Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE MAY 25, 2021 Page 1 of 27

INSIDE Copyrights, Royalty Splits &

• Songwriter Groups More: ‘Ruthless’ NFT Market Want Their Voices Heard on CRB Sparks New Legal Debates Royalty Rate ASAP BY TATIANA CIRISANO • Shuttered Venue Operators Grants Are Late. Here’s When On April 26, an NFT of a Jean-Michel Basquiat draw- then get those licenses from rights-holders. This is an the SBA Says They’ll ing popped up on the marketplace OpenSea with the obvious step for lawyers like Bromley, but it’s an easy Arrive promise that the winning bidder would be granted one for artists to gloss over in the rush to capitalize on copyright ownership of the work and the option to de- the NFT market. • Identity, Awareness & Representation: An stroy the physical original. But after Basquiat’s estate “Any time a client asks me how this works, I tell AAPI Heritage Month intervened, confirming that the seller held no rights to them to start with, ‘What are you making?’” Bromley Conversation With the drawing, the NFT was removed within 48 hours. says. “All sorts of licenses are implicated, depending Spotify’s Ronny Ho The kerfuffle reflects confusion over how the rapid- on what you’re doing.” • SoundCloud Inks ly growing artistic medium fits into existing copyright If an NFT consists of a clip of music played over First-Ever A&R law — an especially thorny space to navigate for NFTs a video or graphic, for example, the creator needs a Partnerships With involving music, given the music industry’s complex synchronization license to marry the audio with video T-Pain’s Label, Linda web of rights-holders. As artists and executives are (usually from a publisher) and a master license to Perry & More clamoring to strategize how best to approach the reproduce the song recording (usually from a label). • Wherever Did They emerging market, then, so are their lawyers. Both licenses are non-compulsory, meaning that the Go? Why The Calling Lawsuits are “coming,” says entertainment law- rights-holder has free rein to choose their price or Disappeared After yer Jordan Bromley, who leads the entertainment refuse to grant a license at all. Delivering One of transactions and finance practice at Manatt, Phelps & Music attorney and LaPolt Law found- 2001’s Biggest Hits Phillips, LLP. “The number of threats being made of er Dina LaPolt says that NFT creators must also litigation is astounding.” clearly explain what the buyer is actually purchas- To begin with, artists who want to use music in an ing, as there is a common misconception among new NFT but don’t own all the recording and publishing collectors that purchasing an NFT means assuming rights must identify the relevant music licenses and (continued)

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

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IN BRIEF

ownership of the underlying copyright and ficult,” Korn says. “If you find that the end they can get a higher price when they resell intellectual property. of the trail is an IP address in North Korea, it,” Bromley says. “It would be unfair to the “The buyer pays a substantial amount of good luck.” releasing artist to not attribute a portion of money for this NFT, and if they think they Rights holders who believe their work has the profit to the brand name itself.” own the underlying intellectual property been used in an NFT without permission There are many possible ways to reflect embodied on the NFT, that’s going to be can usually file a report with the NFT mar- this in the revenue splits. Out of the 50% of an issue,” says LaPolt, whose law firm rep- ketplace host, after which the marketplace total revenue allocated for music, 25% could resents deadmau5, who has sold more will investigate the issue and remove the get carved out for all the rights-holders (in- than $1.7 million in NFTs across several NFT if it is found to be infringing. In their cluding the publisher, label and artist), with drops since December. “The terms of service terms of use, the marketplaces currently the remaining 25% going straight to the art- need to be very, very specifically drafted.” do not assume responsibility for copy- ist for their brand. Alternatively, LaPolt sug- Unfortunately, the same qualities that right infringement by users, but that could gests that creators could allocate a third of make the blockchain appealing — it is de- change. “As these spaces get more and more the total revenue from an NFT to the music centralized, anonymized and global — will regulated, there is a risk that there will be artist, a third to the visual artist and a third make enforcing copyright law a challenge. additional scrutiny on them,” Korn says. to the music copyright holders. “You can’t call somebody who’s the CEO Even if licensing the music to create an In her experience thus far, “nobody has of the blockchain and have a transaction NFT is a fairly straightforward process, come with a heavy hand,” from the label shut down,” says Brian Korn, partner of Bromley says, things get complicated when side, LaPolt says. “But I don’t really give Manatt Financial Services who leads the it comes to divvying up the sale profits. them much to negotiate.” firm’s fintech practice. “It’s a much more So far, most creators are carving out 50% Bromley is confident that the lingering ruthless environment.” of revenue to the visual art and 50% to the issues with NFTs will work themselves If an artist believes their work has been music, which is divided amongst various out in time, and notes that it doesn’t make used in an NFT without permission, they rights holders from there. But recording and sense to have a market solution across all have the burden of tracking down the publishing deals complicate this further. NFTs anyway. “It really is case-by-case, holder of the “smart contract” attached to Artist lawyers like Bromley and LaPolt ar- because they’re all so unique and different,” the NFT, which contains lines of code that gue that because collectors are primarily he says. automatically execute behaviors (such as motivated to buy an NFT based on the name On the positive side, “It’s something new where revenue should flow). But that’s no or brand associated with it, which translates that we can put brainpower into,” he adds. easy task in the anonymized world of block- to a higher resale value, the music and visual “We do 1,000 producer deals a year; [NFT] chain, where buyers and sellers are typical- artists at the center of NFTs deserve the s are new, unique and exciting.” ly known only by their usernames and could lion’s share of the revenue — not the label. be located anywhere in the world. “The bigger the brand, the more success- “The chances of you being able to locate ful [the NFT] is, not because people want to and get cooperation from someone are dif- listen to the music but because they think

