Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE MAY 26, 2021 Page 1 of 27

INSIDE NetEase’s Cloud Music

• Recording Streaming Service Files to Academy Announces More Grammy Rule Go Public in Hong Kong Changes Affecting Album of the Year, BY DAN RYS Dance/Electronic Music & More Chinese media, gaming and technology conglomer- versal Music, expanding its catalog significantly at a • Inside Spotify’s ate NetEase filed paperwork Wednesday (May 26) time when Tencent, its biggest rival, is facing regula- New Fresh Finds announcing its intention to spin off its Cloud Village tory scrutiny in China over its market dominance Program For Indie wing — which houses its music streaming service, and exclusive deals with artists and labels. Reports Artist Development NetEase Cloud Music — in an initial public offering on suggest that regulators could force TME to offload • Suzee Ikeda Went the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. If the proposal goes two of its music streaming services and pay a hefty From Motown Artist through, NetEase intends to maintain more than 50% fine. Tencent’s music services claimed 615 million to Exec, Guiding of the voting rights in the resulting company, meaning active users in the first quarter of 2021 and 61 million Michael Jackson’s that Cloud Village will remain a NetEase subsidiary paying users, according to its financial filings. Early Career moving forward. The NetEase announcement also arrives at a time • Texas Concert NetEase Cloud Music is a major competitor to Ten- of significant growth in the Chinese music market. Venues to Receive cent’s various streaming services in China, and claims Streaming in the country, which is the seventh-largest $100,000 Annual more than 180 million monthly active users and 16 mil- music market in the world, grew 34% to $718.1 million Rebates lion paid subscribers as of the end of 2020, according to in 2020, according to the IFPI. Globally, streaming • How Does Mexican the company. A Bloomberg report on the proposal sug- revenues grew 19.9% in 2020 over the year before, Singer-Songwriter gests that NetEase could raise $1 billion with the IPO. according to the IFPI, reaching $13.4 billion and Carla Morrison Stay The timing of the proposal comes at a significant accounting for 62.1% of total revenue for the global Mindful? juncture for NetEase, which is expecting its music recorded-music business. streaming service to “undergo relatively rapid busi- Further details of the spinoff, including the number ness expansion” moving forward. Earlier this month, of shares and the price at which it would be offered, • BILLBOARD 200 NetEase signed a first-ever digital distribution deal have yet to be finalized. CLICK HERE with Sony Music, following a similar deal with Uni- (continued)

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On June 5th, Billboard will publish its 3rd annual CONTACTS Pride issue honoring culturally moving and Joe Maimone influential people who have contributed to the 201.301.5933 | [email protected] community’s history and its current landscape. Lee Ann Photoglo Year-round Billboard and Rolling Stone celebrate 615.376.7931 | [email protected] the LGBTQIA+ community through the lens of music, amplifying the culture of the proud Cynthia Mellow LGBTQIA+ community across our editorial 615.352,0265 | [email protected] channels, including Billboard Pride. Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Building on this platform, Billboard and Rolling Stone will be joining together for the entire month Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] of June to celebrate love, acceptance, diversity and what it means to be queer in music. All month long, Billboard and Rolling Stone will be the go-to destination for music and entertainment Pride content. Leveraging our iconic voices within music and culture, Billboard and Rolling Stone will curate a mix of engaging video and social content featuring thought-provoking panels, heartfelt performances, and glam tutorials – all fostering a community of consumers and influencers in celebration of LGBTQIA+.

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IN BRIEF

effect for the 64th annual Grammy Awards, finalists this year. So under the upcoming Recording set for Jan. 31, 2022. That change, appropri- rules, each would have had two album of the ately, is listed last in this report. year nominations, without being the lead Academy Here’s a summary of approved rule artist on either album. Neat trick. changes which go into effect immediately: On Grammy night, March 14, album of Announces More Album of the year: Expanding eligibil- the year was presented to three producers ity of Folklore – Jack Antonoff, Aaron Dess- Grammy Rule Moving forward, if an album is up for ner and Swift. In late April, the Academy album of the year, all credited featured art- named a fourth producer winner, Joe Changes Affecting ists, songwriters of new material, producers, Alwyn, who is credited as a co-producer of recording engineers, mixers and mastering six of the 16 songs on Swift’s album. Under Album of the Year, engineers who worked on that album are the new rules, the Academy won’t have to do automatically nominated. Previously, the the math to make sure a participant meets Dance/Electronic rule stated that all of these pros had to be the 30% threshold. If they’re credited on the credited with 33 percent or more of playing album in one or more of these capacities, Music & More time to be nominated. and the album is nominated for album of the This is a retreat on the Academy’s year, they’re nominated. BY PAUL GREIN part. Colbie Caillat received a Grammy Dance/electronic field: A renamed and for album of the year because she was redefined category he Recording Academy announced featured on one track (“Breathe”) on Tay- The category formerly known as best several changes to its awards and lor Swift’s Fearless, the 2009 album of the dance recording has been renamed best nominations process on Wednes- year winner. The Grammys subsequently dance/electronic recording. This brings day (May 26). These changes tightened up their rules to make Grammys a this category in line with the corresponding Taffect album of the year and these four fields little harder to get. They now are going back album category, which has long been called — dance/electronic music, classical, music to their old ways. best dance/electronic album. Kaytrana- for visual media and music video/film. This past year, two album of the year da won in both of these categories at the These are on top of the changes an- nominees – Post Malone’s Hollywood’s 63rd annual Grammy Awards. nounced last month, which included an end Bleeding and Jacob Collier’s Djesse Vol. Best dance/electronic recording is to nomination review committees, a reduc- 3 – each had 10 credited featured artists. An- intended for recordings with significant tion in the number of categories in which other nominee, Jhené Aiko’s Chilombo, was electronic-based instrumentation gener- members may vote and the addition of two just a beat behind, with nine. Swift’s Folk- ally based around a rhythmic dance beat. new categories — best global music perfor- lore, the winner, had one, Bon Iver. The screening criteria includes established mance and best música urbana album. Two artists – Future and Ty Dolla $ign – dance and electronic recording genres as All but one of these changes will go into were each featured on two album of the year well as related emerging genres.

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DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS 2 0 2 1 INDIE L A B E L P O W E R P L AY E R S

On June 5th, Billboard will publish CONTACTS its fourth annual Indie Label Power Joe Maimone Players List. This special feature in 201.301.5933 | [email protected] advance of Indie Week (6/14-6/17) and Lee Ann Photoglo the 10th Anniversary Libera Awards will 615.376.7931 | [email protected] profile leading executives at top independent record labels, publishing Cynthia Mellow companies and distribution companies. 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Positioning themselves as the driving force Marcia Olival behind the success of independent music, 786.586.4901 | [email protected] these executives contribute to the independent music sector and to the Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] world of music at large.

Take this opportunity to advertise and congratulate this year’s 2020 Indie Label Power Players.

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BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5OF of 1927

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country

ClassicalAlbu field:ms; Singles Brett are now allowed Young is eligible” ‘Catc rule. h’-es Fifthstances, Airplay an appeal for a possible fourth [pro- in five classical categories Here’s that rule, by the way, straight from ducer] nomination will be considered.”) An Singles thatLea are notder; part of an Travis album will theDenning Grammy rule book: Makes“A track or single Historyengineer/mixer(s) who works on more than now be eligible in five classical categories from a previous year’s album is eligible 50 percent playing time of newly recorded — best orchestral performance, best choral in the general [Big Four], pop, dance/ material can also be awarded. Samperformance, Hunt’s second best studiochamber full-length, music/small and first in overelectronic, five years, gospel/CCM Southside sales [contemporary (up 21%) in the tracking week.This Oncategory Country is Airplay, intended it hops for 18-15princi (11.9- mil- (MCAensemble Nashville/Universal performance, Music best Groupclassical Nashville), instru- debutsChristian at No. 1 on music], Billboard rock,’s R&B,lion audience rap, country, impressions, palup 16%). artist(s) with significant contributing Topmental Country solo, Albums and best chart contemporary dated April 18. classical In its first andweek American(ending April roots 9), it music fields provided performance(s). Ensemble-driven casts in earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingcomposition. to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. the recording was not enteredand total as Country a track Airplay or No.which 1 as “Catch” performers (Big Machine have comparable Label Group) musical ascends SouthsideMusic for marks visual Hunt’s media second field: No. It’s 1 on all the single the previous year and provided the and2-1, dramatic increasing participation 13% to 36.6 million in the impressions. recording chartabout and strategy fourth top and 10. timing It follows freshman LP album did not win a Grammy in a perfor- are notYoung’s eligible. first of six chart entries, “Sleep With- MontevalloFilm music, which pros arrived who atare the entering summit albumsin No - mance category.” outMusic You,” film reached field: No. 2Eligibility in December clarification 2016. He vemberand tracks 2014 that and reignedare released for nine during weeks. the To date, cur- With this change, film music pros have followedTo be eligible with the for multiweek best music No. 1sfilm, “In Casemusic- You Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionrent eligibility in album periodsales. in the music for visual the option of going for Grammys when the relatedYou” (three, documentaries January 2018), must “Mercy” contain (two, a Augustmini- mediaMontevallo field, has but spent are 267associated weeks on thewith list, a tyingvisual song or soundtrack comes out or waiting un- mum2018) of and 51 “Herepercent Tonight” of performance-based (two, April 2019). Lukemedium Bryan that’s Crash will Mybe Partyreleased as the during sixth-longest- the til the film comes out, or going for Grammys material“Catch” or completesindividual his music longest videos journey that to No. 1, runningfollowing titles eligibility in the chart’s period, 56-year will history. now have and Oscars in the same year, or in different togetherhaving taken create 46 a weeks visual to album reach the (if videosapex. It areout - twoOn options. the all-genre Billboard 200, Southside ar- years. It will be a test of strategy and skill to packagedpaces the and30-week entered climb together of “Here as Tonight.” one cohe- rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG afterThey the No.may 3-peaking enter the Montevallo albums or. tracks dur- know which way would be more beneficial sivea new film). high. While dramatic feature films and ingHunt the firstcurrent released year the in categoriesEPX2C , which that debuted are in each case. biopics are not eligible, films with fictional andnot inpeaked the music at No. for 5 on visual Top Country media field. Albums How in- AugustMusic 2014. for Following visual mediaCOMBS field: ‘DOES’ Compila IT AGAIN- Lukeelements Combs are’ “Does eligible. to Me” (River House/Columbia Montevalloever, if this, Betweenoption is the chosen, Pines: Acoustic they will Mixtape not be startedtion at category its No. 7 high limits in Nashville), featuring Eric ChurchNew, ascends promotion 11-8 on restrictions Country Airplay, up 10% to Novembereligible the 2015. following year in the music for Clearer limits have been24.7 set million as to in the audience. The Academysong is Combs’ members eighth or straight their designatedcareer-opening Montevallo produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly Airplay:visual media “Leave field. the Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “Housenumber Party” of andparticipants “Make whopromoted can be No. awarded 1 singles. publicists are now restricted to FYC [for YouOr Miss they Me.” may “Break enter Up them in a Small the following Town” peaked at No.in the 2. best compilation soundtrackChurch adds for his visual 15th Countryyour Airplayconsideration] top 10. emails, social media yearHunt as co-pennedlong as they all were 12 songs not onentered Southside in any, including media “Body category. Like a Back posts and physical mailings that promote Road,”category which during was releasedthe current in 2017. year. The Albums smash hit ruled ForCountry albums Airplay consisting for THAT largely TOOK of pre- QUITE ‘A FEW’only MONTHS their ownTravis recordings. Denning shatters The move the record is for threewill be weeks eligible and theonly airplay-, in their streaming- respective and sales-basedexisting Hot Country masters, Songs up to twothe mostalbum weeks produc it has- takendesigned to penetrate to prohibitthe Country lobbying Airplay on top behalf 10 as “After of chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to Bebe Rexha and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Floridacategory Georgia – best Line compilation’s “Meant tofor Be” visual (50 weeks media atop theers latter and listup in to 2017-18). two musiclion supervisors in radio reach. can be other members and to cut down on “vote or“Downtown’s best score score Dead,” soundtrack which is also for on visual the new set, reachedawarded. Nos. 14 and 15 The song surpasses two trackstrading.” that took 50 weeks each to enter the top 10: onmedia. Hot Country Songs will Songs be and eligible Country for Airplay,best song respectively, For in June albums 2018. consisting “Kin- Easton largely Corbin of new’s “A Girl Like You,”Technical which Grammyreached No. Award: 10 in January More 2018 focus be - folks”written led for Country visual Airplay media. on They Feb. will29, becoming also be Hunt’srecordings, seventh No. up 1. to It threehit producersfore peaking and at No. up 6 to that February,on companies and Aaron Watson’s “Outta Style,” which No.eligible 3 on Hot in other Country song Songs. categories as long as two music supervisors canachieved be awarded. its No. 10 (The high in DecemberA second 2017. Technical Grammy Award has Latest single “Hard to Forget” jumps 17-9 on Hot Country Songs. It’s his “After” is Denning’s second Country Airplay entry. “David Ashley Parker they satisfy the “track from a previous year rules state that “in extraordinary circum- been added to the Special Merit Awards, eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY 2021 GERARDO ORTIZ 10TH ANNIVERSARY

Gerardo Ortiz is one of Latin music’s most defining artists of CONTACTS the last decade, scoring a total of ten No. 1s on the Billboard Regional Mexican Airplay chart, over 22.3 Million followers on Marcia Olival social media, and an astounding ONE BILLION and counting 786.586.4901 | [email protected] views on VEVO. The two-time GRAMMY ® nominee and one- time Latin GRAMMY®, is one of the architects of the alternative Joe Maimone corrido movement and one of the most award-winning 201.301.5933 | [email protected] singers of Regional Mexican music in the past years. Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | [email protected] In recent years, Ortiz has winning a number of awards including twenty seven Billboard Latin Music Awards, twelve Cynthia Mellow Premios Lo Nuestro, earning four Platinum records and five 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Gold records as certified by the RIAA, and selling out festivals, dance halls, and arenas across the United States and Mexico. Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] He breaks schemes with each production, after his successful 9th studio album, "Más Caro Que Ayer" was released in February 2020 he placed at #1 on Apple Music’s "Mexican Music" chart. His first single titled popular charts followed by the hit single "Otra Borrachera", the band version that reached #1 on México's Monitor Latino “Popular” chart, and #1 on the Billboard’s "Regional Mexican Airplay" chart. Starting a new decade and commemorating his 10th career anniversary, Gerardo Ortiz celebrates with the debut of his production "Décimo Aniversario" (10th studio album.)

