1. BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch On Buying Out KKR: 'We No Longer Need The Old Label System'

    March 01, 2013 8:08 AM EST   On the day that Bertelsmann announced it had bought out Kohlberg Krvis Roberts & Co. (KKR), its partner in BMG Rights Management, at a price-tag estimated at well-over a quarter billion dollars, Billboard.biz caught up with one of the deal&# ...

  2. Bertelsmann Buys Out BMG for $390M: Sources

    March 01, 2013 7:33 AM EST Bertelsmann is now the outright owner of BMG Rights Management.  The German media group has acquired the 51% in BMG that it didn’t already own, paying investment-group Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co (KKR) a price-tag estimated at well-over a qua ...

  3. DJ Ajax Dies In Road Accident

    March 01, 2013 2:42 AM EST Celebrated Australian DJ and electronic producer Adrian Thomas, better known in clubland as DJ Ajax, has died in a road accident. He was 41. Thomas was crowned on numerous occasions as the top DJ in these parts, and played parties around the globe ...

  4. France Examines Even Tougher Anti-Piracy Laws

    February 28, 2013 2:41 PM EST PARIS: -- Already home to some of the strictest anti-piracy laws for users, France’s Internet Authority (HADOPI) has  issued a new report examining ways to curb usage of streaming and direct download sites. Looking to stop piracy at the source, th ...

  5. Baauer’s ‘Harlem Shake’: The Global Hit That Started With a One-Off Single Deal

    February 28, 2013 7:00 AM EST The Internet is full of free downloads, but most don’t end up topping the charts like Baauer’s “Harlem Shake.” The single was brought to market through a label as uncommon as the track’s quirky success story.   Jeffrees, a sub-label of Diplo’s Mad ...

  6. Simon Darlow, Songwriter for Grace Jones, Shirley Bassey, Named Chairman of U.K. Rights Org BASCA

    February 28, 2013 5:00 AM EST U.K. songwriters’ body BASCA (the British Association of Songwriters, Composers & Authors) has announced the appointment of composer, musician and arranger Simon Darlow as its new chairman. Darlow, 52, has a long list of song credits including ...

  7. Universal Strategic Marketing Expands With Geoff Smith Hire

    February 28, 2013 12:28 AM EST EMI veteran Geoff Smith has been appointed head of digital for Universal Strategic Marketing, a newly created role. Based in London, Smith will be tasked with creating international opportunities and innovative solutions for catalog artists across ...

  8. Baauer's 'Harlem Shake' Tops Hot 100 For Second Week

    February 27, 2013 3:07 PM EST The viral sensation stays at the summit, fueled heavily by another week of stratospheric YouTube streaming totals. Plus, Lil Wayne reaches the top 10. Baauer leads the Billboard Hot 100 for a second week with "Harlem Shake," the Brooklyn ...

  9. Universal Completes EMI Divestments, Sells Last Two Assets

    February 27, 2013 1:32 PM EST Universal Music Group has sold off its last two remaining EMI assets it was required to divest of as part of its acquisition of EMI’s recorded-music properties, a source close to the situation told Billboard.biz today.   The assets are EMI’s Europ ...

  10. PledgeMusic Expands Australasia Operations

    February 27, 2013 6:51 AM EST Direct-to-fan funding platform PledgeMusic is ramping up its activities Down Under with the appointment of Scot Crawford as GM for the Australian and New Zealand territories. Crawford joins from independent music company Shock Entertainment, where ...

  11. Business Matters: Inside the IFPI's Digital Music Report 2013

    February 26, 2013 8:41 PM EST 6 7 30 0 The 2013 edition of the IFPI's annual Digital Music Report has 31 pages of informative reading. Two things came to mind when reading it. I wondered how much digital revenue is coming from big, developed markets and I wondered how much revenu ...

  12. Live Nation Revenue Up 8% to $5.8 Billion, Posts Significant Net Losses

    February 26, 2013 6:27 PM EST 1 2 27 0 Live Nation grew revenue 8.1% to $5.8 billion and adjusted operating income rose 4.8% to $459 million in 2012. It achieved its goals of growing concert attendance, ticket sales and sponsorship and advertising revenue. Yet its financial statements ...

  13. Francis Keeling, Universal Music’s Global Head of Digital Business: Google Streaming Service ‘Is the Biggest Funnel We Can Have’

    February 26, 2013 3:53 PM EST 1 12 31 0 Google’s entrance into the music streaming market would provide the music industry with “arguably the biggest funnel we can have” with regards to turning music consumers onto legal licensed services, says Francis Keeling, Universal Music’s globa ...