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

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

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

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

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

Albums; Brett Youngthe Songwriters ‘Catc Guild hof America,’-es theFifth So- Airplay Songwriter ciety of Composers & Lyricists, the Alliance Shuttered Venue Leader; Travis forDenning Woman Film Composers, Makes the Songwrit History- Groups Want ers Assn. of Canada, the Screen composers Operators Grants Guild of Canada, Music Answers; and Music SamTheir Hunt’s second Voices studio full-length, and first in overCreators five years, North Southside America sales and (up several 21%) ininter the -trackingAre week. On Late. Country Airplay, Here’s it hops 18-15 (11.9 mil- (MCA Nashville/Universal Music Group Nashville), debutsnational at No. 1 organizations.on Billboard’s lion audience impressions, up 16%). Top Country Albums chart dated April 18. In its first weekAccording (ending April to the9), itsecond letter to the earnedHeard 46,000 equivalent on CRB album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITHWhen YOUNG Brett Young theachieves SBA his fifth consecutive cording to Nielsen Music/MRC Data. judges, the CRB respondedand totalto the Country first let Airplay- No. 1 as “Catch” (Big Machine Label Group) ascends RoyaltySouthside marks Hunt’sRate second No. 1 on the ter by saying it is planning to publish the Says2-1, increasing They’ll 13% to 36.6 million Arrive impressions. chart and fourth top 10. It follows freshman LP settlement in the Federal Register for public Young’s first of six chart entries, “Sleep With- Montevallo, which arrived at the summit in No - out You,” reached No. 2 in December 2016. He ASAP comments. BY TAYLOR MIMS vember 2014 and reigned for nine weeks. To date, In that letter, the orgs beseeched the followed with the multiweek No. 1s “In Case You Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionBY ED in CHRISTMAN album sales. judges to ensure that the independent music You”ndependent (three, January venues 2018), “Mercy” are still (two,awaiting August Montevallo has spent 267 weeks on the list, tying creator community have the ability to file 2018)federal and “Here grants Tonight” approved five (two, April 2019). months Luke Bryan’sgroup Crash ofMy songwriter Party as the sixth-longest-organiza- comments in a timely manner. “Catch”ago to completes help their his struggling longest journey busi to- No. 1, running titlestions in the have chart’s urged 56-year the history.Copyright In its first letter, the songwriter organiza- havingnesses, and taken 46 weeks even toafter reach funds the apex. were It out- On the all-genreRoyalty Billboard Board to 200, ensure Southside they ar- tions reminded that the 2-cent mechanical Isupposedpaces the to30-week start rolling climb of out “Here last Tonight.” week they rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG after the No.have 3-peaking the chance Montevallo to publicly. rate was in effect from 1909-1978; and noted haven’ta new high. arrived yet. commentAHunt first on released a mechanical the EPX2C royalty, which rate debuted that if the undisclosed pending settlement The Small Business Administration — andsettlement peaked forat No. CDs, 5 on vinyl, Top Countrydownloads Albums and in Augustrate 2014.is in fact Following the re-application COMBS ‘DOES’ of the IT9.1 AGAIN Lukewhich Combs is facilitating’ “Does to Me” the (River Shuttered House/Columbia Venue Montevalloringtones that, Between was agreedthe Pines: upon Acoustic by the Mixtape three startedcents at rateits No. that 7 high has inbeen Nashville),applied since featuring 2006, Eric ChurchOperators, ascends Grants 11-8 — saidon Country on May Airplay, 10 thatup 10% to November 2015. 