1. Strategy Column: Music Is the Platform

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT A new kind of startup takes the position that music can be used to create something greater beyond simply selling songs and managing rights. Every time you read about the "platform wars" it's a discussion about how the tech giants ...

  2. Retail Track Column: A Super Alliance

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT The Super D-Alliance deal taps the value of smart financiers, industry veterans and long relationships. Super D's acquisition of Alliance Entertainment is giving the music and video industry's credit managers and independent label owne ...

  3. Sound & Vision Column: Unique Direction For 'This Is Us'

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Sony, One Direction add new international dimension to concert films. For the third year in a row, a high-profile pop artist's concert film opened in the top five at the box office and was well on its way to profitability. Sony's One D ...

  4. Questions Answered: Matt Harmon, President of Beggars Group USA

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT What did you wake up thinking about this morning? I woke up thinking about our future U.S. headquarters that we're building here in New York. I dream about it almost every night. It's a pretty massive undertaking -- three floors in a 1 ...

  5. Backbeat Overheard: Christina Aguilera, Markus Dravis, Andreas Katsambas

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Angel investor: Markus Dravs, the producer/songwriter best-known for helming rock full-lengths like Coldplay's "Mylo Xyloto" and Mumford & Sons' "Babel," has followed up his work on Arcade Fire's upcoming & ...

  6. The Billboard Roundtable: Brands and Music

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Sponsorship spending is on a record pace in 2013, and brand deals are reshaping the way music is distributed. Billboard gathered five key players to discuss what's next. With sponsorship spending on music festivals, events and tours expecte ...

  7. The Billboard Roundtable: Brands and Music -- The Panel

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Marcie Allen Title: Founder/president, MAC Presents Age: 39 First music deal: Alison Krauss & Union Station tour sponsored by Cracker Barrel Old Country Store in 2004. Notable deals of last 12 months: The Rolling Stones and Citi Private Pass ...

  8. Billboard Music & Brands: Inside Tracks -- How 4 Key Agency Music Superviors Find the Perfect Tune

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT How four key agency music supervisors find the perfect tune for each and every spot. Andrew Kahn Founder, Good Ear Music Supervision In the late 2000s, as a music supervisor for Apple at TBWA's Media Arts Lab in Los Angeles, Andrew Kahn was ...

  9. The Billboard Cover Story - Kings of Leon: Don't Call It a Comeback

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Kings of Leon embark on what could be a career-defining album cycle. As another oppressive Tennessee summer begins to give way to fall, Kings of Leon are in the early stages of turning up their own heat as they shuffle about the comfortable conf ...

  10. The BIllboard Cover Story - Kings of Leon: The Fifth King

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Kings of Leon have worked with one producer, Angelo Petraglia, who's helped shape their sound and new album. The Kings of Leon soundscape has evolved significantly during the course of six albums, enough so that it would seem like different ...

  11. Billboard Music Cities - Nashville: Top Venues

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT   Marathon Music Works 1402 Clinton St. 615-891-1781 marathonmusicworks.com Since its November 2011 opening, Marathon Music Works has developed a well-earned rep as one of the trendiest nightspots in Music City, hosting performances by such arti ...

  12. Billboard Music Cities - Nashville: Hot Spots

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Where Nashville eats, drinks, shops and more. George Couri, Triple 8 Management "We are obviously extremely healthy, vibrant, dynamic, fit guys, but once in a while we shove our faces into some fried chicken. Hattie B's is great for th ...

  13. Billboard Music Cities - Nashville: Power Players

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Nashville's influencers on what makes Music City sing. Gary Overton Three years after Joe Galante stepped down as head of Sony Music Nashville in 2010, new chairman/CEO Gary Overton has more than proved himself. He's kept the label and ...

  14. Sleigh Bells Tips Internal Balance of Power on 'Bitter Rivals'

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT They were never bitter rivals, but in the early days of Sleigh Bells, singer Alexis Krauss and guitarist/­producer Derek Miller weren't exactly friends, either. The Brooklyn-based heavy-metal-meets-pop duo famously met in a restaurant where ...

  15. Kenny Rogers Reunites With Warner for 1st Time in 2 Decades for Eclectic, Guest-Filled "You Can't Make Old Friends"

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT There's no one Kenny Rogers is identified with more than Dolly Parton. The two have collaborated six times throughout their careers, most notably on the 1983 crossover smash "Islands in the Stream." "We can go years without s ...

  16. Scouting Report: Brass-Dance Outfit Rubblebucket

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT A blast of horns, a flash of color, and lead singer Kalmia Traver wailing on the saxophone while her bandmates offer explosions from the trumpet and trombone, adding an extra burst of sound and energy to Rubblebucket's already dance-worthy ...

  17. Genre-Busting Jazz: Robert Glasper Experiment Teams With Patrick Stump, Emeli Sande & More on 'Black Radio 2'

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Robert Glasper sounds none the worse for wear after two consecutive days of working into the wee hours shooting his first music video and doing press interviews. In fact, between jokes he's also channeling his inner Quincy Jones. "I� ...

