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Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE JUNE 28, 2021 Page 1 of 24

INSIDE ’s ‘Sour’ Returns to

• BTS’ ‘Butter’ Leads Hot 100 for Fifth No. 1 on Chart Week, Dua Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ Becomes BY KEITH CAULFIELD Most-Heard Radio Hit livia Rodrigo’s Sour returns to No. 1 on five frames (charts dated Jan. 23 – Feb. 20). (It’s worth • Executive of Billboard 200 chart for a second total noting that Dangerous had 30 tracks aiding its SEA Week: Records Chairman/ week, as the steps 3-1 in its fifth and TEA units, while Sour only has 11.) CEO Ethiopia week on the list. It earned 105,000 equiva- ’s Hall of Fame falls 1-2 in its second week Habtemariam Olent album units in the U.S. in the week ending June on the Billboard 200 with 65,000 equivalent album 24 (down 14%), according to MRC Data. The album units (down 54%). and ’s former • Will Avatars Kill The Radio Stars? debuted at No. 1 on the chart dated June 5. leader The former rises 4-3 with Inside Today’s Virtual The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular 57,000 (down 21%). ’ Culture III dips 2-4 with Artist Record Labels albums of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric 54,000 units (down 58%). Wallen’s Dangerous: The consumption as measured in equivalent album units. Double Album is a non-mover at No. 5 with 49,000 • eOne’s Gina Miller Is Teaching Nashville Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums units (down 2%). How to Improve Its (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each Singer- H.E.R. collects her first top C+ Grade In Equality unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart as Back of My sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 Mind bows at No. 6 with 36,000 equivalent album • Global ’s paid/subscription on-demand official audio and video units earned. Of that sum, SEA units comprise a Value Slides to streams generated by songs from an album. The new little over 29,500 (equaling 39.62 million on-demand 10-Year Low: 2021 July 3, 2021-dated chart (where Sour returns to No. 1) streams of the album’s tracks), album sales comprise IMS Business Report will be posted in full on Billboard’s website on June 29. 5,500 and TEA units comprise 1,000 units. The top • Roblox and Twitch For all chart news, follow @billboard and @billboard- 10 arrival continues a banner year for the artist, Are Gaming the charts on both and Instagram. who won the Academy Award for best original song System Against Sour is the second album in 2021 to earn in excess in April, and took home two more Grammy Awards, of 100,000 units in each of its first five weeks, follow- upping her total Grammy total to four. (Guest Op-Ed) ing Morgan Wallen’s Dangerous: The Double Album, Though Back of My Mind is billed as H.E.R.’s debut which also collected 100,000-plus weeks in its first (continued)

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full-length studio album, it follows six chart- U.S. streams, down 1%, and sold 128,400 ing EPs and compilations dating back to 2017. BTS’ ‘Butter’ downloads, up 15%, in the week ending June The highest charting of the bunch the 24, according to MRC Data. It also attracted six-song 2018 effort I Used to Know Her: The Leads Hot 100 for 27.6 million radio audience impres- Prelude EP, which topped out at No. 20. sions, up 6%, in the week ending June 27. Dua Lipa’s Nostalgia rises 11-7 on Fifth Week, Dua The track posts a fifth week atop the Digi- the new Billboard 200 with 32,000 equiva- tal Song Sales chart, rebounds 24-18 lent album units earned (down 5%), Money- Lipa’s ‘Levitating’ on and rises 25-22 on bagg Yo’s former No. 1 A Gangsta’s Pain ris- . es 9-8 with 31,000 units (down 9%), Bo Becomes Most- Sales for “Butter” in its fifth week reflect Burnham’s Inside (The Songs) falls 7-9 availability for its original and instrumental with 30,000 units (down 18%) and J. Cole’s Heard Radio Hit versions released May 21; a “Hotter” remix former leader The Off-Season holds at No. 10 released May 28; “Cooler” and “Sweeter” with nearly 30,000 (down 13%). BY GARY TRUST remixes released June 4; and an “alternate single cover” digital single released June TS’ “Butter” tallies a fifth week 24 in the group’s webstore (sparking the at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot song’s top Sales Gainer award on the Hot 100 songs chart, encompassing 100 this week), all discounted to 69 cents its entire run on the chart so far, throughout their availability. Two other Bdating to its debut in the top spot. versions on sale via BTS’ U.S. webstore, a Plus, Dua Lipa’s “Levitating,” featur- 7-inch vinyl single, for $7.98, and a cassette ing DaBaby, at No. 3 on the Hot 100 after single, for $6.98, are scheduled to count for reaching No. 2, takes over as the most-heard next week’s charts, dated July 10, a week song on U.S. airwaves, hitting No. 1 on later than originally expected due to a shift the Radio Songs chart. in their shipping schedules. The Hot 100 blends all-genre U.S. stream- Notably, “Butter” has sold at least 100,000 ing (official audio and official video), radio in each of its first five weeks (128,400, after airplay and sales data. All charts (dated July 111,400, 138,400, 140,200 and, in its debut 3) will update on Billboard.com tomorrow week, 242,800). It’s the first song to link (June 29). For all chart news, you can follow such a streak since and Daddy @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Yankee’s “,” featuring Justin Twitter and Instagram. Bieber, cleared 100,000 in 12 consecutive “Butter,” released on HYBE/BigHit weeks in May-August 2017. “Butter” is the Music/Columbia Records, drew 12.4 million first song to sell more than 100,000 in each

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ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country of itsA firstlbu fivems; weeks of releaseBrett since EdY oungDua Lipa’s ‘Catc “Levitating,”h’-es featuring Fifth DaBaby, Grande’s Airplay “Save Your Tears” is steady at No. Sheeran’s “Shape of You,” which did so in its holds at No. 3 on the Hot 100, after reaching 7, after two weeks at No. 1; and Lil X’s first five framesLea inder; March-April Travis 2017. No.Denning 2, as it ascends to No. Makes 1 on Radio Songs, History former one-week leader “Montero (Call Me Meanwhile, “Butter” has spent its first with 80.7 million in audience, down 1% (its by Your Name)” rises 9-8. five weeks on the Hot 100 at No. 1. Of the 54 second-best weekly total, after reaching Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Rodri- Samtitles Hunt that ’shave secondlaunched studio full-length, at No. 1, “Butter” and first in over81.1 five million years, Southsidea week earlier). sales Lipa (up 21%) lands in theher tracking go’s week. “Deja On CountryVu” rebounds Airplay, 10-9, it hops after 18-15 reaching (11.9 mil- (MCAis just Nashville/Universal the 11th to spend Music at least Group its firstNashville), five debutssecond at No. Radio1 on Billboard Songs’s leader, lion audienceafter “Don’t impressions, No.up 16%). 3, and Masked Wolf’s “Astronaut in the Topweeks Country on the Albums chart chartat the dated summit. April It’s18. In the its first Startweek (ending ” ruledApril 9), for it four weeks in March- Ocean” slips 8-10, after hitting No. 6, as it earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingfirst to to earn Nielsen the Music/MRChonor since Data. Olivia Rodrigo’s April 2020. DaBaby topsand the total tally Country for the Airplay No.leads 1 as “Catch”the multi-metric (Big MachineHot Label Rap Group) Songs ascends chart “DriversSouthside License” marks Hunt’s logged second its first No. eight 1 on the first time. for2-1, a increasingsixth week. 13% to 36.6 million impressions. chartframes and on fourth the Hot top 10.100 It in follows the pole freshman position LP “Levitating” leads in its 37th week on Again,Young’s for first all chartof six chartnews, entries, you can “Sleep follow With - Montevallobeginning, in which January. arrived Only at the one summit song byin No - Radio Songs, completing the longest climb @billboardout You,” reached and @billboardcharts No. 2 in December on 2016. both He vembera group 2014 has and topped reigned the for Hot nine 100 weeks. for more To date, to No. 1 in the chart’s 30-year history. It Twitterfollowed and with Instagram the multiweek and No.all charts 1s “In Case (dated You Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionweeks infrom album its sales.debut than “Butter”: Mariah passes the 35-week rise of ’s JulyYou” 3), (three, including January the 2018), Hot “Mercy” 100 in its (two, entirety, August CareyMontevallo and Boyz has spent II Men’s 267 weeks “One on Sweet the list, Day,” tying “I Hope” (featuring ), which will2018) refresh and “Here on Billboard.com tomorrow Tonight” (two, April 2019). Lukewhich Bryan spent’s Crash its first My Party16 weeks as the sixth-longest-on the chart at reached the apex last October. “Levitating” (June“Catch” 29). completes his longest journey to No. 1, runningNo. 1 in titles 1995-96, in the a chart’s record 56-year reign history.from a song’s originally peaked at No. 6 on Radio Songs in having taken 46 weeks to reach the apex. It out- entranceOn the all-genre among all Billboard titles. 200, Southside ar- January and spent 10 weeks outside the top paces the 30-week climb of “Here Tonight.” rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On , “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG afterRodrigo’s the No. 3-peaking “Good 4 MontevalloU” keeps at. No. 2 on 10 in February-May before re-entering the a new high. theHunt Hot first 100, released five weeks the EP X2Cafter , it whichdebuted debuted at top tier as it surged as a soundtrack to clips andNo. peaked1. It posts at No. a sixth 5 on week Top Country atop Streaming Albums in Auguston TikTok. 2014. Following COMBS ‘DOES’ IT AGAIN Luke Combs’ “Does to Me” (River House/Columbia MontevalloSongs (32 ,million, Between down the Pines: 11%); Acoustic rises 6-5 on startedDoja at its Cat’s No. 7“Kiss high inMe More,”Nashville), featuring featuring SZA, Eric Church, ascends 11-8 on , up 10% to NovemberDigital Song 2015. Sales (9,200, down 5%); and holds at its No. 4 Hot 10024.7 high, million while in Bieber’s audience. 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 run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly Airplay:charges “Leave 14-7 on the Radio Night Songs On,” “Take with Your47.5 Time,”mil- “Houseformer Party” one-week and “Make No. 1 “Peaches,”promoted No.featuring 1 singles. Youlion Miss impressions, Me.” “Break up Up 27%, in a asSmall it claims Town” the peaked at No.Daniel 2. Caesar and , Churchrepeats adds at No. his 5, 15th Country Airplay top 10. HotHunt 100’s co-penned top Airplay all 12 Gainer songs onaward Southside for a , includingas it “Body adds aLike fifth a Backweek atop both Hot R&B/ Road,”fourth whichweek. was released in 2017. The smash hit ruledHip-Hop Country Songs Airplay and for HotTHAT R&B TOOK Songs QUITE, with ‘A FEW’ MONTHS shatters the record for threeRodrigo weeks sendsand the two airplay-, tracks streaming- to the Radio and sales-based both Hot multi-metric Country Songs charts the employing most weeks the it samehas 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 - FloridaSongs top Georgia 10 simultaneously, Line’s “Meant to as, Be” joining (50 weeks atop themethodology latter list in 2017-18). as the Hot lion100. in radio reach. “Good“Downtown’s 4 U” in the Dead,” region, which “Deja is also Vu” on risesthe new 12- set, reachedThree Nos. more 14 andformer 15 HotThe 100 song No. 1ssurpasses follow two tracks that took 50 weeks each to enter the top 10: on10 Hot(43.5 Country million, Songs up 14%). and Country She ups Airplay, her career respectively, in the in June top 2018.10: “Leave “Kin- theEaston Door Open” Corbin by’s “A Girl Like You,” which reached No. 10 in January 2018 be- folks”total to led three Country top Airplay10s on onthe Feb. ranking, 29, becoming after Hunt’sSonic, seventh the No.duo 1. of It Brunohit foreMars peaking and Anderson at No. 6 that February, and ’s “Outta Style,” which No.“Drivers 3 on Hot License” Country dominated Songs. for five weeks .Paak, keeps at No. 6, afterachieved two nonconsecu its No. 10 high- in December 2017. 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 in March-April. tive weeks on top; and Ariana eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY NEW

