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Youssou N’Dour, Kaija Saariaho To Receive the 2013 Polar Music Prize
May 07, 2013 6:08 AM EDT Senegalese artist Youssou N’Dour and Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho are the 2013 recipients of Sweden’s prestigious Polar Music Prize. The Prize was created and funded in 1989 by Stig Andersson, the late manager of ABBA (sometimes called ABBA&# ...
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Phil Ramone Remembered by John Burk, Co-Producer of Ray Charles’ ‘Genius Loves Company’
March 30, 2013 7:05 PM EDT 1 29 0 0 John Burk and Phil Ramone produced Ray Charles' “Genius Love Company,” an album that scored five Grammys in 2005, including Album of the Year. By the time Charles signed with Concord Records, Ramone already had a history with the label as ...
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Producer Phil Ramone Dead at 79
March 30, 2013 12:36 PM EDT 8 1.564 k 115 20 0 Phil Ramone -- an oft-honored visionary in the field of audio recording and the presentation of music; who helmed classic albums by Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Ray Charles, Paul Simon, Billy Joel and many others over a c ...
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Court Rules For Ray Charles Children In Copyright Lawsuit (Updated)
January 29, 2013 10:39 AM EST The latest salvo in the copyright lawsuit between the Ray Charles Foundation and seven of the late singer's children finds the court ruling in favor of the children. The ruling allows them to reclaim copyrights on about 60 of Charles' cl ...
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Phillip Phillips: The Billboard Cover Story
January 07, 2013 5:00 PM EST 1 1 0 The 'Home' star has turned the top-selling coronation song in "American Idol" history into a gold album During the final week of 2012, the most recent "American Idol" champion, Phillip Phillips , saw his debut album cro ...
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The Year In Chart Headlines, Part 1
December 20, 2012 11:35 AM EST Before we move on to 2013, here's a chronological look back at the biggest Billboard chart headlines of 2012. Today: January through June. Before we move on to 2013, here's a chronological look back at the biggest Billboard chart headlines ...
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L.A. Reid to Be Honored at Pre-Grammy Gala; Quincy Jones and Al Schmitt at P&E Wing Event
December 18, 2012 11:30 AM EST Clive Davis and the Recording Academy will present the annual Pre-Grammy Gala on Saturday, Feb. 9, at The Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif., the evening before the 55th Annual Grammy Awards, the Academy announced this morning. As part of the ...
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Mickey Baker, Influential Guitarist and Half of Mickey & Sylvia, Dies at 87
November 29, 2012 3:00 PM EST Mickey "Guitar" Baker, a versatile, influential and often unsung guitarist who helped lay the groundwork for rock 'n' roll and half of the pop duo Mickey & Sylvia, died Tuesday in Toulouse, France. He was 87. A prolific and ...
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Morning Fix: Frank Barsalona Remembered; Internet Royalties Debate Hits Congress Wednesday; Rolling Stones Kick Off Anniversary Dates
November 26, 2012 8:45 AM EST Head HERE to subscribe to Billboard's Morning Fix email and other free music-business newsletters FREE FRANK BARSALONA, MUSIC AGENT WHO REVOLUTIONIZED CONCERT BIZ, DEAD AT 74: Frank Barsalona, a pioneering music agent whose Premier Talent age ...
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Weekly Chart Notes: Taylor Swift 'Red' Hot on Hot 100
November 02, 2012 6:45 PM EDT The lady and 'Red': Swift matches Madonna and Dionne Warwick for another impressive piece of Hot 100 history. With her latest batch of new material, Taylor Swift ties the Material Girl, and Dionne Warwick, for the second-most appearances a ...
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Ray Charles Songs Lawsuit Could Make Major Impact On Copyright Battles
October 16, 2012 6:50 PM EDT In a battle over rights to Ray Charles' famous songs, the charitable foundation that was bequeathed the singer's money and assets is suddenly in a tough spot, in danger of losing the substantial revenues that "I Got a Woman," & ...
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Lil Wayne Passes An All-Time Elvis Presley Hot 100 Mark
September 27, 2012 5:00 AM EDT The rapper tops the King of Rock and Roll's mark for the most Hot 100 appearances among solo acts. Presley, however, maintains a wide lead for the most entries among all artists as a lead solo act. He'll always be the King of Rock and Roll ...
