1. Whose Throne? Jay Z & Live Nation, Kanye West & AEG Live Announce Separate U.S. Tours On Same Day

    September 06, 2013 2:14 PM EDT Two of hip-hop’s biggest stars have announced North American arena tours. Jay Z’s 34-date Magna Carter World Tour begins Nov. 30 at the Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn., and Kanye West’s 23-city Yeezus Tour starts Oct. 19 at the KeyArena in ...

  2. Chart Moves: Robin Thicke's 'Give' Soars On Hot 100; Justin Timberlake's 'Night' Hits New Peak; Paul McCartney Returns

    September 06, 2013 11:17 AM EDT As previously reported, Katy Perry's "Roar" takes over atop the Billboard Hot 100, halting the 12-week reign of Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," featuring T.I. and Pharrell. Who else has the eye of the tiger on the H ...

  3. Ask The Pros: CAA's Cara Lewis, Clear Channel's Tom Poleman, Virgin Mobile FreeFest/9:30 Club's Seth Hurwitz on Robin Thicke’s Touring Prospects

    September 06, 2013 8:06 AM EDT Robin Thicke’s monster summer hit “Blurred Lines” may finally be  slowing down at radio , but its success has created numerous live performance opportunities that probably wouldn’t have existed if the single hadn’t dominated airwaves in recent m ...

  4. Michael Jackson's New Instagram Account Causes Surge on Social 50 Chart

    September 05, 2013 9:57 PM EDT The late Michael Jackson makes a 14-position leap on Billboard's Social 50 chart (27-13) following online activity around his birthday (Aug. 29) and the launch of his Instagram account. Paul McCartney, Prince, Robert Plant: Why Veteran Musi ...

  5. Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' Is Billboard's Song of the Summer

    September 05, 2013 11:21 AM EDT Ending the (lack of) suspense, Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" (featuring T.I. and Pharrell) officially clinches the top spot on Billboard's 2013 Songs of the Summer chart . Billboard's annual Songs of the Summer running ...

  6. Kanye West Criticized By Human Rights Foundation Over Kazakhstan Performance

    September 04, 2013 1:36 PM EDT The Human Rights Foundation has criticized Kanye West for performing at a wedding in Kazakhstan, joining a chorus of detractors who say he legitimized the human rights violations of the nation's president. The rapper performed at the weddin ...

  7. Avenged Sevenfold Earns Second No. 1 Album On Billboard 200

    September 04, 2013 11:04 AM EDT DUTY CALLS   • Subscribe • Buy a Copy • Billboard on iPad Rock band Avenged Sevenfold comes flying in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 this week. The group's sixth studio album, "Hail to the King," opens atop the list, selling 159,00 ...

  8. Concert for Sandy Relief's Robin Hood Foundation Sues Patriot Communications Over 'Millions' in Missed Donations

    August 31, 2013 11:19 PM EDT A charity that helped organize last year's star-packed Concert for Sandy Relief says millions of dollars in donations were left on the table due to spotty service from the company tasked with processing the donations. In a lawsuit filed Wed ...

  9. Big Sean, Juicy J and Alabama Tribute Heading for Top 10 on Billboard 200

    August 30, 2013 6:52 PM EDT Rappers Big Sean and Juicy J, along with a new tribute album to country band Alabama, are headed for the top of the Billboard 200 albums chart next week. Industry sources suggest Big Sean's new "Hall of Fame" could sell approximat ...

  10. Clear Channel Taps Emeli Sande, Jake Bugg, Rita Ora For Bloomingdale's U.K. Style Campaign, NYC Concerts

    August 30, 2013 4:42 PM EDT Clear Channel has teamed with Bloomingdale’s to celebrate the fashion retailer’s celebration of Great Britain style with a multi-platform campaign that will include live shows, online radio and exclusive interviews. The custom partnership kicked ...

  11. Eminem's 'Berzerk' Selling Strong, Heading for Big Debut

    August 30, 2013 3:00 PM EDT Eminem's new single "Berzerk" is selling like crazy. Industry sources forecast that the hip-hop star's new single may sell upwards of 350,000 to 375,000 downloads by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, Sept. 1. That shoul ...

  12. New Signings: Boy George Signs with Kobalt, Rick Ross to ICM Partners, BMG Chrysalis US Land the Orwells

    August 30, 2013 7:30 AM EDT Here’s a look at the latest artist signings across the music industry, which include label, management, publishing and booking agency deals. Billboard.biz is interested in your company’s new signings. Please send announcements to Mitchell.Pete ...