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Here, Habtemariam discusses the success their own full-length projects while they Executive of of the Migos and Lil Baby/Lil Durk albums, have so much music out already? growing the artists from Atlanta-area hit- Both projects were about timing — not the Week: makers to global stars and what goes into only regarding what the fans wanted, but making a successful partnership in the busi- where the artists were creatively. These Motown Records ness these days. are artists who have fans around the world Between Migos’ Culture III and Lil Baby and continuing to help them put out music Chairman/ and Lil Durk’s The Voice of the Heroes, Mo- and build their brands and tell their story is town has had two straight top-2 debuts what we’re here for. That’s the job. CEO Ethiopia on the Billboard 200 and currently has Motown’s deal with Quality Control two of the top four albums in the country. has been a big success through the years. Habtemariam What key decisions did you make to help What goes into making a partnership like make that happen? that work for both sides? BY DAN RYS One of the best decisions we made was We went into this truly as partners — it’s partnering with Quality Control in 2015, trusting, strategizing and respecting one his week, Migos’ album Culture holding true to supporting the entrepre- another in a real way. It’s always been about III debuted at No. 2 on the Bill- neurial spirit that we know exists in music empowering and continuing to educate and board 200, the trio’s third straight and has always been part of Motown’s cul- grow together — that’s why it works. top-two album on the chart, with ture. We knew we would be able to develop Tthe second-biggest sales week for a hip- and help artists grow who would shape and hop album this year so far (trailing only J. impact culture around the world, as Mo- Will Avatars Kill Cole’s The Off-Season). That debut came town has always done. right on the heels of Lil Baby and Lil Durk’s Lil Baby, in particular, is on an incredi- The Radio Stars? joint album The Voice of the Heroes (Alamo/ ble hot streak right now, with eight songs Quality Control/Motown/Geffen), which on the Hot 100 (19 last week) and two Inside Today’s debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 last albums in the top 20 of the Billboard 200. week and still sits in the top five this week, How have you helped him grow over the Virtual Artist coming in at No. 4. past few years into the star he so clearly Those achievements give Quality Con- is now? Record Labels trol/Motown two of the top four albums It’s my job to create and build an infra- in the country, a major milestone for the structure to support our artists in order to BY TATIANA CIRISANO newly-standalone Motown, which was bring their vision to the world. Lil Baby has recently spun out from under the Capi- an incredible support system around him — wo years ago, Anthony Martini’s tol Music Group umbrella. And they also from Pee and the Quality Control team, teenage daughter showed him an earn Motown’s chairman/CEO Ethiopia as well as his Motown family, in particular Instagram profile for a green- Habtemariam the title of Billboard’s Ex- Twin and Britney — but it’s also him putting haired rapper with tattooed arms, ecutive of the Week. in the work and trusting his instincts as well Thypebeast style and glitched-out trap tracks It’s not just the big weeks for those re- as the understanding that everyone is oper- getting hundreds of thousands of plays spective albums that has fueled the label’s ating with one common goal. on SoundCloud. Martini — a former artist current hot streak, however, but the sheer This week, Migos has 11 songs on the manager who helped develop artists like Lil prolific nature of the Migos MCs and Lil Global 200 chart. How have you helped Dicky and MadeinTYO, and in March be- Baby has meant that they collectively ac- develop them into a truly global act? came CEO of Royalty Exchange — signed count for more than 10% of the songs popu- I tell them all the time to just push play. the rapper, who now goes by FN Meka, to lating the Hot 100, while Migos themselves Their fans miss seeing them together and his , Factory New. Since then, have a dozen songs populating Billboard’s once the work started it was just about FN Meka has released three official singles Global 200, establishing themselves as a connecting the dots to help them create and acquired 9.8 million TikTok followers. truly international act. And it’s another something truly special. They’re the biggest It’s a typical story about online artist devel- victory for the mutually-beneficial partner- hip-hop group in the world and it’s been opment, but with a twist: FN Meka isn’t real, ship between Motown and Quality Control, about putting in the work to support and and Factory New isn’t for human artists. the Atlanta-based label and management drive their vision. FN Meka is a virtual avatar, designed by company that inked a deal with Motown in With both Lil Baby and the members of Martini’s business partner Brandon Le, 2015 and has continued to produce chart- Migos being such prolific artists, how do which performs music created with artifi- topping acts. you make sure to drum up fan interest in cial intelligence algorithms. Martini and Le 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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run Factory New to develop virtual acts and with Katy Perry and produced music on an in-house music team of 20, as well as “sign” ones created by other developers. for under the name Yung vocals from artists like Kim Petras, Becky “We’re taking cues from a company like Skeeter. “If you’re 11 or 12, some of your first G and real-life K-pop (G)-IDLE. Marvel as opposed to a record label,” says friends are probably Roblox or Minecraft “There’s no shortcut, because it’s very easy Martini. “There’s a way to enable a much lon- players” from virtual interactions. “And for it to feel like a stunt,” says Riot Music ger career if you build a franchise, and we’re the relationship between Miquela and a Group head Toa Dunn. going to start creating a universe of music fan [versus] between and a fan — Working for an avatar can have its ad- characters.” Like Marvel’s heroes, these art- interfacing via these mobile devices — feels vantages. Simon says that without an actual ists won’t age — or even ask for a raise. pretty similar.” artist earning a royalty on recorded music, Virtual artists aren’t new: Animated Just like human artists, virtual ones Spirit Bomb can offer music producers band , created by musician Damon need a narrative for fans to follow, whether “considerably more favorable deals.” And Albarn and visual artist Jamie Hewlett, have that’s relatable or futuristic. Lil Miquela’s virtual artists are ideally positioned to take sold the equivalent of over 24 million al- Instagram posts are a mix of Generation Z advantage of new digital revenue streams bums worldwide (according to its label, Par- “It” girl aesthetics (think Telfar bags and like non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and digital lophone) and won a Grammy Award for hit bucket hats) and political advocacy (like a goods for video-game players. In March, “Feel Good Inc.”; Hatsune Miku, a Japanese post about defunding the police); FN Meka FN Meka sold an NFT animation of a “su- pop star character who sells out arenas in is basically a cyborg video-game charac- per toilet” for $6,400, and Spirit Bomb’s her home country, was slated to perform as ter who goes bowling and uses inhuman first “character card” NFT, featuring the a hologram at last year’s Coachella. Now the speed to whip up meals in TikTok videos; virtual artist XEN, sold for $4,000 in April. music business is emerging from a pandemic the futuristic, alien-like artists on Spirit For a few dollars each, League of Legends that shut down touring, at a time when Bomb’s roster have been sent back in time sells “skins” that let players appear in the virtual reality and AI technology are making to save the world. game like members of K/DA. That money significant strides, and investment is flowing “What allows people to connect is seeing could add up: Gamers spent about $50 into companies like Spirit Bomb, a Warner their story and persona and wanting to fol- billion worldwide on such in-game items Music Group-backed virtual artist record low the next step on their journey,” says Ian in 2020, according to MIDiA Research — label from production studio Strangeloop Simon, co-founder of Spirit Bomb and Los more than the entire music business took in. Studios, and Authentic Artists, a startup Angeles-based Strangeloop, which has cre- There is a growing market for avatar launched in April with funding from Linkin ated tour visuals for artists including Ken- accessories even outside of video games, Park co-founder Mike Shinoda. drick Lamar and SZA, and started to work as avatars are a prerequisite for the “meta- One star to watch is Lil Miquela, a per- more seriously on virtual artists when the verse,” the futuristic concept of a shared petually 19-year-old Brazilian-American pandemic halted touring. virtual space. Industry leaders predict that it /pop star with 250,000 monthly The music matters, too, of course. While will eventually become common for people listeners on and endorsement deals songs for acts like FN Meka are created to use avatars as a form of self-expression with Calvin Klein and Prada. She was cre- with AI, other virtual artists rely on human similar to social media profiles. ated by the studio Brud, which specializes collaborators. Lil Miquela’s vocals blend real “It’s a necessity to be able to present myself in virtual social media personalities and has singers’ voices with computer-generated virtually,” says chief raised $6.1 million, according to Crunch- sounds, and McFedries calls on talents like digital officer and executive vp, business de- base. (Lil Miquela brings in over $10 million producer Jasper Harris, songwriter Sarah velopment Oana Ruxandra, who has led the a year, according to the U.K. online market- Aarons and singer Teyana Taylor to create company’s investments in Spirit Bomb and place OnBuy.) When co-founder Trevor her music. Simon tapped songwriter-pro- avatar technology companies Wave and Ge- McFedries launched Lil Miquela’s Insta- ducer Mr. Carmack, dance musician Sweater nies. “This has been a space where people gram profile in 2016, where she now has 3 Beats and others to create Spirit Bomb’s first have just had a picture or an email address or million followers (with the same number on compilation EP in May, Spirit Bomb 001, of- a handle, and [avatars are] just another way TikTok), he says his peers “couldn’t wrap fering an outlet for musicians to test out new for people to express themselves.” their heads around” the idea of a virtual ce- sounds or release music without the mental Next steps include interactive experi- lebrity. But he figured that today’s teenagers toll of fame. “Part of the genesis was having ences that could let fans influence virtual consume so much pop culture online that it [artists] be like, ‘I’m sitting on multiple hard artists’ music and stories. Authentic Art- no longer matters much whether the people drives of music that are never going to come ists, a seed-stage startup launched in April they follow even exist offline. out under my main project, and I would love by Chris McGarry, a former music strate- “It became really apparent that young to get it out into the world,’” he says. League gist at Facebook’s Oculus, lets fans influence people didn’t differentiate between Miquela of Legends game publisher Riot Games’ vir- how such artists perform during virtual and other celebrities they followed,” tual K-pop girl group, K/DA — which has 2.8 shows on Twitch — which already have av- says McFedries, who has toured as a DJ million monthly listeners on Spotify — relies erage watch times of over 30 minutes. And WE’RE BACK, LIVE IN MIAMI

