1. Randy Ostin, Son of Industry Great Mo Ostin, Dies at 60

    September 01, 2013 11:30 PM EDT Randy Ostin, a former music executive and the son of legendary Warner Bros. Records president Mo Ostin, has died. He was 60. Ostin died July 28 after a four-year battle with cancer, according to a paid obituary published Sunday in the Los Angele ...

  2. Business Matters: What If Musicians Went on Strike Against Digital Services Like Spotify? It’s Possible

    August 30, 2013 7:23 PM EDT What if musicians went on strike and refused to make their music available on the digital services that have attracted so much negative criticism in recent years? It's not an entirely pointless thought exercise. People go on strike all ...

  3. 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 ...

  4. Warner Music Group Promotes Sara Nemerov to SVP/Head of Global Consumer Products and Brand Licensing

    August 30, 2013 1:57 PM EDT Warner Music Group promotes Sara Nemerov to senior VP/head of global consumer products and brand licensing, Billboard has learned. In addition to overseeing consumer products and brand licensing, Nemerov will develop retail partnerships and new ...

  5. 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 ...

  6. Universal Music Earnings Decline Due To EMI Acquisition Costs, But Sales Increase

    August 29, 2013 8:41 PM EDT The Universal Music Group suffered a decline in earnings in the first half of 2013 due to costs related to its acquisition of EMI Recorded Music and the subsequent restructuring to produce synergistic cost savings. But its topline enjoyed a nice ...

  7. 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 ...

  8. Avenged Sevenfold Heading for Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200

    August 28, 2013 6:06 PM EDT Rock band Avenged Sevenfold is heading for its second No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. Industry sources suggest the quintet's new album, "Hail to the King," should fly into the top slot next week with around 175,000 copies ...

  9. Nathan Hubbard, Ex-Ticketmaster CEO, On Bringing Commerce To Twitter: ‘The Music Industry Should Be Tremendously Excited' (Q&A)

    August 28, 2013 4:57 PM EDT In a move that could have huge implications for the music industry, former Ticketmaster CEO and president Nathan Hubbard was named as Twitter’s first head of commerce on Aug. 27 , a move that heralds a broadening for the social networking behemo ...

  10. Tom Windish on Signing 16-Year-Old Lorde To the Windish Agency: 'She Keeps Getting Bigger Every Day'

    August 28, 2013 2:30 PM EDT Tom Windish, the president of boutique booking agency the Windish Agency, was among numerous talent firms competing to sign the highly buzzed-about 16-year-old New Zealand singer Lorde. “At the time, I think there were a few other agencies sniff ...

  11. 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 ...

  12. Independent Study: IAMSOUND Records

    August 28, 2013 11:40 AM EDT Label: IAMSOUND Records Founded: 2006 Location: West Hollywood, L.A. Number of Employees: 5 Number of active artists: 4 Biggest release: Lord Huron, "Lonesome Dreams," Soundscan 46,000 Next release: Kate Boy, Early 2014 Distributor: RE ...

  13. 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 ...

  14. Colbie Caillat to Headline T.J. Martell 's Spirit of Excellence Awards Dinner Honoring Troy Carter, Rob Wells, Daniel Ek

    August 28, 2013 1:20 AM EDT The T.J. Martell Foundation today announced singer-songwriter Colbie Caillat will be headlining its Spirit of Excellence Awards Dinner, taking place in Santa Monica on October 12. Host of Hallmark Channel’s “Home & Family,” Mark Steines has ...

  15. Banda el Recodo Re-Ups with UMLE/Fonovisa

    August 27, 2013 7:09 PM EDT The iconic regional Mexican group Banda El Recodo has renewed their recording contract with Universal Music Latin Entertainment.  Founded 75 years ago, recently signed on to continue making music through UMLE's Fonovisa label.   "La Ba ...

  16. 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: ...

  17. Rick Nowels, Lana Del Rey Co-Writer, Talks 'Summertime Sadness' and His Catalog Of Hits

    August 27, 2013 12:41 PM EDT Rick Nowels has penned some of the most melodic pure-pop hits of the last quarter-century-plus. Chart Beat goes one-on-one with one of pop music's master tunesmiths For more than 25 years, Rick Nowels has crafted some of the most memorable ...

  18. 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& ...

  19. Behind the Boxscore: MetLife Stadium's Ron VanDeVeen On Kenny Chesney's Top-Grossing Concert

    August 26, 2013 3:42 PM EDT This week, country superstar Kenny Chesney earned the top slot on Billboard’s Hot Tours tally with box office totals reported from six venues on his No Shoes Nation tour, which wrapped Aug. 24.   Among this week's reported shows to Billboar ...

  20. 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 ...

  21. 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 ...

  22. 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 ...

  23. 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 ‘ ...

  24. 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 ...

  25. Ben Kweller Expands His Noise Company Label, Manager Kevin Wommack Named President

    August 23, 2013 5:08 PM EDT Indie rocker Ben Kweller has joined forces with longtime manager and industry veteran, Kevin Wommack, who will also serve as President of Kweller's record label, the Noise Company. Wommack has enlisted Mary Juney and Emmy Black, both of who ...