Join Billboard in congratulating Gerardo Ortiz on his remarkable career over the past 10 years.

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IN BRIEF

which are presented at the annual Grammy emy’s stated commitment to ensuring its before. And for artists whose first Spotify Salute to Music Legends special. This award actions are fair and transparent and that all editorial playlist is Fresh Finds, over 44% was introduced in 1994 to honor individuals details surrounding the awards process are are later added to another editorial playlist, and/or companies who have made contribu- easily accessible to the music community at leading to increased exposure over time. tions of outstanding technical significance large. For its inauguration, Spotify selected four to the recording field. A total of 28 individu- For information on the awards process artists aimed to represent gender, racial and als and 18 companies have been honored. and key dates surrounding the eligibil- genre diversity. There’s bedroom pop artist The new category will be reserved for a ity period for the 64th Grammy Awards, Wallice, experimental R&B singer Unusual company, organization or institution. The visit here. Demont, alternative-pop artist Julia Wolf award would be optional, and at the yearly and pop-rock rapper EKKSTACY, all of discretion of the Technical Grammy Com- whom were selected based on a “combina- mittee. Inside Spotify’s tion of data and gut on the editorial side,” Album of the year: A stricter standard says Stempeck. “It’s definitely editorially for what constitutes a new album New Fresh led, but like any good A&R we’re also look- One of the most significant of the newly ing at off-platform data too and seeing if that announced changes won’t go into effect un- Finds Program growth is real, are they creating real fandom til the 65th annual Grammy Awards, which across socials and follower accounts?” are set to take place in 2023. Under that For Indie Artist In terms of education and access, each change, for an album to be eligible for Gram- artist will participate in personalized my consideration, it must contain more than Development Masterclasses and receive credits to use on 75 percent playing time of newly recorded, Spotify for Artists resources like Marquee previously unreleased recordings. The BY LYNDSEY HAVENS and the Canvas designer category on current rule is 50 percent. (The Grammys Soundbetter among other tools. To help define “newly recorded” as being recorded ive years ago, Spotify launched bolster collaboration, Spotify’s Songwriter within five years of the release date.) its Fresh Finds playlist hub for & Publishing Noteable team has paired If the new rule had been in place in early discovery across genres. The each artist with a producer — Wallice will 1995, Michael Jackson’s HIStory: Past, uniting force? All featured acts are work with longtime collaborator marinelli Present and Future, Book I would not have Findependent. and Ariel Rechtshaid, Unusual Demont been nominated for album of the year. That The flagship playlist alone (one of 10 will work with The Idiot, Julia Wolf with album consisted of two discs – one disc of under the hub) has since featured 25,000 Jackson Foote and EKKSTACY with The classic hits and one of new material. The artists, many of whom went on to become Drums’ Jonny Pierce. By June, each artist second disc with new material was slightly established names from Clairo to Omar will release an original song under the Spo- longer than the first disc (77:10 vs. 71:30, but Apollo to 100 gecs and more. tify Singles banner which will be promoted it didn’t meet the new 75% standard.) Today (May 26), Spotify has now an- using new skills they learn in the program, Note: This rule will affect album of the nounced the next evolution of Fresh Finds: from on-and-off platform campaigns to Spo- year and the various genre album awards a development program for independent tify Clips as well as participating in a social (such as best country album), but it will not artists. The program is centered on three media documentary series. affect six album categories in which the pillars including education and access to re- Plus, today Spotify will also launch 13 new material need not be newly recorded — best sources, creative collaboration and market- regional Fresh Finds playlists in countries compilation soundtrack, best historical ing support. including Brazil, Malaysia, Italy, South Ko- album, best immersive audio album, best “Fresh Finds is an incredibly strong, rea and Turkey in an effort to help emerg- recording package, best special package, and explicit vehicle for independent artists,” ing independent artists develop a global best album notes. says Jeff Stempeck, Spotify’s Artist and fanbase. Wanna read Grammy rules and guide- Label Partnerships’ Head of Indies. “It’s this While the development program has lines? Now you can! entry point for the entire Spotify ecosystem plans to continue, the priority for now is The full list of rule amendments for the and once you get on other Spotify playlists helping this class of four artists leave with 64th Grammy Awards, including the newly there’s all kinds of subsequent things that more tools in their kit than they came with. announced changes passed at the Record- can open up doors for an artist’s career. It’s “Every artist has a different long-term ing Academy’s semiannual board of trustees that ripple effect.” goal,” says Stempeck. “Some might want meeting held last week, can be found in According to the DSP, after an artist ap- to stay fully independent and be able to the Grammy Awards Rules and Guide- pears on Fresh Finds their average monthly build their own career and do everything lines. Introduced in June 2020, this annual listeners increase by 108% in the 28 follow- themselves and have that control over every disclosure is designed to meet the Acad- ing the placement compared to the 28 days piece. Other artists might want to use this 2021 COUNTRY POWER PLAYERS

Billboard’s eighth annual Country Power Players CONTACTS issue will profile the people who have driven Joe Maimone another solid year for the country music industry, 201.301.5933 | [email protected] generating billions in sales, streaming and Lee Ann Photoglo publishing. This special feature will highlight the top 615.376.7931 | [email protected] executives, artists and changemakers who kept the music playing during an incredibly challenging Cynthia Mellow 615.352,0265 | [email protected] year, as well as coverage of the changing face of country music. Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected]

Advertise in Billboard’s Country Power Players Ryan O’Donnell issue to congratulate this year’s honorees while +447843437176 | [email protected] reaching key decision-makers who are driving the music business.

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IN BRIEF

as a launching pad to sign a deal with an sunshine/on a cloudy day” and she didn’t broke.” (“They wanted to show the U.S. they independent or a major label. I don’t think play the bass riff on “Bernadette.” But she were loyal to this country,” she says.) Her we try to step in on any of that. It’s more so held 11-year-old Michael Jackson’s head mother, from Los Angeles, was bitter that about giving them the tools to sustain the when he sang at a microphone so his danc- the government uprooted her family. “They success and keep building on it and to find ing didn’t wreck the vocal, and she bluntly took all their belongings. They got thrown their audience.” told Lionel Richie his original “Endless into the middle of the desert — she talked “It’s not just that immediate spike,” he Love” recording had “too much bottom” and about it all the time.” continues, “it’s that learning and applying insisted he re-do it before it became a 1981 Suzee’s mom told her, “Don’t let anything this stuff long term. That’s the biggest suc- smash with Diana Ross. like that happen to you.” cess metric.” But in her way, Ikeda helped keep Mo- She responded, “Oh, don’t worry. They’ll town running for almost 20 years, working have to kill me first.” in studio after studio with the Jackson 5, the Owen and Nancy Ikeda met after the war, Suzee Ikeda Went Temptations and others, often with her boss, in Arizona, and weren’t allowed to imme- the late producer Hal Davis, writing down diately return to the West Coast, so they From Motown every detail in her cursive script. “She had moved to Chicago, where Suzee was born in the responsibility of herding cats to get an 1947. Later, they moved to LA, where Owen Artist to Exec, album out,” says Nancy Leiviska, the label’s worked as a truck driver and Nancy as a VP of video operations from 1970 to 1984. seamstress. They aspired for Suzee to attend Guiding Michael “She had to be tough. All the responsibil- school to be a teacher, but she turned out to ity of the deadlines and the delivery was on have other talents — and ambitions. Jackson’s Early her.” At Garfield High School in LA, Ikeda Ikeda doesn’t talk much to the press. played violin in the orchestra. A junior- Career Partly, this is because it’s difficult to reach high teacher, Arthur Freeman, took notice her. She doesn’t provide an email address, and connected Ikeda to his brother, Ernie, BY STEVE KNOPPER refuses to text and changes her number a Grammy-winning arranger for classics every few years. Told this story would be like Frank Sinatra’s “Strangers In the fter the Temptations and Four part of Billboard’s Asian-American Pacific Night.” The Freemans knew Ikeda could Tops nailed their sets early in Islander Heritage Month coverage, she sing, and they arranged for her to audition the “Motown 25: Yesterday, pushes back on the entire concept of having at Capitol, Liberty and other top labels. Today, Forever” TV recording in such a month: “I think it’s unnecessary, I Through the Freemans, Ikeda wound up sit- 1983, ShellyA Berger, who managed both acts, really do.” She’s not a fan of the label “Asian- ting in on sessions — she witnessed Sinatra was walking around backstage puffing out American,” preferring instead the outdated knocking out “Strangers,” live, in two takes. his chest. “I’ve got to be the big star of the term “Oriental.” Like most American teens in the ‘60s, she night,” he told himself. She believes she was the first Asian- was a Motown fan, and she was especially Then he encountered Suzee Ikeda, who American employee at Motown and one of excited to attend a Supremes session, al- said softly: “You haven’t seen Michael yet.” the first in the entire record industry; by the though the trio did not show up that day to Ikeda, who had worked with Michael early ‘70s, Japan’s music business had 200 record their Christmas album. Instead, she Jackson and the Jackson 5 as a Motown publishing firms and a concert-promoter met Davis, who invited her to call him. creative assistant, could see that Jack- infrastructure that would soon help make “Once he said that, I didn’t care about any son’s moonwalk performance that night in global stars of the Jackson 5, among many of the other auditions I lined up,” she recalls. Pasadena, Calif., would “break television others, but Japanese-American employees Ikeda was also pursuing a Hollywood ca- altogether,” as Berger recalls. Afterwards, were rare at U.S. labels big and small. “I was reer, with the help of her agent, Bessie Loo, Berger sought her out and admitted she was one of the first ones — or the only ones — to who for decades represented Asian-Amer- right. In her unassuming way, Ikeda had have a position like I did,” she says. ican actors. She landed bit parts, but, she a way of knowing the facts and seeing the Ikeda’s parents, both Japanese-Amer- says, “mostly it was geisha girls or Chinese future. icans, defined themselves, in different prostitutes.” She appeared in the Elvis Pres- Ikeda, now 73, never made enough noise ways, after their internment experiences ley-Mary Tyler Moore 1969 comedy Change to be one of the iconic soul-music label’s during World War II. Her Seattle-born of Habit (“about some nuns or something,” storied employees: She didn’t have found- father, Owen, enlisted in the 442nd Infan- she says) and a scorching-hot July commer- er Berry Gordy Jr.’s star power, of course, or try Regiment in the U.S. Army, a famous cial in which she played an eskimo in a bear the flash of her colleague Suzanne De Passe, division known for its second-generation suit with a Styrofoam igloo. who had similarly started out as a Motown Japanese-American enlistees and an ag- Meanwhile, with Motown’s Davis, Ikeda creative assistant. She didn’t write “I’ve got gressive approach befitting its motto “go for cut a demo version of the Lewis Sisters’ 2021 BLACK EYED PEAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Over the past 25 years, the Los Angeles trio—will.i.am, The album single from December 2020, “GIRL LIKE ME” apl.de.ap, and Taboo—earned six GRAMMY® Awards and [feat. Shakira] achieved success on Latin and Top 40 achieved sales of 35 million albums and 120 million singles radio, and was the subject of a viral TikTok challenge in across seminal releases such as Elephunk, The E.N.D., and late 2020. The success of TRANSLATION continues to more demonstrate Black Eyed Peas’ ability to reinvent themselves along with the ceaseless changing of the times. One of the era’s biggest acts, they emerged as “the second best-selling artist/group of all-time for Please join Billboard as we celebrate the 25 years of downloaded tracks,” (Nielsen) and landed on Billboard’s Black Eyed Pea success as one of the most compelling “Hot 100 Artists of the Decade.” In 2011, they dazzled the acts in the music scene world with a landmark performance at the Super Bowl XLV Halftime Show. CONTACTS