  13. MTV VMAs Spur Early Gains for Miley Cyrus, NSYNC, Justin Timberlake, and More

    August 29, 2013 8:38 PM EDT Miley Cyrus, Robin Thicke and Justin Timberlake were all big winners during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), even though only Timberlake actually won any awards. Cyrus and Thicke paired for a buzzed-about performance during the Aug. 25 s ...

  14. Caribbean Fever Irie Jamboree Music Fest With Shabba Ranks, Capleton, Damian Marley To Debut at Brooklyn's Barclays Center

    August 29, 2013 7:50 PM EDT The three Caribbean music arena shows this Labor Day weekend will precede Brooklyn's annual West Indian Day Parade A contingent of prominent New York City based Caribbean music promoters have come together to stage a three-day festival at B ...

  15. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ ‘The Heist’ Passes 1 Million Sold

    August 28, 2013 4:42 PM EDT Mere days after their videos took home three Moonmen from the MTV Video Music Awards – including Best Hip-Hop Video for “Can’t Hold Us” – Macklemore & Ryan Lewis’ debut opus “The Heist” crosses the million copies sold mark. The set sold 19,0 ...

  16. Backbeat: Backstage Kem-istry at the Gibson

    August 28, 2013 1:50 PM EDT Billboard caught up with Motown artist Kem following his Aug. 25 opening stint for the Isley Brothers and Maze featuring Frankie Beverly at Universal City’s Gibson Amphitheatre. The singer/songwriter/musician is gearing up to record his fourth a ...

  17. Luke Bryan Spends Second Week Atop Billboard 200 Followed by John Mayer, TGT Debuts

    August 28, 2013 11:01 AM EDT As expected, Luke Bryan's "Crash My Party" spends a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, as it sells 159,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan (down 70%). Out of 29 chart-toppers, it's only the sixth album this yea ...

  18. Rick Ross Signs with ICM Partners for Concert Bookings and More

    August 27, 2013 5:48 PM EDT Rapper Rick Ross has signed with ICM Partners for representation in all areas. Ross’ responsible agents for concerts at ICM are Zach Iser and Caroline Yim. Previously, the rapper’s live bookings were handled in-house by his team. New Signings: ...

  19. Toni Braxton, Babyface Blast onto Adult R&B

    August 27, 2013 2:04 PM EDT R&B icons Toni Braxton and Babyface return to the Adult R&B airplay chart with "Hurt You," which opens at No. 17. The first single from their forthcoming duets album marks their 23rd and 21st appearances, respectively, dating t ...

  20. Miley Cyrus Sees Social Media and Digital Sales Benefits from MTV VMAs Performance

    August 26, 2013 7:51 PM EDT Miley Cyrus is reaping the benefits of her buzzed-about performance on the MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) on Aug. 25 -- both in sales and social metrics. During the VMAs telecast, Cyrus performed her Billboard Hot 100 top 10 single "We Can& ...

  21. Rap-A-Lot Records Signs with RED Distribution

    August 26, 2013 12:43 PM EDT Houston-based label Rap-A-Lot Records has signed a multi-year agreement with RED Distribution, a Sony Music Entertainment-owned sales and marketing division that handles releases for over sixty independent record labels, for digital and physica ...

  22. BMI Celebrates 'Biggest Revenue Year Ever,' Cash Money's Williams Brothers, Lil Wayne, Nicki Minaj

    August 26, 2013 7:55 AM EDT "If you go against me, you’re guaranteed to lose," said BMI Icon recipient Bryan "Birdman" Williams at the 2013 R&B/Hip-Hop Awards. From the pre-show calls to get everyone seated to the endless procession of songwriting ...

  23. Justin Timberlake Rescues 2013 MTV VMAs as Show Turns 30

    August 26, 2013 1:31 AM EDT MTV is never fond of promoting the age of its annual Video Music Awards and as it turned 30 Sunday night in Brooklyn it worked hard to say it could compete with the raunch of the Internet, the career achievement component of the Grammys and up-t ...

  24. Justin Timberlake's 'Mirrors' Wins MTV VMAs' Video of the Year Honors (Full Winners List)

    August 25, 2013 11:37 PM EDT The video of the year trophy was the final memorable moment of a night full of them for Justin Timberlake at the MTV Video Music Awards. Timberlake won the top honor for "Mirrors" on the same night he reunited briefly with `N Sync and ...

  25. Eminem Announces 'Marshall Mathers LP 2' In VMAs' Beats By Dre Commercial

    August 25, 2013 11:13 PM EDT Eminem returns with "The Marshall Mathers LP 2" on November 5. The rapper announced the news through a Beats by Dre commercial which played during tonight's (Aug. 25) MTV Video Music Awards. Check out the 16-second ad below. How ‘ ...