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Lil Wayne Passes An All-Time Elvis Presley Hot 100 Mark
September 27, 2012 5:00 AM EDT He'll always be the King of Rock and Roll, but when it comes to the artist with the most Billboard Hot 100 hits, Elvis Presley's longstanding record total gives way to a new stats king: Lil Wayne. As he debuts as a featured artist (with ...
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Andy Williams, 'Moon River' Singer, Dead at 84
September 26, 2012 10:12 AM EDT With a string of gold albums, a hit TV series and the signature "Moon River," Andy Williams was a voice of the 1960s, although not the '60s we usually hear about. "The old cliche says that if you can remember the 1960s, you wer ...
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Andy Williams, 'Moon River' Crooner, Dies
September 26, 2012 10:05 AM EDT With a string of gold albums, a hit TV series and the signature "Moon River," Andy Williams was a voice of the 1960s, although not the '60s we usually hear about. "The old cliche says that if you can remember the 1960s, you weren ...
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Concord Music Group Opens Catalog to Rumblefish
September 25, 2012 7:59 PM EDT Concord Music Group has made its catalog of pop, jazz, rock and soul music available to Rumblefish for use in online user-generated videos. Rumblefish offers recommendation tools for copyright-cleared music and, prior to the inclusion of the Conco ...
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'System' Looks to Go Worldwide
September 07, 2012 8:00 AM EDT 'Cuban soul rock' artist Alex Cuba looks to Europe, U.S. after bringing Latin sounds to his home in Canada. Alex Cuba isn't a fan of labeling-especially when it comes to describing his own music. His influences range from Jimi Hendr ...
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Michael Jackson's Mijac Music Catalog Moves to Sony/ATV
August 20, 2012 10:43 AM EDT Sony/ATV Music Publishing, which is a joint venture between Sony Corp. and the estate of Michael Jackson, will take over worldwide administration of Michael Jackson's Mijac Music Catalog, which has been handled by Warner/Chappell Music Publis ...
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This Week In Music: Atlantic's Craig Kallman Talks Starting Big Beat Records, Signing On At A Major
August 03, 2012 11:37 AM EDT On the most recent installment of This Week in Music, Ian Rogers talks with Atlantic Records co-chairman/CEO Craig Kallman about his beginnings in the music industry, from DJing in the clubs of New York City to signing his independent Big Beat Rec ...
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Born in the U.S.A.: Top 50 Stars of the 50 States
July 03, 2012 6:28 PM EDT Photos Alabama Festival Billboard Jewel Stevie Nicks Johnny Cash Beach John Denver Danny John Mayer George Thorogood Heart Gloria Estefan Truth Ray Charles Late Bruno Mars Show The Raiders Paul Revere Chicago Michael Jackson Brothers Everly Kansas L ...
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Tuff Gong Signs Distribution Deal with Warner Music
July 03, 2012 12:27 PM EDT Warner Music Group (WMG) and Tuff Gong International Caribbean Distributors, one of several entities comprising the Marley family's Tuff Gong group of companies, have struck an exclusive licensing agreement under which Tuff Gong will distribu ...
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Six Questions with Chuck Leavell
June 07, 2012 4:10 PM EDT Anyone who doesn't recognize Chuck Leavell's name hasn't read many rock album credits closely. The Georgia keyboardist has backed Dr. John, served as a member of the Allman Brothers Band, co-founded the jazz-rock combo "Sea Level&q ...
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Five Decades Of Grammy Hits
June 06, 2012 3:50 PM EDT Even by the exalted standards he shares with other high-achieving record makers, Al Schmitt has a stunningly diverse discography. In a career spanning five decades, Schmitt has worked with such icons as Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Henry Mancini, Sam C ...
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2012 Billboard Music Awards Weekend Diary: Kelly Clarkson, Usher, Diplo & More
May 20, 2012 5:00 PM EDT Billboard Battle of the Bands winners Patent Pending. (Photo: Adrian Van Anz) Speaking just for myself, the past 48 hours in Vegas have had more action than two weeks back home. The 2012 Billboard Music Awards red carpet opens in (gulp) a few hour ...
