Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE JUNE 30, 2021 Page 1 of 24

INSIDE Mandolin Raises $12 Million to

• Meet The Creative Fuel Post-Pandemic Team Behind Ed Sheeran’s Record- Livestreaming Strategy Breaking TikTok Livestream BY GLENN PEOPLES

• Spotify Touts Benefits of its Livestreaming startup Mandolin has raised $12 in Nashville, with more staffers in Los Angeles and Discovery Mode million in Series A funding to bankroll its growth New York. People with tech expertise are also located as House Judiciary strategy as live concerts return and online concerts in Denver and San Francisco. Probe Continues aim for the mainstream. Founded in the wake of COVID-19, when the Inter- • Britney Spears’ Dad Mandolin’s funding came from several venture net was the only respite for concert-deprived music James Spears Seeks capital firms, including 645 Ventures; Foundry Group, fans, Mandolin exits the pandemic to a drastically Court Probe of Her investor in Harmonix and Mixhalo; “venture studio” different reality. With vaccination rates over 50% Allegations From High Alpha; and TIME Ventures, the investment fund in many states, and venues re-opening and booking Conservatorship of Salesforce founder Marc Benioff. High Alpha and shows into 2022, in-person concerts and festivals are Hearing Benioff also took part in Mandolin’s seed round that back in full force. For Mandolin and its investors, the • How Will was announced in October 2020. question is whether livestreaming will remain after #FreeBritney Deal CEO Mary Kay Huse says Mandolin’s strategy fits pandemic-weary music lovers leave their homes again. With a ‘Ruthless’ with 645 Ventures’ experience in consumer and B2B “Yes, I believe it absolutely is here to stay,” says Probate System? Law Experts Assess technologies. Huse. “I think that sentiment is shared across a major- “Not just their investment but their experience will ity of the industry.” • Edén Muñoz and help supercharge our growth strategy — particularly She adds, “Very few people had experienced a live Manuel Turizo Win in such a fast-growing company,” Huse tells Billboard. stream pre-pandemic. Anywhere from 80 to 90% Songwriter of the Year at 2021 SESAC Mandolin will use the funding to build the company of fans surveyed have now experienced one and Latin Music Awards from 50 employees at the end of 2020 to an estimated whole the majority of those fans absolutely plan on 100 by the end of the year, Huse estimates. About half going back to in person shows, they also want to con- • BILLBOARD 200 of the staff are headquartered in Indianapolis. About a tinue to have the option of streaming live.” CLICK HERE dozen people focused on artist and venue relations are (continued)

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One reason Mandolin likes its chances is The 12-song, hour-long show also marked because its new platform, Mandolin Live+, Meet The Creative the live premiere of Sheeran’s new single, uses its core streaming business as a jumping “Bad Habits,” which TikTok previewed off point to the rest of the concert experience. Team Behind Ed exclusively the week before, and it has in- Huse compares Mandolin’s plan for spired more than 400,000 fan videos to date, Live+ to the way people enjoy sports. Sheeran’s Record- the platform says. Most fans choose to watch the game live Following the gig, Billboard spoke from their homes and enjoy the pre-game, Breaking TikTok with Paul Hourican, TikTok’s U.K. head of halftime and post-game shows. Some people music operations, Ed Howard, co-president attend the game and increasingly use their Livestream of Atlantic Records U.K., and Emil Nava, an smartphones to enhance their experi- award-winning music video director. The ences. Simply watching the field, court BY RICHARD SMIRKE three worked alongside director Hamish or diamond has become a bore. Stream- Hamilton on creating the record-breaking ing apps give audiences on-demand video ONDON – The long list of records livestream. “We’ve really taken livestream- replays. And newer sports venues allow that Ed Sheeran has smashed ing vertical,” says Hourican, “and we’ve people to order food and drinks from their throughout his career continues taken it to another level.” seats. to grow. Billboard: When did conversations Transforming the concertgoing experi- LMore than 5.5. million unique viewers about this project first take place and ence inside venues could be the game- watched the singer’s TikTok livestream last what were your aims going into it? changer that sets a livestreaming company Friday (June 25) and the two replays the fol- Ed Howard: TikTok approached us ear- apart. Venues will follow businesses such lowing day. That makes it the biggest-ever lier in the year and we loved the idea. The as grocery stores into contact-less ordering live music performance on TikTok, says the timing was perfect. Ed’s a football fan and and pickup, which became a standard retail platform, surpassing the 4 million people he’s recently done a shirt sponsorship deal offering that will live beyond the pandemic. who tuned in for Justin Bieber’s Valentine’s with Ipswich Town. There were so many The same cloud-based platform could pow- Day TikTok livestream in February. things to like about it. [Ed Sheeran] played er a smartphone app that provides a venue Sheeran’s global livestream was filmed in his last live shows in Ipswich two years ago with new tools, and a concertgoer with the U.K. at a spectator-free Portman Road and it’s going to be a while until anybody features such as multiple camera angles, soccer field — home to the singer’s favorite can see him really do that again. So, this was something Mandolin is currently piloting, team, Ipswich Town Football Club — and an opportunity for fans to see something says Huse. was conceived and filmed specifically they have been starved of for a long time. “It gives us more shows and more op- for the TikTok audience. It incorporated And also, to open it up to a whole new audi- portunities to amplify in-person experiences special effects, augmented reality and other ence. which we think ultimately is the more excit- prominent TikTok creators like Jeremy Paul Hourican: TikTok is native vertical ing vision,” she says. Lynch, Nathan Ramsay and Leticia Stock. app, so we wanted to make something that

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ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country reallyA maximizedlbums; the space. Brett So how do youY oungEmil just ‘Catcreally ran withh it.’-es Emil had Fifth the ers Airplay that could be well be incorporated into capture all the grandeur, bells and whistles crazy idea of having all these phones on the stadium shows and concerts going forward. and excitementLea of a liveder; show, butTravis do it in stage,Denning so Ed could speak Makes directly to the audi History- BB: What were your personal high- vertical? We were really keen to present Ed ence. They really just ran with it and created lights from the concert? and present the show in way where there’s something awesome. We also spent a lot of Emil Nava: I’ve always been a fan of “You Sama familiarity Hunt’s second to it for studio the TikTokfull-length, community. and first in overtime five and years, effort Southside bringing sales in some (up 21%) ground- in the trackingNeed week. Me, On ICountry Don’t NeedAirplay, You.” it hops It 18-15was mine (11.9 mil - (MCABut an Nashville/Universal incredible spectacle Music as Group well. Nashville), debutsbreaking at No. 1 onaugmented Billboard’s realitylion audiencethat you impressions, have andup 16%). Ed’s first ever video together and it was Top Country Albums chart dated April 18. In its first week (ending April 9), it Emil Nava: The biggest thing we didn’t never seen before, particularly in a stadium the beginning of our friendship and career. earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingwant to to do Nielsen was just Music/MRC make a [traditional] Data. live environment. and total Country Airplay No.It 1was as “Catch” also the (Big song Machine that ended Label Group) this show ascends show.Southside The biggest marks Hunt’s challenge second for No.all of1 on us, the Ed Howard: There’s no other artist in and2-1, Ed’s increasing performance 13% to 36.6 was million just unreal. impressions. He chartincluding and fourth me, was top 10.understanding It follows freshman that we LP the world that could do that show the way grabsYoung’s the camera first of phone six chart during entries, it and“Sleep he’s With - Montevallowere creating, which in aarrived totally at new the summit format. in No - that Ed did with all the different settings literallyout You,” performing reached No. to 2 the in December audience 2016.down He vember 2014 and reigned for nine weeks. To date, followed with the multiweek No. 1s “In Case You BB: This was a show designed spe- and changing from [full] band to solo; from the phone. For me, that was an amazing Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millioncifically in album for TikTok sales. users. How did that being on the stage to being in the stands. It moment.You” (three, January 2018), “Mercy” (two, August shapeMontevallo and influence has spent 267 the weeks production? on the list, tying was really playing to his strengths. He really 2018) and “Here Tonight” (two, April 2019). LukeEmil Bryan Nava:’s Crash We My definitely Party as the came sixth-longest- at it with bought into all the fun that can be had on “Catch” completes his longest journey to No. 1, runninga completely titles in different the chart’s TikTok56-year history.point-of-view. TikTok. Spotifyhaving taken 46 weeks Touts to reach the apex. It out- On the all-genre Billboard 200, Southside ar- paces the 30-week climb of “Here Tonight.” The 9:16 [aspect ratio] framing of the phone BB: Can you envisage elements of this rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG afteris the the biggest No. 3-peaking thing. Ed Montevallo does big. stadium show being incorporated into regular live Benefitsa new high. of shows,Hunt firstso it releasedwas about the howEPX2C do, which we create debuted an gigs when touring resumes? andintimate, peaked yet at epic No. 5platform on Top Country for Ed’s Albums perfor- in AugustPaul 2014. Hourican: Following That’s COMBS going ‘DOES’ to be the IT AGAIN re- Lukeits Combs Discovery’ “Does to Me” (River House/Columbia Montevallomance? How, Between can we the give Pines: the Acoustic audience Mixtape these startedally atfun its creative No. 7 high challenge in Nashville), for the featuringnext one. Eric Church, ascends 11-8 on Country Airplay, up 10% to Novembermassive wow 2015. moments, but also take them How do you maintain the24.7 intimacy million inof audience. what The song is Combs’ eighth straight career-opening Montevallo produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record runMode of seven consecutive as out-of-the-gate,House properly Airplay:all the way “Leave down the Nightto Ed On,”sitting “Take in the Your stands Time,” “Houseis vertical Party” video, and “Make but alsopromoted continue No. to 1capture singles. Youwith Miss just Me.” his guitar“Break performingUp in a Small toTown” you peakedas if at No.the 2. excitement of a live audience?Church adds his 15th CountryJudiciary Airplay top 10. Probe heHunt was co-pennedon a one-way all 12 Facetime songs on or Southside Zoom? , includingEd “Body Howard: Like a There’s Back loads of things about Road,”Paul which Hourican: was released This was in 2017. an opportu The smash- hit ruledthe Country show that Airplay I can for see beingTHAT TOOKapplied QUITE to ‘A FEW’Continues MONTHS Travis Denning shatters the record for threenity to weeks educate and the Emil airplay-, and Hamish streaming- on andwhat sales-based traditional Hot Country or hybrid Songs concerts.the most I weeksthink itin has the taken to penetrate the Country Airplay top 10 as “After 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 - Floridathe grammar Georgia of Line TikTok’s “Meant is and to Be”what (50 the weeks atop thefuture, latter you’relist in 2017-18). going to belion at ina stadiumradio reach. show BY MICAH SINGLETON references“Downtown’s are thatDead,” the which community is also on will the new set, reached— as we Nos. were 14 at and Portman 15 RoadThe song — seeing surpasses two tracks that took 50 weeks each to enter the top 10: onunderstand, Hot Country such Songs as andthe Countryway that Airplay, the camera respectively, [Augmented in June 2018. Reality] “Kin- andEaston having Corbin a second’s “A- Girl Like You,” whichearly reached a month No. 10into in Jananuary inquiry 2018 by be - folks”swipes led as Country opposed Airplay to cutting. on Feb. When 29, becoming do Hunt’sary seventh or supplementary No. 1. It hit experiencefore peaking on at your No. 6 that February, and Aaroncongress Watson into ’sSpotify’s “Outta Style,” Discovery which No.we 3split on Hot the Country screen Songs.and when do we have phone, while also watchingachieved what’s its No.going 10 highon in December 2017.Mode program, the company 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 intimacy with Ed? From there, Hamish and in the stadium. These are just additional lay- is highlighting the benefits of eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveledN to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY NEW

