1. Downtown Music Taking 2013 Music Fest National With Earl Sweatshirt, Black Hippy, Purity Ring

    March 28, 2013 1:34 PM EDT Downtown Events, the live arm of the Downtown Music family of companies -- which include Downtown Records, RCRDLBL.com, Downtown Music Services and Downtown Music Publishing (which recently acquired the catalogs of Yoko Ono and John Lennon) -- t ...

  2. Clear Channel's iHeartRadio Music Festival Announces Return to Vegas

    March 28, 2013 11:22 AM EDT Clear Channel is bringing its successful iHeartRadio Music Festival back to the MGM Grand in Vegas for its third year, it was announced today. The festival will again include a "star search," dubbed the Macy's iHeart Radio Rising ...

  3. Gordon Stoker, Member of the Jordanaires, Dies at 88

    March 27, 2013 8:50 PM EDT 5 24 0 0 You might not have known the name Gordon Stoker, but odds are you probably have an album in your collection with his vocals represented on it. Stoker, who passed away Wednesday at the age of 88, was a member of Country Music Hall of Fame vocali ...

  4. Lil Wayne Set for Top Debut Next Week on Billboard 200 Chart

    March 27, 2013 7:39 PM EDT Lil Wayne should earn the highest debut on next week's Billboard 200 chart, as the rapper's new album, "I Am Not a Human Being II," is on course to arrive at No. 2. Industry sources suggest the set could sell between 190,000 ...

  5. Rolling Stones to Headline Glastonbury 2013

    March 27, 2013 6:30 PM EDT The Rolling Stones will be taking the stage again this summer at one of Britain's leading music festivals. The Stones' appearance at the 2013 Glastonbury Festival - set to take place from June 28 to June 30 - was revealed Wednesday in ...

  6. Rock Producer Bob Ezrin Talks About the Importance of Canada's Arts Scene During Canadian Music Week Keynote

    March 27, 2013 3:46 PM EDT 48 13 0 0 Bob Ezrin's keynote conversation with interviewer Ralph Simon of ASCAP was filled with interesting tidbits about the late Jack Richardson, like giving "the kid" the little-known band Alice Cooper to produce in 1970, to his curre ...

  7. Justin Timberlake Debuts At No. 1 On Billboard 200, Earns Third-Largest Digital Week Ever

    March 27, 2013 10:57 AM EDT As reported yesterday (March 26), Justin Timberlake comes roaring in at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, selling 968,000 copies of The 20/20 Experience , according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the singer's best sales week ever and the 19th-la ...

  8. Ross On Radio: When Radio Suffers From 'Hit Lag'

    March 27, 2013 7:00 AM EDT Why "Turbo-Pop" Isn't Going Away Throughout my various looks at the stylistic fluctuations of pop music and top 40 radio, I’ve tried not to proclaim the death of “turbo-pop,” the kinetic, ’90s techno-influenced pop/dance music tha ...

  9. It's Official: Justin Timberlake's '20/20' Sells 968,000, Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart

    March 26, 2013 7:01 PM EDT 4 133 66 0 0 It's official: Justin Timberlake's new album, "The 20/20 Experience," debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 968,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. "20/20," released on Mar ...

  10. 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 ...

  11. My Chemical Romance Break Up: 'Time For It To End'

    March 23, 2013 12:33 PM EDT 1 1.488 k 76 5 0 My Chemical Romance has called it quits, the rock act announced on its website on Friday. The long-running group had been together for over a decade, releasing four studio albums. "Being in this band for the past 12 years has been a ...

  12. Chart Moves: Ed Sheeran Hits Half-Million Sales Mark

    March 22, 2013 9:00 PM EDT This past week on the Billboard 200, it was all about the not-quite showdown between Bon Jovi and David Bowie. Bon Jovi logged its fifth No. 1 with the debut of "What About Now," while Bowie notched his highest charting album ever as & ...

  13. Justin Timberlake's '20/20' First-Week Sales Getting Even Bigger: 850-900,000 Debut Projected

    March 22, 2013 4:37 PM EDT  "20/20 Experience?" More like "850/900 Experience." Industry sources now forecast that Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" could sell between 850,000 and 900,000 by the end of the tracking week on Sunda ...

  14. John Mayer Announces First Tour in Three Years

    March 21, 2013 8:12 PM EDT John Mayer is mounting his first major concert tour in three years following an extended vocal hiatus brought on by throat issues, Billboard has learned. The artist's tour in support of 2012's "Born and Raised," which topped ...