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Brud’s McFedries will soon let fans essen- GM of eOne Nashville, where she oversees tially vote on what actions virtual characters eOne’s Gina the label’s gospel and R&B output, among like Lil Miquela take. “You can imagine a other responsibilities. world where [virtual] artists going to the Miller Is Teaching Miller is also a co-founder and vp of Grammys or not is a vote that fans can take,” the board of directors of Nashville Music he says, referring to The Weeknd’s decision Nashville How to Equality, which champions diversity, inclu- not to attend this year. “If the fans are like, sion, equity and opportunities for minorities ‘No, we’re going to stand in solidarity with Improve Its C+ and underrepresented groups in the music The Weeknd,’ then the artist doesn’t go.” business. The group, founded in response to Ultimately, the virtual realm will give fans Grade In Equality the murder of George Floyd and the forma- a far bigger say in artist development — even tion of #TheShowMustBePaused, marked if that means scrapping a concept and start- BY FRANK DIGIACOMO its one-year anniversary in May. Asked what ing fresh. “If the audience doesn’t ultimately grade she’d give the Nashville music indus- end up caring about a particular virtual hen Gina Miller was grow- try in effecting change, Miller is blunt about artist, we can birth a new artist and run that ing up in South Memphis, the challenges ahead: “I’m going to give us a out into the world,” McGarry says. “We’re one of her school bus C+ right now. There’s still a lot of work that here in service to the audience.” stops was in front of the needs to be done. Changing mindsets is very What does this mean for real-world art- abandonedW Stax Records studio on East hard. It’s uncomfortable, it’s dirty, and it is ists? There’s a fear that the virtual could McLemore Avenue. “It was graffiti-laden not glamorous work.” replace the actual, as well as skepticism that and looked like nothing else would ever be How has your business changed since music created by AI can ever live up to the born from it,” she says. The label had Hasbro sold eOne Music to Blackstone? real thing, like when an algorithm “trained” been forced into bankruptcy in 1975 after a It hasn’t. I’ve been through six acquisi- on Nirvana’s music created a song in the local bank foreclosed on the loans keeping tions in 17 years. My job is to keep every- band’s style. Then again, how different is it alive — a move that one of its co-owners, thing moving forward, and that’s what we’re the idea of executives creating a virtual star Al Bell, in the 2014 documentary Take Me to doing. SESAC is one of the companies that from the advice and creative direction given the River, attributed to Memphis’ white es- are part of our new family; so are CCLI by the managers, label heads, A&R execu- tablishment and its determination to destroy [Christian Copyright Licensing Internation- tives and various consultants who help real- successful Black-owned businesses. al] and Harry Fox [Agency]. I’ve met with life artists? “All of the things I saw and experienced SESAC president Kelly Turner and other “I was talking to someone and they were there helped shape me,” says Miller, who Blackstone team members, and we’ve had saying, ‘You’re making virtual artists. What moved to Nashville in 1995, and, while candid conversations about the future. I can does that do to human artists?’” recalls rising through the ranks of Entertainment tell you that when I conveyed my plans to McGarry. “My response was, “Why should One’s outpost there, has become a vocal ad- them, they said, “Go, girl, go.” Scooter Braun be the only person who’s al- vocate for equality, diversity and inclusion Is SESAC going to represent your art- lowed to manufacture artists?’” in Music City. ists who write their own material? A version of this story originally appeared Miller’s first break in the industry came It won’t be a mandate. But I am excited about in the June 26, 2021 issue of Billboard. through sheer determination. After meet- new opportunities we can create in partner- ing Light Records president/CEO Michael ship for our artists who have not yet decided Olsen at one of her two sons’ football games upon a PRO or want to make a change. — “he was the only one driving a luxury What eOne artists are you excited car” — she took an unpaid internship at the about? gospel label for over a year. “I did whatever I can’t say enough about our veteran I needed to do to learn,” she says, “and to of- artists — Jonathan McReynolds, Todd fer the wisdom I had” from earning a music Dulaney, James Fortune, Syleena degree, a license to teach music and her Johnson and Q Parker, to name a few — deep knowledge of the Light catalog, which and I am stoked about being able to give included The Winans, The Hawkins Fam- young, talented, independent artists a shot. ily and Andraé Crouch. “It was the music Three to watch are Jabari Johnson, Randy I had grown up with,” says Miller, who was Weston and Shana Wilson Williams, who hired in 2004 as the label’s radio and retail will be releasing albums in the fourth quar- promotions coordinator. ter or 2022. In 2009, eOne acquired Light Music, and What’s the political climate in Nash- in 2019 Miller was promoted to senior vp/ ville? Page 12 of 24

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Historically, we have been a conservative including the Recording Academy, where sustainable. It’s too soon to tell what’s now Republican town. I’ve lived in and all over I am an ambassador. Management compa- right, or what’s still wrong. Not enough time Tennessee my entire life, and what’s hap- nies, agencies, the leaders of a lot of country nor action has passed. Only time will tell. pening to the political landscape right now labels have come to our monthly events, and A recent profile of Mickey Guyton is serious. Gov. Bill Lee signed a measure a lot of them have called us to have private in The New Yorker quoted a professor into law banning the teaching of critical race counsel. They want us to figure out what from Simon Fraser University who said theory. Public schools can no longer teach they’re doing wrong, because they do want narrates the “ongoing certain concepts of race and racism or they to do something different. But we are also siege of simple innocent white folks” and risk losing state funding. History is history. dealing with a lot of people who would is a “f— you to anyone who celebrates Whether or not you agree with it, it should rather have conversations about diversity the forces behind the siege.” What’s your be known, shared, examined — taught. and inclusion instead of coming up with a response to that? How did you become politically active? real plan. I’ll have an agency ask, “What can A lot of times when people hear the words When you grow up in Memphis, you have we do?” And when I get on a Zoom call to “country music,” the next word they hear in no choice. I grew up not far from where work with them, I see 20 people who do not their heads is “supremacy.” But here’s the Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, look like me. I’m like, “Well, before we jump thing: The experiences sung about in coun- and one of the things that people say about in, let’s deal with your staff.” try are our experiences as well. Country Memphis is that you feel, even today, a Have you had any personal encounters music talks about family, faith, beer, liquor, heaviness looming over the city. About three with racism in the music industry that heartbreak. These are American stories. years ago, I went to Memphis with Lalah fuel your activism? This is not exclusive to one group of people. Hathaway for a show at the Orpheum I’ve looked back at encounters I’ve had My son loves country music. He wears cow- Theater. I told my mom, who’s 87, and she and thought, “Have I been a victim of racism boy boots. He drives a pickup truck. So, it’s said, “When you get there, take a look at the or the unequitable circumstances of being a not the music or the lyrics. It’s the heart and fire escape, because that’s how we would get woman?” In terms of my own career disap- the mindset behind the people who think into the theater if we wanted to see some- pointments, I would say both. But if I had to that what has been created is only for them. thing.” Moments like that are profound for pick one, I would say women in general have And you can’t talk about country music, me and connect the dots to why my mom a hard time moving forward in the music R&B, jazz or any genre of music without signed me up to be active with the NAACP business, getting proper salaries and high- talking about how Black people are the as a kid, and why I still am today. level opportunities. Ethiopia [Habtemari- foundation of these genres. The banjo was How has that translated into what you am] just got promoted to chairman/CEO of created by a Black person. are doing with Nashville Music Equality Motown this year, which is definitely worth and other organizations? celebrating. But we’re seeing more women, With Nashville Music Equality, it’s impor- and more Black women, rising to leader- Global Dance tant to me that we don’t lose sight of the ra- ship roles in other sectors than we are in the cial injustices that happen day to day. Some- music industry. There are so many Black fe- Music Industry’s times, if it doesn’t look like Charlottesville male mayors now; in Texas, 17 Black female [Va.], people don’t relate to it as an issue. But judges were elected in Harris County. And Value Slides to we see microaggression and systemic racism the Vice President is a no-brainer. every day at our companies, our churches, What’s your take on Morgan Wallen’s 10-Year Low: our communities and even our families. record deal being suspended by Big Loud So I remind people that in addition to the and Republic? 2021 IMS big issues, we have to talk about things like I don’t know what was involved in the what happened to my friend when she got suspension, but that was the right starting Business Report her COVID-19 vaccine. The nurse squeezed place for the label. Let’s take Morgan Wal- her arm and said, “Oh, I thought your skin len out of it. This situation was a catalyst for BY KATIE BAIN would have been tougher than that.” When a lot of conversations. The real question is: people tell me that racism doesn’t exist any- Has it changed things for the better — at this ach year, the IMS Business Report more, I’m like, “Well, racism may be dead, format, in the music industry, in this city, offers insights on the key financial, but the racists are not.” in this state and in the world — for the long musical and cultural trends from Nashville’s music industry is largely haul? Eradicating racism and responding to the global dance music indus- white and male. How much resistance what have been largely systemic prejudices Etry. After an unprecedented freefall year does NME encounter? and biases requires transformational work. for dance music and the live music industry Right now, I am leading diversity and in- Transformation doesn’t happen overnight. at large, professionals and fans throughout clusion initiatives in a lot of different spaces, It has been said that what is measurable is the dance music space are keenly watching Page 13 of 24

