1. New Signings: Warner Music Nabs Ylvis, WME Inks Leah Turner, Maximum Artist Adds Lalah Hathaway, Warner/Chappell Signs Danny Orton

    October 02, 2013 7:45 AM EDT Here’s a look at the latest artist signings across the music industry. Billboard.biz is interested in your company’s new signings. Please send announcements to Mitchell.Peters@billboard.com for inclusion in our regular report. Click here for the ...

  2. New York City Opera To File For Bankruptcy

    October 02, 2013 1:12 AM EDT New York City Opera said Tuesday it is shutting down and filing for bankruptcy protection after seven decades as a fixture on the metropolitan cultural scene. The company announced Sept. 12 that it needed to raise $7 million by the end of that m ...

  3. German Live Music Market Dropped 16% in 2012 (Study)

    October 01, 2013 4:18 PM EDT HAMBURG -- The German live entertainment market had a dramatic decline in income in 2012 as industry-wide ticket sales fell 16% from four billion euros in 2011 to 3.3 billion euros in 2012 and audience numbers contracted by 9% to 30.1 million ac ...

  4. New York City Opera Plans For Bankruptcy If Cash Can’t Be Raised

    September 27, 2013 1:23 AM EDT New York City Opera could be sounding its final note this weekend - at least for a while. The 70-year-old company says it plans to file for bankruptcy and scrap the bulk of its 2013-14 season unless it somehow manages to reach its fundraising go ...

  5. Conversations with Composers: Fil Eisler

    September 26, 2013 4:43 PM EDT Composer: Fil Eisler Current projects: Scoring “Revenge” for ABC (season three premiere is Sept. 29) ; “Years of Living Dangerously” for Showtime ; “Reckless” for CBS ; and the independent documentary “The Dog” Representation: Seth Kaplan and C ...

  6. Blue Note and Panasonic Partner on In-Car Audio (Exclusive)

    September 26, 2013 9:00 AM EDT Blue Note Records has signed a licensing partnership with Panasonic to help develop and co-market a car audio system that would be tuned to the types of music featured in Blue Note's catalog, whose artists range from Norah Jones and Van ...

  7. Grammy Nominations Concert Returning to L.A.

    September 18, 2013 10:02 AM EDT After shaking things up in Nashville last year, the Recording Academy is bringing the Grammy Nominations Concert Live!! back to Los Angeles. The hour-long CBS concert special will take place at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Friday, Dec. 6 at 10 ...

  8. Gallo's Film/TV Briefs: Diddy’s Revolt Goes Live Oct. 21; ‘Into the Woods’ Starts Filming; ‘Mad Men’ Pours a Holiday Mix

    September 17, 2013 5:40 PM EDT Sean Combs’ Cable Channel Revolt Goes Live Oct. 21 Sean Combs’ cable channel Revolt will go live Oct. 21 on Time Warner cable systems in New York and Los Angeles prior to a national launch in January. Revolt will be made available to customers w ...

  9. Singer Eydie Gorme Dead at 84

    August 10, 2013 10:49 PM EDT Eydie Gorme, a popular nightclub and television singer as a solo act and as a team with her husband, Steve Lawrence, has died. She was 84. Gorme, who also had a huge solo hit in 1963 with "Blame it on the Bossa Nova," died Saturday ( ...

  10. Backbeat: How Does Chris Thile, Mandolin Player/MacArthur Genius, Get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, Practice, Twitter, Impromptu Gig in NYC's Tompkins Square Park

    August 07, 2013 7:45 PM EDT Before he takes his recent interpretations of famed composer Johan Sebastian Bach to Carnegie Hall later this fall, mandolin virtuoso Chris Thile surprised about two dozen fans by offering to play his newest material on a bench in Tompkins Squar ...

  11. Billboard Argentina Launches

    August 07, 2013 6:25 PM EDT Billboard will debut its first Spanish-language edition with Billboard Argentina, which launched this week. The monthly, glossy publication will be Billboard’s 5th international property joining Brazil, Russia, South Korea and Japan. Billboard A ...

  12. George Duke, Multi-Faceted Keyboardist, Dead at 67

    August 06, 2013 1:18 PM EDT George Duke, the Grammy-winning jazz keyboardist and producer whose sound infused acoustic jazz, electronic jazz, funk, R&B and soul in a 40-year-plus career, has died. He was 67. A representative for Duke said the performer died Monday nigh ...

