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Billie Eilish Earns Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With

Billie Eilish Earns Second No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart With

Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE AUGUST 9, 2021 Page 1 of 29

INSIDE Earns Second • & ’s No. 1 on Chart ‘Stay’ Hits No. 1 on With ‘Happier Than Ever’ • Music Venues Are Now on the Frontline BY KEITH CAULFIELD of America’s Vaccination Effort Billie Eilish earns her second No. 1 album on the Bill- after When We All Fall Asleep and her debut chart board 200 chart, as her latest release, Happier Than entry Don’t Smile at Me (No. 14 peak in 2019). She also • Shara Senderoff Is Transforming the Ever, debuts atop the list with 238,000 equivalent hit the chart with Live at Third Man Records (No. 55 Music Biz, One Tech album units earned in the U.S. in the week ending Aug. in 2020) and Prime Day Show x Billie Eilish (No. 87 Startup at a Time 5, according to MRC Data. Happier launches with the earlier this year). fifth-largest week of 2021 by equivalent album units The Billboard 200 chart ranks the most popular • Is Taking Over ‘Fortnite’ earned. The year’s biggest week belongs to Olivia of the week in the U.S. based on multi-metric This Weekend: Inside Rodrigo’s Sour, which charged in at No. 1 on the June consumption as measured in equivalent album units. The Rift Tour 5 chart with 295,000 units. Units comprise album sales, track equivalent albums Happier is Eilish’s first studio effort since (TEA) and streaming equivalent albums (SEA). Each • Live Nation Says Artists Can Require 2019’s When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?, unit equals one album sale, or 10 individual tracks Vaccination Proof which also launched at No. 1 (April 13, 2019-dated sold from an album, or 3,750 ad-supported or 1,250 at chart), and spent a total of three nonconsecutive paid/subscription on-demand official audio and weeks at No. 1. The set finished 2019 as the year-end video streams generated by songs from an album. • Liberty Media Revenue Gains on Top Billboard 200 Album and went on to win new Aug. 14, 2021-dated chart (where Hap- SiriusXM Strength Grammy Award for album of the year, and the 2020 pier Than Ever bows at No. 1) will be posted in full Billboard Music Award for Top Billboard 200 Al- on Billboard’s website on Aug. 10. For all chart news, • Major Labels bum. So far, the album has earned just over 5 million follow @billboard and @billboardcharts on both Hit Charter Communications equivalent album units in the U.S., with 1.2 million of and Instagram. With Second that in album sales. Of Happier Than Ever’s 238,000 equivalent album Copyright Suit All told, Happier is Eilish’s fifth charting effort units earned in the tracking week ending Aug. 5, on the Billboard 200, and third top 40-charting set, (continued)

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album sales comprise 153,000 (making it the and even multiple cassette tape variants teenager at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, top-selling album of the week as well), SEA (including a deluxe boxed set). as Happier bumps F*ck Love, by the 17-year- units comprise 84,000 units (equaling 113.87 All those different configurations added old The Kid LAROI, down to No. 2 after one million on-demand streams of the album’s up. Of the 153,000 Happier sold across all week in the lead. F*ck Love earned 65,000 16 songs) and TEA units comprise a little its permutations, physical sales comprise equivalent album units (down 23%). more than 1,000. 129,000 (with a whopping 73,000 on vinyl, The top three of the Billboard 200 albums Happier preceded by five top 46,000 on CD and nearly 10,000 on cassette) chart is ruled by teens, as 18-year-old Olivia 40-charting songs on the Billboard Hot and 24,000 via digital download. Rodrigo is No. 3 with her former No. 1 Sour. 100 chart: “My ,” “Therefore I Am,” Happier’s vinyl sales of 73,000 were so It dips 2-3 in its 11th week on the list. “,” “Lost Cause” and “NDA.” Of large, the album would have been No. 1 ’s archival studio album Welcome those, “” was first out of the gate, on the Billboard 200 this week from just 2 America debuts at No. 4, marking the 20th hitting the Hot 100 on the Aug. 15, 2020-dat- vinyl sales alone, as the No. 2 title, The Kid top 10 for the legend and his highest chart- ed chart. LAROI’s F*ck Love, earned 65,000 equiva- ing new release since 2009. (Prince died in Happier’s first week was supported by lent album units (down 23%). Happier’s 2016.) Recorded in 2010, but not released sturdy sales, with its 153,000 sold marking vinyl sales start of 73,000 marks both the until July 30 of this year, Welcome starts the third-biggest sales week of 2021, and second-largest sales week, and debut week, with 55,000 equivalent album units earned. the second-largest debut sales week of the for a vinyl album since MRC Data began Of that sum, album sales comprise just over year. Only managed bigger tracking sales in 1991. The only larger week 50,000 (bolstered by an array of available sales weeks, when her 2020 album Ever- was registered by the arrival of Swift’s Ev- configurations), SEA units comprise 4,000 more was released on vinyl in May, causing ermore on vinyl earlier this year (102,000; (equaling 5.9 million on-demand streams of a huge surge in total sales (rising to 192,000 chart dated June 12). the set’s 12 songs) and TEA units comprise on the chart dated June 12) and when Fear- Evermore’s vinyl release on May 28 trailed less than 1,000. less (Taylor’s Version) was released, selling the wide digital release of the album by five Welcome 2 America is the late legend’s 179,000 copies in its first week (April 24). months, as the digital and streaming edi- highest charting new album since 2009’s Lo- Happier was available in a great number tions were released on Dec. 11, 2020. Ever- tus Flow3r/MPLSound/Elix3r (with Bria of physical album formats. They include more’s vinyl debut was aided by five months Valente) debuted and peaked at No. 3 on the eight different colored vinyl LPs (including of banked pre-orders (the vinyl went up for April 18, 2009-dated chart. (Prince charted retail-exclusives for , independent sale in mid-December), while Eilish had higher since then, but only with previously record stores, Target, Urban Outfitters three months of pre-orders (her pre-order released titles following his death in 2016, and Walmart), 10 CD variants (including a went live at the end of April). And lastly, Ev- including the No. 1 .) signed CD for indie stores, a version with ermore was initially available in three vinyl Doja Cat’s Planet Her falls 3-5 on the new alternative packaging hand-painted by Eil- variants for its May 28 release, as compared Billboard 200 (55,000 equivalent album units ish, three premium boxed sets and a Target- to Eilish’s eight vinyl variants. earned; down 4%) and ’s for- exclusive edition packaged with a poster) The 19-year-old Eilish replaces another mer No. 1 Dangerous: The Double Album dips

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

4-6 A(44,000lbu units;ms; up less than Brett 1%). Young ‘Catch’-es Fifth31.9 Airplay million radio airplay audience impres- Rapper Isaiah Rashad lands his first top The Kid LAROI sions (up 16%) and 30.9 million U.S. streams 10 album andLea third chartingder; effort Travis as The Denning Makes History(up 1%) and sold 14,400 downloads (up House Is Burning debuts at No. 7 with 41,000 & Justin Bieber’s 70%), aided by a discount to 69 cents, in the equivalent album units earned. The album week ending Aug. 5, according to MRC Data. Samis his Huntfirst’s secondsince 2016’s studioThe full-length, Sun’s Tirade and first, in over‘Stay’ five years, Southside Hits sales No. (up 21%) 1 in onthe tracking week.The trackOn Country rebounds Airplay, 2-1 it for hops a third 18-15 (11.9week mil - (MCAwhich /Universal debuted and peaked Music at Group No. 17 Nashville), (Sept. debuts at No. 1 on Billboard’s lion audience impressions, atopup 16%). the chart, jumps 9-5 chart dated April 18. In its first week (ending April 9), it 24, 2016-dated chart). Of House’s starting on Digital Song Sales, as it wins top Sales earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000Billboard in album sales, ac- HotTRY TO ‘CATCH’ 100 UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingsum of to41,000 Nielsen units, Music/MRC SEA units Data. comprise and total No.Gainer 1 as “Catch” honors (Big on Machine the Hot Label 100, Group)and pushes ascends 36,000Southside (equaling marks 46.89Hunt’s million second on-demand No. 1 on the BY GARY TRUST 25-192-1, increasing on Radio 13% Songs to 36.6. million impressions. chartstreams and of fourth the album’s top 10. It 16 follows tracks), freshman album LP TheYoung’s Kid firstLAROI’s of six firstchart entries,No. 1, “SleepBieber’s With - Montevallosales comprise, which 5,000 arrived and at TEA the summit units com in No- - he Kid LAROI and Justin eighth:out You,” The reached Kid LAROI No. 2 in lands December his first 2016. Hot He vember 2014 and reigned for nine weeks. To date, followed with the multiweek No. 1s “In Case You prise a negligible sum. Bieber’s “Stay” rises to No. 1 on 100 No. 1, among three top 10s. He hit a Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionRounding in album out sales. the new top 10 on the Bill- the Billboard Hot 100 songs prior You”No. (three, 8 best January peak 2018), with “Mercy” “Without (two, You,” August boardMontevallo 200: Lil has Baby spent and 267 weeksLil Durk on the’s list, former tying chart, from No. 4, in its fourth with2018) Miley and “Here Cyrus, Tonight” in May. (two, April 2019). LukeNo. 1 BryanThe Voice’s Crash of Mythe Party Heroes as the (6-8 sixth-longest- with Tweek on the survey. The duet marks The Bieber“Catch” achieves completes his his eighth longest Hot journey 100 leader.to No. 1, running30,000 titlesequivalent in the chart’s album 56-year units earned;history. down Kid LAROI’s first leader on the list and Here’shaving a takenrecap: 46 weeks to reach the apex. It out- On the all-genre Billboard 200, Southside ar- paces the 30-week climb of “Here Tonight.” 6%), ’s Future Nostalgia (10-9 with Bieber’s eighth. “What Do You Mean?,” one week at No. 1, rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On , “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG after29,000 the units; No. 3-peaking up 2%) Montevalloand Polo .G’s former Meanwhile, The Kid LAROI becomes the beginninga new high. Sept. 19, 2015 leader Hunt Hallfirst releasedof Fame (8-10the EPX2C with, which 27,000 debuted units; first Australian-born solo male to top the “Sorry,” three, Jan. 23, 2016 anddown peaked 7%). at No. 5 on Top Country Albums in AugustHot 2014.100 since Following Rick Springfield COMBS ‘DOES’with “Jessie’s IT AGAIN Luke“Love Combs Yourself,”’ “Does two, to Me” Feb. (River 13, 2016House/Columbia Montevallo, Between the Pines: Acoustic Mixtape startedGirl” at just its No. over 7 high 40 years in ago.Nashville), featuring Eric Church“I’m the, ascends One,” 11-8 DJ onKhaled Country feat. Airplay, Bieber, up 10% to November 2015. The Hot 100 blends all-genre24.7 million U.S. in stream audience.- TheQuavo, song isChance Combs’ the eighth Rapper straight & Lil career-opening Wayne, one, 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: “Leave the Night On,” “Take Your Time,” “Houseing (official Party” and audio“Make and promotedofficial No.video), 1 singles. radio May 20, 2017 You Miss Me.” “Break Up in a Small Town” peaked at No.airplay 2. and sales data. All chartsChurch (dated adds his Aug. 15th Country“Despacito,” Airplay top Luis 10. Fonsi & Daddy Yankee Hunt co-penned all 12 songs on Southside, including14) “Bodywill update Like a on Billboard.com tomorrow Back feat. Bieber, 16, May 23, 2017 Road,” which was released in 2017. The smash hit ruled(Aug. Country 10). For Airplay all chart for news,THAT youTOOK can QUITE follow ‘A FEW’“Stuck MONTHS With Travis U,” with Denning Ariana shatters Grande, the record one, for three weeks and the airplay-, streaming- and sales-based@billboard Hot Country and Songs @billboardcharts the most weeks on both it has takenMay to penetrate 23, 2020 the Country Airplay top 10 as “After chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Florida Georgia Line’s “Meant to Be” (50 weeks atop theTwitter latter list and in Instagram.2017-18). lion in radio reach. “Peaches,” feat. & , “Downtown’s Dead,” which is also on the new set, reached“Stay,” Nos.released 14 and 15July 9 onThe Raymond song surpasses two tracksone, April that took 3, 2021 50 weeks each to enter the top 10: on Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay, respectively,Braun/Columbia in June 2018. “Kin Records/Def- Easton Jam,Corbin is’s the “A Girl Like“Stay,” You,” The which Kid reached LAROI No. & 10 Justin in January Bieber, 2018 one be - folks” led Country Airplay on Feb. 29, becoming Hunt’s1,127th seventh No. No. 1 in 1. the It hit Hot 100’s fore peaking63-year at No. his 6- that February,to-date, and Aug. Aaron 14, 2021 Watson’s “Outta Style,” which No. 3 on Hot Country Songs. achieved its No. 10 high in December 2017. tory. Here’s a deeper look at its coronation. Dating to his first week at No. 1 on the Hot 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 Streams, airplay & sales: “Stay” drew 100 nearly six years ago, Bieber breaks out of 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 2 0 2 1 15TH ANNIVERSARY

Photo Finish Records is an independent CONTACTS boasting a diverse roster including , Indie Pop, Electro Pop, and Hip Hop that has amassed billions of Joe Maimone 201.301.5933 | [email protected] streams and over 40 million tracks sold. Lee Ann Photoglo The -based label was created and founded 615.376.7931 | [email protected] by Matt Galle and 2021 will celebrate its fifteenth year of success. As the label grew and developed, Matt brought in Cynthia Mellow his business partner Mike Marquis to co-run the label with 615.352,0265 | [email protected] him. Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Photo Finish has forged a well-deserved reputation for developing and breaking an eclectic roster of artists Ryan O’Donnell including 3OH!3, SHAED, The Maine, , Mister- +447843437176 | [email protected] Wives, , The Mowgli's, and new signings Ross Copperman, CAL, Elliot Lee, Lakeview, guardin, and joan.

