Apple Music tops Spotify once again in total streams – this time for Travis Scott.
According to Music Business Worldwide, Travis Scott’s newest album, Astroworld, has drawn 80 million global streams on Apple Music within the first 24 hours, up 16.5 million over Spotify’s global streams. The album drew in 153 million streams in its first three days on Apple Music.
Looks like advertisers don’t want anything to do with drill music videos on YouTube.
Mars has pulled its ads off YouTube after a Starburst commercial appeared before a music video for controversial drill rap group Moscow17. Rival gangs stabbed and killed one of the group’s members, Siddique Kamara, last week in South London.
NetEase partners with Xiaomi.
Xiaomi Music has reached a copyright transfer agreement with NetEase Cloud Music. The agreement gives Xiaomi access to music from HIM International Music and Tianyue Media, including SHE, Hebe Tien, Yoga Lin, Power Station, and Where Chou.
Niniola makes history on Spotify.
Nigerian singer Niniola has become the first artist from her country to reach a million monthly listeners on Spotify. The Afro-pop singer achieved the historic milestone after releasing her hit single, ‘Maradona.’
On Instagram, Niniola thanked fans for their support.
“And just like a Movie we have crossed the 1m Monthly listeners Mark on @spotify ….Thank you so much guys for taking the Ilejemeje Girl to the world.”
UTA sells minority stake.
Investcorp and the Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) have become strategic partners in United Talent Agency (UTA). The minority stake will result in an influx of capital UTA will use to enhance its services and invest in resources to support its clients. The talent agency now has over 900 employees.
Pink cancels yet another show in Sydney.
Pink has canceled a third performance of her Beautiful Trauma tour in Australia after a stomach virus forced the pop star to remain hospitalized in a hospital in Sydney. She previously canceled her opening-night performance at Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Friday evening. Pink reportedly ‘pushed through’ her scheduled Saturday night performance prior to her hospitalization.
Riptide partners with Armada Music.
Armada Music, a Dutch EDM label, has partnered with Riptide Music Group, a global publishing administration company. Riptide will represent a set number of releases from the Amsterdam-based label. Diver, Riptide’s sync division, has made tracks from Goldfish, Dirtcaps, Dirtyphonics, Arston, W&W, and SAYMYNAME, among other Armada artists, available for licensing.
CTS Eventim acquires Venuepoint.
German ticketing company CTS Eventim has acquired Venuepoint, a Scandinavian ticket agency. The German company acquired the remaining shares from former partner Nordisk Film. Terms of the acquisition were not revealed.
Apple Music launches ‘Friends Mix.’
Apple Music has rolled out a new feature – Friends Mix. Updated every Monday, the feature collates 25 songs friends have listened to on the platform. The Friends Mix joins other algorithmic collections on the platform – Favorites Mix, Chill Mix, and New Music Mix.
BASE Entertainment announces a promotion.
BASE Entertainment/BASE Hologram has promoted Tim Ward to the role of President and Chief Operating Officer. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer for both companies. Ward will oversee all aspects of operations in addition to his corporate finance leadership responsibilities. He will report to Chairman and CEO Brian Becker. The company specializes in hologram performances featuring deceased artists.
RCA UK announces two promotions.
RCA UK has promoted Sarah Hall as Head of Publicity and James Bass to the newly created role of Head of Playlisting.
Hall has served in the Publicity department since 2009. She has handled campaigns for Justin Timberlake, Pink, and Daft Punk, among others.
Bass has worked in the Promotions department since 2013, starting as Senior National Radio Plugger.
Sony/ATV announces two promotions.
Sony/ATV Music Publishing has promoted Lou Al-Chamaa to Vice President of A&R. The publisher has also promoted Nick Bral to Director of A&R. Both will serve in the company’s Los Angeles office.
Live Nation Productions announces two hires.
Live Nation Productions has hired Matthew Stein as Head of Scripted Development and Production. Ryan Kroft will serve as Head of Unscripted Development and Production. Both will report to Heather Perry, President of Production of Film and Television.
Triple 8 announces a long list of hires.
Triple 8 Management has announced several new hires and a promotion.
Avery Bashaw, the company’s former Marketing Assistant, will now serve as Marketing Manager.
Jon Smalt will serve as Manager. His existing clients, Devon Gilfillian and Becca Mancari, will also transition to Triple 8.
Kelly Kresen will work as Day-to-Day Manager at the company’s Nashville office. She previously served as a Business and Legal Affairs Executive at APA.
Jen Dalton joins as Marketing Director. She had previously served as Regional Promotion Manager for Concord Music Group, RCA Records, and Epic Records.
Aaryn Cantu will serve as Marketing Assistant at Triple 8’s Austin office.
Alec Edmonds will join as Day-to-Day Management Assistant at the Nashville office. Edmonds has previously completed internships at Universal Music Group and Triple 8 Management.
The company has also moved to a larger renovated space in the Wedgewood-Houston district in Nashville.
Unedited featured image by Hans Splinter (CC by 2.0)