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to see exactly how the pandemic delivered every country surveyed, hip-hop’s growth in the pandemic closed clubs and festivals and blows to core sectors while creating growth U.S. and U.K. appears to have flatlined and forced most artists off the road for more in other areas. its share in Germany declined for the first than a year. That said, many artists were Today (June 28) we receive this statisti- time in recent years. able to turn a profit via earnings made via cal analysis via the presentation of the IMS “Preparing for our next moment in the livestreaming platforms like Twitch. Business Report. Happening virtually for spotlight, there are lessons we should learn 6. Beatport, and vinyl, both experi- the second year in a row, this presenta- from Hip-Hop’s rise,” Boyle writes in the enced a boost. tion begins online at 9 a.m. PT / 12 p.m. ET report. “In a world of abundance, audiences The digital electronic music store and will be live streamed via both Beat- gravitate to artists who are celebrities — and saw 33% growth this year, despite the port’s Twitch, Facebook, and YouTube and Hip-Hop’s artists have it all. From fashion broader downloads market declining by the Billboard Dance Facebook page. For the and language to character and stories. Hip- 16%. For the fifth year in a row, was first time, the report (which can be down- Hop artists are intertwined with aspira- the most popular genre on Beatport, with loaded here) has been prepared by data tional parts of culture, adding scale but also house rising to second, coming analyst David Boyle, who joined the IMS cachet. With Daft Punk recently announcing it at third, drum & bass coming in at fourth team in 2021 and prepared the report based their retirement, we have to ask ourselves: and melodic house at fifth. The Dance/Elec- on more than more than 35 data sets and 22 how can we help more fully rounded artists tro Pop genre, which debuted on Beat- interviews with industry leaders. to emerge from our scene…while helping port in September of 2020, entered the top During the presentation Boyle will offer artists that want to stay true to the under- ten at No. 8. the primary takeaways from a year that saw ground find success without having to be Meanwhile, vinyl sales were up 24% in massive revenue decreases in clubs, festivals pop stars?” 2020. (Comparatively, this market saw only and artists earnings, but encouraging areas 3. Dance music has a stable and sizable a 4% rise in 2019.) of growth in other emerging sectors like share of the U.S. market. 7. Electronic artists pioneered NFTs NFTs and livestreams. In 2020, dance music accounted for 3.2% for digital collectibles. Here, ahead of the presentation, are 10 share of total recorded music, which Boyle 76% of all music NFT issues, worth $50.2 key takeaways from the 2021 Report. calls “a significant achievement without million, were issued by electronic artists. 1. The pandemic set back the dance music the festivals and clubs that would usually “After experiments with NFTs up to and industry to a size — and value — last seen amplify hits and build audiences.” This including 2020, electronic artists finally more than a decade ago. year’s percentage dropped from 3.6% in catapulted them to the forefront of the The 2021 report gives the global dance 2019 and an all-time 2016 high of 4% dur- music industry’s attention in early 2021,” music industry a valuation of $3.4 billion, ing the mid-2010s. the report states. “For all the fuss that’s been a number culled largely from the sales of “Dance’s decline in relevance is con- made over NFTs, we are only in the earliest software and hardware (which were up firmed by analysis of representation on the of early days of seeing their potential.” 23% this year as a result of the pivot to top Spotify charts,” Boyle writes. “Fewer 8. Electronic music achieved major audi- livestreaming, giving a total of $1.1 bil- electronic artists make the chart in every ence engagement on social media in 2020 — lion), along with music sales and streaming country we studied.” but not as much as artists of other genres. (valued at $1 billion), artist earnings ($0.3 4. Festivals and clubs lost 78% of their A survey of how the top 100 Spotify Elec- billion) and clubs and festivals (which ac- value due to the pandemic. tronic Music performed across social media counted for $1 billion, a number based on Q1 This decrease represents$3.4 billion found that Instagram followers increased by being largely normal and China being open in lost value. That said, Boyle and other 10% during 2020, the number of “love” reac- for more than a quarter.) industry experts believe this loss is tempo- tions on Facebook increased by 36%, Face- The IMS Report valuation has not been rary, as data shows that demand for events book reactions increased 43%, Impressions so low for more than a decade and is a sharp is booming. The value of festival tickets on Facebook increased by 26%. Facebook decline from the 2020 valuation of $7.3 bil- sold is up 123% when comparing March comments increased by 32%, Facebook lion and the all-time high valuation of $7.4 through May of 2021 to March through May likes increased by 50% and Overall actions billion in 2016. of 2019. The value of festival tickets sold in on Facebook increased by 41%. Over on 2. The growth of hip-hop, which sup- March, 2021 was more than was solid in all YouTube, dance music artists saw a 76% in- planted dance music in popularity over of 2020. The value of festival tickets sold crease in views and a 319% increase in com- the last few years, seems to be plateauing. was up 3,999% in March 2021 compared to ments, even though the number of videos Boyle predicts that this plateau could the same period last year. posted only increased about 3%. create an opportunity for dance music to 5. The value of DJ and artist earnings All that said, electronic music generally once again take centerstage, as it did during was down $743 million, or 68%, compared did not do as well as other genres in terms of its EDM boom moment in the sun during to 2019. engagement. Across eight genres — pop, hip- 2013-2017. After five years of rapid growth in This statistic is unsurprising given that hop, K-pop, Latin & Caribbean, R&B, Rock Page 14 of 24

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and Country — dance music ranked sixth ing about copyright — and then they take in overall actions across YouTube, Twitter, Roblox and Twitch virtually no action to prevent repeat infringe- Instagram and Facebook. ment or alert users to the risks they are tak- 9. In terms of inclusion and representa- Are Gaming the ing. The fact that mostly children, who would tion, the dance scene is still lagging. have no idea whether Roblox has covered its While Black Lives Matter created hope System Against legal bases, are the ones who are being taken that the famously white and male-oriented advantage of is particularly egregious. dance music scene would become more Songwriters When confronted with the need to license inclusive of artists of color — with many in order to protect itself and its users, Rob- promoters and companies issuing promises (Guest Op-Ed) lox thus far has been defiant. Not only have that they’d book and hire more people of they refused to pay for the songs they know color — there is no evidence that this is yet BY DAVID ISRAELITE are on the platform, they are trying to hide happening. Using DJ Mag’s Top 100 DJ’s list behind a misinterpretation of the DMCA to as a basis of comparison, Boyle found that usic is integral to the online avoid liability. this list featured 12 people of color in 2020. gaming experience, particu- In reality, Roblox has flouted the bare (This was up from 8 in 2019, and eight and larly as it has become a major minimum requirements for safe harbor pro- six in 2018 and 2017, respectively.) vehicle for virtual concerts, tection and hidden behind standards that “However,” Boyle writes, “that follows Malbum launches, and much more than are simple to avoid. As Billboard recently 10 in 2017 and nine in 2016 and 2015, so the traditional video games. However some of reported, the “platform uses upload filters, recent growth follows a decline and is not a the largest companies — specifically Roblox although they seem easy to bypass.” Simply strong upward trajectory.” DJs of color have and Twitch — have yet to recognize that announcing Community Rules is not suffi- highest share of search in the UK and the they must compensate the people who cre- cient when there are hundreds of thousands lowest in the Asian and Latin American ate the soundtracks that are central to their of songs being utilized every day without countries. platforms. Failing to do so continues to leave compensating copyright holders and those In terms of gender, 13 female artists were users, who themselves often are creators, in loose guidelines do not amount to a legal on the DJ Mag list in this year. While this the lurch, and has led to aggressive mea- bulwark against infringement. number represents growth, the demand for sures on NMPA’s behalf to ensure songwrit- The size of the infringement is enormous female artists remains low, with female DJs ers are paid. considering Roblox has over 40 million active accounting for just 4% of demand (as mea- The size of the gaming economy is stag- daily users. In its defense, the company has sured by Google Search volume) generated gering. Video games are valued at more claimed to have ”partnered with major labels by the top 100. than movies and North American sports and publishers to host successful music 10. Livestreams created a lifeline for combined. Unfortunately, songwriters have events, attended by millions of fans.” How- many artists and dance brands, with long suffered from selective licensing when ever this in and of itself is an admission that these entities only needed a small, but it comes to new entrants to entertainment they have not even come close to licensing engaged, group of followers in order to and some gaming platforms are displaying across the publishing industry for the myriad experience online success. an astounding amount of arrogance when ways Roblox utilizes music for profit. The report cites the benchmarks of “en- it comes to paying for what makes them so To simply say that Roblox provides expo- rolling, engaging and exciting” audiences popular and profitable. sure — instead of compensation — is not suf- in order to achieve success via livestream- Bolstered by massive growth during the ficient and is in fact insulting to songwriters, ing, which is expected to remain a revenue pandemic, Roblox is now valued at over who unlike artists, often cannot turn that driver if artists can continually find ways $45 billion. That valuation is largely due to exposure into touring, endorsements and to engage these core audiences. In the last its lucrative business model. Roblox allows other lucrative income streams that per- year, dance entities Beatport, Anjuna, Steve users to build their own video games and in- formers may have. And while the industry Aoki, ASOT, Abracadabra, RayRay, Porter corporate music from a library it maintains would welcome partnerships with Roblox Robinson, Gabriel & Dresden, Soundcloud, of hundreds of thousands of songs, includ- to enhance opportunities for music creators, Defected Records, David Morales and DJ ing copyrighted commercial music repre- the first step is paying them. Mag have together aggregated 1,195,484 new sented by major and independent publish- Roblox recently signaled that it knows it followers on Twitch. ers, which Roblox has refused to license. must do better. On June 22, it announced it The company has made hundreds of had inked a licensing deal with BMG “cover- millions of dollars on the backs of creators, ing recorded music and publishing.” While including by requiring users to pay every the partnership is vague, it is clear that the time they upload music — taking advantage company knows it actually needs licenses of largely young people’s lack of understand- to use, distribute and make money off of the Page 15 of 24

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music on its platform. media companies come to the conclusion members. The class of 2021 does not include This is why NMPA, together with major that they must pay music creators as deals student or Grammy U members due to their and independent publishers and a prominent with Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and more own rolling basis application process. The writer and artist, filed a complaint on June 9 have vastly improved the safety and sustain- annual membership fee of $100 has been seeking $200 million in damages for Roblox’s ability of their platforms, and we have seen waived for the second year in a row due to blatant copyright infringement of hundreds, similar moves with leaders in the fitness the financial impact of COVID-19. if not ultimately thousands of works. industry like Peloton. According to Ruby Marchand, chief We know that Roblox is only the tip of the All of these income streams are essential industry officer, “The academy is extending iceberg. This lawsuit sends a strong message to songwriters whose music is a huge driver a very warm welcome to all members of the to other gaming platforms that knowingly of growth for these companies. Roblox and creative community of all genres. We’ve been infringe on creators’ rights that they cannot Twitch must stop gaming the system. Their really trying through Kelley [Purcell] and her continue to do so without ultimately facing users, music creators and the future of their team to get the word out through the new the music. businesses depend on it. community in a really grassroots effort.” Unfortunately, Roblox is not alone. “The David Israelite is the President & CEO of To further target underrepresented com- world’s leading live streaming platform,” the National Music Publishers’ Association munities — chiefly, women and people of col- Twitch, has also built an empire without (NMPA). NMPA is the trade association or — the academy put in place a peer-review properly licensing music. The company, representing American music publishers panel to evaluate prospective new members. which is owned by , even hosts an and their songwriting partners. “We changed our membership process to be entire music section featuring a virtually annual and peer-reviewed in 2018,” adds Pur- endless library of performances and enter- cell. She notes that “it’s a year-round, ongoing tainment. Recording process that we’re committed to. We work To force Twitch to remedy this situation, very closely with our 12 chapters to set goals NMPA recently has sent takedown notices Academy Invites for cultivating potential new and diverse for unlicensed works. The service has members. What’s great about our process is claimed to be disappointed that publishers 2,710 Prospective how it’s community-driven. Our members as “decided to send takedowns when we were well as members of the music industry are willing and ready to speak to them about so- New Members encouraged to submit recommendations.” lutions.” In reality, Twitch has had months, Guided by recently restructured if not years, to come up with solutions and BY MIA NAZARENO leadership under CEO Harvey Mason they couldn’t have been surprised since the Jr. along with newly named co-presi- company’s licensing issues have been high n Monday (June 28), the Re- dents Valeisha Butterfield Jones and Pa- profile for over a year. cording Academy announced nos A. Panay, the organization is looking Twitch’s infringement has a vast footprint that invitations were extended to build on the transformative change of due to its approximately 9.36 million active to 2,710 potential new members the last couple of years. “We want to make streamers. Considering its parent company, Oin a continuing effort to diversify the organi- sure that with each new class, we’re adding it could easily license and pay for the music zation’s membership. to that balance of diversity that we’re try- found in the millions of videos its hosts. In- This year’s class marks an increase from ing to cultivate,” says Purcell. stead, Twitch, much like Roblox, is attempt- last year’s class of about 2,300 invitees to One such change was this year’s establish- ing to hide behind the DMCA, depriving help ensure that the academy’s “member- ment of the academy’s Songwriter & Com- songwriters of income they deserve and ship is diverse and representative of the poser Wing. “It’s quite momentous for us maintaining a platform ripe with infringe- entire music community,” Kelley Purcell, to create a new wing,” says Marchand. “We ment and risk to its users. vice president of membership and industry are welcoming songwriters and composers, As long as Twitch refuses to fully license, relations, tells Billboard. who perhaps have not considered applying it leaves publishers and songwriters no For the class of 2021, prospective new for membership. Rather than looking at it choice but to request that the unauthorized members are 48% women, 32% Black, strictly from a genre perspective, we’re look- music be removed. Unfortunately, Twitch 13% Hispanic, 35% white, and 4% Asian ing at it from a music creator perspective appears to be content to risk losing music or Pacific Islander. In terms of age, 56% of and certainly hoping that the establishment which Amazon refuses to pay for. invitees are under 40. (See a full breakdown of this wing will encourage more songwrit- Ultimately Roblox, Twitch and the larger of the new invites in the infographic at the ers and composers to join.” gaming industry must acknowledge their bottom of this article.) Beyond diversifying membership, Purcell reliance on music and start asking for per- Approximately 75% of invites were sent hopes that “the addition of more diversified mission instead of forgiveness from song- to prospective voting members and 25% revenue [streams] will enable us to do more writers. In recent years we have seen social to prospective professional (non-voting) things that people know us for — supporting Page 16 of 24