24.7 million in audience. The song is Combs’ eighth straight career-opening majors, the National Music Publishers’ that would mean that the rate would be in they “expected” to start awarding funds Montevallo produced five singles, four of which hit the pinnacle of Country top 10, following a record run of seven consecutive out-of-the-gate, properly Airplay:Assn., and “Leave the theNashville Night On,” Songwriters “Take Your Assn. Time,” “Houseeffect Party” for just and “Makeover 20 yearspromoted when No. the 1 singles.2023- to venues, promoters, talent agencies and YouInternational. Miss Me.” “Break Up in a Small Town” peaked at No.2027 2. term ends. It adds theChurch claim adds that his infla 15th- Countryother Airplay live entertainment top 10. businesses last HuntIn letters co-penned to CRB all judges 12 songs on on May Southside 17 and, includingtion “Body has already Like a Back devalued the 9.1 cent rate; week. Now that timeline has been pushed Road,”again on which May was 24, released the songwriter in 2017. The groups smash hit ruledand Country likely wouldAirplay continue for THAT to doTOOK so. QUITE ‘A FEW’back MONTHS again. Travis Denning shatters the record for threeexpressed weeks dismayand the airplay-,that if the streaming- currently and sales-based Hot Country Songs the most weeks it has taken to“The penetrate SBA the is committed Country Airplay to quickly top 10 asand “After chart for a then-record 34 frames. It now ranks second only to Bebe Rexha and a Few” (Mercury Nashville) climbs 12-10 in its 57th week, up 4% to 21.4 mil - Floridaundisclosed Georgia settlement Line’s “Meant rate tois Be” the (50 9.1 weekscent atop the latter list in 2017-18). lion in radio reach. efficiently delivering this pandemic relief to amount“Downtown’s that has Dead,” been whichin place is also since on 2006,the new set, reached Nos. 14 and 15 The song surpasses two trackshelp our that theatres, took 50 weeks music each venues, to enter and the more top 10: onthey Hot would Country like Songs to object and Country and want Airplay, a chance respectively, in June 2018. “Kin- Easton Corbin’s “A Girl Likeget You,” the helpwhich they reached need,” No. said 10 in the January SBA 2018in a be- folks”to do soled publicly Country andAirplay on onrecord Feb. 29,before becoming the Hunt’s seventh No. 1. It hit fore peaking at No. 6 that February,statement and providedAaron Watson to Billboard’s “Outta. “WhileStyle,” which No.agency 3 on Hotsigns Country off on Songs. the settlement. achieved its No. 10 high in Decemberthere continues 2017. to be some fine-tuning of Latest single “Hard to Forget” jumps 17-9 on Hot Country Songs. It’s his “After” is Denning’s second Country Airplay entry. “David Ashley Parker The organizations signing the letter are: technical components of the program, we eighth top 10, having corralled 8.2 million U.S. streams (up 96%) and 5,000 in From Powder Springs” traveled to No. 32 in September 2018. ETHAN MICHAEL YOUNG: VIA MARTIN/NHLI GETTY HUNT: IMAGES. IMAGES MILLER/GETTY 2021 GERARDO ORTIZ 10TH ANNIVERSARY