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its new tool that allows artists and labels promotional royalty rate on the songs they tout how much it has helped grow the space. to take a lower revenue rate for a song in choose to push. Perez and Believe found The increased scrutiny around Spotify’s exchange for higher priority within Spotify’s success with the 33 songs they added to business practices with musicians prompted algorithms. Discovery Mode, according to Spotify. The the streaming service to launch Loud & In a new post on its Spotify for Artists streaming service tells Billboard that in early Clear, a website touting how much it has blog, the Swedish streaming service high- testing, artists “find over 40% more listeners paid musicians since its inception — $23 bil- lighted Argentinian singer Natalie Perez — (compared to before Discovery Mode), 44% lion and counting as of 2019. who is signed to French music label and of whom have never listened to the artist Spotify, along with competing mu- distributor Believe — pointing out how before.” sic streaming services like Apple Music a collection of artist-friendly tools, most Spotify’s blog post says Perez and Believe and YouTube, have also been subject to a notably Discovery Mode, helped to push her used Discovery Mode “to prolong the U.K. parliamentary probe by the Parlia- sophomore album Detox to new heights. release moment for the album and help ment’s Digital Culture, Media and Sport The article is the latest effort by Spotify introduce the music to brand new listeners.” (DCMS) Committee around whether to tout how financially beneficial the tool Perez had Discovery Mode active on the 33 streaming services are paying musicians — which Spotify is still testing — can be for tracks for three months, during which Spo- fairly. artists in the face of increasing criticism tify says her daily audience across the U.S. Spotify’s full response to Rep. Nadler and both in the U.S. and in Europe. On Capitol and Mexico grew by 57%. “The democratiz- Rep. Johnson is below: Hill, where House Judiciary Committee ing power of Discovery Mode will enable a Dear Chairman Nadler and Chairman Chairman Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-NY) and wider community of artists to benefit from Johnson, Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Prop- boosting their music,” Believe CEO Denis Thank you for your letter. We welcome the erty, and the Internet Chairman Rep. Hank Ladegallerie said in the piece. “It’s helping opportunity to explain the positive impact we Johnson Jr. (D-GA) raised concerns in a artists cross borders, especially ones from believe Discovery Mode has and will have on June 2 letter to Spotify and its CEO Daniel territories that historically haven’t had equal artists. We strongly believe that Discovery Ek that Discovery Mode may lead to less access to the global music industry stage.” Mode is a tool that empowers and benefits money for artists. Ladegallerie isn’t alone in publicly sup- artists — especially up-and-coming artists, “This may set in motion a ‘race to the porting Spotify’s Discovery Mode, with many of whom are not signed to record labels, bottom’ in which artists and labels feel the leaders of independent distributors or may not have access to extensive budgets. compelled to accept lower royalties as a nec- TuneCore (a subsidiary of Believe) and Dis- Our initial data during this early testing essary way to break through an extremely troKid both offering statements in support period indicates that Discovery Mode has an crowded and competitive music environ- of the feature. overwhelmingly beneficial effect — growing ment,” the letter sent from the members of “We’re seeing a paradigm shift where an participating artists’ number of listeners on Congress to Ek says. “Depending on how the artist’s success is no longer tied to radio or our platform by over 40 percent, with artists program is implemented, there is a further traditional mainstream media,” Andreea in the earlier stages of their careers seeing concern that accepting lower rates for this Gleeson, co-head and chief revenue officer the greatest success. And fears that Discov- boost in Spotify’s algorithm may not even for TuneCore, said in a statement. “Discov- ery Mode may lead to a “race to the bottom” guarantee more airplay if virtually all com- ery Mode maximizes the reach of the music, largely rest on a misunderstanding of the way mercial artists are also doing the same.” based on the merit of the music — not in which Discovery Mode works. We want In the response letter obtained by Bill- because a gatekeeper said so. If the music’s to emphasize that Discovery Mode is not board and written by Spotify head of good, Discovery Mode will help artists find payment for guaranteed placement on our global affairs and chief legal officer Horacio new fans.” platform; it does not take the place of listener Guitierrez, the company says labels using “Discovery Mode is a groundbreaking satisfaction as the key driver for recommen- Discovery Mode have earned “bigger royalty music marketing tool because it doesn’t dations on our platform; and it does not mean checks for their artists with Discovery Mode require any upfront budget,” Distrokid that artists are making less money for their than without because of the significant in- founder/CEO Philip Kaplan said in a state- music. Rather, Discovery Mode is a powerful crease in total audience. And they have not ment. “Discovery Mode makes it possible for optional marketing tool that artist teams can needed to set aside a large marketing budget independent artists at every level to reach use to increase interest in their music in the to see those returns.” new fans in a whole new way.” same way that they can run paid marketing When the company announced Discov- Glowing statements like these from campaigns or engage in other promotional ery Mode last November, it said the feature three prominent music industry figures activities. would allow artists and labels to prioritize are designed to help Spotify’s case in front We are grateful to have the opportunity music that they want to be elevated in users’ of Congress and help change its percep- to clarify any misconceptions and further personalized recommendations, with no up- tion throughout the music industry, where explain the important benefits we believe front fees, in exchange for accepting a lower Spotify has made a push in recent months to Discovery Mode will have for artists and 2021 R&B/HIP HOP POWER ISSUE R&B/Hip-Hop dominates every other genre claiming a quarter of all music consumption.

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the music industry as a whole. We would be Spotify drives 16 billion artist discoveries As with any marketing tool, artist teams happy to meet with you in person to discuss every month, meaning 16 billion times a will need to be strategic in deciding if and Discovery Mode in more detail. month, fans listen to an artist they have never when they turn on Discovery Mode and how Spotify believes that artists should be paid heard before on Spotify. We believe artists they employ it alongside their other market- for their music, and have the opportunity to and their labels should have a say in that ing activities. The artists and labels who live off their art. We feel so strongly, in fact, discovery. With Discovery Mode, artist teams deploy the best music and strategy will have that it’s written into our company mission; and labels can identify the priority music the strongest returns from their Discovery we seek “...to unlock the potential of human that they especially want to reach listeners, Mode campaigns. creativity — by giving a million creative art- when they want it to — that might be when Further, turning off Discovery Mode ab- ists the opportunity to live off their art and they are trying to re-engage fans before a new solutely does not mean that those tracks will billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and album comes out, find new listeners while not be included in our personalized recom- be inspired by it.” When the music industry they are promoting a tour, celebrate the an- mendations. Spotify will always prioritize appeared on the verge of collapse due to inter- niversary of a song or album, or capitalize on listener satisfaction in our recommendations, net piracy, Spotify set out to bring streaming, attention from a cultural moment or award. so tracks can gain massive popularity and an innovative technology and business model When turned on, Discovery Mode increases traction with fans with or without enrollment enabling artists to reclaim their income, into the likelihood, but does not guarantee, that in Discovery Mode. There are many paths to the mainstream. Fifteen years later, the ma- Spotify will recommend an artist’s tracks to music discovery both on and off our platform, jority of the global music industry’s revenue listeners during certain personalized listening and Discovery Mode is simply one additional comes from streaming. Spotify alone paid out sessions. That said, Spotify only ever presents option for artist teams to deploy strategically. $5 billion to recorded music rights holders in recommendations that a listener will enjoy, so Unlike other marketing services, Discov- 2020 alone, 50% higher than in 2017, and we if a song is not resonating with listeners (for ery Mode does not entail an upfront cost, expect that number to keep growing. example, listeners are skipping the song in meaning all artists at any stage in their Spotify is committed to innovation. Since high numbers), we will reduce our promo- careers have access to the same promotional Spotify was established, we have innovated tion of the song to preserve the quality of our opportunities as established artists with cash with artist careers in mind. In 2017, we recommendations for our listeners. Without marketing budgets at their disposal. That’s launched Spotify for Artists, a first-of-its-kind Discovery Mode, we know artists can feel as because participants in Discovery Mode pay platform that gives all artists — at all stages if they lack the ability to attract listener at- the marketing cost out of royalties they earn of their careers — free, equal access to their tention without extensive marketing of their from streams in the areas of our platform streaming data and to pitch their songs to edi- work. Discovery Mode provides artists and where Discovery Mode is active. This model tors for playlist consideration. They can also their labels more control over how an artist’s allows even the smallest artists to access the use Spotify for Artists to connect their Spotify music reaches their fans. same promotional tool as the biggest labels. fanbases to concert tickets and merchandise, Making a marketing tool like Discovery Moreover, Discovery Mode is efficient. Unlike to upload visuals to make their tracks stand Mode accessible to every single artist natu- traditional marketing strategies like bill- out with fans, and to book promotional cam- rally means that there will be more competi- boards or digital ads, with Discovery Mode, paigns that encourage fan engagement with tion. However, rather than view this competi- artists can market to listeners in the moment deeper listening sessions. Over one million tion as a “race to the bottom” that pits artists when they are discovering music, reach listen- artists use Spotify for Artists to drive their against one another in an economically ers based on their unique music tastes, and careers each month. We are also investing harmful way, we consider this competition receive detailed reporting showing whether in global artist development programs, like for marketing services among all artists to be the campaign actually drove listening. That RADAR and Fresh Finds, to support emerging innately healthier than the traditional system. means artists can allocate their marketing artist careers. Discovery Mode is the latest The alternative, after all, would be to deprive spend much more effectively and precisely. tool in a long line of innovating for artists. smaller artists of the tools they need to invest Because artists and labels will need to be We developed Discovery Mode in direct in their careers — reserving the most effective strategic in their use of Discovery Mode, we response to artist feedback. The most frequent promotional channels only for those with the view detailed reporting and transparency to request we receive, especially from inde- deepest pockets. The status quo sees only a be an integral part of our product. We provide pendent labels and artists at early stages in few big name artists receiving the lion’s share participants with reports listing every track their career, is access to tools that help them of label marketing budgets and everyone else they have decided to include in Discovery reach new listeners and grow their audi- either crossing their fingers that an editor will Mode, along with detailed metrics showing ence on Spotify. Discovery Mode, at its core, playlist them or an industry executive will Discovery Mode’s impact across the Spotify is a marketing tool designed to do just that, notice them. The incumbent, biggest players platform, including on numbers of streams, by giving artist teams and labels input into in this space should not be insulated from listeners, track saves, and playlist adds. music discovery on the Spotify platform. challengers just because the challengers lack Participants can easily see for which songs Music discovery is an inherent part of Spotify; the tools to do so. Discovery Mode is working and which songs WE’RE BACK, LIVE IN MIAMI