  26. MTV VMAs: Katy Perry To Perform Live From Iconic Brooklyn Locale, Producer Promises Borough Love Letter

    August 25, 2013 8:07 AM EDT Brooklyn’s Barclays center was an empty black box for much of August. The last concert to take place in the 19,000-seat venue? Beyonce’s Aug. 5 gig, capping off three nights at the venue her husband Jay Z helped bring to fruition. But as of Satu ...

  27. Earl Sweatshirt, Jimmy Buffett and TGT Top 10 Bound on Billboard 200

    August 23, 2013 8:04 PM EDT After a week where only two albums debuted in the top 10 on the Billboard 200, next week should provide a healthy influx of new releases to the region. The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning of Aug. 28. John Ma ...

  28. New Signings: August Alsina to Def Jam, Windish Agency Wins Bobby Womack, Frankie Rose Goes and Labrinth to Paradigm

    August 23, 2013 4:03 PM EDT Here’s a look at the latest artist signings across the music industry, which include label, management, publishing and booking agency deals. Billboard.biz is interested in your company’s new signings. Please send announcements to Mitchell.Peters ...

  29. Bud Light's 50 Concerts In 50 States Initiative - Did It Work? (Exclusive)

    August 23, 2013 2:01 PM EDT This story first appeared in the new Billboard Pick-up this issue here ; get your subscription here .   For its first attempt to host 50 concerts in all 50 states on the same day, Bud Light had modest goals for the audience it wanted to reach as ...

  30. Bubbling Under: Will Hoge Makes 'Strong' Start

    August 23, 2013 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: Will Hoge, Andra Day, Martin Garrix and Schoolboy Q. Will Hoge Will Hoge makes ...

  31. Strange Music Rules on Rap Albums Chart

    August 23, 2013 10:00 AM EDT Missouri-based independent label Strange Music notches its eighth debut on Rap Albums this year as Stevie Stone’s “2 Birds 1 Stone” opens at No. 9 with 5,000 copies, according to Nielsen SoundScan. No other imprint has placed as many titles ...

  32. Chart Moves: Washed Out, Valerie June Debut on Billboard 200, Wild Feathers Fly In at No. 1 on Heatseekers

    August 23, 2013 9:15 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Luke Bryan charged in at No. 1 , selling an impressive 528,000 copies of his latest album, "Crash My Party." It marked the second chart-topper for the country star, who logged a No. 1 earlie ...

  33. Chart Moves: Robin Thicke's 'Blurred Lines' Tops R&B/Hip-Hop Songs; Luke Bryan Scores Fifth No. 1 on Hot Country Songs

    August 23, 2013 9:00 AM EDT As previously reported , Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines" (featuring T.I. and Pharrell) spends an 11th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Katy Perry's "Roar" blasts 85-2, and Lady Gaga's "Applause ...

  34. Marvin Gaye's Family Rejected Robin Thicke's Six-Figure Offer (Exclusive)

    August 23, 2013 8:27 AM EDT Billboard has learned that Robin Thicke’s team offered a six-figure sum to members of Marvin Gaye family in order to preempt a copyright infringement showdown, but the family turned it down. According to sources knowledgeable with the lawsu ...

  35. Kendrick Lamar Out Front With 14 BET Hip-Hop Award Nominations

    August 23, 2013 12:46 AM EDT Kendrick Lamar made a splash with his major label debut. He recently called out some of rap's best by name, warning them about his aim for hip-hop's top spot on Big Sean's "Control." Now, BET is taking notice. In a state ...

  36. MTV VMAs Set Sponsorship Record Despite 2012 Ratings Slump

    August 22, 2013 8:40 PM EDT MTV’s Video Music Awards have had a rollercoaster couple of years in the ratings, from reaching all-time highs in 2011 thanks to Beyonce’s baby bump to a 50% plunge in 2012. Yet despite last year’s drop, this weekend’s show, broadcast from Broo ...

  37. John Mayer Aiming for No. 2 Debut on Billboard 200

    August 21, 2013 8:33 PM EDT John Mayer is on course for a No. 2 debut on the Billboard 200 next week with his sixth studio album, "Paradise Valley." Industry sources suggest the set could sell around 150,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Aug. 25. The ...

  38. Insane Clown Posse Juggle TV Commitments, FBI Attention & Being the World's Most 'Hated' Band

    August 21, 2013 1:55 PM EDT They are the self-proclaimed "Most Hated Band in the World," and now they're bringing their own theater of the absurd to the Fuse Network with the aptly titled "Insane Clown Posse Theater." For 24 years, Joseph Bruce and ...

