Five Minute Music Industry News | Music Industry City

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

Faith No More Announce Brief Run of 2021 US Headlining Shows

Faith No More have added three extra dates to their fall tour in the United States. The band will perform at Chicago's Riot Fest on September 18th and Slipknot's Knotfest Iowa on September 25th. Faith No More will perform alongside System of a Down, Korn, Helmet, and Russian Circles in October in a pair of rescheduled Los Angeles performances due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Tickets for the freshly announced headliner performances go on sale Friday, June 18th.

Spain Gears Up For A Return To Live — Everywhere But In Ibiza

The possibility of a summer season in Ibiza, Spain's party mecca for electronic dance music, is up in the air. Promoters and venue owners are scrambling to avert a second summer closure. Other clubs in Madrid and Barcelona are reopening, and some festivals are planned for July. Barcelona has been slower to reopen than Madrid. The majority of clubs are not likely to reopen before the end of June. Some big music festivals, including  Sonar and Primavera Sound, have postponed their activities until after the summer.

DCMS “CONSIDERING” INSURANCE AND PREPARES £300M IN FUNDING FOR LIVE EVENTS

The Department of Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) announced that the live events industry will receive an extra £300 million from the Cultural Recovery Fund in the near future. The government is still "exploring" an event cancellation program, according to the statement. The announcement came in response to the postponement of Step 4 of the conditional reopening roadmap from 21 June to 19 July, which has already resulted in festival cancellations.

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

In Musical Chairs…

EPIDEMIC SOUND CHAIRWOMAN VANIA SCHLOGEL JOINS HIPGNOSIS BOARD AS NON-EXEC DIRECTOR

The founder and Managing Partner of the media and entertainment-focused investment firm Atwater Capital has been appointed an independent Non-Executive Director of Hipgnosis Songs Fund. Schlogel is also Chairwoman of the Board at another of Atwater's investments – German content production and distribution company LEONINE Studios. She was previously the Chief Investment Officer of Roc Nation, and later, Tidal.

And in music tech news…

NFT Genius raises $4m to build its music NFTs marketplace

It intends to develop a marketplace for NFTs in music, sports, games, and comedy. Investors include some major names, including IT veteran Mark Cuban, actor and tech investor Ashton Kutcher. For its marketplace, NFT Genius will also use Dapper Labs' Flow blockchain. 

And finally, it’s Wednesday. That means Marina has chosen her song for the week, which will be announced in today's email.

This concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

Have a great day!

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

OMD Announce 2022 North American Tour Dates

Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark will return to the United States next spring for their Souvenir Greatest Hits 2022 Tour. The tour will begin on April 22 in Orlando, Florida. On June 19 at 4:00 p.m. EST, OMD will also conduct a 40th Anniversary livestream. 

Nile Rodgers Launches ‘The DiscOasis’ Roller-Disco Experience In Los Angeles

Nile Rodgers has unveiled The DiscOasis, an interactive pop-up event that will run from July 16 to Labor Day in Los Angeles. The roller-disco will be open to both amateur and professional skaters. The event will benefit Nile Rodgers' We Are Family Foundation, a non-profit that promotes cultural diversity.

The Industry Unites To Launch Coalition Of Festivals

The Coalition of Festivals is a "promoter-agnostic coalition of festival producers" It aims to rebuild a stronger festival industry by sharing best practices and nurturing partnerships with social impact groups. The group considers the Coalition the beginning of the follow-through promised after George Floyd's murder and its aftermath. All festival stakeholders are invited to join the conversation and there's interest in forming a Coalition of Talent Reps including agents, managers and press.

The Jesus and Mary Chain Sue Warner Music Group for Copyright Infringement

Warner Music Group (WMG) is being sued by The Jesus and Mary Chain for copyright infringement and declaratory relief. According to the Reids, WMG has refused to relinquish its copyright ownership of the band's early work, including the legendary debut Psychocandy. They are requesting at least $2.5 million in monetary damages.

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

In Musical Chairs…

CHELSEA BLYTHE APPOINTED SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, A&R AT DEF JAM RECORDINGS

She will be in charge of current and future artist projects, as well as discovering and signing new talent. The executive from Santa Monica is the label's second West Coast recruit this week. In addition, Snoop Dogg has joined the label as an Executive Creative and Strategic Consultant.