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it is not. This level of reporting empowers Mode’s cost structure to ensure everyone — producer of rape. When the case gets to participants to use the tool effectively. For artists, labels and our service — get a positive trial, perhaps later this year, Dr. Luke will example, for one artist using Discovery Mode return on investment. We have not yet set a now have to prove by clear and convincing for thirty-three tracks in our early testing, marketing cost beyond our pilot stage, but we evidence actual malice on Kesha’s part. The from our reporting, her label could see that can tell you that our principle for creating our singer will also be allowed to seek compen- fourteen songs performed exceedingly well, rate structure will be to have an even and fair satory and punitive damages plus attorneys’ while the others had neutral or even nega- playing field for everyone. fees and costs for the lengthy battle. tive results. With that information, her team We consider the pilot to be a success for A decision today by New York Supreme adapted their strategy to optimize her results everyone involved. So far for participants Court Justice Jennifer Schecter that the by turning off Discovery Mode for the under- in our pilot program, on average, Discovery state’s recently enacted SLAPP statute ap- performing tracks. Although we cannot guar- Mode has grown artists’ number of listen- plies in this long-running case is so poten- antee that every Discovery Mode campaign ers on our platform by over 40 percent, with tially significant that during a hearing, Dr. will always yield the results that an artist is over 40 percent of those listeners being brand Luke’s attorney Christine Lepera suggested seeking, we can empower participants with new to the artist. Artists in earlier stages of that had her client known about the updated the data to craft the strategies that can help their careers saw the greatest success. Our evidentiary burden, he might not have pur- them succeed. In fact, based on early testing, data shows that Discovery Mode provides sued the case in the first place. Discovery Mode has shown overall positive an average of 1.5 times the streaming uplift Back in February 2020, Dr. Luke scored results. In other words, we’ve seen participat- for artists with less than 1 million monthly many advantages on summary judg- ing labels earn bigger royalty checks for their listeners than for those with more than 1 ment, including the judge’s conclusion that artists with Discovery Mode than without million (which encompasses the top 7,000 he wasn’t a public figure and that the singer because of the significant increase in total au- artists, as of December 2020). Based on these published a false statement when she texted dience. And they have not needed to set aside early results and great initial feedback, we Lady Gaga that he had also raped Katy a large marketing budget to see those returns. hope to move beyond our limited pilot stage, Perry. Discovery Mode has some important opening up the product to more artists and And on appeal, a New York appeals court elements to safeguard the experience. First, labels, later in 2021. We do not have a precise stunned many legal observers and press and most importantly, we always prioritize timeline yet, as we are still gathering and advocates by agreeing that even though listener satisfaction. Discovery Mode is not a incorporating feedback. Dr. Luke is world famous and has worked guaranteed placement and does not guaran- Again, we appreciate your attention to this with the industry’s biggest musicians, he’s tee additional streams, and we only promote product, and are grateful for this opportunity a private figure who needn’t go so far as to Discovery Mode tracks to listeners whom we to explain our vision. We assure you that we have to demonstrate that Kesha was grossly think will like them based on their past listen- have built Discovery Mode with artist success irresponsible with her public accusation. ing tastes and preferences. Moreover, if users in mind. But what has change the course of this are not enjoying tracks that have Discovery Best regards, case is how the state of New York recently Mode turned on, we reduce Discovery Mode’s Horacio Gutierrez passed a law intended to protect free amplification of those songs, and this will Head of Global Affairs and Chief Legal Officer speech from frivolous litigation. Thanks be reflected in our reporting. This enables a to the anti-SLAPP statute, there are now participant to decide whether they want to situations where private figures have to turn off Discovery Mode for low-performing Dr. Luke Suffers demonstrate actual malice to prevail. That tracks. From our perspective, that is a “fea- would be in instances where free speech is ture” of the program, not a “bug.” Artists and Blow on Road to exercised with respect to issues of public their teams should be the ones deciding which concern. of their tracks to promote, prioritize, and Libel Trial Against During oral arguments today, the big invest in. They should be the ones to decide question was whether New York’s new law if this innovative marketing opportunity is Kesha applies retroactively. That was what U.S. right for them, at this time, for their careers. District Court Judge Jed Rakoff concluded Many will decide that it is not. Some will BY ERIQ GARDNER back in December in Sarah Palin’s ongo- decide that it is. That is the very nature of the ing defamation fight against The New York product. Second, the vast majority of streams n Wednesday (June 30), Ke- Times, and since then, other judges have on Spotify will not be influenced by Discov- sha Rose Sebert scored her followed suit in at least eight cases. ery Mode. As designed, Discovery Mode only biggest victory thus far in the “Palin is leader of pack, and the rest get it works for algorithmic discovery, which is seven-year-long legal fight over wrong,” argued Lepera, also arguing there’s the source of a small percentage of Spotify’s Owhether she defamed Lukasz “Dr. Luke” nothing in the SLAPP law that explicitly overall streams. Third, we want Discovery Gottwald by publicly accusing the star provides for retroactive application and Page 12 of 24

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that Dr. Luke’s substantive rights would be James Spears controlled his daughter’s impacted. Britney Spears’ personal life for most of the existence of But Justice Schecter pointed to legislative the conservatorship, but he now oversees intent that the law would be immediate, that Dad James Spears only her money and business dealings along it was urgent, and applying some appellate with an estate-management firm. A court- precedent, that meant retroactive applica- Seeks Court appointed professional, Jodi Montgomery, tion. has had power over Britney Spears’ personal In short, to prevail on his defamation Probe of Her decisions since her father relinquished that claim at trial, Dr. Luke will now need to role in 2019. show more than just a preponderance of evi- Allegations From “Mr. Spears is not the conservator of the dence that there was no rape; he’ll need to person. He has not been the conservator of show that the pop star, who alleges she was Conservatorship the person since September 2019,” one of drugged before the rape, had knowledge of the court filings says. “Ms. Montgomery has falsity or recklessly disregarded the truth. Hearing been fully in charge of Ms. Spears day-to- Schecter is also allowing Kesha to ad- day personal care and medical treatment.” vance a counterclaim for the first time in BY ASSOCIATED PRESS Montgomery, whose appointment Britney this case. To further discourage meritless Spears supported, is serving temporarily. cases, the anti-SLAPP law allows for fee- OS ANGELES (AP) — Britney The court was expected to make her role shifting in instances where plaintiffs fail to Spears’ father has asked the court permanent, but one of James Spears’ filings show a substantial basis in fact and law for overseeing his daughter’s con- says his daughter’s criticism of Montgomery litigation. servatorship to investigate her last week suggests that she doesn’t want her During the hearing, Lepera argued that Lstatements to a judge last week on the in the role. her client’s success during the long-running court’s control of her medical treatment James Spears says that when he was case already showed there was a substan- and personal life, which she called overly conservator over his daughter’s personal tial basis in fact and law, and moreover, that restrictive and abusive. decisions, he did everything in his power to such a determination was a question for the James Spears emphasized in a pair of support her well-being, including consent- judge, not the jury documents filed late Tuesday night that he ing to her getting married in 2012 and shar- In response, Leah Godesky, the attorney has had no power over his daughter’s per- ing conservatorship duties with her fiance. for Kesha, argued that the counterclaim had sonal affairs for nearly two years. Spears was engaged to former manager merit, adding, “As everyone knows from His filing says the court must investigate Jason Trawick in 2012, but the couple broke beginning, this is a he-said-she-said case “serious allegations regarding forced labor, it off in 2013. where the evidentiary burden matters.” forced medical treatment and therapy, The filing is also critical of Britney Spears’ This story was originally published by The improper medical care, and limitations on personal attorney Samuel L. Ingham III, Hollywood Reporter. personal rights.” saying that he wrongly asserted in a recent “Given the nature of the allegations and filing that the court had found Spears did claims, it is critical that that the court con- not have capacity to consent to medical firm whether or not Ms. Spears’ testimony treatment and is using that as a pretext for was accurate in order to determine what a court order taking away her right to give corrective actions, if any, need to be taken,” informed consent. the documents said. Emails sent to Ingham and to an attorney The filings come a week after Britney for Montgomery seeking comment were not Spears spoke for the first time in open court immediately returned. in the conservatorship that has controlled While Britney Spears was critical of both her life and money for 13 years. She con- Montgomery and Ingham in her impas- demned those with power over her, saying sioned speech of more than 20 minutes, she she has been forced to perform live shows, singled out her father for some of her most compelled to use an intrauterine device scathing criticism. for birth control, made to take lithium and She accused him of relishing his power other medications against her will, and over her, as he showed when she failed a se- prevented from getting married or having ries of psychological tests in 2019 and forced another child. her to go into a mental hospital. “I truly believe this conservatorship is “I cried on the phone for an hour, and he abusive,” Spears said. loved every minute of it,” Spears said. ”The Page 13 of 24