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

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

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IN BRIEF

expect SVOG Priority 1 (90% revenue loss) revenue for more than 14 months,” says representation, and raising awareness. Here, awards to tentatively begin [the week of NIVA board member Audrey Fix Schae- we have Ronny Ho, who’s the head of dance May 24], kicking off a 14-day priority period. fer. “Venues are desperate for this relief as and electronic development at Spotify, and We will then move on to begin processing eviction notices are coming at a faster pace. helped launch the streaming service’s content Priority 2 awards.” And those trying to reopen are desperate hub for AAPI month — exemplifying how In a call with SVOG stakeholders on Mon- because they cannot rehire employees or companies can carve out space for a more day (May 24), the SBA stated that it intend put deposits on bands without this mon- inclusive and diverse generation of executives. to distribute the first round of awards by the ey. These small businesses are going under As the streaming giant’s head of dance end of May. SVOG awards will come from while $16 billion is waiting for them. The and electronic development, 29-year-old the $16 billion in federal funding signed delay in delivering funding is causing the Ronny Ho has helped grow Spotify’s AAPI into law on Dec. 27 through the second exact opposite effect of the intended bill to hub since its inception four years ago. To- stimulus package; venues, promoters, talent save venues.” gether with a team of company allies, Ho agencies and other cultural institutions are If funding goes out by the end of May has championed AAPI creators with the eligible to receive up to $10 million based on as the SBA has stated, the first 14 days of goal of increasing Asian-American visibility their 2020 revenue loss. The grant pro- awards will go to Priority 1 applicants who in the music and audio space — one playlist gram was built from scratch by the SBA, an lost 90% or more of their revenue from April at a time. administration that had never solely distrib- to December 2020. Days 14-28 of awarding In 2016, Ho joined the Asian Employee uted funds to for-profit entities. grants will go to Priority 2 businesses who Resource Group (ERG) at Spotify, which “No doubt there have been significant lost 70% or more of their revenue from April kickstarted the very first initiatives sur- hurdles in this program. We remain frus- to December 2020. After the first 28 days, rounding Asian American Heritage trated. It’s been a trying task to ask NITO entities that lost 25% or more of their rev- month. When the Asian ERG partnered with membership to be patient and attempt to enue in the same time period will begin to the content team in 2017, Spotify’s first AAPI remain calm. A very long five months have receive the aid. At this rate, those businesses hub was created — starting with one playlist come and gone since long-awaited business- may not receive funds until July. featuring Asian and Asian American artists. saving legislation passed at the end of As of last week, just over 12,200 SVOG Today, the AAPI hub has grown into a December 2020,” says National Independent applications had been submitted, according robust content hub with multiple playl- Talent Organization vp Nadia Prescher. to the SBA. Out of that number, more than ists — featuring artists like Saweetie, Olivia “Technical difficulties have only added to 9,250 are live music businesses. Rodrigo, and Audrey Nuna — and even an the stressful uncertainty that SVOG appli- array of podcasts to further tell the diversity cants are feeling. However, those assigned of stories within the Asian diaspora. As both to the SVOG at the SBA have made promises Identity, industry insiders and music fans turn to that award notices will begin by the end Spotify playlists for music discovery, featur- of May. On the call today, the SBA again Awareness & ing such artists on one of their AAPI playl- restated their commitment to this deadline ists is becoming a practical way to uplift and we are attempting to remain hopeful.” Representation: Asian-American voices. Independent venues have endured more This year, Spotify’s AAPI campaign was than one setback when it comes to obtaining An AAPI especially needed as Asian Americans faced the federal funding the National Indepen- an increase of hate crimes and discrimina- dent Venue Association (NIVA) and others Heritage Month tion. “Despite this challenging year, AAPI- have been fighting for since July 2020. The ers continue to thrive — making waves in SBA originally attempted to open appli- Conversation representation in every field from art, music, cations for the grants on April 8, but the food, sports, politics, fashion and beyond,” online portal suffered technical difficulties. With Spotify’s says Marian Dicus, Global co-head of Music, On April 26, more than two weeks after Spotify. “Through our campaign, ‘We Have the failed start, venues were finally able to Ronny Ho So Much to Be Proud Of,’ we wanted to apply. celebrate the AAPI artists, creators and their “The Shuttered Venue Operators BY MIA NAZARENO work and give them a space to amplify their Grant was signed into law five months ago. voices. I could not be more proud of this It’s been one month since applications n honor of Asian American and Pacific important work from the team.” were submitted, yet not a single application Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, Bill- With the buzzwords of diversity and has been approved nor a single dollar of this board is highlighting Asian-American inclusion sprinkled into every press release emergency relief has been granted to busi- voices within the music industry recently, Ho has been an advocate for this nesses that have been completely without Ithrough a series of conversations on identity, type of advocacy since the beginning of her 2021 COUNTRY POWER PLAYERS