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our members in need, supporting music edu- territories around the world, as compiled by ago (this week placing at No. 22). The latter cation, supporting the Grammy Museum and MRC Data. The Billboard Global 200 is in- song won the 2021 Eurovision Song Contest advocacy. This is what our members value.” clusive of worldwide data and the Billboard for Måneskin, making the Roman foursome One of this year’s invitees is Chloe Flow- Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from the competition’s first champion from Italy er, pianist/composer/producer and Cardi territories excluding the U.S. since 1990. B collaborator, who was also included Chart rankings are based on a weighted The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard on Billboard’s panel on Asian Americans in formula incorporating official-only streams Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated July 3) will the music industry last May. on both subscription and ad-supported update on Billboard.com tomorrow (June “Being a new member of the Recording tiers of audio and video music services, as 29). For both charts, the top 100 titles are Academy is so important to me because well as download sales, the latter of which available to all readers on Billboard.com, representation matters,” she told Billboard. reflect purchases from full-service digital while the complete 200-title rankings are “As an Asian American woman serving as a music retailers from around the world, with visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s sub- pianist, composer and producer, I hope to sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites scription-based service. For all chart news, honor my role not only by bringing diversity excluded from the charts’ calculations. you can follow @billboard and @billboard- through gender and race, but also through ‘Good’ Still Best charts on both Twitter and Instagram. genre, bringing much needed attention to Olivia Rodrigo’s “” claims a music education and representing the classi- fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global cal and instrumental space.” 200, as the leader by the southern Califor- Olivia Rodrigo The new class is expected to accept invi- nia native drew 89.6 million streams (down tations by Sept. 15 in order to be able to vote 10%) and sold 14,900 (down 3%) worldwide Bags Another in this year’s awards process. in the June 18-24 tracking week. BTS’ “Butter” keeps at No. 2 after two Chart Double weeks atop the Global 200; The Weeknd Olivia Rodrigo and ’s “Save Your Tears” stays In U.K. at No. 3, following its one-week reign; Dua & BTS Continue Lipa’s “Levitating,” featuring DaBaby, lifts BY LARS BRANDLE 6-4, after reaching No. 2; and Doja Cat’s Atop Global “Kiss Me More,” featuring SZA, pushes 7-5, livia Rodrigo continues to after hitting No. 3. dominate in the U.K., where she Charts, Maneskin ‘Butter’ Stays Hot reclaims the chart double. “Butter” by ’s BTS logs a fifth The U.S. teen phenom’s debut Scores Third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global Excl. Oalbum Sour (Geffen) returns to No. 1 on the U.S. chart, with 89.9 million streams (up 16%) Official U.K. Albums Chart for a third week, Top 10 and 16,900 sold (up 7%) in territories outside while “Good 4 U” enters a fifth week atop the U.S. in the June 18-24 tracking week. the Official U.K. Singles Chart. BY GARY TRUST Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” posts a fifth The hit single and its parent album are week at its No. 2 high on the Global Excl. powered by streams. livia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” U.S. chart; Rauw Alejandro’s “Todo de Ti” According to the , tallies a fourth week at No. holds at its No. 3 best; The Weeknd and Ari- “Good 4 U” clocks up 73,000 chart sales, 1 on the Billboard Global ana Grande’s “Save Your Tears” is steady at including 8.8 million streams, to extend its 200 and BTS’ “Butter” adds a No. 4, after reaching No. 2; and Bad Bunny’s streak. It’s now the longest-ruling rock- Ofifth frame atop the Billboard Global Excl. “Yonaguni” is stationary at No. 5, two weeks influenced No. 1 on the national survey in a U.S. chart. after it bowed at No. 4. quarter century, since Babylon Zoo’s “Space- Plus, Måneskin notches its third Global Elsewhere in the Global Excl. U.S. chart’s man” in 1996. Excl. U.S. top 10, as “Beggin’ “ soars from No. top 10, Måneskin roars to the region as Sour, meanwhile, leads the albums survey 21 to No. 7. The Italian quartet first hit the “Beggin’ “ blasts 21-7, up 69% to 40.8 mil- with 91% of its combined sales this week top 10 three weeks ago with “Zitti E Buoni,” lion streams and 101% to 4,200 sold outside generated by streaming platforms. the winning song in the 2021 Eurovision the U.S. Staying with the albums survey, last Song Contest. The group achieves its third Global Excl. week’s leader Back The Way We Came: Vol Billboard’s two global charts (the latest of U.S. top 10, and best rank yet, after “I Wanna 1 by Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds which are dated July 3) began last Septem- Be Your Slave” reached No. 10 a week earlier (Sour Mash) trades places with Sour, dip- ber and rank songs based on streaming and (and this week bullets at No. 11) and “Zitti ping 1-2, with 79% of its total coming from sales activity culled from more than 200 E Buoni” also rose to No. 10, three weeks physical sales. Page 17 of 24

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Australian veterans Nick view article exploring the history of payola, Cave and fly the up the chart Spotify’s in the 1950s and 1960s, these “harms” were with Carnage (Goliath), which blasts to No. often used as a cover for run-of-the-mill rac- 3 following its release on physical for- ‘Discovery Mode’ ism. The growth in popularity of rock-and- mats. Carnage, the longtime Bad Seeds and roll—or “race music” as it was called at the Grinderman bandmates’ first full-length stu- Is Payola, Just time — unsettled and upset the established, dio album as a duo, is the best-seller on vinyl white songwriters and recording artists of across the chart week, having dropped on Not the Bad Kind the era. Pay-for-play was one way for tradi- digital formats back in February. It’s Cave’s tionally marginalized artists to get a foot in seventh Top 10 appearance in the U.K. (Guest Op-Ed) the door of an industry that was otherwise Meanwhile, BRITs Rising Star winner closed to them. Griff bows at No. 4 with her debut mix- BY CHRISTOPHER BUCCAFUSCO & Today, superstar artists on major record tape One Foot In Front Of The Other (Warner KRISTELIA GARCIA labels have both the resources and the con- Records), the week’s most-downloaded set. nections to get their songs on coveted playl- Elsewhere in the top tier, veteran Brit or decades, musicians have paid ra- ists without having to resort to “Discovery Award-nominated singer-songwriter and dio DJs — in cash, drugs, and copy- Mode.” Independent artists without major guitarist Joan Armatrading snags her first rights – to play their songs, hoping record deals or sufficient resources may not. U.K. Top 10 album for 30 years with Conse- that the increased exposure would For them, “reverse payola” serves as a means quences (BMG). It’s new at No. 10, for her Flead to greater . And since the of access to crucial distribution outlets. Why 16th Top 40 title. 1960s, this practice, known as payola, has target regulation at an innovation that could Over on the singles survey, KSI has the been regulated by the federal government. increase the diversity of musical offerings? strongest debut of the week with the sum- Now, Spotify has devised a new way for mu- Consider an analogy: An exclusive mery “Holiday” (BMG), new at No. 2. That sicians to access coveted and lucrative spots private high school uses a secret admis- effort equals the English YouTuber and on its playlists. Artists can accept less money sions formula to determine which students rapper’s chart best with his “Don’t Play” in royalties from the platform. get to attend. Lo and behold, those spots collaboration with Anne-Marie and Digital Spotify calls it “Discovery Mode.” We call consistently go to the children of the rich Farm Animals. it reverse payola. and well-connected. Now imagine that the Italian rockers Eurovision Song Con- On June 2, Representatives Jerrold school adopts a lottery for 20% of the spots test champs Maneskin continue on their Nadler and Hank Johnson sent a letter to in the class. Lottery tickets are relatively winning ways as “I Wanna Be Your Spotify’s CEO Daniel Ek expressing concern inexpensive, and people can buy as many Slave”(Columbia) lifts 7-6 and their cover that the program could lead to a “race to as they want. Of course, some rich parents of The Four Seasons’ “Beggin’” vaults 73-10 the bottom,” as musicians and their labels will still buy a lot of lottery tickets. (Hi, Lori after going viral on TikTok. accept less and less money for access to Laughlin!) Others may eschew the whole audiences. This seems bad. But, it’s impor- process either because they’re confident tant to ask whether Discovery Mode is really their children will be admitted anyway or worse for musicians and consumers than a because they find the lottery vulgar. The world in which it doesn’t exist. We think the lottery system is far from perfect, but in answer is probably “no.” the end, some disadvantaged kids will end Anyone with an internet connection can up with lottery tickets that hit, and the post their music to YouTube or Spotify. The resulting class will be more diverse than one challenge now is getting people to listen to it. without the lottery. To reach audiences, aspiring musicians can Streaming payola operates in much the hook up with TikTok influencers who will same way. Instead of a closed and secret sys- dance to their songs for money. Or they can tem where the major record labels control pay the thousands of independent playlisters access to audiences, it introduces a lottery on Spotify to add their tunes to popular playl- for low-priced tickets to success. ists. An entire subindustry of social media It’s important to note that payola is not music promotion has sprung up specifically and never has been illegal. Rather, payola to assist musicians with these endeavors. regulation merely requires disclosure of Historically, the justifications for regulat- payola by the party who accepts it. Disclo- ing payola were (i) that it harmed consum- sure is effective in minimizing payola be- ers, and (ii) that it harmed competition. But cause artists don’t want to be seen as having as we describe in a forthcoming law re- paid for their popularity instead of earning Page 18 of 24