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control he had over someone as powerful as told a Los Angeles judge she wants the “abu- that person need to be conserved?” Roshan me, as he loved the control to hurt his own sive” arrangement to end — and she wants asks. “This has the potential to make some daughter 100,000%.” out without a psych evaluation. While her precedent. A lot of the issues that would be James Spears said through his lawyer conservatorship began after two psychiatric relevant to terminating this conservatorship at the hearing that he was sorry to see his hospitalizations in January 2008, a psycho- just haven’t come up before.” daughter was in so much pain. logical evaluation isn’t required to exit it, ac- Spears’ case has put a spotlight on conser- He said in his court filings that it is im- cording to the Judicial Council of California, vatorships, particularly in California, where perative that “all parties be provided a full the policymaking body for the state courts. critics say abuse is ubiquitous. It could and fair opportunity to respond to allega- “We’re not aware of any statute or case prove helpful to others in similar circum- tions and claims asserted against them.” law that requires the petitioner to submit a stances, especially private individuals who “Either the allegations will be shown psychological evaluation in support of a pe- don’t have a legion of fans demanding their to be true, in which case corrective action tition to terminate or that requires the court freedom and the press keeping the situation will be taken,” the documents say, “or they to receive or consider a psychological evalu- under a microscope. will be shown to be false, in which case the ation before terminating a conservatorship,” “The probate machine is ruthless with conservatorship can continue its course. It notes Blaine Corren, a public affairs analyst anyone who gets in their way,” a promi- is not acceptable for the Conservators or the for the Judicial Council. “In that sense, nent attorney who has represented pro- Court to do nothing.” it’s up to the court’s discretion. But if the posed conservatees in two California cases Spears told Los Angeles Superior Court petitioner doesn’t submit an evaluation, the tells THR. The attorney notes that the state Judge Brenda Penny that she wanted the court may not find sufficient evidence to even allows a certified professional fiduciary conservatorship to end, but she has not filed grant the petition to terminate.” to file a petition for conservatorship against a petition with the court to end it. After Spears gave a lengthy, emotional a total stranger — and anyone can become “I want changes going forward,” she said. statement about her desire to end the ar- a professional fiduciary by taking eight “I deserve changes.” rangement, Judge Brenda Penny told Spears’ online courses and passing a test. Even more Ingham said in court that she had not court-appointed lawyer, Samuel D. Ingham alarming, the trial to determine if putting asked him to. Britney Spears said in court III, to file a formal petition. Benny Roshan, someone under a conservatorship is war- that she was unaware she could petition to chair of Greenberg Glusker’s trusts and ranted is often as short as 10 minutes, during end it. probate litigation group, says probate code which a court-appointed attorney gives Penny called Spears comments coura- is vague when it comes to termination pro- their two cents — and if mental capacity geous, but gave no clue about the actions tocols. (It merely says, “If the court deter- is an issue, the probate department draws she’ll take. An investigation and many more mines that the conservatorship is no longer from its roster of doctors for an opinion. legal moves are likely before she makes required or that grounds for establishment Leslie Salzman, a professor at Cardozo decision. of a conservatorship of the person or estate, School of Law who specializes in conserva- or both, no longer exist, the court shall make torships, says Spears’ case is rife with red this finding and shall enter judgment termi- flags — starting with “why someone who How Will nating the conservatorship accordingly.”) was performing and appearing in public Penny will have wide latitude when it and making very substantial sums of money #FreeBritney Deal comes to what factors into her decision. never had any rights restored” in the ar- “The statute does not specify the type or rangement. Salzman also questions why With a ‘Ruthless’ amount of the evidence required for the Spears wasn’t able to choose her own lawyer court to make [a] determination,” notes and why her father remained at the helm so Probate System? Corren. Though, in a case where capacity long if she was opposed to his appointment. was questioned, “the court might want an Roshan says she’s experienced first-hand Law Experts updated capacity assessment as the basis for that removing a court-appointed counsel a determination that the conservatee had isn’t easy. “I’ve actually looked at replacing a Assess regained the capacity to exercise the powers CAC before because the CAC was not listen- on their own behalf.” ing to the conservatee and found that there BY ASHLEY CULLINS AND There really isn’t a road map here, as isn’t any means for another party to do so,” TATIANA SIEGEL conservatorships are generally intended for she says. “And it is frowned upon because elderly individuals who can no longer care CACs typically wield a lot of influence with fter more than a decade of rum- for themselves or people with incapacitating the court.” blings that Britney Spears was and irreversible health or mental conditions. In this case, Roshan says Spears “would unhappy with her long-standing “Someone who’s 39 years old and seems to absolutely need to make clear to anyone A conservatorship, on June 23 she have her life pretty together, why would who will listen” that she wants a new at- Page 14 of 24

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torney. “The generational gap between Me Olvidó.” The track peaked at No. 1 on Britney and her counsel alone could justify Edén Muñoz and Billboard’s regional Mexican Airplay chart new counsel who could advocate for her in a and spent 23 weeks on the chart. manner that best suits her needs,” she says. Manuel Turizo In the Pop / Latin Rhythm category, song “If Britney really wants new counsel, and of the year went to Ñengo Flow for “Safa- she tells enough people, there is a possibility Win Songwriter era,” the hit he wrote and performed with that Ingham may consider it wise to resign Jowell & Randy and Bad Bunny for Bunny’s and end on a high note rather than being of the Year at hit album YHLQMDLG. removed by a court order.” The track peaked at No. 4 on Billboard’s So far, the court docket reflects that Ing- 2021 SESAC Latin Hot Latin Songs chart. ham hasn’t filed anything on Spears’ behalf Although these year’s winners will be an- since the hearing. Her conservatorship Music Awards nounced on SESAC’s social media channels is split into two parts, the person and the and website due to the pandemic, the orga- estate. Many of her stated concerns revolved BY LEILA COBO nization has honored the best in Latin music around the former — the side currently every year for nearly three decades. overseen by Jodi Montgomery that includes dén Muñoz, the charismatic lead “There is no doubt that music makes our things involving medical and psychiatric singer of regional Mexican group world a better place to enjoy life, helping us care and her personal life. It’s possible she Calibre 50, and Colombian singer/ overcome any difficult situation like the one could choose to petition to terminate that songwriter Manuel Turizo were we are facing now,” said Celeste Zendejas, portion and leave the side that involves her Eboth recognized as songwriter of the year vice president of SESAC Latina. “Thanks to finances intact. After all, she’s worth a re- at the annual SESAC Latin Music Awards all our songwriters for capturing all their ported $60 million, though conservatorship 2021. It marked the first time in the awards experiences and feelings in each song.” certainly isn’t the only option for protecting history that the top award was presented “It has been an exciting year in Latin mu- her wealth. in two categories — Regional Mexican and sic, and we are proud to celebrate and honor “It doesn’t seem that there was ever any Pop/Latin Rhythm — and it underscores SESAC Latina’s songwriters’ and publishers’ serious consideration of less restrictive al- how both urban and regional Mexican mu- most performed songs,” said Sam Kling, ternatives to a conservator,” notes Salzman. sic have taken a front seat in Latin music in senior vice president of creative operations, “It is troubling that she apparently was not the past year. SESAC Rights Management in an official informed of her legal right to seek termina- Muñoz won songwriter of the year in the statement. “Their songs have blended tion or modification of the conservatorship regional Mexican category for the second genres, transcended eras, and made their order, and that no legal action was ever time for songs penned both for Calibre 50 way to non-Spanish speaking audiences in taken despite her apparent statements that (“Barquillero,” “Solo Tú”) and for other unprecedented ways.” she wanted to end the conservatorship.” groups, including Banda MS (“Cerrando As for Spears’ road ahead, if she files a Ciclos”) and Banda Carnaval (Esta Vez petition to end her conservatorship, all Soy Yo”). All were recognized with SESAC A Tribe Called interested persons will have a right to file an Latina Performance Awards. Muñoz’s pub- opposition. She has indicated that she’s fine lisher, Dulce María Music, won publisher of Quest to Auction with proceedings being more private now the year, Regional Mexican. that she’s said her piece, but if she changes Turizo, the 21-year-old Colombian singer/ Off Portion of her mind, one aspect of the code could make songwriter who often writes with brother things interesting. “Here’s the kicker about Julián and is known for his deep, velvety Royalty Streams probate court,” says Roshan. “On matters of voice, won songwriter of the year, Pop/Latin conservatorship, you’re actually entitled to a Rhythm for the first time with his songs as NFT jury trial of your peers.” “TBT,” “Quiéreme Mientras Se Pueda,” “Te Quemaste,” “Pegao,” “La Nota” and BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN A version of this story first appeared in the “No Encuentro Palabras,” which were all June 30 issue of The Hollywood Report- recognized with SESAC Latina Performance ollowing on its announcement er magazine. Click here to subscribe. Awards. earlier this month that it would His publisher, Sony Sounds (Sony Music allow rightsholders to sell off their Publishing) won publisher of the year for royalty streams as non-fungible the sixth consecutive year. Ftokens (NFTs), online music royalties mar- The song of the year award in regional ketplace Royalty Exchange has partnered Mexican went to Christian Nodal for “Se with A Tribe Called Quest to auction off a Page 15 of 24