Joe Maimone Their eighth studio album, TRANSLATION, achieved 201.301.5933 | [email protected] staggering international success after its release in 2020, and features major collaborations with artists such as J Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | [email protected] Balvin, Ozuna, Maluma, Shakira, Nicky Jam, and Tyga. The album resulted in a series of chart-topping singles, Cynthia Mellow including the massively successful “RITMO (Bad Boys For 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Life)” [feat. J Balvin] and “MAMACITA” [feat. Ozuna and Marcia Olival J.Rey Soul], both of which achieved #1 status on three 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Billboard Charts each, numerous award nominations, and Ryan O’Donnell gold, platinum, and diamond certifications globally. +447843437176 | [email protected]

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“Don’t Make Me Live Without Your Love,” the milk crate another studio employee set such as George Lucas and Jeffrey Katzen- and in April 1967, she met Motown’s hit up so Michael could stand evenly with his berg. songwriters Lamont Dozier and Brian Hol- older, taller brothers. She taught Michael After working on projects here and there land, the latter of whom signed her to a solo that when he wanted to gossip about people over the past decade, including a short-lived recording contract. She wound up record- at Motown, he had to pull the microphone Motown documentary project with Gordy ing Disney’s “Zip-a-Dee Doo-Dah” as a out of the wall so the engineers in the before he shifted his focus to Broadway, single, which came out in 1971, then Syreeta booth couldn’t hear him — a decision that Ikeda retired in roughly 2006. Musicians Wright’s “I Can’t Give Back the Love I Feel did not always go over well. “He asked me still ask her frequently to join them in the for You” in 1972. They were on the radio a about different songs, who I thought a good studio to listen to tracks, and she sometimes few times, but didn’t click. “Unfortunately,” songwriter was, who I didn’t think was indulges them if she has time. She also has she recalls, “the better things are in the can.” good,” Ikeda recalls. “We would talk about her Motown notes, which she shares with She could tell her career as an artist whatever we had to talk about and plug it musicians so they can recall the details of wasn’t going anywhere, but she hung around back in later.” sessions they played on — sometimes for Motown producers and asked questions. Ikeda occasionally provided demo vocals their own curiosity, but also in case they Soon, Gordy noticed: “Look, I’ve got enough for Michael, and the rest of the group, need legal assistance. “She helped a lot of singers, but I don’t have anybody like you, because her trained voice was high enough musicians in later years to recognize that who knows how to do all this stuff.” She to reach their registers. She encouraged they should also get paid,” says David T. accepted a fulltime job offer to be a creative Michael to learn to sing in his “false,” or fal- Walker, a Motown session guitarist during assistant and work with Davis. That’s when setto, which he resisted, because as a brassy, the label’s Hollywood years in the ‘70s. “She she was assigned to the Jackson 5. powerful, child singer who could go two let people know what was going on. She “We could talk to each other, because she octaves higher than middle C, he didn’t need wrote everything down.” wasn’t that much older than we were,” Mar- it. Years later, after the Jacksons had left The key to Ikeda’s behind-the-scenes suc- lon Jackson recalls, by phone from his home Motown and grown-up Michael went solo cess was that despite her Motown title and near Atlanta. “She still had a lot of kid left with his 1979 classic Off the Wall, she heard experience, she started out as an artist. That in her.” “Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough.” “Uh- gave her the ability to relate to pop stars. In Often, Ikeda advocated for the Jacksons’ huh,” was her first reaction. “He learned addition to her organizational skills, she had own artistic instincts, even though Davis how to use it.” the rare record-business ability to recognize and Motown could be controlling and domi- Ikeda worked for Motown through just what makes a hit. nant. “There were times when we wanted after the “Motown 25” special, for which “Berry Gordy would be in there mixing to do certain things a certain way, and she she acted as a liaison between Motown his 79th acetate, and her job was to follow would go to Hal Davis and talk to him about executives and Jackson. She finally left up and say, ‘Well, did you mix No. 2 or No. it,” Jackson says. “Sometimes she won our when Jay Lasker took over the company in 75?’” Leiviska says. “And she had an ear. She case for us: ‘Let’s try it,’ you know. There the early ‘80s, when the late exec’s regime knew.” was some chemistry there.” was emphasizing cut-out reissue recordings In two hours of phone interviews recall- rather than signing and nurturing active ing her Motown years, as well as her later artists. The Temptations and the Four Tops Texas Concert work with Richie, Jackson (during the His- left in this period, and Ikeda didn’t like the tory era in the mid-’90s) and others, Ikeda label’s direction. Ikeda calls Lasker “The Venues to Receive is gossipy and boisterous. She dishes about Repackaging King,” because, she says, he the time 11-year-old Michael, in the Motown was “repackaging the same 10 songs over $100,000 Annual studios, elbowed her in private areas she and over.” won’t mention (“I think you know what I’m After she left, in 1985, she worked with Rebates talking about,” she says) and she admon- Richie for a while, mostly turning down the ished him with a stern “excuse me!” But she chance to work with pop stars she didn’t BY TAYLOR MIMS won’t tell everything. She mentions watch- know. After meeting her during the Richie- ing a recent CNN special on Marvin Gaye, produced sessions for his 1980 mega-hit he Texas government is extend- and pauses to consider telling a vignette “Lady,” Kenny Rogers “offered me an awful ing support for its music ven- about the late superstar. Then she stops lot of money,” Ikeda says, but she didn’t ues and promoters. On Monday, herself. “I have secrets that will go with me know anything about country music so de- Gov. Greg Abbott signed state to the grave,” she says. clined. Plus, her loyalties were always with TSenate Bill 609 into law, which would Ikeda had empathy for Michael Jack- Jackson. For a time during Jackson’s His- provide a yearly rebate of up to $100,000 for son and they bonded. They developed hand tory sessions, it fell to Ikeda to field studio live music venues throughout the state. gestures and written notes. She still has calls and personal visits from well-wishers Called the Texas music incubator Page 12 of 27

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rebate program, the rebate will come corporations and individuals who wish to the country on how to really invest in their from money the venues paid into the state’s support live music venues in Texas. We can music economy, because it’s good for the alcohol tax and the amount returned to ven- grow that fund and, in a perfect world, every culture and it’s good the economy,” says ues would be determined by how much they applicant would get the maximum amount Reynolds. paid in alcohol taxes the previous year. Ven- allowable.” ues will see the full or partial amount of The Music, Film, Television, and Multi- taxes they paid on the sale of beer and media Office within the office of the gover- How Does wine returned to them up to $100,000. nor will need to establish the program by According to the bill, “The rebates are Sept. 1, 2022 but the bill will technically go Mexican Singer- to assist eligible music venues and eligible into effect on Sept. 1, 2021. Applications are music festival promoters in their efforts expected to open next year and funds will Songwriter Carla to support and continue to bring to lo- come from last fiscal year. cal communities in this state live musical The rebate is a welcome acknowledge- Morrison Stay performances, including the recruitment of ment of the economic and cultural impact musical performance artists.” live music has on Texas, but Reynolds says it Mindful? The bill was first introduced into the may not have passed without the pandemic Texas legislature in 2018, but it failed to shining a light on struggling music venues. BY GRISELDA FLORES get a Senate vote by the last day of ses- “The pandemic hit and there was a sort of sion in 2019. The bill was reintroduced silver lining that it brought to the fore- n recognition of Mental Health Aware- by its co-sponsors Texas State Sen. Carol front why venues are unique. They have a ness Month, Billboard has partnered Alvarado and Rep. Geanie Morrison and different business model. They rely on gath- with Ian Davis and Brandon Hol- was passed in both the House and Senate in ering and they put all their revenue back man of The Mindful Creative on a earlier this month. into producing music,” says Reynolds. “We Iseries of conversations with music artists and Music Venues Alliance – Austin has been did a lot of educating lawmakers on why executives about the self-care practices they working on the language of the bill since its venues are different from bars, why they’re use to keep themselves on track, both during inception and MVA’s president and found- different from arts organizations and what the pandemic and beyond. er Rebecca Reynolds says “it was an easier we need to do to help them survive.” Today’s conversation is with Carla Mor- hill to climb” asking for a rebate rather than As for-profit businesses, music venues rison, a Grammy-nominated and Latin a separate tax rate for music venues. Instead generate revenue for cities and states by Grammy-winning Mexican singer-songwriter. of providing a new tax rate to entities saying bringing in tourism, but rarely see any eco- Morrison has been outspoken about her they are venues, the rebate program allows nomic support or protections from govern- struggles with mental health and, most re- venues to opt in, prove they are a venue and ment entities. cently, launched “Anxiety Tuesdays” on Ins- showing yearly operation as a music venue. Reynolds also credits the National Inde- tagram where she goes live to talk about her “Creating an opt in process make the fund pendent Venue Association and their work own well-being journey with her 1 million more manageable budget-wise,” says Reyn- on the Shuttered Venue Operators Grants followers. In 2020, the artist also released her olds. “It’s a much better way of controlling (previously the Save Our Stages Act), which new song “Ansiedad,” where she documents where this money is being invested.” was brought to the U.S. Congress by bi-par- her self-discovery journey. It was her first Eligible venues include those that have tisan sponsors Sens. John Cornyn (R-TX) track in three years following a career pause been open for two years prior to apply- and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). The biparti- due to a collapse in her mental and emo- ing and have a capacity of 3,000 or less. san effort at the federal level provided more tional state. Now based in Los Angeles (she Festival promoters are eligible if they held than $16 billion in grant funds to indepen- relocated from Paris where she had been liv- their event in a county with a population dent venues and Renyolds says, it gave “law- ing for the past three years), Morrison finds under 100,000. In order to qualify, festi- makers on both sides of the aisle permission solace and inner peace in gardening, listening vals and venues must pay their artists for to really go hard on this issue.” to podcasts and going out for a run. performances. Applications will also have The bill’s success has already attracted in- Mental health for me is something I’ve to prove they have marketed events, have terest from venue groups in other states and learned to prioritize in my life as time goes sound and stage crew, host live events at Reynolds has begun sharing the process by. When I was growing up it wasn’t really a least five times a week, charge a cover or for getting the rebate passed with folks in subject, but it was something that my mom ticketing fee for shows or other criteria stat- NIVA. She has already spoken with interest- definitely would help me to deal with. Like ed in the bill. ed groups in New Jersey, Illinois, California, if I had anxiety, I’d tell my mom, “I’m think- “In addition to that, we’ve set it up so that New York, Washington, Oregon and Wash- ing too many things, I don’t feel good.” She the fund can receive private money,” Reyn- ington, D.C. would tell me, “OK, mija, let’s get your mind olds tells Billboard. “We can market it to “We want to support communities across busy,” and 30 minutes later she would ask Page 13 of 27

