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TuneCore TuneCore Offers Royalty Collection Service in Canada
February 22, 2012 – Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Retail
Online distribution service TuneCore is offering Canadian songwriters and music publishers an administrative service to collect any unpaid royalties from online sales and streaming, yet publishers like Peermusic are skeptical. » Full Story
Adele Receives Apology From BRIT Awards for Acceptance-Speech Interruption
February 22, 2012 – Global | TV & Film
The organizers of this year's Brit Awards have issued an apology to Adele for cutting short her second acceptance speech of the evening -- an incident which led to the singer raising her middle finger to the crowd and millions of watching TV viewers in frustration. » Full Story
Jazz FM Apologizes and Launches Internal Investigation Following Gay Porn Blunder
February 22, 2012 – Radio | Global
U.K. digital radio station Jazz FM has issued an unreserved apology and promised to launch an internal investigation after accidently broadcasting explicit audio exerts from what appeared to be a gay porn film during one of its shows. » Full Story
EU Suspends ACTA Copyright Treaty Ratification
February 22, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile
The European Commission, facing steep opposition, is suspending efforts to ratify an international anti-counterfeiting agreement and instead referring it to Europe's highest court to see whether it violates EU rights. » Full Story
Apple iPads Apple Defends Use of iPad Trademark in China During Heated Court Battle
February 22, 2012 – Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile
Apple defended its right to use the iPad trademark in China in a heated court hearing Wednesday that pitted the electronics giant against a struggling company that denies it sold the mainland China rights to the tablet's name. » Full Story
Megaupload Founder Kim Dotcom Released on Bail
February 22, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile
The founder of the file-sharing website Megaupload was released on bail Wednesday after a New Zealand judge decided Kim Dotcom lacked means to flee because his funds had been seized. » Full Story
Adele's '21' Hits 21st Week at No. 1; Sells 730,000 Post-Grammys
February 21, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop
Adele's "21" album hits a number of major milestones this week on the Billboard 200 chart, as it basks in the glow of the British diva's multiple Grammy Award wins on Feb. 12. The album sold 730,000 copies in the U.S. last week (ending Feb. 19) according to Nielsen SoundScan -- up a whopping 207%. It spends a 21st week at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. » Full Story
adele singing grammy Adele Gives Producers The Finger At BRIT Awards (Video)
February 21, 2012 – Global | TV & Film | Rock & Pop
After being cut off mid-sentence during her acceptance speech for Album of the Year, the British songstress, who swept the Grammy Awards this year, flipped off the producers of the show. » Full Story
BRIT Awards 2012: Adele, Ed Sheeran, Coldplay Win Big
February 21, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | TV & Film
On top of the six Grammy Awards that the "Someone Like You" singer picked up earlier this month, Adele took home two of the biggest prizes at the 2012 Brit Awards, held tonight (Feb. 21) at London's O2 Arena. » Full Story
Pirate Bay Business Matters: Pirate Bay Could Get Blocked in U.K., Grooveshark May Be Out in Denmark
February 21, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | TV & Film | Digital & Mobile | Retail
The Pirate Bay could be forced out of the U.K. after a court ruling Monday declared that the site was going "beyond merely enabling or assisting" in sharing copyrighted content. Germany has also kicked Skyload.net out of the country, while Denmark may be doing the same to Grooveshark. Elsewhere, Shazam keeps expanding its user base, while ThingLink launches on Facebook. » Full Story
Gorillaz/Andre 3000/LCD's James Murphy's Converse Track: The Story Behind The Song
February 21, 2012 – Global | Retail | Branding
In the most high-profile offering of its "3 Artists. 1 Song" campaign to date, Converse Inc. announced that Gorillaz, LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and OutKast rapper Andre 300 had teamed up to record an original song for the campaign. » Full Story
Kobalt Music Group Snags Pete Dodge As General Manager/VP, Artist & Label Services
February 21, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Executive Turntable