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1.5% share of the sound recording royalties have helped build our industry.” from the hip-hop group’s first five studio Color of Change “We are excited to be partnering with albums. #ChangeMusic for this much-needed initia- The starting price for the NFT will be list- and Diverse tive,” Jaia Thomas, founder and president of ed at $35,000 with a 10% royalty upon any Diverse Representation said in a statement. resale, which will be split evenly between Representation “Although Black creatives have long-served Royalty Exchange and the initial seller. The as the tastemakers of the music industry, highest bidder will collect royalties derived Team for Black they’ve continually been shut out and from sales, streaming, sync, satellite radio, passed over for leadership positions. It is digital downloads, CD sales, TV/film/com- Music Executives time for us to wield greater influence over mercial placements, samples and more. the decisions that affect Black artists, their The 24-hour auction kicks off Wednesday Pipeline Program work and their livelihoods.” at 8 a.m. ET/11 a.m. PT. Twelve professionals will be selected to Royalty Exchange kicked off its income- BY DARLENE ADEROJU participate in the three-month, immersive producing NFT program, dubbed NFT plus, Black Music Executives Pipeline Program by auctioning off CEO Anthony Martini’s s part of their #ChangeMusic from September through November. Par- share of the publishing royalty stream for movement, Color of Change has ticipants will receive a stipend, one-on-one his client Lil Dicky’s 2015 song “Save Dat partnered with Diverse Represen- mentorship, a speaker series, executive Money.” tation to launch the Black Music training and executive shadowing. Rightsholders looking to sell royalties as ExecutivesA Pipeline Program. The civil rights Applications for the program will open for NFTs on Royalty Exchange are invited to advocacy nonprofit and database provider Black professionals with at least two years request that option when contacting the for Black professionals in entertainment have of professional experience on the official marketplace. The company takes a cut of the joined forces in efforts to increase the num- websites for Change Music and Diverse sale price, which is typically 15%. Following ber of Black executives in music. Representation beginning July 5. the auction, royalties are paid every quarter The new program aims to create an ef- in Ethereum, which can either be converted fective tool that will allow record labels, into a fiat currency or remain a cryptocur- publishers, video production companies, Mass Appeal rency. streaming services and touring companies to Royalty Exchange is only the most high- quickly identify and hire Black profession- Hires Jessica profile player to have entered the royalty als. It’s slated to bridge the gap between the streams-as-NFTs game over the past several increasingly high number of Black artists Rivera and Jenya months. In April, the singer VÉRITÉ auc- in the music industry and the dispropor- tioned off 100% of the artist share of master tionately low number of Black executives Meggs to Lead recording ownership for her single “By representing them at the vice presidential Now” on the marketplace Zora. The same level or higher. Music, Content month, rapper Taylor Bennett partnered “The Black Music Executives Pipeline with music rights management company Program is a crucial step in the ongoing BY HANNAH DAILEY Bluebox to sell 75% of the rights ownership fight to end the music industry’s decades- of a forthcoming single release. long history of discrimination and exclusion ass Appeal announced Tues- of Black professionals,” Amity Paye, interim day (June 29) two new execu- chief marketing officer and senior director tive hires — Jessica Rivera as of communications at Color of Change said general manager of music in a statement. Mand Jenya Meggs as senior vp of content. Ryan Butler, diversity equity and inclusion In her new role, Rivera will oversee cre- director at the Recording Academy added, ative and day-to-day operations of Mass Ap- “As leaders in the music industry, it is up to peal’s music division. “It’s an inspiring time us to usher in a new age... The Pipeline Pro- to join Mass Appeal and continue to build gram stands not only as an illustration of our the music division and elevate the artist’s ongoing commitment to prioritize and pro- narrative through the synergy of Music and mote diversity and inclusion efforts through media,” Rivera said in a statement. the #ChangeMusic initiative, but also as a Rivera and Meggs will work together on concrete way to honor the countless Black Mass Appeal’s #HipHop50 program, the professionals and artists whose contributions former overseeing original music projects Page 16 of 24

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aimed at celebrating Hip Hop’s history and the overall story of hip-hop’s evolution and the latter leading the content partnership Origins of Hip- its impact on society. Accompanied by a with Showtime/ViacomCBS. The #Hi- 300-page book that includes essays, photo- pHop50 platform was created to celebrate Hop and Rap graphs and other illustrations, the anthology Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary through captures the richness and complexity of hip- partnerships that will produce original Explored In hop as a cultural and social phenomenon.” music, content, podcasts, live experiential, Rappers MC Lyte and Public En- products, education, publishing and more, Smithsonian emy’s Chuck D, writer-scholars Adam “with a charitable component attached to Bradley and Cheryl Keyes, early Def Jam everything.” ‘Anthology’ senior executives Bill Adler and Bill Steph- Meggs will also be spearheading program- ney, artist-writer-director Questlove and ming strategies and partnerships in her new BY GAIL MITCHELL producer-educator 9th Wonder were among position, the press release said. the key figures comprising an executive “I’m excited to use my talents and join n advance of its approaching fifth committee that began discussing the anthol- Mass Appeal on this journey, to expand the anniversary in September, the Na- ogy’s premise in 2014. Over the ensuing narrative of film and TV, while creating tional Museum of African American seven years, an additional panel of advisors exceptional content,” Meggs said. “Mass History and Culture — in partnership representing all facets of hip-hop culture Appeal has brilliantly created a path for Iwith Smithsonian Folkways Recordings — was also assembled. authentic storytelling journeys. Hip-Hop has slated Aug. 20 as the release date for In a statement announcing the anthology, 50 will bring together the best we have to the Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and Kevin Young, the Andrew W. Mellon direc- offer to serve the culture the most defining Rap. tor of NMAAHC, said, “Born in the Bronx celebration it deserves.” Described as a “first-of-its-kind collec- and raised across the American West and Rivera most recently served as head of tion,” the co-production chronicles the evo- South, hip-hop is one of the most influential artist relations for YouTube’s West Coast lution, growth and global impact of hip-hop genres of music in the modern era. Through territory, and before that worked as vp of culture and rap, a genre that was initially beats, dynamic rhymes and pointed lyri- East Coast Operations at Universal Music dismissed as a fad. That history is told au- cism, hip-hop has provided a platform for Publishing Group. Her resume includes rally through nine CDs. Spanning 1979-2013 communities and generations to voice their leading the marketing campaign that and accompanied by extensive notes about ongoing struggles and has changed society launched Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for each of the 129 tracks, the collection boasts and culture around the world.” Christmas Is You” to its first ever No. 1 on music from all three major record compa- The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop the Billboard Hot 100, signing a 16-year-old nies: Sony, Universal and Warner. and Rap is the latest addition to the Smith- Rhianna to her first publishing deal at EMI Complementing the audio component sonian African American Legacy Series, and being named one of Billboard’s 2020 is a 300-page coffee table book featuring a collaboration between Smithsonian R&B/Hip Hop Power Players. 11 essays from music scholars, authors and Folkways and NMAAHC. More information Previously, Meggs served as the original journalists discoursing on subjects such as about the forthcoming anthology and its content producer for Apple Music and pro- women in hip-hop, entrepreneurship and track list is here. duced the BET Web Series Brooklyn Blue graffiti. Designed by artist Cey Adams, the Sky (2017) and executive produced the BET founding creative director of Def Jam, the George Floyd Special (2020). She also has book further illuminates hip-hop’s history video marketing campaign credits with art- through hundreds of photographs. ists like Jay-Z, Mariah Carey, Janet Jackson, Dr. Dwandalyn R. Reece, NMAAHC’s Rhianna and Kanye West. associate director for curatorial affairs, cura- Both Rivera and Meggs will work closely tor of music and performing arts, is also the with the company’s CEO Peter Bitten- anthology’s producer. She tells Billboard, bender and co-founder Nas. “The Smithsonian Anthology of Hip-Hop and “Great moment as the team expands with Rap, created in collaboration with a team of the hiring of Jessica and Jenya, both of whom artists, scholars, journalists, creatives, in- I have had the pleasure of knowing and work- dustry insiders and aficionados, reflects the ing with for years,” Nas said. “I look forward voices of those of the culture while drawing to working with Jessica as the GM of the label, upon a diverse range of perspectives and life Jenya as the svp of content and together as experiences. Each track on the anthology a team as we scale our #HipHop50 program was included because our advisors thought and Mass Appeal’s overall business.” in some way that the track contributed to Page 17 of 24

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co-founder Wyclef Jean in Cannes, France was going to have that effect on us. Black Music where he was serving as the Entertainment When was the moment you knew the Lions for Music jury president at the 2021 album was going to take off? Month Album Cannes Lions Awards (June 21-25). Currently We were in Europe on tour and they told president and chief strategy officer for Sodo us the album was doing great in America, Appreciation: Mood Lab, Global, his new music tech app, climbing the Billboard chart. Then we real- Jean is busy working on another score: this ized we were doing better than we thought. 25 Years After time for Showtime’s hit drama series The I would say we were a bit clueless [at first]. Chi, which premiered its new season on May We knew the album would do well but not the Fugees’ 23. explode like it did. Reflecting on The Score’s impact 25 years When did you last listen to the album? ‘The Score’ with later, Jean notes simply of its genesis, “All we Before I started to score season four would do was catch the fire every night.” of The Chi for Lena Waithe this year, I Wyclef Jean Congratulations on the 25th anniver- listened to The Score. I wanted to get in a sary of The Score. What’s the first memory timeless head space. BY GAIL MITCHELL that comes to mind about the album? Why did The Score become such a cre- The first memory I think of is the Booga ative and resonating influence in R&B/ n honor of Black Music Month, Bill- Basement Studio and my aunt, who is Jerry hip-hop then and now? board has highlighted several seminal Wonda’s mother, cooking upstairs while me, We just wanted to do something timeless. music albums that defined the last Pras, Lauryn, Jerry and John Forté [vocals, We all had albums we loved and the word quarter-century: Drake’s Take Care, producer] are cooking in the Basement with “classic” was in our minds. It still resonates IRick Ross’ Port of Miami and Survivor by excitement. now because it’s reality music. It’s all from Destiny’s Child. Billboard wraps the series by How would you describe the vibe then the soul, so it has no time or place. riding the time machine back to 1996 and the as the Fugees stepped into the studio to release of the Fugees’ second and last studio record? album, The Score. The best way to explain the vibe was Do Artists Get Critically acclaimed as one of the great- like when I watched [behind-the-scenes est albums of the ‘90s — and certified by the film] of Berry Gordy and Smokey Robinson. a Career Boost RIAA as 7x platinum — The Score illumi- They used to have the artists working in the nates the disruptive, alternative magic that studio with them. And for me, this felt like By Dating a was the Fugees: Lauryn Hill, Wyclef Jean I was in the studio with Nina Simone, Peter and Pras Michel. The hip-hop trio birthed the Tosh, Bob Marley, Guns N’ Roses and Thelo- Kardashian? project inside Booga Basement, the New Jer- nious Monk. All we would do was catch the sey-based home studio established by Jean’s fire every night. Here’s What the cousins, brothers Renel and Jerry “Wonda” What was the group’s creative mind- Duplessis. In addition to writing and produc- set? Had you put together most of the Numbers Say ing the album themselves along with Wonda, songs beforehand or was a lot of the the Fugees collaborated with other producers project born in the studio? BY STEVE KNOPPER such as Salaam Remi, Diamond D and Shawn Our creative mindset was like water, like King. Bruce Lee. We just let it flow. The synergy here is one guaranteed way to Peaking at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, The [on the album] speaks volumes. If Lauryn make money on social media: Be- Score reigned for eight weeks at No. 1 on came with a concept, we all went in like we friend a Kardashian. Or a Jenner. the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Three want to take a rocket to the moon. Same Suddenly, you have millions more popular singles were spun off: “Fu-Gee-La,” for Pras, same for me. It was just a perfect Tfollowers, you can sell more shoes, makeup “Ready or Not” and the group’s intriguing musical star. or TV shows — and if you’re a musician, cover of Roberta Flack’s 1973 classic “Killing One of my greatest memories was a time your streaming numbers and ticket sales Me Softly,” largely sung solo by Hill. Earning in Japan when we were touring on behalf bounce to levels you’ve never seen before. a Grammy Award nomination for album of of the album. We were drinking saké for the So it makes sense, romantic reasons aside, the year, The Score later won two statuettes first time and thought it was water. We were to try to hook up with Kim, Khloe, Kylie, in 1997 for best rap album and best R&B getting ready to perform “Ready or Not” and Kourtney or Kendall, right? The latest case performance by a duo or group with vocal we were looking for Pras. He kept drinking study: Travis Barker, the 45-year-old punk- (“Killing Me Softly”). so much that he ended up toppling over to rock drummer and Blink-182 star whose Billboard recently caught up with Fugees the ground. It was crazy. We didn’t know it tattooed hand clasped Kourtney Kardashi- Page 18 of 24

