1. Featured Album Review: "Kiss Land" The Weeknd

    September 06, 2013 10:01 AM EDT R&B emoter the Weeknd (aka Abel Tesfaye) emerged in 2011 under a shroud of mystery, with little inclination to play live, conduct interviews or even sign to a label. Critics widely praised the trio of mixtapes he released that year, applaudi ...

  2. Live Review: Nine Inch Nails at the Troubadour, Los Angeles

    September 06, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Artist: Nine Inch Nails Venue: The Troubadour, Los Angeles Date: Sept. 3 "I almost forgot we have a new record out today," Trent Reznor exclaimed midway through a private Nine Inch Nails concert held at Los Angeles' fam­ed Troubad ...

  3. Album Reviews: Goldfrapp, Arctic Monkeys, Chris Young, Body/Head, 2 Chainz, Earth, Wind & Fire

    September 06, 2013 10:01 AM EDT SOUL Earth, Wind & Fire "Now, Then & Forever" Producers: various Label: Legacy Recordings Release date: Sept. 10 Earth, Wind & Fire's first new studio album in eight years -- led by the single "My Promise" -- ...

  4. Happening Now: 'Sweet' Success

    September 06, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Fred Stobaugh, 96, becomes the oldest artist to appear on the Hot 100. An unassuming love letter-turned-song has become a historic hit, as "Oh Sweet Lorraine" by Green Shoe Studio featuring Jacob Colgan and Fred Stobaugh debuts on the ...

  5. Bubbling Under: The Colourist, Mia Martina, Brothers Osborne, Lantana

    September 06, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Big 'Things' Southern California band the Colourist has its sights set on the Alternative chart, as its single "Little Things" is building at the format. With support from KNRK Portland, Ore.; KBZT San Diego; and SiriusXM ...

  6. Over the Counter Column: Avenged Sevenfold Crowned 'King' Again

    September 06, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Rock band Avenged Sevenfold comes flying in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200. The group's sixth studio album, "Hail to the King," sold 159,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the second-largest sal ...

  7. Krewella's Debut, 'Get Wet,' Sets Hard-Hitting Standard for EDM

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT The EDM revolution has been either mute or a little mushy. Skrillex's bass aggression is largely wordless. Zedd, Swedish House Mafia and Calvin Harris have scored massive hits with sentimental songs about love, be it romantic or filial. The ...

  8. My Day: Melissa Lonner, Senior Producer of NBC News & Sports

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT In her eight years at NBC's "Today," Melissa Lonner has built the show's concert series into a year-round event, and the prestige music booking for morning TV. Lonner -- who also helmed NBC's broadcast of the opening cer ...

  9. Riding the Mobile Ad Growth Wave: Forecasts Show There's More to Come

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT U.S. digital ad spending will increase nearly 50% in the next five years thanks to a surge in mobile spending, according to research firm eMarketer. EMarketer forecasts U.S. digital ad spending will grow 14.9% to $42.3 billion this year, a revis ...

  10. SoundExchange Seeks Up to $100 million From SiriusXM for Underpaying Artist Royalties

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT SoundExchange has filed a lawsuit against SiriusXM Radio that contends the satellite broadcaster "systematically underpaid" royalties from 2007 to 2011. The complaint, filed Aug. 26 in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, ...

  11. Back to Brill: New York's Top Publishers Unite to Bring Creative Buzz Back to the City

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT In an attempt to recover lost ground from Los Angeles and Nashville, a group of New York-based executives from various publishers are staging a songwriter camp in the Big Apple this month. The reason: To retrain a spotlight to New York, which ha ...

  12. Questions Answered: Tim Quirk, Head of Global Programming at Android

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT What did you wake up thinking about this morning? I woke up with a Spencer Wiggins song in my head -- his version of "Feed the Flame." It's the perfect example of the licensing challenges of having a global music service. He' ...