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it on merit (a romantic, if laughable, con- companies should treat and compensate the music, 28% of music streamers use the free cept). Regulating Spotify Discovery Mode artists they represent fairly. version of a service rather than subscribe to like this—effectively putting a “paid promo- Downtown Music Holdings, a conglomer- its paid tier. People certainly listen to music tion” sticker on tracks by artists who opt to ate of independent music companies that in high numbers: nine out of 10 respon- use it—makes it less appealing, potentially ranges from music publishing to digital dents said they are frequent music listen- closing off one of the only low-cost access distribution, commissioned the survey ers (surveys typically find that over 90% of points available to independent artists. to shed light on the consumers’ opinions Americans listen to the radio every week) To be clear, we don’t think this is neces- about changes in the global music business, and 54% of people listen to music multiple sarily the best of all possible worlds for CEO Justin Kalifowitz said in a statement. times per day. But given that free options music distribution. While it’s amazing that “Given these shifts occurring have a direct pay artists far less than paid version, people listeners can access tens of millions of songs impact on consumers’ own enjoyment of could do more to help artists make more on Spotify or for a relatively music — from the type of music they engage from their music. For those free listeners, low monthly fee, it’s also concerning that with to when and how they access music — music streaming services such as Spotify three major record labels and a handful of we thought it made sense to gain a better and Pandora provide free listening. tech platforms control so much access to understanding of consumer sentiments There’s also a disconnect between sup- music. If Congress is worried about music and habits around music consumption and port for better compensation and under- distribution and artist equity, it should focus prominent industry trends.” standing of how royalties are paid. When its attention on the increasing market power It’s not that people generally have a dim asked how much music streaming services of platforms and labels—not on the smaller view of major record labels. The survey should pay artists as a percentage of their artists trying to get a leg up. found that 19% of people surveyed had an revenue, only 12% of respondents replied Christopher Buccafusco is director of the unfavorable view of major music companies 76% or greater, and 46% believe artists Intellectual Property & Information Law compared to 8% for independent music com- should receive 50% or less. Subscription Program at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School panies. Favorable opinions were surprisingly services typically pay artists 70% of total of Law at Yeshiva University. Kristelia Gar- close: 54% for majors versus 59% for inde- revenues, whether from subscription fees cia is associate professor of law at the Uni- pendents. Each type of company had a “no or advertising sales. The average American versity of Colorado Law School and Director opinion” response (28% for majors and 33% cannot be faulted for not understanding the of the Intellectual Property Initiative at the for independents). But the survey suggests financial breakdown of streaming revenue. Silicon Flatirons Center for Law, Technol- the public doesn’t exactly trust the majors: Instead, the survey suggests people can ogy, and Entrepreneurship. 60% of respondents believe artists should generally support fair compensation of determine what they are paid by streaming musicians without needing to know the services compared to 32% for streaming ser- complexities of recording contracts and The Public vices and 30% for major labels (respondents royalty schemes. could choose more than one option). The larger question is how to convert Supports Of course, the definition of fair compensa- public support for independent artists into tion is elusive and varied. In one context, fair more money in those artists’ pockets. Public Independent is used to describe the accuracy of payments support doesn’t affect how labels negotiate — the use of blockchain technology to track with artists. When music streaming services Artists, According royalty splits would ensure proper payments negotiate with record labels, distributors to all parties, for example. In another context, and rights groups such as Merlin, public to a New Survey. fair means equitable — an independent artist sentiment doesn’t come into play. Music should receive the same royalty rate as an streaming services could take the survey What Does artist on a larger label that negotiated a better information to heart, however. Playlists and deal with a streaming service. Another use radio stations dedicated to independent art- That Mean? of the word fair means sustainable — art- ists could find a welcoming audience. ists should receive royalty rates that provide Public sentiment might transfer into BY GLENN PEOPLES something akin to a living wage. A user-cen- government action, however, and may have tric royalty scheme — artists are paid based helped spur government intervention. From n online survey of 2,200 U.S. on how many times a specific user streams November 2020 to March 2021, the U.K. adults in June 2021 found that their music — fits this definition. Parliament held seven hearings about the 86% of respondents believe art- The report also revealed a paradox of economics of streaming services’ payments ists should control their music public support for independent artists: even to artists. Then on June 2, 2021, the head rightsA — the responses are nearly the same though seven out of 10 people want inde- of the the House Judiciary Committee sent across age groups — and 70% believe music pendent artists to make more money from a letter to Spotify CEO Daniel Ek seeking Page 19 of 24

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information about its Discovery Mode, a more than a 10% increase in total viewers and program in which artists swap promotion CMT Music dominated as the No. 1 most social program for a lower royalty rate that “set in motion across all of television , accord- a ‘race to the bottom’ in royalty payments,” Awards Set ing to Viacom CBS. Across the six Viacom- the letter stated. CBS network simulcast, P18-34 ratings saw a Congress definitely listens to record to Move to +32% increase over last year’s event. labels and music publishers’ complaints about digital services, but they should be CBS in 2022 acting on behalf on their constituents. Then New 6,000-Seat again, Downtown’s survey found just 12% of BY PAUL GREIN respondents believe the government should Hollywood determine fair royalty rates. iacomCBS announced Monday (June 28) that the CMT Music Park Venue to Awards — which has aired on CMT since 2002 — will have its Be Named globalV premiere exclusively on CBS starting in 2022. The show will broadcast live from YouTube Theater Nashville on a date to be announced. For the 2022 event, CMT will kick off BY DAVE BROOKS the company’s first-ever Country Music Week by hosting weeklong special program- he 300-acre Hollywood Park ming and events. These will be capped by development and streaming video exclusive “director’s cut” airings of the CMT giant YouTube have partnered in Music Awards later on CMT and various an extensive multi-year agreement ViacomCBS platforms. Tthat names the development’s 6,000-seat It’s not immediately clear what this news performance venue YouTube Theater. The means for the future of the Academy of partnership is YouTube’s first-ever major Country Music Awards’ relationship with naming rights deal and will serve as an CBS. The ACM Awards have aired on CBS anchor for the sprawling Hollywood Park since 1998, following previous stints on ABC mixed-use development in Inglewood, (1972-78) and NBC (1979-97). Calif., being developed by Los Angeles Rams The CMT Music Awards have aired live owner and chairman Stan Kroenke. since 2005. The 2021 show, hosted by Kelsea Construction is set to wrap for the theater Ballerini and , aired on June 9 later this summer. A yet-to-be announced and featured the most ever first-time col- opening event is slated for soon after. laborations and blended-genre pairings in “YouTube Theater will drive the unique- the show’s history. Standout performances ness of YouTube by combining physical, ‘in included H.E.R. + Chris Stapleton, Gladys real life’ events that bring creators and fans Knight, Mickey Guyton + BRELAND, and together, while simultaneously sharing ​that NEEDTOBREATHE + . same event​ experience with our two billion The show has attracted top hosts for global monthly users through livestreams much of its history. Little Big Town hosted and VOD content,” says Angela Courtin, vp the show in 2018-19. Other top-name hosts of brand marketing at YouTube. “YouTube or co-hosts include Dolly Parton (2004), creators and artists are the heart of YouTube & (2008), Toby and YouTube Theater adds to the portfolio Keith (2012) and Jason Aldean (2013). of opportunities to drive their creativity, The CMT Music Awards bills itself as build their businesses, grow their communi- country music’s only entirely fan-voted ties and so much more.” award show. Underwood is the most-award- “When he set out to build YouTube The- ed artist in CMT Awards history with 22 ater, Stan Kroenke envisioned an intimate, wins, including a remarkable nine wins in world-class venue that exemplified three the top category, video of the year. core aspects: technology, creativity, and This year, the CMT Music Awards saw entertainment. We cannot imagine a better Page 20 of 24

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partner to help us bring this vision to life back-of-house hospitality space — with rocker to many of the classic sounds in than YouTube,” said Jason Gannon, manag- adjacent dressing rooms — and a 3,500 sq.-ft. country music. “I was born in Russellville, ing director, SoFi Stadium and Hollywood private club with 140 premium seats. Arkansas, which is right off of Crow Moun- Park. “YouTube Theater will be open to the Legends Global Partnerships division tain,” Solinger told Billboard ahead of its public this summer as Los Angeles’ new sourced, negotiated and represented Hol- release. “I spent a lot of my time fishing on home for esports, community gatherings, lywood Park in securing this partnership. the Little Red River. Country music was all concerts, and all types of live entertain- people listened to in Arkansas”. ment. YouTube Theater is the next step for Prior to Solinger’s stint with the band, Hollywood Park as we develop and deliver Johnny Solinger, Skid Row hit No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with on creating a true sports and entertainment 1991’s , one of four albums destination across our 300 acres.” Ex-Singer With to impact the chart. Hollywood Park and Live Nation The group has cracked the Billboard Hot have partnered in an exclusive multi- Skid Row, 100 on four occasions, with a best of No. 4 for year booking agreement and have al- 1989’s “,” one of two Top 10 hits. ready confirmed Caifanes, Los Ange- Dies at 55 Former bandmates and the wider rock les Azules, , Black Pumas, Devo, community reached out and remembered Trippie Redd, Alejandro Sanz, Christian BY LARS BRANDLE Solinger with tributes on social media. Nodal, Marina and to “Rest in peace Johnny Solinger, the singer play shows at the theater in 2021 and 2022. ohnny Solinger, former frontman for that held the 16 year tenure as the ‘new guy’ Guests at the theater will be introduced to chart-topping metal band Skid Row, who replaced in Skid Row,” state-of-the-art technology and premium died Saturday (June 26) after a brief wrote Jeff Scott Soto of SOTO, Trans-Sibe- finishes that elevate the fan experience. battle with liver disease. He was 55. rian Orchestra and other acts. “He held his The innovative features at YouTube The- JRaised in Dallas, Texas, Solinger led head up high and owned the position until ater include a large scale digital YouTube the hard rockers from 1999 to 2015, and is he departed, condolences to his fans, friends play button icon outside the venue, which recognized as the longest serving member of and family...” can transform into an immersive digital wall the band, eclipsing Sebastian Bach who took A separate message from bandmate Dave on the interior that will be used to celebrate singing duties for nearly 10 years, until 1996. “Snake” Sabo reads, “A good man with a YouTube creators and artists by showcasing “It is with a heavy heart I must let every- good soul taken way too soon. Thank you them in a gallery-like setting. This agree- one know what’s going on with me and my Johnny for everything you gave us. God ment builds upon YouTube parent company health. I have been hospitalised for over the bless you and your family.” Google’s previously announced partnerships last month,” Solinger wrote in a Facebook with Hollywood Park that made Google post on May 8. Cloud the exclusive cloud partner of the “I have been diagnosed with liver failure. Justin Cosby, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers And prognosis is not so good. As with most and their home SoFi Stadium. Google Cloud musicians I do not have health insurance Co-Founder of is the exclusive cloud partner of YouTube and it’s very difficult to get proper care Theater as well. without it.” Australia’s Inertia YouTube will be the exclusive video ser- Solinger’s death was confirmed in a state- vices and music streaming services partner ment posted on the band’s official social Music, Dies at 50 of YouTube Theater, SoFi Stadium and Hol- pages. “We are saddened to hear the news of lywood Park and the exclusive video services our brother Johnny Solinger,” the message BY LARS BRANDLE partner and an official music streaming reads. “Our thoughts are with his family, services partner of the Rams and Chargers. friends and fans. Godspeed Singo. Say hello ustin Cosby, co-founder and director of YouTube Theater is a 227,000 sq.-ft., three- to Scrappy for us.” A&R at Inertia Music, one of Austra- story indoor venue with a 6,100 sq.-ft. stage With Skid Row, Solinger cut four albums, lia’s leading independent music com- and the farthest seat in the house only 164 including 2003’s and 2006’s Rev- panies of the past two decades, passed feet away from the stage. The venue itself is olutions Per Minute, and he released a Jaway last Friday (June 25). He was 50. blended seamlessly in at the southernmost handful of solo albums in the noughts, Cosby’s death was announced in state- corner of the same roof canopy that stretches including 2008’s Johnny Solinger. ment issued Saturday by Inertia, the Sydney- over SoFi Stadium and American Airlines In 2014, Solinger revisited his country based independent music company, which Plaza. Complete with a two-story Kayne- roots on Scrappy Smith, an album that pays described the late executive as a “loving maile chandelier, the theater will feature six tribute to his grandfather Willard Jesse partner, dedicated friend” and “inquisitive luxury boxes, a 1,200 square-foot premium “Scrappy” Smith who introduced the young music lover.” Page 21 of 24