And in music tech news…

Bandcamp to hold its second annual Juneteenth fundraiser

Bandcamp will organize its second annual fundraising for 'Juneteenth,' the US anniversary commemorating the emancipation of enslaved people. Last year, in response to the killings of George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, Bandcamp sponsored a one-day charity sale. According to the company's CEO, there is "still more work to be done" on racial parity.

This concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

Have a great day!

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

KISS Debut New Doc ‘Biography: KISStory,’ Perform Outdoor Concert At Tribeca Film Festival

At the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of their new documentary Biography: KISStory, KISS performed a mini-concert. It was the band's first show in over a year. The documentary will air on A&E on June 27 and 28.

Lollapalooza is Giving Out Free Passes to Vaccinated Residents

The city of Chicago's health department will distribute 1,200 single-day Lollapalooza passes to vaccinated residents. Anyone who schedules an appointment for June 26th at one of the participating locations will receive a free pass. If you've previously been vaccinated, the City of Chicago's Department of Public Health will post a link to passes on their social media channels and website next week.

IN HISTORIC MOVE, SONY MUSIC IS DISREGARDING UNRECOUPED BALANCES FOR HERITAGE CATALOG ARTISTS

Sony Music Entertainment has announced the establishment of the Legacy Unrecouped Balance Program, a new program under “Artists Forward.” Sony will effectively write off unrecouped balances for qualifying artists in the future. Artists who last received a Sony Music advance before 2000 will now see streaming and other royalty earnings arrive in their bank account on a regular basis.

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

In Musical Chairs…

Atlantic Names Kevin Holiday as EVP of Black Music Promotion.

Holiday will be in charge of Atlantic's radio promotion strategy and campaigns, as well as leading the label's national and regional Black Music promotion teams. During his tenure, he has played a key role in the careers of Cardi B, Lizzo, Roddy Ricch, and Silk Sonic.

And in music tech news…

PlayTreks Simplifies The Music Industry With Blockchain-Based Music Distribution And AI-driven Data Analytics

The decentralized marketplace will provide many extra benefits to artists while also enhancing the overall proposal. The platform will provide additional cash streams for musicians, whether they are independent or signed to a record label. PlayTreks will issue its own cryptocurrency, TREKS, which will be used to fund all new features in the artist data dashboard.

This concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

Have a great day!

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

Lorde Returns with New Single “Solar Power” Featuring Clairo and Phoebe Bridgers

The query has been resolved. Lorde's Solar Power tease is both the name of her new song and the title of her upcoming album. In an email sent to fans, Lorde revealed that her third album will also be called Solar Power. She describes the album as, “a celebration of the natural world, an attempt at immortalizing the deep, transcendent feelings I have when I’m outdoors,”

John Legend, Common, Mariah Carey Urge Fans to #Calloutyoursenators to Save For the People Act

The bill is intended to stem the tide of voter suppression that is sweeping the country. In a viral effort to rescue the anti-voter suppression For the People Act, the stars are pushing followers to #calloutyoursenator. The campaign is urging a bipartisan group of four U.S. senators to support the law, which has already passed the House and is pending, but in jeopardy, in the Senate.

Metallica File Insurance Suit Against Lloyd’s of London for Losses Suffered from Pandemic-Postponed Shows

Metallica's lawsuit claims breach of contract and seeks unspecified compensatory damages. The lawsuit further details that Metallica bought a standard “cancellation, abandonment and non-appearance insurance” policy in order to cover their losses if any portion of the tour was postponed or canceled, and that the band “timely turned to [Lloyd’s] for the promised and reasonably expected coverage for their losses.”

Young Creators Are Burning Out and Breaking Down

Many people who have found fame on TikTok are struggling with mental health issues and many have “lost the passion” for posting content. Creators are saying that when they do try to speak out on being bullied or burned out or not being treated as human, the comments all say, ‘You’re an influencer, get over it.’”

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

In Musical Chairs…

Lyte Adds Jorgen Bocklage As CFO

He was previously the CFO and SVP of Operations of MealPal. As CFO at Lyte, he will strengthen the company's ties with investors, lenders, and strategic partners, while also assisting the executive team in overseeing financial projects, accounting, and operations.