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a tie with for the most leaders since. Kid stuff: The Kid LAROI is the fourth up 290% to 11.5 million in radio reach. It Bieber & Drake dominate among “Kid”-named act to top the Hot 100, after leads the multi-metric Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Canadians: Bieber and Drake, meanwhile, (three No. 1s), Wiz- Songs and charts, which now share the record for the most No. 1s Kid and Kid Cudi (one each). No kidding. use the same methodology as the Hot 100, among Canadians over the Hot 100’s history, (Honorable mention to the one such No. for a second week each. a leaderboard that has been transformed in 1 song title: Eagles’ “New Kid in Town,” in Rounding out the Hot 100’s top 10, Lil Nas recent years, thanks to the pair and, in third 1977.) X’s former one-week No. 1 “Montero (Call place, . ’s “Good 4 U,” which com- Me by Your Name)” repeats at No. 8; Olivia Here’s an updated rundown of the Cana- manded the Hot 100 in its debut week in Rodrigo’s “Deja Vu” rebounds 10-9, after dian artists with the most Hot 100 No. 1s: May, rebounds 3-2 and Dua Lipa’s “Levitat- reaching No. 3; and The Weeknd and Ariana 8, Justin Bieber ing,” featuring DaBaby, rises 5-3, after reach- Grande’s “Save Your Tears” returns to the 8, Drake ing No. 2, as it adds a seventh week at No. 1 region (11-10), after a week at the summit. 6, The Weeknd on (77.8 million, down 3%). Again, for all chart news, you can follow 4, Notably, “Levitating” logs a 31st week in @billboard and @billboardcharts on both 4, the Hot 100’s top 10, tying for the ninth- Twitter and Instagram and all charts (dated 3, Furtado longest stay in the chart’s top tier. Aug. 14), including the Hot 100 in its en- 2, Most weeks in Hot 100’s top 10: tirety, will refresh on Billboard.com tomor- Down under, up top: The Kid LAROI, 57, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, No. 1 row (Aug. 10). born and raised in New South Wales, is the peak (four weeks), beginning April 4, 2020 first Australian-born artist to lead the Hot 39, “Circles,” , No. 1 (three 100 since Sia (born in Adelaide) reigned weeks), Nov. 30, 2019 Music Venues for four weeks in August 2016 with “Cheap 33, “Sunflower (Spider-Man: Into the Thrills,” featuring Sean Paul. Spider-Verse),” Post Malone & Swae Lee, No. Are Now on Plus, The Kid LAROI is the first Austra- 1 (one week), Jan. 19, 2019 lian-born solo male to top the Hot 100 in 33, “Girls Like You,” feat. Cardi B, the Frontline just over 40 years, since Rick Springfield No. 1 (seven weeks), Sept. 29, 2018 (born in South Wentworthville, a suburb of 33, “,” , No. 1 (12 of America’s Sydney) ruled the charts dated Aug. 1 and weeks), Jan. 28, 2017 8, 1981, with “Jessie’s Girl.” The two are the 32, “Sicko Mode,” Travis Scott, No. 1 (one Vaccination Effort only Australian-born solo males ever to lead week), Dec. 8, 2018 the Hot 100. 32, “Closer,” feat. Halsey, BY TAYLOR MIMS (Born Charlton Howard, The Kid LAROI No. 1 (12 weeks), Sept. 3, 2016 took his stage name as a nod to his family’s 32, “,” LeAnn Rimes, No. 2, accinations are swiftly becom- heritage in the Kamilaroi tribe, part of the Dec. 13, 1997 ing the new must-have accessory larger Aboriginal community in Australia.) 31, “Levitating,” Dua Lipa feat. DaBaby, No. for concertgoers as the rapid At seventeen (still): The Kid LAROI was 2, May 22, 2021 spread of the COVID-19 Delta born Aug. 17, 2003, making him the most-re- 31, “Mood,” 24kGoldn feat. , No. 1 variant hasV driven a new wave of infec- cently-born artist to hit No. 1 on the Hot 100. (eight weeks), Oct. 24, 2020 tions across the country. Thus, his age as of the Aug. 14, 2021-dated 31, “Uptown !,” Mark Ronson feat. On Friday (Aug. 6), Live Nation an- chart: three days shy of his 18th birthday. , No. 1 (14 weeks), Jan. 17, 2015 nounced it would give artists the option to He’s the youngest artist to lead the survey BTS’ “Butter” drops to No. 4 after nine require proof of vaccination or negative test since Jawsh 685 was 17 years, 11 months and weeks atop the Hot 100. It posts a 10th week for any shows in the United States. Live Na- two weeks old when “Savage Love (Laxed at No. 1 on Digital Song Sales (79,200, down tion CEO Michael Rapino wrote to staff stat- – Siren Beat),” with Jason Derulo and BTS, 30%) and returns to its No. 20 high on Radio ing, “That is the number one thing anyone topped the Oct. 17, 2020, chart. Songs (31.6 million, up 4%). can do to take care of those around them Columbia triples up at No. 1: Columbia Ed Sheeran’s “Bad Habits” holds at its and we are encouraging as many shows as Records claims the Hot 100’s last three No. No. 5 Hot 100 best and Doja Cat’s “Kiss Me possible to adopt this model.” 1s, as “Stay” follows BTS’ “Butter” and “Per- More,” featuring SZA, keeps at No. 6, after That decision follows news from New mission to Dance.” No label had run up such hitting No. 3. York earlier this week where Mayor Bill a streak since Interscope Records linked and ’s “Indus- de Blasio announced that proof of vac- three in April-October 2009: ’s try Baby” slides to No. 7 on the Hot 100 a cination will be required to participate “Poker Face” and The ’ week after launching at No. 2, although it in public indoor activities, including restau- “Boom Boom Pow” and “I Gotta Feeling.” dons the chart’s top Airplay Gainer ribbon, rants, fitness centers and live performances. WE’RE BACK, LIVE IN MIAMI

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The new mandate is the first of its kind in of reactions the company has received since cause people are going to be vaccinated. I feel the country and has other local govern- the announcement. much safer than I did before,’” Severin says. ments like considering similar California promoter Another Planet “I am sure we are getting more people than requirements to slow down the spread of Entertainment (APE) has also informed losing them. That’s the pitch I use with some new COVID-19 cases. ticketholders that they will need to provide business owners that have been worried that New York’s mandate will begin rolling proof of full inoculation (two weeks after they are going to lose money.” out the week of Aug. 16 with full enforce- their second vaccine dose) or a negative test This week, Seattle reached more than 100 ment starting Sept. 13 and Los Angeles within 48 hours of entry. APE has teamed up venues and bars that now require proof of is expected to vote on its mandate in the with Clear to speed up the verification pro- vaccination or negative COVID-19 test re- coming days, but many local governments cess for attendees and APE assistant general sults. In Minneapolis, First Avenue own- are hesitant to take such a firm stance — or manager Casey Lowdermilk says their first er Dayna Frank initiated inoculation proof are against it entirely. Twenty states across week of shows welcomed less than 1% unvac- or proof of negative results for staff, patrons the U.S. have banned proof-of-vaccination cinated patrons who provided negative tests and artists, as well as the greater good of the requirements, according to Ballotpedia, but instead, and the rest were vaccinated. national touring. that hasn’t stopped virus cases from in- “It’s reassurance for everyone,” says “We’re a national industry. We all rely on creasing 33.7% nationwide in the last Lowdermilk, “I don’t think it’s a stretch for a every venue doing what they can to keep the week, per the CDC. lot of patrons. It is a very positive thing and artists safe. Because if an artist gets COVID Independent venues were the should be well-received going forward.” and the tour goes down, that affects our en- first to take it upon themselves to require APE’s venues in San Francisco County tire industry,” says Frank, whose Minneapo- vaccination proof or proof of a negative test are benefited from a 70% full vaccination lis venues opened for two weeks before she result in order for patrons to attend shows. rate locally, but venue operators like Brian started the mandate there in response to the After more than 14 months of closures, re- Greenberg in New Orleans have faced more Delta variant. openings and a rollercoaster of state, local difficulties announcing vaccination require- This isn’t the first time the live music and federal guidelines, many of these venue ments in less vaccinated regions. Louisiana’s industry has had to adapt to safety con- owners say they’re done waiting for guid- vaccination rate for at least one dose falls cerns, adds Frank, citing concerns over ac- ance and are being proactive about protect- under 45%, making it the fourth lowest rate tive shooters, terrorism and even just drunk- ing their communities and businesses. in the country according to the Mayo Clinic. en brawls. But these efforts may also Colorado’s Z2 Entertainment — which As general manager of Tipitina’s, Green- encourage more people to get vaccinated, runs venues Boulder Theater, The Ag- berg says the response have been “over- while hopefully keeping venues open during gie, and Fox Theatre — announced Mon- whelmingly positive,” but “I’m not going to the new wave of infections. day that all of their venues would require lie and say everyone loves it.” The majority “I heard stories of five people who attendees to provide proof of vaccination or of criticism has come from people who don’t got vaccinated yesterday and one young a negative test result within 72 hours of the live in the area, he adds. man who just wasn’t gonna get vaccinat- performance. Z2 Entertainment CEO Cheryl “It seemed like a strong step towards ed — he didn’t feel the urgency — until he Liguori says the company took the weekend setting our own guidelines instead of letting read our policy and said, ‘Oh, I got tickets to make the decision and come up with lan- the guidelines be set for us,” Greenberg to four shows in the fall’ and made an ap- guage to inform the public. says. “It shows the local, city, state govern- pointment,” says Frank. “If this can be the “The metrics were going in the wrong ment that, ‘Hey, we want to control our own impetus to keeping himself safe and keeping direction,” Ligouri says of the rising cases of business. We don’t necessarily want you to his family and community safe, I think that’s COVID across the state. She adds that the have to make decisions for us.” probably the best possible outcome.” decision was made mainly “to keep our staff Steven Severin, co-owner of Neumos in and our patrons and our artists healthy and Seattle, says there was a major backlash to keep live music thriving.” from online trolls when his restaurant an- Ligouri worries that a rise in cases will nounced vaccination requirements, but not lead to the reinstatement of social-distanc- so much for the 650-capacity venue. The ing mandates that would be “catastrophic” majority of shows at Neumos have contin- for her business. For a venue like the ued to sell out, he says, and the inoculation 650- capacity Fox Theatre, for example, un- proof has made more customers feel safe at der previous mandates it could only ac- the indoor venue. commodate 36 guests. For fans unwilling “There are all these people who are feeling or unable to provide the required proof, good about coming to our place because of Z2 Entertainment is offering refunds, which [the new requirements]. People are going, Ligouri hopes will satisfy the “mixed bag” ‘Yeah! I’m going to go to Neumos now be- O N S A L E SEPT. 18, 2021