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'Glee' Cast Notches 200th Hit on Hot 100
April 18, 2012 3:42 PM EDT With two more debuts this week, the cast of Fox's "Glee" ups its total of career charted songs on the Billboard Hot 100 to a milestone 200 titles. Amazingly, the TV troupe has reached the sum in less than three years. The cast first ...
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'Glee' Cast Notches 200th Hit on Hot 100
April 18, 2012 3:15 PM EDT The Fox TV troupe has blasted to the record-extending milestone in less than three years. With two more debuts this week, the cast of Fox's "Glee" ups its total of career charted songs on the Billboard Hot 100 to a milestone 200 title ...
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Who Besides Lionel Richie Has Topped Billboard's R&B and Country Charts?
April 09, 2012 11:15 AM EDT An insightful e-mail came in last week (to askbb@billboard.com) from avid chart-watcher Garrett Godbey of Tampa, Fla. Godbey wrote, "With Lionel Richie debuting at No. 1 with Tuskegee on Top Country Albums , he's earned No. 1s on the Top ...
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Ray Charles Estate Sues Singer's Children Over Song Rights
April 02, 2012 5:20 PM EDT The 2004 film Ray didn't include this scene: Two years before legendary singer Ray Charles died, he gathered most of his 12 children (two were in jail), and told them that they would each be given an irrevocable trust for $500,000. That' ...
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Friday Flashback: Remembering Cindy Walker
March 23, 2012 8:00 PM EDT With the lone exception of Dolly Parton, it could be said that Cindy Walker was possibly the finest female songwriter in the history of country music. One of the more prolific writers in the format's history, she composed such classics as " ...
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Mercyline 'Mike' Bernardo, Pioneering Female Music Exec, Dies
March 16, 2012 6:00 PM EDT Pioneering female music industry executive Mercyline "Mike" Bernardo -- former VP of Andre Harrell's Uptown Records and VP of promotion at Mercury Records -- passed away on March 14 following a lengthy illness. Raised in Newark, New ...
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Class Notes: Country Hall of Fame Gets It Right
March 07, 2012 1:49 PM EST When it comes to his place in the modern era of country music, Garth Brooks has no peers. After all, who has sold more records or concert tickets during his time in the spotlight? When it comes to female country performers, it could be argued that C ...
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Clarence Clemons' Nephew Jake to Play Sax on Springsteen Tour
February 10, 2012 7:56 AM EST NEW YORK (AP) - It takes two men to replace The Big Man. Bruce Springsteen announced Thursday that two musicians - Jersey Shore sidekick Eddie Manion and Clarence Clemons' nephew Jake - will "share the saxophone role" during the E S ...
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'American Idol's' Casey Abrams Signs With Concord Music Group
January 09, 2012 9:51 PM EST "American Idol's" Casey Abrams has signed with Concord Music Group. The season 10 finalist, who was famously saved during week five of the competition (and eventually eliminated on April 28) was a fan favorite from the start thanks ...
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'Drift Away' Singer Dobie Gray Dies
December 07, 2011 11:40 AM EST Soul-pop singer Dobie Gray , who had a top 5 hit in 1973 with the song "Drift Away," has died. The news came on the evening of Dec. 6 via his official website, although no cause of death was listed. He was 71 Born near Houston in 1940 to a ...
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Kanye West Shrugs Off Album of the Year Grammy Snub at Concert
December 02, 2011 5:25 PM EST Of all the surprising results at the Grammy Nominations Concert on Wednesday night (Nov. 30), none were quite as head-scratching as the omission of Kanye West 's "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy" -- the most critically acclaimed alb ...
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Spotlight On Eruption Music Group
November 11, 2011 2:57 PM EST Chart Article An Indie Ignites Eruption Music Group takes DIY path to launch diverse new roster. Dream loud. It's the slogan of Eruption Music Group and words to live by for company CEO/artist Marco Bosco and his partner, president/co-founder A ...
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R. Kelly Autobiography Due in Spring 2012
November 09, 2011 7:23 PM EST R. Kelly fans waiting to ride the "Soula Coaster" will have to wait a few more months. The R&B singer's autobiography, "Soula Coaster: The Diary of Me," is due in "spring 2012," a representative for publishing ...
