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Bulletin YOUR DAILY NEWS UPDATE MARCH 27, 2020 Page 1 of 25

INSIDE ‘Everyone Else Will Likely Go Out of

• Amid Stubhub Business’: Why Most Ticketing Layoffs & Liquidity Crisis, Ticket Brokers Companies Won’t Survive COVID-19 Push for a Bailout

• Will BY SIMON RUST LAMB Releases Be Coronavirus’ Next Ticketing companies are bracing for no revenue and that is , AEG, See Tickets will make it Victim? the potential for unprecedented refund requests as through by proxy because they’re owned by Vivendi. live events disappear from the calendar because Eventbrite will make it through because they have a • House Passes $2 Trillion Coronavirus of the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the very large war chest at their disposal,” predicts Sims. Relief Package With novel coronavirus. “Almost everyone else will likely go out of business.” Benefits for Music “ can’t tell you how many times over the last week issue that makes ticketing companies particu- Workers or two, where I have just thought to myself, ‘Thank larly vulnerable is that many now play an important • Acimagnist faccus God this didn’t happen when I running my ticket- role financing shows and festivals. The mass cancel- volupie nditibus con ing company,’” says Todd Sims, founder and former lation of events and festivals cause by the outbreak posania chief executive Flavorus, which was bought by See of coronavirus, many partially funded by ticketing Tickets in 2016. “What if, seven or eight years ago, advances, has left ticketing companies particularly • Outlines Flavorus and faced this? We wouldn’t have vulnerable. Coronavirus Impact on Music, Film and made it through this; it would have been end game. “Generally, I did not advance money to promoters Game Divisions Those companies will survive now but only because until the show was over unless I was comfortable with they’re owned by much larger companies.” who they were—which happened in rare cases,” ex- • UK So how will things shake out? Not great for most plains Fred Rosen, who was Ticketmaster CEO from Welcomes ‘Vital Lifeline’ for Self- ticketing companies — layoffs have already been 1982 to 1998. “When I advanced money, Ticketmaster Employed, But Warns announced at ShowClix and Audienceview, which secured it in various ways and always got paid—in Two Month Wait Too bought Vendini last year, with more on the way. some cases, we even received liens,” says Fred Rosen. Long “ who are really going to survive this In order to incentivize venues and promoters to are going to be the ones with the resources to make grant their long-term exclusive ticketing rights, ticket- it through. You’ll see a landscape at the end of this (continued)

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ing deals may include a substantial advance, serves as the company’s Managing Member). “We’ve seen instances where the ratio extra ticket and/or the ability for their But even though Ultra stands behind the le- was 50/50 on refunds versus keeping tick- clients to pre-settle shows—meaning, the gal language of its ticket purchase agreement, ets,” says Boris Patronoff, chief executive ticketing company will advance the client fans unhappy with the festival’s decision may for See Tickets North America. “If you com- ticket sales money from shows. In re- still dispute the charge through their credit municate well and tell the fans get a cent years, competition between ticket com- card provider and pursue a chargeback. How refund or keep your ticket, and you’re clear panies has led to more promoters with less many fans seek refunds and how the credit and you’ve been treating them well in the financial security accessing ticketing money card companies handle such requests will past, you will have people that will support prior to an event’s completion. Promoters determine Ultra’s fate. you and they will keep their ticket to go to have used these advanced funds without (Billboard made multiple attempts to the show.” restriction, paying corporate overhead and contact Marc Jenkins, chief executive of Ticketing companies are connecting with legitimate show-related costs like artist and Showclix owner Patron Technology but did their and venue clients and reas- venue deposits. not receive a response. Earlier this week, sessing their policies. Eventbrite paused Some promoters, however, have used the Patron let go of 30 percent of its staff ). advanced payouts to its clients and is work- money to cover past losses or blown it on When a fan wants a refund, credit card ing on solutions within its ecosphere and extravagant expenses. Fyre Fest founder companies generally have obliged — in ad- beyond. Billy McFarland was advanced ticketing dition to the ticket price and possibly the “That spans from lobbying efforts, like the money for his ill-suited even far in advance, service , any promoter or ticketing com- recent letter we sent to White House and much of it disappearing into a cloud of pany is also responsible for a per transaction Congressional Leadership on behalf of event private jet exhaust long before the festival chargeback fee that ranges from $15 to $35. creators across America, to refund reform production bills become due. If any promoter does not have the funds that preserves the loyalty of the ticket Refunds become the ticketing company’s to issue refunds, then the liability for the buyers so critical to live music’s eventual problem when a promoter does not have the money flows through the ticketing company, return,” says Andy Donner, Eventbrite’s money to issue refunds. The name of the Sales Organization (ISO), svp of music and corporate development, via ticketing company, not the promoter, ap- the sponsoring bank, and finally Visa, Mas- email. Earlier this month, Eventbrite chief pears as the vendor on the credit card bill. tercard or American Express. executive Julia Hartz wrote Pres. Trump When Festival postponed its “The industry is going through an aberra- and requested the federal government 2020 Miami festival to March 2021, the com- tion — and the public’s not going to lose any make SBA Economic Injury Disaster Loans pany promised to honor 2020 festival tickets money on these shows. In the end, if you’ve available nationwide, approve as many loan at either the 2021 or 2022 festival in Miami. got a festival and they don’t want to give types and loans as possible and send direct The festival did not offer refunds. Ultra sold your money back to you, charge it back on payments to individual taxpayers. tickets through Showclix Inc. via a white your credit card,” Rosen says. Despite the economic uncertainty, See label ticketing company Ticketfreak, LLC If an event is postponed, not all fans de- Tickets is “continuing pre-settling funds (Ultra Festival partner, Adam Russakoff, mand refunds. with some promoters and we’ve adjusted

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with others after a discussion with them,” from sports leagues and Ticketmaster. those in ticketing (and live events in gen- Patronoff says. “If the promoter is doing That’s because teams and promoters eral) to stay afloat,” he tellsBillboard . “We all the right things with a clear plan while are trying to reschedule games, postpone would like to see ticketing and live events being fully transparent with the consumers and do everything they can to avoid put in the same category as airlines, hotels and us and if it makes business sense then paying back tens of millions of dollars worth and cruise lines when it comes to applying we support them. At the end of the day it’s a of tickets. The reluctance to issue refunds relief. , the ticketing industry is question of mutual trust and experience.” is causing a liquidity crisis for brokers and essentially at a complete halt with no end in Sims said advances are part of an ongoing resale sites like Stubhub, which has tight- sight. Income for the people working in this debate — “Is it more important that a festi- ened payout rules and is trying to clawback sector and providing valuable services to val holds onto the funds and continues to be millions already paid to brokers to help consumers is essential and warranted.” a viable business, supporting the community process refunds and exchanges. Earlier this Not everyone is on board. and creating jobs, and jobs for the other week Stubhub announced it was temporar- “Wow that’s rich. I don’t put them on my businesses in the community? Or are these ily furloughing two-thirds of its employees list of people who are in great need,” says customers the waiters and the Uber drivers — about 300 people — while sites like Tick- Michael Marion with the Simmons Bank that need that $100 more than the festival etNetwork have had to “enact adjustments Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas. Like many does?” says Sims. and cost cutting measures” in response to venue managers, Marion has been a critic of It’s not just about asking who’s respon- the crisis. the secondary market and sees it mostly as a sible, “but asking about how am I going to “I some marketplaces are going to nuisance, telling Billboard, “It would prob- be able to help get through this,” says Rev. go under — it’s similar to what happened ably be good for our business if they went Moose, Marauder co-founder and manag- with the financial crash of 2008 without out of business.” ing partner, and producer of Independent the prospect of a bailout,” says Barry Kahn, Stubhub officials say they are managing Venue Week. “If as a consumer, the promot- chief executive for ticketing and sales data costs and dealing with the crisis, which er or venue is an institution in which you firm Qcue. comes at a difficult time for the company as believe, people are more likely to show some Kahn says an ongoing liquidity crisis at it attempts to complete a heavily leveraged leeway. If it’s a mega-corporation and a face- Stubhub and other marketplaces may be $4 billion buyout from Viagogo. While less being, I don’t know that people have the compounded by how the National - Viagogo announced in February that it had same expectation.” ketball Association, the National Hockey “completed its acquisition of StubHub,” League and others decide to treat their post- its merger with the company has been held poned seasons. “Once the first marketplace up by the U.K.’s Competition and Market Amid Stubhub falls, it’s hard to imagine how brokers and Authority. On Feb. 7 the CMA issued an the rest of the marketplaces don’t follow. enforcement order instructing Viagogo Layoffs & Liquidity This crisis is exposing real vulnerabilities in CEO Eric Baker and Stubhub CEO Sukh- the entire industry.” inder Singh Cassidy to merging the Crisis, Ticket He added that Stubhub’s decision to cut companies while it reviewed the deal and their staff by two-thirds misses the larger warned both against take actions that would Brokers Push for existential risk the company faces. If fans “otherwise impair the ability of the StubHub en masse demand refunds from resale sites business or the Viagogo business to compete a Bailout like Stubhub, including fees, Kahn says, independently in any of the markets affected “ see an entire side of the business by the transaction.” BY DAVE BROOKS come crashing down in a way that the banks That means Stubhub is very limited in went down in 2008. The only difference is how it is able to coordinate its response to o scalpers need a bailout? that the banks got a bail out, and [the ticket the coronavirus crisis with Viagago. “We are Groups like the National As- resale business] probably wont.” currently operating as an independent com- sociation of Ticket Brokers are Gary Adler isn’t so sure. As the execu- pany, no longer under the support of eBay floating the idea as a possible tive director of the National Association of but not yet operated by Viagogo,” a Stubhub Dsolution for the ticket resale business, hit Ticket Brokers, he’s been floating a proposal spokesperson wrote in an email. hard by the coronavirus pandemic and the for several ticketing companies to consider Other companies are also struggling. mass event cancellations it has caused. With approaching Congress and the White House “As the list of event cancellations grow sales virtually dead on resale sites like Stub- about being included in a bailout for the due to COVID-19, Gametime must work hub and Gametime, brokers are being asked airlines and hotel industry. with sellers for repayment of cancelled or- to refund customers for canceled events. “The number of canceled events due to ders that were previously paid,” Gametime Problem is, they can’t get their own money COVID-19, including some of the biggest said earlier this week in an email sent to back on the tickets they bought directly that exist, has made it extremely difficult for brokers. “Normally we deduct for cancelled SX_Billboard_3.25.20_PRINT.pdf 3 3/25/20 1:39 PM