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an’s immaculate bright-red fingernails on 13 million albums overall, and the band’s that, of 6.62%, then Scott’s listeners surged Instagram on Feb. 16. numbers periodically spike, like in Septem- 11.49% in early May. The image drew nearly 3.8 million Insta- ber 2019, when it released a new album and Along those lines, did Tyler, the Creator’s gram likes. But did the official beginning of its streams went up from 15.5 million to 39.4 much-publicized December 2019 dinner this Kardashian romance boost Barker and million in a single week. Barker’s streaming date with Kendall Jenner boost his Spotify Blink in any commercial capacity? numbers, too, shot up for a week in early followers from 10 million to 11.13 million The answer is, yes — depending on how August 2020, from 206,000 to 671,000, not over the course of that month, as Chart- you look at the numbers. In the two weeks long after he’d signed Jxdn to his record metric reports, or was it simply due to the after the Hand-Clasp Heard Around the label and drummed for Post Malone on a strength of his 2019 album Igor? Did West World, Barker’s solo tracks jumped 32.3%, Nirvana cover for a COVID-19 relief fund. get a career boost after he and Kim went from 232,000 to 307,000 via streaming “I feel it’s more coincidental than it is public with their relationship in 2012, or services, beginning an upward curve that because of the Kardashians,” says Barbara was he already such a major star he didn’t would peak in late March and continue Jones, a former Columbia and Warner mar- need the extra marketing power? through late April; Blink’s tracks had a simi- keting executive who now runs Outshine Amanda McClain, author of Keeping Up lar arc, increasing 11.8% in those first two Talent and manages social-media influenc- the Kardashian Brand: Celebrity, Materialism weeks, from 11.9 million to 13.3 million. ers including TikTok stars Charli and Dixie and Sexuality, says those in and out of the So yes, there probably is a Kardashian Ro- D’Amelio. “[Barker] has got his hands in a Kardashian sphere, from Kim’s reality-show mance Effect (KRE). It’s like advertising on lot of different music, so it’s heightening his friend Jonathan Cheban to makeup artist the Super Bowl. “The audience that views awareness to a younger audience.” Mario Dedivanovic, have benefited from the the Kardashians is so rabid that anything Still, she adds: “The earned media the notoriety. When he started dating Kardashi- associated with them is going to receive a family gets is almost priceless. The family’s an, West was expanding his brand beyond heightened level of growth,” says Johnny a magnetic force, and if you get pulled into music; her November 2012 Instagram Cloherty, CEO and founder of Songfluencer. their force field, you can’t help but benefit post showed off his line of branded high- The five Keeping Up with the Kardashi- from it in some way.” heeled shoes, and he appeared regularly ans stars have a combined 895 million It’s fair to say the Kardashians have a on KUWTK. “Kanye West was already very Instagram followers, and they use their thing about dating musicians: Khloe went popular,” McClain says. “Then he’s in Us mega-influencer status to sell products out with French Montana in 2013-2014; Weekly and People magazine all the time. By from Givenchy to Kylie Jenner’s own Kylie Kendall had a night out with A$AP Rocky in dating Kim, he’s able to reach her audience.” Cosmetics. They also frequently shine their July 2016, then April 2017, and has report- Until Barker and Kourtney hooked up, endorsement light on the musicians they’re edly dated Harry Styles; Kylie went out with McClain hadn’t thought about the punk involved with, like Kim Kardashian’s Insta- Tyga for three years, then was spotted with drummer or Blink-182 in a long time. But gram post on husband Kanye West’s Yeezy Drake on various nights out for six months. she follows Kourtney on social media, and sneakers in March (the two are currently In 2016, Khloe dated Trey Songz, offering now she can’t ignore him. “All of a sudden, engaged in a divorce). It stands to reason hints of their romance on Instagram, while Travis Barker’s in her field, in her posts. You that a Kardashian romance, at the least, puts paparazzi captured them leaving her birth- boost your popularity immediately because an artist in the family’s formidable market- day party together; Songz by that point was people want to know: ‘Who is that? What is ing orbit, which could lead to unprecedent- already a considerable star, but the connec- he famous for?’” she says. “It’s exposing him ed riches, or at least a few streaming bumps. tion certainly didn’t hurt, as his spring 2017 to a whole new audience who didn’t know “I have 10 million [followers] on one album Tremaine debuted at No. 3 on the who he was.” platform — the Kardashians are 1,000 times Billboard 200. that. They’re so massive. Everybody knows Cause and effect? Well, that’s difficult them,” says TikTok star Mikaila Murphy, to prove. When Travis Scott had his first better known as mikailadancer. “All they date with Jenner, at Coachella in 2018, he have to do is share your book or your song was already a rising star, so it’s hard to say one time and everybody’s going to see that. whether the KRE boosted his numbers. The Being involved with the Kardashians is so two split in October 2019, but in April 2020, much extra publicity you’re going to be get- Scott reportedly quarantined with her, and ting.” Jenner posted a flattering Instagram birth- Is the KRE statistically airtight? Not ac- day photo of the rapper with their daughter, cording to MRC Data and other metrics. The Stormi. That day, Scott’s Spotify monthly lis- post-hand-clasp numbers for Barker and teners grew 2.29%, by 873,687, then another Blink are not unprecedented in the band’s 2.12% the next day, according to Chartmet- recent history. Blink-182 has sold more than ric; there was a momentary dip the day after Page 19 of 24

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was, “Well, this is what’s shipping today” — At this point, I’d say up in the air, I think Strictly Discs in and it was just about four titles — “and the it’s probably right around 20% of the titles, bulk of your titles are in July.” which has gotten a little bit better progres- Wisconsin, in a And so of course it sends [me into] a sively each day. So that’s why I’m still feel- panic. When something like this happens, ing, or trying to feel, optimistic here on the Pandemic: ‘Panic’ I always assume that I have made an error. fact that we’ll get more of those. We always You know, not sending the correct spread- feel so fortunate that we’re in a business of Results from a sheet or something in my haste. And so I wants, and we sell things that people want, pulled up the spreadsheet that I sent to her, not things that they need. But on Record Record Store Day and not only did I order a lot of product, but Store Day, sometimes that distinction blurs, from them I ordered over 4,600 pieces. Un- because people are so passionate about Distribution Error fortunately, the person who was in charge of some of these limited releases. inputting those orders missed the June tab Are there any crucial titles that you’re BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN on our spreadsheet. not sure you’re going to get? So what are you going to do? Yeah, there are a few. Thankfully, today I n October 1988, Angie Roloff and her Well, I of course panicked. And on their just got notification that we are getting Gar- husband Ron opened Strictly Discs side, this company [Alliance], they’re trying bage. Garbage is largely a Madison band, in Madison, Wisconsin, after Ron left to figure out what they can do. I messaged and so it would be really unfortunate if we a career in the biomedical research at the same time the head of our coalition didn’t have any of those when we open. So Ifield to pursue his love of music full time. and just said, “This is what’s happening and that helps. But there’s one of the Black Sab- Nearly 31 years later, the couple made the I could use some help.” Well, she happened bath titles, there’s a Beck title. There’s quite difficult decision to shutter in-store op- at the same time to be on a call with Carrie a few that I already kind of am having night- erations due to COVID-19, roughly a week [Colliton], who is head of Record Store Day. mares about trying to explain to custom- before Gov. Tony Evers forced a mandatory And so they stepped in pretty quickly, and ers and folks who aren’t otherwise regular shutdown of all non-essential businesses. thankfully, the fellow at Alliance, he always customers how this could have happened in After the Wisconsin Supreme Court over- holds back some product for, as he said, a meaningful way and hope that they trust turned Evers’ stay-at-home order in May catastrophes like this one. And so some of us for a future Record Store Day. 2020 — ruling it “unlawful” and “unenforce- that is coming from them tomorrow, but I’m This is obviously not an ideal solution, able” — the Roloffs and their employees still missing a fair amount of titles that right but is it possible that they could send reopened the store and have kept it running now I don’t have any stock coming [for] — these titles so you can sell them in time ever since. although they’re still trying and Carrie’s still for the July Record Store Day drop? As part of Billboard’s efforts to best cover working with the labels in hopes that some Well, we’ll find out. Certainly if something the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts of them hold some things back for any num- that people really want isn’t going to get on the music industry, we will be speak- ber of reasons. So I’m trying not to panic too here until next week or next month, if I can ing with Roloff regularly to chronicle her much and hoping that some of those come guarantee that, I think that would be fine for experience throughout the crisis. (Read the through so we don’t have disappointed cus- a lot of customers. So certainly, if that comes previous installment here and see the full tomers. But it’s still a little to be determined. to fruition, we’ll come up with some sort of series here.) [Ed. Note: In a follow-up email post-Record rain check system to accommodate people. How’s it going? Store Day, Roloff tells Billboard that in the Say it’s the day before Record Store It’s been an interesting week, that’s for end, “there were many releases we didn’t Day, and you still haven’t received some certain. get at all or got very few copies,” noting that of these titles. Is that a situation where Tell me more. “customers were understanding but it was an you would try to warn customers ahead Well, the first of the two Record Store Day error that cost us business.”] of time? drops is Saturday, and this one is signifi- Has anything like this happened be- Yes, we would definitely have to do that cantly larger [and has] significantly more fore? because the last thing we want is people to releases. And they’ve kind of restructured Well, there’s always small glitches...but get in line sometime in the wee hours of the some of the way that we ordered products we’re talking about impacting a title or two, night or the morning just to find out that we this time in hopes to get to the stores earlier not 270 titles. don’t have something. That turns a bad situ- and to kind of manage the allocation process Roughly what percentage of the titles ation and makes it much worse. in a more equitable way. But last Friday, I that you were supposed to get for Sat- How will you warn people? still didn’t have the bulk of my product. And urday are en route or already there, and We already send a comprehensive email so I messaged the rep at the main company what percentage are up in the air at this the day beforehand. In the past, there’ll be that we’re getting it from. And the response point? things like, “Oh, this title’s been bumped, or Page 20 of 24