  26. 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 ...

  27. 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 ...

  28. 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 ...

  29. 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 ...

  30. Norman Winter, Music Publicist for Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan, Dr. Dre and MCA/Universal Records, Dies

    August 22, 2013 9:16 PM EDT Norman Winter, who in his long Hollywood career as a music publicist represented Michael Jackson, Bob Dylan,  Janet Jackson, Garth Brooks, Paul Anka and many  others, died Thursday in Las Vegas due to complications from Lewy Body disease, accord ...

  31. 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 ...

  32. Sub Pop and Nirvana's First Record Contract: Simplicity Ahead of a Squall

    August 22, 2013 1:04 PM EDT Six hundred bucks well spent—not that we had it at the time. That what Sub Pop had to say when it posted the first page of its original, starkly simple, contract between Nirvana and the still-fledgling Seattle label. The document dates to when N ...

  33. Getting Out The Vote: Round Two of CMA Awards Online Balloting Underway

    August 22, 2013 1:04 PM EDT The 24-hour period beginning at 8 p.m. on Aug. 19 saw a wealth of country events in Nashville: No. 1 parties for Jake Owen, Brad Paisley and Tim McGraw, and a dinner/listening party for Keith Urban’s forthcoming album "Fuse." There’s a ...

  34. Gerardo Ortiz, Jenni Rivera, Arrolladora Banda El Limon Lead Billboard Mexican Music Award Finalists

    August 22, 2013 9:17 AM EDT Young norteño star Gerardo Ortiz, the late Jenni Rivera and ever-popular Arrolladora Banda El Limón de René Camacho lead the list of finalists for the third annual Billboard Mexican Music Awards, set to air live on the Telemundo Network Oct. 9 a ...

  35. 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 ...

  36. FYF Fest Founder Sean Carlson on Goldenvoice, Market Saturation and 2013's Stellar Lineup (Q&A)

    August 21, 2013 4:21 PM EDT Outside of the market-leading Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, one would be hard-pressed to find another multi-day music festival in Southern California with a more impressive lineup than this year’s FYF Fest in Los Angeles.  Celebra ...

  37. Troy Carter Talks Hybrid Label Venture With Capitol Music Group, New Signings (Exclusive)

    August 21, 2013 1:57 PM EDT Troy Carter’s Atom Factory Entertainment is teaming with Capitol Music Group to form Atom Factory Music, a joint label that has signed two indie-rock bands, New York’s Basic Vacation and Los Angeles’ The Ceremonies. The deal will emphasize in ...

  38. Universal Music Distribution Owns Record Nine of Top 10 Digital Songs

    August 21, 2013 11:45 AM EDT For the first time ever, one distribution company owns nine of the top 10 titles on Billboard's Digital Songs chart. Universal Music Group Distribution (UMGD) lays claim to Nos. 1-5 and 7-10 on the Digital Songs chart dated Aug. 31 -- refle ...

  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. Luke Bryan's 'Crash My Party' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200

    August 20, 2013 9:14 PM EDT It's Official: Luke Bryan's "Crash My Party" has debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart with the third-largest sales week of the year. The country star's new album sold slightly fewer than 528,000 copies in t ...

  41. 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 ...

  42. Jacqueline Saturn, 20-Year Veteran of Epic Records, Heads to Capitol's Harvest

    August 19, 2013 2:42 PM EDT Jacqueline Saturn, a 20-year veteran of Epic Records who left the company in late July, is headed to Capitol Music Group's Harvest Records label, the Hollywood Reporter has learned. Todd Glassman Replaces Jacqueline Saturn as Head of Epic P ...

  43. 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 ...

  44. Business Matters: Why U.S. Download Sales Peaked in 2011

    August 16, 2013 8:18 PM EDT Digital download sales are likely to increase again in 2013. But by one measure, downloads actually peaked in 2011. Download sales accounted for 73% of digital revenues in 2011 and fell to 70% last year, according to annual shipments tracked by ...

  45. 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 ...

  46. 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 ...

  47. Biz Poll: Why Have Album Sales Hit Historic Lows?

    August 15, 2013 4:10 PM EDT As Billboard’s Ed Christman reported on Aug. 2, U.S. album sales hit new historic lows, marking the longest consecutive stretch in the Nielsen SoundScan era that the music industry has gone without scanning more than five million units.   For th ...

  48. Country Icon George Strait Tapped for Billboard's Legend Of Live Award

    August 15, 2013 12:00 PM EDT George Strait will be honored with the Legend Of Live Award at the 10th annual Billboard Touring Awards , to be held Nov. 14 at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York. Strait -- who has forged a reputation as a record-breaker -- becomes the first count ...

  49. 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 ...

  50. Elvis Presley Estate Bid In Second Round, Sony Corp. and G2 Investment Group Among Expected Suitors

    August 14, 2013 8:24 PM EDT The auction for Core Media’s packaged estates of Elvis Presley and Muhammad Ali is now in the second round as bids are landing at the the Raine Group, the investment bank running the auction for Core Media. The New York Post reported that bids w ...

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