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me, “How’s your mind?” So she would al- been such a pleaser. I always say yes because God, please, I hope they don’t end up tak- ways train me to kind of fight my mind back I feel bad and I don’t respect my boundar- ing it because I wanted it for me.” When I and help me understand my feelings. ies.” But after learning to say no, it made me wrote this song I was like, “I’ve always had Now, mental health has become a big pri- feel better because I don’t have to pretend anxiety, but I had never really wrote a song ority in my life. When it comes to wellness, or waste my energy. Being there was like about it. So, how do I put this into words?” I feel that it’s a place you create to check learning to get back to to hanging out with I talked to my [male] producers and we’re in with yourself and have goals. Like, “OK, myself, liking myself and being my friend. like, “OK, how do you feel anxiety” and what’s going to make me happy? What’s That’s on the personal side. “How do you feel it?” Men and women feel going to really give me that space?” And to On the creative side, whenever I’m song- anxiety the same way, maybe different in think every day what’s going to lead me to writing with other songwriters, if I need to certain parts, but pretty much the same. So take care of myself — whether it be eating give myself space to go out and write the we put out a song that talks about having healthier, doing a hobby or going running. I lyrics by myself, I allow myself to do that. I a full-blown panic attack. Obviously, I felt have to have that wellness space every day don’t know if this comes with age, but now vulnerable and like, “Oh sh—, I don’t want in my life, but also in a healthy way, because I feel like I don’t have to meet anybody’s people to think that I’m sick. But then I I do feel like sometimes that’s even stress- expectations but mine. thought, “No, I’m not sick. This is normal. ful, like to try and be healthy and wellness- I’d say we’re talking more about men- This is how I feel.” oriented all the time. You can sometimes tal health in the music industry. How we It was beautiful to see how so many feel guilty for not making that time because struggle, our difficulties, and how fame and people really liked it, and so from that point life happens. fortune aren’t everything. Like, just because and on during all of my [virtual] meet and A couple of months ago, I moved from I’m on the stage and it’s a full concert, greets or other opportunities I’ve had to talk Paris to L.A. In the meantime, making that that means I’m good at what I do. But that to people, this is the topic that comes up the huge move, my dad passed away due to doesn’t mean that I’m not struggling. So most. They’re always like, “Thank you for some illnesses he had and also COVID-19. talking about this now makes me feel more talking about anxiety. Thank you for your All of that was a lot. When you’re mov- “normal” because I know I’m not the only song. Thank you for just bringing it to light.” ing from a country to another one, the artist having a bad day. I know I’m not the It’s been a beautiful journey to just open up, whole scenery changes and you have to get only artist having panic attacks. I’m not the be vulnerable and sing about anxiety. I’ve al- adjusted. And I definitely didn’t give myself only artist that’s like super sensitive and ways talked about different emotions in my mental health days, not even an hour. Noth- might be triggered by something. Before I songs, but for this one I got a big thank-you ing. I was just like, boom, boom, boom. OK, used to think I was just being sensitive or from my fans. Even psychologists will write we need to write this. Oh, we need to go buy asking for too many things, but now that to me and thank me for writing it. They’ll a car. We need to take out the trash what many artists are talking more about it, I feel tell me they’re playing “Ansiedad” for their day? I was trying to get used to the new life like, “OK, we all get to be sensitive and that’s patients so they can better understand what while also understanding that my dad had fine.” they’re going through. This song has been a passed away. That’s still something that It’s also something I try to talk to my fans beautiful gift. comes back every now and then. One day I about. A couple of months ago, an idea came As told to Griselda Flores and Ian Davis. just had a panic attack in the middle of the into my head where I thought I should do freeway and I couldn’t drive. That happens some sort of live [broadcast] on Tuesdays, to me every time I push myself to the limit because I think that’s the day anxiety kicks and play strong. in because you’re just getting the hang of When I had that panic attack, I was like, what your week will look like. So I’ll talk to “F—- this, I’m not letting it happen again.” them about anxiety because we shouldn’t And so I started running every day, working just be talking about all of our success. I on my garden every day and just, you know, want to open up more and say, “Hey, the checking on my flowers, my plants and have other day I had a panic attack, and it sucks that space for myself to be creative and bal- and it happens to me too.” People have ance everything out. I had to not only focus written to me saying that these Anxiety on what I had to do to adjust to L.A., but Tuesdays have helped them. I get messages really adjust to myself, my emotions and my like, “You make me feel normal” or “I’m not feelings. alone in this battle.” When I lived in Paris, I also learned to Releasing “Ansiedad” was also another slow down and to say no. I was like, “Oh, so I way of talking about the subject with my can actually say no and nobody will get mad fans. Initially, I was asked to write this song at me here?” Then I thought, “Man, I’ve for someone else, but I thought, “Oh my Page 14 of 27

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pop album of the year so far.” Rodrigo would be the third-youngest Expect Olivia And Rodrigo is sure to be nominated for artist best new artist winner. LeAnn best new artist. Rodrigo, in fact, seems a Rimes was just 14 when she won the 1996 Rodrigo’s shoo-in to win in that category, though one award in that category. As noted above, Eil- doesn’t want to burden her with front-run- ish was 18 when she won. Rodrigo will turn First Grammy ner status. 19 on Feb. 20, 2022, three weeks after the If Rodrigo is nominated in each of the Grammys are presented on Jan. 31. Experience to Big Four categories, she would become the If Rodrigo wins best new artist, she will second-youngest artist in Grammy history surpass her one of her musical inspirations, Be Anything But to pull off that feat. Billie Eilish was just 17 Swift, who was nominated in that category when she was nominated in all four catego- at the 2007 awards but lost to Winehouse. ‘Sour’ ries in November 2019. (She had turned 18 Swift and her frequent collaborator Jack An- by the time she won in all four categories on tonoff have co-writer credits on “1 Step For- BY PAUL GREIN Jan. 26, 2020.) ward, 3 Steps Back” — a Sour track which Just 12 artists in Grammy history have interpolates “New Year’s Day,” the album he rave reviews for Olivia Ro- have been nominated in each of the Big Four closer from Swift’s 2017 set Reputation. drigo’s debut album, Sour, are categories in one year. Strikingly, nine of In other categories, Rodrigo is a strong just one more indication that the 12 artists who have accomplished this bet for nods for best pop solo performance the 18-year-old pop star is likely feat are female solo artists — Bobbie Gen- (for “drivers license”) and best pop vocal Tto do very well in the nominations for the try, Cyndi Lauper, Tracy Chapman, Mari- album (for Sour). 64th annual Grammy Awards, which are ah Carey, Paula Cole, India.Arie, Amy Nigro, Rodrigo’s producer and songwrit- expected to be announced in November. Winehouse, Eilish and Lizzo. Just two male ing partner, would share in the nominations The California native is likely to wind up solo artists (Christopher Cross and Sam for record, song and album of the year. with nominations in each of the Big Four Smith) and one group or duo (fun.) have These would be the first Grammy nods for categories – album, record and song of the achieved the feat. Grammy voters seem Nigro, 39, who has worked with such artists year plus best new artist — and several more to feel extra enthusiastic about promising as Conan Gray, Carly Rae Jepsen, Sky Fer- categories besides. young female artists. reira and Lewis Capaldi. Rodrigo’s breakthrough smash, “drivers Rodrigo wrote or co-wrote all 11 songs Sour is the first debut album to in- license,” is almost certain to land nods for on Sour. She also co-produced two tracks, clude two singles that entered the Hot 100 both record and song of the year. Rodrigo played piano on one and contributed the at No. 1 – “drivers license” in January and cowrote the midtempo break-up ballad with vocal arrangement on one. That’s the kind “good 4 u” this week. The only previous al- her producer, Dan Nigro. Billboard called it of breadth of talent that often impresses bums to include two singles that debuted at “a brilliantly detailed tearjerker” in a cover Grammy voters. No. 1 were superstar releases — Carey’s Day- story on Rodrigo in the May 15 issue. The Many of Rodrigo’s favorite artists have dream, Drake’s Scorpion and Ariana smash logged eight weeks at No. 1 on the been Grammy favorites, including Lorde, Grande’s Thank U, Next. (Those were, in Billboard Hot 100, longer than any other who is the youngest song of the year winner each case, those artists’ fifth studio albums.) song which is competing in this still-un- in Grammy history (she was just 17 when “Déjà vu,” the second single from Sour, folding Grammy eligibility year (which runs she won for co-writing “Royals”), and Tay- entered the Hot 100 at No. 8, which made from Sept. 1, 2020 through Sept. 30, 2021). lor Swift, who was for a decade the young- Rodrigo the first artist to enter the Hot 100 Sour, which has a strong 84 rat- est album of the year winner in history, a inside the top 10 with each of his or her first ing at Metacritic.com, the review aggrega- title now held by Eilish (Swift was 20 when two singles. She extends that record to three tion site, is well positioned to land an album she won for Fearless). singles this week. of the year nod. Jason Lipshutz, Billboard’s If “drivers license” wins the Grammy for Remarkably, Rodrigo’s only previous senior director, music, gave the album a record of the year, this would be the third music release was from her acting and sing- rave review in his First Stream column on year in a row that a teenager has won this ing role on Disney+’s High School Musical: May 21. “Rodrigo had lofty expectations to award. Eilish was 18 and 19 when she won The Musical: The Series. “All I Want,” which meet thanks to “drivers license” summar- for “Bad Guy” and “Everything I Wanted,” Rodrigo wrote and performed for the series, ily conquering the world earlier this year, respectively. Prior to Eilish’s first win, the briefly made the Hot 100 (debuting and and her first album exceeds them, thanks to youngest record of the year winners were peaking at No. 90) in early 2020. Rodrigo’s the Disney star’s combination of songwrit- Smith (for “Stay With Me”) and Kimbra (as camp entered “All I Want” in the Grammy ing panache, sonic adventurousness and featured artist on Gotye’s “Somebody That I contest for best song written for visual me- impossible-not-to-love charm; unabashedly Used To Know”). Both artists were 22 when dia, but it failed to receive a nomination. and effectively, Sour stakes its claim as the they won. The recent history of Disney stars at Page 15 of 27

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the Grammys isn’t all that impressive. Jo- it to chart, but to me being proud of the art and their families.” nas Brothers were nominated for the I made is the only thing I really think about Born Louis Bernard Robin on May 29, 2008 award for best new artist, but Miley often,” she said. 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, Robin attended Cyrus wasn’t nominated in any category un- Additional reporting by Andrew Unter- Chicago-area schools before relocating til Bangerz in 2014 and Demi Lovato wasn’t berger. to Los Angeles as a teenager. His music nominated until Confident in 2016. Selena industry career began during his stint at Gomez, inexplicably, has never been nearby Claremont Men’s College, where nominated for a Grammy. But Rodrigo is Lou Robin, he and Tinkley began booking artists such closer musically to such artists as Eilish and as Duke Ellington and Count Basie to play Lorde, who are proven Grammy favorites. Veteran Concert concerts at the school’s Bridges Auditorium. And while these other artists remained The endeavor proved so successful that the with the Disney machine, signing solo deals Promoter and classmates subsequently began promoting with Hollywood Records, Rodrigo blazed shows at other college campuses, including her own musical trail, signing with Geffen/ Johnny Cash’s Stanford, Arizona State University and El Interscope. Camino College. Rodrigo did not appear on this year’s Longtime In 1957, Robin and Tinkley co-founded pandemic-delayed Grammy telecast on the concert promotion company Concerts, March 14. She wasn’t nominated this year, Manager, Dies at Inc., which later came to be called Artist but the Grammys have been known to book Consultants Productions. Over the years, a performance of a hot new single that 90 their client list grew to encompass some of won’t be eligible until the following year. the biggest artists of the era, including The This year’s show included performances of BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN Rolling Stones, Peter Paul & Mary, Stevie several songs that may be competing with Wonder and The Beatles. “drivers license” at next year’s Grammys ou Robin, the pioneering concert Robin’s most fateful meeting would come — Silk Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open,” Bad promoter who worked as Johnny in 1968, when he was introduced to Cash by Bunny & Jhay Cortez’s “Dákiti,” Cardi B’s Cash’s personal manager for three the country icon’s then-employee Barbara “Up” and Taylor Swift’s “Willow.” decades, died on May 18, according John. Robin came aboard to promote Cash’s Instead, Rodrigo made her awards show Lto a post on Cash’s official website. He was live shows, including his 1969 concert at San debut May 11 on the Brit Awards, where 90. Quentin State Prison, and deepened his rela- she sang “drivers license” (which was an During a career lasting over six decades, tionship with the singer and his wife, June equally big hit in the U.K.; The song logged Robin produced or promoted more than Carter Cash, when he took on the role of nine weeks at No. 1 on the Official U.K. Sin- 4,000 concerts through Artist Consultants personal manager to the couple in 1973. gles Chart). Rodrigo appeared on Saturday Productions (previously Concerts, Inc.), In addition to his work as Cash’s pro- Night Live four nights later, singing “drivers the company he co-founded with college moter and manager, Robin would go on to license” and “good 4 u.” friend Allen Tinkley. But his legacy is produce a number of feature films featuring In an era when many artists have forever tied to Cash, who called Robin a the singer, including 1973’s Gospel Road: been sharply critical of the Grammys, “true friend…[who has] traveled the world A Story of Jesus (co-written, produced by Rodrigo is an unabashed Grammy fan. In with me, been everywhere, seen everything, and starring Cash) and the posthumous the interview for her Billboard cover story, known every kind of scheme and scam and Cash documentaries Johnny Cash’s Ameri- Rodrigo said, “I love the Grammys. I always trick and trouble the music business has to ca and Johnny Cash: American Rebel. said that February is my favorite month of offer” in his 1997 memoir Cash: An Autobi- “We’re very close,” Cash said of Robin in the year, first because of the Grammys, and ography. his 1997 memoir, “and I trust him absolutely, second because it was my birthday. So I’ve “It is with deep sadness and respect that with every reason to do so…Artists Consul- always been obsessed with the Grammys, we mark the passing of music industry tants is the name of his organization; I’m not and it would be really cool to go this year.” legend, Lou Robin, at 90,” said the state- sure what kind of artist I’ve turned out to be, In all likelihood, Rodrigo will not only get ment posted to Cash’s website. “Lou had but he’s a great consultant.” to go this year, she’ll be the star of the show. an amazing 30-year run personally man- Despite his deep association with Cash, Even at her young age, Rodrigo seems aging Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash Robin still found time to work on other proj- to have a healthy perspective on awards: from 1973 until their passing in 2003. The ects. Perhaps most notably, in 1976 he and They’re great, they’re fun, they’re exciting, friendship and relationships he and his wife, Tinkley brought the Monty Python comedy but they should never be the driving force Karen Wilder Robin, had with the whole troupe to the off-Broadway venue New York (no pun intended) in an artist’s career. Cash family were cherished. Our thoughts City Center, marking the group’s U.S. stage “I would love to win awards and love for are with his sons, Michael and Steve Robin, debut. Page 16 of 27

