Spotify announces headliners for ¡Viva Latino! concert series.
The all-powerful playlist continues to evolve beyond streaming. Accordingly, Spotify has just announced its ¡Viva Latino! live concert series, produced by Cardenas Marketing Network (CMN). ¡Viva Latino! playlist regulars like Daddy Yankee, Bad Bunny, Becky G, Jowell & Randy, and Natti Natasha will perform. The tour kicks off on Thursday, August 23rd in Chicago. Spotify will announce additional cities and performers at a later date. The tour follows other playlist-based concert treks, including a recent jaunt for Rap Caviar.
Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine owe $25.25 million in royalties.
A California jury has ruled against Dr. Dre and Jimmy Iovine, finding that they owe a former Beats business partner $25.25 million. The jury spent three days in deliberation.
Sony Music acquires Raymond Gubbay; DAEG buys DEAG Classics from Sony Music.
Sony Music has acquired shares in Raymond Gubbay, a classical music events promoter in the UK. The deal sees German promoter DEAG releasing its shares in Raymond Gubbay in exchange for 49% of DEAG Classics from Sony Music Germany.
MelodyVR rolls in more European countries.
MelodyVR has launched in eight more markets – France, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Greece, Austria, and Belgium. Using the VR-loaded app, users can see live performances from Tokio Myers, UB40 featuring Ali, Astro and Mickey, Kaiser Chiefs, and Tom Walker.
AXS launches a capped tickets marketplace.
AXS has launched an online market in the UK, AXS Marketplace. The company will cap the resale of concert tickets at 10% above the original value price.
Prince Estate signs deal for 35 catalog albums.
Prince’s estate and Sony Music Entertainment have signed an exclusive distribution agreement, which today become official. The deal includes 35 previously released album titles from the singer’s catalog, including 1999, Diamonds and Pearls, and Sign O’ the Times. Legacy Recordings will distribute the catalog.
Gloria Estefan joins brothers Ozzie and Will Areu.
Gloria Estefan has joined Areu Bros. Studio. She will serve as a partner and executive team member. Estefan will create and package content across all platforms including music, television, film, and short-form content.
Lakeith Standfield’s freestyle goes homophobic.
Actor Lakeith Stanfield has apologized after posting a video of himself freely rapping with homophobic lyrics. He had said,
“That’s some gay s—t… F-g, I don’t really like to brag, but I’m straight, rich.”
The Kinks will reunite.
Kinks frontman Ray Davies told the BBC that the group will reunite to record a new album. The Kinks split up over twenty years ago.
Can YouTube Music conquer the Australian market?
Australian market research firm Roy Morgan has published a new report. Spotify remains Australia’s most popular music service and website with 2.2 million unique visits in four weeks, a 9% increase over a year ago. SoundCloud had 1.3 million unique visits. Apple Music and Google Play Music had 400,000 visits each in the same period. YouTube drew in 15.2 million visitors, representing 75% of the country’s adult population.
Hipgnosis Songs Fund to seek yet another IPO.
The Hipgnosis Songs Fund, a specialist investment company set up by Elton John’s former manager, will renew its quest to launch an IPO. The company hopes to raise £200 million ($264 million) on the London Stock Exchange. The Hipgnosis Song Fund canceled its listing last year to conduct “further due diligence.”
Ed Sheeran replaces fans’ invalid tickets.
Ed Sheeran has imposed strict entry rules for 18 UK gigs. The artist hopes to stop Viagogo from reselling invalid overpriced tickets. Accordingly, Kilimanjaro Live has reportedly replaced up to 10,000 fans’ invalid tickets. In the UK, Viagogo faces legal action for failing to comply with consumer protection laws.
Sony/ATV signs deals for Bob Marley and Leonard Cohen’s catalogs.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing has signed deals for its Neighboring Rights division to represent the recording catalogs of Bob Marley and Leonard Cohen. The music publisher also added Jamie Scott, Big Shaq, Kojo Funds, Elderbrook, and Bob Ezrin to its Neighboring Rights roster.
Peloton acquires Neurotic Media.
Peloton, a fitness technology company, has acquired digital music white label service Neurotic Media. Founder Shachar ‘Shac’ Oren will become Vice President at Peloton and will retain his role as CEO and President of Neurotic. Neurotic Media will continue to operate as a standalone company.
LANDR signs deal with HFA’s Rumblefish.
LANDR, an AI platform for musicians, has signed a deal with HFA’s Rumblefish. The move will allow artists on LANDR.com to obtain licenses for cover tracks.
DJ Carisma jumps ship and joins TuneIn.
Cathleen Robertson, best known as DJ Carisma, has joined TuneIn. She will lead Hip-Hop/R&B curation and artist relations. Robertson spent the past two years at KRRL/Los Angeles (Real 92.3) serving as a Music Director.
Manners McDade announces a promotion and two key hires.
Manners McDade, a UK publisher and composer management company, has promoted Harriet Moss to Managing Director. She will oversee the company’s creative strategy across sync, A&R, and creative services worldwide.
In addition, Jenna Fentimen (Wake the Town) and Clare Everson (Warner Music UK) have joined the company. Fentimen will serve as Music & Composer Producer and Everson as Sync Executive.
Republic Records hires Ken ‘Duro’ Ifill.
Republic Records has hired Ken ‘Duro’ Ifill as Senior Vice President of A&R. He will identify, sign, cultivate, and introduce new hip-hop, rap, urban, and R&B talent.
SoundCloud desperately grasps for young listeners.
A new study from consumer measurement firm Verto Analytics has revealed leading streaming music services – Spotify and Apple Music – have a large advantage among younger listeners. 48.5% of all users aged 18-24 stream their favorite music on Spotify. 34% use Apple Music and 18% listen on SoundCloud.
27% of users aged 25-34 stream music on Spotify and 26.5% used Apple Music. SoundCloud had a 25.5% share.
Featured image by lylejk (CC by 2.0)