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days about blockchain, cryptocurrency and is tangibly useful within seconds. Once you Shara Senderoff what a stock market for music looks like,” put out a phone number to your fans, you can says Senderoff, who also runs her own artist communicate with them directly in a way Is Transforming management firm Something Gold. “We that doesn’t feel like a marketing line. We’re came together on the need for an invest- here to tell stories and share experiences, and the Music Biz, ment vehicle that would advise the music I think Community is a two-way street. industry on what kinds of technology they Community is a place for intimacy, One Tech Startup needed to integrate.” whereas Audigent is a place for broad ampli- When RISE launched, Senderoff says, fication of messaging. J Balvin has worked at a Time “nobody was focused on music tech.” But with Audigent for the last couple of years to one year in, the pandemic forced the music build out revenue lines from music to brand BY TATIANA CIRISANO industry to tap into digital revenue streams partnerships to merch [using] precision tar- like virtual concerts and non-fungible geting to find his fans [with ads]. Commu- hara Senderoff estimates that dur- tokens (NFTs). As the industry warms up to nity might be used on the front end to make ing the last two-and-a-half years, tech, RISE’s mission is fittingly astronomi- an initial announcement, but then Audigent she has looked at over 1,000 music cal: Senderoff wants to transform the entire might be used every day as an ongoing cam- and technology startups, hunting music ecosystem value chain, from creation, paign to promote everything. Sfor the music industry’s next game-changer. registration and distribution to fan engage- What is Scooter Braun’s role in RISE? As partner/president of Raised in Space En- ment, touring and merchandise. Look at Scooter’s wealth of experience. terprises — the venture capital firm she and “It’s not an overnight process,” she says. He built [Justin] Bieber from absolutely former BMG executive Zach Katz launched “It’s pushing a boulder up a hill.” nothing. There’s almost nothing he hasn’t in 2019 with Scooter Braun’s Ithaca Hold- While examining startups, what trends done or worked on. When you’ve encoun- ings and blockchain company Ripple’s emerged? tered it all, you know what to do. investment division, Xpring — Senderoff There are a lot of problems that entre- What have you — and the wider music selects the most promising startups for preneurs who look at the music industry industry — learned from the pandemic? investment and then guides them in every- see, but does the industry want to solve that That strategy is going to win no matter thing from product to marketing, recruiting problem right now? For example, we got in- what. There isn’t a shortcut. We saw the and fundraising. undated with rights management solutions cash-grab frenzy around NFTs, and we So far, RISE has made investments of built on a blockchain. We believe in the saw people fall short of their expectations between $500,000 and $5 million in 11 com- future of rights management on blockchain, because they didn’t understand what they panies, from virtual concert platform Wave, but are the complexities of the industry in a were getting into. A lot of artists just did which has created shows for The Week- place where it’s possible for a company like one-off NFT drops. They were in a race to nd and ; to data management that to succeed right now? No. get an NFT out for fear of missing out, and system Audigent, which raised $19 million So what problems are ready to be their fans didn’t come because consum- in series B funding in July; to direct-tofan solved? ers didn’t understand crypto yet. What SMS text service Community, used by artists We’re hyper-focused on two buckets: new was missing was a tool set that was com- like and . revenue streams and improving ROI. The munity- and mass consumer-driven, that Senderoff landed in the music industry music industry is challenged when it comes would speak to an audience that isn’t crypto after nearly a decade as a film executive to making strategic decisions on where and sophisticated. at The Mark Gordon Company, where when to spend money for scale. I’m focused Look at livestreaming. We had passed she partnered with Gordon on the online on new revenue streams because I believe on about 15 livestreaming platforms before recruitment platform Intern Sushi. When that as we evolve from the traditional label COVID-19, and then they all came back to record labels swarmed Intern Sushi, Sen- model, there are going to be opportunities us when COVID-19 hit, like, “Ha! You were deroff realized that her knack for leverag- to build businesses without needing to be wrong.” But what happens when tour- ing data and technology to tell stories in in the stranglehold of a major label. That ing returns? How does a band or an artist film could be applied to music. As she saw doesn’t mean I’m anti-label. I’m not. But I integrate livestreaming, and what is it going it, the music industry had been hesitant do believe that there is a subset of artists to mean for your bottom line? If you want to engage with new technology, and tech who can do it independently and make a to be a leader, you have to strategize your startups and venture capitalists didn’t un- great living. long-term plan. derstand the nuances of the music business What are some examples? How can artists better bridge their well enough to solve problems together. Our overall strategy is to have portfolio online and offline presence? That’s where RISE comes in. companies that an artist can use at differ- One area ripe for the addition of meta- “[Katz and I] were talking in the early ent times within their rollout. Community verse capabilities is touring. We need to add Page 12 of 29

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the ability for fans to collect [digital] items always, always working. If nothing else, I’ll 2020 — which drew 27 million global unique that are tied to particular shows and allow chisel away and show certain males who players across five airings — Grande’s ap- access to different items based on your [level will impact a lot of other women that they pearance kicks off the game’s so-called Rift of ] fandom. The next version of the fan club have to look at something differently or they Tour series, hosting an in-game virtual con- is immersive, where fans can take part and have to listen more. The more you sustain, cert that will air five times over the course connect to an artist via a social token — by the more people see that they can do it, too. of this weekend. owning it, they can buy tickets sooner or How does that affect your work at Over the past several years, the music get into meet-and-greets or access limited- RISE? industry has opened its eyes to gaming as a edition merch. None of our portfolio founders are new way to connect with fans and drive rev- How soon do you think that the meta- women, and that was not my choice. I’m enue. In-game performances offer multiple verse — the concept of a shared, entirely making investments based on ideas that I revenue streams to artists, from up-front virtual world — will become a reality? think hit the right timing and are viable. payments to virtual goods and a streaming I just saw [Mark] Zuckerberg announce Any time a female founder comes across my spike for the artist’s music that tends to fol- that Facebook is going to be a metaverse email, I jump toward it, and if nothing else, low an in-game show. company. I think we’re two to three years I focus on [them in] a mentorship capacity. Compared to “Astronomical,” Grande’s away from the larger, visible use cases. But the systemic problem is not the fact that performance is less visually chaotic, with That will begin with the rise of [augmented I didn’t invest in a female founder just to fewer scene changes, and has an expanded reality] in the next 18 months and seeing invest in a female founder. It’s that we need focus on the player experience. In Grande’s more utility of NFTs — assets that can be the to encourage more female founders to start world — which looks like if the Lisa Frank economic drivers of a metaverse. In order more companies. My answer to that is con- brand were an entire planet — players aren’t to have a virtual world, you need buy-in of tinuing to mentor any women that cross my just watching the show, but actively partici- virtual products. desk and continuing to be at the forefront of pating in it, a key element that will be part of This isn’t the first time we’ve seen hype innovation and tech as a woman. future experiences, according to Phil Ram- surrounding blockchain. What’s different This article originally appeared in the Aug. pulla, head of brand at Epic Games, Fort- now? 7, 2021 issue of Billboard. nite’s parent company. The technology — the pipes of blockchain “You’ll see on this one that there’s a little — is fundamentally different. This is not just bit more control if you want it,” Rampulla an app. This is technology that can allow for Ariana Grande tells Billboard. “You can go on autopilot and a different kind of accountability and audit chill out and just take it all in and enjoy the of business. As we see larger platforms like Is Taking Over ride. Or you can squad up with friends and Amazon start to integrate cryptocurrency, really try to unlock things and compete.” it’s going to change how we think about ‘Fortnite’ This Artist performances within Fortnite have everything. You can’t be caught with your only gotten bigger and better since the pants down at this point. Weekend: Inside game’s first-ever concert with Can blockchain’s driving concept of de- in February 2019, which attracted 10.7 mil- centralization ever take off in the music The Rift Tour lion concurrent players. And with a Lady industry, which has long been predicated Gaga performance rumored to be coming on centralized power? BY TATIANA CIRISANO soon, Epic Games is getting faster at putting I don’t think that the goal should ever be together these shows. While Scott’s took so black and white. It should never be about riana Grande is twirling atop a over a year to come together, a representa- complete decentralization. That’s why I’m marble column in the clouds, in a tive for Epic said that Grande’s took six to not anti-label. The labels are incredibly dress made of shards of mirrored nine months, with Rampulla describing it as important because it takes an army. The glass, wielding an enormous sil- a “very collaborative and iterative process.” reality is that decentralization will work for verA mallet with a diamond as its hammer. During the roughly 10-minute experi- certain products and certain artists, just like It’s not the real-life Grande, or some ence, players bounce atop hot pink beds of anything we do in music works for certain bizarre dream, but her avatar performing plants as if they were trampolines, fly inside artists and not others. virtually in Fortnite, the free-to-play online glistening bubbles in the sky as Grande Both music and tech are male-dominat- video game with 350 million registered sways in a swing held up by clouds and fol- ed. Is it part of your mission to equalize global users that has become known for low Grande up marble staircases that turn the playing field? its in-game music experiences with artists upside-down the higher you go. The flipped I feel a great responsibility to keep going, like Marshmello, Travis Scott and J Balvin. view references Grande’s upside-down not only for me, but for a larger community Billed as the next iteration of Scott’s album covers for Thank U, Next and Sweet- of women. I hardly take vacations — I am “Astronomical” in-game event in April ener, which the pop star has said symbolized Page 13 of 29

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her emotional state at the time, and it’s just collection, featuring tracks like “Positions,” or requiring vaccination proof, according one of several Easter eggs The Rift Tour “REM” and 2013 collaboration to Ballotpedia. For the states that will allow leaves for super-fans — including a virtual “The Way.” the request from attendees, Live Nation says version of Grande’s real-life pet pig, Piggy Fortnite was quick to release viewership there is a lot of momentum towards the Smallz. Players will experience differ- numbers after the Travis Scott show, but model which they are encouraging. ent effects during the show depending on Rampulla wouldn’t commit to releasing “I think what we’re seeing is a shift to their choice of avatar outfit or wrap (which numbers around Grande’s weekend in Fort- increasing requirements for entry of either changes the appearance of weapons and nite. With massive superstars jumping at the tested or fully vaccinated,” said Live Nation vehicles), encouraging them to go back for opportunity to work with Epic Games, and Entertainment CFO Joe Berchtold on multiple showings. potentially expand their user base, it doesn’t Tuesday’s second quarter earnings call. “We “It’s hard to really think of anybody better seem like Fortnite will move away from had that at Lollapalooza over the last week- at the moment,” Rampulla says of Grande. working with artists anytime soon. end very successfully done. Over 90% of the Unlike Travis Scott, Grande isn’t publicly Additional reporting by Micah Singleton people were fully vaccinated, which I think involved in the video game community, was a great signal in terms of people’s com- making her an unorthodox choice for one of mitment and support of being vaccinated in the world’s most popular games. “What we Live Nation order to go to these shows.” always look for in a partner is someone who’s Live Nation will also start requiring its willing to take some risks, someone who’s Says Artists staff to be vaccinated in order to enter one willing to try something new,” Rampulla says. of their events, venues or offices. Rapino’s “We reached out with some of the broad Can Require note to staff stated, “This requirement will strokes of the ideas and she immediately go into effect October 4, when our offices jumped in and we just took off and the rest Vaccination Proof are set to reopen their doors for flex work, is history.” It likely doesn’t hurt that Ariana and to allow on-site staff a few weeks to get and Fortnite may benefit from introducing at Concerts vaccinated if they haven’t already.” their fanbases to one another either. The world’s largest promoter hopes these At the time of “Astronomical,” an industry BY TAYLOR MIMS measures will signal “leading by exam- source told Billboard that Scott received a ple,” with Rapino adding that the company multimillion-dollar fee upfront, and that ive Nation is following a nation- has seen great vaccination enthusiasm artist deals can also include a back-end bo- wide trend of requiring proof of from its employees so far. nus once the event reaches certain viewer- vaccination or proof of a negative “Our business and our industry is about ship metrics. That doesn’t include revenue COVID-19 test to attend con- uniting people and vaccines are one of the from virtual goods that artists can sell Fort- Lcerts. The world’s biggest concert promoter greatest tools for making sure that everyone nite players in the form of skins (avatar out- now intends to give artists the option to can continue to enjoy live music together,” fits), gear (for fighting) and emotes (which require proof of vaccination or negative Rapino’s note read. lend the ability to act out expressions). Sold test for any shows in the United States, and Read the full note obtained by Bill- in Fortnite’s virtual currency, “V-bucks,” will make it mandatory for any staff at those board below. Grande’s cosmetics set includes a skin for events or in company offices. The require- Subject: U.S. Vaccination Update the equivalent of about $20; a diamond gavel ments were already implemented at last All - for about $8; a glider for about $12; and a weekend’s Lollapalooza in Chicago. It has been great to see events make such a ride-able unicorn for about $5. Players can “We are working to ensure we are reopen- strong return across the U.S., with demand also purchase a bundle of all these items for ing in the best way possible for staff, artists, for concerts and festivals continuing to out- about $28. Those purchases add up, but Epic crew, fans, and communities at large,” said pace our expectations. Games declined to reveal how compensation Live Nation CEO Michael Rapino in a note LIVE NATION SHOWS has been handled for Grande. to employees on Friday (Aug. 6). “Our teams We are working to ensure we are reopen- In the final few minutes of the show, have worked together to put new processes ing in the best way possible for staff, artists, Grande sings “Positions” while floating in place so that artists doing shows with crew, fans, and communities at large. Our above ice before smashing it with her giant Live Nation in the U.S. can require all at- teams have worked together to put new pro- gavel, sending the artist and the audience tendees and staff to be fully vaccinated or cesses in place so that artists doing shows back up into the clouds. In the aftermath show a negative test result for entry, where with Live Nation in the U.S. can require all of the explosion, players hover in the air permitted by law.” attendees and staff to be fully vaccinated or among rainbows, watching fireworks The practice will only be allowed to be show a negative test result for entry, where explode in the surrounding air. Musically, implemented in 30 states in the country, permitted by law. We believe this is a great the experience plays like a greatest hits since 20 states have prohibited asking for model, and we have already implemented Page 14 of 29