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events as adjustments to your weekly payout — ticket brokers will do anything to protect central to her upcoming EP, Bonus Trap. but given the lack of any recent foreseeable their losses, even if it hurts the business long This will likely delay the EP, Acosta says, live events, there is now a negative balance term. That will anger the politicians and which was originally set for an April 24 owed to Gametime.” make any kind of aid unpalatable,” said one release through Universal Music Latino/ Officials with Gametime tellBillboard , secondary market consolidator who wished Vibras Lab. “our position within the industry remains to remain anonymous. “And that’s too bad “With the restrictions on travel and having strong.” But several sources tell Billboard because they could use the help — there more than 10 people in the same place, it’s that upcoming announcements from the will be more cancellations in 2020 than the impossible,” Acosta says. “The is NBA and NHL could mean the difference previous 30 years combined.” one of the most important tools to promote between a manageable crisis and an existen- music and, right now, we can’t do it.” tial threat for the secondary business. Bro- Another client, Columbian pop kers have already sold millions of dollars for Will Summer Manuel Medrano, recently canceled a tickets to future games on sites like Stubhub. planned trip to to record music for If both leagues cancel their seasons and try Album Releases his upcoming album. “The music can wait, to push fans seeking refunds into accepting the people can wait,” Acosta says. “But the credits for next season, the site could face a Be Coronavirus’ safety of the team members ... that can’t crush of requests for refunds from consum- wait.” ers not interested in waiting until the fall or Next Victim? And in major cities including 2021. City and Angeles, local governments Stubhub and competitor sites like Vivid BY TATIANA CIRISANO have ordered that all “non-essential” busi- Seats and Gametime allow brokers to col- nesses close to prevent the spread of the lect proceeds from the sale of tickets after ast Wednesday, CNCO delivered virus — including recording studios. Lee the transaction, instead of waiting until the some sad news to fans: Due to Foster, the studio manager for New York’s event or took place. Anticipating a coronavirus-related restrictions, iconic Electric studios, is “work- massive influx of requests for refunds, Stub- the hasn’t been ing with clients to reschedule sessions for hub has changed how brokers are paid — Lable to record new music, so its upcoming now,” he says over email. “No one has the going forward “all sellers, including brokers, album will be delayed. right answer to what’s happening. The only are paid after event date” according to an The following night, tweeted response we can count on is that people’s email from a Stubhub spokesperson. Other that her self-titled album — then expected health must come first.” marketplaces like Vivid Seats and Gametime in mere hours — would be postponed until But even artists with completed or nearly- are enacting similar policies. And instead further notice, echoing similar social media completed projects are choosing to post- of refunds, buyers of tickets for canceled posts from artists like Kehlani, who said pone their releases. “All the mechanics of events will now be given a credit on Stubhub she “HAD a release date” for her next album how you go out and promote those releases for 120% of the original ticket, according to before the pandemic foiled her plans, and — how you would normally tour and do an email from a company representative. , who told a fan that her next single media and press and all that — it’s very ham- Only when “required by law, we will pro- is “delay [sic] due to the virus.” Now, Lady pered,” explains veteran music publicist and vide refunds to buyers,” the spokesperson is postponing her hotly-anticipated manager Keith Hagan of SKH Music, who explained. Chromatica, which was originally set for represents the likes of Toto, The Afghan But that tactic could backfire explains April 10. Whigs and the late Kenny Rogers. Kahn, who said brokers could retaliate by The coronavirus outbreak has already That’s especially a problem for -new refusing to fulfill orders, especially if they decimated the summer touring circuit. or mid-tier artists, for whom “you have to feared one of the marketplaces was at risk But now — as travel restrictions and social go and do meetings and perfor- of insolvency. In 2016, now-defunct ticket distancing measures prevent artists from mances, and sell merch,” says Edith Bo, seller Scorebig was placed into receivership recording music, shooting music videos and co-founder of management and publishing after finding itself short on cash and unable promoting their work with tours and other company Arketek, who works with emerg- to raise new money. Many brokers were live engagements — could the summer mu- ing acts like King Elle Noir and Saint Bodhi. never paid for tickets they listed and sold sic release schedule be next? “It’s the digital age, so you can take advan- on the site, resulting in six and seven figure Latin music manager Fabio Acosta says tage of that, but there’s still fans who want losses. Many brokers canceled the tickets that several artists on his roster are physi- that type of personal engagement.” Plus, they sold on the site leading to fans unwit- cally unable to complete their projects amid she notes, “To create a project takes us nine tingly showing up to games and concerts the pandemic. That includes Argentinian months to a year anyway,” so what’s another and being being denied access. singer and rapper CAZZU, who was forced few months? “That’s why I think a bailout is unlikely to postpone shoots for two music videos Sources say the financial impact of hold-

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ing a release is negligible, since it presum- ists out of harm’s way for their own career,” Cyrus’ new Bright Minded daily talk show ably means delaying money made, not losing he says, “if it’s going to impact what they on Live, which is a COVID-19 it. Bo adds that labels may even save some could do eventually.” quarantine-inspired project itself. And if cash in the short-term, since they won’t be Artists and their teams are also grap- everyone else is delaying their , that booking flights and hotels for promo runs. pling with a different question altogether: means less competition. “Postponing things for a month or two Is it insensitive to release music at a time of “Obviously the global situation may have shouldn’t make that big of a difference,” she crisis? Madrid-based quartet HINDS moved an effect on Dua’s week one,” Mawson says, says. their album The Prettiest Curse from April “but long-term, this album is [still] going to Holding a release also makes sense for 3 to June 5, because “we think our focus be hugely successful.” artists looking to “event-ize” their album should be on staying safe and staying home, Noga Erez, a singer- based in cycles. Gaga’s postponement isn’t too not promoting a new album,” they wrote on Tel-Aviv, is similarly doing her best to roll surprising: Not only was she planning an social media. appeared to choke with the punches. After the music video extravagant Chromatica Ball world tour, but back tears in a video he posted to Instagram shoot in Mexico City for her upcoming she had also lined up a surprise Coachella on March 12, asking his 36 million followers single “You So Done” was called off performance to promote the album — be- whether he should delay the release of his of coronavirus — and her back-up option, a fore the festival was moved to October. It’s Colores “in this gray mo- shoot in Ukraine, was canceled due to travel likely that touring also went hand-in-hand ment.” In the end, he released the project restrictions — she’s brainstorming ways to with plans for HAIM’s third studio album, as planned on March 20. Says Acosta, who shoot a meaningful video at home. “I’m so Pt. III, which the trio have co-manages Balvin alongside SB Projects’ curious to see what people will do. It forces now postponed until later this summer. Scooter Braun: “Colores is the way we want you to think simply; to think ‘no budget, no Just before restrictions on mass gather- to help [bring] relief [to] people around the equipment, nothing,’” Erez says. “You need ings would have made it impossible, HAIM world.” to really invest in the idea.” embarked on a five-city novelty “Deli Tour” And for artists who depend less on tour- And still others are joining Balvin in the to celebrate the project (though they were ing, or who tend to connect primarily with hope that their albums will bring a moment forced to reschedule the date amid their fan-bases online, there’s less of an of joy to a time of fear and uncertainty. the pandemic). incentive to delay releases. Crisis or not, last Lipa, PARTYNEXTDOOR, , 5 Others worry their releases would simply weekend saw new albums from the likes Seconds of Summer, Vanessa Carlton and get lost in the relentless coronavirus news of (“Let the music heal us all more all released new albums today. shuffle. “It’s not the scenario to release during these dark times,” he said in a press “This is one of the few ways I have to an album,” says Acosta, “because people release about his album After Hours) and reach other humans,” Carlton says of hers, right now are focusing on the news and Childish Gambino, who initially titled Love is an Art. “I think releasing this what’s happening around the world.” For 3.15.20 as a free, continuous record will make me feel less alone, and Bo, “It depends on if you think your artist online stream — an event of its own. maybe other people will feel the same way can truly have an impact at a time like this,” Some artists are even moving their when they listen.” she says. “The news is oversaturated, and releases earlier. During an Instagram Live Adds her manager, Rishon Blumberg of people are scared. You don’t see people talk- video stream on March 23, an- Brick Wall Management: “We didn’t con- ing about how they’re obsessed with a song.” nounced that her sophomore album Future sider moving the release, for even a moment. While it would seem logical for music Nostalgia would be released March 27, one ‘Love is an art’ that needs to be practiced streaming activity to increase during quar- week ahead of schedule. The decision came now more than ever.” antines, so far, the opposite has happened. after the album leaked last weekend, but her In the week ending March 19, streams manager, TaP Management co-founder Ben fell 3.5%, while physical sales fared even Mawson, tells Billboard that Lipa wanted worse, with overall consumption units down to move the release “to give some light and 12.3%. positivity to everyone stuck at home.” It doesn’t help that is holding off Mawson adds that although Lipa had sev- on replenishing vinyl records among other eral television spots lined up to promote the items deemed “non-essential” until at least album, including a now-cancelled Saturday early April, in order to devote its warehous- Night Live appearance, “we’ve tried to be es to essential products necessary to with- creative in ways to market and promote the stand the coronavirus pandemic. Because of album online” instead. For example, Lipa this, Hagan says he may even preemptively hosted a YouTube Music track-by-track push back some clients’ albums that are listening party and Q&A livestream ahead coming later this year. “I have to get my art- of the album drop, and appeared on Miley Page 10 of 25

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“The Recording thanks the contains some key elements that will apply House Passes Congressional leaders who worked with the to our members, including higher weekly music community to craft a bill that allows unemployment benefits, extended weeks of $2 Trillion the music to play on,” said Recording Acad- unemployment benefits, a one-time check emy interim president/CEO Harvey Mason for every American and their children under Coronavirus Jr. “In navigating this unprecedented crisis, a certain annual income, and a special Pan- all music industry professionals across the demic Unemployment Assistance program Relief Package U.S., many of whom rely on multiple gigs for for those who are not eligible for unem- their livelihood, can be grateful that they are ployment currently, such as independent With Benefits for included in this extraordinary effort to help contractors.” Americans. We will now turn our attention ASCAP president/chairman Paul Wil- Music Workers to helping music makers and others who liams added: ““We are reminded in difficult make a living in our industry navigate the times like these how music unites us, and BY TATIANA CIRISANO process of getting the financial assistance we are thankful that all sides have joined they need while anticipating the day when in solidarity to help everyone affected by he U.S. House of Representatives they can return to providing the this crisis, particularly our community of has passed a $2.2 trillion coronavi- to our nation, which we’ll all need when this and who bring so rus relief package, complete with crisis is over.” much joy to the world. ASCAP will continue several provisions that will help Said RIAA chairman/CEO Mitch Glazier: to do everything in our power to ensure that Tmusic workers stay afloat. The bill is now “We applaud Speaker Pelosi, Leader McCar- American music creators can weather this headed to President Donald Trump, who is thy, Senate leaders and the Administration storm and continue sharing their incredible expected to swiftly sign it into law. for their hard work to pass this legisla- talents with the world.” The Democrat-controlled House ap- tion, which includes direct financial aid to And ASCAP CEO Elizabeth Matthews proved the measure, which is intended to Americans in need, including echoed that statement, saying, “We are salvage the economy and healthcare system, who face unique circumstances during this grateful that support is coming for millions by a voice vote. It is the largest economic national emergency. of American songwriters and music creators relief bill in the nation’s history. “We are grateful that this bill contains whose lives and livelihoods have been Titled the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and access to expanded unemployment insur- upended by this crisis. In particular, music Economic Security (CARES) Act, it will ance and small business loans, both of which creators who are self-employed and those provide payments of up to $1,200 each to will ensure that hundreds of thousands of who own or work for small businesses will millions of Americans, and roll out a new musicians’ families across the country can now receive emergency assistance, thanks pandemic unemployment assistance pro- continue to pay their bills, put food on the to the music community rallying together to gram for self-employed workers who are table, and care for their children during this draw attention to their needs. As the entire out of work due to the coronavirus crisis, public health and economic crisis,” Glazier music industry faces an uncertain future, including countless music professionals. continued. “We applaud the federal gov- ASCAP stands ready to do our part to help Individual, self-employed music makers will ernment in taking this step to care for the music creators endure these difficult times.” also be eligible for loans and grants from the millions of people in our country who are in SESAC chairman/CEO John Josephson bill’s $350 billion small-business portion, such desperate need.” said that “it is our collective responsibil- including a special $10,000 grant that does SoundExchange president/CEO Michael ity to protect our music creators” amid the not have to be repaid. Huppe noted that “In these difficult times, pandemic. “They have not only remained The bill also establishes a $75 million so many people turn to music for help get- committed to their craft of making music supplemental fund for the National En- ting through. And yet, because of the wide- during this unprecedented time but have dowment for the Arts, with 60% of funds spread cancellation of festivals, concerts and also provided a sense of unity, connection dedicated to direct grants for non-profit public gatherings of all types, this national and passion, which will only strengthen our organizations and other eligible recipients crisis has been especially devastating for nation in the days to come,” he explained. to respond to the coronavirus. The remain- music creators. I’m proud of our industry’s The bill “is critical to recharge the economy ing 40% of funds will go toward state and joint efforts to ensure that the financial -as while providing relief to so many American regional arts councils. sistance made available under the CARES businesses and workers, and we’re thrilled Music industry leaders are applauding the Act reaches everyone in the music com- that certain provisions will include relief for legislation, which builds on last week’s Fami- munity. Because we spoke as one, our voices many music professionals who are indepen- lies First Coronavirus Response Act — a bill were heard louder than ever.” dent contractors, small business owners or that left many self-employed workers out of SAG-AFTRA president Gabrielle Cart- self-employed.” unemployment benefits and other provisions. eris said, “This emergency stimulus package BMI president/CEO Mike O’Neill Page 11 of 25