  18. Road Work: Cults' Fall Tour

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Indie-pop outfit Cults are prepping a headlining run this fall in support of sophomore LP "Static" (Oct. 15, Columbia). Booked by Mike Mori of the Windish Agency, the trek will run from Oct. 22 to Nov. 26.   Routing: After two successf ...

  19. Featured Single Review: "Atlas" Coldplay

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Coldplay "Atlas" (3:56) Producers: Coldplay, Daniel Green, Rik Simpson Writer: Coldplay Publisher: Universal Music Publishing LABEL: Parlophone/Republic Coldplay's first song written specifically for a film soundtrack, "Atlas ...

  20. Single Reviews: Arcade Fire, Cher Lloyd, Sevyn Streeter, Daft Punk, Cut Copy

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT ROCK ARCADE FIRE "Reflektor" (7:42) Producers: Markus Dravs, James Murphy, Arcade Fire Writer: Arcade Fire Publisher: EMI Music Publishing LABEL: Merge Generation Y's most beloved rock band is back, and is more concerned about the ...

  21. App Review: Electrospective -- An EDM App for the Ages

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Can't think of anything to listen to, despite having 20 million songs at your fingertips? Remedy this post-modern problem with computer science -- specifically, the Electrospective app for massive streaming service Spotify. With 6 million p ...

  22. Live Review: Sheryl Crow at Greek Theatre, Los Angeles

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT ARTIST: Sheryl Crow VENUE: Greek Theatre, Los Angeles DATE: Sept. 14 Sheryl Crow made a smooth transition to the country field with a six-piece band that added subtle Nashville touches to a few of her past hits and lustrously presented a handful ...

  23. Album Reviews: Cher, HAIM, DelTron 3030, Amos Lee, Polvo, Elvis Costello & The Roots

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT ROCK Elvis Costello & The Roots "Wise Up Ghost" Producers: Steven ­Mandel, Elvis Costello, Ahmir ­"?uestlove" Thompson Label: Blue Note Release Date: Sept. 17 "Wise Up Ghost," the accidental sequel to Costello&# ...

  24. Featured Album Review: "This Is...Icona Pop"

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Icona Pop's debut album is engineered to attract a second lightning strike. There's a lot of shout-­singing in unison and reckless party girl credos ("You and I live/Don't learn" on "We Got the World") that def ...

  25. AJR 'Ready' For Stardom: Self-produced NY Brother Trio's Catchy "I'm Ready" Single Takes Off Through Vevo, SiriusXM

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT This past spring, when Australian songstress Sia Furl­er told her manager Jonathan Daniel about AJR, a trio of brothers whose undeniably catchy pop song "I'm Ready" caught her ear, he knew exactly who to call: Steve Greenberg, a p ...

  26. Happening Now: Miley's 'Wrecking Ball' Smashes

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT One week after Miley Cyrus' salacious music video for "Wrecking Ball" smashed the 24-hour record for views across the Vevo platform, the accumulation of those streams helped propel the ballad to the top of the Billboard Hot 100. & ...

  27. Bubbling Under: Madison Beer, American Young, Paradise Fears, TeeFLii

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Bieber Serves Beer Long Island, N.Y., native Madison Beer, 14, is the latest breakout signee of Scooter Braun, manager of Justin Bieber, among others. First single "Melodies" (Island Def Jam) sold 9,000 downloads in its opening week, a ...

  28. Over the Counter Column: Keith Urban Edges The Weeknd For No. 1

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT In a race for the top, the country star slips past rising R&B artist with fewer than 3,000 copies. Last week's race for the No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 between Ariana Grande and Tamar Braxton was nothing compared with the showdown ...

  29. Billboard Music Cities - Nashville: The Future of Nashville

    September 20, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Five tech startups that represent Music City's new cutting edge. Nashville is more than country music. Yes, the region of 1.7 million people is ground zero for cowboy-hatted superstars, legendary Music Row songwriters, major labels and publ ...

  30. Warner Is First Major to Reach a Radio Performance Rights Deal With Clear Channel

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT A new agreement by Clear Channel and Warner Music Group will make WMG the first major label to receive performance royalties for U.S. broadcast radio airplay. Announced the same week that Rep. Mel Watt, D-N.C., reiterated his plan to introduce l ...

  31. Channeling the Faith: Gaither Music's Music-Focused Christian TV Network Could Give Genre a Boost

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT With limited opportunities available for Christian/­gospel artists on mainstream TV, Gaither Music Group is tackling the challenge by launching a 24-hour channel on satellite operator Dish Network, Billboard has learned. The new network will lau ...

  32. My Day: Courtney Holt, COO of Maker Studios

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Most adults save up for a house or a new car as their first major purchase. Courtney Holt saved up to buy a nightclub -- the Echo in Los Angeles. His passion for music dates back to his teens, when he worked three gigs -- reviewing albums for th ...

  33. How an 18-Month-Old Of Monsters & Men Song Used in a Movie Trailer Became a Surprise Breakout

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Ben Stiller's next film, "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty," will not be in theaters until Christmas but it's already having an affect on the band Of Monsters and Men. "Dirty Paws," a track from the act's Republ ...

