Spotify reveals its gender and race diversity findings.
Spotify has released its latest Diversity Data Report. Among the findings, females make up 38.7% of employees, up 3.8% over 2016’s numbers. The company’s Board of Directors has 33% female representation, up from 0%. Spotify has admitted it still has “serious work to do” to increase its share of senior female leaders.
In the US, 50% of employees are white, down 15% from 2016. 14.8% identify themselves as Asian, up 2.5%. Blacks and Latinos comprise 6.1% and 5.5% of the company’s workforce, up 3.6% and 2.5%, respectively. 3% of employees have a disability, up 2%. Spotify gathered the data using its HR tool.
Nielsen reveals black, Hispanic, and white listening trends.
Nielsen has released its Audio Today report analyzing black and Hispanic audiences. 52% of blacks use audio streaming services including Spotify, TuneIn, iHeartRadio, Pandora, Apple Music, and SoundCloud, among others. 40% of whites use these services. Blacks and Hispanics are also more likely to use smart speakers than white consumers. 19% of blacks versus 18% of whites have a smart speaker in their home. Breaking down radio consumption, 92% of black consumers and 96% of Hispanics tune in every week.
Can podcasts save Pandora?
Pandora CEO Roger Lynch has revealed the company will expand its non-music content over the next year. It wants to make podcasts “easier to find.” Speaking with Bloomberg, Lynch said,
“Think about what Pandora did for music discovery. We’ll do that for podcasts.”
Childish Gambino added to iHeartRadio Music Festival lineup.
Donald Glover – aka Childish Gambino – will perform at the 2018 iHeartRadio Music Festival on September 21st. Justin Timberlake, Fleetwood Mac, Jack White, Carrie Underwood, Mariah Carey, and more will also perform at the festival, which takes place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas September 21st and 22nd.
Tom Petty unveils new 4-CD box set.
The Tom Petty channel on SiriusXM has announced a new 4-CD boxed set called ‘American Treasure.’ The set will feature previously unreleased live and studio material and alternative versions of Petty’s hits.
Stadiumred acquires a digital marketing agency and a stake in Crosshair Music.
Stadiumred Group, a New York communications and marketing firm, has acquired Gyrosity Projects, a Nashville-based digital marketing agency. The deal, valued at $1 million, also gives Stadiumred a stake in Crosshair Music, a music influencer marketing platform. This marks the company’s first major acquisition since announcing its plans to grow agency holdings to serve a wide range of clients.
Ruby Tuesday sues band with the same name for $2 million.
Ruby Tuesday, a national restaurant chain in the US, has filed a lawsuit against Ruby Tuesday, an Australian rock band. In a statement to Vice, the company’s lawyer explained,
“While many artists pay tribute to other artists through imitation, when it comes to imitating famous trademarks, only Ruby Tuesday is entitled to the goodwill of its mark. In fact, the knowing adoption of a mark intending to play off a well-established mark is among the most egregious of trademark violations, warranting courts to apply the harshest of consequences.”
Artist Growth teams up with Rising Star Travel.
Artist Growth, an artist management platform, has announced a partnership with Rising Star Travel, a full-service agency specializing in tour-related bookings. The agency will be integrated into Artist Growth’s platform, allowing artist teams – tour managers, agents, and managers – to plan booking and scheduling for tours.
Because angry Jimmy Buffett fans want to receive ‘concert cash’ instead of a full refund…
Live Nation has confirmed it will pay stranded Jimmy Buffett fans with “concert cash” instead of giving them full refunds. Concertgoers had waited hours outside the Pavilion in Burgettstown, Pennsylvania for hours to see the singer. Some, however, didn’t make it into the building. Others missed the show entirely. The concert cash reportedly equals the value of their Ticketmaster tickets, and can be used towards other shows at the Pavilion.
AIF announces dates and speakers for this year’s Festival Congress.
The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) in the UK has set dates for the 2018 Festival Congress. The event will take place at Sheffield’s Crucible Theatre November 6th and 7th. Confirmed speakers include Kate Dunnings (Shangri-La’s Creative Director), Stephen Mallinder (founding member of Cabaret Voltaire), and author Rob Chapman (Psychedelia and Other Colors).
XO Festival shuts down.
The XO Festival has been canceled. The questionable event had promised fans around 100 performers (including T.I. and Ludacris), a zip line, a culinary stage, two silent discos, a foam pit, and a VIP area. Organizers had reportedly failed to fulfill their contractual obligations, leading to the event’s cancelation.
Andrew Forstadt joins Spectre.
Spectra has hired Andrew Forstadt as Vice President of Entertainment and Events. He will work on bringing more events to Spectra-managed venues across North America.
AWAL signs Austin Burke.
AWAL, Kobatl’s recording company, has announced a worldwide recordings deal with country music artist Austin Burke. The deal includes global marketing, campaign coordination, synch licensing, global distribution, and radio promotion from AWAL’s newly acquired partner, in2une Music.
Jordan Harding named GM of City National Grove of Anaheim.
Nederlander Concerts has appointed veteran facilities manager Jordan Harding as General Manager of the City National Grove of Anaheim. He replaces Adam Millar, who will serve as General Manager of Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, California. Harding will focus on business operations and development of new revenue opportunities for the Grove.
Aimie Vaughan-Früehe joins 300 Entertainment.
300 Entertainment has hired Aimie Vaughan-Früehe as Senior Vice President of Promotion. She will lead promotion initiatives and strategy for the label and its subsidiaries.
Viacom promotes Kurt Patat.
Viacom has promoted Kurt Patat to the role of Senior Vice President of Communications for Paramount Network and CMT. He will lead both corporate and internal communications, media relations, and oversee publicity teams in New York, Los Angeles, and Nashville for Paramount Network and CMT.
Steve Robertson named General Manager and Senior Vice President of A&R, Pop/Rock at Atlantic Records Nashville
Atlantic Records Nashville has promoted Steve ‘Stevo’ Robertson to the newly created role of General Manager & Senior Vice President of A&R of Pop/Rock. He first joined Atlantic in 1997 and relocated from Florida to Nashville in 2015.
Featured image by musicisentropy (CC by 2.0)