  13. 'Walking Dead' Composer to Score 'SHIELD,' 'Black Sails'

    July 16, 2013 11:21 AM EDT Bear McCreary is having a good day. The music composer for AMC's "The Walking Dead" has landed two buzzy gigs: scoring the highly anticipated Joss Whedon series "Marvel's Agents of SHIELD" and Starz's "Bla ...

  14. Chart Moves: Adele's '21' Nears Longevity Record, BET Awards Push 82% Sales Gain for Charlie Wilson

    July 12, 2013 9:00 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, a rap album crowned the list for the third time in as many weeks. J. Cole's "Born Sinner" jumped from No. 2 to No. 1 in its third week, selling 58,000 copies, according to Nielsen Sound ...

  15. Depeche Mode Tops Hot Tours Chart With $60.8 Million Gross

    July 11, 2013 9:05 PM EDT Depeche Mode leads this week's list of Hot Tours with more than $60.8 million in ticket sales from the Delta Machine Tour that supports its most recent album of the same name, which was released in March.  The Depeche tour kicked off in ear ...

  16. Placido Domingo Hospitalized in Spain With Embolism

    July 09, 2013 12:16 PM EDT Opera singer Placido Domingo is in the hospital after suffering a blockage in an artery of the lungs. Domingo's representative says the 72-year-old is expected to make a full recovery but will have to miss several appearances scheduled for ...

  17. Bolshoi Director General Fired Following Behind-the-Scenes Intrigue, Recent Tragedy

    July 09, 2013 11:41 AM EDT The chief of Moscow's Bolshoi Theater was fired Tuesday after months of infighting following an acid attack on its artistic director that has stained the reputation of one of the legendary names in world ballet. The departure of Anatoly Iks ...

  18. Stones Top Weekly Hot Tours, Net $21.3 Million Over Five Shows – Streisand Close Behind with $18.3 Million

    July 05, 2013 11:14 AM EDT The Rolling Stones' 50 & Counting Tour tops the weekly Hot Tours recap with the final box office stats reported from the legendary group's two-month trek through North America. The latest batch of shows reported brought in $21.3 mi ...

  19. Nielsen SoundScan Mid-Year Report: Digital Album and Single Sales Slow

    July 03, 2013 7:50 PM EDT Digital tracks sales are on the decline and the trend is accelerating. For the year to date as of June 30, digital track sales have declined 2.3% to 682.2 million units from the 698 million units that tracks scanned in the first half of 2012, ...

  20. From the Magazine: The New DIY -- Your Music Career in Your Hands

    July 01, 2013 2:00 PM EDT The following excerpts are from the "The New DIY: Your Career In Your Hands" cover package featured in the new issue of Billboard (July 7)  and inlcude Ed Chrstman's look at the changing marketplace for independent distributors; ...

  21. Trey Songz, Melissa Etheridge, Valerie Simpson, 'Les Miserables' Honored at Recording Academy's New York Gala

    June 28, 2013 11:03 AM EDT The importance of music education was celebrated as Trey Songz, Melissa Etheridge, Joshua Bell, "Les Miserables"' composers Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer, Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Ashford & Simpson were honored at the Ne ...

  22. Chart Moves: Hezekiah Walker's Best Week Ever, Harry Connick, Jr.'s 21st Top 10 Jazz Album

    June 21, 2013 11:00 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart , Black Sabbath scored its first No. 1 as 13 bowed in the top slot with 155,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Elsewhere in the top 10, Big Time Rush, Goo Goo Dolls, the "Man of Stee ...

  23. Chart Moves: Hezekiah Walker's Best Week Ever, Harry Connick Jr.'s 21st Top 10 Jazz Album

    June 21, 2013 9:00 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Black Sabbath scored its first No. 1 as "13" bowed in the top slot with 155,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Elsewhere in the top 10, Big Time Rush, Goo Goo Dolls, the " ...

  24. Backbeat: Robert Glasper, Gregory Porter, India.Arie Rock Playboy Jazz Fest

    June 17, 2013 1:56 PM EDT The Playboy Jazz Festival celebrated its 35th anniversary with a new host -- comedian/actor George Lopez -- and arguably one of the best lineups in recent years. Performers ranging from the Grammy-winning Robert Glasper Experiment and George Du ...