  15. Justin Timberlake's '20/20' Now Heading for 800,000-Plus Debut

    March 21, 2013 7:17 PM EDT As the days go by, the sales forecast for Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" continues to grow at an alarming rate. Industry sources are now projecting that the pop star's album will sell over 800,000 copies by the en ...

  16. Boston's Tom Scholz Looks to Reclaim Rights to Hits, Sparking a Lawsuit from Former Manager and Publisher

    March 21, 2013 5:43 PM EDT Over the years, insiders in the music industry have expressed more than a feeling that this would be the year where there would be court battles that might forever shape the business. That's because changes to copyright law that went into e ...

  17. Carly Rae Jepsen, Tegan & Sara, The Weeknd Win at Canadian Radio Music Awards

    March 21, 2013 3:15 PM EDT Canadian artists The Weeknd, Tegan & Sara, Carly Rae Jepsen and international acts fun. and Rihanna were among the winners last night (March 20) at the first of four awards shows held during Canadian Music Week 2013 (March 19-24). Sponsored ...

  18. Baauer Tops Hot 100 For Fifth Week, Despite Continued Streaming Slide

    March 20, 2013 2:44 PM EDT Baauer leads the Billboard Hot 100 for a fifth week with "Harlem Shake," although the viral smash registers a fourth consecutive week of declines in YouTube streaming. As a result, the song's lead shrinks considerably over the cha ...

  19. Justin Timberlake's '20/20' Sales Forecast Rises: 750,000-Plus Debut Likely

    March 20, 2013 12:19 PM EDT 1 8 71 0 0 Justin Timberlake's new The 20/20 Experience album is selling at an extraordinary rate in the U.S. Industry sources are forecasting that the pop super star's set could sell as many as 750,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on ...

  20. Bon Jovi, David Bowie Among Six Debuts To Hit Top 10 On Billboard 200

    March 20, 2013 11:37 AM EDT It's the most top 10 debuts appearing on the chart in four months. The last time there were more in a week was the Dec. 1, 2012, chart, when seven albums arrived in the region. That week, One Direction's Take Me Home led the debut pack ...

  21. Bon Jovi Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200, David Bowie Trails at No. 2

    March 19, 2013 9:19 PM EDT 25 9 0 0 Bon Jovi scores its fifth No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, as What About Now debuts with 101,000 sold in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's the act's third straight studio album to debut at No. 1, following Th ...

  22. Mumford & Sons, Phoenix Among Lollapalooza Headliners

    March 19, 2013 8:45 PM EDT Mumford & Sons, Phoenix, Vampire Weekend and the Killers will top this summer's Lollapalooza festival, according to the Chicago Tribune . The official lineup has yet to be announced, but the Tribune reports that the National and the Pos ...

  23. Rolling Stones 2013 U.S. Tour: AEG In, Paul Dainty/Virgin Out, Sources Say

    March 19, 2013 7:00 PM EDT 6 59 46 1 0 A deal for Australian promoter Paul Dainty and Virgin Music to promote a North American Rolling Stones tour of a confirmed 18 shows has fallen through, and AEG Live has stepped in to promote the shows, sources tell Billboard. The Stones will s ...

  24. Justin Timberlake Wows at SXSW Myspace Show

    March 17, 2013 1:17 PM EDT 3 48 42 0 0 After wowing the nation through an early stream of his upcoming album,  The 20/20 Experience , and several televised performances, it's safe to say that Justin Timberlake doesn't have anything to prove. But at last night's SXSW ...

  25. Richard Thompson Discusses Songwriting, New Album at SXSW

    March 17, 2013 12:29 AM EDT Richard Thompson sat down with Grammy Foundation VP Scott Goldman to discuss songwriting, his fine new album, "Electric," and how he developed his guitar style in a Songwriter Session at the Austin Convention Center on Friday. He playe ...

  26. SXSW Backbeat: SPIN and Solange at Stubb's, Earl Sweatshirt at Green Label Sound's Barbecue

    March 16, 2013 1:34 PM EDT 1 2 23 0 0 After the headlining act at MySpace's Saturday showcase was revealed to be Justin Timberlake , the next surprise guest to be unveiled would join the Afghan Whigs at FADER Fort on Friday night. Like most secrets this one wasn't kept lo ...