And in music tech news…

Amazon Music gets more radio-like with new ‘DJ Mode’

It is described as an “on-demand listening experience that combines the personalisation, control, and breadth of catalog of streaming with the vibrancy and personality of DJ-hosted radio”.

It's based on playlists, first Amazon's 'Rap Rotation,' 'Country Heat,' and 'All Hits,' with tracks personalized to each listener's taste, snippets from DJ hosts and musicians, and music facts and trivia from the Alexa voice assistant.

This concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

Have a great weekend!

*NSYNC and Backstreet Boys Members Debut New Collab, Talk Past Rivalries and Mutual Respect

On Saturday, Backstreet Boys member AJ McLean and *NSYNC's Chris Kirkpatrick presented a new collaborative single, "Air," in Las Vegas. ATCK (All the Cool Kids), the singers' side band, provided the dance tune 

The musicians' desire to continue working together demonstrates how far they've gone since the heyday of boy band mania in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when there was frequently tremendous competition and competitiveness.

Ronnie James Dio’s Cancer Charity Plans Star-Studded Virtual Fundraiser

On what would have been Ronnie James Dio's 79th birthday, July 10, the Ronnie James Dio Stand Up and Shout Cancer Fund will host a star-studded virtual fundraiser.

In addition to historical footage of Dio from throughout his career, the event will include guest performances, interviews, and birthday greetings from many of his friends and family.

For the Music Producers...

Arturia releases FX Collection 2 - All-in-one Production Suite

Each effect has been hand-picked, precisely modeled, and creatively enhanced - giving you everything you need to properly mix, master, and modify any part of your sound.

ROBLOX SUED FOR $200M+ BY MUSIC PUBLISHERS, WHO ALLEGE COPYRIGHT INFRINGEMENT

The National Music Publishers' Association (NMPA) is representing a group of indie and large music publishers that are suing video gaming platform Roblox in the United States for more than $200 million in damages, alleging rampant copyright infringement by the corporation.

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

Biden Administration Rescinds Trump’s TikTok Ban

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden issued an executive order rescinding a Trump-era ban on the popular video-sharing app TikTok due to alleged national security concerns. Instead, his administration would evaluate apps with ties to China and other “foreign adversaries.”

In Musical Chairs...

FACEBOOK EXEC ELLA KIRBY JOINS TIKTOK AS HEAD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING LICENSING & PARTNERSHIPS

The executive joins the ByteDance-owned video platform after serving as Facebook's Music Publishing Business Development Lead in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for over three and a half years.

Ikonick Signs NFT Licensing Deal With Bravado, Universal Music Group’s Merchandise Unit 

Ikonick, a leading digital art brand, has partnered with Bravado, Universal Music Group's global merchandising and brand management organization, to manufacture, sell, and distribute canvas art and NFTs from their large roster of artists.

This concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

J. Cole, Lil Baby, 50 Cent, And More Set To Perform At Rolling Loud New York

The date for Rolling Loud New York 2021 has been set for October 28-30 at Citi Field in Queens. The festival was one of the most successful Rolling Loud festivals to date when it first visited New York in 2019.

MARSHMELLO'S NEW ALBUM INFO LEAKS ON APPLE MUSIC

Mello's fourth studio album appears to be on the way after a coincidental Apple Music leak disclosed its title, release date, and tracklist. Shockwave, the album, will be available for streaming on Friday, June 11th.

LIVE NATION TO PRODUCE NEW YORK REOPENING CONCERT IN CENTRAL PARK

New York City Mayor Bill Blasio has enlisted the help of Live Nation and Clive Davis to plan a 60,000-person live music extravaganza in Central Park to commemorate the city’s reopening.

The concert will be mostly free, with select VIP passes available for purchase. According to the New York Times, the event would feature sections for vaccinated and unvaccinated spectators, with approximately 70% of tickets going to vaccinated persons.

The three-hour event's list of performances has yet to be confirmed.

Ariana Grande ‘7 Rings’ Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Dismissed With Prejudice

In the initial case, Josh Stone – known professionally as DOT – claimed that Ariana Grande had infringed on his 2017 single "You Need It I Got It" in her 2019 hit "7 Rings."