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

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

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IN BRIEF

career at the streaming platform. Below, Ho first playlist. Can you talk us through its cool. We have our music and podcast team gives a behind-the-scenes look into playlist growth over the last four years? pitching in, too. making, the importance of having BIPOC When we were first putting this together, There were just so many people who were execs in the c-suite, and what she hopes for we were looking at artists, like Far*East involved in making it come together and in future AAPI campaigns. Movement. For a long time, I was reaching make it happen. That’s how we did it. Over How did you end up in the music out to our friends in other markets in Asia. time, it became second nature to the busi- streaming space? We didn’t have as many Asian-American ness. We don’t have to pitch every year. We Five years ago, I was working in invest- artists, so we collaborated closely with our know we’re doing this. The question now is: ment banking in finance, but I always loved markets team to find Asian artists. In the What are we doing this year? music. When I was in college, I went to beginning, you saw a lot of K-pop influ- How many people end up working on lots of concerts. In high school, I was one ences in our initial rendition. We also found the campaigns? of those kids holding up signs on TRL. But out that a lot of famous Asian artists were I would probably say 25 to 30, and they’re after two years in finance, I needed to find Asian-Americans, who went back to Asia not all Asians. a way back to into music. Coming from a to start their careers and then make it in What initiative for this year’s AAPI corporate financial background, tech was a America later down the line — Eric Nam is month are you most excited about? little easier to get into. So I got a role in busi- an example that comes to mind. After all these years, I still love the hub. ness development at Spotify — helping get So originally, there wasn’t many to pick It’s expanded a lot over the years, but now new subscribers in different markets. from, so we worked closely with the Asian we have podcasting — which I love, because How did you end up switching from the markets. Then over time, more artists it shows more the educational and storytell- business side to the music side? started coming out and saying that they are ing side. With everything that’s happening While in that first role, I was making a lot Asian-American — so we saw more Asian- in the world, with the all the attacks against of relationships with folks around the com- American music. That’s helped us with Asians, I think it’s important to have part to pany — especially on the music side. I met build our playlists, and now there’s so much it. The podcast space allowed us to say that Marian Dicus — who’s the global co-head music that I can make multiple playlists. we’re letting the people dealing with this of music — through our Asian employee What do you think inspired artists to tell their own story. resource group that had recently launched come out and be more proud of their We also have a shelf that highlights song- at the time. When the stars aligned, I ended Asian-American heritage? writers around the world. That’s new, and up on the music team. I think it’s definitely because of the direc- I’m excited about that too, because they’re What inspired the very first AAPI hub tion media is going. I think about it simi- the ones who have been behind-the-scenes at Spotify? larly to food. When we were growing up, making music for a really long time. And During the inception of our resource we’d bring kimchi in our lunchboxes. Now, then, we have so much content on the music group in 2016, we were really catering we see it at fanciest restaurants as a side or side, because the markets from Asia have to employees and building a community for topping. It comes with people being more really come out with so many musicians Asians at Spotify. For me, I wanted to see open minded as we progress in society. It’s who wanna be involved. what we can do off platform to really show- exciting to celebrate our differences rather From music supervisors to music fans, case the work that we were doing internally. than hiding it, and trying to blend in with so many people rely on Spotify playlists Asian American Heritage month was in the rest. It’s a lot easier for people to speak to discover new music. It’s a huge oppor- May, so we wanted to make it a moment and up, too. tunity to be included in one. Have there see what happens. How were you able to convince the been any noticeably major stream boosts Working with the music team, we asked company to invest resources into the for any of the Asian artists placed on the labels if there were any Asian or Asian AAPI hub and campaign? playlists? Americans on their roster who we could It was a team effort. It starts from the Yes. I think our Jasmine playlist can help potentially spotlight. I think that was a inside, because there are a bunch of us who do that. I would say Keshi is [an artist who’s question that labels probably never heard are super-passionate about it. As people seen a bump]. Audrey Nuna — she’s incred- during that time. We didn’t have a dedicated heard the rumblings of what’s going on, we ible. Yuna — she’s amazing. Rina Sawayama. AAPI playlist at the time, so we thought to got more and more people wanting to help Priya Ragu. Eric Nam, people love him on do a takeover — kind of like a hub — of 15 out — not just Asians. A ton of allies reached this playlist. Deb Never. KATIE. And then, to 20 artists from different labels. That’s out. It’s become a cross-functional effort, Stephanie Poetri and NIKI from 88rising do how we came up with our first hub. Since where we have our marketing team that very well on the playlist as well. then, it’s evolved because there have been helps with the campaigns on TikTok, for What goes into the selecting the songs so many more Asian-American artists. It’s example. Or, we have folks on our creative and artists included on the playlists? really cool to see that happen. team who watch what’s happening in the There’s a lot of different factors that go The hub has grown so much since the world and come up with something really into it. First, they have to be Asian. I look 2021 BLACK EYED PEAS 25TH ANNIVERSARY