  27. SXSW Backbeat: Usher and The Afghan Whigs Surprise The Fader Fort While Lil Wayne Health Scare Shocks Backstage

    March 16, 2013 1:12 PM EDT 1 27 43 0 0 Andy Cohn , president and publisher of the Fader, gave himself the best birthday present imaginable Friday night. One of his all-time favorite bands, The Afghan Whigs , headlined a closing-night set with surprise guest Usher that practically r ...

  28. Bon Jovi, David Bowie Eye One-Two Finish on Next Week's Billboard 200 Chart

    March 15, 2013 8:07 PM EDT As reported earlier this week, Bon Jovi and David Bowie were vying for the No. 1 slot on next week's Billboard 200 albums chart. Bon Jovi has now pulled ahead, and it seems like the band's new album, "What About Now," is a lo ...

  29. Justin Timberlake's Promotional Run-Up to 'The 20/20 Experience': A Timeline

    March 15, 2013 4:53 PM EDT 18 78 115 0 0 They say hindsight is 20/20, but when it comes to Justin Timberlake's comeback, they're not taking any chances. Next week's release of Timberlake's beyond-highly-anticipated new album The 20/20 Experience is riding on one ...

  30. New Doc, Premiering at SXSW, Gets Behind the Scenes of Green Day's Musical 'American Idiot' (Q&A)

    March 15, 2013 1:59 PM EDT 1 9 0 0 "Broadway Idiot," Doug Hamilton's behind-the-scenes film about the creation of the "American Idiot" musical, has its world premiere today, a double-feature with "Cuatro!," which chronicles Green Day's reco ...

  31. Backbeat: Pitchfork, Green Label Sound and Jagjaguwar Bring the Indie Rock to SXSW

    March 15, 2013 12:29 PM EDT On Wednesday, Pitchfork held their unofficial day party and official showcase at 1100 Warehouse, with a line of people waiting to get in longer than FADER Fort's notoriously never-ending one across the street. It was a surprise, then, that ...

  32. Chart Moves: Boz Scaggs Returns, Colton Dixon Gains, How to Destroy Angels Debuts, Replacements Return

    March 15, 2013 10:29 AM EDT This past week on the Billboard 200 , Luke Bryan claimed his first No. 1 with Spring Break . . . Here to Party , while Jimi Hendrix notched his highest charting album in 44 years with the No. 2 debut of People, Hell and Angels . Outside the top ...

  33. Yahoo Announces Music Tour Featuring Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, Others

    March 14, 2013 8:42 PM EDT 6 280 727 2 0 UPDATED: The summer's 21-date traveling festival will include appearances by special guests Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean and Trey Songz. Yahoo! made a big announcement at South by Southwest's Interactive portion in Austin, saying ...

  34. Dave Grohl's SXSW Keynote Urges Artists to Find Their Voice, Chides Negativity

    March 14, 2013 4:33 PM EDT “The musician comes first” was Dave Grohl’s mantra during his keynote speech Thursday at South By Southwest, an engaging and carefully prepared 45 minutes that encouraged up and coming artists to protect their independence and creative visions f ...

  35. Backbeat: Enabler PR, Don Giovanni, Sacred Bones and Suicide Squeeze Team for Holy Mountain Showcase in Austin

    March 14, 2013 1:14 PM EDT Last night, Enabler PR teamed up with indie labels Don Giovanni Records , Suicide Squeeze Records , and Sacred Bones for their official showcase at Holy Mountain. The night's eclectic lineup -- including singer-songwriter Laura Stevenson an ...

  36. Early Iron Maiden Drummer Clive Burr Dies

    March 13, 2013 7:34 PM EDT Clive Burr (pictured above, bottom left), the former drummer for heavy metal band Iron Maiden, died in his sleep on the evening of March 12 at age 56. Burr had been battling poor health for years, according to the band’s official site, and had b ...

  37. David Bowie vs. Bon Jovi For No. 1 on Next Week's Billboard 200 Chart

    March 13, 2013 4:00 PM EDT On next week's Billboard 200 chart, rock legend David Bowie is in the hunt for his first No. 1 album, while veteran group Bon Jovi could nab its fifth chart-topper. The new Billboard 200 chart's top 10 will be revealed on the morning o ...

  38. Baauer Leads Hot 100 Again, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Rule Hot 100 Airplay

    March 13, 2013 1:30 PM EDT Baauer commands the Billboard Hot 100 for a fourth week with "Harlem Shake," although the viral sensation logs a second straight week of declines in YouTube streaming. The chart's No. 2 song, and former four-week No. 1, Macklemore ...