A March 2021 filing stated that the parties involved had settled the matter – however the contents of this settlement (which might involve Stone receiving a piece of future “7 Rings” royalties or, potentially, receiving no compensation at all) were not made public.

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

In Musical Chairs…

Dick Clark Productions President Amy Thurlow to Exit

At the end of June, she will step down as president of Billboard Music Awards producer Dick Clark Productions.

Thurlow, who has been with DCP since 2014 and has served as president for the past year, is leaving to pursue other possibilities. Her departure comes as Dick Clark Productions, which produces numerous major award ceremonies, including the Golden Globes, has seen viewership for such programs plummet during the pandemic.

Vinyl buyers are now younger and more diverse

Ahead of the first Record Store Day of the year this Saturday, the event's organizers have disclosed some findings from a recent study from the people behind the more than 140 independent record stores participating this year.

Two-thirds of those polled reported a significant increase in the number of young people purchasing vinyl, a trend that has helped vinyl sales in the UK continue to climb in recent years. According to organizers, 75,000 vinyl albums were sold in the UK in 2008, compared to five million in 2020. In addition, vinyl sales increased by 46 percent in the first half of this year compared to the same period last year.

This concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

Lorde Teases New Music with Solar Power Artwork

Although it is unknown whether Solar Power is a song or an album, Lorde has teased her fans by updating her website with new artwork. Consider me intrigued.

Deadmau5 Announces Summer Tour

The seven-city tour begins on July 1st in Aspen and concludes on July 24th in Atlanta, including a two-night stop in Brooklyn, NY. Speaking of Deadmau5

EDC Announces massive 200-Plus Lineup

After a few false-starts, EDC is officially set for Oct. 22-24, with more than 200 top electronic artists including Alison Wonderland, The Chainsmokers, Martin Garrix, Deadmau5, Kaskade, Zedd and many others.

EDC promises larger-than-life stages, top-notch production and new collabs. 

Kid Rock loses it at his show.

During a concert at a Tennessee pub this past Saturday, Kid Rock launched into a rage over fans photographing him with smartphones and openly yelling out a homophobic slur.

HIPGNOSIS SONGS FUND NOW OWNS A MUSIC CATALOG WORTH OVER $2.2 BILLION

Hipgnosis has acquired 84 catalogs for little over a billion dollars in the last year. Now, they manage 64,555 tracks across 138 collections as of the end of March 2021.

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

In Musical Chairs…

SNOOP DOGG JOINS DEF JAM AS EXECUTIVE CREATIVE AND STRATEGIC CONSULTANT

He will serve as a senior strategic advisor with an emphasis on A&R and creative development in his new position.

And finally, in Tech News...

Apple announces Spatial Audio for iOS 15 Rollout

The next operating system will contain a slew of new features, including Dolby Atmos support in Apple Music and spatial audio in Facetime. To experience Dolby Atmos, make sure your AirPods have a W1 or H1 chip.

And that concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

I’ll see you tomorrow.

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

WME has signed Richie Hawtin, who performs as Plastikman, as a global client in all areas.

Dubbed by The New York Times as "one of the electronic dance world's intellectual forces," the British-born, Canadian-raised DJ pioneered the international spread and growth of electronic and techno music. The agency will build out his business across music, technology, fashion, art, education and gaming.

John Mayer Releases New Song “Last Train Home” Featuring Maren Morris

The new song, which comes with a video, is the latest preview of his next album, Sob Rock, which will be released on July 16th by Columbia Records.

Mayer will also be back on the road with the Grateful Dead supergroup Dead & Company. The 31-date tour kicks off on August 16th.

CHICAGO COUNCILLOR CALLS FOR TWO 24-HOUR HOUSE MUSIC CLUBS

Chicago councillor Carlos Ramirez-Rosa has called for two 24-hour clubs that only play house music to be hosted in the city. He made the suggestion on Twitter, saying the clubs would help “tap into the international market for Chicago house music.” This one gets my full support.

Over in the UK...

Nozstock is the latest festival to cancel amid ongoing COVID uncertainty and the insurance gap

Although full-capacity events may be possible starting June 21, there is still concern that COVID restrictions may be extended or reinstated.