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specifically thanked “Senator Blackburn, company noted that “shutdowns of movie Representative Deutch, Representative theaters around the world and various UK Music Industry Roby, Majority Leader Hoyer and the many restrictions on people’s movement” have led music organizations involved in this effort, “termination of theatrical runs and delays Welcomes ‘Vital for their steadfast dedication to ensuring in release dates.” Sony also explained that it the needs of America’s music creators were has suspended “all of its film and television Lifeline’ for Self- addressed in this critical Act,” he said. “We production, resulting in future changes in applaud Congress for swift action on this theatrical release dates for some titles.” Like Employed, But important legislation and look forward to all of the Hollywood studios, Sony’s spring President Trump signing so that this as- theatrical releases have been pushed into Warns Two Month sistance can begin flowing to all those in the the summer, such as Peter Rabbit 2, which music industry, and beyond, who desper- was bumped from a April 3 release to Aug. 7 Wait Too Long ately need it.” in North America. In a dash of bright news, Sony estimated BY RICHARD SMIRKE that its gaming segment would experi- Sony Outlines ence “no material impact on this business ONDON — Representatives of the for the current fiscal year.” The company’s U.K. music business have wel- Coronavirus current fiscal year ends on Tuesday, March comed news that self-employed 31, however. Looking ahead, the company artists, sound engineers and crew Impact on Music, warned: “Although no issues have emerged Lmembers will receive financial aid to help so far, Sony is carefully monitoring the risk them cope with the coronavirus crisis. Film and Game of delays in production schedules for game The announcement was made Thursday software titles at both its first-party studios (Mar. 26) by British Chancellor Rishi Su- Divisions and partner studios, primarily in nak, who said self-employed workers could and the U.S.” apply for grants worth 80% of their average BY PATRICK BRZESKI In order to keep employees safe and meet monthly income — up to a maximum of the mandates of local governments, Sony £2,500 ($3,000) a month. ony Corp. issued its first statement said it has shut down most of its offices in The government had been Friday outlining how its myriad the U.S., Europe and , instructing most to do more for self-employed workers, who business lines have been impacted employees to work from home. account for more than two thirds of U.K. by the ongoing coronavirus pan- Sony’s factories in the U.K. and Malaysia music industry jobs, after they were over- Sdemic. The conglomerate didn’t provide have been mothballed for periods extend- looked in an earlier coronavirus financial detailed estimates of the financial toll of the ing into at least mid-April, in accordance package. global health crisis, but summarized how its with the instructions of local authorities. According to an impact survey conducted various business units have been affected, The company’s four major manufacturing by the Musicians’ Union, the coronavirus including its entertainment divisions. plants in China were shut down for several pandemic has so far cost U.K. musicians In a statement, Sony said it is “striving to weeks beginning in late January, but have more than £20 million ($24 million) in lost answer the needs of society and its custom- since “restarted operating in increments” earnings — a figure that is only likely to rise ers to the best of its ability, and to minimize in response tot he improving public health in the weeks ahead. the impact of the virus on its business.” conditions there. “Supply chain issues The chancellor said that the grants on of- The music business has been affected in remain, but operations are returning to the fer would be available for three months and several ways, Sony said, including “delays in level they were before the spread of the paid in one lump-sum, backdated to March. new music releases, interruptions in supply virus,” Sony said. Payments will not be made until early chains for CDs and other physical music Sony noted that it planned to release its fi- June at the earliest, though. To be eligible, media, and a decrease in music licensing re- nancial results on April 30 for the fiscal year a claimant needs to earn under £50,000 sulting from both lower activity ending this month, but it warned that “the ($60,000) a year with more than half their and delays in production for motion pictures spread of COVID-19 could lead to delays in income coming from self-employment. and television productions.” Concerts and account closing procedures and other - Musicians just starting out in their ca- live events by Sony artists around the world tions, making it difficult for Sony to proceed reers who do not have a full year of accounts have been canceled and postponed, includ- with this announcement as planned.” will not receive any help beyond applying ing 100 percent of Sony-sponsored perfor- This article was originally published by for benefits, currently set at £94.25 ($107.59) mances and events within Japan. The Hollywood Reporter. per week. In the motion pictures business, the “We have been fighting very hard for ad- Page 12 of 25

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equate compensation for our members, and after that, Austin’s was valuable.” (Veteran promoter and Coachella today’s news is extremely welcome,” said canceled. That same day, March 6, Rapino co-founder Paul Tollett, 54, declined to com- Horace Trubridge, general secretary of the and AEG COO Jay Marciano, along with ment for this article.) Musicians’ Union. He called the measures “a heads of the top four talent agencies, formed Since Coachella’s inaugural year in real lifesaver” and urged the government to a private task force. Now, executives at AEG 1999, the event has remained the unofficial implement them as quickly as possible. credit that alliance with helping Coachella festival season kickoff. And now, by be- Tom Kiehl, acting CEO of umbrella trade avoid a cancellation, too. ing the first such event to seemingly avoid organization UK Music, called the financial Within days of AEG learning that public cancellation, Coachella has continued to aid “a vital lifeline,” but said urgent help was health officials from Riverside County in lead the way. The festival, whose headliners still needed for the thousands of self-em- — which includes Indio, Coach- for the original April dates included Travis ployed workers whose livelihoods had been ella’s event grounds — would not permit Scott, and Rage Against the wiped out by Covid-19. the festival to take place as planned starting Machine, has now become a peculiar litmus “People are in desperate need with bills on April 10, Marciano quickly received ap- test for the fate of several similar gatherings to pay. They need financial support now and proval to move it to October. It wasn’t hard, whose immediate futures are still uncertain. cannot wait until June for the scheme to sources say, to get at least some scheduled “If we can’t pull this festival off in October, kick in,” warned Kiehl. performers and their agents to commit to then we’re going to be in a really bad place He said new entries to the music industry the new dates because the artists wouldn’t as a civilization,” says one booking agent who do not qualify for the aid were among get paid if they didn’t perform — and has booked headliners and support those set to lose out. Mothers who have agents wouldn’t get their commissions. acts at Coachella for over a decade. “At a been on maternity will also potentially (Plus, AEG did promote the one-off Desert minimum, it’s going to be a very bad sign for receive less financial support as their annual Trip in October 2016, so the regulatory the business.” earnings will be lower than usual. framework for a fall Coachella was already Presuming that Goldenvoice does pull Prior to Thursday’s announcement, in place to some degree.) By March 10, off a fall Coachella, though, there’s 9,000 people had signed a petition Goldenvoice had officially announced that unknown level of disruption it may cause to by The Association of Independent Music both weekends of Coachella, as well as its that touring season. Pushing festivals that (AIM) calling for relief funds for self-em- festival Stagecoach, would normally take place earlier in the summer ployed workers. still happen in 2020 — only six months later to the fall will surely affect the schedules AIM CEO Paul Pacifico said it was great than planned. More recently, Bonnaroo of many artists playing those lineups, with that “the independent music community’s announced its four-day festival, which this dates that bump up against carefully plotted voice” has been heard. “Now we must make year features headliners Tool, and radius clauses that were put into place to sure that these measures are accessible and Tame Impala, will take place in September. avoid this exact kind of overlap in bookings. implemented as rapidly as possible.” And while Chicago’s typically Already, a delayed festival season is taking happens in early August, it recently delayed its toll on artist promotional cycles. As Doris announcing its lineup, saying in a statement Muñoz, founder of Mija Mgmt — whose cli- As Festivals that the festival will take place “as soon as ents include Cuco and Jasper Bones — puts it’s safe for us all to be together.” However, it: “Everything is on pause. These festivals Scramble To industry sources at Goldenvoice and else- are essentially tentpoles to build content where say that saving Coachella was much around. We have to shift our plans.” Reschedule, Will more difficult than many realize, revealing Moving Coachella, in particular, to that some of the headliners still haven’t October also means its first weekend falls Fall Become the agreed to perform in October. It shows how on the same dates as the second weekend many hurdles promoters face in order to of the annual Austin City Limits gathering. New Summer? reschedule just one large-scale live-music While the festivals will be 1,400 miles apart, event. Plus, no one at AEG or Goldenvoice AEG is left to guess if the entire industry BY DAVE BROOKS admits to having a concrete sense of how, has employed enough people to staff two or even if, a 125,000-person festival that massive events at the same time. And before t the end of February, Live Na- costs nearly $100 million can be seamlessly Coachella 2020 is even here yet, its orga- tion president/CEO Michael moved and if enough people will even be nizers are already wondering what to do Rapino told investors on a available to build and Coachella in about 2021. “Can [Coachella] come back six conference call that he expected the fall. “But we don’t want to being months later and do another festival? Will theA coronavirus to affect less than 1% of first,” said one AEG executive of announc- that work?” asks one AEG executive who their overall business. A week later, Miami’s ing a new slate of dates as soon as possible chooses to remain anonymous. Ultra was called off; two days instead of pulling the plug. “That’s really It’s possible that having another Coach- Page 13 of 25