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Robin would manage the Cashes for the MRC Data, a drop-off from 20,000 equiva- musical The Tap Dance Kid, then received remainder of their lives and beyond; after lent album units in the previous chart week. another for The Lion King in 1998. both singers died in 2003, he supervised Meanwhile, the original Fearless also dips Wright also appeared as jazz legend Dizzy their estate until his retirement at age 88. in equivalent album units earned, with 4,500 Gillespie in Clint Eastwood’s Bird (1988) and A longtime member of the International in the most recent chart week; the album as the purple bunch-of-grapes character in a Entertainment Buyers Association, Robin had earned 5,000 equivalent album units series of commercials for Fruit of the Loom was inducted into the organization’s Hall of in each of the four previous chart frames. underwear. Fame in 2011. He was a longtime resident Here’s a visual comparison of how Fearless For The Little Mermaid, composer Alan of Los Angeles’ Pacific Palisades and most (Taylor’s Version) and Fearless have per- Menken and lyricist Howard Ashman, recently lived in nearby Thousand Oaks, formed in equivalent album units over the Wright performed “Under the Sea,” which where he lived with his wife Karen until her past six chart weeks: won the Oscar for best original song, and death in 2019. As noted, Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s “Kiss the Girl,” which was nominated in the Robin is survived by sons Michael and Version) benefits from fan interest in the category as well. Steve Robin; their wives Amy and Jenjer; first-of-its-kind project, as well as the six Wright later recorded reggae-infused al- and granddaughters Mackenzie, Skylar, “From The Vault” tracks that were included bums for Walt Disney Records as Sebastian Karleigh and Savannah. on its track list. Swift has already stated that and returned as Triton’s courtier for a 1992- she’s hard at work on her next re-recorded 94 Little Mermaid prequel for CBS, for the album to follow Fearless. straight-to-video sequel The Little Mermaid Here’s How In the meantime, Swift scored a songwrit- 2: Return to the Sea and for other shows ing credit on Olivia Rodrigo’s Sour album like Marsupilami and House of Mouse. ‘Fearless (Taylor’s — read all about how it happened here. “Maybe not every actor would say this, but if I didn’t want to be immortal, I Version)’ wouldn’t be acting,” he told the Los Ange- Samuel E. Wright, les Times in a 1991 interview. “I do want to Performed in make my little mark on the world. Voice of Sebastian “An actor’s worst nightmare is to hear, 10 Its Sixth Week years from now, ‘Sam Wright? Who was Sam in ‘The Little Wright?’ If you have that kind of attitude, Compared to you tend to take each role and make it the Mermaid,’ Dies best role you’ve done. You don’t know what Taylor Swift’s people are going to judge you by. It doesn’t at 74 matter if it’s a cartoon, Dizzy Gillespie or Original ‘Fearless’ Othello, I’m going to play it with the same BY MIKE BARNES fervor — just in case anybody’s watching.” BY JASON LIPSHUTZ Born on Nov. 20, 1946, in Camden, South amuel E. Wright, the two-time To- Carolina, Wright played Washington Ameri- s Taylor Swift’s Fearless ny-nominated actor who provided cans ballplayer C.B. “Cool Breeze” Travis (Taylor’s Version) enjoys its the Trinidadian-accented voice of opposite Jim Bouton on the short-lived 1976 sixth frame on the Billboard the fun-loving Sebastian the Crab sitcom Ball Four, then starred in 1980-81 as a 200 in the most recent chart Sin the 1989 film The Little Mermaid, has cop on The Dukes of Hazzard spinoff Enos. week,A we’re taking one more look at how died. He was 74. He also guest-starred on such se- the re-recorded album — the first in a six- Wright died peacefully Monday night ries as The Cosby Show, Simon & Si- album project that the pop superstar first at his home in Walden, New York, after a mon and Spenser: For Hire and did voice announced in 2019 — has performed when three-year battle with prostate cancer, his work on Dinosaur (2000). comparing its weekly listenership to the daughter Dee told The Hollywood Reporter. Survivors include his wife, Amanda — original Fearless, which helped make Swift a “He was the brightest light,” she said. they would have been married 49 years in superstar upon its 2008 release and won the Wright worked often on Broadway; he June — and their children, Keely, Dee and Grammy for album of the year. made his debut in 1971 in Jesus Christ Su- Sam. On this week’s Billboard 200, Fearless perstar, replaced Ben Vereen in the original Wright helped establish the Hudson (Taylor’s Version) slips to No. 35, down from 1972-77 production of Pippin and starred as Valley Conservatory, a performance and No. 19 on last week’s tally. The re-recorded Mufasa in The Lion King starting in 1997. event venue in Walden, and on Facebook, set earned 17,000 equivalent album units for He earned his first Tony nomination in the Town of Montgomery wrote: the chart week dated May 29, according to 1984 for his portrayal as a stern father in the “Sam and his family have impacted count- Page 17 of 27

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less Hudson Valley youth always inspiring across the online retail market,” DC Attor- fornia and Washington state also have been them to reach higher and dig deeper to be- ney General Karl Racine said in a confer- reviewing the practices. come the best version of themselves. On top ence call with reporters. “We need a fair European Union regulators filed antitrust of his passion for the arts and his love for online marketplace that expands options charges in November accusing Amazon of his family, Sam was most known for walking available to (District of Columbia) residents using its access to data from sellers that use into a room and simply providing PURE and promotes competition, innovation and its platform to gain an unfair advantage over JOY to those he interacted with. He loved to choice.” them. entertain, he loved to make people smile and Racine said Amazon, the world’s big- Bezos is stepping down this summer as laugh and he loved to love.” gest online retailer, controls 50% to 70% of CEO, to be replaced by Andy Jassy, who The 1991 L.A. Times piece noted that online market sales. runs the cloud-computing business. Bezos Wright kept a collection of little red crabs in The suit seeks to end Amazon’s use of the will become executive chairman. his home, “and every time I pass one I genu- allegedly illegal price agreements as well as AP Retail Writer Joseph Pisani in New flect and say, ‘Thank you for the house, my unspecified damages and penalties. York contributed to this report. kids’ education and the fact that we don’t Amazon rejected the allegations, saying have to eat cheese grits anymore.’” the relief Racine is seeking “would force This article was originally published Amazon to feature higher prices to custom- Arrest Warrant by The Hollywood Reporter. ers, oddly going against core objectives of antitrust law.” Issued For Marilyn “The DC attorney general has it exactly D.C. Attorney backwards — sellers set their own prices for Manson For the products they offer in our store,” the Se- General Accuses attle company said in a prepared statement. Misdemeanor “Amazon takes pride in the fact that we offer Amazon of Fixing low prices across the broadest selection, Assault in 2019 and like any store we reserve the right not Prices in New to highlight offers to customers that are not Incident priced competitively. “ Antitrust Lawsuit Founded by Jeff Bezos, the world’s rich- BY GIL KAUFMAN est individual, Amazon runs an e-commerce BY ASSOCIATED PRESS empire and ventures in cloud computing, n arrest warrant has been is- personal “smart” tech and beyond. sued for shock rocker Marilyn ASHINGTON (AP) — The Its third-party marketplace, with in- Manson for two counts of District of Columbia has dependent merchants listing millions of misdemeanor assault tied to an sued Amazon, accusing their products on the site, is a huge part of incidentA at a 2019 concert. Gilford, New the online retail giant of Amazon’s business. It has about 2 million Hampshire police announced in a Face- anticompetitiveW practices in its treatment sellers on its marketplace, and the company book post on Tuesday (May 25) that there of sellers on its platform. The practices has said that more than half the goods sold is an active warrant for Manson (born Brian have raised prices for consumers and stifled on Amazon.com come from third-party Hugh Warner) for two counts of Class A innovation and choice in the online retail sellers. Amazon also makes money by charg- misdemeanor simple assault that allegedly market, the DC attorney general alleges in ing third-party sellers fees, bringing in $24 took place at a show he played at the Bank an antitrust suit. billion in revenue in the first three months of New Hampshire Pavilion on Aug. 18, 2019 The suit filed Tuesday in the District of of this year, up 64% from the same period as part of his Hell Never Dies co-headlining Columbia court maintains that Amazon has in 2020. tour with Rob Zombie. fixed online retail prices through contract Like its Big Tech counterparts Facebook, The police said the alleged assaults are provisions and policies it applies to third- Google and Apple, Amazon faces multiple tied to claims by a videographer subcon- party sellers. It alleges these provisions and legal and political offensives from Congress, tracted by a N.H.-based company to film policies prevent sellers that offer products federal and state regulators and European the concert who was in the photo pit in on Amazon.com from offering their prod- watchdogs. front of the stage when the alleged as- ucts at lower prices or on better terms on A congressional investigation threw a saults occurred. The N.H. PD confirmed any other online platform, including their spotlight on complaints by merchants that that the alleged assaults are “not sexual own websites. sell products on Amazon’s platform about in nature” after a number of news outlets “We filed this antitrust lawsuit to put an the kinds of practices that the District of reportedly questioned whether they were end to Amazon’s illegal control of prices Columbia suit focuses on. Officials in Cali- tied to a growing series of recent allega- Page 18 of 27

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tions against the 52 year-old singer by era right down on the ground.” women who claim he sexually, mentally and Actresses Evan Rachel Wood and Esmé Long-Delayed physically assaulted them. Bianco are among the more than dozen “Mr. Warner, his agent and legal counsel women who’ve accused Manson of psycho- Tony Awards have been aware of the warrant for some logical, sexual and physical assault, includ- time and no effort has been made by him ing allegations from former girlfriend Wood to Arrive This to return to New Hampshire to answer the that he started “grooming me when I was pending charges,” read the statement from a teenager and horrifically abused me for Fall Along the police department, which noted that years.” the issuance of an arrest warrant “is not a Following Wood’s claims, four other With ‘The Tony presumption of guilt.” The misdemeanors women came forward with similar disturb- can carry a possible jail sentence of less than ing allegations, including former Game of Awards Present: one year and a fine of $2,000 or less. Thrones star Bianco, who alleged that dur- In a statement to People magazine, ing their years-long relationship, Manson Broadway’s Back!’ Manson’s attorney, Howard King, said, “It assaulted her without consent in a music is no secret to anyone who has attended a video shoot and during sex, raped her when BY JOE LYNCH Marilyn Manson concert that he likes to she was unconscious, rigidly set rules for be provocative on stage, especially in front her life and once chased her with an ax. fter a lengthy postponement due of a camera. This misdemeanor claim was Another ex, Ashley Morgan Smithline, said to the coronavirus pandemic, pursued after we received a demand from the singer allegedly bit and whipped her, the Tony Awards ceremony for a venue videographer for more than $35,000 forced her into a blood pact, locked her in a the 2019-2020 Broadway season after a small amount of spit came into soundproof glass “bad girls” room,” cut her –A originally scheduled for June 7, 2020 – contact with their arm. After we asked for with a knife featuring a Nazi swastika sym- will officially return as part of a four-hour evidence of any alleged damages, we never bol, and shoved his fist in her mouth during event on Sunday, Sept. 26. The American received a reply.” sex.; Manson has denied the claims. Theatre Wing’s 74th Annual Tony Awards King labeled the claim “ludicrous,” but In Dec. 2001, Manson was charged with will broadcast live at 7 p.m. ET exclusively said they are committed to cooperating assaulting a security guard at a Clarkston, on Paramount+, followed by the broadcast with authorities and have been throughout Michigan show after he allegedly spit on of The Tony Awards Present: Broadway’s the case. Three attendees reportedly told the man’s head and rubbed his G-string Back!, a live concert event celebrating the the magazine that they witnessed Manson clad genital area on the man’s head; Manson return of Broadway, at 9 p.m. ET on CBS, “shoot his snot” at the camerawoman. “He pleaded no contest to disorderly conduct Paramount+ and the CBS app. was spitting everywhere and one time it got and received a $4,000 fine. At press time The CBS broadcast will include perfor- on her camera so she wiped it off and looked King had not responded to Billboard’s re- mances from three plays nominated for best semi-irritated. He noticed this and kept quest for comment on the N.H. warrant. musical (Jagged Little Pill, Tina: The Tina purposely spitting on her camera,” one un- Turner Musical and Moulin Rouge! The Mu- named attendee said. “I think her final straw sical) as well as the live presentation of three is he got on the floor, got within 2-3 feet of Tony Awards: best play, best revival of a her and hacked a giant snot rocket at her not play and best musical. Other winners at the the camera. She was pissed off and disgusted preceding Tony Awards ceremony will be so she stormed off and he just laughed.” honored throughout the CBS event that also In addition to segments in which he ap- promises “Tony Award winners re-uniting pears to burn a bible, Manson’s live shows on stage to perform beloved classics.” frequently feature the singer spitting and “After this devastating past year and a half blowing mucus out of his nose onto the for our industry, our city and for the entire stage. world, we are excited to finally be able to “I was right there when it happened, she celebrate the return of Broadway, our Tony was beyond furious when he did that to Award nominees and winners in this new her,” a man who works as a security guard and exciting format,” said Charlotte St. at the venue reportedly wrote on Facebook Martin, president of The Broadway League, according to People. “He spit on her a couple and Heather Hitchens, president and CEO of times and then leaned real close to the of the American Theatre Wing, in a joint camera and blew a huge snot rocket on her. statement. After he did that, she almost threw her cam- Broadway will reopen in September 2021 Page 19 of 27

