Could SiriusXM buy out Live Nation?
Live Nation’s stock has recovered following a New York Times exposé last April that sent shares plummeting. Financial analysts have also posited the idea of SiriusXM buying out Live Nation, sending the company’s stock soaring 14%. Citi analyst Jason Bazinet said the buyout would create a “vertically-integrated music titan” with “several strategic benefits.” These include cross-promotion, data sharing, and customer activations. Live Nation shares opened today at $50.18.
YouTube spends $25 million to combat fake news.
YouTube has announced it has invested $25 million to promote ‘authorative’ journalism. The video platform will promote videos from vetted news sources. YouTube will provide funding in 20 global markets to support legitimate news organizations in “building sustainable video operations.”
How many Sonos speakers do YOU own?
Sonos’ S-1 filing has revealed the total number of registered Sonos speakers. Consumers in 6.9 million households in the US own 19 million Sonos speakers – about 2.7 per household on average. Over half of Sonos-owning households have more than one device. A fourth own more than three devices. Only 39% of consumers in the US purchased a single speaker.
Sean Combs criticizes the music industry’s lack of investment in “black enterprise.”
In an interview with Variety, Sean Combs has lambasted the music industry for allegedly “making so much money off [black] culture.” Speaking about his personal motivation to help black artists and executives, Combs said,
“For all the billions of dollars that these black executives have been able to make them, [there’s still hesitation] to put them in the top-level positions. They’ll go and they’ll recruit cats from overseas. It makes sense to give [executives of color] a chance and embrace the evolution, instead of it being that we can only make it to president, senior VP… There’s no black CEO of a major record company. That’s just as bad as the fact that there are no [black] majority owners in the NFL. That’s what really motivates me.”
Garth Brooks announces stop at Notre Dame Stadium.
Garth Brooks has announced he will become the first artist to perform at Notre Dame Stadium. He didn’t announce a date for his performance at the outdoor football stadium. Brooks will reportedly coordinate with the school’s football schedule.
Ariana Grande will headline Amazon’s Prime Day Concert.
Amazon has announced Ariana Grande will headline the Amazon Music Unboxing Prime Day Concert. Held in New York on July 11th, the company will stream the event globally on its website. Grande joins previously announced artists Kelsea Ballerini, Alessia Cara, and Julia Michaels.
f(x)’s Amber Liu signs with Steel Wool Entertainment.
K-Pop star Amber Liu has signed with Steel Wool Entertainment. The f(x) member had told Forbes she had wanted to pursue a career in the US.
Downtown signs deal with Booker T. Jones.
Downtown Music Publishing has signed a deal to acquire Booker T. Jones’ catalog. The music publisher will also represent the multi-instrumentalist’s works in the future.
Deezer launches HiFi on Google Assistant.
Deezer has launched its HiFi service on Google Assistant. The company has launched the service in the US, Canada, Italy, and Australia.
Sony/ATV announces two key promotions.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing has promoted Danielle Middleton and Sam Reas to the role of Manager of A&R. Based in the company’s New York office, both will report to Rich Christina, Senior Vice President and Head of East Coast A&R.
Rogers & Cowan poaches Chris Monaco from LiveStyle.
Rogers & Cowan, a global marketing and public relations agency, has named Chris Monaco as Managing Director. He recently served as Chief Revenue Officer of Global Partnerships for LiveStyle, an EDM live events conglomerate. Monaco will oversee Rogers & Cowan’s international business unit. He will report directly to CEO Mark Owens.
Family reveals why Richard Swift passed away.
Richard Swift’s family has revealed that the multi-instrumentalist singer/songwriter died from alcohol addiction. A Facebook post reads,
“Yes, Richard Swift suffered from alcohol addiction, and it’s ultimately what took his life. With the support of family and friends and the assistance of MusiCares, Richard had checked himself into rehab for multiple stays over the past two years, but his body gave out before he could overcome the disease.”
Featured image by Michael J (CC by 2.0)