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ella so soon might diminish demand, and [Balderose] creating all the original HD a hypothetical 20% drop in attendance, How Artists Are animation over the past months. We utilized according to AEG, could lead to millions the content to make it more like a movie in losses. But for now, thanks to the task Coping With than a show. Even festival livestreams aren’t force, Rapino and Marciano have agreed like that. to continue supporting each other through Cancellations “We didn’t want to charge [for the this ongoing crisis. “That’s all they could do livestream], so it was important to have all because no one has any idea if it’s going to During The our merch up for sale because that was the be safe to do a concert in October or if fans only way we’d make money. Our merch will come out,” says one source. “There’s so Coronavirus store is totally run by us. I was nervous much uncertainty right now, it’s very hard because it was in front of so many people to plan the next chapter until things settle BY ERIKA RAMIREZ, and 1,000% live; if something went wrong, down.” LYNDSEY HAVENS it would have been really embarrassing. But This article originally appeared in the my guys came through. Metal and hard- March 28, 2020 issue of Billboard. s live music shuts down, different core — especially hardcore — can be a niche parts of the industry have had to thing, so they’ve always had to be resource- get creative and keep spirits high. ful and creative in order to survive... BTS Postpones Metal band Code Orange pulled “[Underneath] matches up to this situ- togetherA an album-release livestream show, ation in a weird way. It’s not based on the North American manager Doris Muñoz comforted clients, and coronavirus pandemic, but it’s about where singer-songwriter Caroline Rose was looking we’re heading in this overcrowded, discon- Tour Amid at her first sold-out tour — but then she just nected world [and] having to look at your- wanted to get home. self and the decisions you make.” Coronavirus Crisis The same day Code Orange released its The Mija Mgmt founder spent a car ride fourth album, Underneath, on Roadrunner from to San Francisco, where her BY REBECCA SUN Records, coronavirus precautions canceled its artist La Doña was scheduled to perform a hometown show the next night (March 14). But release show for her debut EP, on endless calls TS is rescheduling the upcoming the act quickly pivoted with clients and their larger teams. In the North America dates for its world — and livestreamed itself playing to an empty end, the show did not go on. tour amid the ongoing novel 1,500-capacity venue on Twitch. Vocalist Jami “On March 12, when we released La coronavirus pandemic. Morgan recalls how it happened. Doña’s EP, Algo Nuevo, we decided to drive BThe highly anticipated Map of the Soul “We had 48 hours max to pull it together... as a team from Los Angeles to San Francisco tour had been set to kick off April 25 and Instead of sitting there and saying ‘Woe is instead of fly, obviously, to her release show. 26 in Santa Clara, Calif., followed by three me’ when this shit happens, you have to That same day is when news started circu- days at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena in early activate. I talked to some people close to lating: The California governor released a May and winding through Dallas, Orlando, me, and we were like, ‘I don’t know why statement [recommending] no gatherings , New Jersey, D.C. and nobody’s talking about doing something over 250 people. The first call I made that before ending June 5 and 6 at like this. Everyone’s going to start doing morning was at 8 a.m. to La Doña’s agent. in Chicago. But with the virus [livestreamed concerts], so let’s be first.’ Our The entire drive was me on the phone with continuing to spread throughout the United roots in the hardcore community are a lot publicists, attorneys and our artists, having States, the band’s label, Big Hit Entertain- of what allowed it: I called [videographer] to figure out whether or not to postpone her ment, decided to postpone those tour stops. Sunny Singh from hate5six; he was down to release show. The venue was down to move Already sold tickets will be honored for drive to Pittsburgh from Philadelphia to film forward, even though it was promoted by the new dates, Big Hit said. it, and he brought Jeff Davis from Feet First Live Nation and they were shutting down For now, the rest of the world tour – BTS Productions, another hardcore YouTube everything; at that moment, they were is set to spend July touring Europe before [channel]. My two buddies — Justin Boyd, asking us to make the decision. Ultimately, a series of dome concerts in late summer who was Mac Miller’s photographer before we postponed the show. La Doña’s maria- – remains on the schedule. The group had he passed, and Tim Semega, another great chi class [that she teaches] was supposed already made the decision to cancel its four photographer from Pittsburgh — were tak- to perform, and her mom was supposed mid-April kickoff dates in its native Korea ing photos. Roadrunner has a really great to perform, but her mom is over 60. We back in February, when the then-epidemic relationship with Twitch, and we had in- didn’t want to play a role in furthering this was severely impacting . vested so much time into the video content pandemic. That’s the first time I had to talk for the tour, with [keyboardist Eric] “Shade” through it with one of my clients. Page 14 of 25

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“I’m seeing a panic ensue between band they can pay rent. Right off the bat, people and crew members that rely on just touring have been really generous. I’ve gotten mes- A Tornado Hit income. I’m seeing my friends who are tour- sages from people like, ‘Hey, I had tickets ing managers, lighting designers, produc- to your show. Can I just give you the money Their Homes. tion managers, seeing their entire first half for the tickets?’ I gave that money directly to of the year’s [worth of ] work completely my band and crew. There’s a second wave of Now Nashville disappear. I’m seeing people move toward funds that I’m holding for them so that they livestream to feel proactive; it’s great, and can pay rent and their bills, and pay for gro- Execs Are it’s a way for artists to stay connected with ceries and $50 toilet paper, whatever. But their fans who may need it as a driving force then after that, it’s like, ‘OK, what’s the next Picking Up the of healing, but at the same time, it’s not step?’ I’m going to try and sell merch so that going to bring people’s touring jobs back. I can pay my rent for the next two or three Pieces During a There needs to be a call to action for a direc- months, because right now I’m out of work. tory for resources. Even as a manager, I’m “I personally don’t have faith that any Pandemic struggling to see where those resources lie. government plans are going to cover ev- How step up for the extended team of eryone in the country. It’s just not the way BY ANNIE REUTER my clients, the band or crew members that that works, and it’s going to hit the poorest rely on these checks to survive? I’m seeing people the hardest and the worst. It’s times n March 3, several tornadoes so many posts from creatives saying how like these where you have to put everything touched down in and around they are not going to be able to pay rent this in perspective and be like, ‘Yeah, OK, I was Nashville, killing 24 people and month. The entire live space has crumbled looking at the first sold-out tour of my ca- damaging hundreds of homes right now. All of these shows are postponed reer,’ but there are people that are so much Oand businesses. And while shortly afterward until the fall, but we don’t know what will worse off who have kids and families to take the country’s focus turned to the onset of happen in the fall or what’s next. We don’t care of, and they’re looking at not being the coronavirus pandemic, the destruction know how this virus is going to play out able to work for months and not getting any from the cyclones in Tennessee remains. in the next couple of months; we don’t government help. I have to take this all with Billboard spoke with three music indus- know how it’s going to ultimately affect our a grain of salt. I feel like people need to be try executives whose homes or property economy. We’re going to have to deal with comforted in these times, and it’s going to be suffered varying degrees of damage from the ramifications of this for a minute. We are a really interesting experiment to see what the tornadoes. They shared how they are collectively suffering right now. We need to people come up with. What better time to grappling with the aftermath, made all the figure out how to help each other heal.” make stuff, even if it’s just recording it on more difficult with the coronavirus and Though the Austin-based independent your iPhone or into a voice recorder, what- Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s March 22 artist had a long drive home ahead of her, she ever you’ve got.” “Safer at Home” executive order directing was eager to start picking up the pieces of a residents to stay at home for 14 days for all tour that was just kicking off — and explor- but essential needs. ing how else she can – promote her recently John Clore, vp marketing Curb/Word released fourth album, Superstar. Entertainment “Our tour got canceled while we were in Shortly after his house was hit by a tor- Pittsburgh. Everybody lives in a different nado in Mt. Juliet, Clore and his wife, Sarah, city, but a couple of my bandmates live in met with Billboard at their home. Vermont and we were close enough that I Days earlier, the couple and their eight ended up just driving them, and then I have – and 10-year-old sons and two dogs hid in been trying, desperately, to make a closet on the first floor in the early hours home to Austin. I feel like I’m in this zombie of the morning as a tornado ripped through movie and I really need to get home before their street. “That was the first time in the zombies arrive. It’s definitely a strange seven-and-a-half-years in this house that we time — everything is very up in the air. I feel all actually got in there — dogs included,” strangely calm about the whole thing. We John says. have to be positive, or else panic will ensue “As soon as I got in [the closet] and closed even further. the door, almost immediately the doorknob First and foremost, I have to think about hit me in the back of the head where that my band because I feel personally respon- [window] blew open and pushed the door sible for them as their boss to make sure that in,” Sarah says, pointing to the window be- Page 15 of 25

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hind her. “We spent the rest of the time just allowing us to stay together, but everyone Neighbors immediately moved in to help, pushing the door closed.” else is [practicing self-isolation] so I am not even before the sun came up. “Strangers The side of their home took the brunt concerned about being left out of something were cutting down the trees before . of the tornado. The roof is now covered or not being in the office. If the coronavirus You couldn’t leave. We were completely in a blue tarp, while the destroyed garage wasn’t going on I’d say, ‘I really should work trapped. Trees were under cars and debris,” and side of the house are held up by two from home a bit.’ If it wasn’t for the tornado, he recalls. “Random people were coming up temporary support posts. The fence in the I think we’d be enjoying this time because with chainsaws.” backyard is gone, as are a number of trees, we’re together really more than we ever Jenkins’ elderly neighbor is afraid she is yet the hoop still stands. have been in the past.” going to lose her house, so Jenkins and his While the frame of the house is intact, the John and Sarah say the financial support husband started a T-shirt to help family’s prized possessions and irreplace- from the music community — specifically her and those in North Nashville who were able mementos were stored in the garage, MusiCares, ACM Lifting Lives and other hit badly and may not have the means to as they had staged their home to sell it. “We colleagues who have pitched in to help them rebuild. sold our house on Friday and it blew away get back on their feet — has helped tremen- Jenkins’ husband runs the Experience on Monday,” Sarah says. “We bought a house dously during this difficult time. Listening Nashville blog, which has more than 40,000 in this neighborhood and it’s totally fine. to music has also proven a balm. After they followers. “He was like, ‘Let me use this and We broke the contract today and found an were settled in a hotel the second night they try to divert some of the attention to North apartment.” were displaced (they have since moved into Nashville,’” Jenkins says. “We picked up two One treasured keepsake that survived an apartment), John listened to Switchfoot, charities that we know will go to this com- is the Clore family , once owned by a band he worked with in the past, and their munity and take care of these people and John’s great-grandparents, that now sits in music struck a chord. not be lost with a massive donation.” his office on Music Row. In an enormous “I don’t know what we would do without While the coronavirus takes over the gesture of goodwill, the neighbor whose music at a time like this,” he says. “Music is news cycle, Jenkins isn’t too worried that house the Clores had bought helped with what feelings sound like. This is that time.” Nashvillians will forget about those in need . “I don’t know a better way to Jason Jenkins, senior vp pop market- from the tornadoes. “Nashville is going to show the full picture of good people caring ing and creative touring Curb/Word take care of itself,” he says. “Research your and helping than that,” John says. Entertainment source [and] where your money is going. I Instagram and have helped the The home of Clore’s colleague, Jason want to focus on the people that don’t have couple let their loved ones know that they’re Jenkins, was also hit by the same tornado .” okay and offer ways to help. Sometimes it’s nearly 30 miles away in East Nashville’s Five While Jenkins admits that he’s thought a PayPal or Venmo donation, or gift cards. Points neighborhood. He was asleep when of relocating to Los Angeles or in “We talk a lot in our family about being the tornado hit and woke up to his husband the past, the way the Nashville community gracious receivers because we’re gracious screaming. The whole house was popping, has come together in the aftermath of the givers,” Sarah notes. “You need to learn how shaking and vibrating, he says, likening it to tornado has made him realize this is his to also receive.” “a tornado meets an earthquake situation.” forever home. As the Clores began to adjust to a new The windows of their home were blown out “The network we built here, normal in their temporary apartment, seconds after Jenkins awoke. we planted here, the friendship and fam- Mayor Cooper’s shelter-in-place directive Their front porch now hangs off the side ily infrastructure that we have is beyond went into effect. The coronavirus pandemic of the house, while all the exterior columns repairable. We haven’t had dinner on our and shutdown added layers of difficulty, are gone. The couple has since been staying own since this happened. Friends have both physical and mental, to their attempts in various Airbnbs in the area. surrounded us every single night,” he says. to bring about some sense of normalcy. “That is the first time in my life that I “TPAC [Tennessee Performing Arts ] “Coronavirus is already disruptive enough actually thought I was going to die,” Jenkins and St. Jude reached out and helped us of- and frustrating and jarring, even if you’re says over drinks at his favorite Two Ten fering support. You can’t beat it. It’s pretty not actually affected by it,” John says. “We Jack, where members of the staff helped awesome to see people standing up and need to deal with it in a place that’s not even clean up his yard after the tornado. “It’s a helping people.” our normal place to be. pretty traumatic experience because the Patrick Clifford, Consultant “More than anything else, what is keep- more I comprehend it, the more we realize Another Five Points neighbor, Patrick ing me going right now is that I have lived how lucky we are. All the trees around our Clifford, has a similarly optimistic out- with other hard times and have lived to house fell. The one huge tree that fell in be- look. While he admits that he felt quite tell about it,” John says. “The coronavirus tween our house and our Airbnb, it literally “flattened” a week following the tornado, for us in some ways is a bit of a blessing, could have fallen 10 feet the other way and Clifford says it is exhilarating seeing the which I shouldn’t be saying. It’s not only been on top of us in our bed.” community and volunteers who have come Page 16 of 25