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Cosby’s “inexhaustible, enduring love of music and the relationships he invested Launching in, personal and professional, will be his legacy,” reads the statement. ‘Yaad’ Show Will Surrender to There are no further details available as to the cause of his death. For SiriusXM’s LA Authorities on As the sad news spread, Australia’s music community turned to social media to Fly Channel: New Hampshire remember a top-notch music man with a gentle nature. Exclusive Arrest Warrant “I’m just shocked to hear of the passing of beautiful Justin Cosby,” wrote indie-pop BY GIL KAUFMAN BY TRILBY BERESFORD singer and songwriter Holiday Sidewinder. “He signed me when I was 16 and was et ready to celebrate the 4th of arilyn Manson will report to truly a pleasure to work, a special soul and July in style next week with “Mr. the Los Angeles Police Depart- emotionally intuitive. I’ll never forget him Boombastic” himself. SiriusXM ment on an active arrest war- crying at one of my shows because he was so announced on Monday (June 28) rant from a 2019 incident of moved…” She continued, “He often popped Gthat Grammy-winning reggae singer Shag- Malleged assault in Gilford, New Hampshire. into my parents house to have a cup of tea gy will launch a new weekly music show According to local news outlets includ- and give me new records to listen to. He was called “Shaggy’s Yaad” on the Fly channel on ing WMUR-9, Gilford police chief Anthony one of the good guys in a very lecherous in- Independence Day. Bean Burpee said Friday that Manson, dustry, and made me feel safe and respected According to a statement, the show will whose real name is Brian Hugh Warner, as a musician. RIP beautiful man.” “feature a wide range of contemporary, rare has reached an agreement between New Justin was “highly regarded by the Aus- and classic tracks spanning the hip-hop, Hampshire officials and Manson’s attor- tralian Independent community, and his dancehall and reggae genres, with insights ney, Howard King, to turn himself in. It is presence will be missed enormously,” reads from Shaggy about the musical history of his unclear when this will take place. a message from the Australian Independent Jamaican homeland and its global impact.” Manson, 52, was accused of assaulting Record Labels Association (AIR). In an exclusive quote to Billboard about a videographer at a concert at the Bank of Cosby and Ashley Sellers formed Inertia the venture, Shaggy says, “I am so excited to New Hampshire Pavilion in August 2019, Music in a living room back in 2000, and have the opportunity to host my own radio and is charged with two misdemeanor ac- built the company into a leading independent show on SiriusXM FLY. Shaggy’s Yaad gives counts of simple assault. If convicted, the record label and distributor, working with me the opportunity to take listeners on a singer could face a possible jail sentence and the likes of Sia, Ben Lee, Ali Barter and Neil cultural journey and showcase the musical a fine of up to $2,000. and Liam Finn in addition to internationals history of Jamaica. I can’t wait for listeners According to the report, Manson could including Björk, , M83 and Ásgeir. to join me as I play a wide range of music be arraigned on the charges in New Hamp- As time moved on, Inertia’s empire grow including beloved favorites as well as some shire’s Laconia District Court later this as it expanded its services to artists and unexpected surprises.” summer. labels across sales, marketing, publicity, The star born Orville Richard Burrell The Hollywood Reporter has reached out touring and merchandise. in Kingston, Jamaica, and known for such to Manson’s attorney for comment. Today, the Inertia Group of companies hits as “It Wasn’t Me” and “Angel,” will take In February of this year, Evan Rachel includes live music promoter Handsome listeners on a deep dive into the cultural his- Wood named Manson, whom she met when Tours, boutique booking agency Collective tory and influence of Jamaican music from she was 18 and was once briefly engaged to, Artists, publisher GaGa Music, management old school to new school, spinning tracks as her alleged abuser, calling him a “- company IE:Inertia and the annual Fair- from Barrington Levy, Rihanna, Sean Paul ous man.” grounds Festival, operating with a mission and more. In a statement posted to her Instagram to “empower artists to thrive independently, “Shaggy’s Yaad” will air weekly starting account, the actress wrote, “He started with honesty, creative thinking and passion.” July 4 at 3 p.m. ET on SiriusXM channel 47 grooming me when I was a teenager and In 2017, European indie powerhouse and on the SiriusXM app, with re-broad- horrifically abused me for years. I was brain- PIAS acquired Inertia Music, and, earlier casts on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. ET, Thursdays washed and manipulated into submission. I this year, Inertia Music was rebranded to at 5 p.m. ET, and Saturdays at midnight ET am done living in fear of retaliation, slander [PIAS] Australia. on the channel that plays a mix of hip-hop or blackmail.” Read some tributes to Cosby below. and R&B from the 1990s and 2000s. Four other women also came forward with abuse claims. At the time, Manson Page 22 of 24

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denied the allegations in a statement posted As of this writing, Alper (a.k.a. @That- in much of a personal capacity; he operates to his social media account. EricAlper) has amassed around 750,000 more like a brand,” says Adam Moussa, who An investigation was subsequently Twitter followers — more than Crosby, works as lead social media manager for launched by the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Stills, Nash, and Young combined. Alper, Eater and has a knack for analyzing Alper’s Department, while Manson was dropped by though, says the numbers aren’t the point. looping prompts. “It seems like he’s lean- his record label, Loma Vista Recordings; and He only wants to share his lifelong passion ing on automation. If you want an example by Starz’s American Gods, in which he had a for music. of that, go check how many times he’s recurring role. He was also let go from CAA, “It’s nice that people are reading [the tweeted about Dolly Parton writing ‘Jolene’ where he was represented. tweets],” he tells me over Zoom from his and ‘I Will Always Love You’ on the same This article was originally published home in Toronto. “But if I go viral with a night. That’s not one of his prompts, but it’s by The Hollywood Reporter. question I asked that has 5,000 responses, a factoid that’s constantly going viral.” or if I post something that gets four retweets Naturally, the questions Alper poses are of an indie band I just found, it’s all good to infused with this upbeat sensibility. “I nev- Eric Alper Is Just me. My wife is happy that I get to share all er go negative,” he says. “It’s never, ‘What this stuff and not bother her all the time.” band don’t you understand, but everybody Asking Questions Alper is not a celebrity. He’s a veteran else does?’ Quite frankly, I never want that music publicist in his early 50s, the kind of band or artist to feel bad. Because a lot of BY ZACH SCHONFELD guy who seems more interested in chatting bands follow me, and some of them might about deep cuts than advanc- be my clients.” ric Alper wakes up early. Every ing up a corporate ladder. He has a Siri- With his long, flowing and flannel morning, around 6:00, he sits usXM show (@ThatEricAlper show) and his shirts — not to mention the guitar in his down and begins scheduling the own PR company, boasting an eclectic list profile picture, which he can’t actually play day’s tweets. It takes him about of past and present clients. — Alper looks like a disciple. In Ean hour and a half to figure out the day’s But with his friendly yet relentless fact, he’s a musical omnivore, with rockist programming: the photos, the memes, barrage of relatable prompts, Alper has and poptimist energy morphed together. the movie quotes — and, of course, the achieved a certain ubiquity on social media. During the course of our conversation, he question tweets that generate thousands If you spend any time in the nebulously expresses fondness for (“I know of replies. What song has your favorite defined world of “Music Twitter,” you’ve there’s gonna be snark out there”), Olivia bassline? What’s a song that references seen his posts. He’s everywhere — asking Rodrigo (“love her!”), and the relatively footwear? What is something you listened to you your favorite movie ending, alerting you obscure funk group 24-Carat Black (“I’m in high school that you still listen to today? to McLovin’s 40th birthday, sharing bum- a huge Stax fan”). The only music he will What’s the album or song that got you into per sticker aphorisms like “Once you find admit to disliking is classical — and even your favorite band or artist? your favorite band, there’s nobody else you then, he adds that he’d like to develop an That last one, for instance, generated want.” Among music writers, Alper’s name appreciation for it someday: “I would love about 1,100 replies when the veteran Ca- has even entered the lexicon as slangy to go to a performance. I wouldn’t sit there nadian publicist first tweeted it on May 29, shorthand for a certain style of engagement- angry, like ‘I don’t understand that.’” 2019. It received 1,100 more replies when bait prompt-tweeting. His first concert was ABBA in 1977. His he tweeted it again on May 29, 2020 — and The throughline is a childlike enthusiasm last show before lockdown was seeing The 1,200 more when he tweeted it a third for music and an unflappable air of positiv- Chainsmokers with his 18-year-old daugh- time, on May 29, 2021. ity, which Alper’s followers find refresh- ter, Hannah Alper, an impressively accom- Let’s get this out of the way: Yes, ing and his detractors find grating. Alper’s plished activist and blogger. It was, he says Alper repeats prompts. Yes, some peo- online persona is defined by this positivity, without irony, one of the five best concerts ple find this annoying. (One guy even set which sometimes seems as out of place he’s ever seen: “[The list is] like Genesis or up a parody account to predict Alper’s on Twitter as a clavinet on a Black Flag My Bloody Valentine, where they almost tweets from “one day in the future.”) Alper album. He’s like the human embodiment made me s—t my own pants because of the doesn’t care. “I’m not asking the same ques- of BuzzFeed’s old “No haters” motto. As bass, and then I’ll say, ‘.’ tion a couple times a year because I’m look- one of his fans recently put it: “All he wants And [people] are like, ‘Really?’” ing to go viral,” he says. “I’m looking to find to talk about is the music. Could be a ter- When Alper, who calls himself a “lifelong all those new people that started following rible day with 4k Covid deaths and Capitol musicaholic,” says music is in his blood, it’s me, who’ve never had an opportunity to [an- riot and he’s all ‘What’s the best rock duet barely an exaggeration. He was born and swer] that question, or want to share some with piano?’ and I am soothed.” raised in Toronto, growing up in a middle- amazing experience, or what they think the Others gripe that Alper tweets more like income neighborhood not far from where best song under two minutes is.” a bot than a human. “He doesn’t use Twitter his grandfather, Al Grossman, had opened Page 23 of 24