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

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

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at their trajectory. We have an internal tool An easy one is to elevate and recognize that flags artists that are going up in their them. That’s putting money where your SoundCloud Inks market. If that artist makes sense for a playl- mouth is. Promote them to leadership ist, we leverage that tool to look at the data positions, so they can honestly have a seat First-Ever A&R and put together the playlist. I’m always at the table, where the decisions are being mindful of diversity. I don’t want to feature made. That way, their perspective and lived Partnerships With all males, or all East Asians. I make sure experiences can influence decisions instead that we’re being very mindful that there are of working in silos. For me, that’s where the T-Pain’s Label, Southeast Asians, there’s LGBTQ+ [artists], long-term change happens. there are folks in the U.K. diaspora. How do you see Spotify’s AAPI hub Linda Perry & Do you ever get pitches from artists? growing in the future? Yes, and we tell them to use Spotify for I’m actually brainstorming some ideas More Artists. It’s the best to way to get more ears now with some folks across the organiza- on it. If you’re just emailing me, then maybe tion. I don’t wanna say yet what may or may BY TATIANA CIRISANO one person will listen to it. It’s more valu- not happen, but there’s a lot of unique cul- able to leverage the tool that we have for tures to this monolith of Asia that we’d like or the first time, SoundCloud’s artists. to highlight and delve more into. I’m only Repost artist services division will As an Asian-American, have you been one version of this. We have folks around provide customized support to able to find role models at work who you the company that are very well versed in select music companies and their can relate to? other experiences in this diaspora. I think Fartists through a slate of new A&R partner- I was at Spotify when it was a small- that would be a really cool way to further ships announced Tuesday (May 25). er company, but luckily there were a few expand. Can’t say anything beyond that! Among those partners are T-Pain’s re- Asians pretty early on. I naturally gravitated So many companies — especially in cord label Nappy Boy Entertainment, CAD to them because it feels very comfortable — media — have faced backlash for the lack Management, music platform and record like they understand me. I got involved with of diversity on their staff. What advice label Underground Vampire Club (UVC) and the Asian Employee Resource Group early do you have for someone at a company songwriter-producer legend Linda Perry. on, so it was a way for me to talk to them. who’d like to start similar types of initia- Repost will not only work directly with each Within the resource group, I was exposed to tives? partner on tailor-made marketing and dis- all the leaders — who were people of color. Find your allies and your friends at the tribution plans to help their artists thrive on That was a great way to be closer to these company and make a case for it. Build a and off SoundCloud, but will also work with executives. business case. Tell a story of what is happen- partners to identify and then co-develop What do you think of the music indus- ing. Then, find good role models in execu- new talent together. try’s response to the rise of hate crimes tives and tell them we have something here. “SoundCloud is where so many truly against Asian-Americans? I would lean on the allies at the company, promising artists and tomorrow’s stars take First, I think it was exciting when Bill- who are really passionate about this space. their first career steps,” said vice president board put up an article about the different The passion shows. People want that, and and head of Repost Jeff Ponchick. “These companies that have a campaign going. For that’s when you know the impact will be new development partnerships bring to- a long time, it felt like Spotify was the only made. Encourage as much support from gether our unique capabilities to invest in one celebrating AAPI month. It’s been about your teammates as possible. artists careers early on — partnering them five years since then, and everyone is getting Who are your favorite Asian-Ameri- with industry pros to turn artist inspirations involved. More people are seeing what’s go- can artists at the moment? into a reality and help build their business in ing on and more people are getting educat- Oh my god, there are so many! I love meaningful and measurable ways.” ed. I think a lot of these folks at companies Saweetie. I love Audrey Nuna. Zhu just Repost and Nappy Boy Entertainment don’t know what to do, but throw money at released an album two weeks ago, and it’s will first support signee SprngBrk, an artist it, but I’m okay with that. Let’s trust people amazing. I love Joji. There are honestly so and producer who has collaborated with who are on the ground with this and commit many. I could name everyone on this list. the likes of Ty Dolla $ign and Drake and is to a long-term investment in this. I’m just releasing the new track “Pride” today. excited that people are noticing that this is Repost will work alongside Perry — who happening. has written and produced hits for artists Diversity and inclusion have become like P!nk, Christina Aguilera and Gwen buzzwords in 2020. What do you think Stefani — on the British singer-songwriter are more practical ways for companies to Frances Lion, who is signed to Perry’s support their employees of color? record label, publishing, management and Page 12 of 27