  14. Kobalt Music Group's Label Services Division Announces Two New Senior-Level Hires

    February 26, 2013 11:56 AM EST Kobalt Music Group's Label Services division, a full-service alternative to labels for rights-retaining artists, has announced the appointment of two senior-level executives, it was announced today. Karen Lieberman has transitioned from her f ...

  15. Updated: Universal Music Group Earnings Up; Vivendi's Adjusted Profit Shrinks

    February 26, 2013 10:51 AM EST French media and telecom conglomerate Vivendi on Tuesday reported lower fourth-quarter earnings amid weaker results at pay TV arm Canal Plus, higher expenses and restructuring and impairment charges on acquired businesses and a slight profit impro ...

  16. IFPI Digital Music Report 2013: Global Recorded Music Revenues Climb for First Time Since 1999

    February 26, 2013 8:52 AM EST It’s been a long time coming, but the global recorded music industry is finally “well on the road to recovery,” declared Frances Moore, chief executive, IFPI, at the London launch of IFPI’s annual Digital Music Report. Business Matters: Inside the ...

  17. David Bowie Drops New Song, Video for 'The Stars (Are Out Tonight)'

    February 26, 2013 12:48 AM EST After surprising everyone last month with a new single and promises of more music to come, David Bowie has dropped a second, rockier track and an eye-catching clip. New single "The Stars (Are Out Tonight)" and its accompanying video arri ...

  18. Warner Latin and Telemundo Launch Joint Venture

    February 25, 2013 10:29 AM EST 1 1 66 0 Above: Gabriel Coronel, the first artist signed under Warner Latina and Telemundo's new venture   Register today for the Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards Presented by State Farm April 23-25 in Miami, use Promo Code BIZ13 for a d ...

  19. Emeli Sande, One Direction Top UK Charts With Brit Awards Bounce

    February 25, 2013 8:50 AM EST Emeli Sandé followed her double BRIT Awards triumph Feb. 20 by returning to the top of the album chart yesterday (Sunday) with “Our Version of Events” (Virgin/Universal). As many other winners and performers from the ceremony reaped sales benefits ...

  20. Universal's Ash Adds Asia Pacific Duties

    February 25, 2013 8:33 AM EST 5 0 The restructuring at Universal Music Australia continues with the news that the company’s leader, George Ash, has added new stripes for the Asia Pacific region. Ash rises to president of Universal Music Asia Pacific, a new position that sees the e ...

  21. Google In Talks For Music Streaming Service

    February 23, 2013 5:16 AM EST 9 27 59 10 0 Google is in the process of negotiating licensing fees for a music streaming service akin to Spotify, Mog, Deezer and others, according to several published reports and first reported by the Financial Times.   The news comes as Google is in t ...

  22. The Satellite Question: Why SiriusXM Should Pay Higher Performance Royalties to Artists

    February 22, 2013 3:06 PM EST On Feb. 14, the Copyright Royalty Board issued a “final determination” setting SiriusXM’s statutory sound recording performance royalty rate for 2013 at 9% of “gross revenue.” This rate is too low by several percentage points, depriving artists an ...

  23. Business Matters: Spotify Seeks Help Tweaking Its Business Model

    February 21, 2013 7:25 PM EST Spotify will ask record labels for help in turning a profit. And the labels just might grant it.   Major label sources have confirmed to Billboard the points in a recent report at the Verge : Spotify will seek lower licensing rates and an extensio ...

  24. Beyonce Signs Global Administration Deal With Warner/Chappell Publishing

    February 21, 2013 5:29 PM EST Beyoncé has signed a global publishing agreement with Warner/Chappell Music, Billboard has learned exclusively. Effective immediately, Warner/Chappell -- headed by chairman/CEO Cameron Strang -- will administer the 17-time Grammy winner’s future s ...

  25. Exclusive: Tumblr Gets Into Music Discovery

    February 21, 2013 12:26 PM EST 28 57 250 0 Blogging site Tumblr is getting into music discovery. At the core of the blogging company's strategy will be a select group of editors that share music, video and pictures with the site's 95 million users.   "This is our destina ...

