October 7
Gail Zappa (nee Adelaide Gail Sloatman), widow of experimental rocker Frank Zappa and a longtime advocate for artists’ rights, died at her home in Laurel Canyon, Calif. She was 70.
October 8
New West Records appointed Mike Fabio as director of digital marketing and publicist Jake Lanier as manager of media relations.
Roc Nation and New Community Management (Edward Sharpe, Julian Casablancas & The Voidz) announced a partnership deal.
October 9
Los Angeles-based blues-rock band The Record Company signed with Concord Music Group.
Former BBC Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt joined Vevo as interim head of content and programming.
Rapper Robert “Koopsta Knicca” Cooper Phillips, a member of Three 6 Mafia, died in Memphis due to complications from a stroke. He was 40.
Larry Rosen, jazz producer and co-founder of GRP Records alongside pianist Dave Grusin, died following a battle with brain cancer in Park Ridge, N.J. He was 75.
October 10
Sony/ATV Music Publishing signed Norwegian DJ, songwriter and producer Kygo to a worldwide deal.
Singer-songwriter Robbin Thompson, former lead vocalist of Bruce Springsteen’s ’69 to ’71 band Steel Mill, died of complications from cancer. He was 66.
Brendan Frederick, former vice president at Complex, joined Genius as director of content.
BET announced that Snoop Dogg, Birdman, Jermaine Dupri and entrepreneur Damon Dash will star in a reality series titled Music Moguls.
October 11
John Berg, the Columbia Records art director who designed album covers for Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, died following a battle with pneumonia in Southampton, N.Y. He was 83.
Carey Lander, keyboardist for Scottish indie-pop band Camera Obscura, died following a battle with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. She was 33.
Pittsburgh police cited Wiz Khalifa for public urination outside a bar called The Flats.
October 12
Global Music Publishing signed writer-producer Jeff “Gitty” Gitelman to a worldwide co-publishing deal.
Big Deal Music elevated Casey Robison to partner/senior vp.
John Legend and wife Chrissy Teigen announced on Instagram that they are expecting their first child.
October 13
Britney Spears purchased a 21-acre estate in Thousand Oaks, Calif., for $7.4 million. The 12,464-square-foot “Italian villa” features a tennis court, library and infinity pool.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing signed Pentatonix to a worldwide deal.