The festival industry has frequently requested that the UK government provide state-backed insurance options due to the lack of cancellation insurance on the private market. Ministers, on the other hand, have thus far declined to initiate such a plan, at least until any initial constraints are lifted.

We’ll talk more about this in the Music News Power Hour live on Clubhouse and on MusicIndustryCity.com at 12 p.m. Eastern.

Turntable Goes Live With New Mobile App.

Turntable (tt.fm) also known as the other Turntable has released their platform today for Desktop web, iOS and Android. “Original Turntable fans are eager to get back on the dancefloor and have been asking for a product that serves their needs, including live DJ sets, social networking with music fans, music sharing and an online music community”, says Joseph Perla, CEO of this version of Turntable. 

In Musical Chairs.

NALEDI NYAHUMA SECK JOINS THE ORCHARD AS VICE PRESIDENT OF DIVERSITY, EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Based in Los Angeles, she will report to Colleen Theis, The Orchard’s Chief Operating Officer, and will work closely with Tiffany R. Warren, Executive Vice President, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at Sony Music Group, who took on the role in October.

In her newly appointed role, Nyahuma Seck will continue the company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, and establish talent pipelines and employee development programs.

And finally, in tech news…

DELIVERY AND DISTRIBUTION PLATFORM AUDIOSALAD LAUNCHES NEW VIDEO DELIVERY SERVICE, VIDEOSALAD - it’s good to stick with a healthy brand recognition 

AudioSalad says that the new platform “aims to simplify music video distribution” and delivers short form music video in SD, HD and 4K formats to Apple, Spotify, Amazon, Vevo, TIDAL, Facebook and more. VideoSalad also provides services to assist with video encoding, preparation and style guide compliance.

And that concludes today's update. For article links, see the show notes, or go to MusicIndustryCity.com and listen to the Music News Power Hour live in Clubhouse or on the website at 12 p.m. Eastern.

We’ll see you tomorrow.

Your daily update on new releases, tours, and business news from MusicIndustryCity.com

The Linda Lindas went from performing in the Los Angeles Public Library to signing with Epitaph Records a few days later - to their TV debut on Jimmy Kimmel Live in just a few weeks. Check it out. 

Gary Numan kicks off September 17 in Los Angeles for a North American tour. Stops include Austin, Houston, Atlanta, Phoenix, New York City, Boston, Philadelphia, Chicago, Denver, Portland, Seattle and more.

In Musical Chairs...

From beverages to Live Music. Nicole Portwood, former Vice President of Marketing for Mountain Dew has been named to a newly created position as Live Nation’s Chief Brand Officer to strengthen artists and fan’s connection to the global concert promoter.

Drake, Shania Twain & More Petition to Change Canadian Copyright Law. The two are among other Canadian artists who have joined the Songwriters Association of Canada in petitioning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other government figures to change the country's copyright law to give more power to artists and songwriters. Their proposed change would let creators and their families regain ownership of their copyrights 25 years after the date of transfer, instead of 25 years after the creator's death, as currently specified in the country's copyright act.

In Mergers and Acquisitions...

Reservoir Buys Tommy Boy Music for $100 Million. The label kicked off the careers of Queen Latifah, Afrika Bambaataa, Digital Underground, Coolio, De La Soul, House of Pain, Naughty By Nature, and more has found a new home. Since the 90s, Tommy Boy was sold to Warner Music, became an independent label again, re-acquired it’s past catalogue and now this. Good for Tommy! 

We’ll talk more about this Live in the Music News Power Hour at 12pm Eastern in Clubhouse and livestreamed on MusicIndustryCity.com

And finally, in tech news…

Bhad Bhabie and Lil Yachty are investing in a Jewish dating app called Lox Club. The two launched a VC fund called Scoop Investments led by manager, Adam Kluger. The app is described as “a virtual speakeasy hidden within an old-school deli”. Lox Club doesn’t rely on algorithms like traditional dating apps; rather, it uses actual human match-makers.

And that’s it for today’s update, for the article links head to MusicIndustryCity.com and tune in Live at 12pm Eastern for the Music News Power Hour in Clubhouse or right from the website.

We’ll see you tomorrow.