Can your song tell me a story?
Genius and YouTube have announced the launch of an experimental music series. Dubbed Song Stories, the behind-the-music experience will combine in-depth artist interviews with interactive elements that play along as users move through each Story. Current videos include Lil Uzi Vert’s ‘XO TOUR Lif3,’ Cardi B’s ‘Bartier Cardi,’ and Joy Division’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart,’ among others.
[Genius]
Making new memories for fans.
The Chainsmokers have launched their new documentary series, The Chainsmokers – Memories. Released on Apple Music, the series provides a behind-the-scenes look into the preparation for last year’s Memories…Do Not Open tour. The launch of the documentary follows the release of the group’s latest single, ‘Everybody Hates Me.’
Enjoy a hybrid radio experience.
TagStation, owner of the NextRadio app, has announced that its hybrid radio app is now available on new JVC and Kenwood head units. The head units will come enabled with Abalta Technologies’ WebLink software platform. When a driver connects a smartphone to a JVC or Kenwood WebLink-compatible head unit, the phone’s Internet connection allows NextRadio for WebLink to download album art, station logos and other images to the head unit screen. Local AM/FM radio broadcast audio comes over-the-air via the head unit’s tuner.
[TagStation]
Making music with film and TV.
Universal Music Enterprises has appointed Stephen Bolles as Vice President of Film and TV Music. In the newly created role, he’ll be responsible for marketing Universal Music Group repertoire to East Coast film and television clients and ad agencies. Bolles will be based in New York and will report directly to Tom Rowland, Executive Vice President of Film and TV Music.
[Variety]
Willing to prostitute your personal life for fame?
In an interview with Stuff, Sheryl Crow has slammed the music industry. Calling it “brand-oriented,” the 56-year-old singer/songwriter said,
“You practically have to prostitute your personal life in order to have people interested in you – and then hope they like your music.”
[Metro]
Want to buy my resale ticket?
Ticket Summit has announced that Ticketmaster Resale will sponsor its July 2018 conference. It will also give a dedicated session at the event. The dedicated session will discuss Resale technology and products as well as the future of ticketing. Representatives will also demo Ticketmaster Resale, as well as take questions at the company booth in the Trade Show Hall.
Muscling the competition out of the concert industry.
The New York Times reported that Justice Department officials have begun a probe whether Live Nation has abided by an antitrust agreement. Now, Ticketmaster has fought back against accusations that say it has forcibly stifled competition in the music industry. In a blog post, Jared Smith, President of Ticketmaster, refuted the devastating accusations.
“We take our obligations under the DOJ Consent Decree very seriously and we do not ever knowingly violate it.”
Rock and roll for toddlers.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will receive $4.1 million over the next five years to help expand its youth education programs and community activities. The Rock Hall announced that PNC Bank has pledged $3.75 billion to support free events, interactive exhibit storytelling, and live music. The PNC Foundation has also pledged $375,000 to help underwrite Toddler Rock, the youth education program.
Too late to avoid regulation, says Apple.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly lambasted embattled Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg over the company’s poor practices. Responding to concerns over user privacy on Facebook, Cook told MSNBC’s Revolution,
“I think the best regulation is no regulation, is self-regulation. However, I think we’re beyond that here… Privacy to us is a human right, a civil liberty.”
Cook also said that under him, Facebook’s user privacy controversy would have never happened.
Time to get paid.
A New York district court has ordered music events company CMJ to pay over $550,000 to four former employees. Filed in December 2016, the employees claimed that CMJ had stopped paying them in 2015. The company had also failed to pay them for overtime, with CMJ extending their workweeks at times to 60 hours.
Not on this side, Grande.
Christopher Ryan O’Connor has filed a lawsuit against UMG over Ariana Grande’s single, ‘Side to Side.’ Filed in a federal court in Texas, the songwriter claims that the song is ‘essentially’ his. O’Connor has asked the court for retroactive royalty payments rightfully due for his role in the composition.
[TheWrap]
Between a rock and a hard place.
Billionaire Richard Branson has announced that he will purchase the famed Hard Rock hotel and casino in Las Vegas. It will continue to operate as part of the Hard Rock brand through 2019. It will then become known as Virgin Hotels Las Vegas. The hotel will reportedly undergo hundreds of millions of dollars in renovations over multiple phases.
[Fortune]
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