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together and are dedicated to rebuilding put on there culturally is just stunning,” he Nashville. adds. “They are going to rebuild. That pho- Live Nation The industry executive, who currently tograph of the building and the ‘I believe in consults for the Concord Music Group and Nashville’ [mural], people will be looking at Sweden Names previously worked at Disney and A&M that 100 years from now. That will be a lot of Records, lives on the same block as country their legacy and a lot of the town’s legacy.” Mattias Behrer artists , Angaleena Presley and Pam Tillis. He says everyone banded to- New CEO gether to help clear out the trees and debris Lovers & Friends in one another’s yards the morning follow- BY TAYLOR MIMS ing the tornado. Clifford’s home saw sig- Fest Reschedules, nificant damage to its foundation and roof attias Behrer will become the as well as the heating, ventilation and air Scales Back to new CEO of Live Nation Swe- conditioning system and windows that were den effective Aug. 10. Behrer blown out, but he says the destruction pales One Day was most recently the CEO in comparison to some of his neighbors. His Mof Dentsu Aegis, one of the leading agency first few nights following the tornado were BY GIL KAUFMAN groups in media and marketing consulting. spent at a friend’s apartment and he has “I am very happy, and humbled, for the since returned to his home. he star-studded Lovers & Friends task of leading Live Nation Sweden’s fantas- “It’s going to really impact a lot of people festival has landed on a new tic team and continuing to develop the expe- in the music community,” he says of the date after being postponed due rience for fans and partners – before, during tornado. “It’s a resilient community. It’s to to the COVID-19 pandemic. The and after events,” said Behrer in a release. me one of the best places I’ve ever lived in TGoldenvoice-promoted event that was origi- “The live music industry is an extremely regard to being part of a community and nally supposed to take place May 8-9 at The exciting area with great potential and a seeing your neighbors and citizens unite.” Grounds at Dignity Health Sports Park in very interesting business model that brings While Clifford has worked in the music Carson, Calif., has been scaled back to a one- together fans, artists and and creates industry for several decades, he says his day affair on Aug. 8 at the same location, but experiences to remember for life.” occupation now feels insignificant com- with a reshuffled lineup. Prior to Dentsu Aegis, Behrer spent ten pared to the important job of being a good According to a new poster on the site years at Viacom in several positions includ- neighbor following the tornado. However, for the sold-out festival, it will feature Ms. ing global marketing manager for MTV and music is still what he turns to to express his Lauryn Hill, , , and svp for Viacom’s youth division in eleven emotions in ’ aftermath. TLC, as well as , Donell Jones, countries in Europe. As of Aug. 10, Behrer “The one song that has been going , , Megan will report directly to the president of Live through my head for this tornado and now Thee Stallion, , T-Pain, Lil Kim, Nation Europe-Concerts John Reid. pandemic is ‘Helpless’ by ,” Brandy, , Fat Joe, , Ginuwine, “It is very gratifying to welcome Mattias he says. “Between this and all the other SWV, Saweetie, Ma$e, Trick Daddy, Dru to the team,” said Reid in a release. “With things going on with the coronavirus, it’s a Hill, Next, 112, Mario, and his broad background as a business leader very difficult time for a lot of people. Now more. and with expertise in marketing to young everything is closed. There’s no more night, “Thanks for your patience as we’ve been target groups, there is that he will meaning there’s no more nightlife.” figuring out how to make the show go on,” be a strong contribution to Live Nation The Basement East is one of the venues reads a statement on the event’s Instagram. Sweden.” affected by the tornado, and countless other “In light of recent circumstances, Lovers Behrer is the author of two best-selling clubs in Nashville have since closed due to & Friends Festival has been rescheduled business books Event Marketing and How growing coronavirus concerns. While Nash- to Saturday, August 8 at The Grounds at Dig- Cool Brands Stay Hot. How Cool Brands Stay ville’s nightlife has since halted, there is no nity Health Sports Park and is now only one Hot was awarded Best Book in Marketing doubt in Clifford’s mind that Tennessee will day. Ticket purchasers for the original dates 2012 by the American Marketing Associa- continue to rebuild. will be notified in the next few days with tion. He also holds a master’s degree in busi- “The guys that run the Basement East, details about their order. We look forward to ness administration. they’re all dear friends of mine and to see hosting you this summer.” “We are very much looking forward to what happened is just heartbreaking. That Among the acts listed on the original welcoming Mattias aboard. His future at morning when the sun came up, I walked poster who appear to have dropped off are Live Nation is bright and he will have an down to the Basement and ran into [co- Mya, and . amazing team behind him,” said Thomas owner] Mike Grimes at 6:45 a.m. What they Johansson, chairman Nordic’s Live Nation. Page 17 of 25

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Live Nation Sweden represents a large every episode automatically in your inbox, are based in the company’s Los Angeles number of Swedish artists on national and subscribe to (and rate) the podcast on Apple headquarters. international tours as well as arranging Music and listen on , Google Play, Alexander joined Big Deal in 2014 and festivals such as Lollapalooza Stockholm, Simplecast and more. works day-to-day with the company’s grow- Sweden Rock, Summerburst and Way out ing roster of songwriters, including Joe Lon- West. don, Steph Jones, Danny Parker and Shun- Executive gudzo. She is also managing producer of the songwriting podcast “And The Writer Is…”. The Coronavirus Turntable: Cinq Packer has been with the company since 2016 after joining from JGM Artist Manage- Impact: Music Hires U.S. ment, where she managed Big Deal writers and . At Big Livestreams, Urban A&R Head, Deal, she works with songwriters including Wilson, Youngs, Tobias Wincorn and Danny Delayed Albums Big Deal Promotes Silberstein. She also serves as the point per- son for the company’s joint ventures with and More on This Two to Senior Nice Life and Mad Decent. Independent peermusic Week in Billboard Director has promoted Timothy A. Cohan, Esq. to chief counsel, company chair and CEO Ralph News BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN Peer II and deputy CEO Mary Megan Peer announced Wednesday (March 25). BY GARY TRUST inq Music Group has hired Cohan, who previously served as the com- Fotemah “Tmah” Mba as head pany’s senior vp of legal and business affairs, elcome to the This Week of A&R for U.S. Urban/R&B, it was has led that department since 2011. In his in Billboard News podcast, announced Wednesday (March expanded role, he will continue oversee- where Jordyn Rolling, C25) by Cinq Music president and co-founder ing the company’s business and legal affairs Billboard News host and Barry Daffurn. operation while contributing to govern- producer,W and Gary Trust, Billboard senior Mba met Daffurn while working with ment relations and public policy matters director of charts, dive into the week’s big- Cinq and on the release of for peermusic’s companies, which span 35 gest music news stories. last year’s song and mu- offices in 30 countries. He will also con- This week, Jordyn and Gary delve further sic video “Made For Now.” He previously tinue chairing the company’s International into the impact of the coronavirus (CO- worked at Akon’s Atlanta-based label Kon- Licensing Group, negotiating all direct VID-19) on the music business, including vict Muzik, which he helped build alongside agreements with existing and prospective more tours that have been postponed, led by the Senegalese-American singer. digital partners. He has been with peermu- and ; the latest In a statement, Mba said he wants “to sic since 1997. livestreams by James Bay, Charlie Puth, diversify Cinq beyond hip-hop, rap and “We place tremendous priority on pro- and others; and the delaying of Latin. I’m looking to grow Cinq’s business tecting the rights of music creators and the certain upcoming albums, including Lady in branding, and catalog acquisitions, with value of their copyrights, and in finding Gaga’s Chromatica. a continued focus on international expan- ways to expand the global marketplace to Jordyn and Gary also cover sion.” create new opportunities for them—Tim’s and ’s reignited fray; a scary At Konvict, Mba discovered and/or de- promotion is a testament of that,” said scene on that brought Katy veloped artists including T-Pain, Kardinal Ralph Peer in a statement. “His principled Perry to tears; and the legacy of the iconic Offishall, Kat DeLuna, Red Cafe, , executive leadership and global perspective Kenny Rogers, who passed away March 20. , Algee Smith, Chosen make him the right person to step into this We’ve also got all the latest on Billboard Jacobs, Jarvis, and Johnta important role as we continue our world- charts, including Styles’ new top 10 on Austin. He currently runs the nonprofit wide expansion.” the and The Weeknd’s Africa and serves on the board of Cohan is based out of peermusic’s likely No. 1 launch with After Hours on the Books for Africa. Burbank offices. In his new role, he will . Independent publisher Big Deal Music continue working with president and COO Listen to this week’s podcast below. Group has promoted Ashley Alexander Kathy Spanberger on transaction matters Check back for upcoming This Week in and Amber Packer to senior director, it in the U.S. Billboard News episodes, and to receive was announced Thursday (March 26). Both Mictic AG — maker of the forthcom- Page 18 of 25

