1. My Bloody Valentine Finally Release New LP Online -- Leading to Near-Immediate Server Crash

    February 02, 2013 9:13 PM EST 1 11 12 0 0 More than 21 years after the release of their landmark 1991 LP "Loveless," My Bloody Valentine have, after countless delays and missed release dates, released the follow-up. However, due to a server crash, fans found they have to wai ...

  2. TuneCore Paid Out $102 Million to Artists Last Year, Company Claims

    February 01, 2013 5:14 PM EST 5 17 39 0 While some Jeff Price fans might question TuneCore's future  business prospects, the company's management tells Billboard that the company enjoyed robust growth last year, hitting revenues of $101.8 million for its artists through sale ...

  3. Bubbling Under: Could Kristina Maria Be The Next Carly Rae Jepsen?

    February 01, 2013 10:58 AM EST 15 0 Each Friday, Billboard presents "Bubbling Under," a weekly look at new and noteworthy acts making their way toward Billboard chart success. Up this week: Kristina Maria, Tom Odell, Blackberry Smoke and T.Rone Kristina Maria Could Kristi ...

  4. Business Matters: The Jury is Still Out on The Future of Music

    January 30, 2013 8:49 PM EST 8 15 45 0 The news from the annual MIDEM conference indicated streaming is the future of music. Deezer expanded to new countries. Rdio launched free tiers in new countries. Online video is a growing portion of revenue for record labels and music publisher ...

  5. Exclusive: Mixify Signs Red Light Management, Ultra Music, Others for Virtual Music Festival

    January 30, 2013 5:32 PM EST 24 280 35 0 Mixify, a three-month-old New York start-up that streams live audio, has signed up a number of major electronic dance labels and promoters for an upcoming virtual music festival called Rise. Among the presenters of next month's online-onl ...

  6. Exclusive: Ultra Music Signs Distribution Deal with Machinima

    January 30, 2013 11:00 AM EST 95 283 95 0 Ultra Music, an independent electronic music label that over the years has represented Deadmau5, Kaskade, Steve Aoki, Calvin Harris and numerous other EDM artists, on Wednesday announced a strategic deal with Machinima, one of the largest netw ...

  7. Amanda Palmer Q&A, Part 2: Touring, and the Challenges of Small Businesses

    January 30, 2013 10:15 AM EST 4 4 33 0 In part 1 of this article, singer/Kickstarter superstar Amanda Palmer talks about why she believes a pay-what-you-want "patronage" model is the way forward for the music business, the changing relationship between artists and fans, the ...

  8. Biz Q&A: BPI Chief Geoff Taylor On Google's Search Problem, HMV's Future, Moribund Digital Economy Act

    January 30, 2013 7:55 AM EST The United Kingdom may only have a population of 60 million, but when it comes to generating music artists that resonate around the globe the U.K. consistently punches well above its weight. According to labels trade body the BPI, U.K. artists acc ...

  9. Worldwide Independent Network Announces 'Independent Manifesto'

    January 29, 2013 2:55 PM EST 3 4 0 Yesterday at MIDEM, the Worldwide Independent Network (WIN) introduced its Independent Manifesto and the formation of a global council. The document (below) sets out the organization’s core principles to guide the global independent music sector. ...

  10. Blink-182's Mark Hoppus Talks Piracy, Pros and Cons of Digital at MIDEM

    January 29, 2013 1:34 PM EST 4 101 313 0 Always play your hits live. Make music you love. Drive beats talent. And it's ok to blow money if it means you don't compromise your art. Those are just some of the life lessons learned and shared by Blink-182 bass player Mark Hoppus ...

  11. Earache, Century Media Team Up for U.S. Licensing Deal

    January 29, 2013 8:00 AM EST 44 2 0 Established metal labels Earache and Century Media Records are partnering in a three-year deal where Century Media will handle all of Earache's physical product distribution in the U.S.   The deal was finalized within the last week and takes ...

  12. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' 'Thrift Shop' Named 2012's Biggest Hit in Australian Poll

    January 28, 2013 1:01 PM EST 4 0 It’s official. “Thrift Shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis was the biggest hit with Australian youths last year. On Australia Day, the global smash took out the Australian state-funded network Triple J’s Hottest 100 list, now regarded as the bigges ...