  34. Streaming Boosted Overall Growth in First-Half of 2013 in Some European Markets

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Digital revenue is growing in many countries, but not at the same pace everywhere. And as the first half of 2013 shows, each market is unique. Thus, there's not much reason to think that the United States will replicate the few success stor ...

  35. Songza Gets $4.7 Million From Amazon, WME, Troy Carter & More to Develop Native Advertising

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Internet radio company Songza has raised $4.7 million in fresh funding that will help grow its advertising business. The funding will allow Songza to establish its solution to create native advertising -- advertising that's built into the l ...

  36. Questions Answered: Rich Bengloff, President of the American Assn. of Independent Music

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT What did you wake up thinking about this morning? The New York Giants. I am concerned about their defensive secondary not being deep enough. But I quickly pivoted to the challenges facing the independent music community. We do our work in three ...

  37. The Deal: Super D Buys Alliance

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT WHAT: Super D has acquired Alliance Entertainment to create a multipronged wholesaler with $920 million in revenue, split almost evenly between CDs and DVDs. The move creates a one-stop/rackjobber with about $450 million in music, selling music ...

  38. Executive Turntable: Vevo, Fox Music, Warner/Chappell, Katz Radio Group, Live Nation

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT DIGITAL Vevo appoints Nielsen veteran Jonathan Carson as its first chief revenue officer. Carson will lead the music video and entertainment company's global sales team across advertising and brand partnerships, and will effectively fill so ...

  39. Further Dealings: SONGS Publishing + The Weeknd, Victor Willis of the Village People, BitTorrent

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT SONGS Music Publishing has announced a worldwide co-publishing agreement with the Weeknd, aka Abel Tesfaye. The deal encompasses past and future releases, including his sophomore album, "Kiss Land" (Sept. 10, XO/­Universal), and last y ...

  40. Good Works: Michael Franti Battles Health Crises With Love

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Musician Michael Franti, in concert with his self-described "better half" Sara Agah, has launched the non-profit Do It for the Love Foundation. Do It for the Love focuses on using music to help uplift those with life-threatening illnes ...

  41. Business Matters Column: The Struggle Continues

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT What would happen if artists pulled their music from digital services? And why haven't they, given the widespread discontent? Imagine thousands of artists going on strike against digital music services, demanding their content be pulled to ...

  42. Sound & Vision Column: New Energy Sources

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Can the social power of TV stars be more valuable than shrinking small-screen music budgets? The National's "Start a War" dates back two albums to 2007, but it's the track the Brooklyn band will perform on the Oct. 31 episode ...

  43. Opinion: Spotify Must Find a Solution for Ministry of Sound Playlist Problem, Other Services Should Take Heed

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Dance music label Ministry of Sound has reportedly sued Spotify in the United Kingdom over playlists of MoS' well-known compilation albums-even though MoS doesn't license to Spotify. How can you tell it's an MoS compilation? Becau ...

  44. Backbeat Over Heard: Kendrick Lamar Opening for Eminem? Box Office Competition for James Brown Biopic? Skateboard Ramps for Lil Wayne Recording Sessions?

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Mad cities: Billboard hears that ICM Partners, which handles bookings for Kendrick Lamar, Beyonce and others, has landed Lamar a coveted slot opening for fellow Dr. Dre protege Eminem when he tours next year. Lamar's cameo in Em's rece ...

  45. T&E Report: Texas for Austin City Limits Music Festival

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT   C3's Austin City Limits Music Festival is spreading the love around the state: This year's edition will feature acts including the National, Wild Belle and HAIM playing ACL-branded night-time shows at venues in Dallas, Houston and Sa ...

  46. Avicii: The Billboard Cover Story - Avicii's Wake-Up Call

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT With "Wake Me Up!" a million-selling Hot 100 No. 5, he's climbing the rock charts, getting CMT play and delivering EDM's biggest moment yet. The night sky flashes white with a Zeus-ian crash over the tiny town of Boom in Belg ...

  47. Vinyl's New Groove: Sales Up More Than 30% This Year, Major Retail Chains Entering the Market

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Near the entrance of the Whole Foods on West Third Street and Fairfax Avenue in Los Angeles -- between the juice bar and the body-care products -- you'll find something unusual: vinyl albums. Racked in 18 slots are about 200 copies of varie ...

  48. Vinyl's Growth Dependent on 50-Year-Old Manufacturing Process?

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Consumers love vinyl, and can't get enough of it -- sometimes literally. With presses running at capacity-and hampered to some degree by a production process that hasn't technologically changed in decades -- it's possible that the ...

  49. Prince Royce: The Prince Who Would Be King

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT In 2002, when he was 13 years old, Geoffrey Rojas decided he wanted to be a singer. It took him six years to develop a sound, a look and an identity, to turn himself into Prince Royce. It took him another two years to top the charts, and one mor ...

  50. Young Bachata: The New Crossover?

    September 13, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Young bachata stars are fashioning a new, bilingual sound that connects with a key demographic. So why aren't brands taking more notice? There are three bachata tracks -- Prince Royce's "Darte un Beso, " Enrique Iglesias' ...

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