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ing Mictic wearable device that will allow “No matter what steps they take the of Johnny Cash, Woody Guthrie and users to create music based on their body sanitation will be substandard, the risk of an Muddy Waters during his 17 years at Los movements — has named Mershad Javan internal pandemic at the MCC is great, and Angeles-based independent music publisher as CEO. The hiring was announced Thurs- if one does get sick jail healthcare is notori- Bug Music (he came on as vp business and day (March 26) by Mictic co-founder Rolf ously substandard,” it also states, mention- legal affairs, later becoming president); Hellat, who is stepping down from the CEO ing that his legal team has been blocked when BMG acquired Bug Music in 2011, role to focus on fine-tuning the device and from entering the facility due to the risk of Hirshland came with it. the user experience. exposure. He says that Bug’s roster — which in ad- Javan is a as well as the founder If released on bond as requested, the dition to legacy acts includes contemporary and former CEO of the digital music singer will live with his girlfriend Jocelyn artists like — accounted for “pretty distribution platform Octiive (formerly at a Chicago apartment complex. much 75% of what people consider Ameri- MondoTunes). As CEO, he will help lead “He would submit to any conditions that cana.” So when Masuch started talking the launch of the Mictic product, which is this court saw fit, including home incarcera- about growing BMG’s presence in the genre, slated for Q4 2020. tion,” the motion reads. Hirshland said, “We could hardly be more “Javan is just the kind of talent we need Greenberg also compares staying in the involved on the publishing side. The only right now to lead operations as we move facility under the current conditions is “tan- way we could be more involved is to start a into this crucial product launch phase,” said tamount to making them drink poison.” label.” Masuch replied: “Good idea, you do Hellat in a statement. “His achievements Kelly faces several dozen counts of state it.” and connections in the U.S. tech sphere are and federal sexual misconduct charges in Last November, BMG launched its first a huge asset, but it’s the way the needs of a , Minnesota and New York, from label — Berlin-based Modern Recordings, musician and the possibilities of technology sexual assault to heading a racketeering which focuses on new classical — converge so succinctly in his mind that I scheme aimed at supplying Kelly with girls. since the company restarted in 2008. Now, most value.” He was jailed in July and has been awaiting Renew joins BMG’s roster of U.S.-based Javan remains a member of the executive trial in a jail one block from the courthouse, labels including and Broken board of Octiive, which was partially bought where he attends pretrial hearings. He has Bow Records. Hirshland tapped longtime by U.K. media company Anakando in 2016. participated in hearings in his New York clients for Renew’s first releases: a pressing He is also a consultant and advisor to several case by video. of Wilcovered, a Wilco tribute album out on Silicon Valley startups. Rapper , who is currently incar- (postponed to June 20 cerated in New York, made a request earlier due to the coronavirus), and a 1968 Johnny this week for release due to coronavi- Cash set recorded by sound R. Kelly rus fears, but his motion was denied on man Owsley Stanley. Wednesday. Hirshland is also excited about an Ameri- Asks for Jail cana collection of “train” songs featuring Carla Olson, Dave Alvin and I See Hawks Release, Citing Why BMG in L.A.’s Rob Waller. “The fact that vinyl sales are increasing plays right into what Coronavirus Fears Launched An I’m trying to do,” he says. But he is quick to add: “I don’t want to limit us,” which is BY RANIA ANIFTOS Americana Label why Renew is also prioritizing emerging acts in the genre, like singer-songwriter Kelly has made a pitch to be BY HILARY HUGHES Matt Lorenz who performs as The Suitcase released from the Chicago Junket. “People are going to want to stream Metropolitan Correctional n the fall of 2019, BMG CEO Hartwig his music,” says Hirshland. “We’re ready Center on bond as he awaits Masuch came to his team with a mis- to service a shrinking CD and expanding R.his trial in Illinois federal court, citing a sion in mind: He wanted to make an digital market as well.” fear of contracting the rapidly spreading aggressive move into the Americana Hirshland — who is L.A.-based and has coronavirus. Irecording market. By this spring, the compa- one Renew colleague in New York — is plan- In a motion obtained by Billboard, filed by ny unveiled its second-ever BMG-launched ning on no more than six to eight projects his attorney Steven Greenberg on Thursday label, Renew Records. Masuch tapped for this calendar year, partly because he’s (March 26), it states that the encouraged BMG’s resident roots expert, executive vp still splitting his time between Renew and social distancing from the CDC are “simply David Hirshland, a two-decade publishing his “day job” at BMG. “Obviously, if there impossible” in the correctional facility’s veteran, to take the lead. are [records] we cannot live without, we close quarters. Hirshland worked closely with the estates will go after them,” he says of Renew’s tight Page 19 of 25

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focus on special Americana projects. Con- The flagship 2020 U.K. event had a bill sidering that BMG closed 2019 with a 6.09% featuring , System of a Down, share on Billboard’s Top Radio Airplay chart, Kiss and others. it’s a pace Renew can afford to maintain. “Please rest assured we will be back next Postpones ‘This For now, Hirshland can’t wait to deliver year,” the statement continues. that 1968 gem from the Man in Black. “It’s a The two-city Australian leg of Down- Is Not a Drill’ key moment in his career,” he says of Cash’s load Festival 2020 was scrapped earlier live album, which Renew will release in this month, due to the spread of the novel Tour Dates 2021. “He had just come out of a deep, dark coronavirus. place. He married June [Carter] a month BY TAYLOR MIMS before, so here he was, playing for 700 hip- pies in San Francisco and just having a blast Isle of Wight oger Waters announced today doing it. Gordon Lightfoot’s in the audience; (March 27) that he will postpone he previews a few songs that Festival 2020 Is the entirety of his This Is Not a Dylan hadn’t released yet. It’s a remarkable Drill North American dates. recording.” Canceled Due R“The bad news is: I’ve had to postpone my This story originally appeared in the March tour until next year,” said Waters in a release. 28, 2020 issue of Billboard. to Coronavirus “Bummer, but if it saves lives, it’s worth it.” Tour promoters AEG Presents and Con- BY LARS BRANDLE certs West encourage fans to hang on to their tickets which will be honored on the ritain’s has new dates once they are announced. 2020 Scrapped scrapped its 2020 edition due to For the first time, originalPink Floyd the coronavirus crisis. member Roger Waters is expected be as U.K. Enters The iconic fest was slated to playing in the round. Waters has promised Btake place June 11 – 14 at Seaclose Park in an entirely new show that pulls from his 50 Coronavirus Newport, with , Lionel Rich- years of experience in . ie and Patrol among its headliners. Promoted by AEG Presents, Roger Lockdown With Britain now in lockdown as CO- Waters: This Is Not A Drill marks Waters’ VID-19 continues to spread the globe, this return to the US following his extraordinary BY LARS BRANDLE year’s event will no longer take place. performances at the 2016 Desert Trip music “This decision hasn’t been taken lightly festival and his worldwide Us + Them Tour ownload Festival, Britain’s and we have tried our hardest to make it in 2017 and 2018. premier rock and metal fest, will work, but it was unavoidable given the See the list of original dates below, and skip this year’s edition due to current status,” reads a statement from orga- look out for new dates soon. the global health crisis. nizers. “The safety of our audience, artists, Roger Waters: This Is Not A Drill – DSlated to take place June 12-14 at Don- crew and the Isle of Wight community is 2020 North American Tour ington Park, Download 2020 was inevitably paramount and we appreciate your patience July 8 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena scrapped as Britain enters a lockdown with whilst we’ve been working through this July 10 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo strict, enforceable measures in place to limit unprecedented situation.” Center public gatherings. Looking ahead, IOW will be “back July 14 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars “We’ve been closely monitoring this stronger than ever in 2021,” the statement Arena unprecedented situation and it’s become continues. July 17 — Toronto, ON @ clear that it just isn’t possible for the 2020 An idyllic, isolated retreat off ’s July 21 — Quebec City, QC @ Videotron festival to go ahead,” reads a statement from south coast, the Isle of Wight first hosted a Centre organizers. “This decision hasn’t been taken major festival back in 1968. By the time the July 23 — Montreal, QC @ lightly and we’re beyond disappointed, we third edition rolled around, in 1970, more July 25 — Albany, NY @ Times Union extend our heartfelt apologies to all of you – than 500,000 people came out to see the Center we really did try to make this work.” lineup, which included and July 28 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden The brainchild of promoter Andy Cop- . July 30 — Washington, DC @ Capitol One ping, Download was launched in 2003 and The festival went into hibernation for de- Arena has expanded into France, the U.S. Spain, cades, until British promoter John Giddings Aug. 1 — Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Japan and Australia. revived it in 2002. Center Page 20 of 25

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Aug. 5 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Broadway, including in Kenneth Lonergan’s Garden Mark Blum, The Waverly Gallery, Terrence McNally’s It’s Aug. 11 — Raleigh, NC @ PNC Arena Only a Play, Amy Herzog’s After the Revolu- Aug. 13 — Orlando, FL @ ’s tion, Craig Lucas’ The Forest and Aug. 15 — Miami, FL @ AmericanAirlines Zoe Kazan’s We Live Here; he won an Obie Arena ‘Desperately Award in 1989 for his co-starring turn in Aug. 18 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Albert Innaurato’s Gus and Al at Playwrights Arena Seeking Susan’ Horizons. Aug. 20 — Atlanta, GA @ Arena “With love and , Playwrights Aug. 22 — Milwaukee, WI @ Co-Star, Dies Horizons pays tribute to Mark Blum, a dear Aug. 25 — , MN @ Target longtime friend and a consummate artist Center at 69 From who passed this week. Thank you, Mark, Aug. 27 — Chicago, IL @ for all you brought to our and to Aug. 29 — Kansas City, MO @ Sprint Center Coronavirus theaters and audiences across the world. We Sept. 2 — Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center will miss you,” the theater company wrote Sept. 4 — Las Vegas, NV @ T-Mobile Arena Complications on . Sept. 10 — Los Angeles, CA @ STAPLES Blum’s final New York stage appearance Center BY MIKE BARNES was last fall in Fern Hill, in which he co- Sept. 14 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena starred with Jill Eikenberry, John Glover Sept. 16 — Edmonton, AB @ Rogers Place ark Blum, a veteran stage actor and Mark-Linn Baker. Sept. 19 — Tacoma, WA @ Tacoma Dome who appeared in such films as In one of his first big-screen roles, Blum Sept. 21 — Portland, OR @ Crocodile Dundee and Desper- played Gary Glass, Rosanna Arquette’s hus- Sept. 23 — Sacramento, CA @ Golden 1 ately Seeking Susan and on TV band, in the Madonna-starring Desperately Center Mshows including Mozart in the Jungle, has Seeking Susan (1985), directed by Susan Sept. 25 — San Francisco, CA @ Chase died. He was 69. Seidelman. A year later, he was newspaper Center Blum died Wednesday at NewYork-Pres- writer Linda Kozlowski’s editor in Crocodile Sept. 30 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Vivint byterian hospital of complications from the Dundee. Smart Home Arena novel coronavirus, his wife, actress and act- His film résumé also includedJust Be- Oct. 3 — Dallas, TX @ American Airlines ing teacher Janet Zarish, told The Hollywood tween Friends (1986), Blind Date (1987), The Center Reporter. Presidio (1988), Denise Calls Up (1995) and A busy actor, Blum also recently played Shattered Glass (2003). bookstore owner Mr. Mooney on the A native of Newark, New Jersey, Blum crime drama You and had guest stints on portrayed piccolo player Union Bob on the HBO’s Succession and Showtime’s Billions. 2014-18 Amazon series Mozart in the Jungle On Broadway, Blum started out as an after appearing in other shows like St. Else- assistant stage manager and understudy in where, Frasier, The Sopranos, The West Wing, 1977’s The Merchant and went on to appear Law & Order, The Good Wife, The Good Fight, in Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers in 1991, in re- The Blacklist and Elementary. vivals of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man in 2000 In addition to his wife of 15 years, survi- and 2012, in Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry vors include his mother, Lorraine, and sister, Men in 2004 and in Richard Greenberg’s Nancy. The Assembled Parties in 2013. This article was originally published by On acting in The Best Man 12 years apart, The Hollywood Reporter. he told Playbill in 2012: “It feels a little like a where you think it’s supposed to go in a certain way, but you look around and all the people are different. I open a door, and Angela Lansbury walks in instead of Elizabeth Ashley. I open another door, and it’s James Earl Jones, not Charles Durn- ing. It feels like I’m hallucinating instead of acting.” He also worked dozens of times off- Page 21 of 25