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Grossman’s Tavern, one of the city’s first bars a brand than a person, with a steady stream think should be in the Hall of to host live music with an alcohol license. of music headlines and links and minimal Fame?’ And I would never ask that. Because During the Vietnam War, Grossman’s became first-person commentary. By mid-2010, it’s not my job to make the Rock and Roll a hippie hangout. “My grandfather would get when Twitter was still in its infancy, Alper Hall of Fame question what they do.” the draft dodgers to stay there for free,” Alper had 16,000 followers. Alper says he’s a publicist first and fore- says, “because he believed in the cause.” The prompt questions started later, around most. But by now he realizes hundreds of Alper visited the bar often as a kid. But 2015 or 2016. Alper can’t say exactly when, thousands of people only know him by his his own life changed when he was eight and but insists the queries were driven by per- Twitter persona, a reality he finds “bizarre. I saw American Hot Wax, the 1978 biopic sonal curiosity. “It just started with me trying have like four friends in real life,” he says. about early rock-and-roll DJ Alan Freed. to find out what people were listening to, and It’s rare that his worlds collide. He knows Alper was in awe of the musical legends on- not for any data scraping whatsoever.” his large following has probably helped screen. “They were like Star Wars characters He says the prompt engagement started him gain clients. Conversely, if his tweets to me,” he says. “From then on in, I started to peak around 2018, when his politics-free annoy the very music journalists who might listening a little more carefully to the radio.” feed served as wholesome counterprogram- otherwise grant his clients coverage, it could At 11, Alper saw Genesis on their Aba- ming to the unmitigated chaos of the Trump become a problem. Alper says he isn’t con- cab tour. They’ve been his favorite band Era. “I was still getting DMs every day of cerned about that; he has business relation- ever since. By the time he was a teenager, he people saying, ‘You’re the first stream I look ships that have served him well for 25 years. knew he wanted to work in the music indus- at in the morning, and the last one I read, “I don’t worry about what I’m not getting; I try, but didn’t know how. “I couldn’t play an because it’s just nothing but wholesome, only care about what comes down,” he says. instrument — I still can’t,” he admits. good stuff,’” Alper says. “It’s hard to imagine what I might be miss- The pieces fell into place when he was By then, Alper started to notice his ing based on Twitter.” in college in the early ’90s, writing for a prompt tweets were being aggregated by Alper’s friends and former colleagues campus paper and getting to meet publicists BuzzFeed and answered by celebrities like describe him as an industry lifer whose ear- who were pitching him bands like the Stone Monica Lewinsky and , which nest, open-hearted passion for music made Roses. Alper liked the idea of turning his he found delightful. “I knew this wasn’t just him a quasi-celebrity in the Canadian music enthusiasm into a full-time job. “That was it,” about me anymore, and I’d better come cor- scene well before he was a Twitter power he says. “I just wanted to become a publicist.” rect, realizing I’m not just posting anymore user. “My first impression was when we After college, he started his own label, to a dark room,” Alper says. went to an event, and just everybody knew then landed a job working for the small When you tweet as much as Alper does him,” says Mark Costain, Alper’s ex- at Toronto label Shoreline Records, which — his target: “minimum 50 a day, for sure” Koch Entertainment who worked with him was distributed by Koch Entertainment. As — you need a system. Alper has several. for 15 years. “It was crazy, just how many Alper tells it, one day Koch’s president asked He schedules most of his tweets hours in people he knew, coming up to him and say- him, “How would you like to work with 700 advance using Hootsuite. The scheduled ing hello. My first impression was, ‘Every- artists instead of three?” and Alper said, “No tweets appear roughly every half-hour, from body likes this guy.’” problem.” He wound up becoming director 7:00 a.m. until 2:00 a.m. (During the 70 The word “pure” comes up a lot in of media relations for Koch Entertainment minutes I spent interviewing Alper for this conversations with those who know Alper. (later acquired by eOne Music Canada), story, his account tweeted three times.) “He is first and foremost a music man,” says running PR for everyone from Ringo Starr to When big music news breaks, he’ll go live. Canadian pop singer Andy Kim, who had Barry Manilow. He also maintains digital folders full of pho- a string of hits in the late ’60s and ’70s and He left to start his own PR company, also tos and memes and anniversaries he wants is a longtime Alper client. “Someone who called That Eric Alper, in 2016, with a client to post about: “It’s like, ‘Hey, today is the just loves music, loves the industry, loves list that currently includes acclaimed art- 50th anniversary of ’s What’s the magic of it all. And is really pure in what ists like veteran singer-songwriters Buffy Going On, don’t forget to post about that.’” he does. Having been nurtured in the Brill Sainte-Marie and Bruce Cockburn and jazz Alper frequently receives DMs from his Building, it’s very rare that you find some- pianist Andy Milne. Since his early days, he followers suggesting questions to ask. These one like that.” says his approach to PR has been to “do it are essentially fan requests — “it’s almost Alper’s friend Emily Saliers, a musician faster, do it better, and do it cheaper than like I’m a late-night DJ,” Alper laughs — but best known as a member of , anybody else.” he finds himself unwilling to use most of says that although Alper never formally Somewhere along the way (early 2009, to them. They’re too negative. represented her as a publicist, he would be precise), Alper joined Twitter. He took to “The questions are usually like, ‘What still offer to help spread the word about her it right away. By December 2009, accord- band do you think shouldn’t exist?’ And releases. “He’s practically a household name ing to Wayback Machine, Alper had 9,500 it’s like, man, I’m not going to ask that,” in Canada, at least in the music world,” Sa- followers. Even then, he tweeted more like Alper explains. “Or, ‘What band do you liers says. “It’s just out of pure love of music Page 24 of 24

IN BRIEF

and hard work. He networks, but not in any McKeown says he first noticed Alper’s “I don’t know that you could definitively kind of weird, motivational way.” prompts about a year ago and found them say his account is ground zero for this style Saliers describes Alper’s upbeat Twit- irritating. “It feels like it’s clogging up the of quote-tweet pandering that’s become ter presence as a natural extension of his internet a little bit,” McKeown says. “If he so popular lately, but he’s certainly the positive nature. “I’ve never heard him say just puts the question out there and doesn’t most notable one in music to do it,” says an unkind word about an artist or anything,” feel like interacting with the people who music writer Dan Ozzi, who has turned his she says. “It’s not like he’s pollyanna or respond, that seems a little extra cheesy irritation with Alper’s tweets into a kind anything. He just has made a commitment to me.” (Alper says he does glance at the of found art. “It’s a very lowest-common- not to post anything negative. I was asking replies while walking his dogs, and has dis- denominator way of building a following. It him recently, ‘Do you get haters?’ Because covered lots of great music this way.) wouldn’t be so grating if he didn’t tweet the I cannot imagine Eric Alper getting haters. But when McKeown noticed Alper was same exact prompts, verbatim, every single But he said, ‘Doesn’t everybody?’” reposting prompts from a year ago, he real- year. Like clockwork.” Alper does indeed have haters. Or maybe ized he could make a game out of it. Nothing Naturally, people who spend unhealthy “haters” is too strong; he has… dislikers. malicious, just a good-natured spoof. “Some- amounts of time on Twitter are most likely In recent months, as Alper’s prompts have thing from a year in the past is gonna be to gripe about Alper, because they’ve seen all reached a saturation point, these dislikers reposted. I just try and figure out which one the prompts before. As Moussa puts it, “I’m a have grown increasingly vocal — at least in it is,” McKeown tells me in late May. At the Too Online person rolling my eyes at people corners of the internet frequented by chron- time, he wasn’t not sure what, if anything, with a blessedly more casual relationship to ically online music writers. (Do a Twitter his end game would be. “Maybe some sort the platform who are having fun.” search for “Eric Alper” + “quote tweet” and of battle royale with Eric Alper,” he laughs. Or maybe some journalists simply chafe you’ll see for yourself.) “Like a question-off.” at Alper’s barrage of content because, well, Much of the Alper backlash centers As of early June, McKeown had gotten 24 he’s not a journalist and doesn’t act like around his habit of reusing Twitter prompts out of 32 predictions correct. A week later, one. He’s unfailingly upbeat. He shame- on an annual cycle. He swears he doesn’t however, the parody account was suspended lessly cribs sentences from Wikipedia. He have a gigantic master calendar of prompts. by Twitter. McKeown has no idea why. sometimes interviews his own clients on Instead, during his morning scheduling Alper was aware of the @FutureEricAlper his SiriusXM show (Alper says the conflict sessions, he’ll run a search to see what he account, but tells Billboard he did not report of interest is made clear: “It always comes up tweeted one year prior and then reuse the it. McKeown at least suspects he had his we’re working together in the conversation”). best material. His goal is to give new follow- eye on the account: “One thing I did notice He loathes the idea of criticizing anyone. ers a chance to enjoy the prompt. “When I in the last few days is Eric seems to be Those who dislike Alper tend to perceive know that a question got a lot of really great switching things up,” he says. “Asking more him as insincere. Sure, most music writers responses, yeah, I’ll ask it again,” Alper says. original questions and not relying on ones use Twitter for indulging petty feuds and “It’s completely different people that are he asked two years ago. Or, seeing what I performing alienating bits, the thinking answering that question.” posted and not posting that one.” goes, but at least they’re tweeting from the Does he know it annoys a few people? Of McKeown appealed to have the parody heart, not from Hootsuite. course. “These people would probably get account reinstated by Twitter. On June 24, But Alper says all he’s ever wanted to do is angry if their favorite show had a rerun on. his appeal was denied. use music for good. And anyone who spends Everything that happens on a semi-regular Perhaps the anti-Alper sentiment reflects five minutes talking to him can tell his love basis is automated.” a broader disillusionment with the inescap- of music — and using social media to bring Alper has seen the backlash. When people able Prompt Twitter Industrial Com- people closer to it — is sincere. send him those mean tweets, he tries to plex — those people who love to tweet out Alper lights up like a young fan when ignore it. “They’re like, ‘Hey, did you know innocuous questions that rack up a zillion famous musicians respond to his prompts. about this’ and I’m like, ‘Yeah,’ and I feel like quote-tweet replies. A few days after our interview, he excitedly crap for 10 minutes and, well, ‘Why does “From a professional perspective, [Alp- emails me a screenshot of ’70s teen star this bug them so much?” Because I’m block- er’s] prompts are direct; they’re uncluttered Shaun responding to a fan named ing their stream? They’re probably follow- and optimized for engagement,” says Mous- Jen in Alper’s mentions. Jen had named ing 1500 people.” sa, the Eater social media manager. “The Cassidy as “the first band or artist [she] The strangest response of all is @Futu- transaction of a prompt is this: other people really loved,” and the musician had tweeted reEricAlper, a parody account created by an get a tweet out of it, and you get the sero- right back. “This is why I do what I do,” IT professional named Aric McKeown, who tonin rush of a little blue dot showing up on Alper says. “When this Jen sees this… [it] has a history of creating conceptual internet your notifications tab. It doesn’t matter that makes my day!” projects. The account aimed to predict today it’s surface-level engagement that clogs up It’s the kind of exchange Alper couldn’t what Alper’s going to tweet tomorrow. your feed. Viral is viral.” automate if he tried.