  13. MIDEM Q&A: Pledge Music's Benji Rogers on 'Making Destinations'

    January 28, 2013 11:47 AM EST 2 10 10 0 Benji Rogers has arrived as one of the music industry’s new breed of innovators. Rogers is founder and CEO of PledgeMusic, a fundraising platform that works with artists to develop a way to engage their fans early in a project, a strategy which ...

  14. Indies Slam Myspace Over Licensing Policy at MIDEM

    January 28, 2013 8:34 AM EST 1 15 28 0 Less than one week after opening up its new design to the public, Myspace found itself in hot water with the community it’s most actively trying to court — indie artists.   Merlin, a global rights agency that represents thousands of independent ...

  15. Amanda Palmer Q&A: Why Pay-What-You-Want Is the Way Forward, and More

    January 28, 2013 7:44 AM EST Amanda Palmer is hardly your average musician. The multi-faceted artist and former co-leader of Dresden Dolls has a groundbreakingly hands-on relationship with her business affairs and, via social media, with her fans. Last year those fans pledged ...

  16. Martin Mills' Call to Action: His Billboard MIDEM Speech In Full

    January 27, 2013 4:00 PM EST 33 377 202 0 This morning (Jan. 27) at MIDEM, Billboard honored Beggars Group founder Martin Mills with its Industry Icon Award for his innumerable contributions to the music business. His fiery speech (in full here) is a call to action for governments an ...

  17. Myspace’s 
Indie Dilemma

    January 27, 2013 10:45 AM EST 9 0 Indie labels pull songs from social site days after launch due to expired rights. This article is from the February 2, 2013 edition of Billboard, featuring the only major interview Justin Bieber has granted for the Jan. 29 release of his new album ...

  18. Martin Mills Receives Billboard’s Industry Icon Award

    January 27, 2013 9:07 AM EST 1 0 Above (from left): Billboard editorial director Bill Werde, Beggars Group founder and Billboard Industry Icon Award winner Martin Mills, Reed Midem CEO Paul Zilk and Midem director Bruno Crolot. (Photo: MIDEM/D'Halloy/Image & Co) Martin M ...

  19. MIDEM Panel and Q&A: Kevin Wortis on Amanda Palmer, Kickstarter, ‘Theatre Vs. Theater’

    January 26, 2013 2:17 PM EST 2 8 0 MIDEM 2013 opened in Cannes with a raft of how-to sessions. One of the freshest of those featured Kevin Wortis who drilled well under the surface of his ward Amanda Palmer’s million-dollar fan-funding exercise.  Wortis (see Q&A below) is a 22- ...

  20. Coachella 2013 Lineup: Blur, Phoenix, Red Hot Chili Peppers Headlining

    January 25, 2013 12:35 AM EST 3 6 0 Blur, the Stone Roses, Phoenix and Red Hot Chili Peppers top the lineup for the 2013 Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, which was unveiled late on Thursday night (Jan. 24). The annual fest is set to once again take over Indio, Calif. on con ...

  21. Billboard to Honor Beggars Group Chairman Martin Mills at MIDEM

    January 24, 2013 5:31 PM EST 1 2 0 Martin Mills, chairman of the Beggars Group, in many ways helped create the idea of the indie label as we know it today. From its London roots as a mobile disco, a small chain of record shops and the Beggars Banquet label, the company has grown in ...

  22. Eve Forms Label, Releasing First Album in 11 Years

    January 24, 2013 2:28 PM EST 1 0 0 Following an eleven-year recording hiatus, rapper-actress Eve has announced that her fourth studio album will be released this spring. "You can officially expect Lip Lock on May 14," she promises in a new interview. While she originall ...

  23. Building the $100 Billion Music Business: Guest Post by Tom Silverman

    January 23, 2013 3:31 PM EST 7 2 6 0 In this guest post, New Music Seminar/Tommy Boy Entertainment founder Tom Silverman describes how we can grow the music business into one that reaches $100 billion in annual retail revenue in the next decade. Going through last year's U.S. sa ...

  24. Martin Mills: Billboard Icon 2013

    January 22, 2013 7:01 PM EST 4 33 10 0 Video: Martin Mills and Beggars, with Gary Numan, Seymour Stein, Richard Russell, Ezra Koenig, More The Billboard Q&A: Martin Mills Looks Back at His Life and Career Martin Mills Receives Billboard's Industry Icon Award Daniel Miller, R ...