Kobalt Music Group continues moving forward with their planned restructuring and expansion, as today Founder/CEO Willard Ahdritz announced that Pete Dodge would become its new General Manager/Vice President of Artist and Label Services. » Full Story
Cooperative Music Lures Spunk Records From EMI
February 21, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Publishing | Global
Australian hipster label Spunk, with a roster that includes My Morning Jacket, Arcade Fire, Spoon and Sufjan Stevens, has left the EMI stable to strike a worldwide deal with Cooperative Music. » Full Story
Universal Music Group Universal Music Formally Requests EU Approval to Purchase EMI's Labels
February 20, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management
Universal Music Group today formally requested European Union regulators’ approval to buy EMI's recorded-music division. In a related development, the New York Post reported today that UMG CEO Lucian Grainge guaranteed current EMI owner Citigroup its reported $1.9 billion purchase price even if regulators quash the deal. » Full Story
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Re-Enters Top 40 on U.K. Charts
February 20, 2012 – Global
As Whitney Houston singles and albums re-entered the U.K. sales charts yesterday (19) with over 200,000 units sold across the week, top sales honors went to Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sande. » Full Story
Ultra Music Fest Expanding To Six International Sites
February 17, 2012 – Touring | Global | Branding | Dance
The Ultra Music Festival, which has long been an annual event in Miami, is branching out. Ultra today announed  it is expanding the electronic dance music festival to Ibiza, Spain, Warsaw, Poland, Seoul, South Korea and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Ultra expanded to Sao Paolo in 2010. » Full Story
Hugh Masekela: How the Listen 2 Africa Label Is Hooking Up a 73-Year Old Jazz & World Music Heritage Artist
February 17, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Global | Indies | TV & Film | Branding | Jazz
Hugh Masekela, the legendary South African flugelhorn and coronet player, has just released "Jubulani," a new album featuring traditional South African wedding songs. The question is, how does a 73-year-old jazz and world music icon reach an international audience in the digital age? Enter Dave Love's new Listen 2 Africa label. » Full Story
Shakira Shakira, Prince Royce Win Big At Premio Lo Nuestro Awards
February 17, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Latin
With four awards each, Shakira and Prince Royce were the top winners on Thursday's Premio Lo Nuestro, although the Colombian star was not there during the evening, which was full of colorful performances but not both awards. » Full Story
France To Launch Organization To Preserve Local Music
February 17, 2012 – Global | Legal & Management
French Minister of Culture Frederic Mitterrand has announced the launch of CNM, the French National Center for Music, designed to support local French creativity and diversity in terms of record and concert production. » Full Story
AEI Media Inks Deal With Verse Music Group To Publish Drum 'N' Bass
February 17, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Dance
AEI Media, a U.K.-based music-and-media company specializing in developing acts for the British-originated urban genre called Drum 'n' Bass, has linked up with New York-based independent publisher Verse Music Group to launch a publishing joint venture called AEI Music Publishing. » Full Story
Roger Daltrey Cancels Australian Tour, Sherbert's Clive Shakespeare Dies
February 16, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop
Roger Daltrey's Australian tour has been cancelled due to "unforeseen scheduling conflicts," the Aussie government has reportedly held secret meetings to discuss piracy, and more from the Australian music biz. » Full Story
U.K. Music Market Slips 3.4% Despite 25% Growth In Digital, Says BPI
February 16, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail
Digital sales and subscription services both experienced a significant growth in the U.K. in 2011, despite the overall market slipping 3.4%. BPI Chief Executive Geoff Taylor called the trend "highly encouraging for the long-term prospects of the industry." » Full Story
U.K.'s SOCA Shuts Down RnBXclusive Music Blog, Threatens Users With 10 Years Jail
February 16, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | R&B/Hip-Hop
A popular British music blog containing links to unlicensed music files has been shut down by the U.K. police agency SOCA (Serious Organised Crime Agency) and  te users of the urban music site threatened with up to ten years imprisonment and an unlimited fine. » Full Story
Apple iPads Chinese Authorities Seizing iPads