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after an 18-month shutdown due to the coro- inaugural two-day festival in 2012. The Bravo guru tells Billboard he’s start- navirus pandemic. Several Broadway block- This year’s lineup will be released soon. ing from a meticulously curated list of busters (Wicked, The Lion King, Hamilton) Over the last 10 years, Made in America has 460-some songs that he’ll be adding to and will return on Sept. 14, with Hadestown lead- seen performances from Jay-Z, Beyoncé, subtracting from as the channel evolves. In ing the reopening pack with a recently an- Nicki Minaj, Mariah Carey, Drake, Pearl addition to deep cuts and remixes, expect nounced return date of Sept. 2. Jam, Nine Inch Nails, Janelle Monáe, Ken- covers of hit songs you probably haven’t drick Lamar, Imagine Dragons, Kanye West heard before. “It’s fun to hear a Beatles song and more. but sung by Aretha Franklin or Dolly Parton Made In America or Diana Ross,” he teases. “That’s part of the thing here: I want to surprise people.” Festival Returns Andy Cohen Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge began to take shape after the success of Cohen’s Pride to Philadelphia In Launching Radio takeover in June 2020, which led to SiriusXM president/COO Scott Greenstein September New SiriusXM approaching Cohen with the idea for an all- music channel. The Watch What Happens BY TAYLOR MIMS Music Channel: Live host jumped at the opportunity, one he’s been preparing for since his teens: “I’ve ay-Z is bringing Made in America back Exclusive been creating mixtapes, mix CDs, and playl- to Philadelphia this fall. The annual ists as each of the mediums have changed festival went on hiatus in 2020 due to BY JOE LYNCH since high school, basically. I love sharing the pandemic, but the rapper’s annual music and making playlists.” Jfestival returns this Labor Day weekend. edia multi-hyphenate Andy While Cohen is the channel’s primary From Sept. 4-5, Made in America will take Cohen is adding yet another programming force, it will also feature place at the iconic Benjamin Franklin Park- accomplishment to his lengthy blocks from his celebrity friends and trusted way and mark its 10th anniversary. CV by launching a new chan- DJs. “During the day is music I curated and “We are thrilled to announce Made in Mnel on SiriusXM on Wednesday (May 26), every night we’ll have DJ sets from a differ- America 2021 on the legendary Benjamin Billboard can exclusively reveal. En- ent DJ I love,” Cohen says, name checking Franklin Parkway. This year will be like no titled Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge, Cohen tells Fire Island legend DJ Lina, Jake Shears of other, as Made In America celebrates 10 Billboard it’s “an absolute music channel” Scissor Sisters, Studio 54 disco icon Robbie years of music history making moments,” to complement Radio Andy, his talk-centric Leslie (who was Cohen’s most-played Spo- Jay-Z said in a statement. “The artists’ SiriusXM channel that covers celebrity and tify artist of 2020), Chris Malinchak, Nora performances will be even bigger and Cause lifestyle news. En Pure, DJ Bill Coleman, DJ Sammy Jo and Village will host a wider range of amaz- This new SiriusXM channel, however, is Purple Disco Machine. ing philanthropic organizations. We look pure music. “It’s a passion project,” Cohen To celebrate the launch of the channel forward to sharing incredible memories emphasizes to Billboard. “It’s really personal and Memorial Day Weekend, May 29-May with our festival attendees and the city of to me and I’m very serious about it.” Launch- 31 is the All-Star Kiki Weekend featuring Philadelphia.” ing today at noon ET, the channel boasts programming blocks curated by Kelly Ripa, The festival is produced by Jay-Z’s Roc nonstop music from Cohen’s eclectic list of Anderson Cooper, Tito, Marlon and Jackie Nation and will celebrate its 10th anniver- all-time favorites, including Madonna, John Jackson, Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, Wil- sary by benefitting its local charity partner Mayer, Dolly Parton, Pink Floyd, the B-52s, lie Geist, Henry Winkler, Wendi McLendon- the American Civil Liberties Union of the Grateful Dead, Diana Ross and Cher. Covey, Bevy Smith and more. And Cohen Philadelphia. A portion of net proceeds will Even if those names are familiar, Cohen gave them the same freedom he gave himself also support The Reform Alliance. Reform promises not to play the same hits “everyone on the channel: “They’re picking songs they Alliance is a non-profit that aims to trans- has heard” over and over. “These are songs love from artists they love that you or I may form probation and parole by changing laws, that I love that you may have not heard of not have heard of.” systems and culture. Made In America also from artists that I love, all handpicked.” Take When asked which three cast members annually holds its Cause Village which has the Queen of Pop, for example: “Madonna from the Real Housewives franchise he hosted more than 50 charitable and activist is by far the most played artist in the Kiki would trust to guest curate the channel, organizations representing various causes. Lounge, but the songs I’m playing are not her Cohen pauses to genuinely consider the According to organizers, the event has top 10 songs. They’re more like ‘Devil Pray’ question before replying, “Erika Girardi, generated over $135 million in economic from Rebel Heart or ‘Gone’ from Music or a Kandi Burruss and Bethenny Frankel.” As impact for the city of Philadelphia since its random ‘Substitute for Love’ remix.” for live music, Cohen is just as excited as the Page 20 of 27

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rest of us to get back out there. “I already with Sound of Metal, One Night In Mi- have my Dead & Company tickets,” he says. Amazon Buying ami and sequel Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, More than that, he’s also been lucky enough among other titles. The studio has picked to get an early listen to the new album from MGM for $8.45B up films like Eddie Murphy comedy Coming one of Dead & Company’s members. “I’m re- 2 America (Paramount) and the upcom- ally excited about John Mayer’s new album in Landmark Deal ing Everybody’s Talking About Jamie (New which I’ve heard all of and it’s phenomenal,” Regency) and aggressively moved to nab Cohen says. “I absolutely love it. The first BY ERIK HAYDEN live NFL rights, including Thursday Night single hooks you right away.” Football from Fox beginning in 2022. Andy Cohen’s Kiki Lounge channel is on n a landmark mega deal, Amazon is Now, it will add a vast collection of SiriusXM radios (channel 312) and on the acquiring MGM Holdings — whose Hollywood classics and franchises to its SXM App. From now through June 8, non- storied studio boasts one of the largest mix. MGM boasts a film library of around subscribers can hear it as part of the Siri- film and TV libraries — in a bid to tur- 4,000 titles and 17,000 hours of TV pro- usXM Listen Free event. Ibocharge its Prime membership offering to gramming, including the Bond, Rocky/ customers and potentially mine intellectual Creed and The Hobbit film franchises. The property of franchises such as James Bond 25th installment in the Bond series, No ‘The Voice’ Season and Rocky. Time to Die, was delayed multiple times to The deal, pending regulatory approval, Oct. 8, 2021 as the pandemic has slowed a 20 Crowns values the studio at $8.45 billion. “The real box office recovery. (The Bond franchise financial value behind this deal is the trea- rights are co-owned by Eon Productions, Winner sure trove of IP in the deep catalog that we run by Michael G. Wilson and Barbara plan to reimagine and develop together with Broccoli.) Additionally planned for this year BY BILLBOARD STAFF MGM’s talented team. It’s very exciting and is G.I. Joe franchise spinoff Snake Eyes, provides so many opportunities for high- which MGM co-produced with Paramount. nd the winner of The Voice Sea- quality storytelling,” said Mike Hopkins, MGM also boasts one of the largest col- son 20 is...Cam Anthony! senior vp of Prime Video and Amazon Stu- lections of classic Hollywood titles, includ- The 19-year-old was crowned dios, in announcing the acquisition. ing Oscar winners like 1939’s The Wizard of champion of the NBC talent The acquisition, unveiled just days after Oz, 1960’s The Apartment and 1961’s West competitionA Tuesday night (May 25) during AT&T announced a $43 billion plan on May Side Story, along with the highest domestic the star-studded finale. 17 to spin off its WarnerMedia division, grossing film of all time adjusted for infla- The Los Angeles-based, Philadelphia including HBO and Warner Bros., to Discov- tion, 1939’s Gone With the Wind. (In unveil- native has seemingly grown in statue with ery, marks the latest major consolidation to ing the buy, Amazon stated that MGM’s film every performance, and he turned it on with rattle the entertainment industry. Amazon, catalog “complements the work of Amazon his final two efforts Monday night, with a led by CEO Andy Jassy and founder Jeff Studios, which has primarily focused on powerful rendition of Cynthia Erivo’s “Stand Bezos — who has pushed the tech giant producing TV show programming.”) Up” and a rockin’ surprise with Bon Jovi’s further into Hollywood — recently enlisted MGM’s top shareholder is Anchorage “Wanted Dead Or Alive.” Jeff Blackburn to rejoin the Seattle-based Capital, run by former Goldman Sachs ex- Anthony secured the nation’s vote, and company as head of global media and enter- ecutive Kevin Ulrich, who leads the studio’s extends his Coach Blake Shelton’s all-time tainment, overseeing divisions from games board of directors. The company has gone winning record to eight. to audio and video, with a June 7 start date. without a single CEO since March 2018 Afterwards, the country veteran praised Amazon, which disclosed in April that when Gary Barber, the Spyglass Entertain- his protégé. “Cam, your artistry has shown 175 million Prime members have viewed ment founder who joined MGM after it through all season and your impact to this movies and TV shows on its platform in the emerged from bankruptcy in 2010, was show will live on for a lifetime. Congratula- past year, is battling Netflix (207 million abruptly fired. Multiple senior execs form tions on the big win! Now time to celebrate,” global subs) and Disney+ (103 million subs) the “office of the CEO” and report to the he tweeted. for global supremacy among top streaming board of directors of the firm. Ulrich, in the Earlier in the evening, Anthony and Shel- platforms. Among its original scripted fare, deal announcement, stated: “The oppor- ton entertained viewers with a performance Amazon launched Barry Jenkins’ limited se- tunity to align MGM’s storied history with of the Fine Young Cannibals “She Drives Me ries The Underground Railroad this month, Amazon is an inspiring combination.” Crazy.” its The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is a perennial Much of MGM’s revenue comes from With the victory spoils, Anthony collects Emmy nominee and its biggest upcoming licensing deals for its vast film and televi- $100,000 and a record contract. bet is a pricey The Lord of the Rings series. sion content library, its public disclosure Amazon earned Oscar nominations this year in June 2020 showed. The Beverly Hills- Page 21 of 27

