Pandora signs office lease in Atlanta.
Pandora Media has announced it will vacate its Atlantic Station offices following a deal for 50,000 square feet in the 21-story Campanile Tower in Midtown Atlanta. The company announced earlier this year it would add 250 jobs in Atlanta. Pandora had 40 employees at its Atlantic Station offices. So far, Pandora has hired 100 people in the city this year.
Speaking with the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Mike McDonald, Head of Recruiting at Pandora, said,
“We found phenomenal tech talent in Atlanta, and our pace of hiring exceeded our expectations. Based on that, we’re going to continue to hire aggressively [for product and engineering positions.]”
Stream the Made in America music festival on American Airlines.
Passengers flying on American Airlines during the upcoming Labor Day weekend can livestream the Made in America music festival on over 130 flights. Per APEX Media, Roc Company partnered with the airline and Viasat, a communications company, to make the festival available in real-time.
Aretha Franklin tribute confirmed in Detroit.
Over 20 artists and activists will celebrate the life and legacy of Aretha Franklin at Chene Park Amphitheatre in Detroit on August 30th. The tribute is part of a four-day celebration of the Queen of Soul’s life and will include a public viewing August 28th-29th at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History. The music event is free to the public but will require tickets for admission only available on Ticketmaster.com.
Judge sides with Commodores over Commodore.
A judge has ruled in favor of Commodores Entertainment Corporation (CEC). Commodores Entertainment had sued founding member Thomas McClary for violating the company’s trademark and ignoring past court orders. To promote his band and upcoming music festival appearances, he called his band ‘The Commodores Experience,’ ‘Commodores Experience,’ and ‘Commodore’s Experience’ on social media. Florida Judge Roy B. Dalton ruled McClary had infringed on CEC’s trademark and likely confused concertgoers.
Sony denies ‘confirming’ fake Michael Jackson vocals.
Sony Music has hit back against articles stating the label confirmed 3 tracks in the 2010 album, Michael, contained fake Michael Jackson lead vocals.
Zia Modabber of Katten Muchin Rosenman LLP, the firm representing Sony Music and the Jackson Estate, stated,
“No one has conceded that Michael Jackson did not sing on the songs. The hearing Tuesday was about whether the First Amendment protects Sony Music and the Estate and there has been no ruling on the issue of whose voice is on the recordings.”
”No, only I honored Aretha Franklin. Not the rest of my band. Just me. Did you catch that? Please print it again. Make sure everyone knows.”
Journey guitarist Neal Schon has written a letter to the Tampa Bay Times, urging writers to write a correction stating only he paid tribute to Aretha Franklin during a recent performance. Music critic Jay Cridlin had noted the band “scrolled photos of the late Aretha Franklin” behind Schon’s extended solo. The guitarist then sent an email to Cridlin demanding a correction.
“The correct way to say [it’s] Journey’s Neal Schon did the tribute to Aretha Franklin. That would be honest journalism of what it was and is. The only ones that knew what I was planning were our lighting director and designer. I often do something new EVERY NIGHT. Nobody knows really what it will be. It’s my solo section (by myself to do as I please) as Steve Smith and Jonathan Cain do every nite. It’s called improv and that’s precisely why it’s different every night.”
Stereosonic founders launch a new music festival in partnership with Live Nation.
FestivalX, a dance and hip-hop music festival, will take place in four Australian cities this November and December. The event will mark the start of the summer music festival season in the region. FestivalX kicks off on November 29th and will make stops in Brisbane on November 30th and Sydney on December 1st before wrapping up in Melbourne on December 2nd.
Common inks a TV deal with Lionsgate.
Under terms of his new deal with Lionsgate Television, artist/actor Common will develop new series projects for the studio through his company, Freedom Road Productions. He has starred in multiple Lionsgate film franchises, including John Wick and Now You See Me.
Columbia Records promotes Ryan Ruden.
Ryan Ruden will now serve as Senior Vice President of Experiential Marketing and Business Development. He’ll pursue strategic marketing and business partnership along with driving revenue and innovation in artist development. Ruden previously served as Vice President of Touring and Events.
Featured image by Pandora.