Kanye West and Solange Knowles are both reportedly facing a lawsuit alleging copyright infringement over unauthorized use of a sample from song by musician Prince Phillip Mitchell. ______________________________________ According to TMZ, Prince Phillip Mitchell claims that Kanye West used the song “If We Can’t Be Lovers” without permission on his…
Category archives: Major Labels
Timberlake, Prince, Music In Super Bowl Ads Streams Surge
Justin Timberlake’s performance at the Super Bowl halftime show got very mixed reviews, but his streams surged 214% on Spotify in the US during the hour that followed Philadelphia Eagles’ win over New England Patriots. The songs included in the halftime show received the following individual increases in streams: Filthy…
Best Buy Ends CD Sales, Target Demands New Terms
CD sales fell 18.5% last year, as steaming became the dominant format for more and more U.S. consumers. But this substantial decline could accelerate as Best Buys says it will stop selling all CDs; and Target will reportedly follow suit, unless labels agree to more favorable terms. _____________________________________ Best Buy…
WMG Quarterly Revenue Exceeds $1B, 1st Time In 10 Years
Warner Music Group [WMG has announced first-quarter financials for the period ended December 31, 2017. “2018 is off to a great start. For three years running, we have grown revenue by double digits in the first quarter, a great testament to the sustainability of our success,” said Steve Cooper, Warner…
13K+ Sign Petition To Oust Recording Academy Head
A petition demanding the resignation of long time Recording Academy president Neil Portnow has now surpassed its original goal of 10,000 signatures. By mid-day on Friday, 13,467 had signed demanding the exec exit after his tone deaf comments that women should "step up" if they want to end systemic gender…
How To Land A Record Deal
While many emerging artists have chosen to eschew labels, there are still a number of advantages to having the backing of a traditional label. Here we delve into how artists can refine their approach when it comes to trying to land a record deal. _________________________ Guest post by Simon Tam…
Billboard, Hollywood Reporter, Dick Clark, MRC Merge As Valence Media
Todd Boehly Eldridge Industries is folding three major entertainment companies – Billboard-Hollywood Reporter, dick clark productions and film and television studio MRC, into one new company, Valence Media. Based in Los Angeles, Valence has divisions or investments in premium television, wide release film, specialty film, live entertainment and digital media,…
Stars Help Petition To Oust Recording Academy President Collect Over 12,922 Signatures [UPDATED]
UPDATE 2: A petition demanding the ouster of Recording Academy president Neil Portnow surpassed its original goal of 10,000 signatures overnight. By Thursday afternoon 12,992 had signed demanding the exec exit after comments that women need to "step up" if they want to end systemic gender discrimination in music. _______________________________________…
U2 Copyright Infringement Case Dismissed
A New York federal judge dismissed a copyright suit claiming U2 stole a 12-second guitar solo on its 1991 album “Achtung Baby” from a British blues guitarist’s instrumental track. Guitarist Paul Rose, 51, filed his copyright lawsuit in the Southern District of New York in Feb. 2017, claiming that U2’s…
Petition Demanding Recording Academy Head Resign After ‘Women Must Step Up’ Comment Nears 10K Signatures
A petition demanding the Recording Academy President Neil Portnow resign had 9653 signatures as of Wednesday. The calls for the Academy’s long term leader came after his response to the lack of women nominated for Grammys this year was that they needed to "step up" if they want to be…