February 16, 2012 – Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Branding
Authorities have seized iPads from retailers in more Chinese cities in an escalating dispute between Apple Inc. and a struggling local company over the trademark for the popular tablet computer, news reports said Thursday. » Full Story
'Lemmy' Director Turns The Camera On Johnny Winter
February 15, 2012 – Touring | Global | TV & Film
Filmmaker Greg Olliver, who co-directed documentary “Lemmy,” will be traveling with Texas blues guitarist Johnny Winter this year on his European tour for his next documentary film. » Full Story
Photos: Katy Perry, David Guetta, Robyn, Roger Faxon Rock EMI's Carnival-Themed Grammy After Party
February 15, 2012 – Backbeat | Record Labels | Global | Rock & Pop | Dance | R&B/Hip-Hop
EMI’s circus-themed Grammy after party harked back record parties of old in the best possibl way: There was a ferris wheel, ring toss, cotton candy, food trucks and multiple Patron-sponsored bars on site as well as » Full Story
Whitney Houston Re-enters Top 10 on Billboard 200, Surges on Digital Songs Chart
February 15, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | TV & Film | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Following the death of Whitney Houston on Feb. 11, the diva's "Whitney: The Greatest Hits" album re-enters the Billboard 200 chart at No. 6. It sold 64,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan, in the tracking week that ended on Feb. 12 -- reflecting only one full day of sales after her passing. There were more Houston albums purchased in the last week (101,000 -- up 5,994% from 2,000 the week previous) than had been sold in all of 2011 and 2012 combined until her death (97,000). » Full Story
Billboard, THR To Provide Music and Entertainment Content To Associated Press
February 15, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Branding
Sister publications Billboard and The Hollywood Reporter announced today they are making their content available for worldwide use on digital platforms to customers of The Associated Press. » Full Story
RIAJ Japan's 2011 Physical Music Sales Drop
February 15, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop
Despite hopeful signs for growth in the early part of 2011, the Record Industry Association of Japan  (RIAJ) final 2011 physical music shipment figures showed a continuing, if slowed, decline. International repertoire numbers improved thanks in part to albums by Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift and K-pop acts. » Full Story
Whitney Houston U.K. Price Hike a 'Mistake,' Sony Statement Says
February 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
After two days of silence, Sony has issued a statement in response to the furor over the company’s U.K. office’s decision to raise the price of two Whitney Houston titles, “The Ultimate Collection” and “Greatest Hits,” in the hours immediately following her death.The statement said the price-hike was the "result of an employee error" and apologized "for any offense caused." » Full Story
David Rodigan, Reggae-Dancehall DJ Extraordinaire, Receives MBE From Queen Elizabeth
February 14, 2012 – Touring | Radio | Global | Legal & Management | R&B/Hip-Hop
David Rodigan, the phenomenal reggae-dancehall DJ, fierce soundclash battler, radio host and utterly unique character was today awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, or MBE, this morning in a ceremony conducted by Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace (for real). » Full Story
CBC Music.png Canadian Broadcasting Corp Launches CBC Digital Music Streaming Service
February 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
CBC Radio draws more than 6.1 million listeners a weekWeeks after the Canadian Broadcast Corporation (CBC) reached the country’s first negotiated collective license deal with Audio-Video Licensing Agency (AVLA), the country’s oldest public broadcasting network officially launched CBC Music, a free digital music streaming service. » Full Story
Sony, Apple U.K. Still Decline Comment on Whitney Houston Price Hike in the Hours After Her Death
February 14, 2012 – Global | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Sony Music and Apple U.K. have declined to comment on the temporary 60% price increase of Whitney Houston's "Ultimate Collection" in the hours after the singer's death. The price was lowered to its previous level after several hours. » Full Story
Google Motorola.png Google Wins U.S., EU Approval For $12.5 Billion Motorola Bid
February 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Digital & Mobile | Branding