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based studio disclosed a round of layoffs last largest shareholder. Shortly thereafter, April that impacted 50 staffers out of its 750 MGM moved its corporate headquarters Jason Isbell Leads employees while senior management took from New York to Culver City. The 1970s “voluntary pay reductions” amid the film would also see the launch of one of MGM’s Nominees for 2021 and TV shutdown during the pandemic. most enduring franchises when Sylvester The studio’s film group is led by chairman Stallone’s Rocky, made for around $1 mil- Americana Honors Michael De Luca, the New Line Cinema and lion, became a $100 million-plus box office DreamWorks veteran who joined MGM in blockbuster and claimed the best picture & Awards: Full List January 2020. The TV side is overseen by Oscar at the 49th Academy Awards in 1977. Mark Burnett, the reality format mogul who In 1980, Kerkorian split the film holdings BY PAUL GREIN arrived at the firm in 2015 after spearhead- from his resort holdings, which currently ing shows like NBC’s The Apprentice and trade as MGM on the New York Stock ason Isbell leads all artists with three CBS’ Survivor. Exchange. A year later, MGM acquired nominations for the 2021 Americana MGM TV produces Hulu’s The Hand- distributor United Artists for $380 mil- Honors & Awards. He is a finalist for maid’s Tale, FX’s Fargo and History’s Vi- lion from Transamerica shortly after UA song of the year, album of the year kings and the studio has a stake in un- financed Michael Cimino’s infamous box of- Jand artist of the year. Isbell has won song of scripted offerings like NBC’s The Voice and fice bomb Heaven’s Gate, which grossed $3.5 the year a record four times, album of the CNBC’s Shark Tank. The studio has grown million on a budget of $44 million. year three times (which puts him in a tie for through acquisitions like Evolution Film & Kerkorian then sold MGM/UA to mogul the most wins in that category with Buddy Tape, Inc., the makers of The Real House- Ted Turner in 1986 for $1.5 billion, bought Miller) and artist of the year once. wives of Orange County, and Big Fish Enter- assets back and then sold them again in Brandi Carlile and Valerie June each tainment, which produces Live Rescue. 1990 to Italian mogul Giancarlo Parretti’s have two nominations. Carlile is nominated In 2017, MGM acquired full ownership Pathe Communications for $1.3 billion. for artist of the year, an award she won two of premium pay TV network Epix — whose Later, Kerkorian then led another group to years ago, and as a member of The High- original series include Godfather of Har- buy the studio in 1996 from French bank women for duo/group of the year, an award lem, Get Shorty and Britannia — from Li- Credit Lyonnais and then sold in 2005 to a they won last year. June is nominated for onsgate and Viacom for $1.031 billion and Sony Corp.-led consortium for a reported album of the year and song of the year. installed former TBS and TNT vet Michael $5 billion. MGM filed for bankruptcy in No- If Carlile wins artist of the year, she’ll Wright as president. MGM launched Epix vember 2010 before emerging a month later become the first woman to win twice in that Now as a standalone streaming service in under new management led by Spyglass top category. She is currently tied with Lo- Feb. 2019 at a price of $6 a month. While founders Barber and Roger Birnbaum. retta Lynn, Patty Griffin and Gillian the company didn’t break out subscriber Over the past decade, MGM’s film hits Welch with one win each in the category. numbers in its latest earnings release, MGM include the billion-dollar grossers The Three of the five nominees for artist of the disclosed that revenue from Epix totaled Hobbit and Bond entry Spectre in 2012, a year – Carlile, Kathleen Edwards and Mar- $111 million for the three months ending on blockbuster revival of the Rocky franchise go Price – are women. Two of the five nomi- Sept. 2020. with 2015’s Creed ($173 million globally) nees for instrumentalist of the year – Megan The sale of MGM marks the newest chap- and 2019’s animated reboot of The Addams Coleman and Kristin Weber – are women. ter for the venerable studio whose history Family ($203 million). The winner in the instrumentalist category dates back nearly a century. Metro-Gold- Last July, MGM restructured its Orion has been a woman in three of the least five wyn-Mayer was founded in 1924 by movie Pictures — a label purchased in 1997 for years, with Sara Watkins, Molly Tuttle and theater chain mogul Marcus Loew. The its film library that included Oscar win- Brittany Haas each taking the honor. studio put into production as one of its first ner Dances With Wolves and actioner Robo- Pat McLaughlin and the late John Prine, releases the silent epic Ben-Hur, an early cop — to prioritize telling underrepresented who won song of the year two years ago for hit that would be remade multiple times, stories, with Just Mercy producer Alana “Summer’s End,” are nominated again in including 1959’s Oscar-winning version Mayo named as president. In October, the that category for “I Remember Everything.” and 2016’s costly big-budget misfire. MGM studio relaunched American International The Americana Music Association an- signed up a large roster of Hollywood stars Pictures as a banner for deals of indie for- nounced the nominees for its 20th annual like Myrna Loy, Clark Gable and Joan Craw- eign sales titles. Americana Honors & Awards during a ford that bolstered the studio’s early years. This article was originally published socially-distanced ceremony at Nashville’s In 1969, as the studio disclosed a loss, fi- by The Hollywood Reporter. National Museum of African American nancier and Las Vegas hotel owner Kirk Music on Wednesday (May 26). The nomi- Kerkorian nabbed control over MGM from nations were announced by Keb’ Mo’ and Edgar Bronfman, who had been the firm’s Ketch Secor, front-man and fiddler for Old Page 22 of 27

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Crow Medicine Show. The event was live- ten by Tyler Childers represented people around the globe. The streamed on the Americana Music Associa- Duo/group of the year: Clio Music Impact Award presented by Citi tion’s Facebook page. It featured acoustic Black Pumas is granted to a female artist who embodies performances from Keb’ Mo’, Old Crow The Highwomen the #SeeHerHearHer mission of promoting Medicine Show, June and Allison Russell. Our Native Daughters gender equality and representation in the “We’re delighted to see our incredible The War and Treaty music industry. membership recognize such an array of tal- Gillian Welch and David Rawlings “Each cycle, we select individuals and or- ent,” said Jed Hilly, executive director of the Emerging act of the year: ganizations in the music community whose Americana Music Association. “Every one Charley Crockett significant social impact inspires us to shine of these musicians is a trailblazer in their Amythyst Kiah a spotlight on their work and dedicate a own right, and I’m thrilled to see that these Joy Oladokun special award in their honor,” said Clio nominees and their works have resonated so Allison Russell CEO Nicole Purcell in a release. “This year, deeply within our community.” Waxahatchee we are privileged to be recognizing two The winners in these six member-voted Instrumentalist of the year: powerful forces for good in the industry categories will be announced during the Megan Coleman who have made a tangible difference in the Americana Honors & Awards on Wednes- Robbie Crowell lives of countless music lovers. I’m grateful day, Sept. 22 at the historic Ryman Audi- Ray Jacildo for the work they’ve done and for the oppor- torium in Nashville. The program is the Philip Towns tunity to celebrate these accomplishments hallmark event of Americanafest, which Kristin Weber together.” returns for its 21st year on Sept. 22-25. For Clio Music, presented for the sixth year more information,visit www.americana- by Citi, will recognize Carlile and NIVA in music.org. Brandi Carlile addition to the 2020/2021 Clio Music Award Here’s the full list of nominees for the winners during a virtual celebration at 2 2021 Americana Honors & Awards. & National p.m. ET on June 10 at Clios.com. Artist of the year: Both Impact Awards will be presented Brandi Carlile Independent during the ceremony on June 10. Senate Ma- Kathleen Edwards jority Leader Chuck Schumer will present Jason Isbell Venue Association NIVA members with their award, followed Margo Price by a Q&A moderated by Muse by Clio edi- Billy Strings Win Clio Music tor Tim Nudd. Citi CMO Carla Hassan will Album of the year: present Carlile with her award and lead a Cuttin’ Grass - Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Ses- Impact Awards fireside chat with the artist. sions), Sturgill Simpson, produced by David Ferguson & Sturgill Simpson BY TAYLOR MIMS J.T., Steve Earle & The Dukes, produced by Richard Marx Steve Earle he National Independent Venue The Moon and Stars: Prescriptions For Association is being recognized Accused of Dreamers, Valerie June, produced by Valerie for their efforts to get $16 billion June, Ben Rice & Jack Splash in federal funds for struggling Inciting ‘Violence’ Reunions, Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, Tmusic venues. Global awards competition produced by Dave Cobb Clio Music will honor NIVA for its part in by Sen. Rand Paul World on the Ground, Sarah Jarosz, pro- the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant with duced by John Leventhal the 2021 Impact Award. After Suspicious Song of the year: NIVA will receive the award for their “Black Myself,” Amythyst Kiah, written by swift formation and their ability to help Package Amythyst Kiah their ranks as well as other independent “Call Me a Fool,” Valerie June featuring venues across the country, securing the sur- BY ASSOCIATED PRESS Carla Thomas, written by Valerie June vival of these cultural centers for the next “Dreamsicle,” Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, generation. suspicious package sent to the written by Jason Isbell In addition, musician Brandi Carlile will Kentucky home of Republican “I Remember Everything,” John Prine, writ- receive an Impact Award for her efforts to U.S. Sen. Rand Paul appears to ten by Pat McLaughlin & John Prine bridge the gender and age gap in country contain a non-toxic substance, “Long Violent History,” Tyler Childers, writ- music and amplify the voices of under- theA local sheriff’s office said. Page 23 of 27

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Paul, a libertarian-leaning former presi- He recently said he won’t be getting the and Aussie rock legends AC/DC shred at No. dential candidate, tweeted Monday that he COVID-19 vaccine, but added that he might 183 with “Thunderstruck.” takes any such “threats immensely serious- change his mind if people who previously “Mama” is the second Global 200 entry ly” and said he has been “targeted multiple contracted the disease are getting reinfected for El Alfa and CJ Both acts’ prior chart times.” at a greater rate than those who are vac- hits peaked on the Jan. 16-dated list, the The senator also lashed out at detractors cinated. latter’s “Whoopty” at No. 10 and the for- who he said have made him a target on so- Paul is running for a third term in next mer’s “Bebe,” with Camilo, at No. 59. Chael cial media. “As a repeated target of violence, year’s elections. Produciendo and El Cherry Scom each make it is reprehensible that Twitter allows C-list their first appearance on the survey. celebrities to encourage violence against “Mama” debuts on the strength of 12.8 me and my family,” Paul said. “Just this New Around million streams (up 14%) and 600 down- weekend Richard Marx called for violence loads sold (up 10%) worldwide in the week against me and now we receive this powder the World: ending May 20, according to MRC Data. To filled letter.” explain its overperformance on the Global Paul was responding to comments that Dominican-U.S. 200, it scored 85% of its sales for the week Marx, a Billboard Hot 100-topping singer- from the U.S. (where this week’s average is songwriter, made on social media. Collab ‘La Mama 58%) and 34% of its streams domestically The senator was injured in 2017 when a (average: under 30%). When removing Eng- neighbor tackled him while the lawmaker de La Mama’ lish-language songs from the equation, the was doing yard work. Paul suffered broken week’s sales share from the U.S. drops from ribs and eventually underwent lung surgery Debuts 58% to 48%, making the 85% for “Mama” all after he had struggled with what turned out the more notable. to be a lingering infection in the damaged BY ERIC FRANKENBERG Another Spanish-language collaboration lung. On Sunday, Marx tweeted, “I’ll say it between Dominican and American acts de- again: If I ever meet Rand Paul’s neighbor illboard regularly runs down buts on this week’s global charts. But, more I’m going to hug him and buy him as many debuts on our global charts to on-trend with more typical Latin hits, Natti drinks as he can consume.” spotlight international artists that Natasha and Becky G’s “Ram Pam Pam” The FBI is providing forensic and techni- may not yet be burning up the do- sports a stronger launch on the Global Excl. cal assistance in working with the Warren Bmestic Billboard Hot 100. In most cases, that U.S. chart, at No. 111, than on the Global 200, County Sheriff’s Office and Capitol Police, means a focus on the Billboard Global Excl. at No. 191. Tim Beam, a spokesman for the FBI’s Louis- U.S. chart, as most non-English-language or Other international acts crack the latest ville office, said Tuesday. non-American acts typically, and unsurpris- Global Excl. U.S. chart. From Europe, Italy’s The Warren County Sheriff’s Office said ingly, overperform outside the U.S. Sangiovanni debuts at No. 89 with “Malibu” in a social media post that it was contacted The reverse is true, however, for a song and Germany’s Shirin David arrives at No. by Capitol Police on Monday regarding a on the May 29-dated surveys, as a quartet of 120 with “Ich Darf Das.” From Asia, Japan’s suspicious package delivered to Paul’s home acts from the Dominican Republic and the Bump of Chicken and Hentai Shinshi Club in Bowling Green. U.S. hit the Billboard Global 200 but are debut at Nos. 115 and 178 with “Nanairo” The package was taken to the Bowling missing on the Global Excl. U.S. survey. El and “Yokaze,” respectively. Meanwhile, from Green Fire Department and a preliminary Alfa and Chael Produciendo, both from the Latin America, Panama’s Sech starts at No. analysis identified the substance as non-tox- Dominican Republic, and CJ, from the U.S., 124 with “Sal Y Perrea” and Khea and Maria ic, the sheriff’s office said. It did not identify featuring El Cherry Scom, also from the Do- Becerra, both from Argentina, enter at No. the substance. minican Republic, debut on the Global 200 164 with “Te Necesito.” The substance and package will undergo at No. 195 with “La Mama De La Mama.” further analysis, the sheriff’s office said. Of 47 songs that appear on this week’s Paul’s wife, Kelley, tweeted that she Global 200 without crossing over to the “got the death threat letter” and called the Global Excl. U.S. chart, the ribald “Mama” FBI. “This kind of violent threat is fomented is the only one not in English; it’s performed against Rand daily,” she tweeted. entirely in Spanish except for CJ’s verse, Paul, an ally of former President Donald which is rapped in a mix of Spanish and Trump, has been outspoken during the coro- English. It’s one of only three such titles navirus pandemic, saying that masks should with lead artists not from the U.S. or Cana- no longer be necessary after vaccination. da, as Jamaica’s Skillibeng debuts at No. 182 Paul tested positive for the virus in 2020. alongside Nicki Minaj on “Crocodile Teeth” Page 24 of 27