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production firm We Are Hear. Kathy Nelson, then president of film music “I’m always ready to jump on board when Wherever Did for The Walt Disney Motion Picture Group, I see a company supporting the indepen- heard it. “Kathy apparently said, ‘That song dence of an artist, and when I heard of the They Go? Why is a f—king monster. I need it in this movie changes SoundCloud wanted to make to I’m working on,’” Kamin tells Billboard. support emerging talent, I immediately The Calling “She wanted to put us in the movie playing said ‘count me in,’” Perry said. “We will be the song.” focusing on the art and the artist, not just Disappeared After “Once Coyote Ugly wanted it, the label the numbers, and we will support the bigger was like, ‘Oh, this is a hit,’” Band also recalls, picture, not just the soundbite.” Delivering One of in a separate interview. “That was abso- Repost will work with CAD on a cam- lutely the catalyst — it woke up Ron Fair at paign for singer-songwriter Maria Lynn. 2001’s Biggest Hits RCA to go, ‘Okay, I guess this is good. Let’s Finally, Repost will work with UVC on a make a record.’” “Wherever You Will Go” number of artists at the forefront of the BY TAYLOR WEATHERBY was officially released as a single on May 22, “digicore” genre, which SoundCloud re- 2001, nine months after Coyote Ugly’s re- cently highlighted with a short film as part he early 2000s were a whirlwind lease. The song reached No. 1 on Billboard’s of its SCENES original docuseries. for The Calling. At the turn of Adult Pop Airplay Chart that December and “Whether they’re on the cusp of stardom, the millennium, the rock band reigned for 23 consecutive weeks — a feat or at the forefront of new communities was questioning whether their only topped by Santana and Rob Thomas’ shaping the future of music, each of these Tlabel would even give them a chance. By sultry turn-of-the-century smash “Smooth.” artists are deeply engaged with their fan mid-2002, they had a 23-week Adult Top (It was also named the No. 1 Adult Pop Song communities,” Repost director of A&R Ed- 40 No. 1 with the heartfelt hit “Wherever of the decade on Billboard’s decade-end gel Groves said. “We are honored and You Will Go.” In 2003, they were sued by charts in 2009.) excited to support them in deepening these former bandmates. And by the end of 2005, What Band and Kamin quickly realized connections and grow their fanbase at such The Calling had almost completely vanished amid the “Wherever” success was that their a pivotal time in their careers.” stateside. approaches to capitalizing on it were con- The push into A&R partnerships makes But the roller coaster was far from over, flicting. While Band says he was willing to sense for SoundCloud, which has built a even when it seemed The Calling might do whatever it took to keep the song rolling, reputation as a platform where superstars — be. Over the next 15 years, the group’s lead Kamin recalls being a bit more skeptical. from Chance the Rapper to Billie Eilish — singer, Alex Band, was faced with a Parkin- “I just wanted to be conscious and picky built their earliest followings. SoundCloud son’s diagnosis and a near-fatal kidnapping. about what we did and didn’t do,” Kamin offers a suite of label-like services through And while The Calling has been revitalized says. “Ultimately I thought if we wanted Repost — like marketing, promotion, playlist with a new lineup, it hasn’t been without to have longevity, we needed to be true to pitching and more — the difference being more drama: Band and his estranged Calling who we are. And the more we did things that the platform focuses on empowering co-founder, guitarist Aaron Kamin, have that didn’t feel right or didn’t seem to make artists to remain independent. filed lawsuits against each other. sense — like lip syncing on a children’s TV Now headed up by CEO Michael Weiss- According to both Kamin and Band, show in Denmark — it started to not sit very man following Kerry Trainor’s departure it seems The Calling’s future was fairly well with me personally. [Label execs] didn’t in January, SoundCloud has made a string star-crossed from the get-go. After signing care if we lasted forever. They just wanted of announcements to further that mission to RCA in 1999, Band and Kamin (the two to see how hard they could squeeze us while over the past few months. That includes sole members of The Calling — more on we had a hit on the radio.” its groundbreaking user-centric payment that later) struggled to get the attention of Band had his own frustrations, too. system; an enhanced iteration of its First label heads amid the pop explosion RCA “Nothing that was done when The Calling on SoundCloud artist accelerator program; was experiencing with the likes of Christina first came out, in the sense of publicity and and an integration with Triller to show- Aguilera and P!nk. In fact, both insist their promotion, was what I wanted,” he admits. case SoundCloud artists on the short-form career may have never taken off if it hadn’t “As much as TRL was awesome — and we video platform. been for the 2000 cult classic Coyote Ugly. were so welcomed there — it made us kind The guys had written “Wherever You Will of look like a boy band.” Go” — which turns 20 this month — years The Calling’s rather confusing structure before landing their record deal, despite its has turned out to be one of their biggest pit- along chorus and smooth power balladry falls. Both Band and Kamin insist that The that made it a perfect fit for the ‘00s mini- Calling has always been a two-man group van rock era. The song was overlooked until at its core since its foundation, with the Page 13 of 27