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this successfully at many major shows only going to get more serious over time and including Lollapalooza. We know people are Liberty Media they won’t be the only ones,” he argued. eager to return to live events and we hope This story was originally published by The these measures encourage even more people Revenue Gains on Hollywood Reporter. to get vaccinated. That is the number one thing anyone can do to take care of those SiriusXM Strength around them and we are encouraging as Major Labels many shows as possible to adopt this model. BY GEORG SZALAI EMPLOYEE VAX REQUIREMENT Hit Charter In support of this model and to continue iberty Media, the company con- leading by example, we will be requiring trolled by billionaire mogul John Communications that all employees in the U.S. be vaccinated Malone that houses assets like au- to enter one of our events, venues or offices dio entertainment giant SiriusXM, With Second - with limited exceptions as may be required Lthe Braves baseball club and the For- by law. This requirement will go into effect mula One racing circuit, reported improved Copyright Suit October 4, when our offices are set to re- second-quarter financials Friday. open their doors for flex work, and to allow Quarterly revenue at the Atlanta Braves BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN on-site staff a few weeks to get vaccinated multiplied from $11 million to $216 million, if they haven’t already. HR will share more while the Formula One Group’s revenue niversal Music, and details on this soon. As a reminder we are multiplied from $24 million to $501 million, Warner Music have collectively providing an extra paid day off for every the company disclosed in its earnings re- filed a second lawsuit against dose so you can schedule appointments eas- port. SiriusXM, the home of Howard Stern, Charter Communications, alleg- ily. We’ve seen great vaccination enthusi- posted a 15 percent increase in second-quar- Uing that the company — which does business asm among our staff so far, and we want to ter revenue to $2.16 billion. as Spectrum — has continually failed to rein ensure we’re taking every step possible to In terms of operating income, SiriusXM in copyright infringement committed by keep you all safe. posted a 66 percent gain to $634 million thousands of its subscribers. Our business and our industry is about and the Braves swung from a $33 million The complaint, filed July 26 in U.S. uniting people and vaccines are one of the loss to a $31 million profit. Formula One’s District Court in Colorado by the big three greatest tools for making sure that everyone operating loss narrowed from $136 million labels and their respective publishing com- can continue to enjoy live music together. to $43 million. panies and subsidiaries, follows a previous, We’ve gone through a lot this past year and Liberty Media, led by CEO Greg Maffei, ongoing suit lobbed by the labels against it’s remarkable to see how far we’ve come. If saw its total operating income hit $622 mil- Charter in March 2019. That suit covered al- you have any questions please don’t hesitate lion for the three months ending June 30, leged infringement activity that occurred on to reach out to your HR partner. And thank compared with $214 million in the year-ago Charter’s network between March 24, 2013, you for continuing to play a role in our con- period. Revenue rose from $1.91 billion to and May 17, 2016, while the new complaint tinued success. $2.88 billion. covers infringement which took place from - Michael Said Maffei: “SiriusXM executed well, July 26, 2018 to present. produced outstanding results and recently “Charter has insisted on doing nothing — increased their 2021 guidance. They con- despite receiving thousands of notices that tinue to repurchase stock, and Liberty’s detailed the illegal activity of its subscribers, ownership is now over 78 percent. He despite its clear legal obligation to address added: “Formula 1 is delivering across the the widespread, illegal downloading of copy- board — on the track, for our fans, teams, righted works on its Internet services, and partners and investors — and has done an despite being sued previously by Plaintiffs for impressive job steering through the 2021 similar conduct,” the complaint maintains. calendar. The Braves are competitive on the The new lawsuit says the labels contin- field and lead MLB in total attendance, with ued to “monitor and detect infringement” over 1.5 million fans returning to Truist Park occurring on Charter’s network during the so far this season.” current claim period and sent over 150,000 Maffei recently suggested that stream- additional notices identifying the illegal ing giant Amazon would drive an acceler- download, copying and distribution of their ated push by Big Tech platforms for more copyrighted music through BitTorrent sports rights worldwide. “I suspect they’re and other digital file-sharing services. The Page 15 of 29

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notices allegedly flagged the unique IP ad- 2017 against Texas-based ISP Grande Com- that came in the first 60 days]. But often in dresses of what the labels claim are “tens of munications, which is also accused of failing grant programs, you don’t get a personalized thousands” of “flagrant and serial infring- to crack down on copyright pirates. reason for your declination.” ers” operating on Charter’s network. The SVOG is a first-of-its-kind program for “In reality, Charter operated its service the SBA and there are a number of reasons as an attractive tool and safe haven for Shuttered Venue why a venue or live music business could be infringement,” reads the complaint, which found ineligible. The eligibility matrix alone further alleges that the company turned a Operators is 11 pages, and some definitions, such as that “blind eye” to said activity in order to “at- for “live performers,” can be unclear. The tract and retain new and existing subscrib- Grant Appeals lack of specific reasons for declinations led ers,” who in turn would purchase more to frustration from many SVOG appli- bandwidth to accommodate faster down- Underway for cants, but as of today only 494 of the 3,142 load speeds. “In other words, the greater invitations to appeal have been accepted. the bandwidth its subscribers required for Denied Applicants Those who have accepted will need pirating content, the more money Charter to upload a signed statement indicating their made,” the complaint adds. BY TAYLOR MIMS grounds for appeal, as well as any support- Neither reps for Charter nor the labels ing documents. There will be no secondary responded to request for comment by time ince nearly 20% of all Shuttered appeals process for applicants whose appeals of publishing. Venue Operator Grant (SVOG) ap- are declined, which means the next two The plaintiffs are asking for maximum plications have been denied, this weeks mark several venues’ final chance to statutory damages — which, under U.S. law, week the Small Business Adminis- receive much-needed funding. The Shuttered would amount to $150,000 per infringed Stration (SBA) invited those more than 3,000 Venue Operators Grant was signed into law work — or, alternatively, actual damages in business owners to appeal their denials on Dec. 27 and struggling businesses had an amount to be proven at trial. If awarded and restate their cases for receiving up to to wait another four months before a single statutory damages in the maximum amount $10 million in federal support. application was accepted. for each infringed work — which total 1,719 Declined applicants will have two weeks “The only way we’ll ever get our doors sound recordings and 1,086 compositions, to appeal, during which time funding will back open is by getting this grant,” co-owner according to two exhibits filed with the be preserved. of the Music Room in Atlanta Mike LeS- complaint — Charter would be on the hook As of Friday (Aug. 6), more than 10,700 age told Billboard. “If we don’t know what for more than $420 million. applicants have been awarded grants the problem is, are we just going to submit The new lawsuit is just the latest in a amounting to roughly $8.3 billion of the something with the same issues? It’s scary series of copyright infringement suits filed program’s total $16.25 billion in available when your entire livelihood and your fam- against internet service providers by music grants. The remaining roughly $8 billion ily’s livelihood are wrapped up in this.” companies over the past several years. In will be allotted first to successful appeals Declinations make up a fifth of all grant Dec. 2019, the big three labels won a $1 bil- and then as supplemental grants for venues, applications, which will officially close on lion verdict against Cox Communications af- promoters, agencies and other live music Aug. 20. The high rate of declines can be at- ter the ISP was deemed liable for customers’ companies with successful applications. tributed to the complexity of a grant written infringement of more than 10,000 musical Since appeal notices began rolling out for an assortment of businesses like music works on its network (the verdict was up- Monday, 494 invitations have been accepted venues, promoters, talent agencies, perform- held by a U.S. District Court judge this past so far. Those entities will need to review the ing arts venues, zoos, museums and movie January). In Dec. 2015, Cox was ordered SVOG Eligibility Matrix to see where they theaters. Several entities told Billboard they to pay $25 million in a separate copyright believe errors were made on the behalf of an believe confusing tax codes for their local suit brought by BMG; though that deci- SBA reviewer. The SBA has not provided spe- government confused SBA reviewers and sion was reversed on appeal in early 2018 cific reasons why each entity was declined, others say there was confusion over who and ordered for a retrial due to an error in leaving the guesswork up to the companies. was eligible. The SBA “anticipates reversals instructions to the jury, Cox settled with “There is a balancing act we have to of prior decisions will be rare,” according to BMG for a “substantial” amount before a do. The level of specificity slows things the SVOG website. new trial could commence. down,” The SBA’s senior advisor for The SBA will assign a new reviewer to A similar, still-pending infringement COVID-19 programs Deidra Henry- go over each appeal “to see if we made a lawsuit was filed by 17 record compa- Spires told Billboard at the end of July. mistake, if something else should have been nies against internet service provider “There are conversations we can have after done or you should have received an award,” RCN Corporation in August 2019. Also we’ve seen the whole unit of declines once the website exaplins. The SBA’s Henry- ongoing is a suit filed by the RIAA in April we’ve gotten through [all the applications Spires added, it’s a “second opportunity Page 16 of 29

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to plead your case with strong financial calists “but Christine’s importance is amply documentation that makes a good case for demonstrated by the fact that eight of the Chucky the American taxpayer, because we take our 16 songs on the band’s Greatest Hits albums duty to protecting their funds incredibly, are from Christine.” Thompson, ‘90s incredibly, seriously.” Hipgnosis acquires the worldwide copy- On Friday, the SBA also began to send right, ownership and financial interest in Hip-Hop and R&B out invitations for “reconsideration” or for McVie’s works, including writer’s share, of those who believe they received less funding all compositions and neighboring rights. Producer With Bad than they deserved. Just over 200 applicants The company’s latest deal reunites McVie were sent reconsiderations emails so far with former frontman Boy’s Hitmen, Dies with 11 accepting. The reconsideration win- , whose catalog was ac- dow will also last two weeks. quired up by Hipgnosis in January. Between BY ANDREW UNTERBERGER Christine and Lindsey, Hipgnosis now boasts 48 of 68 songs on the band’s most hucky Thompson, one of the in- Fleetwood successful albums, Mercuriadis adds. house producers (known as The McVie was represented in negotiations by Hitmen) whose ability to blend Mac Songbird business manager Paul Glass at The Colony hip-hop and R&B at a pop scale Group, manager Martin Wyatt and lawyer Chelped Bad Boy Records become one of the Christine McVie Mario González. preeminent labels of the ‘90s, has died. “I am so excited to belong to the Hipgno- “It is with a very heavy heart that I can Sells Catalog sis family, and thrilled that you all regard my confirm the passing of Chucky Thompson,” songs worthy of merit,” she comments in a his publicist Tamar Juda tells Billboard. “To to Hipgnosis statement. “I’d like to thank you all for your anyone in his orbit, you know how generous faith in me, and I’ll do all I can to continue he was with his energy, creativity and love. BY LARS BRANDLE this new relationship and help in any way I Both the music industry and the world has can! Thank you so much.” lost a titan.” ipgnosis Songs continues its ac- Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited last month Producer and protege Young Guru also quisition spree by snapping up raised £156 million ($215 million) through confirmed Thompson’s death on Insta- the music catalog of Christine a proposed share sale on the London Stock gram, writing “RIP to my mentor, my big McVie, one of the principal Exchange. The proceeds from the placing, brother, the man who changed my life for- Hwriters and vocalists of Fleetwood Mac. the company said at the time, would be used ever... there will never be another you!!!!” The U.K.-listed investment company to acquire catalogs already lined up by The Hailing from Washington, D.C., Thomp- today (Aug. 9) announces it has bought the Family (Music) Limited, the Mercuriadis- son was brought into the fold of the New copyright in 115 McVie songs, which spans founded investment advisory firm that rec- York-based Bad Boy when a friend of his in 11 No. 1s, two Grammy Award winners and ommends purchases to Hipgnosis and uses Baltimore introduced him to a cousin who includes the hits “Don’t Stop,” “Everywhere, what it calls “song management” to extract worked with Puff Daddy, who at the time “You Make Loving Fun,” “Songbird” and value on the back end. had been dismissed from Uptown Records “Little Lies.” Prior to that, Hipgnosis had raised a total and was about to start his own label. “They Financial terms were not disclosed. of £1.1 billion ($1.5 billion) through a 2018 didn’t have anyone up there that played a Fleetwood Mac has sold almost 150 mil- IPO and six subsequent raises, the most lot of different instruments,” Thompson re- lion albums and were inducted into the recent one in February 2021. called to You Know I Got in 2011 of the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame in 1998. McVie’s The company has been on a roll. In Bad Boy team at the time. “It was either you long list of honors includes the Brit Award the year ended March 31, 2021, Hipgno- played keyboards, or you just were a straight for outstanding contribution to music, a sis spent $1.06 billion on the purchase of hip-hop producer/sampler, but I was all of Gold Badge of Merit Award from the Ivors full or partial stakes in 84 music catalogs, those things. “ Academy and the Ivor Novello Award for including those of Neil Young, Barry Thompson’s versatility made him an achievement. Manilow, Shakira, Jimmy Iovine, En- collaborator, and he helped build McVie is “one of the greatest songwriters rique Iglesias, Buckingham and Wu-Tang the label’s in-house team up with fellow of all time,” enthuses Merck Mercuriadis, Clan member RZA. producers such as Easy Mo Bee and Rashad founder of The Family (Music) Limited and Smith. In 1994, he worked extensively Hipgnosis Songs Fund Limited. on two multi-platinum-certified classic In the last 46 years, he continues, the albums that would send Bad Boy into the band has had three distinct writers and vo- stratosphere: Mary J. Blige’s sophomore Page 17 of 29