Google's $12.5 billion bid to buy cellphone maker Motorola Mobility has won approvals from U.S. and European antitrust regulators, moving Google a major step closer to completing the biggest deal in its 13-year history.  If the deal is completed, Google stands to control Motorola's 17,000 patents which could greatly enhance its ability to compete with Apple, Microsoft and others tech companies. » Full Story
Backbeat: Jorge Celedon, Jimmy Zambrano Ignite Colombian Patriotism in Miami
February 14, 2012 – Backbeat | Record Labels | Global | Latin
Colombian stars Jorge Celedón and Jimmy Zambrano performed to 5,000 patriotic fans in Miami Feb. 11 following a reception hosted by the Colombian consulate, which saw appearances by Carlos Perez and Sergio Rozenblat from The Entity, among others. » Full Story
60,000 Germans Protest ACTA Anti-Piracy Legislation
February 14, 2012 – Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile
An estimated 60,000 people demonstrated over the weekend in more than 50 German cities against the international anti-piracy treaty ACTA. In Berlin alone there were over 10,000 protestors and 6,000 in Munich.  » Full Story
Photos: Lana Del Rey, Jessie J, Irving Azoff, Scooter Braun, More at Lucian Grainge's Grammy-Night Party
February 13, 2012 – Touring | Backbeat | Record Labels | Publishing | Global | Rock & Pop | Country
Far from the proverbial madding crowds on Grammy night, Universal an intimate party for executives and artists at CEO Lucian Grainge’s residence. In attendance were Lana Del Rey, Jessie J, Robbie Williams and a large percentage of Billboard's "Power 100," including Irving Azoff, Michael Rapino, Jimmy Iovine, Eddy Cue, Barry Weiss, Monte Lipman, Daniel Ek and more. » Full Story
Photos: Adele's Post-Grammy Party, With Pitbull, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, Howard Stringer, Doug Morris, More
February 13, 2012 – Backbeat | Record Labels | Christian/Gospel | Global | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
After winning six Grammys at the ceremony, Adele celebrated with her Sony Music family at Cecconi's in West Hollywood. Attendees included artists Kelly Clarkson, Pitbull, Alicia Keys, Marsha Ambrosius and Kirk Franklin; executives included Sir Howard Stringer, Doug Morris, Peter Edge, Tom Corson and Joe Riccitelli. » Full Story
Adele Makes a Clean Sweep on Somber Night at Grammys 2012
February 12, 2012 – Radio | Record Labels | Global | Retail | Rock & Pop
Adele made her post-surgery comeback by winning all six of her nominations at the 2012 Grammy Awards, topping the ceremony with Album of the Year for "21" and taking home both Song and Record of the Year for "Rolling in the Deep." She teared up as she took the stage for the final award, crediting the album's inspiration to a "rubbish relationship." » Full Story
Whitney Houston Whitney Houston Dead at 48
February 11, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Global | TV & Film | Digital & Mobile | Retail | Branding | Rock & Pop | R&B/Hip-Hop
Whitney Houston, who reigned as pop music's queen until her majestic voice and regal image were ravaged by drug use, erratic behavior and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown, has died. She was 48. Publicist Kristen Foster said Saturday that the singer had died, but the cause and the location of her death were unknown. » Full Story
Backbeat: Nicolas Jaar Tours Globally, Launches Arts Collective, Changes Face of Music In Between Semesters
February 10, 2012 – Backbeat | Global | Legal & Management | Indies | Branding | Dance
It’s been a whirlwind two months for Nicloas Jaar. Hanging out at his sold-out Music Hall of Williamsburg show last week with Jaar, film maker and art collective partner Noah Kraft and Alastair Duncan of Infamous PR the young musician had his plate full with a global tour, launching an arts collective and, of course, dropping a top secret music format that could change how we listen to music... » Full Story
Randy Goodrum, U.S. Songwriter, Making Bid for Eurovision 2012
February 10, 2012 – Publishing | Global | TV & Film | Rock & Pop
Melodifestivalen, the local Swedish competition to select the country’s entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, is getting an American injection. Arkansas-born Randy Goodrum is the second American to ever enter the competition and if his song, co-written by Swedish songwriters Niclas Lundin and Maria Marcus, should win, he could end up in European spotlight. » Full Story
Luis Alberto Spinetta, Argentine Rock Pioneer, Dead at 62
February 10, 2012 – Global | Rock & Pop | Latin
Luis Alberto Spinetta, one of the fathers of South American rocanrol and an archetypal Argentine rebel whose music became arallying cry against political repression in the 1970s, died Wednesday, February 8, in Buenos Aires. Spinetta died of lung cancer at age 62. » Full Story