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Ask Billboard: Christmas in October? Never Say Never
October 29, 2011 11:05 AM EDT Ask Billboard is updated every week. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com . Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and coun ...
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Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Archives to Go on Sale
October 17, 2011 8:56 PM EDT The organization, which will announce its 2011 class of inductees Tuesday, is set to release performances from 1986-2009. The day before it reveals its 27th annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductees for 2011, Rock Hall and Time Life announced th ...
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Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Kanye West Featured in New 'Music Icons' Pepsi Ad (Watch)
September 22, 2011 5:51 PM EDT Last night during the "X Factor" premiere, Pepsi unveiled a television spot titled "Music Icons," celebrating Pepsi's music history, featuring Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Kanye West, Ray Charles and Mariah Carey. The ...
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'Voice' Winner Javier Colon to Play Ray Charles on 'The Playboy Club'
September 15, 2011 9:18 PM EDT Add the winner of NBC's "The Voice" to the list of contemporary musical acts portraying stars of the late 1950s and early '60s on NBC's "The Playboy Club." Javier Colon will portray Ray Charles in an upcoming episo ...
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Javier Colon, Raphael Saadiq, Colbie Caillat Join 'The Playboy Club'
September 15, 2011 6:37 PM EDT Add the winner of NBC's "The Voice" to the list of contemporary musical acts portraying stars of the late 1950s and early '60s on NBC's "The Playboy Club." Javier Colon will portray Ray Charles in an upcoming epi ...
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Lost Ray Charles 1961 Concerts Coming To DVD
September 12, 2011 6:32 PM EDT Fans will soon be able to watch the legendary Ray Charles in his prime, thanks to the Oct. 25 worldwide DVD release: "Ray Charles Live in France 1961." The Eagle Rock Entertainment and Reelin' In The Years Productions project was cu ...
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Motown Legend Nick Ashford Dies at 70
August 22, 2011 9:28 PM EDT Nick Ashford, one-half of the legendary Motown songwriting duo Ashford & Simpson that penned elegant, soulful classics for the likes of Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye and funk hits for Chaka Khan and others, died Monday at age 70, his former publici ...
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Gene McDaniels, Sixties Soul Hitmaker, Dies at 76
August 03, 2011 1:45 PM EDT Gene McDaniels , a hit-making machine in the 1960s and 1970s best known for writing Roberta Flack 's "Feel Like Makin' Love" and for his own soul-pop gem "Tower of Strength," died at his Maine home on Friday (July 29), ...
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Ask Billboard: The Republic Of Ryan Tedder
July 22, 2011 6:55 PM EDT Ask Billboard is updated every Friday. As always, submit your questions about Billboard charts, sales and airplay, as well as general music musings, to askbb@billboard.com . Please include your first and last name, as well as your city, state and co ...
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Born in the U.S.A.: Top Artists by State, Readers Respond
July 06, 2011 4:05 PM EDT As you hopefully celebrated July 4th with friends, family, food (up-close) and fireworks (from a safe distance), Chart Beat considered the musical artists most associated with each U.S. state . Billy Joel , for example, represented New York; Ray Cha ...
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From Sea To Shining Sea, FM Radio Salutes America
May 02, 2011 4:05 PM EDT A s previously reported , following the news that U.S. forces had killed Osama Bin Laden yesterday , many New York FM radio shows this morning (May 2) reacted by airing pro-American music and commentary. Across the country, other stations in a varie ...
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In Wake of Osama Bin Laden's Death, New York Radio Turns Patriotic
May 02, 2011 10:05 AM EDT Following the media-saturating news that U.S. forces had killed Osama Bin Laden yesterday , many New York FM radio shows this morning (May 2) reacted by airing pro-American songs and sentiments. Both adult pop WPLJ (95.5) and adult contemporary WWFS ...
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Casey Abrams Saved by Judges on 'American Idol'
March 24, 2011 10:01 PM EDT While fans expected one contestant to be sent packing on tonight's (Mar. 24) "American Idol" elimination, the episode's outcome was more about coming than going. All 11 contestants will be joining the "American Idol" to ...