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set My Life and The Notorious B.I.G.’s debut details about refunds and the rollover process LP Ready to Die. He wrote and produced on New Orleans for next year, according to organizers. Tickets the majority of tracks on My Life, includ- for Oct. 13 will be automatically refunded. ing the funky hits “Mary Jane (All Night Jazz & Heritage Jazz Fest is a co‐production between Long)” and “You Bring Me Joy,” and co- AEG Presents and Festival Productions, manned the decks on three cuts, including Festival 2021 Inc.‐New Orleans. the G-funk-influenced smash “Big Poppa” See the festival’s full cancellation state- on Ready to Die. Thompson’s full-bodied Canceled Over ment below. production updated classic samples of artists including Rick James and the Isley COVID-19 Brothers for an R&B/hip-hop hybrid sound Dennis ‘Dee Tee’ that helped to define the mid ‘90s. Safety Concerns Hits with Bad Boy artists such as Total Thomas, (“No One Else”) and Faith Evans (“You BY MITCHELL PETERS Used to Love Me”) continued for Thomp- Co-Founder of son through the turn of the millennium — he New Orleans Jazz & Heritage though his biggest single in the 21st century Festival has been called off for a Kool & the Gang, came outside the label’s family, with the second time. cinematic “One Mic” for Nas in 2002. His On Sunday (Aug. 8), organizers Dies at 70 credits grew more sporadic as the 21st Tof the annual Louisiana festival — which was century progressed, but he still appeared on scheduled to take place over two weekends BY MITCHELL PETERS albums from and Ne-Yo in the from Oct. 8-10 and Oct. 15-17 — announced past decade, and remained a regular collabo- the event’s cancellation, citing safety and ennis “Dee Tee” Thomas, the rator of Evans’ through the 2010s. health concerns related to COVID-19. co-founder and saxophonist “A music legend for the DMV and the “As a result of the current exponential of Kool & the Gang, has died. world,” wrote DJ Heat, house DJ for the growth of new COVID cases in New Orleans He was 70. Washington Mystics and Wizards basketball and the region and the ongoing public DThe legendary funk band announced teams, in tribute to Thompson on Twitter. health emergency, we must sadly announce Thomas’ passing on Saturday (Aug. 7), writ- “Not only laced so many classic hits, but also that the 2021 edition of the New Orleans ing in a statement that the musician died continued to show so much love for the DC Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by “peacefully in his sleep” in New Jersey. Fur- area. RIP Chucky Thompson.” Shell, scheduled to take place October 8–17, ther details about his death were not given. 2021, will not occur as planned,” the state- “An original member of Kool & the Gang, ment said. Dennis was known as the quintessential cool This year’s Jazz Fest, which annually cel- cat in the group, loved for his hip clothes ebrates the culture and heritage of New Or- and hats, and his laid-back demeanor,” Kool leans and Louisiana alongside performances & the Gang said. “A huge personality while by national and international artists, boast- also an extremely private person, Dennis ed a lineup including Foo Fighters, Liz- was the alto saxophone player, flutist, per- zo, Demi Lovato, H.E.R. and Brandi cussionist as well as master of ceremonies at Carlile, among many others. the band’s shows. Dennis’ prologue featured This isn’t the first time Jazz Fest has been on the groups 1971 hit, ‘Who’s Gonna Take impacted by COVID-19. The 2020 edition of the Weight’ is legendary and an example of the festival — which traditionally takes place his showmanship.” at the end of April and early May for eight The band added that Thomas was Kool & days — was also canceled because of the the Gang’s “wardrobe stylist who made sure coronavirus pandemic. they always looked fresh.” In the act’s early “We now look forward to next spring, days, he also “served as the ‘budget hawk,’ when we will present the festival during its carrying the group’s earnings in a paper bag traditional timeframe,” organizers said on in the bell of his horn.” Sunday, adding that next year’s dates are Thomas was born on Feb. 9, 1951, in scheduled for April 29-May 8. Orlando, Fla. In 1964, he and his teenage Ticketholders for both 2021 festival week- friends — brothers Ronald Bell and Robert ends will receive an email this week with “Kool” Bell, Spike Mickens, Ricky Westfield, Page 18 of 29

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George Brown, and Charles Smith — formed and more began to emerge on Beneath The an early incarnation of the group, calling Universal Music Glass Ceiling, an Instagram account which themselves the Jazziacs. After various name launched in 2020 to share “real life experi- changes, the young musicians settled on Australia Launches ences working” in the Australian music their famous moniker in 1969, and released industry. A separate account for the New their self-titled debut that same year. Investigation Into Zealand industry went live in March 2020. Over the decades, the funk, soul and R&B Ash is quoted in the SMH as being “heart- legends have earned two , Workplace Culture broken” by the allegations leveled against seven and scored UMA, which include claims of bullying, numerous hits on the , in- BY LARS BRANDLE harassment, racism, homophobia, discrimi- cluding “Celebration,” “Jungle Boogie” and nation, as well as more serious allegations of “Ladies Night.” Thomas has appeared on ev- niversal Music Australia has sexual assault, with many of those incidents ery Kool & the Gang album since the band’s launched an independent inves- apparently occurring on his watch. formation, including the group’s upcoming tigation following allegations of “My initial response was ‘I don’t know 25th studio release, Perfect Union. inappropriate behavior within whether the allegations are true or not’ but Thomas last appeared onstage with Kool Uits ranks. it made me think we haven’t done enough & the Gang during a July 4 concert at the The music giant’s affiliate in Sydney has and we need to do more in our company,” Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. “Sadly, this tapped Darren Perry at law firm Seyfarth Ash told the SMH. “I need to step up and was Dennis’ farewell appearance with the Shaw to conduct a probe into work- take responsibility.” band,” the group wrote on Saturday. place culture, after a string of allegations It’s understood ’s His death comes nearly one year after the emerged online and an internal complaint international department has become in- passing of Kool & the Gang co-founder Ron- was lodged with HR, according to The Syd- volved in this evolving situation. ald “Khalis” Bell, who died last Septem- ney Morning Herald’s Nathanael Cooper, ber at the 68. who broke the story. Thomas is survived by wife, Phynjuar In an email to staff last Friday (Aug. 6), Cancel Saunders Thomas; daughter, Tuesday George Ash, president of Universal Music Rankin; sons, David Thomas and Devin Australia & New Zealand, informed employ- ‘Post Pandemic Thomas; and numerous grandchildren. ees of the investigation and acknowledged Read Kool & the Gang’s statement about the company “was aware of the allegations Popup Party’ Thomas’ passing here. that had been published online, including an allegation that had been made about him,” Tour ‘Out of an the report notes. “As the leader of this company I take full Abundance of responsibility for creating a respectful work- place culture for everyone,” Ash wrote in the Caution’ internal message, verified by Billboard. “With respect to my own behaviour, it is particular- BY GIL KAUFMAN ly painful to realise now that what I intended as jokes were unacceptable comments that ess than a week after a triumphant made some of you uncomfortable.” main stage set at a full-capacity Those “unacceptable comments” were Lollapalooza in Chicago, Limp reportedly made during a Zoom call. Bizkit have canceled their summer Universal Music Australia is the second Ltour. The theater sprint by the nu- of Australia’s three majors to investigate metal survivors — dubbed the “Limited Last conduct and cultural failures, as the MeToo Minute Post Pandemic Popup Party Edition” movement gathers pace in these parts. — was slated to run through an August 24 Sony Music Australia is conducting its show at the Palladium in Los Angeles. own investigation. As previously reported, However, after making it through just the affiliate’s longstanding CEO Denis four dates, the band announced over the Handlin was stood down in June and two weekend that beginning with Friday night’s other executives were let go. (August 6) gig at the Stone Pony Sum- Both music giants began to look inwards mer Stage in Asbury Park, New Jersey, the when details of bullying, harassment, assault planned 12-date outing was off. “Out of an Page 19 of 29

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abundance of caution and concern for the safety of the band, crew and most of all the Adriel Favela Erika Records fans, the Limp Bizkit show this Monday and the remaining August tour is being can- Signs Recording Founder Looks celled,” the wrote in a statement on their official site. “Refunds are available at their & Label Deal Back on 40 Years points of purchase. All tickets purchased online will be automatically refunded.” With Fonovisa of Pressing Vinyl At press time a spokesperson for the band could not be reached for comment about BY LEILA COBO BY GARY GRAFF what led to the tour’s cancelation. “Unfortu- nately tonight’s Limp Bizkit show at Stone driel Favela, the young singer/ espite opposition from the start Pony Summer Stage has been postponed,” composer of regional Mexican — mostly from men, including the venue wrote on Facebook just hours music who’s known for his her own father — Liz Dunster before the show was slated to take place, traditional fare as well as for a established the heavy metal- promising that a new date will be an- recentA collaboration with Spanish rapper C. Dfocused vinyl label Erika Records in 1980. nounced “shortly.” Tangana, has inked a recording and produc- A year later, she added a vinyl manufactur- According to , singer Fred tion deal with regional Mexican behemoth ing plant in a bid to have tighter control of Durst posted an Instagram Story shortly Fonovisa Records, owned by Universal the creative aspects and quality of vinyl she after the scotched Pony show to dispel Music Latino. released on her label. The venture made rumors that guitarist Wes Borland was Favela, born in San Francisco and raised Dunster the first female owner of such an having health issues. “Let us be clear: 1. in both Mexico and the U.S., is part of the operation. And while the label’s output Wes Borland does not have Covid. 2. The new wave of regional Mexican stars who are slowed down in the late 1980s, her vinyl pro- system is seriously flawed,” Durst wrote. “3. bilingual and bicultural, and experimental in duction business boomed, creating iconic We don’t care much about the BS… We care their lyrics and musical style. Favela, 27, who custom pieces for , KISS, The a lot about you… Dad vibes coming soon.” writes his own songs, is ostensibly a corrido Clash, The Police, Bob Marley, , Borland also reportedly denied the rumors and norteño act, but laces his music liberally Gwen Stefani, and Poison. in his own Story, writing, “I’m not sick… with guitars and collaborates often with a The full-service facility, based in Buena No seriously. No matter what you’ve read, I wide range of acts. He’s placed two tracks Park, Calif., is entering its fifth decade of don’t have Covid. I’m fine. Thanks.” on the top 10 of Billboard’s regional Mexican vinyl artisanship and has expanded its At press time it was unclear if the tour can- airplay chart and four tracks on Billboard’s manufacturing capacity from two presses cellation will impact LB’s planned run of Sep- Hot Latin songs chart. to 42. Erika takes orders from major and tember festival dates, which includes a Sept. His new deal will allow him to not only independent labels and makes everything 5 slot at Rocklahoma, as well as appearances develop his sound, but also sign new acts. from black vinyl and variant-color press- at the Sept. 10 Blue Ridge Rock Festival, Sept. “I feel blessed and grateful to showcase ings to specialty items like picture discs and 24’s Rebel Rock in Orlando and Sacramento’s my creative ideas in the purest and most records in the shape of just about anything Aftershock Festival on Oct. 7. honest way possible - through the univer- from a space shuttle to fast food. The com- In the meantime, the band is teasing a sal language of music. I am also extremely pany also prints and designs record jackets new song, “Dad Vibes,” which they pre- proud of my team that is being assembled, and inserts, handles vinyl lacquer master- viewed at the end of their Lolla set, an ap- which is full of talent, vision, patience and ing and presses gold and platinum album pearance that helped push their streams up intelligence,” said Favela in a statement. plaques for the RIAA. nearly 30% from the previous week. Favela was signed by Antonio Silva, the Throughout its existence, Erika Records managing director for Fonovisa and Disa, has remained a family business: Dunster’s who said: “He’s a young, multi-talented art- husband, Charles, does “anything that ist with a quickly growing career in Regional needs to be done,” she says, while son Janos Mexican music, and he’s also not afraid to “John” Schermerhorn is operations manager show his innovative and creative side by col- and daughter Erika lent her name for the laborating with musicians who specialize in company. Erika Records is also an innovator: other genres. He’s truly a complete artist.” As CDs boomed in the 1980s, it stayed afloat Favela was previously signed to indie thanks to its out-of-the-box designs. Erika is Gerencia 360. now the largest manufacturer of custom re- cords and picture discs in the United States. It’s also the first plant to use lead-free PVC Page 20 of 29