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And while R Dub isn’t sure if there has debuted and reached its original peak at No. How Dua Lipa been a true phase since the disco era 14 in a six-week chart run. It now becomes itself, he says songs like soulDecision’s “Fad- only the third U.K. top ten album of Rogers’ Is Leading The ed” in 2000 and ’s “Get Lucky” in solo career: he reached No. 7 with Kenny in 2013 “attempted to stoke the fire, but with 1980 and No. 4 with The Kenny Rogers Story Charge Toward little success of actually igniting an inferno.” in 1985. Now, it seems like Lipa may be the one to Manchester rock outfit The Slow Read- Disco-Influenced do just that; “Don’t Start Now” is at No. 3 ers Club arrive at No. 9 with The Joy of the on the Billboard Hot 100 and at the Radio Return (Modern Sky). They reached No. 18 Production Songs summit. As Bradley says, it “became with Build A Tower in 2018. There’s a No. 10 this juggernaut that can’t be stopped.” entry for the EP Is It Any Won- BY LYNDSEY HAVENS This story originally appeared in the March der (/Warner) after its release on 28, 2020 issue of Billboard. vinyl, which duly takes it to the top of that ver the past two years, Top 40 format’s dedicated chart. radio has been dominated by Meanwhile, ’s “Roses” (B1/HIT- downtempo hits from artists The Weeknd’s CO/Ministry of Sound) starts a second week like , Halsey and at the singles summit. OBillie Eilish. Which is why Erik Bradley, mu- ‘After Hours’ The Saint Jhn track extends its singles sic brand manager at WBBM and WBMX reign with 60,000 new combined units, of Chicago, clearly recalls the first time he Becomes His which 7.4 million are streams. The Weeknd’s heard Dua Lipa’s “Don’t Start Now,” about “” holds at No. 2, as the a month before its November 2019 release. Second U.K. release of After Hours takes two more of its “I instantly thought it was going to be one tracks into the top 40: “In Your Eyes” enters of the biggest songs of the year,” he says. By No. 1 Album at No. 17 and the title song, which debuted at February, more high-profile disco-infused No. 20 earlier this month, rebounds 43-24. tracks arrived with ’s comeback, BY PAUL SEXTON ’s “The Box” (Atlantic/ “Stupid Love,” and the - Warner) has another upturn, 4-3, in its 11th SZA collaboration “The Other Side,” off he Weeknd lands a second U.K. straight week in the top ten. Joel Corry’s the Trolls World Tour soundtrack. Now, No. 1 album, as After Hours debuts “Lonely” (Perfect Havoc/Asylum/Warner) not only are all three songs in the top 20 of atop the is up 5-4 and Dua Lipa’s “Physical” (War- Billboard’s Mainstream Top 40 chart, but survey. ner) 7-5. they’re also bringing energy back to top 40. TAfter Hours has first-week combined units “It seems like it all came at once,” says R of 26,000, of which 78% comprises stream- Dub, director of programming at XHTZ and ing-equivalent sales. The total is more than JoJo Reschedules XHRM San Diego. He says Lipa in particu- double that of Lewis Capaldi’s Divinely lar has the ability to keep this trend going: Uninspired To A Hellish Extent (EMI/Uni- ‘’ “She’s the consummate entertainer — and versal), which is at No. 2 again. The Weeknd the door was wide open for a new superstar previously led the U.K. album chart with Tour Dates to emerge.” Bradley agrees, saying that Lipa Beauty Behind The Madness in 2015. has been crafting this energetic throwback Morrissey makes a No. 3 start with I Am BY TAYLOR MIMS vibe for some time, pointing to “Be the One” Not A Dog On A Chain (BMG). It’s his 15th and her U.S. breakthrough, “.” top ten title as a solo artist, and highest- oJo has rescheduled her Spring tour Both R Dub and Bradley cite a handful of placed since World Peace Is None Of Your dates that would have kicked off on other artists who have recently tapped into Business opened at No. 2 in 2014. Billie April in Washington. In support of her retro production, like Doja Cat’s “Say So,” Eilish is back up 6-4 with When We All Fall upcoming album good to know, the pop The Weeknd’s “Blinding Lights” and BE- Asleep, Where Do We Go (Interscope/Uni- Jstar will now launch her 2020 U.S. dates on NEE’s “Supalonely.” While R Dub believes versal), as is Harry Styles’ Fine Line (Colum- Nov. 1 at the Showbox in Seattle. this slew of disco-pop tracks is “absolutely /Sony), 7-5. The rescheduled dates will run through- a trend,” he says, “the question is, how big Strong interest in Kenny Rogers’ cata- out November and December with stops in will it grow and how long will it last? It will logue following his death on Mar. 20 gener- San Francisco, Los Angeles, Houston, At- be interesting to see if artists like Cardi B ates a re-entry at No. 6 for All The Hits & lanta, Nashville, New York, Boston, Detroit and find their way over to a disco- All New Love Songs (EMI/Universal). The and Chicago. The tour will close out on Dec. sounding track.” album was first released in 1999, when it 9 at First Avenue in Minneapolis. Page 22 of 25

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“It breaks my heart to have to postpone “A lot of life happened between my last this tour,” JoJo said in a release. “I was so With ‘Supernova,’ record and Supernova,” says the mother of excited to get on the road and play the new two, who tours the country with her family music for you guys, but everyone’s safety of four. “This new album holds a vast range and health of course comes first, and we of emotion. Each song is a different expres- have no choice but to and Breaks Out of the sion of humanity: loss, change, loneliness, reschedule for later this year. Until then love, fear and hope. we’ll and sing together virtually!” Writers Room and “When my life feels really loud and crazy, All tickets purchased for the original I love to sit down at the piano, or pick up dates will be honored at the November and Into the Limelight my , in really, really small and December shows. write about the tiny details that make life so JoJo is preparing for the release of her BY ANNIE REUTER beautiful,” she continues. “My goal is to get new album good to know, out May 1 on to the guts of it. My hope is that this record / . She has elcome to Emerging Artists could be a bright light for some people in already released single “Man.” Spotlight, the Billboard this crazy world right now.” Check out a full list of rescheduled dates series where we highlight a Prior to Supernova, Smith’s major label below. musician or band who has debut album Starfire reached No. 24 on Rescheduled Tour Dates: recentlyW made their debut on the Emerging Americana/Folk Albums and No. 6 on Heat- Nov. 1 — Seattle, WA @ The Showbox Artists chart. Whether they are new to the seekers Albums in 2018. Before that, her Nov. 2 — Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom industry, or have been around for a while but Starfire (EP) reached No. 18 on Americana/ Nov. 4 — San Francisco, CA @ The Regency are just starting to have a chart impact, the Folk Albums and No. 16 on Heatseekers Ballroom intention is to showcase where they are here Albums in 2016. Nov. 5 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Novo and now. This week’s pick is Caitlyn Smith, Learn more about Smith below. Nov. 7 — Santa Ana, CA @ The Observatory who debuted at No. 45 on the chart dated Name: Caitlyn Smith Nov. 9 — San Diego, CA @ House of March 28 thanks to the success of her second Age: 33 Nov. 10 — Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater studio album Supernova. Recommended track: “Long Time Nov. 13 — Dallas, TX @ Canton Hall Hailing from Cannon Falls Minnesota, Coming” Nov. 14 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith has been Outside of the music: “I’m obsessed with Nov. 16 — Atlanta, GA @ drawn to music since she was a child. the outdoors — it puts my head in the right Nov. 17 — Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ball- At the age of 12, she formed her first band place and helps drown out the noise. I love room and went on to release three albums inde- exploring new cities and experiencing the Nov. 20 — Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle pendently by the time she turned 19. A fan of energy and sights and food... I’ve been tour- Nov. 22 — Silver Spring, MD @ The Fillmore songwriters like , , ing a lot this year, and we’ve been having a Silver Spring Joni Mitchell and Patti Griffin, Smith ton of fun. In this time where everything has Nov. 23 — Philadelphia, PA @ Union Trans- eventually moved to Nashville where she’d slowed down for a minute, my husband and fer amass cuts by Meghan Trainor and John I are making a garden, enjoying this time Nov.28 — New Haven, CT @ College Street Legend (“Like I’m Gonna Lose You”), Cas- with our kids and learning how good rest is.” Music Hall sadee Pope (“”), What’s next: “I’ve started a new [Insta- Nov. 29 — New York, NY @ Terminal 5 and Kenny Rogers and (“You gram] Live Series called ‘Lonely Together’ Dec. 1 — Boston, MA @ Royale Can’t Make Old Friends”), among others. and am having fun with that! And as soon Dec. 3 — Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues Now signed to Monument Records as an as we’re able, I’m looking forward to get- Dec. 4 — Cincinnati, OH @ Bogarts artist, Smith’s second studio album Super- ting back out on the road and continue Dec. 6 — Detroit, MI @ St. Andrew’s Hall nova, released March 13, debuts on the Top touring. (Our tour was cut short due to the Dec. 7 — Chicago, IL Vic @ Theater Album Sales chart at No. 92 with 1,000 virus.) We had to cancel everything a few Dec. 9 — Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue copies sold, according to Nielsen Music/ days before my album was released, which MRC Data. was devastating, but, I’m excited to get out Her powerful single and album opener there with this new music when the time is “Long Time Coming” concurrently stands right.” at No. 37 on the Adult Alternative Songs air- play chart in its third charting week (down from its No. 35 peak last week). The song is her first career entry on one ofBillboard’s song charts. Page 23 of 25