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this title has been canceled and will come was gonna expire that they weren’t go- forward, no more than five songs from any out next year for Black Friday.” And also, ing to issue another. And so thankfully, we film may be submitted. No more than two “This is what we have planned, and we had about a week where we knew this was songs from any film may be nominated, look forward to seeing you.” So we can also coming. It did give me time to talk to both same as before. include it there. We would certainly want staff and customers who either have a family The board also approved rules and cam- to do it on social media as well, because not member or are themselves higher risk to get paign regulations for the 94th Academy everyone is going to get and see the email. their perspective, and I was surprised that Awards. And even with that, we’ll have people who all of them said they were fine with other As previously announced, the eligibility haven’t seen it and more than likely will people not wearing masks — that they would period for Academy Awards consideration be disappointed if we don’t have things. So still continue to wear a mask, but it wouldn’t will return to the standard Dec. 31 deadline. that’s just probably a lot of apologizing for bother them if others weren’t. A feature film must have a qualifying release something that’s out of our control. How are you feeling? Because I know date between March 1 and Dec. 31 of this Has the mask mandate lifted in Madi- that you’re a little more on the cautious year to qualify. son? end of the spectrum, as we’ve talked With theatrical exhibition still impacted Yes, it lifted on [June] 2nd for our county. about before. by the pandemic, eligibility requirements for It had lifted statewide prior to that. Yes, I have to kind of squelch my school- the 94th Academy Awards will be consis- Have you decided how you’re going to marm personality. [Laughs] Because I real- tent with the addendums made for the 93rd deal with that in the store? ized that, thankfully, because so many people awards season. They can be found here. Well, it became evident pretty quickly are vaccinated, that’s the direction we’re go- For films that open in theaters, the six that we only really had one option, and that ing. And I try to celebrate that as progress. qualifying U.S. metropolitan areas are Los was to make them optional. As a staff, we Angeles County, the city of New York, the are all still wearing them when the store Bay Area, Chicago, Miami and Atlanta. Fol- is open, and for customers, it’s up to their Motion Picture lowing this year, the Academy intends to discretion. expand the qualifying requirements for the Why did you feel that was your only Academy 95th awards. option? Additionally, beginning with the 94th Because I think otherwise we would be Announces New Academy Awards, the best picture category spending most of our day trying to [get] peo- will be set at 10 nominees, rather than a ple [to wear] them. On the first day, we still Music Category fluctuating number of nominations from had the sign up that says we required them, year to year. This change was first an- and I had hoped that maybe that would just Rules for 2022 nounced a year ago. encourage people to wear them. But it just Here’s a summary of changes in other created confusion, and I think the outcome Oscars categories: would have been that we were perhaps ruf- In the documentary short subject, ani- fling the feathers of people that we really BY PAUL GREIN mated short film and live action short film don’t want to do that for. So we just are kind categories, the shortlist will expand from 10 of going with it and realizing that things are he Academy of Motion Picture to 15 films. changing quickly. Arts & Sciences has relaxed a In the sound category, there will now be Have you had anyone express discom- rule in the best original score a preliminary round of voting for the sound fort with people not wearing masks in category for next year’s Oscars. award to determine a shortlist of 10 films. the store? TTo be eligible, the rules used to require a Prior to nominations voting, sound branch Not so far. score to comprise a minimum of 60% of members will be invited to a presentation What percentage of customers would the total music in the film. (The rest of the of the shortlisted achievements, similar to you say are actually still wearing masks? music could consist of new or old songs that the process in the visual effects and makeup I would say it’s somewhere in the 65% to were not part of the original score.) Going & hairstyling categories. The entire sound 70% range. forward, the score need only comprise 35% branch will vote to select the shortlist as At times it was challenging [to tell people of the total music in the film. well as nominations. to wear masks] even when there was a mask That was one of several rule changes for In the international feature film category, mandate. So I really can’t imagine trying the upcoming 94th annual Academy Awards key rule amendments made in the prelimi- to do it on an individual level now that that were announced Wednesday (June 30). nary round of voting for the 93rd Awards there isn’t. The nice thing with our city and The changes were voted on by the Acad- and approved in January 2021 remain county is we got a pretty ample heads up emy’s board of governors. unchanged. This includes an expanded that when that last order and mask mandate In the best original song category, going shortlist of 15 films and members from all Page 21 of 24

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Academy branches being invited to opt in to venue management and ticketing plat- funds are required to maintain detailed and participate in the preliminary and nomi- form, VenuePilot. reporting of how they used the funds for nations rounds of voting. Members must VenuePilot was created by Kantor – who three years, which Severin says VenuePilot meet a minimum viewing requirement to be also founded New York City venue (Le) can handle with ease. eligible to vote in the category. Poisson Rouge – nearly a decade ago as he The technology works for venues, Submission deadlines are as follows: perfected the software to make something promoters, and festivals. Early adopters Documentary short subject – Oct. 15 he “thought would be really valuable to include New York’s Winter Jazz Festival Animated short film – Oct. 15 the industry.” The platform allows venue and Mean Red Productions based in Detroit Live action short film – Oct. 15 operators to forecast ticket sales, generate and New York. As live music returns across Animated feature film – Nov. 1 settlement sheets, place unlimited holds the country after a year without shows and Documentary feature – Nov. 1 for events on a specialized calendar and companies begin to hire new staff, Sev- International feature film – Nov. 1 can serve as a venue’s primary ticket. The erin - who serves as a strategic partner for Original score – Nov. 1 program is free to use for all venues with the company - believes VenuePilot is a smart Original song – Nov. 1 VenuePilot earning revenue of $0.75 per and easy way to get back to work. General entry categories – Nov. 15 ticket sold. Until 2022, Kantor says all those “If there’s anything that we learned at Campaign regulations, which specify how ticketing fees are going back to the venue this f—king pandemic it’s that we don’t need companies and individuals may market to owners. to do things the way we did them anymore. Academy members, were also updated. The “That’s to make sure venue operators can This is the time to change everything,” he mailings of DVDs, CDs and physical screen- get back on their feet this year,” says Kan- says of old ticketing contracts and using ran- plays are discontinued starting this year. tor. “I was able to build VenuePilot over an dom spreadsheets to sort out finances. “As a Access to the Academy Screening Room will extended period of time and in a way where business owner who’s owned businesses for continue to be made available for all eligible the company can survive quite well without 20 years, I wouldn’t have thought about hav- releases. Digital links to materials will be making any revenue for the rest of this year.” ing those type of reports. VenuePilot can be permitted. Ticket sales can be customized through really straightforward or it could be really For the complete 94th Academy Awards VenuePilot with discount codes and pre- complicated, which makes it so that all these rules, visit oscars.org/rules. sales and the system was designed for venue different people to use it.” owners by venue owners. So far VenuePilot VenuePilot does not rely on corralling us- has been adopted by venues like The Wild ers into contracts and allows industry pro- VenuePilot Buffalo in Washington and The Bitter End fessionals to use the platform for free. The in New York, and boasts Wasserman Mu- company does plan to roll out a more robust Returning All sic’s Tom Windish as an early investor and paid tier, but all technology currently avail- strategic advisor. The platform automati- able will remain free. Ticketing Fees to cally generate contracts, artist settlement sheets and integrates with other applica- Venues Through tions frequently used by venue operators. Pooh Shiesty “It’s surprisingly so much harder than you 2021 would think to just figure out on any given Indicted in night how much money was made or lost. BY TAYLOR MIMS Coordinating with the team and all the dif- Miami Shooting ferent bar sales and tickets and everything, he past 15 months have been it’s challenging,” Kantor tells Billboard, add- Incident Thanks to a nightmare for independent ing, “Really early on I realized how much venue owners and few know that value there would be in having our own tick- Instagram Posts: better than founding National eting platform and to not have to work with TIndependent Venue Association founding Ticketmaster and the likes. [Venue owners] Report member Justin Kantor and Neumos co- could have more control at a nuanced level owner Steven Severin. The two have fought of our ticketing. Put those two things to- BY GIL KAUFMAN tooth and nail to get the Shuttered Venue gether and you have a real product that can Operators Grant passed and understand offer a lot more than what is out there.” ooh Shiesty was indicted this that independent venues are still trying to VenuePilot’s relaunch also comes as week over his involvement in an get their footing as live shows return. With many independent venues are receiving alleged shooting and robbery in grants finally rolling out to independent their share of the $16 billion in Shuttered Miami after investigators alleg- venues, the two are turning their focus back Venue Operator Grant funds. Those awards Pedly spotted some incriminating pictures Page 22 of 24