  39. Backbeat: MTV, VH1 and CMT Come Together for Joint SXSW Showcase

    March 13, 2013 11:46 AM EDT ZZ Ward chats with her manager Evan Bogart on Tuesday at the Empire Control Room prior to taking the stage at her first show of the week. Hollywood Records artist ZZ Ward rolled into Austin to do the first of a eight gigs at the MTV/VH1/CMT show ...

  40. Luke Bryan Debuts At No. 1, Jimi Hendrix at No. 2 On Billboard 200

    March 13, 2013 11:00 AM EDT 2 396 29 0 0 Country star Luke Bryan logs his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 as his new compilation, Spring Break . . . Here to Party , debuts atop the list. It sold 150,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, and marks his b ...

  41. Original Yes Guitarist Peter Banks Dead At 65

    March 12, 2013 10:11 PM EDT Peter Banks, who served as an original guitarist for the influential prog rock band Yes, passed away in his London home last Thursday (March 7) from heart failure at the age of 65. An o fficial statement was released by the official site of Bank ...

  42. 'Good Vibrations' Revisits the Irish Punk Explosion Via Its Belfast 'Godfather'

    March 12, 2013 9:29 PM EDT 1 1 20 0 0 "Good Vibrations" is the story of the Belfast record shop that begat the label of the same name, releasing crucial 45s and LPs from the Undertones and other Irish punk bands in the 1970s. Based on the memories of founder Terri Hooley, ...

  43. SXSW 2013: Deadmau5, Kat Von D, Surfer Blood at the Sonos Studio

    March 12, 2013 8:51 PM EDT Sonos is getting some attention for putting on one of the coolest experiences at SXSW. Located down an alley near the Convention Center, the Sonos Studio is a large compound that includes a courtyard, a performance stage, two houses and an inter ...

  44. Van Halen European Tour Not Happening: Irving Azoff

    March 12, 2013 6:10 PM EDT Comments by Van Halen frontman David Lee Roth that the band will tour Europe beginning late this year are incorrect, according to Irving Azoff, manager for group founders Alex and Eddie Van Halen and bassist Wolfgang Van Halen. In comments picke ...

  45. Arhoolie Records' 50 Years of Roots Music Celebrated in Film at SXSW

    March 12, 2013 5:58 PM EDT Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz built his label by recording blues, conjunto, Cajun music, zydeco and New Orleans brass bands in places where other producers would not go -- so it only made sense to celebrate the film about Strachwitz ...

  46. Justin Timberlake's 'The 20/20 Experience' Eyeing Half-Million Debut Sales Week

    March 11, 2013 8:25 PM EDT 1 4 32 0 0 Justin Timberlake's long-awaited album "The 20/20 Experience" doesn't go on sale for another week, but industry sources say it's going to have a blockbuster debut on the Billboard charts. Those in the know suggest the a ...

  47. Beatlemania Revisited in 'Good Ol' Freda,' Documentary on the Beatles' Secretary, at SXSW

    March 09, 2013 9:43 PM EST 1 197 46 0 0 "Good Ol' Freda" director Ryan White and producer Kathy McCabe, right, flank Freda Kelly, the Beatles secretary from 1962 to 1973, prior to the world premiere of the film Saturday at SXSW. (Photo: Phil Gallo) After doing the im ...

  48. Jimi Hendrix Set For Highest-Charting Album on Billboard 200 in 44 Years

    March 08, 2013 9:57 PM EST Rock legend Jimi Hendrix's new archival album, "People, Hell and Angels," is set to debut at No. 2 on next week's Billboard 200 chart, according to industry sources. The album might sell around 70,000 copies by the end of the ...

  49. Chart Moves: Bruno Mars' Slow Climb to No. 1, Pink Floyd's 'Dark Side' Turns 40

    March 08, 2013 9:48 PM EST This past week on the Billboard 200 , Bruno Mars' "Unorthodox Jukebox" jumped to No. 1, thanks largely to sale pricing by Amazon MP3. The move gave Mars his first No. 1, and an unusual achievement: It was the slowest climb to No. ...

  50. Rolling Stones to Play ‘Fewer Than 20’ U.S. Dates in First Half of 2013: Multiple Sources

    March 07, 2013 5:46 PM EST It never seemed likely that the Rolling Stones would crank up their touring machine for fewer than half a dozen shows and, as predicted, the Stones will tour North American arenas in the first half of this year, multiple sources tell Billboard.b ...

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