Billboard To Add Top Songwriters, Top Producers Charts

Under pressure from alternative data sources and soon to launch charts from Rolling Stone, Billboard is expanding its own chart offering. Top Songwriters and Top Producers charts will be based on weekly activity on the Billboard Hot 100 and other “Hot” genre song charts that blend data from streaming, airplay…

Industry Bomb Thrower Merck Mercuriadis On Disrupting The Music Business [INTERVIEW]

In this edition of ‘In the Hot Seat’ with Larry LeBlanc, he speaks with music industry heavy-hitter and publishing pariah Merck Mercuriadis about how he’s shaking up the music business with his publicly traded intellectual propery acquisition vehicle Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited. __________________________________ Guest post by Larry LeBlanc from Celebrity…

Bandsintown, CMT Partner To Drive Artist Discovery During CMT Music Awards Week

Bandsintown has again partnered with CMT to help music fans discover rising country artists in the run up to the CMT Music Awards, this Wednesday June 5th in Nashville. CMT Music Awards Week is taking over Nashville with free performances spotlighting the best up-and-coming artists in country music. The showcases…

Ramones Lyrics, Music Industry Metrics [Glenn Peoples]

As profitability returns to the recorded music industry, Glenn Peoples found some unexpected wisdom from one of the world’s greatest punk outfits, The Ramones. He draws lessons from the punk pioneers on how to navigate and understand music’s new and complex landscape ____________________________ Guest post by Glenn Peoples from Medium…

Tencent Music Requires You Pay To Stream Current Music – Will This Catch On?

In an effort to increase its profitability, Chinese streaming giant Tencent has begun experimenting with limiting the amount of current hit music which its customers can access for free. Given the mixed results windowing saw in the US however, it remains to be seen whether this trend will catch on….

2019’s Biggest Streaming Earners (So Far)

While streaming has remade the economic landscape of music and made earning a living harder for many musicians, some of the industry’s biggest stars are still managing to bring in a significant amount of revenue in this new environment. ____________________________ Guest post by James Shotwell of Haulix Streaming has changed…

QUICK HITS: Verve • Downtown Music • Dubset + Pioneer • SNG Music • UTA Adds Sean Hill

UMG’s Verve Label Group has promoted two of its senior executives. Jamie Krents has been named executive vice president, Verve and Impulse!, and Dahlia Ambach Caplin has been named senior vice president of artist & repertoire for Verve and Impulse!. • Downtown Music Publishing has promoted Roberto Neri to Executive…

Music Leaker DBR.ee Shut Down By Industry Trade Groups

File-hosting service DBR.ee has been shut down by a consortium of thee music industry trade groups. The site has often been used to share leaked music from Big Artists and other major artists prior to release. The RIAA, IFPI and Music Canada joined to push for the shutdown, which follows…

Warner Brothers Records Has Changed Its Name…

WMG’s flagship label, Warner Bros. Records, is rebranding as Warner Records after 61 years.The major label is billing this the latest step in the company’s ongoing evolution. But let’s be honest, "Bros." was always an awkward add-on. View this post on Instagram #WeAreWarnerRecords: Born in the California sun, at home…

Roc Nation Fires 5 Executives [REPORT]

Roc Nation Records has reportedly at least five senior-level executives, according to Billboard. Those let go include senior vp promotion Azim Rashid, senior vp A&R Orlando McGhee, executive vp marketing Gita Williams and senior director publicity Fairley McCaskill. The exits follow that of label president Benny Pough, who left the…