  25. Vampire Weekend Debuts At No. 1 On Billboard 200

    May 22, 2013 10:29 AM EDT As predicted, Vampire Weekend notches its second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as Modern Vampires of the City debuts atop the list this week. The set sold 134,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, which is a record-hig ...

  26. Taylor Swift, Gotye and Rihanna Win Big at Billboard Music Awards

    May 19, 2013 11:19 PM EDT Taylor Swift and her 3.7 million-selling "Red" dominated the 2013 Billboard Music Awards on Sunday night (May 19), taking home eight trophies as Gotye's "Somebody That I Used To Know" swept four major song categories and ...

  27. Backbeat: Varèse Sarabande Records Celebrates 35th Anniversary with Giacchino and 'Star Trek'

    May 15, 2013 5:29 PM EDT Michael Giacchino conducted the world premiere of his music from “Star Trek Into Darkness” as part of Varèse Sarabande Records 35th anniversary concert May 11 at the Warner Grand Theatre in San Pedro, Calif. Steven Allen Fox conducted the Golden ...

  28. Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, Kevin Spacey, More Celebrate Phil Ramone's Life and Legacy at Memorial Concert

    May 13, 2013 12:19 PM EDT The life of legendary producer Phil Ramone was celebrated Saturday night in grand style, with performances from many of the acts he produced down through the years such as Billy Joel, Paul Simon and Tony Bennett, along with remembrances from Qui ...

  29. Chart Moves: Fleetwood Mac Returns After 10 Years, Lindsey Stirling Hits New Chart High

    May 10, 2013 8:30 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Kenny Chesney roped his seventh No. 1, as "Life on a Rock" arrived atop the list with 153,000 sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was one of just two debuts in the top 10 this week, a ...

  30. What's Next for Randy Jackson After 'American Idol'? (Analysis)

    May 09, 2013 9:19 PM EDT The goal of “American Idol,” a dozen seasons ago when it started, was to create stars out of unknowns. It did so for Simon Cowell, perhaps the most famous A&R man on the planet, who has surrounded himself with television and music projects ...

  31. Blue Note Records, ArtistShare Create Crowdfunding Label

    May 08, 2013 1:19 PM EDT Jazz label Blue Note Records has joined with crowdfunding platform ArtistShare in a new partnership called Blue Note/ArtistShare committed to discovering and nurturing up-and-coming young jazz talent. Inside Blue Note Records' Dazzling Spot ...

  32. Universal Music Publishing Acquires Criterion Music Corp

    May 07, 2013 2:48 PM EDT Universal Music Publishing Group has acquired Criterion Music Corporation and its affiliated entities, it was announced today by Zach Horowitz, Chairman & CEO, UMPG, and Bo Goldsen, President of Criterion The company will relocate to UMPG’s ...

  33. EMI Wins Dispute Over Duke Ellington 'Net Revenue'

    May 06, 2013 5:23 PM EDT The decision is a defeat for Paul Ellington, the grandson of the great jazz pianist, who sued EMI for hundreds of thousands of dollars. He alleged that EMI had breached a 1961 songwriter royalty agreement with Ellington by deducting fees for for ...

  34. André Rieu Tops Hot Tours Chart Followed by Michael Jackson, The Cure, Black Sabbath, Prince

    May 03, 2013 11:55 AM EDT Violinist and orchestra conductor André Rieu makes his second No. 1 appearance of the year at on the weekly Hot Tours ranking with box office grosses reported from tour dates during March and April.  Rieu, who also earned the top tour ranking on ...

  35. Billboard Taps SonicBids for Music Awards Post-Party Talent Search

    May 02, 2013 9:28 PM EDT After a night including performances from Prince, Taylor Swift and Lil Wayne, Billboard is looking for one act to take the Billboard Music Awards from the party to the after-party. One group will get to follow the evening of superstar acts with ...

  36. Chart Alert: Michael Bublé Tops Billboard 200; Fantasia Arrives At No. 2

    May 01, 2013 11:00 AM EDT As reported yesterday (April 30), pop singer Michael Bublé earns his fourth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 this week with the arrival of To Be Loved . The set sold 195,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Bublé's ...