  13. Executive Turntable: Warner, Caroline, SESAC, Ole, Live Nation, Harvest Records

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT RECORD COMPANIES Warner Music Group promotes Sara Nemerov to senior VP/head of global consumer products and brand licensing. In addition to overseeing consumer products and brand licensing, Nemerov will develop retail partnerships and new produc ...

  14. Further Dealings: Vevo Joins Apple TV, Rap-a-Lot Records & RED Distrubtion, Myspace

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Vevo and four other content sources -- Disney, Disney XD, the Smithsonian and the Weather Channel -- have joined the ranks of Apple TV apps. The launch makes Vevo's catalog of music videos, which the company says numbers 75,000, available o ...

  15. Good Works: Musical Notes From Birmingham

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT In the wake of commemorating the 50th anniversary of the 1963 March on Washington and Dr. Martin Luther King's iconic "I Have a Dream" speech, other seminal events in civil rights history will be taking center stage in Birmingham, ...

  16. Business Matters Column: All the Way Live

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Live content is king. Today's challenge is how to better deliver live content to fans. The realities of the digital music era have shifted emphasis to live music and away from recorded music. From YouTube and Vevo to SoundCloud and Spotify, ...

  17. On The Road Column: Building New Arena Stars

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT In a genre that's clearly leading the way in developing arena-level ticket sellers, Blake Shelton is a 15-year overnight success. The traditional model in country -- and one that works very well -- has acts move up the ladder from third act ...

  18. T&E Report: Boston for Boston Calling (September 8-9)

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Even if you haven't moshed with the Dropkick Murphys or engaged in a drunken singalong to the Standells' "Dirty Water" at Fenway Park, it's hard not to be impressed with Boston's passion for music. The city has cult ...

  19. Travel Essentials: Boston's Competitive College-Radio Scene for Boston Calling

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Often called "America's College Town," Boston is crammed with dozens of colleges and universities, from Boston College to Boston University, Emerson to Emmanuel, and, of course, Berklee College of Music. As a result, Beantown is h ...

  20. The Billboard Covery Story: Drake, "The Drake Effect"

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT It's hard enough to make a hit song without wondering whether it'll end up on the front of a hot sauce packet. But Drake can't pretend he doesn't know that's a possibility. The 26-year-old rapper/singer born Aubrey Graha ...

  21. Happening Now: Bachata Dominates Latin Pop Charts

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT If anyone still doubted the power of bachata in the U.S. Latin market, they need look no further than this week's Hot Latin Songs chart. At No. 1 is rising romantic bachata crooner Prince Royce with "Darte un Beso," the first sing ...

  22. Happening Now: Ben Rector Rising

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Like many singer/songwriter Ben Rector is working outside the traditional music industry. What's interesting is how far outside, and what he's accomplishing. Without label support, publishing or any type of radio push, his most recent ...

  23. Bubbling Under: Iggy Azalea, Anayasha Figueroa, Elizaveta, Myla Smith

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Model Behavior Australian-born rapper/model Iggy Azalea zeroes in on her first airplay chart appearance as "Work" percolates below Rhythmic. Azalea signed with Interscope in 2012, but the deal dissolved over her management deal with T. ...

  24. Special Feature: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons -- Still Working His Way Back to You

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Every night, around the globe, a half-­dozen touring companies perform "Jersey Boys," the true-to-life hit musical about the Four Seasons. Audiences everywhere are drawn to the songs and the story of the group that first soared onto th ...

  25. Special Feature: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons -- True Jersey Boys

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT There is a scene in the hit Broadway musical "Jersey Boys" that represents the sustained success of Frankie Valli, Bob Gaudio and their group, the Four Seasons, for more than 50 years. It portrays a pact made by Valli, the singer, and ...

  26. Special Feature: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons -- 'Far Beyond Any Expectations'

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT The musical partnership of singer Frank­ie Valli and songwriter Bob Gaudio in the Four Seasons has been one of the most successful during the pop era of the '60s and beyond. The staying power of the group's hits has been affirmed by th ...

