Ozuna crushes YouTube.
Reggaeton artist Ozuna has become YouTube’s Top Artist of 2018. His channel has over 2.7 billion views. According to the company’s Artist Insights tool, Ozuna’s music videos have received 2.2 billion additional views.
Nadine Santos promoted at Music Choice.
Music Choice has promoted Nadine Santos to the role of Vice President of Programming and Artist Relations. She will continue to oversee day-to-day operations for the programming department. Santos will also handle all Pop formats across Music Choice music channels, video channels, On Demand, and connected devices.
Streaming is taking over Canada — but radio’s surprisingly strong.
Nielsen Music Canada has found that seven in ten Canadians stream music using Spotify, Apple Music, or Google Play. 84% of respondents primarily used playlists on those services. 98% of teen respondents – aged 13 to 17 – usually just listen to music from curated playlists. 96% of listeners aged 18 to 34 do the same.
Nielsen Music Canada also found that traditional radio holds the strongest influence when launching a new artist or song to audiences. 66% said they discovered new music on the radio. 43% found new tracks through streaming music platforms.
A SoundCloud upload tests the boundaries of free speech.
A teen in New Jersey could face up to 10 years in prison for uploading a violent song and picture to SoundCloud. 18-year-old Michael Schmidt rapped about pulling a gun and shooting people in the head. Schmidt had named his high school – ‘jchs’ – in the song. His profile picture features the teen pointing a gun at the camera.
British police try to censor drill music — again.
Authorities in London have doubled down on their efforts to ban an ultraviolent form of rap known as drill. The Metropolitan Police have applied for a court order banning members of 1011 from making drill music for three to five years. According to authorities, the members – aged 17 to 21 – make music videos “clearly and only designed to incite violence.”
Officials have fought back against claims of censorship, stating that they only want to prevent future violence. Several weeks ago, YouTube pulled down 30 drill music videos following a request from Scotland Yard.
Apple launches a 2018 World Cup playlist.
Apple Music will launch a curated playlist showcasing local artists from the 32 participating nations in the World Cup. In addition, Apple has updated Siri to answer questions about the 2018 World Cup, including team standings.
Can music help humans bond?
Researchers at Southern Methodist University and UCLA have found a link between a person’s appreciation of music and empathy. According to a new study, people with a higher empathy process familiar music with greater involvement of the brain’s social circuity, helping them better bond with other people. In addition, increased activation of the brain’s reward system allows them to experience a greater degree of pleasure when listening to music.
Ye lands on the Billboard Top 40.
All seven tracks from Kanye West’s latest album, Ye, have landed on the Billboard Top 40. ‘Yikes’ landed at No. 8, ‘All Mine’ at No. 11, ‘Ghost Town’ at No. 16, ‘Wouldn’t Leave’ at No. 25, ‘Violent Crimes’ at No. 27, ‘I Thought About Killing You’ at No. 28, and ‘No Mistakes’ at No. 36.
CIMA honors Chris Taylor, Jim West, Sandy Pandya, and Dave Bookman.
The Canadian Independent Music Association (CIMA) recently honored eOne Music’s Chris Taylor. At the fourth annual celebration and awards gala event, Taylor received the Entrepreneur Award. Justin Time Records’ Jim West received the Builder Award, Pandyamonium’s Sandy Pandya received the Brian Chater Industry Award, and India 88’s Dave Bookman received the Unsung Hero Award.
Scooter Braun and JD Roth launch GoodStory Entertainment.
Scooter Braun and JD Roth have teamed up to form an unscripted content studio – GoodStory Entertainment. The studio will develop and produce unscripted shows, live events, and featured documentaries. GoodStory will pursue strategic acquisitions to integrate other unscripted production companies.
Former publicists form a new company.
Former 42West publicists Amanda Silverman, Meredith O’Sullivan Wasson, and Sarah Levinson Rothman, who left the company last week, have launched their own firm – The Lede Company. The three women – former Managing Directors at 42West – will serve as co-CEOs. Silverman and Levinson will serve in Los Angeles, and O’Sullivan Wasson will serve in New York.
The publicists have taken huge clients from their former company, including Rihanna, Will Smith, Reese Witherspoon, Queen Latifah, Charlize Theron, Lady Gaga, Emma Stone, Illumination, Anonymous Content, Pharrell, Amy Schumer, Penelope Cruz, PepsiCo, Jennifer Garner, Jessica Biel, Mary J. Blige, and Halle Berry.
Apple poaches top executives for video initiative.
Apple has hired Kelly Costello, formerly of Lorne Michaels’ Broadway Video Entertainment. She’ll serve as a Business Affairs Executive and will report to Philip Matthys, Apple’s Head of Business Affairs for Worldwide Video. The company has also poached Layne Eskridge from Netflix, where she oversaw production of original programming, including Ozark, Spike Lee’s She’s Gotta Have It, Seven Seconds, Longmire, and Top Boy. As a Creative Executive at Apple, she’ll report to Worldwide Video Head of Development Matt Cherniss.
Bonnie Dalton named GM of the new Victorian Music Development Office.
The Victorian Music Development Office (VDMO) – a new music body – has appointed Bonnie Dalton as General Manager. She’ll oversee the new office established as part of the Victorian Government’s $22.2 million contemporary music funding and support program.
Mark Williamson exits Spotify.
Mark Williamson, Spotify’s Global Head of Artist and Industry Partnerships in Los Angeles, has left the company. The British executive joined the company in 2011.
Featured image by Pieter-Jannick Dijkstra (CC by 2.0)