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for all of its pressings, taking a greener ap- Did you encounter more sexism, picture discs and things like that are just proach to vinyl manufacturing. beyond your father’s attitude, when you a gimmick and not the meat and potatoes “When Third Man was preparing to open were getting Erika going? of the industry? our own pressing plant, Liz welcomed us to Sure I did. I’m not going to go into all Picture discs got a bad rap. People said Erika, gave us an in-depth tour of her facil- the details. But being blond and walking that the sound quality sucked. I said, “No, ity and even took our team out for lunch,” into places, I’ve heard people say, “Another no, no — it sucks for some people because says Ben Blackwell, co-founder of Jack blond coming in!,” and they wouldn’t take they’re using thinner material.” I was using White’s Third Man Records, which opened me seriously because I was the first female the better material, and the sound quality its manufacturing facility in Detroit in 2017. to get into the pressing business, and it was was still good. That made a difference. To commemorate Erika Records’ 40th tough. I remember one of the guys saying it How do you explain the current vinyl anniversary, Dunster, 67, discusses the uphill and I turned around and said, “I’m a bleach boom? battle of the nostalgia business and vinyl’s blond, just remember that,” and walked The kids, the young generation, being bright future. away. I really don’t want to say what some home has a lot to do with it. They can’t go Does it feel like you’ve been doing this of the other challenges were, because they anywhere, so they were staying at home for 40 years — or 400? were such inappropriate things. I can write listening to records instead of CDs, and they It feels like a lot. (Laughs.) I’ve got a lot a book about it, and might do it at my 50th just started something new. They see the more gray , a lot more wrinkles. But I year, if I last that long. jackets are bigger. They can open it, they love it. I won’t give it up. I tell people I can So how did you get past those atti- can touch it. I have kids coming in here — cut my veins and PVC will come out — in tudes? no kidding — and they open the record and different colors. It really is in my blood, but Just by keeping at it. I pretty much get smell it. I think, “What the hell is going on?” trust me, my body feels it after all this time. along with everybody now, and the ones But they say there’s a smell to it that they How did you get into this business? I don’t I still stay away from. Really, my love. I start sniffing and I can’t smell it, but I had my own label, and I didn’t like the second husband, Charles, helped me fulfill OK. So then once the older generation saw quality I was getting. My father at one time my dream. When I met him, I had two the young kids were doing it, they started built presses, and I asked him if he would presses and he knew it was my dream. going back to it, and collectors were back help me build some. He said, “No, your job We just worked and worked. We actually into it big-time. is to stay home and have babies” — very old- pressed our own records ourselves here on Has the pandemic affected business in fashioned. He said, “You being a female, you Saturdays and Sundays, whatever needed to other ways? won’t make it in this industry,” because it be done. We scrubbed down the machines, We’ve grown. We’re putting more presses was male-dominated at the time. So I saved changed things in the back — it didn’t mat- in. A lot of releases that were on CD are enough money to buy my first machine shop ter. I was not going to fail. coming back out on vinyl. Right now, I’m in Signal Hill [in Los Angeles] and asked my Starting out in 1981, you came in at booked until June of 2022. It’s crazy. We’ve father again if he’d help me, and he goes, the dawn of the CD age. That had to be a got a huge order for the next Guardians “Hell, no!” I thought, “OK, I’m not going to challenge. of the Galaxy soundtrack that’s going to have my own pressing plant.” Then I said I Oh, that just about killed me. Only half take a lot of time. I’ve got to wait for the was going to go into law and wanted to be a my presses were going. What kept me city to give us permits, but I want to have judge, and he finally gave in and helped me going was we did unique records, not just 60 presses altogether. So it has been a real build my first two presses. standard black vinyl. We’d do a record, and growth time for us. Rather than have you go into law? I’d put an ant farm in it, floating, or a Pez What are the biggest issues facing the Yes. He didn’t want me doing that. He was dispenser with candies — made out of paper, pressing industry now? like, “You’ll probably get killed in the first of course. I made a record shaped like a I’m hearing that PVC is going to be an two weeks.” But that’s OK, because music Christmas tree, with little lights in it, and issue here soon. Every time you turn around, was my real love and passion. when it would spin, they would twinkle. I’d [the price] goes up. In December, it was What made pressing records more go out to different companies and say, “Hey, $1.10 a pound, and now it’s $1.65. Every time rewarding than running a label? why don’t you put a record out with your you turn around, something goes up. Now I really like to create a finished product logo on it?” We did that with the [now Las they’re saying there’s going to be a short- and see it in stores, knowing that I made it, Vegas] Raiders football team. I just like to do age of PVC. My suppliers are saying get as that I was part of that release. Back in the things that are different, and that’s some- much as you can, so that’s what I’m doing. late ’80s, I had to pick what I wanted to do: thing that kept Erika going when the music I’m stocked up like you wouldn’t believe. The label or the pressing? You can’t have industry wasn’t pressing as much vinyl after Erika was the first plant to use only 100% both, because you’re pulled back-and-forth CDs. We’ve always been busy because of the lead-free vinyl material. so much. So I picked the pressing, especially unique records. Why was that important to you? when people told me I couldn’t do it. What do you say to those who think the We’re in California, so I made sure we’re Page 21 of 29

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very green. We got rid of everything that’s 42 presses: The vinyl factory has 18 12- ing as soon as possible to suspend him from leaded, sold it to other companies. The un- inch automatics, 16 12-inch semiautomat- the conservatorship. leaded material is harder to work with, but I ics, two 7-inch automatics and six 7-inch James Spears said Rosengart “does not have children and grandchildren, so I want semiautomatics, with seven more presses to (and cannot) specify what the wrongdoing to make sure we’re totally green. We recycle be added soon. is” to prompt such a suspension. all our PVC, all the jackets, everything. We 5 Winklers: The fabrication machines James Spears stepped aside from the make our own dyes here. Everything we can are used to print designs for record jackets, part of the conservatorship that controls do on our own, we do it. inner sleeves and other packaging. his daughter’s life decisions in 2019, with What are your favorite projects? 1 lathe: The machine rotates on an axis Montgomery taking over, though her official The one I put out myself would be the to cut lacquers — hard, shiny finishes — on status remains temporary. space shuttle. My ex father-in-law was one vinyl. The allegations made by Britney of the guys that worked at NASA here in This story originally appeared in the Au- Spears at hearings in June and July that Downey [in Los Angeles]. They gave me a gust 7, 2021, issue of Billboard. seem to have spurred Rosengart’s call for recording of an astronaut talking and we her father’s removal, including “serious made a space shuttle-shaped disc with that allegations regarding forced medical treat- on it. It’s -screened and really unique. Britney Spears’ ment and therapy, improper medical care, We have a french fry one that’s really hot, and limitations on personal rights,” are too. They’re just different things to catch Father Says “untested” and involve issues that have long people’s eyes and get attention. That’s what been Montgomery’s responsibility, not his, I like to do. ‘No Grounds said Jamie Spears’ filing. Have you met many of the artists over the James Spears says the call for his urgent years? Whatsoever’ for removal is “ironic” considering the call he KISS came in, and I know Stryper. And received from Montgomery on July 9. Gwen Stefani, when she was still a teenager. Conservatorship “Ms. Montgomery sounded very dis- The funniest one was when Poison came traught and expressed how concerned she in. A couple of the guys came in, and it was Removal was about my daughters’ recent behavior really hot outside. I said, “Why don’t you tell and overall mental health,” James Spears your girlfriends to come in?” Because they BY ASSOCIATED PRESS said in a personal declaration included with were in the car, and it was hot outside. And his court filing. “Ms. Montgomery explained they said, “That’s the other band members.” ritney Spears’ father said in a that my daughter was not timely or properly I was like, “Oh, s—t.” But that’s what they get court filing Friday (Aug. 6) that taking her medications, was not listening to for having prettier hair than me. (Laughs.) there are “no grounds whatso- the recommendations of her medical team, As Erika turns 40, how would you de- ever” for removing him from the and refused to even see some of her doctors. scribe its legacy? Bconservatorship that controls her money Ms. Montgomery said she was very wor- That a woman did it when they said it and affairs. ried about the direction my daughter was couldn’t be done. It wasn’t easy, but I kept James Spears “has dutifully and faithfully heading in and directly asked for my help to plugging away, and here we are, still doing served as the conservator of his daughter’s address these issues.” it. I’m very proud. I’m tickled to death. I can estate without any blemishes on his record,” James Spears said they discussed the pos- look in the mirror and say, “I did it” — and I the filing said. sibility of hospitalizing Britney Spears on an still am. James Spears’ filing also says that court- emergency psychiatric hold. By the Numbers appointed professional Jodi Montgomery, A look at the metrics behind the largest who oversees Britney Spears’ life decisions manufacturer of custom records and picture while her father handles her money, called discs in the United States, which pressed first him, distraught, last month and sought releases for , Nirvana, Soundgarden, his help with his daughter’s mental health Sublime and many others. struggles. Montgomery and her lawyer said 65,000 square feet: The Erika Records in response that James Spears “misrepre- plant includes three buildings, and in a given sented and manipulated” the call to use it to week presses 20 to 40 releases, translating his own advantage. to nearly 100,000 records. James Spears’ filing came in response to 75 employees: Dunster’s operation has court papers filed a day earlier by Britney evolved from its DIY, family roots to a staff Spears’ new attorney Matthew Rosen- of over six dozen industry professionals. gart, which requested an emergency hear- Page 22 of 29

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where our mouth is,” Gruss explains. “We’re Round Hill Looks focusing on building diversity.” Along with Strictly Discs the scholarship, the indie publishing com- to Break Barriers pany is also donating to the National Music in Wisconsin, of African American Music in Nashville. With New “We’re trying to invest in what’s important,” in a Pandemic: he says. Scholarship at Unlike most scholarship funds, the money Delta ‘Just the invested was not given in the form of cash, Berklee College instead, Gruss and his company have made Beginning’ If the donation in $1 million dollars worth of BY KRISTIN ROBINSON stock from its Round Hill Music Royalty Vaccinations Fund Ltd., which began trading on the Lon- or Josh Gruss, former student don Stock Exchange in November. “What’s Don’t Improve of Berklee College of Music and neat is that our music, like the underlying founder, chairman, and CEO of property of music we hold, is supporting BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN independent publisher Round Hill music education. The royalties that are FMusic, his alma mater is “a big, wonderful being paid from music publishing will help n October 1988, Angie Roloff and her playground” for music lovers. “It was a re- support someone at the school,” Gruss says. husband Ron opened Strictly Discs ally important time in my life,” he says. Round Hill Music, which oversees admin- in Madison, Wisconsin, after Ron left The music executive studied guitar and istration of the RHM Royalty Fund, ranked a career in the biomedical research music business while at Berklee, and credits No. 6 in Billboard’s Top Publisher ranking for Ifield to pursue his love of music full time. the school for teaching him the foundations 2021’s second quarter with a 1.85% market Nearly 31 years later, the couple made the of music history — something that has given share of the Top 100 Radio Airplay songs. difficult decision to shutter in-store op- him crucial context for his work today at The new donation is a way for the execu- erations due to COVID-19, roughly a week Round Hill. tive to give back “after all Berklee has done before Gov. Tony Evers forced a mandatory Twenty-plus years after starting at Berk- for [him],” he explains, but he plans to leave shutdown of all non-essential businesses. lee, Gruss is still pouring his resources into the decision-making up to Berklee’s music After the Wisconsin Supreme Court over- the institution. He now acts as a trustee and business staff. turned Evers’ stay-at-home order in May has lent his expertise to the school’s Massive Recipients for the scholarship will be se- 2020 — ruling it “unlawful” and “unenforce- Open Online Course (MOOC) called “Copy- lected during the upcoming academic year, able” — the Roloffs and their employees right and Revenue Streams for Musicians.” the school said. reopened the store and have kept it running But now, the publishing executive wants to ever since. take his support of Berklee even further. As part of Billboard’s efforts to best cover Today, the institution announced the the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts establishment of the Josh Gruss/Round on the music industry, we will be speak- Hill Music Endowed Scholarship Fund to ing with Roloff regularly to chronicle her provide financial aid for deserving students experience throughout the crisis. (Read the from underrepresented groups or economic previous installment here and see the full hardship in the Music Business and Man- series here.) agement program. How was Record Store Day? Beginning with a $1 million dollar gift, Much, much better than June. That the new scholarship is designed to topple wouldn’t take a whole lot, but it went some of the earliest barriers of entry for a smoothly. There were very few hiccups. career in the music business: education and There were a couple of titles from June connection-building. “The network Berklee that were bumped to July that the distribu- provides is really important, I think. For tor missed, but I caught that early enough these students, you get a great education, thanks to some of my coalition friends who and you also get the connection to so many I quickly asked, “Do have these titles?” And alumni in the business,” he says. they all resoundingly answered yes, and so I With the scholarship, Gruss hopes to push realized I had a problem and they were able the music business towards greater equity. to fix it. So that was good. And compared to “For Round Hill, we’re putting our money June, it was a minor blip. Page 23 of 29

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It sounds like everything went really going. I guess that’s my fear, to be on this well. Were you able to do sort of the full roller coaster. I think we’re super fortunate Lynyrd Skynyrd’s enchilada, in the sense of offering all the to be in the county that we are, but obvi- fun stuff for people waiting in line? ously this disease doesn’t care about what Rickey Medlocke For both the June and July date we county you’re in. poured beer and we had either doughnuts or I know you stopped requiring masks in Tests Positive for bacon outside, so that was definitely a return the store. Are you considering requiring to normal. One of the advantages of some them again? COVID-19, Band of the changes that we’ve made due to the I know some of the stores in Texas that I pandemic, and I know we’ve talked about it, communicate with, they are now requiring Cancels Shows is we did this menu [for Record Store Day masks just because their outbreaks are on titles] outside, and we fill people’s requests, the rise. I haven’t considered any change BY ASSOCIATED PRESS and then they check out outside. I don’t at right now, but I would be surprised if we this point see us ever going back from that don’t see one at some point. ynyrd Skynyrd has pulled out system. People love it, it goes really smooth- I had heard rumblings that the Fear- of the Pro Football Hall of Fame ly, it goes quickly, and then people can get in less (Taylor’s Version) vinyl was gonna be concert after guitarist Rickey Med- here and shop in a normal way. Usually, we released soon. locke tested positive for COVID-19. would have a line the entire day. And now It is coming the first week of September. LThe country rock band was set to co- we can knock through the line and get ev- We have another color variation of Folk- headline the concert Monday night (Aug. 9) erybody their product in a couple of hours. lore in the house for tomorrow. with but Medlocke’s positive So that’s kind of one of the advantages, just It sounds like Taylor’s really inspired a test forced the group’s withdrawal, accord- because we’re a tight store. So some of those lot of other artists and labels to lean more ing to a band statement. kind of changes have been good. into vinyl. Do you think that’s the case? “Rickey is home resting and responding The Delta variant is now becoming a I think it’s certainly the case for some well to treatment,” the statement said. thing of course, and has been for awhile of the artists that appeal to that younger , who was the opening act, actually. Do you know what the vaccina- demographic. I think she’s proving that has extended his set list to open the show. tion rate in your county is? that group will buy releases on vinyl, and He performs a duet with Paisley on the cur- I think we are just shy of 70 percent. Just not only will they buy it on vinyl, but they’ll rent hit “Freedom Was a Highway.” a couple ticks below. buy it on several different color variations, The band also suspended shows in That’s pretty good. because they’re that interested in collecting Jackson, Mississippi; Atlanta; and Cullman, It is. It does feel good. I wish it was higher, what she puts out. Alabama, with the Aug. 13 show in Atlanta it seems like we’ve kind of plateaued every- Last time I think you’d mentioned that rescheduled for Oct. 23. where. But that’s at least a good number. you saw more younger women in particu- How are you feeling right now with lar in the store recently, I guess because this more contagious variant circulat- of Taylor but also probably some other ing now? We hear all these stories in the artists too, right? news about breakthrough infections. I It’s just been a growing trend. One I think know that’s rare, but I think the cumula- it would be impossible to ignore, but it’s re- tive effect of hearing all these anecdotal ally nice to see. stories is anxiety-inducing for some Is there anything else that’s been going people. Are you worried? on that you wanted to mention? I think a little bit of both. I’m worried, Not really, Chris. That’s enough. [Laughs] but then I’m also optimistic. I do have some It’s been busy. We’re all looking forward concerns about the return to school and the to kind of getting a little back to our norm. fact that young kids haven’t been able to be We’ve got some of the guys on vacation vaccinated and what that’s going to mean as getting out of town to see family that they far as concern amongst their parent groups. haven’t seen in a very long time, so we’re I think the fall is the real issue. For now, I just kind of hoping to cycle through that and feel like we’re in a good place. I just am not just kind of get back into what we do each sure exactly what will happen [in the fall]. If week, which will feel good. we don’t improve vaccination rates nation- wide, I feel like the Delta variant may just be the beginning, because I think it’ll just keep Page 24 of 29