  27. Special Feature: Quicker, Faster & More Fun Arenas -- Execs Face "Trickiest of Gigs" in Satisfying Fans & Artists

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT In the broadest of contexts, an arena is a business -- if a very complex one -- and must be run as such, taking care of its employees, serving clients and making bottom-line numbers work. To even begin the task of public assembly, arenas must fi ...

  28. Special Feature: Quicker, Faster & More Fun Arenas -- Managing Health Care

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT One of the thorniest issues facing arena managers heading into 2014 is the same issue that all businesses must address, especially those who hire part-time help: the provisions of the Affordable Care Act that take effect Jan. 1. "We have pa ...

  29. Special Feature: Quicker, Faster & More Fun Arenas -- Arena Confab Dives Deep

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT The Arena Management Conference, set for Sept. 8-10 in Toronto and staged by the International Assn. of Venue Managers, aims to take a deeper look into the world of venue operations, with a focus on keeping the customers satisfied and highlighti ...

  30. Special Feature: Quicker, Faster & More Fun Arenas -- Giving Indies an Edge

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT ArenaNetwork and Venue Coalition, the two leading associations that represent independent venues, continue to offer their members services and networking that they wouldn't benefit from on their own. As venue executives head to the annual A ...

  31. Fall Preview 2013: October Albums Including Paul McCartney, Miley Cyrus, Arcade Fire & More

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   Mary J. Blige "A Mary Christmas" TBD L Matriarch/Verve/Interscope M Kendu Isaacs B Rob Light, Creative Artists Agency Blige spices up the holidays with her first Christmas album. Helping t ...

  32. Featured Fall Album Preview: Keith Urban's "Fuse"

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   Keith Urban "Fuse" Sept. 10 L Capitol Nashville M Gary Borman, Borman Entertainment B Darin Murphy, Creative Artists Agency Keith Urban typically folds in eclectic influences in his versio ...

  33. Featured Fall Album Preview: Kings of Leon's "Mechanical Bull"

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   Kings of Leon Mechanical Bull Sept. 24 L RCA M Ken Levitan, Vector Management B Scott Clayton, Creative Artists Agency Given the inauspicious ending of Kings of Leon's 2010 album cycle for &quo ...

  34. Fall Preview Q&As: Pre-Release Streaming: Yes or No, and Why?

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT "For a single it can make total sense to build up some excitement, mostly more on developing artists. For a superstar artist it doesn't make a lot of sense to burn your possibilities of placement in iTunes." -Luis Estrada, managin ...

  35. Fall Preview 2013: September Albums Including Nine Inch Nails, Cher, Justin Timberlake & More

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   Nine Inch Nails "Hesitation" Marks Sept. 3 L Columbia M Jim Guerinot, Rebel Waltz B Marc Geiger, William Morris Endeavor The return of Nine Inch Nails from retirement was not inevitable. S ...

  36. Fall Preview 2013 Q&As: What's the Most Left-Field Promotional Project, Event or Partnership Among Your Fall Releases?

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT "For Gloria Estefan's 'The Standards,' we have a strategic partnership with Gilt City, which is a place you're not necessarily used to seeing music promoted. It's a first-of-its-kind promotion for them as well." ...

  37. Featured Fall Album Preview: Katy Perry's "Prism"

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   Katy Perry Prism Oct. 22 L Capitol M Bradford Cobb, Direct Management Group B Mitch Rose, Creative Artists Agency "I'm really looking forward to my third upcoming journey with you guys,&qu ...

  38. Featured Fall Album Preview: Celine Dion's "Loved Me Back to Life"

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   Celine Dion Loved Me Back to Life Nov. 5 L Columbia M René Angelil B Rob Prinz, United Talent Agency Celine Dion would like you to know that "Loved Me Back to Life" will be her edgiest rec ...