Damian, Stephen Marley, Romain Virgo Celebrate Roots Reggae at Jamaica's Rebel Salute
February 9, 2012 – Touring | Global
With more than 40 veteran artists, contemporary stars and upcoming acts, including Damian and Stephen Marley and Romain Virgo, Pepsi Rebel Salute reaffirmed that culturally-themed roots reggae is flourishing in Jamaica. » Full Story
Emilio Estefan, Jose Valle Confirmed for Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards, April 23-26 In Miami
February 9, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | TV & Film | Latin
Entertainment mogul Emilio Estefan, Univision Radio President José Valle and Target VP of entertainment John Butcher are among the top executives already confirmed as speakers for the 2012 Billboard Latin Music Conference & Awards in Miami. » Full Story
U.K. Music Launches Equality & Diversity Charter
February 9, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Indies
A newly launched Equality & Diversity charter, coordinated by the industry umbrella organization U.K. Music, is aiming for 100 individual, company and organization signatories by the end of 2012 to address the issue of ethnic-minority recruitment in the industry. » Full Story
Andre 3000, Gorillaz, LCD's James Murphy Team Up for Converse Track
February 9, 2012 – Global | Retail | Branding
As part of Converse Inc.'s continuing "Three Artists. One Song" campaign, Gorillaz, former LCD Soundsystem frontman James Murphy and Outkast rapper Andre 3000 have teamed up to write "DoYaThing," to be released Feb. 23 with a new Gorillaz footwear collection. » Full Story
Paul McCartney.jpg Paul McCartney To Debut New Songs On iTunes Streaming
February 9, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Branding | Rock & Pop
Paul McCartney will debut the songs from his new album "Kisses on the Bottom" in a free live streaming performance on iTunes this morning. The news comes just as McCartney has pulled his catalog from subscription services. » Full Story
June Tabor Wins Big at UK BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards
February 9, 2012 – Touring | Record Labels | Global | Rock & Pop
Folk veteran and erstwhile performer June Tabor was queen of the scene at the U.K’s 13th annual BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards last night in Salford. The 64-year-old English singer-turned-librarian-turned-singer waltzed away with Folk Singer Of The Year, Best Album Award, Best Traditional Track, and Best Group (with The Oyster Band). » Full Story
Radio Vet Bob Laine to Be Inducted Posthumously Into Canadian Broadcast Hall of Fame
February 9, 2012 – Radio | Global
Broadcast veteran Bob Laine, who passed away last August at age 72, will be posthumously inducted into the Canadian Broadcast Industry Hall of Fame on March 23 in Toronto for his work at top 40 station CHUM Radio for 45 years. » Full Story
Kobalt Music Group Signs Gotye To Publishing Deal
February 8, 2012 – Publishing | Global | Rock & Pop
Kobalt Music Group has added another marquee name to its roster with the signing of smoking-hot Australian artist Gotye to a worldwide music publishing deal. The new pact, inked by Kobalt Music Publishing Australia, does not cover Australia and New Zealand, where independent music firm Alberts represents the artist’s catalog. » Full Story
Business Matters: TastemakerX Raises $1.8 Million to Deliver New Social Music App
February 8, 2012 – Global | Legal & Management | Digital & Mobile | Retail
TastemakerX is a new music discovery app that allows users to develop an influence score, building a follower base based on music tastes, social graphs and finding the right bands at the right times; CEO Marc Ruxin called it "fantasy sports for music lovers." Elsewhere, CDs remain a valuable commodity, while consumer confidence rose but still lags far behind. » Full Story
Afo Verde Afo Verde Appointed Chairman/CEO for Sony's Latin Region, Spain and Portugal
February 8, 2012 – Record Labels | Global | Latin
Afo Verde, who since 2009 has been serving as president, Latin Region, for Sony Music Entertainment, has been promoted to the post of Chairman and CEO for the Latin Region, Spain and Portugal. » Full Story
Backbeat: Juanes Performs for Industry, Media VIPs at MTV Unplugged
February 8, 2012 – Touring | Backbeat | Record Labels | Global | TV & Film | Latin
Colombian star Juanes played MTV Unplugged alongside stars Paula Fernandes and Joaquín Sabina in a taping attended by Universal Music Latin America/Iberian Peninsula Chairman/CEO Jesús López, UML Entertainment President Victor González, and the managers of Enrique Iglesias and Ricky Martin. » Full Story
 
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