by Apple, Best Buy, Facebook, Google, Live Nation, Pandora, Sony, SiriusXM and Sony. Below each 5-day stock graph are relevant .Biz news stories from this pas ...

  35. Ticketmaster Puts Resale, Unsold Tickets in One Spot

    September 06, 2013 7:23 PM EDT Fans of popular artists or sports teams are painfully aware how difficult it is to find good seats to live events at affordable prices. With a new ticket resale system, Ticketmaster is trying to show you what seats are available in one place -- ...

  36. Business Matters: Apple iTunes Radio Vs. Downloads and The Innovator's Dilemma

    September 06, 2013 6:26 PM EDT Nearly all companies must eventually embrace innovation or risk injury. As the music business follows consumers' shift to streaming media, Apple will eventually abandon part of what made it successful. iTunes Radio, expected to launch Tue ...

  37. Spotify Seeking Additional Funding at $5.27 Billion Valuation (Report)

    September 06, 2013 3:40 PM EDT Spotify is seeking cash to help fuel its global growth. According to a report at Swedish news outlet Dagens Industri , the world's largest music subscription company is seeking debt financing at a $5.27 billion valuation.   The report claim ...

  38. Bubbling Under: The Colourist Breaks Through at Alternative

    September 06, 2013 2:27 PM EDT Each Friday, Billboard presents "Bubbling Under," a weekly look at new and noteworthy acts making their way toward Billboard chart success. Up this week: the Colourist, Mia Martina, Brothers Osborne and Lantana Southern California band ...

  39. Chart Moves: Robin Thicke's 'Give' Soars On Hot 100; Justin Timberlake's 'Night' Hits New Peak; Paul McCartney Returns

    September 06, 2013 11:17 AM EDT As previously reported, Katy Perry's "Roar" takes over atop the Billboard Hot 100, halting the 12-week reign of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," featuring T.I. and Pharrell. Who else has the eye of the tiger on the H ...

  40. Michael Jackson's New Instagram Account Causes Surge on Social 50 Chart

    September 05, 2013 9:57 PM EDT The late Michael Jackson makes a 14-position leap on Billboard's Social 50 chart (27-13) following online activity around his birthday (Aug. 29) and the launch of his Instagram account. Paul McCartney, Prince, Robert Plant: Why Veteran Musi ...

  41. Pandora Says August Listener Hours Rose 16 Percent

    September 05, 2013 8:57 PM EDT Pandora managed to boost its listener numbers last month despite rising competition for online music lovers. Total listener hours rose 16 percent in August to 1.35 billion, from 1.16 billion hours in the same month a year ago. That's a 5 pe ...

  42. Op-Ed: Everything We Know About Fan Engagement And Sales Is About to Change

    September 05, 2013 7:16 PM EDT 11 1.425 k 49 3 0 As an industry, we've gotten pretty good at reaching our fans, engaging them and driving conversions. There is a general understanding of how to reach them on social networks, traditional online marketing and mailing lists. But now, ...

  43. Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake Lead MTV VMA-Related Music Sales Up 37% In Week After Show

    September 05, 2013 6:44 PM EDT Get More: 2013 VMA , Artists.MTV , Music , Miley Cyrus   Now that a full week has passed since MTV's Video Music Awards (VMA), both the Hot Digital songs and Billboard 200 albums charts swell with gainers thanks to the show. In the week end ...

  44. Super D's Acquisition of Alliance Entertainment In Context

    September 05, 2013 12:10 PM EDT In a minnow-swallowing-a-whale-like deal, Super D has acquired Alliance Entertainment in a move that will make it the fourth-largest U.S. music account behind iTunes, Amazon, and Anderson Merchandisers, which racks Walmart and Best Buy. Super D ...

  45. BitTorrent Is Not a Crime: Once a Pariah, Now Providing Distribution & Data for Music, Movies & TV (From the Magazine)

    September 05, 2013 12:07 PM EDT THIS ARTICLE FIRST APPEARED IN BILLBOARD MAGAZINE GET THIS WEEK'S ISSUE HERE OR SUBSCRIBE TO BILLBOARD HERE When Converge Studios and Rock Mafia wanted to get the word out in August about an original TV series, they turned to an unconven ...

  46. Super D Acquires Alliance Entertainment, Creating Second Largest US Music Wholesaler (Sources)

    September 04, 2013 9:00 PM EDT Super D has acquired Alliance Entertainment in a move that will create the second largest U.S. wholesaler with revenues of about $920 million, sources tell Billboard. The deal closed earlier Wednesday (Sept. 4) and Super D principals Bruce Ogil ...

  47. Irving Azoff and Madison Square Garden Co. Announce $300 Million Joint Venture

    September 04, 2013 6:01 PM EDT The Madison Square Garden Company and Irving Azoff 's Azoff Music Management have announced the founding of Azoff MSG Entertainment, a jointly owned company in a $300 million deal that will expand on AMM's artist representation busi ...

  48. SiriusXM Hit With Fourth $100 Million Lawsuit In Past Month

    September 04, 2013 5:24 PM EDT For a long time, it's been assumed that SiriusXM has the right to distribute and perform pre-1972 recordings. Then last month, Flo & Eddie of The Turtles brought a proposed $100 million class action lawsuit against Sirius , premised on ...

  49. Team 8 Founder Rich Cohen Joining Mick Artist Management as Partner

    September 04, 2013 4:07 PM EDT Rich Cohen, founder of Team 8 Management, is joining Mick Artist Management as a partner, joining Mick founder Michael McDonald and general manager Jonathan Eshak in the partnership, Billboard.biz has learned. Cohen founded Team 8 in 2007 and re ...

  50. Azoff Music Management Invests In Digital Brand Architects

    September 04, 2013 3:13 PM EDT Azoff Music Management has announced an investment in social media marketing and online talent management agency Digital Brand Architects (DBA). With offices in New York and Los Angeles, digital marketing consultancy DBA has a portfolio of more ...

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