  39. Fall Preview 2013 Q&As: How Will You Leverage Talk Shows in Your Q4 Plans, Including New Programs From Queen Latifah & Arsenio Hall?

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT "We do Univision, we do Telemundo, we do 'Extra,' we do Ryan Seacrest. But not every artist will be there for all of them. Talk shows are important, it's relevant, but again it's part of a plan. The point with marketing ...

  40. Featured Fall Album Preview: "The Hunger Games: Catching Fire"

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   Various Artists The Hunger Games: Catching Fire November L Republic Records   The first song Coldplay has ever written and recorded for a film is the lead single for Lionsgate's "The Hunge ...

  41. Fall Preview 2013: In the Works Albums Including One Direction, Britney Spears & More

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT L = Label, M = Management, B = Booking Agent   One Direction "TBD" L Syco/Columbia M Richard Griffiths, Harry Magee and Will Bloomfield, Modest! Management B Creative Artists Agency After releasing two No. 1 full-lengths, "Up All ...

  42. Fall Preview 2013 Q&As: Are Fall & Q4 Sales Still Big Enough to Justify Holding Off Releases? Why Risk Getting Lost in the Shuffle of the Release Onslaught?

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT "Seasonality is important for us with our Latin artists. Yes, end-of-year sales are important. Yes, Valentine's Day sales are important. Yes, Mother's Day sales are important. But do you know what is more important? That you have ...

  43. How BitTorrent Works for Its Partners One Bundle at a Time

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT BitTorrent's latest version involves the Bundle: a package of content that can be downloaded and shared. The first layer is free, but bundles also have "gates" that offer users the choice of accessing additional content by complet ...

  44. Featured Album Review: "Nothing Was the Same" Drake

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Unlike most mainstream hip-hop artists, Drake often places his vulnerability in plain sight, as is the case on his new single. "I can't get over you," he sings to his girl while trudging through waning '80s synths, "you ...

  45. Live Review: Marc Anthony at AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Artist: Marc Anthony Venue: AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami Date: Aug. 24 Marc Anthony kicked off the U.S. leg of his world tour with two sold-out shows at the American­Airlines Arena in Miami, playing a mostly salsa set that underscored the theme ...

  46. Single Reviews: Janelle Monae & Miguel, Anna Calvi, Phoenix, The Watned, Angel Mary & The Tennessee Werewolves

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT ALTERNATIVE Anna Calvi "Eliza" (3:42) Producer: John Congleton Writer: Anna Calvi Publishers: Domino ­Publishing/BarBera Music Domino Two years after her spooky art-rock debut LP, Calvi is back with the even more bewitching "Eliza ...

  47. App Review: Hang W/ Keeps It Real (Time)

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT The latest entry in the video app game, Hang w/ lets users broadcast what they're doing through their ­smartphone's camera to whomever cares to watch, in an effort to bring fans closer to their favorite artists and other celebrities. T ...

  48. Featured Album Review: "Hesitation Marks" Nine Inch Nails

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT After 25 years and eight albums, Trent Reznor is finally working out his shit. The unexpectedly vulnerable "Hesitation Marks" lives in the shadows of his demons -- the fear of relapse, suspicion of his partner, delusions of both grande ...

  49. Album Reviews: Ariana Grande, The 1975, Bastille, Black Joe Lewis, Volcano Choir, Neko Case

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT ELECTRONIC Bastille "Bad Blood" Producers: Mark Crew, Dan Smith Virgin Records Release date: Sept. 3 Already No. 1 in the United Kingdom, Bastille's debut "Bad Blood" sees its U.S. release. With a propelling drum beat, & ...

  50. BitTorrent Is Not a Crime: Once a Pariah, Now Providing Distribution & Data for Music, Movies & TV

    August 30, 2013 10:01 AM EDT When Converge Studios and Rock Mafia wanted to get the word out in August about an original TV series, they turned to an unconventional partner: BitTorrent, a file-transfer protocol that distributes large amounts of digital data and is often use ...

Pages