  37. 'Kinky Boots,' Scored by Cyndi Lauper, Leads Tony Award Noms

    April 30, 2013 11:15 AM EDT NEW YORK -- The Cyndi Lauper-scored "Kinky Boots" has earned a leading 13 Tony Award nominations, with the British import "Matilda: The Musical" close behind with 12. Tom Hanks, making his Broadway debut, earned a nod as lead ...

  38. Cellist Janos Starker Dies at 88

    April 29, 2013 9:34 PM EDT Grammy Award-winning cellist Janos Starker has died after months of declining health. He was 88. Alain Barker, a spokesman for the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University, said Starker died Sunday at his Bloomington home in the presence of ...

  39. Carly Rae Jepsen, Rush, Leonard Cohen, Weeknd, Grimes Among 2013 Juno Award Winners

    April 21, 2013 10:20 AM EDT Rush, Leonard Cohen, Carly Rae Jepsen, Metric and The Weeknd were among the winners at the 2013 Juno Gala Dinner & Awards in Regina, Sask., last night (April 20), during a private, untelevised, non-webcast evening attended by 1,150 members o ...

  40. Universal, X5 Create Digital Compilation Business

    April 17, 2013 8:20 PM EDT Universal Music Group and the Stockholm-based digital music company X5 Music Group have launched a partnership to produce digital compilation albums from the catalogs of Universal’s Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Verve and Blue Note Records label ...

  41. Les Blank, Blues-Jazz Documentarian, Dead at 77

    April 07, 2013 3:17 PM EDT Filmmaker Les Blank, whose documentaries about blues and jazz musicians and music of the South were widely acclaimed, died April 7 at his home in Berkeley, Calif. He was 77; the cause of death was bladder cancer. Beginning in 1965 with a short f ...

  42. SiriusXM Indie Awards: Japandroids, Carly Rae Jepsen, and Metric Win Big During Canadian Music Week

    March 25, 2013 10:32 AM EDT Canada’s SirusXM Indie Awards, held each year in Toronto as part of Canadian Music Week, honoured some rather big names Friday night (March 22) -- for an awards ceremony that strictly honors independent artists -- including Taylor Swift, Carly R ...

  43. Bebo Valdés, Iconic Cuban Pianist, Dead at 94

    March 22, 2013 4:59 PM EDT Bebo Valdés was a big man whose music revealed a huge heart. The gentle giant of Cuban music, who died Friday (March 22) at age 94, was one of the founders of Latin jazz, and a pioneer in bringing Afro-Cuban sacred rhythms to popular dance music ...

  44. New Doc Premiering at SXSW Explores the Tumultuous Life of Legendary New Orleans Pianist James Booker

    March 14, 2013 11:03 AM EDT Harry Connick Jr. deciphers the work of his piano mentor James Booker in Lily Keber's film "Bayou Maharajah: The Tragic Genius of James Booker," that receives its world premiere today at SXSW. He explains in the film that Booker&# ...

  45. George Lopez to Host Playboy Jazz Festival

    February 28, 2013 10:15 PM EST 0 0 0 0 When the Playboy Jazz Festival returns to the Hollywood Bowl on June 15-16, it will welcome a new master of ceremonies: George Lopez. Joining the Grammy-nominated comedian and actor will be a lineup that includes newly minted Grammy winner Robert ...

  46. Concord's Glen Barros and Gene Rumsey on Label's 8 Grammy Wins, The ‘Underserved' Adult Market

    February 13, 2013 1:42 PM EST 4 1 8 0 Above: Esperanza Spalding won two of Concord's eight Grammy wins (Photo: FilmMagic) . Concord Records was the Grammy's leading label winner this year, picking up eight nods -- and it wasn't a fluke. Traditionally, Concord is one of ...

  47. Sony Classical Relaunching OKeh Records Jazz Imprint

    January 11, 2013 3:06 PM EST 0 0 0 0 Sony Classical is relaunching historic OKeh Records as its primary jazz imprint. The imprint will be part of Sony Masterworks in the U.S., Sony Classical's domestic branch. Overseeing OKeh will be Chuck Mitchell, senior VP at Sony Masterworks ...

  48. Claude Nobs, Montreux Jazz Festival Founder, Dead at 76

    January 10, 2013 8:09 PM EST 0 0 0 0 Claude Nobs, the founder and general manager of the Montreux Jazz Festival, whose passion for music and artistry introduced generations of legendary musicians to international audiences on the Swiss stage, has died. He was 76. The Jazz Festival sa ...