  39. Luke Bryan Nets No. 1 Album; Katy Perry's 'Roar' Tops Digital Songs

    August 21, 2013 10:58 AM EDT As reported yesterday, country star Luke Bryan nabs his second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 with "Crash My Party." The album bows atop the list with nearly 528,000 sold in the week ending Sunday, Aug. 18, according to Nielsen Sound ...

  40. Cash Money's Birdman Launches Apparel Lines With Bravado, Lil Wayne; Includes 'Python Accents'

    August 19, 2013 4:18 PM EDT Cash Money's ever-expanding empire now includes hip-hop (Lil Wayne, Nicki MInaj and Drake among othgers), pop , R&B and rock artists, a book publishing division (which reacently inked a deal with Rev. Al Sharpton), a spirits brand,  fil ...

  41. Katy Perry Aiming to Sell 450k Downloads of 'Roar,' Lady Gaga's 'Applause' Set for 225k Debut

    August 18, 2013 3:03 PM EDT Katy Perry's "Roar" just keeps getting bigger. Industry sources now suggest that her new single "Roar" could debut with between 525,000 and 550,000 downloads sold by the end of the tracking week on Aug. 18. Three days ag ...

  42. Russell Simmons Apologizes For Harriet Tubman Sex Parody Posted to New YouTube Venture

    August 16, 2013 10:01 AM EDT Russell Simmons is apologizing for a controversial parody video on his YouTube channel, which depicted U.S. abolitionist Harriet Tubman having sex with her white slave master with the intent of filming the act and blackmailing him. The video, po ...

  43. Chart Moves: Lorde's 'Love' Rises, Cody Simpson Surges, the Supremes Return to Billboard 200

    August 16, 2013 9:00 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, the Civil Wars snared its first No. 1 album as its self-titled set bowed in the top slot. The release sold 116,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was one of four debuts i ...

  44. How ‘Call of Duty’ and ActivisionBlizzard Scored Eminem’s First New Song in Over Two Years (Exclusive)

    August 16, 2013 7:49 AM EDT In March, Tim Riley got a call from Paul Rosenberg, Eminem’s longtime manager, who had a simple, slightly cryptic question: “What’ve you got going on this fall?”   Riley had known Rosenberg for years dating back to his days in the music indu ...

  45. Beyonce's Short Haircut Yields Big Social 50 Chart Gain

    August 15, 2013 8:31 PM EDT After a three-week hiatus from the Social 50’s top 10, Beyonce bounds 26-6 all thanks to a simple haircut.   The Social 50 ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, Vevo, Facebook, Twitter, SoundCloud, Wikipedia, Myspace and Instagram. The char ...

  46. Hewlett-Packard Fighting Lawsuit Over 'Chubby Checker' Penis-Measuring App

    August 15, 2013 6:58 PM EDT Hewlett-Packard says that a lawsuit over a mobile phone app allowing men to measure the size of their penis doesn't add up. At issue is the "Chubby Checker,"  the punning app which in February provoked action in California federal ...

  47. Gail Mitchell's R&B/Hip-Hop Briefs: Stax, ABC Team for 'Scandal' Soundtrack; 'Soul Train' gets Book Treatment by Questlove, and More

    August 15, 2013 4:58 PM EDT -- ABC’s hit television series “Scandal” is getting the soundtrack treatment. ABC Studios and Concord Music Group’s Stax Records are teaming up to release "Songs From Scandal: Music for Gladiators" (Sept. 3). The 12-track set showcases ...

  48. Luke Bryan Heading for Big Sales Week, Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200

    August 14, 2013 8:42 PM EDT Luke Bryan's "Crash My Party" is set to crash in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart next week with a very big bow. Industry sources say the country star's latest album to sell least 450,000 copies by the end of the tracking ...

  49. Russell Simmons Announces Launch of All Def Digital YouTube Channel

    August 14, 2013 3:54 PM EDT Def Jam co-founder and music mogul Russell Simmons has announced the launch of a new YouTube channel, All Def Digital, a collaboration between Rush Digital Media, Simmons' media company, and Dreamworks Animation subsidiary Awesomeness TV ...

  50. Robin Thicke Leads Hot 100 For 10th Week While Gaga and Perry Gear Up for a Showdown

    August 14, 2013 3:28 PM EDT Robin Thicke claims an elite 10th week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with "Blurred Lines" (featuring T.I. and Pharrell). Meanwhile, Katy Perry provides a sneak peek at the battle expected next week when "Roar," which debu ...

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