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ange, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 in slightly ribald sense of humor. If you didn’t Frank Ocean July 2012 and charted for 61 weeks. sufficiently beg to get off of his email joke list, you would have received one just a Announces couple of days before he died,” Molly Ring- Bob Ringwald, wald wrote. Luxury Brand Besides his daughter Molly, Robert Jazz Ambassador Ringwald is survived by , his wife of 60 Homer & NYC years; a sister, Renée Angus; another daugh- and Molly ter, Beth Ringwald Carnes; a son, Kelly Jewelry Store Ringwald; two grandsons; two granddaugh- Ringwald’s Father, ters; two step-granddaughters; one great- BY DARLENE ADEROJU ; and one step-great-grandson. Dies at 80 A memorial service is pending. n Friday (Aug. 6), Frank In lieu of flowers, the family asks that Ocean announced the launch BY ASSOCIATED PRESS donations be made either to the Founda- of his independent American tion Fighting Blindness or to CURE Child- luxury company Homer and its obert Ringwald, the pianist who hood Cancer. Odebut collection. played and promoted jazz in The first Homer collection is composed California for more than half a of high-end jewelry and silk scarves, each century, has died, according to Jury Selection handcrafted using 18k gold, recycled sterling Rhis daughter, the actor and musician Molly silver, hand-painted enamel and American Ringwald. He was 80. to Begin in lab-grown diamonds. Homer pieces are Ringwald, known to friends and fans as designed in New York City and handmade in Bob, died Aug. 3, Molly Ringwald wrote in R. Kelly Sex Italy. In a press release, Ocean revealed that an obituary Saturday for the Sacramento the designs are inspired by his childhood Bee. No cause was given. Trafficking Case obsessions and heritage. Born in Roseville, California with vision Ocean’s exclusive pieces will be presented problems, Ringwald went blind at an early BY ASSOCIATED PRESS in a catalog in-store or online, upon request age. He began taking piano lessons at 5 and for access via the official Homer website. started his first band at 13. fter several delays, the first phase However, items can be purchased exclusive- “Four years later, at the age of 17, he was of the sex trafficking trial of R&B ly at the Homer jewelry store, which shop- able to grow enough of a beard to be able to hitmaker R. Kelly will begin pers can visit by appointment. There will pass for an adult to play in as a with jury selection Monday (Au- be limited availability for walk-in guests. professional musician, an occupation he held gustA 9) in New York City. A judge in federal Homer, the store, is located at 70-74 Bowery for the next six decades,” his daughter wrote. court in Brooklyn will question potential in New York City. At first drawn to modern jazz, the music jurors about whether they can keep an open The Homer store will open Monday, of Louis Armstrong instilled in Ringwald mind about Kelly two years after he was with operating hours of 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET a lifelong passion for the performance and charged with abusing women and girls for Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. preservation of traditional New Orleans jazz. nearly two decades. ET Saturday. By the 1970s, Ringwald was playing piano The proceeding will occur amid corona- For prospective buyers, global orders can at clubs seven nights a week. virus pandemic precautions restricting the be made by calling or messaging the store He co-organized the first Sacramento press and the public to overflow courtrooms using the Signal app. Beginning Monday, Jazz Festival in 1974, and his band headlined with video feeds. Kelly, 54, has been locked the number to dial is (212) 410-3300. Homer the event, which became an annual city up since he was indicted, mostly housed in promises to provide complimentary ship- tradition. In 2012, Ringwald was honored by a federal jail in Chicago. He was moved last ping for international orders. the festival as “The Emperor of Jazz.” month to the federal Metropolitan Deten- Ocean’s new business venture comes five In addition to music, Ringwald’s passions tion Center in Brooklyn to face trial in a case years after the release of his second studio included ham radio and the Los Angeles that’s further diminished his superstar status. album, Blonde, which debuted in August Dodgers, for whom he once served as a Last week, defense attorney Devereaux 2016. The smash hit album peaked at No. 1 guest announcer, reading the lineup in Cannick told a judge that Kelly needs to be on the Billboard 200 in September 2016 and Braille. measured for new clothing because he’s charted for 239 weeks. “Anyone who knew Bob also knew his gained so much weight in jail. And he asked His debut studio album, Channel Or- mischievous streak, and his ever-present, that court transcripts be provided at no cost Page 25 of 29

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because Kelly has been unable to work for and elsewhere. Nearly a decade later, he tiers of audio and video music services, as two years, saying: “His funds are depleted.” began releasing what eventually became 22 well as download sales, the latter of which The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum- musical chapters of Trapped in the Closet, a reflect purchases from full-service digital selling singer has denied any wrongdoing drama that spins a tale of sexual deceit and music retailers from around the world, with and pleaded not guilty to charges accusing became a cult classic. But Kelly has been sales from direct-to-consumer (D2C) sites him of leading an enterprise of manag- trailed for decades by complaints and allega- excluded from the charts’ calculations. ers, bodyguards and other employees who tions about his sexual behavior, including a The Kid LAROI & Bieber ‘Stay’ at No. 1 helped him recruit women and girls for sex. 2002 child pornography case in Chicago. “Stay” by The Kid LAROI, from Australia, Federal prosecutors say the group selected He was acquitted in that case in 2008. and Justin Bieber, from Canada, scores a victims at concerts and other venues and Scrutiny intensified again amid the #MeToo second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Global arranged for them to travel to see Kelly. movement in recent years, with multiple 200. The song drew 88 million streams (up Defense lawyers have said Kelly’s alleged women going public with accusations 17%) and sold 21,400 downloads worldwide victims were groupies who turned up at his against the singer. The pressure intensified (up 54%) in the July 30-Aug. 5 tracking week. shows and made it known they “were dying with the release of the Lifetime documen- Ed Sheeran’s “Bad Habits” holds at No. to be with him.” tary Surviving R. Kelly in 2019. Criminal 2 on the Global 200, after a week atop the They only started accusing him of abuse charges soon followed. chart; Måneskin’s “Beggin’ “ rebounds to its years later when public sentiment shifted No. 3 high from No. 4; Lil Nas X and Jack in the #MeToo era, they said. The trial had Harlow’s “Industry Baby” descends 3-4 in been expected to start earlier in the year. The Kid LAROI its second week on the survey; and Olivia But opening statements were moved to Rodrigo’s “Good 4 U” keeps at No. 5, after Aug. 18 after Kelly fired his original defense & Justin Bieber, six weeks at No. 1. team. Jurors are expected to hear testimony Elsewhere in the Global 200’s top 10, Billie from several of his accusers. A judge has Ed Sheeran Top Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” debuts at No. ruled that the women will only be referred 6 with 59.8 million streams and 6,100 sold to by their first names. Global Charts, worldwide. The title track from her new Prosecutors have said the jury will also album marks her third top 10 on the chart, all hear evidence that Kelly schemed with Billie Eilish Bows from the set and all of which have debuted in others to pay for a fake ID for Aaliyah, a the tier: “Therefore I Am” arrived at its No. 2 singer on the rise at 15 years old, in a secret in Top 10 high last November and “Your Power” started ceremony in 1994. Aaliyah is identified as at its No. 6 peak this May. “Jane Doe #1” in court papers because she BY GARY TRUST ‘Bad’ Good for Fifth Week on Top was still a minor when Kelly began a sexual “Bad Habits” by Ed Sheeran, from relationship with her and believed she had he Kid LAROI and Justin England, posts a fifth week at No. 1 on the become pregnant, the papers say. Bieber spend a second week at Billboard Global Excl. U.S. chart, with 54.6 “As a result, in an effort to shield himself No. 1 on the Billboard Global million streams (up 4%) and 22,600 sold from criminal charges related to his illegal 200 chart with “Stay,” while Ed (down 3%) in territories outside the U.S. in sexual relationship with Jane Doe #1, Kelly TSheeran adds a fifth week atop the Billboard the July 30-Aug. 5 tracking week. arranged to secretly marry her to prevent Global Excl. U.S. tally with “Bad Habits.” The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay” her from being compelled to testify against Plus, Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” climbs 4-2 for a new Global Excl. U.S. high, him in the future,” the papers say. Aaliyah, enters the Global 200 and Global Excl. U.S. with 58.6 million streams (up 27%) and whose full name was Aaliyah Dana Haugh- charts at Nos. 6 and 8, respectively. 7,200 sold (up 40%) outside the U.S. ton, worked with Kelly, who wrote and Billboard’s two global charts (the latest Måneskin’s “Beggin’ “ backtracks to No. produced her 1994 debut album, Age Ain’t of which are dated Aug. 14) began last Sep- 3 from its No. 2 Global Excl. U.S. best; BTS’ Nothing But A Number. She died in a plane tember and rank songs based on streaming “Permission to Dance” dips 3-4, after a week crash in 2001 at age 22. The case is only and sales activity culled from more than 200 at the summit; and Olivia Rodrigo’s “Good 4 part of the legal peril facing the singer, born territories around the world, as compiled by U” is steady at No. 5, after reaching No. 2. Robert Sylvester Kelly. He also has pleaded MRC Data. The Billboard Global 200 is in- Plus, Billie Eilish’s “Happier Than Ever” not guilty to sex-related charges in Illinois clusive of worldwide data and the Billboard debuts at No. 8 on the Global Excl. U.S. chart and Minnesota. Global Excl. U.S. chart comprises data from with 36.6 million streams and 2,200 sold Kelly won multiple Grammys for “I territories excluding the U.S. outside the U.S. As on the Global 200, Eilish Believe I Can Fly,” a 1996 song that became Chart ranks are based on a weighted earns her third top 10, following “Therefore an inspirational anthem played at school formula incorporating official-only streams I Am” (No. 2 debut and peak) and “Your graduations, weddings, advertisements on both subscription and ad-supported Power” (No. 5). Page 26 of 29