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My friend Jared Mullins called me, and Kenny Rogers Why he goes, “Man, I just need to come out to your place and have a beer, talk to you about Debuts 12 Songs Is Confident some things.” He didn’t have a [record] deal at the time, and I wanted to help him, I just on LyricFind U.S. ‘Homemade’ didn’t know that I was at a place to do that. The one thing that I said to him that night is, Chart Following Is ‘Just the “Why don’t you your best songs that you wish somebody would hear and cut.” Death Beginning’ of He played “Homemade,” and when he got to the chorus, I was like, “That’s my life!” BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD Another Career My mom made the greatest sweet tea ever growing up, so did my grandma. And I’m ollowing the death of Kenny Rog- Hot Streak just a homemade guy: I have a twin brother, ers on March 20, the legend’s mu- my parents have been married for 40 years. sic swarms Billboard’s LyricFind BY TAYLOR WEATHERBY My grandparents are still married; that’s Global and LyricFind U.S. charts why I depicted the whole video around my Fdated March 28. lmost exactly a year after Jake grandparents’ love story. Leading the way, “Islands in the Stream,” Owen signed with Big Loud Why did you pick “Homemade” to be the with Dolly Parton, debuts at Nos. 2 and 4, Records in fall 2017, the country third single as opposed to other Greetings respectively. star heard a song called “Home- From… Jake tracks? The LyricFind Global and LyricFind made”A and immediately knew he had to We were actually going to release a song U.S. charts rank the fastest-momentum- record it. Now, it’s Owen’s eighth No. 1 on called “Drink All Day,” because it was going gaining tracks in lyric-search queries and the chart. to be the summer months [when we sent it usages globally and in the U.S., respectively, “Homemade,” an evocative ode to the to radio]. “Homemade” wasn’t something provided by LyricFind. The Global chart in- comforts of home (written by Ben Gold- we’d been promoting, but the [streaming] cludes queries from all countries, including smith, , Drew Parker and Jared numbers were just through the roof. You the U.S. The company is the world’s leader Mullins), is the third single from Owen’s can’t deny real-time numbers and people in licensed lyrics, with data provided by first album on Big Loud, 2019’s Greetings basically telling you what they like. more than 5,000 publishers and utilized by From… Jake. The lead single from the LP, “I Here we are not only with another No. 1, more than 100 services, including Amazon, Was Jack (You Were Diane),” earned Owen but my buddy Jared, [who] was struggling Pandora, Deezer, Microsoft, SoundHound his seventh No. 1 in 2018, and the boot- at the time, he has his first number one. And and iHeartRadio. The latest tracking week stomping follow-up “Down to the Honky- my buddy [Ben] Goldsmith’s a writer on it, ended March 22. tonk” reached No. 7. Needless to say, switch- he’s never had a No. 1. Drew Parker, who’s In all, interest in Rogers’ lyrics surged ing labels has served Owen well so far. on tour right now with Luke Combs, he’s 8,457% following his death, according to “I was in a dark, angry place being over never had a No. 1. LyricFind. at that other label,” Owen tells Billboard It has to be cool for you to continue to “Islands in the Stream” spiked by 1,048% (he was previously at RCA Nashville, with have No. 1 hits yourself, but also get to help in lyrics searches and usages, while Rogers’ whom he signed in 2005). “To be on the guys out that are still . song with The First Edition, “Just Dropped other side of that and blossoming, [think- I really hope that’s my legacy going for- In (To See What Condition My Condition ing] it worked out the way we all wanted it ward: No matter where I was in my career, Was In),” which debuts one spot below at to, that is something that I’m really, really, I was always trying to help other people. No. 5 on LyricFind U.S., jumped 13,700%. really thankful for.” That’s when I find I get the most pleasure, The former ruled the Billboard Hot 100 for Along with topping Country Airplay, when one of my friends gets to benefit the two weeks in 1983, while the latter, Rogers’ “Homemade” is Owen’s highest-charting same way I did. first appearance on the Hot 100, hit No. 5 in Billboard Hot 100 hit from Greetings, cur- Back in 2011, I was headlining the CMT 1968. rently sitting at No. 39 (chart dated March tour, they asked me who I wanted to take on Overall, 12 songs with Rogers reach Lyric- 28). Owen chatted with Billboard about tour. I was like, “I want to take this group Find U.S., while nine dot LyricFind Global. what his latest feat means to him — and why called Georgia Line out — they don’t Rogers died March 20 in Georgia while he’s confident this No. 1 won’t be his last. even have a record deal yet, but they’re under hospice care at age 81. His final con- How did you come across “Homemade,” going to be huge.” I took them out, I had to cert was held in 2018, following a lengthy and what made you think, “This has to be lease them some lights. And I remember farewell tour. my song”? taking them on my boat and making them Page 24 of 25

IN BRIEF

jump in the freezing cold river in Nashville, to back. This is my eighth No. 1, but I’m far contract with Capitol Nashville. Her debut just to see if we could get them 5,000 follow- from done. This is just the beginning. single, “Family Tree,” arrived last year, ers on Twitter. Isn’t that crazy? And now to A version of this article originally appeared peaking at No. 32 on Billboard’s Country think what those guys have done. Those are in the March 28, 2020 issue of Billboard. Airplay chart. In February, she released the things that I hang my hat on. the confessional “Small Town Hypocrite,” I noticed that the second and third sin- about the ex she left behind in Georgia; her gles from your last album, , How Caylee first album, which she coproduced with only peaked in the top 40 of the country Mikey Reeves, will arrive later in 2020. “The airplay chart. And now all three singles off Hammack Went theme is the universal thought of if you’re of Greetings have gone top 10, including not growing, you’re dying,” she says. “That’s two No. 1s. What do you think happened From Sleeping something that I tried to focus on — I want that allowed you to get your groove back, so to keep growing.” to speak? In Her Car To This article originally appeared in the I mean, it’s not about thinking what March 28, 2020 issue of Billboard. happened, I know what happened: I didn’t Landing a Record have the support system at Sony from the new regime that came in, and if you feel Deal Royce like you’re not getting taken care of, then you need to make a change. We found a BY ANNIE REUTER ‘Surprised & great home at Big Loud Records. [Big Loud co-founder] Joey Moi produced my first wenty-six-year-old Caylee Ham- Grateful’ for His No. 1, “,” and [co- mack has gone from sleeping in founder] Seth England would send me the her car to scoring a recording 18th No. 1 on greatest songs before I was at their label. I contract with Capitol Records knew these guys were going to get behind TNashville. Here’s how the Ellaville, Ga. na- Tropical Airplay me. The people they have there — their ra- tive became one to watch. dio team, their songwriters — it’s like they In 2012, when Caylee Hammack was Chart have pride and a chip on their shoulder, 17, she passed up an opportunity to attend too. They want to prove to everybody, “You on scholarship; her BY PAMELA BUSTIOS guys messed up by letting Jake go.” then-boyfriend convinced her to stay home “Homemade” is your first charting single in Georgia with him, much to her father’s rince Royce secures another No. of 2020, meaning you now have hits in disapproval. “I wandered around playing 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart three consecutive decades. How have you more shows, building a fan base, but was as “Carita de Inocente,” from his achieved such longevity? ultimately lost,” she recalls. At the end of Alter Ego album, rises 2-1 in its In my early years, I [had] the same man- 2013, Hammack packed up and drove to Pseventh week on the chart dated March 28. ager as , and he kind of took Nashville, where she slept in her car at a The tune climbs with 6 million in audience me under his wing. Kenny told me, “Just Target parking lot for weeks before getting a impressions (up 13%) earned in the week put out good songs, and stay on the radio. regular gig on Lower Broadway at Tootsies ending March 22, according to Nielsen Mu- They’re not going to always go No. 1, but Orchid Lounge. sic/MRC Data. if you put out the best song that you know, After two years of playing shows on Nash- ”I am surprised and grateful!” Royce whether you wrote it or not, you just put ville’s famed Broadway and co-writing with tells Billboard. “In a short time ‘Carita de the best song out there. That’s what will anyone who would work with her, Hammack Inocente’ hit No. 1. It’s a fresh, danceable keep your career going.” I always took that was introduced to Universal Music Publish- new bachata sound and I’m fans, to heart. ing Group Nashville vp creative Cyndi For- DJs and radio have embraced it and my new [Kenny] said it took him 12 years before man by her longtime ASCAP rep, Robert Fil- !” people took him seriously as an artist. He hart. Forman signed Hammack to a contract For Royce, “Carita” marks his 18th No. 1 said, “All that time I was doing nothing as a staff writer and a year later arranged for since the Tropical Airplay chart’s inception different than I’m doing right now. I was her to meet Red Light Management’s Mary in 1994. He remains in third place among working just as hard as I work now, but I Hilliard Harrington. “What I really love, acts with the most No. 1s on the chart, trail- was kinda sneaking up on people and they looking back, is that I’ve had a lot of female ing only Marc Anthony (with 32) and Victor didn’t see me coming.” I feel like that now, champions,” says Hammack, adding that Manuelle (28). “Carita” also marks his 13th like I’m just about to hit a really good stride Harrington “helped me rebuild my life.” No. 1 without a collaboration among his 18 of mounting these No. 1 singles back to back In 2018, Hammack signed a recording overall leaders. Page 25 of 25

IN BRIEF

With “Carita” on top, here’s a recap of “Black Madonna” rises 11-10 on the Royce’s 18 leaders on Tropical Airplay: chart dated March 28, drawing 4.8 million Title, Artist (if other than Royce), Weeks audience impressions, up 8%, according to at No. 1, Date Reached No. 1 Nielsen Music/MRC Data. “Stand by Me,” one, August 14, 2010 Now with a dozen top 10s, the Matt “Corazón Sin Cara,” 10, Oct. 23, 2010 Shultz-led band matches Florida-based “El Verdadero Amor Perdona,” Mana featur- for the most in the survey’s ing Royce, two, Dec. 10, 2011 nearly 11-year history. “Las Cosas Pequeñas,” two, Feb. 4, 2012 Most Rock Airplay Top 10s “,” two, Feb. 16, 2012 12, Cage the Elephant “,” four, March 2, 2013 12, Shinedown “,” August 17, 2013 10, Foo Fighters “Te Robaré,” two, March 8, 2014 10, Muse “Soy El Mismo,” one, August 2, 2014 9, The Black Keys “Solita,” one, March 21, 2015 9, “Cosas Tiene El Amor,” with Anthony San- 9, tos, one, June 20, 2015 Cage the Elephant has made up a two- “Culpa el Corazón,” four, Feb. 13, 2016 song lead by Shinedown, whose most recent “La Carretera,” one, July 9, 2016 top 10, “Monsters,” reached the region last “Moneda,”featuring Gerardo Ortiz, Jan. 28, June. Before “Black Madonna,” Cage’s previ- 2017 ous single “Social Cues” became its 11th top “Deja vu,” with , 11, April 29, 2017 last August on its way to a one-week stay at “Adicto,” with Marc Anthony, seven, Jan. 26, No. 1 in October. 2019 Meanwhile, Cage the Elephant has landed “Morir Solo,” one, Feb. 8, 2020 eight straight songs in the Rock Airplay top “Carita de Inconcente,” March 28, 2020 10. The longest streak in the chart’s his- “Carita de Inocente” is the ninth single tory is nine, pulled off by both Shinedown from Alter Ego — his sixth studio album, (2009-12, from “Sound of Madness” through which debuted at No. 1 on the Top Latin “I’ll Follow You”) and Twenty One Pilots Albums chart (dated Feb. 20) — and it also (2015-present; “Tear in My Heart” through pushes on the overall Latin Airplay chart “The Hype”). 26-16 in its third frame. “Black Madonna” concurrently leaps 6-3 Over on the Hot Latin Songs chart, on the Adult Alternative Songs airplay which blends airplay, digital sales and chart and bullets its No. 8 high on the Alter- streaming data, the bachata tune rises 50-44 native Songs airplay list. despite a decline on sales (down 37%) and It’s the third single from Social Cues, streams (dips 14%). Cage the Elephant’s fifth studio set, which debuted at No. Top Rock Albums and No. 21 on the Billboard 200 in May 2019 and Cage the Elephant has earned 150,000 equivalent album units Ties for Most Rock to date. Airplay Top 10s

BY KEVIN RUTHERFORD

age the Elephant’s “Black Ma- donna” becomes the band’s 12th top 10 on Billboard’s all-rock-for- mat Rock Airplay chart, tying the CKentucky act with Shinedown for the most top 10s in the tally’s history.