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“Tattoo,” with Camilo, Sept. 12, 2020 producers “may make their own economic Luis Fonsi & Rauw “La Nota,” with Manuel Turizo and Myke decision as to when they reopen.” They also Towers, Jan. 23 will be allowed to decide their own entry re- Alejandro’s ‘Vacío’ “Baila Conmigo,” with Selena Gomez, March quirements, like whether people must prove 27 they’ve been vaccinated to attend a show. Crowns Latin “Vacío,” with Luis Fonsi, May 29 Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, “Vacío” Airplay Chart continues to run on multiple radio formats. Rage Against It holds strong atop Latin Pop Airplay for a BY BILLBOARD STAFF fourth consecutive week and makes an exact the Machine & 3-1 jump on Latin Rhythm Airplay. Concur- uis Fonsi and Rauw Alejandro’s rently, it sees some progress on the airplay-, Foo Fighters to “Vacío” rises 3-1 on Billboard’s Lat- streaming-, digital sales-blended Hot Latin in Airplay chart (dated May 29). Songs chart, rising 26-23. Headline Boston It’s the 12th No. 1 for Luis Fonsi Land the fifth for Rauw Alejandro. Calling 2022 “Vacío” was released Feb. 19 and reigns ‘Winnie The Pooh’ on the all-Latin genre chart in its 13th week BY ANNA CHAN with 10.2 million in audience impressions, Musical Traveling up 18%, earned in the week ending May 23, et ready to kick out the jams according to MRC Data. That’s a 1.5 million to Off-Broadway in 2022! Boston Calling an- increase in audience from the previous nounced on Wednesday (May 26) week. This Fall that Rage Against the Ma- “I’m very grateful that the audience con- Gchine and the Foo Fighters will be headlin- tinues to embrace every song I release,” Luis BY ASSOCIATED PRESS ing the festival’s return for Memorial Day Fonsi tells Billboard. “Having another No. Weekend — May 27-29 — next year. 1 song is not something I take for granted, isney’s iconic Winnie the The two bands were originally scheduled ever. I work very hard every day to produce Pooh will travel from the forest to perform at the 2020 festival, but as with the best music I can, and I’m just so happy to find a home off-Broadway all other major music events, it was canceled it’s so well received, and that I’m able to do this fall. Winnie the Pooh: The due to the global coronavirus pandemic. it with producers and artists that I admire, DNew Musical Adaptation will bring together The show will be part of RATM’s Public in this case with Rauw Alejandro who Pooh, Christopher Robin, Eeyore, Tigger, Service Announcement reunion tour, their brought his unique talent and flow to the and the gang in a new production developed first in more than 10 years. The tour, like song.” by Jonathan Rockefeller. Boston Calling 2020, had been delayed due Luis Fonsi collects his 12th Latin Airplay The show will feature songs by the to COVID-19. No. 1 and first since 2019 when “Date La Grammy-winning Sherman Brothers with “We couldn’t be happier to return in 2022 Vuelta,” with Sebastián Yatra and Nicky additional music from A.A. Milne, and will and deliver a full-scale festival with two of Jam, ruled for one week. Alejandro nabs his be told using life-size puppetry. Richard the world’s most celebrated rock bands as fifth, three of which just arrived in 2021. and Robert Sherman have written music for our headliners,” said festival co-founder “I feel honored to have worked with Disney classics Mary Poppins, The Jungle and CEO Brian Appel. “We’ve spent the past the maestro Luis Fonsi,” Rauw tells Bill- Book and The Aristocats. year working on a festival that our fans can board. “’Vacío’ is a song that allows us to ex- Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical really look forward to, and we’re so excited press that bizarre feeling of when one wants Adaptation opens Oct. 21 at Time Square’s to share more news and surprises as we get to be with someone but it’s unable to. I’m Theater Row. Tickets go on sale June 1. The into next year.” super grateful to be part of this project and news comes after this week’s announce- Limited early bird three-day tickets are even more, to the fans who made it No. 1.” ment that Hadestown, the brooding musical available now via bostoncalling.com, start- Notably, all of Rauw Alejandro’s Latin about the underworld, has set its Broadway ing at $299.99. Airplay leaders have something in com- reopening date on Sept. 2, jumping ahead of According to Boston Calling’s website, mon: a Latin pop act. Let’s take a look at the such megahits as Hamilton and Wicked to there is still another headliner to be an- leaderboard: position itself as the first show to welcome nounced. The lineup will also consist of Title, Artist, Peak Date audiences on Broadway since the pandemic. more than 60 performers. Additional artists “TBT,” with Sebastián Yatra and Manuel New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had said will be announced in the coming months. Turizo, July 4, 2020 Broadway theaters could reopen Sept. 14 but See Boston Calling’s announcement: Page 25 of 27

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Addison Rae (81 million). She also boasts the and was renewed late last year for two ad- Bella Poarch’s most liked video in the platform’s history, as ditional runs that takes it through 2023. her video lip-syncing Millie B’s “Soph Aspin “These are remarkable achievements for ‘Build a Bitch’ Hits Send” has raked in over 49 million likes to a talk show in its second season. We look date. forward to Ellen DeGeneres’ 19th season Hot 100 & Global Poarch inked a deal with Warner Re- paired with Kelly Clarkson for what is cords earlier this month and celebrated the sure to be a blockbuster year. By 2022, The Charts news with the release of “Build a Bitch.” “I Kelly Clarkson Show will be the star of our feel like I found my family and part of that daytime entertainment schedules and an BY BILLBOARD STAFF family is the label,” she said in a statement asset to our early afternoon newscasts,” said to Billboard. “When I looked up some of the Valari Staab, president, NBCUniversal Local. ocial media star and singer- artists that meant the most to me musically Added Tracie Wilson, executive vp, songwriter Bella Poarch earns her like Prince, Dua Lipa and Madonna, I real- NBCUniversal Syndication Studios: “The first Billboard chart entry (on sur- ized Warner has helped all of those people Kelly Clarkson Show is one of the most op- veys dated May 29), as her debut along the way, too. So, I’m very honored to timistic success stories in first-run syndica- Ssingle “Build a Bitch” arrives at No. 58 on have a family that gave me a chance and tion. It is a treasured part of NBCUniversal the Billboard Hot 100. believes in me.” Syndication Studios offering and we are The song, released May 14, opens with Additional reporting by Eric Frankenberg. proud to partner with the NBC Owned Tele- 13.1 million U.S. streams and 3,000 down- vision Stations group to continue the show’s loads sold in the week ending May 20 and success. Kelly and our entire production 260,000 radio airplay audience impressions team put their heart, intent and incredible in the week ending May 23, according to Kelly Clarkson passion into making a show that resonates MRC Data. with people of all ages, cultures and back- The track concurrently enters Streaming to Take Over grounds. We’re working on some big plans Songs at No. 36 and Digital Song Sales at No. for season three and are looking forward to 40. Ellen DeGeneres’ becoming the premier show in daytime for The single by the Filipino-American Po- years to come.” arch (real name Bella Taylor) also makes a Daytime Slot As THR reported following DeGeneres’ strong start internationally, debuting at No. announcement that she’ll end her daytime 14 on the Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart BY LESLEY GOLDBERG show, some stations that currently air El- and No. 24 on the Billboard Global 200. It len will consider turning to lower-cost news was the most streamed video in the world in BC has locked in plans to fill the programs rather than a talk show replace- the week ending May 20, with 48.4 million void created by the upcoming ment. That’s a risky move considering if it global video streams (more than double that conclusion of Ellen DeGeneres’ doesn’t work out, it takes time to find a host, of its closest competitor, Olivia Rodrigo’s daytime show. format, producers, etc., to launch a syndi- “Good 4 U,” which drew 23.8 million). NThe Kelly Clarkson Show has been slot- cated talk show. The song’s strong start helps Poarch ad- ted to take over the daytime slot currently This story was originally published by The ditionally enter the Emerging Artists chart occupied by Ellen when the latter show Hollywood Reporter. at No. 6. comes to an end next year. The Clarkson The song skewers “boys playing dolls/ show — which is owned and produced by looking for their Barbie … they don’t look NBC’s syndication arm — will take over the like Ken at all,” while its title bears a refer- slot in fall 2022 on NBC-owned stations. ence to a certain staple of many malls. NBC has carried Ellen in major markets Meanwhile, the track’s official video across the nation. Clarkson’s show currently features several celebrity cameos, including airs across the country on 200 stations and Rakhim, Bretman Rock, Larray, Mia Khalifa, will be billed as daytime’s headliner in lead- ZHC, Valkyrae and Sub Urban, who co- ing time slots next year after DeGeneres produced the song with Elie Rizk; Poarch, wraps her longtime run. Rizk and Sub Urban are also among the It’s worth noting that the move to song’s six writers. replace Ellen with The Kelly Clarkson Poarch is the third most followed user Show comes with a financial incentive as on TikTok with nearly 70 million follow- Warners owned and produced Ellen. Clark- ers, after Charli D’Amelio (116 million) and son’s show is currently in its second season Page 26 of 27

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country music is still a man’s world, despite James Newman’s Luke Bryan, recent efforts to put female artists on equal footing. ‘Embers’ Turns Thomas Rhett & 6 The CMT Music Awards bills itself as country music’s only entirely fan-voted Eurovision Bust Collabs Added to awards show. Voting is open at vote.CMT. com through Tuesday, June 1, at 3 p.m ET. Into Top 40 Gold 2021 CMT Music At that time, the top six finalists will be revealed for video of the year. Voting in that on U.K. Midweek Awards Performer top category will continue through show day, June 9. Chart Lineup The 2021 CMT Music Awards is executive produced by CMT’s Margaret Comeaux and BY LARS BRANDLE BY PAUL GREIN Switched On Entertainment’s John Hamlin and Amy Lin Johnson. Executives in charge ames Newman, the United Kingdom’s MT has announced the sec- of production are Jackie Barba and Heather entry into the 2021 Eurovision Song ond round of performers set D. Graffagnino. Contest, suffered the ignominy of a nil to take the stage for the 2021 points decision for his song “Embers.” CMT Music Awards on June 9. JNever mind, he’s enjoying a hero’s wel- CThe additions are Luke Bryan, Thomas Justin Bieber to come in his homeland. Rhett and no fewer than six collabora- Newman is eyeing a Top 40 debut for tions: Breland and Mickey Guyton; Chris Perform at 2021 “Embers,” the third most-downloaded song Young and Kane Brown; Kelsea Bal- of the week so far, the OCC reports. “Em- lerini and Paul Klein (from LANY); Lau- Juno Awards bers” bows at No. 36 on the chart blast and ren Alaina and Jon Pardi; Needto- is the best-placed Eurovision song. breathe and Carrie Underwood; and BY PAUL GREIN Newman turned a rotten result into a the three-way collab of Lady A, Carly golden moment when his song flatlined Pearce and Gabby Barrett. ustin Bieber will perform on the 50th during the Eurovision final. With a beer in Guyton, a three-time nominee this year, Juno Awards broadcast in his native hand, the Brit revved up the audience at the will be performing as part of two collabs Canada on June 6. It will mark the first Rotterdam Ahoy, earning him the type of ap- on the show. She was already announced as time he has appeared on the Junos plause typically reserved for the winner. a singing partner with R&B legend Gladys Jsince 2010. At the other end of the Eurovision score- Knight. Bieber is nominated for five awards at board was Italian rock band Måneskin, “Famous Friends” by Young and Brown is this year’s event — album of the year and winner of the big prize with “Zitti E Buoni,” nominated this year for collaborative video pop album of the year for Changes, single of which earned a grand total of 524 points. of the year. Brown is also hosting the show the year for “Intentions” (featuring Quavo), Their winning song sits just behind New- with Ballerini. artist of the year and the Juno fan choice man at the midweek point in the chart cycle, The two-and-a-half-hour show is set to award. at No. 37. air Wednesday, June 9, at 8 p.m. ET/7 p.m. Bieber has won seven Juno Awards (from According to the OCC’s chart data, entries CT on CMT, MTV, MTV2, Logo, Paramount 27 nominations). That’s a better showing from Iceland, France, Ukraine, Cyprus and Network and TV Land. Performances will than at the Grammy Awards, where he has Norway could impact the U.K. Top 100, due be filmed “in and around Music City.” won two Grammys (from 14 nominations). to be published late Friday. The first round of performers announced At the Junos, he has won pop album of the was also heavy on collabs. That first roster year twice, for My World 2.0 (2011) and Pur- included Chris Stapleton and Luke Combs pose (2016). He has won the Juno fan choice and four collabs: the aforementioned award five times, from 2011 to 2016. Guyton and Knight; Brothers Osborne and Bieber’s appearance on this year’s broad- Dierks Bentley; Maren Morris and JP Saxe; cast precedes his recently rescheduled and Miranda Lambert, Jack Ingram and Jon 52-date date Justice World Tour 2022. Randall. The North American leg of the tour kicks All four artists who are booked to perform off in February 2022, with Canadian stops in solo — Bryan, Rhett, Stapleton and Combs Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal. The tour is — are male superstars, which reflects that named after his album Justice, which logged Page 27 of 27

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two weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 in April. “Peaches” (featuring Daniel Caesar and Giveon) entered the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 1 in April, the same week Justice entered the Billboard 200 at No. 1. This enabled Bieber to become the first solo male artist to open atop both of Billboard’s flagship charts in the same week. The 50th Juno Awards will be broad- cast throughout Canada on Sunday, June 6 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on CBC TV, CBC Gem, CBC Radio One, CBC Music and CBC Listen. They’ll air globally on CBCMusic. ca/junos. The show will be livestreamed on CBC Music’s TikTok, Facebook, You- Tube and Twitter pages. Jann Arden, who is being inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, will perform from her hometown at Calgary’s Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre. Anne Murray is set to induct Arden. The full line-up of performers and pre- senters for the anniversary broadcast will be unveiled on Thursday, May 27.