  26. Brit Awards 2013: Emeli Sande, Mumford & Sons, Adele Win Big

    February 20, 2013 7:13 PM EST 8 0 Female artists dominated the 2013 Brit Awards with Emeli Sandé and Adele taking home two of the biggest prizes. Sandé won best British female and the highly coveted British album title for her 2012 debut "Our Version of Events," while Ad ...

  27. O'Donnell Returns To EMI Australia in Top Job

    February 20, 2013 6:00 PM EST 1 0 20 0 In a surprise move, John O'Donnell has returned to EMI Music Australia, where he takes the vacant post of managing director.   With effect from March 4, O’Donnell will take duties for the EMI, Capitol and Virgin labels, and will oversee the ...

  28. Sony Music, BandMerch Ink Retail Partnership

    February 20, 2013 10:40 AM EST 1 0 14 0 Sony Music Entertainment has entered into a strategic partnership agreement with BandMerch, the merchandising division of promoter AEG Live, to expand and develop Sony’s merchandising programs in the North American retail market in conjunction wi ...

  29. Cuban Soul Man El Gran Fellove Dead at 89

    February 20, 2013 10:22 AM EST 1 0 19 0 One of Cuba’s most charismatic performers, the tropical soul man known as El Gran Fellove, has died in Mexico at age 89. Francisco Fellove is remembered for his fabulous onstage flair and original vocal stylings which, on songs like “El Jamaiquin ...

  30. Bertelsmann To Buy-Out KKR's Stake In BMG: Reports

    February 20, 2013 8:31 AM EST 1 0 19 0 German media giant Bertelsmann is in “advanced talks” to buy out global investment firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts’ (KKR) majority stake in their JV music company, BMG Rights Management, the NY Post reports. A deal is apparently “imminent,” accordin ...

  31. Kevin Ayers of Soft Machine Dead at 68

    February 20, 2013 1:00 AM EST 3 0 Soft Machine (l-r): Kevin Ayers, Robert Wyatt, Mike Ratledge and Daevid Allen (Getty Images) Kevin Ayers, a co-founder of British psych-rock pioneers the Soft Machine who went on to a prolific solo career before falling off the map, died in his sl ...

  32. Prince Royce and Label Settle Dispute (Update)

    February 19, 2013 5:22 PM EST 50 6 0 Following a contentious legal battle that played out in Spanish language media, Geoffrey Royce Rojas, better known as Prince Royce, has resolved his disputes with his former record label Top Stop Music, and is now a free agent. Register today for ...

  33. Warner Music Working With Impala, Merlin to Sell Parlophone Assets to Indies

    February 19, 2013 4:33 PM EST 1 8 32 0 In a deal designed to help ease its purchase of Parlophone Label Group past European regulators and increase parity between the major labels and the independent music sector, Warner Music Group has agreed to make some of its assets available for ...

  34. Carly Rae Jepsen, Justin Bieber Lead List of JUNO Nominees

    February 19, 2013 12:56 PM EST 1 9 31 0 Carly Rae Jepsen tops the lists of nominees for the 2013 JUNO Awards, to be held over two nights in Regina, SK, with the gala dinner April 20 and televised show on the 21st, The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) announced at ...

  35. Universal’s Briegmann Adds Central Europe Role

    February 19, 2013 3:27 AM EST 1 0 24 0 0 Universal Music stalwart Frank Briegmann is to preside over the company’s Central European operations. Briegmann, who is based in Berlin, continues to serve as chairman and CEO of Universal Music Germany and will now also manage the affiliates ...

  36. Tupac Shakur's Estate Moves to Jampol Artist Management, New Material Possibly on the Way

    February 18, 2013 2:25 PM EST The estate of Tupac Shakur is being placed in the hands of Jampol Artist Management and the late rapper's mother indicates there is more music to be released. 

Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur, head of his estate and founder of the Tupac A ...

  37. Van Halen, Billy Joel Headline New Aussie Stone Fest

    February 17, 2013 6:45 AM EST 1 3 26 0 Van Halen and Billy Joel will headline the new two-day Stone Music Festival in Sydney this April. Other international acts confirmed for the April 20 and 21 fest at Sydney’s ANZ Stadium include Buckcherry, Richie Ramone, Lifehouse and so-called “ ...

  38. Google Drops Off Annenberg Labs' Monthly List of Top Pirate Sites

    February 15, 2013 8:09 PM EST 1 10 17 0 The second in a series of monthly reports on top advertising networks that support illegal download sites was missing a notable name: Google. Whether or not this drop-off means anything has yet to be seen.   The tech giant’s advertising network ...