  25. A2IM's Second Annual Libera Awards Announced, Accepting Nominations

    January 22, 2013 6:24 PM EST The second annual Libera Awards ("The Libbys"), an event begun by A2IM for independent labels and services, is now accepting nominations for its award show slated fro Thursday, June 20 at New York's Highline Ballroom. Twelve categor ...

  26. MIDEM 2013 Hub

    January 21, 2013 3:56 PM EST 3 0 American Express CMO John Hayes on 'Unstaged,' Social Media, and Their Vast Amount of Data on Concertgoers Worldwide Independent Network Announces 'Independent Manifesto' Blink-182's Mark Hoppus Talks Piracy, Pros and Cons ...

  27. Bubbling Under: The Mowgli's, Cab Ride To Radio With New Singles

    January 20, 2013 2:43 PM EST 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 Mowgli's, the Cab, Chase Rice and Jeyro     The Mowgli's The Mowgli&# ...

  28. Chart Moves: David Bowie's 'Where Are We Now?' Debuts On Hot Rock Songs, Blake Shelton, Taylor Swift Soar Onto Hot 100

    January 20, 2013 2:33 PM EST As previously reported , Bruno Mars spends a sixth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Locked Out of Heaven," while Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop," featuring Wanz, charges 5-2. While the rap duo could ...

  29. Arts & Crafts Label Announces Ten-Year Anniversary Events

    January 15, 2013 6:14 PM EST Toronto indie label Arts & Crafts, which helped spawn the careers of Feist and Broken Social Scene, is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with AC10, a series of events, releases and collaborations in music, fashion, photography and lit ...

  30. IMPALA, Indies Ask EC to Investigate Sony-BMG's Parlophone Bid

    January 11, 2013 7:17 PM EST Independent music companies have raised concerns about a plan by Sony Corp. and Bertelsmann music venture BMG to bid for former EMI label Parlophone, arguing an acquisition would give the music giants, particularly Sony, too much market power. Viv ...

  31. 2013 Grammy Voter Guide

    December 21, 2012 3:31 PM EST   On our way to Music's Biggest Night, a close look at the nominees for the top awards, a complete list of categories and nominations, and an overview of the top-nominated independent artists: Complete List of GRAMMY Nominees » Genre Analysis ...

  32. Glassnote Pitting Majors Against Each Other, May Get 'Outlandish' Deal

    December 20, 2012 8:33 PM EST With Glassnote's distribution deal with RED ending on the last day of February, Daniel Glass is pitting Doug Morris against Lucian Grainge in hopes of coming out with a multi-million-dollar payday, according to sources. With the tit-for-tat b ...

  33. A2IM Extends U.S. Commerce Dept Funding For Indies To Attend MIDEM 2013

    December 18, 2012 1:57 PM EST The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) has extended its offer of financial assistance to indie labels attending next year's MIDEM music conference, taking place in Cannes, France, Jan. 26-29. The offer was originally due to expi ...

  34. The MUSIC Act Aims to Help Independent Labels in U.S.

    December 12, 2012 7:45 PM EST Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) introduced legislation Wednesday that would make it easier for U.S. independent music labels to access the global marketplace. The Making United States Independents Competitive (MUSIC) Act aims to help small label ...

  35. Ra Ra Riot Return to Syracuse University to Teach Classes They Once Took

    November 26, 2012 6:20 PM EST Ra Ra Riot performs at Syracuse University's famed Setnor Auditorium at the conclusion of the band's week-long residency at their alma mater. (Photo: Michael Barletta/MediaWorks) (Disclosure: Ulf Oesterle, the author of this article, is ...

  36. Bubbling Under: Rudimental's 'Love' Takes Over

    November 09, 2012 12:19 PM EST Each Friday, Billboard presents "Bubbling Under," a weekly look at new and noteworthy acts making their way toward Billboard chart success. Up this week: Rudimental, Liz Longley, One Night Rodeo and Sean Riva Rudimental Dance collective ...

  37. Chet Faker Wins Big at Australia's Independent Music Awards

    October 17, 2012 2:00 PM EDT Rising soul-tinged singer Chet Faker was the big winner Tuesday (Oct. 16) night at the Australian Independent Music Awards in Melbourne, where he converted two of his five nominations. On a night when "true independence" was challenged f ...

  38. Mumford & Sons' No. 1 Record Offers 'Validation To Be an Independent,' Says Daniel Glass

    October 04, 2012 12:59 PM EDT With 600,000 copies sold in its first frame according to Nielsen SoundScan, Mumford & Sons' Babel not only scored the biggest debut sales week of any album this year in the U.S. and the biggest sales week for a rock album in nearly four y ...