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The Billboard Global 200 and Billboard No. 3, July 6, 2013 Global Excl. U.S. charts (dated Aug. 14) will 79 weeks, “Sail,” AWOLNATION, No. 17, Oct. COVID Vaccine update on Billboard.com tomorrow (Aug. 12, 2013 10). For both charts, the top 100 titles are 76 weeks, “I’m Yours,” Jason Mraz, No. 6, Offered at Kanye available to all readers on Billboard.com, Sept. 20, 2008 while the complete 200-title rankings are 69 weeks, “How Do I Live,” LeAnn Rimes, West’s ‘Donda’ visible on Billboard Pro, Billboard’s sub- No. 2, Dec. 13, 1997 scription-based service. For all chart news, 68 weeks, “Counting Stars,” OneRepublic, Listening Party you can follow @billboard and @billboard- No. 2, Jan. 18, 2014 charts on both Twitter and Instagram. 68 weeks, “Party Rock Anthem,” LMFAO BY XANDER ZELLNER feat. Lauren Bennett & GoonRock, No. 1 (six weeks), July 16, 2011 anye West’s Donda listening The Weeknd’s 65 weeks, “Rolling in the Deep,” Adele, No. 1 party doubled as a vaccination (seven weeks), May 21, 2011 opportunity for attendees on ‘Blinding Lights’ 65 weeks, “You Were Meant for Thursday night. Me”/”,” Jewel, No. 2, April 19, KWhile the wait for West’s highly antici- Ties Record 1997 pated 10th solo studio album continues, fans 64 weeks, “Before He Cheats,” Carrie Un- were given the chance to get their COVID for Most Weeks derwood, No. 8, June 2, 2007 vaccination now, with the Mercedes-Benz Should “Blinding Lights” — one of three Stadium doling out Pfizer shots during the Spent on Billboard Hot 100 No. 1s from The Weeknd’s 2020 event. The Atlanta sports and entertainment album After Hours, and which he performed venue announced the effort over Twitter, Hot 100 as the finale of his Super Bowl LV halftime with vaccines available to all attendees until show medley Feb. 7 — notch an 88th week 9:30 p.m. in sections 340 to 347. BY GARY TRUST on the Hot 100 dated Aug. 21, setting the The effort, which took place during record outright for the most time spent on the second of two album teases from the he Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” the chart, it will be joined on the ranking by Grammy-winning rapper, came a day before adds another honor to its already his new single, “Take My Breath,” released the stadium announced another two-hour historic Billboard Hot 100 run, Friday (Aug. 6). pop-up for Atlanta Falcons fans planning to spending a record-tying 87th “I’ve always had an admiration for attend the team’s open practice on Saturday. Tweek on the chart (dated Aug. 14). It equals the era before I was born,” The Weeknd, Prior to Thursday’s event, the stadium had the run of Imagine Dragons’ “Radioactive,” 31, mused to Billboard in 2020 of the retro hosted walk-up vaccine opportunities dur- which logged its time on the tally in 2012-14. vibe of “Blinding Lights.” “You can hear it as ing several Atlanta United matches. “Blinding Lights,” released on XO/Repub- far back as my first mixtape [2011’s House of In partnership with the Fulton County lic Records, bowed on the Hot 100 dated Balloons] that the ‘80s – Siouxsie & the Ban- Board of Health and Georgia Emergency Dec. 14, 2019, at No. 11. The song, which shees, Cocteau Twins – play such a huge role Management Agency, the Atlanta stadium ranks at No. 16 in its 87th week, hit No. 1 for in my sound. Sometimes it helps me create a served as a vaccination site beginning in its first of four weeks on top on the chart new sound and sometimes it’s just obvious. January, before an announcement from dated April 4, 2020. Along the way, it has I’m just glad the world’s into it now.” White House officials of an expanded effort rewritten the records for the most time beginning in March. At the time, federal spent in the Hot 100’s top five (43 weeks), health officials confirmed that the socially top 10 (57 weeks), top 20 (78 weeks) and top distanced FEMA mass vaccination site 40 (83 weeks). would be able to administer 6,000 shots a Here’s an updated look at the titles to log day, for a total of 42,000 a week. the most time on the Hot 100, dating to the At the time of its shuttering in June, the chart’s Aug. 4, 1958, inception through the site had administered 300,000 doses, with latest list, dated Aug. 14, 2021. up to as many as 12,000 doses a day. It’s Most Weeks Spent on the Billboard Hot unclear how many doses of the vaccine were 100: delivered during the Donda event. 87 weeks, “Blinding Lights,” The Weeknd, Home to the NFL Atlanta Falcons and No. 1 peak (four weeks), April 4, 2020 peak MLS Atlanta United, the stadium previously date served as a mass kitchen to prepare meals 87 weeks, “Radioactive,” Imagine Dragons, for front-line workers, in addition to sup- Page 27 of 29

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porting shelters and community food banks, reasons, reopening is not a practical propo- As West Side Story joins fellow shuttered during the summer of 2020. sition. We thank all the brilliant, creative shows like Beetlejuice, Frozen and Mean The vaccination pop-up during the Don- artists who brought West Side Story to life Girls, others are ready for their comeback— da listening party comes after West ques- at the Broadway Theatre, even for so brief including those previously attached to Ru- tioned the safety of vaccines in a July a time, especially the extraordinary acting din: Kate Horton was recruited to join Barry 2020 Forbes interview, telling the outlet that company, 33 of whom made their Broadway Diller and David Geffen on the large-scale he was “extremely cautious” about it. In the debuts in this production.” musical revival of Meredith Willson’s The interview, he cited debunked conspiracy Ivo van Hove’s 2020 reimagining of West Music Man starring Hugh Grant and Sutton theories about the vaccine. Side Story opened mere weeks before the Foster; Orin Wolf took over Aaron Sorkin’s “It’s so many of our children that are coronavirus pandemic forced Broadway’s adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird and being vaccinated and paralyzed,” he falsely stages to go dark, but when the theater in- when The Book of Mormon announced its claimed. “So when they say the way we’re dustry finally returns to full capacity this return, Rudin’s name was simply no longer going to fix Covid is with a vaccine, I’m fall, the revival will not be among the many listed among the producers. extremely cautious.” productions reopening. Then again, unlike West Side Story, those He went on to call vaccines the “the mark West Side Story was previously ex- productions weren’t subject to protests of the beast” and said “they want to put ecutive produced by Scott Rudin, who an- over a cast member at the center of ballet’s chips inside of us, they want to do all kinds nounced he was stepping back from his #MeToo moment. of things, to make it where we can’t cross Broadway productions shortly after The This was the case for Ramasar, who the gates of .” Hollywood Reporter detailed multiple al- was accused of sharing sexually explicit The listening party marks both the second legations of physical abuse by ex-staffers. photos of another dancer and prompt- public preview of West’s upcoming album During its short run, the multimedia take ly fired from New York City Ballet in 2018—a and the second delay of its anticipated on the 1957 musical — which saw a return decision that the American Guild of Musi- release. The Aug. 5 listening event was engagement in 1960 and revivals in 1980 cal Artists challenged, ultimately leading to proceeded by one held on July 22 at the and 2009 — featured present-day updates, Ramasar’s reinstatement in April 2019. Mercedes-Benz stadium, where West has a trimmed book, more hip-hop and, most Still, the allegations resurfaced when been living while he finishes work on his notably, it was the first major staging in the Ramasar’s West Side Story casting was follow-up to the 2019 gospel-themed Jesus U.S. to trade original director-choreogra- announced in July 2020. An online pe- Is King. pher Jerome Robbins’ beloved dances for tition calling for his dismissal quickly The Hollywood Reporter has reached out brand-new choreography (courtesy of Anne amassed more than 49,000 signatures, and to West’s reps for comment. Teresa De Keersmaeker). by the time February 2020 rolled around, This article was originally published Shereen Pimentel, who made her multiple protests had been staged outside by The Hollywood Reporter. Broadway debut at age 9 in , of Broadway Theatre with signs reading, starred as Maria opposite Once on This “Sexual predators shouldn’t get leading Island‘s Isaac Powell as Tony. The part of roles on Broadway” and “Keep predators off ‘West Side Story’ Maria’s brother Bernardo, leader of Puerto the stage.” Rican street gang the Sharks, was played by West Side Story didn’t waver. Will Not Reopen Amar Ramasar, while Yesenia Ayala, who “The management of West Side Sto- appeared in the same Carousel revival as Ra- ry stands, as it always has stood, with Amar on Broadway masar, played his girlfriend. The other key Ramasar,” a Feb. 2020 statement from the role of Riff, Tony’s best friend and leader of production read in part. “While we sup- BY ALLISON CRIST rival gang the Jets, was played by Ben Cook, port the right of assembly enjoyed by the one of the original Broadway cast of Mean protestors, the alleged incident took place he Scott Rudin executive-pro- Girls. Both Ayala and Cook are set to appear in a different workplace — the New York duced version of West Side Sto- in Steven Spielberg’s screen remake of West City Ballet — which has no affiliation of any ry will not reopen on Broadway. Side Story. kind with West Side Story, and the dispute “It is with great regret that Van Hove’s version ultimately received in question has been both fully adjudicated Twe are announcing today that the 2020 mixed reviews. As THR‘s chief film critic and definitively concluded according to the Broadway revival of West Side Story will David Rooney put it, “Like many big-swing specific rules of that workplace, as mandat- not reopen,” producer Kate Horton said experimental bids to reimagine a canonical ed by the union that represents the parties in a statement on Monday. “This difficult work, director Ivo van Hove’s vigorously involved in that incident.” and painful decision comes after we have youthful take on the 1957 classic comes with Before protests could continue, CO- explored every possible path to a success- losses and gains, but the latter are what VID-19 hit. On March 10, Rudin slashed all ful run, and unfortunately, for a variety of you’ll remember.” of his productions’ ticket prices to $50 in Page 28 of 29

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an attempt to fill seats, but two days later, According to the OCC, Eilish becomes Broadway was ordered closed. the first international female artist to reach The Weeknd’s Fourteen months later, New York Gov. No. 1 with her first two albums since Lana Andrew Cuomo made the announcement Del Rey did it seven years ago, with Born To ‘Take My Breath’ so many out-of-work performers and stage Die and Ultraviolence. staff were desperate to hear: Broadway will Off the back of her new sophomore album Aiming for U.K. be back in business starting Sept. 14, and release, the alternative pop star’s debut theaters will be open at 100 percent capacity album from 2019, When We All Fall Asleep, Top 10 Debut once they reopen. Where Do We Go?, returns to the Top 40, Rudin, however, had already departed lifting 47-36 on this week’s survey. When We BY LARS BRANDLE multiple productions. All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go? has logged “I do not want any controversy associ- three weeks at No. 1 during its chart journey. he Weeknd’s new era is set to ated with me to interrupt Broadway’s well Meanwhile, Dave’s We’re All Alone In make a splash on the Official U.K. deserved return, or specifically, the return of This Together (Dave Neighbourhood) dips Singles Chart. the 1,500 people working on these shows,” 1-2 but remains the most-streamed album The Canadian R&B star’s “Take the producer wrote in a statement, which of the week, while Prince’s posthumous TMy Breath” opens at No. 9 on the First Look also contained an apology “for the pain my release Welcome 2 America is new at No. 5. chart, which ranks the most popular songs behavior caused to individuals, directly and Previously recorded in 2010 and un- in the early stage of the U.K. chart week. indirectly,” to The Washington Post in April. locked from the Prince vault for the first Produced by Max Martin, “Take My Though West Side Story won’t be a part of time, Welcome 2 America (Sony Music Breath” is on target for the week’s top debut Broadway’s return, fans can look forward to CG) is the Purple One’s 22nd U.K. Top 10 and it could snag The Weeknd (real name Spielberg’s version hitting movie theaters and highest charting studio album since Abel Tesfaye) his 12th UK Top 10 single. Dec. 10. 2004’s Musicology. After teasing his musical follow-up to the This story was originally published by The Also new to the top tier of the chart hit album After Hours at the 2021 Billboard Hollywood Reporter. Unknown T’s Adolescence (Island), which Music Awards, The Weeknd last week blooms at No. 8 for the British rapper’s first promised, “The Dawn Is Coming.” That Top 10 collection. dawn broke on Friday, with the release Billie Eilish’s Over on the Official U.K. Singles of “Take My Breath”. Chart, Ed Sheeran enters week six at No. 1 Close behind on the chart blast is KSI’s ‘Happier Than with “Bad Habits” (Asylum). new Lil Wayne collaboration, “Lose,” new Sheeran’s latest release scoops another at No. 10. If it keeps its momentum, it’ll give Ever’ Reigns 82,000 chart sales during the chart week, KSI his eighth Top 10 single and Wayne his including 9.4 million streams, to finish “com- seventh and first since his assist on Chris Over U.K. Chart fortably ahead” of The Kid Laroi & Justin Brown’s 2014 release “Loyal.” Bieber’s “Stay” (Columbia), the week’s No. At the pointy end of the chart is Ed BY LARS BRANDLE 2 ranked single, the OCC reports. Sheeran’s “Bad Habits,” which is tracking Eilish earns the highest new entry of the for a seventh consecutive week at No. 1, illie Eilish is crowned on current frame with her latest album’s title while “Stay” by The Kid Laroi and Justin the U.K. albums chart with Hap- track. “Happier Than Ever” bows at No. 6 Bieber stays at No. 2. pier Than Ever (Interscope), for for her eighth Top 10 single and second in The Official U.K. Singles Chart is pub- her second leader. 2021. lished late Friday, local time. BThe teenage California sensation snags 39,000 chart sales as Happier Than Ever blasts to No. 1, with physical sales (vi- nyl, CD, cassette) accounting for 61% of its opening total, the OCC reports. It’s the U.K.’s best-seller on vinyl this week. Happier Than Ever (Interscope) shifts 9,500 units on wax, making it the third-fast- est selling vinyl album of the millennium by a female artist, behind Lana Del Rey’s Chem- trails Over The Country Club (16,700) and Ky- lie Minogue’s Disco (13,500). Page 29 of 29

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place for musicians, and some — including Muddy Waters’ legends like Chuck Berry and Otis Spann — lived there at one time or another. Waters Chicago Home lived in the home until his wife died in 1973. He then moved to suburban Westmont, liv- Moves Closer to ing there until his 1983 death. Landmark Status

BY ASSOCIATED PRESS

he Chicago home where blues legend Muddy Waters once lived and recorded music is a step closer to landmark status and becoming Ta museum in his honor. The Commission on Chicago Landmarks on Thursday granted final approval of landmark status to the brick two-flat home in the South Side neighborhood of North Kenwood, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. It now moves to the City Council Commit- tee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards and, if approved, to a vote of the full council. Waters, known as the “Father of Chicago Blues,” moved to the city from rural Mis- sissippi in 1943. He moved his family into the home in 1954 and purchased it in 1956. Waters’ family lived on the first floor of the house. He rented out the upstairs and had a recording studio in the basement. Waters’ great granddaughter, Chandra Cooper, now owns the property and is converting it into The MOJO Muddy Waters House Museum. Cooper was “elated and happy” that the landmarks commission recognized and is honoring Waters’ musical legacy and history. “We’re on this great path toward becom- ing one of Chicago’s landmarks, and we are looking forward to working with the blues community, the city and the alderman on this project to leave a piece of his legacy for the city of Chicago,” she said. After arriving in Chicago in the 1940s, Waters played parties at night for extra cash and later became a regular performer in local nightclubs. Chess Records released his first hits by 1948, and by the early 1950s his blues band had become one of history’s most acclaimed. Waters’ Chicago home was a gathering