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on his Instagram. The rapper born Lontrell during the deal he and Brown allegedly shot (WMG) executives gathered for a panel Denell Williams Jr. was taken into federal the two men — one in the hip, the other in discussing the company’s approach to the custody and made his first federal court ap- the buttocks — according to the complaint, region. (Ed. Note: The panel was moderated pearance on Tuesday (June 29), according with the robbery caught on surveillance by this reporter.) While Africa is a diverse to th Miami Herald. video. The complaint alleges that Williams continent of 54 countries and nearly 2,000 The arrest came in connection with used a Draco subcompact machine gun in native languages, WMG managing director an October 2020 shooting at Bay Harbor the shooting and “never paid either victim South Africa and senior vp strategy, Sub- Island, Florida in which two men were for the shoes or marijuana.” Saharan Africa Temi Adeniji expressed that wounded. Investigators reportedly used The criminal complaint said that Darosa’s she has long been frustrated by outsiders’ Instagram photos posted several days before Insta also appeared to feature photos of him view of Africa as one homogenous region. the robbery in which the MC allegedly hold the same Draco weapon used by Wil- “A lot of people tend to see it as one, flaunted “several long rifles and plethora of liams in the incident. which is quite frankly very reductive,” said $100.00 bills” as an aid in their probe (the Check out a local news report on the Adeniji, who is Nigerian. “It’s been really images appear to have been removed), with incident below. important and a cornerstone of our strategy one bill inside a Louis Vuitton bag stuffed to start from an understanding that this is a with more than $40,000 in cash that tum- challenging market because of its complex- bled out of the rented lime green McLaren ‘Now is the Time’: ity and its diversity.” that fled the scene matching a serial number For WMG, that has translated to long- in the photo; Shiesty also reportedly posted Africa Takes term relationships with local experts, such photos of himself in a car that appeared to as its partnership with Nigerian record label match the description of the McLaren. Center Stage at Chocolate City in 2019 and investment in Williams, 21, is facing charges of discharg- independent music distributor Africori last ing a firearm during a violent crime, con- Midem Virtual April. Most recently, WMG announced a spiracy and robbery under a law regulating partnership with Tanzanian artist Diamond commerce and he will reportedly be held Conference Platnumz and his independent label WCB- in federal custody until a July 6 detention Wasafi in May. hearing. He was earlier charged and freed BY TATIANA CIRISANO WMG president, emerging markets Al- on bond in Miami-Dade state court over the fonso Perez-Soto added that he learned the same incident and then jailed again in a dif- s the African music market con- importance of partnerships with local com- ferent incident over the alleged shooting of a tinues to attract global interest, panies and talent during his former role as security guard at the Kind of Diamonds strip France-based music business WMG vp of business development for Latin club on Memorial Day. Shiesty surrendered conference Midem this week America and U.S. Hispanic markets. “I ex- to authorities on June 8 on charges of ag- launchesA Midem Africa: A free, virtual perienced the shifting importance of Latin gravated battery for allegedly firing a gun in spinoff of panels and events highlighting the America” to the Western music industry, he the club and injuring the guard. continent’s flourishing music industry from said, “and I tried with the help of the team “We have been in communication with June 28 through July 1. to put all this knowledge and experience the U.S. Attorney’s Office and we believe The conference delivered a packed first into our development in Africa.” they have a federal detainer on him and are day of panels and events, with a welcome Adeniji also noted that Africa is “not just likely to file federal charges,” the rapper’s chat from Midem director Alexandre De- having a moment now — it’s been a creative defense attorney, Saam Zangeneh, previ- niot, conversation about major-label invest- center since the beginning of time.” But ously told the Herald. “That doesn’t change ment strategy and a look at the data behind internet access has only recently become our position as to his 100 percent inno- African artists’ success, among other topics. widely available to Africa’s youthful popula- cence, in both state and federal matters.” At “Africa is a booming music market,” tion — 60% of Africa’s 1.25 billion people are press time Zangeneh and a spokesperson Denoit said during his conference-opening under the age of 25, according to the Brook- for Williams had not returned requests for talk. “Now is the time for the global music ings Institution — “which means that there’s comment. community to invest in and take notice of a potentially monetizable audience,” WMG The federal case charges that Williams, what’s happening in the continent, as more managing director North Africa & Middle as well as two other men — Bobby Brown and more international companies take an East Moe Hamzeh added. and Jayden Darosa — arranged to buy some interest in the region. We need to educate The same day, MRC Data vp global Hel- marijuana and “high-end athletic sneakers” ourselves about local realities and the differ- ena Kosinski offered a deeper look at the in October from two men at the Landon ences between one market and another.” current music trends on the continent, with Hotel in Bay Harbor Islands. The rapper His last point was a major focus of a panel a particular focus on the Afro-pop genre reportedly arrived in a rented McLaren and later that day, where Warner Music Group also known as Afrobeats. Page 23 of 24

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Among the top 10,000 most-streamed has that in spades,” she said. “It’s really only Airplay and sends Rauw Alejandro’s pop- artists globally, African artists make up 0.3% the very beginning of what is a very exciting disco “Todo De Ti” to the runner-up slot of the total streams so far in 2021. “It’s all time.” after its two-week reign. about the potential,” Kosinski said, adding The Midem Africa program continues “Telepatía” is Uchis’ first charting single that collaborations have long served as a through July 1, with panels like a behind- on Latin Pop Airplay without an accompa- tried-and-true strategy to expose African the-scenes look at East Africa’s under- nying act. “El Ratico” peaked at No. 10 in artists to new audiences. Hits like Mas- ground music scene presented by Sound- September 2017 and “La Luz (Fin),” with ter KG’s “Jerusalema” featuring Nom- Cloud, a keynote chat by rising Nigerian Jhay Cortez, reached No. 16 in January. cebo (both from South Africa) and remixed artist Joeboy and a discussion about synch Both “Telepatía” and “La Luz” are part by Burna Boy (Nigeria); Justin Bieber’s opportunities for African music hosted of Uchis’ album Sin Miedo (Del Amor y Otros “Loved By You” featuring Burna Boy; Brent by Sheer Publishing, CD Baby and FUGA. Demonios), which has spent nine weeks at Faiyaz’s “Gravity” with DJ Dahi (Ivory Event registration is open to the pub- No. 1 on Latin Pop Albums. Coast); and Robin Schulz’s “Alane” lic here. Beyond its Latin Airplay and Latin Pop with Wes (Cameroon) are all recent en- Airplay No. 1s, “Telepatía” continues to trants on Billboard’s Global Excl. U.S. chart. climb on the all-genre Billboard Hot The African diaspora is also a huge driver Kali Uchis’ 100 chart, as the track rises 30-25. It’s her of African music consumption across the second entry there, following the No. 93 world, she said, with large populations in ‘Telepatía’ Rules peak of “Get You,” by Daniel Caesar featur- Brazil, the U.S., Europe, France and the U.K. ing Uchis. Africa’s success in the U.S. is dominated Latin Airplay Elsewhere, “Telepatía” rebounds 2-1 today by three Nigerian artists: Burna on Latin Digital Song Sales after its 11- Boy, WizKid and Davido, who are responsi- Chart week lead with 1,400 downloads sold in the ble for nearly two-thirds of all African music week ending June 24. consumption in the U.S. All three predomi- BY PAMELA BUSTIOS nantly sing in English and have notched key collaborations with Western stars. month after “Telepatía” reigned For King MRC Data also recently conducted on Billboard’s Hot Latin studies asking music consumers around Songs chart for four weeks (May & Country the world whether they listen to Afro-pop 22-June 12-dated lists), Kali Uch- music. In France and Spain, almost a third isA’ ubiquitous single jumps 5-1 on the Latin Continues Record of respondents said yes, although in Japan, Airplay chart (dated July 3). only 7% did. In the U.S., 10% of music The track is her second chart entry on No. 1 Streak on consumers surveyed said they had listened Latin Airplay and her first as a lead act. She to Afro-pop in the last two weeks, and have previously charted via her featured role on Christian Airplay primarily discovered it through social media Juanes’ No. 23-peaking “El Ratico” in 2017. (including short-form video apps like Tik- The steady march of “Telepatía” on radio Chart With ‘Amen’ Tok and Triller) and streaming services. airplay sends the TikTok hit to No. 1 on the Drawing comparisons to the global all-Latin genre radio ranking. The track BY JIM ASKER growth of K-pop in the time since PSY’s climbs to the top in its 11th week on the list, 2012 hit “Gangnam Style,” Kosinski went and with its fourth consecutive weekly gain or King & Country, the duo of on to predict that Afro-pop will be music’s in audience impressions. It earned 9.6 mil- brothers Joel and Luke Smallbone, “next global growth engine.” Several factors lion in audience in the week ending May 16 scores its ninth No. 1 on Bill- to make it happen are already in place, she — up 30% from the previous week — accord- board’s Christian Airplay chart, said: Strong collaborations; a runaway, non- ing to MRC Data. Fas “Amen” ascends to the top of the July English global hit (such as “Jerusalema”); The song’s Latin Airplay coronation 3-dated survey. the influence of the African diaspora; the comes after it earlier reached No. 1 on the It’s also the twosome’s record-extending sound hitting the mainstream (in songs Latin Streaming Songs chart and Latin Digi- sixth consecutive No. 1 promoted as a prop- like Drake’s “One Dance”); and the demo- tal Song Sales. The song ruled the Hot Latin er single. “Amen,” which the pair penned graphic power of Africa’s enormous, youth- Songs chart (which blends airplay, streams with Matt Hales and Seth Mosley, follows ful population. and song sales) for four weeks (May 22-June “O Come O Come Emmanuel” (featuring “We know that pushing boundaries and 12 charts). On the latest Hot Latin Songs NEEDTOBREATHE), which led for two developing musical styles comes predomi- chart, the track holds at No. 2. weeks starting in December; “Together,” nantly from young people, and the continent “Telepatía” also jumps 2-1 on Latin Pop with Kirk Franklin and Tori Kelly (five Page 24 of 24

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weeks, beginning in August 2020); “Burn the Ships” (five, starting in January 2020); “God Only Knows” (10, beginning in April 2019); and “joy.” (four, starting in August 2018). “As with anyone who creates, you never quite imagine that a part of you, or a part of your story, could mean so much to so many,” the duo shares in a statement to Billboard. “While in buses and dressing rooms on the road, we wrote these songs from personal experiences and heartaches. To now see the impact represented in the charts, and to see ‘Amen’ mark the sixth consecutive No. 1 for our team, is such a true honor. Truthfully, we don’t quite have the words to express our gratitude.” The six-pack pushes the duo further ahead of MercyMe, which posted four straight leaders in 2010-12. In the tracking week ending June 27, “Amen” increased by 3% to 9.7 million audi- ence impressions, according to MRC Data.