  39. Cooking Vinyl Launches CV America Headed By Essential USA CEO Erik Gilbert

    October 03, 2012 2:52 PM EDT The CV Group has rolled subsidiary Essential USA into its newly launched CV America which will be headed up by Erik Gilbert. In addition to the global platform for marketing and distribution services that Essential US provided to North American la ...

  40. A2IM Using Federal Grant To Expand Trade Missions, Bolster Indie Music

    August 31, 2012 5:12 PM EDT A2IM went to Washington, D.C.'s U.S. Trade Information Center at the Ronald Reagan Building to pick up the award certificate for the MDCP funding. From left: Deputy Under Secretary of Commerce for Manufacturing and Services Maureen Smith, who ...

  41. Dead Sara, Manager Talk About the Keys to Their Indie Success

    August 24, 2012 3:35 PM EDT Dead Sara rock the Sunset Strip Music Festival's main stage. (Photo: Nicole Pajer) For a band without the support of a major label, Dead Sara has made some major career strides. You can hardly turn on rock radio these days without hearing the ...

  42. Bubbling Under: Vicci Martinez's Voice Reaching Radio

    July 13, 2012 10:37 AM 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: Vicci Martinez, Cheyenne Jackson, Miss Willie Brown and the FiNATTiCZ Vicci Martine ...

  43. Business Matters: How Extensive Pre-Sales Can Help Indie Albums to Top 40 Debuts

    July 02, 2012 5:29 PM EDT Extensive Pre-Sales Can Help Indie Albums Chart Higher Than Major Releases Fan-funding platforms can now put independent albums high up the U.K. album chart. Whether or not that's a good thing is up for debate. Take the example of Ginger Wild ...

  44. Seymour Stein Pays Tribute to Beggars Groups' Martin Mills at A2IM's Libera Awards

    June 22, 2012 1:08 PM EDT Seymour Stein (right) presenting Martin Mills with his Libera Lifetime Achievement award in New York City. (photo: Kyle Dean Reinford) At last night's inaugural A2IM Libera awards, legendary record exec Seymour Stein presented Beggars Group&# ...

  45. Spotify, Bon Iver, Arcade Fire Take Home First Ever Libera Awards

    June 21, 2012 9:00 PM EDT Bon Iver's self titled release took home the award for Independent Album of the Year (presented by Official.fm) and the Arcade Fire's "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains)" won Independent Video of the Year at the first ever ...

  46. Amanda Palmer Partners With U.K. Indie Cooking Vinyl For European Album Release

    June 21, 2012 12:05 AM EDT Singer-songwriter Amanda Palmer has signed a distribution and label services deal with U.K. indie Cooking Vinyl for the European release of her forthcoming studio album "Theatre Is Evil." As previously reported and detailed in this week& ...

  47. Wynter Gordon Preps Self-Released Four EPs (Listen To First Single Here)

    June 20, 2012 1:28 PM EDT Wynter Gordon's new Doleo EP Wynter Gordon, a singer/songwriter best known for her club hits "Dirty Talk," "Buy My Love" and her vocals on Flo Rida's top 5 2009 single "Sugar," is going the D.I.Y. route. Alt ...

  48. A2IM's Indie Week Day One: U.S.'s Shrinking World Market Share, YouTube Helps Indies, Playing China

    June 20, 2012 9:21 AM EDT A2IM's Exporting to the Emerging Music Market in China Panel: Moderator Robert Singerman, on the far right with (from left), Laura Devine Attorney's lawyer Anastasia Tonello, China Audio-Video Assn. Secretary general Ju Wang; Shanghai Sy ...

  49. Victoria Espinel, 'I.P. Czar,' Set For A2IM's Indie Week Keynote

    June 14, 2012 1:28 PM EDT A2IM's Indie Week kicks off its seventh year June 19, and before the organization's inaugural Libera Awards honor the top independent labels and musicians, U.S. Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator Victoria Espinel will give the ...

  50. A2IM Elects Daptone's Bauer, Glassnote's Scully, Jagjaguwar's Van Arman to Board

    June 06, 2012 12:09 PM EDT The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) has elected three new board members, Daptones GM Cathy Bauer; Glassnote Records GM Chris Scully; and Darius Van Arman, founder and co-owner of Jagjaguwar/Dead Oceans/Secretly Canadian The three ...

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