  39. Analysis: BMG Poised to Become a Top Indie Catalog Following Sanctuary Acquisition

    February 15, 2013 7:54 PM EST 3 9 13 0 Once completed, the pending acquisition of the Sanctuary Records catalog will catapult BMG Rights Management into one of the industry's top independent catalog labels. Universal Sells Sanctuary Label to BMG The Sanctuary catalog has about 17 ...

  40. From The Magazine: Did Len Blavatnik and Warner Music Overpay For Parlophone?

    February 15, 2013 12:50 PM EST 6 5 42 0 GET THIS WEEK'S ISSUE OF BILLBOARD HERE WHAT: Warner Music Group’s pre-emptive bid by far beat the nearest competitor to win the auction for Parlophone, home to Coldplay and Pink Floyd. It has agreed to pay £487 million ($762 million) to Uni ...

  41. Young Money Inks Deal With Lil Wayne's Daughter Reginae Carter

    February 15, 2013 11:37 AM EST 1 19 25 0 Lil Wayne's daughter Reginae Carter is following her father down the Young Money path, with label president Mack Maine confirming the signing at Cash Money's pre-Grammy party last week. Backbeat: Annual Cash Money Party Brings Big Name ...

  42. Prince to Headline Montreux Jazz Festival

    February 15, 2013 6:26 AM EST 1 5 30 0 Prince will play three pricey headline shows at the Montreux Jazz Festival this July, for what will be the famous fest’s first edition since its founder Claude Nobs passed away. The master musician will perform over the three nights of July 13, 1 ...

  43. Universal Music Publishing Inks Deals with Fullscreen, Maker Studios

    February 14, 2013 7:45 PM EST 57 344 166 0 Universal Music Publishing Group, looking to cash in at a higher level on the YouTube money train, has struck licensing deals with Fullscreen and Maker Studios -- two companies that together account for more than 4 billion video views a month ...

  44. Universal Sells Sanctuary Label to BMG

    February 14, 2013 7:28 PM EST 4 35 41 0 BMG Rights Management has won the auction to acquire Sanctuary, the rock label that was included in the assets that the Universal Music Group agreed to sell in order to win regulatory approval from the EU for its purchase of EMI Recorded Music. ...

  45. Jamaica’s Rebel Salute and Jazz & Blues Festivals Thrive Despite Dwindling Corporate Sponsorship

    February 14, 2013 12:31 PM EST 1 2 9 0 Although fundamentally different in their concepts, two recently concluded music festivals, held in Jamaica just five days apart, drew sizable crowds despite waning corporate sponsorship. Rebel Salute is the Caribbean's largest showcase of ro ...

  46. SXSW Adds Films on Stevie Nicks, Flaming Lips, James Booker

    February 13, 2013 3:09 PM EST 2 36 45 0 A compilation of iPhone videos shot by the Flaming Lips' Wayne Coyne, a chronicle of the recording of Stevie Nicks' last album and a documentary on New Orleans piano legend James Booker have been added to the SXSW Film Festival. All th ...

  47. Facebook Adds 'Buy Tickets' Button in Europe

    February 13, 2013 2:55 PM EST 2 17 26 0 Facebook is testing a "buy tickets" button that takes consumers to a third-party site to purchase tickets. The button has been spotted on Facebook pages for events in Europe that are ticketed by Ticketmaster and Eventim, Europe's ...

  48. ACM Awards 2013: Eric Church, Hunter Hayes and Taylor Swift Lead Nominees

    February 13, 2013 11:40 AM EST 1 2 32 0 The nominees for the 48th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards were announced today via a digial press conference. When the final nominations were all tallied, it became clear voters went to "Church" -- as Capitol Nashville recording ...

  49. Dave Clark Five Founder Huxley Dies

    February 13, 2013 6:32 AM EST 27 25 0 Rick Huxley, bass player and founding member of The Dave Clark Five, part of the first brigade of the “British Invasion,” has died at the age of 72. The quintet – comprising Huxley, Dave Clark, Mike Smith, Lenny Davidson and Denis Payton -- carv ...

  50. Exclusive: Tiesto on New LP, 'Brilliant' New Manager Coran Capshaw

    February 12, 2013 2:38 PM EST 433 57 0 "I like to do big things,” Tiësto said today from his hotel room in Brazil. “And if you want to do big things, you need big players around you who can help you with that." Under new manager Coran Capshaw of Red Light -- No. 2 on Billb ...

Pages