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other members hired as session and touring when Band was kidnapped and nearly Band’s argument is that Kamin has no musicians. That arrangement backfired in beaten to death following a show in Lapeer, ownership of The Calling name, as the 2003, when Kamin, Band and their manage- Mich. Band’s injuries required jaw bone original contract they signed listed them as ment company were sued by bassist Billy reconstruction and three implants. “It was their original name, Next Door. “We have no Mohler and drummer Nate Wood, who honestly just a f—king nightmare,” he says. partnership agreement, we never did,” he claimed they were owed money from their Band had played the Michigan show asserts. (There is a listing on the Trade- tenure and cited fraud and mismanagement. as The Calling, despite Kamin’s absence. mark Electronic Search System on the (Kamin calls the suit “totally without merit” Two months later, Band sued Kamin for United States Patent and Trademark Office’s and says it was “settled very quickly” with just that: According to The Hollywood website, which lists both Kamin and Band’s him, Band and their managers; Mohler and Reporter, the complaint stated that Kamin names as owners. The status is “dead,” but Wood could not be reached for comment on “essentially disappeared from the public Kamin says “When the name is continually the matter.) eye,” and in turn the guitarist effectively being used in commerce — Spotify, Licens- Between the lawsuit and Band and Ka- abandoned any trademark rights over The ing, etc — the mark remains viable. Our last min’s own conflicts, tensions were running Calling name. The complaint also stated mediation settlement centered around this high by the time The Calling released their that Kamin “simply refused to support The fact, and admonition that Alex or I could sophomore album, Two, in 2004. Though Calling on tour,” withdrew from the group, only have a limited use of the name without its lead single, “Our Lives,” was featured at and was replaced by another guitarist. Ka- the other’s permission.”) the 2004 Summer Olympics and the 78th min still maintains today that the portrayal “Aaron and I have different viewpoints on Annual Academy Awards, the album never of his abandonment is inaccurate: “I’m sure what happened between us,” Band says. “We spawned a hit quite like “Wherever You Will I could find you proof of all the tours that I are not going to agree, and there’s no reason Go.” “Some label guy called [“Wherever”] was out and about on.” to keep dragging that out publicly. What’s ‘the song that ate the band,’” Kamin says Kamin says that the lawsuit was the first done is done.” He adds, “What matters with a laugh. time he’d heard from Band since 2008, when now for me is continuing forward making The group did see international suc- Band was still pursuing his solo career. my music, celebrating the legacy that was cess with both of their albums (“Outside of While he says his “heart sank” upon being started as The Calling, and creating new, America, we were 10 times more successful,” sued, he started fighting it. “I don’t know meaningful songs for my fans.” Band notes), but it wasn’t enough for RCA why I was supposed to give him the rights to With no settlement from either media- to keep pushing. Band says then-RCA CEO something that was a representation of our tion, Band is moving forward with his plans Clive Davis didn’t want The Calling to start collective talent,” he says. to revive The Calling. He has recruited on another album because of the confusion Though that case was dismissed before three new members — bassist Joey Clem- surrounding the group’s members, but also it reached a judge, the same issue arose a ent (Selena Gomez & the Scene), drummer didn’t want him to make a solo project. After few years later when Kamin heard about a Daniel Thompson (Face to Face) and guitar- landing another Adult Top 40 No. 1 under Calling reunion show from a relative. After ist Travis Loafman — who he insists are here his own moniker with the Santana collab he sent letters to Band to halt the use of to stay, unlike the past. “I’d had so many bad “Why Don’t You & I” in 2003, Band knew he the name without creating another law- experiences that I couldn’t trust people — had to follow his solo aspirations. suit, Kamin says he had no choice but to it’s different with these guys,” Band says. Kamin suggests that the impetus for The sue Band. “It’s not cool to the fans. It’s not “This is the first time in my career, oddly Calling’s initial break was Band’s solo ven- cool to me. It’s not cool to the legacy. And, I enough, that I actually have a band.” ture. “I remember he called me to his house guess, under the law, it’s not cool to be doing Band and the new members have already to say, ‘I think it’s time I work on a solo what [he’s] doing,” Kamin says now. “I even recorded two Calling albums: A full-length record. I want to come back to The Calling, had the old president of The Calling fan club LP of original tracks (which Band teases are and once I do this, maybe it’ll be good for [messaging me] saying, ‘Can’t you make this “far beyond the first album”), and a sym- our future,’” Kamin says. “[He] pretty much stop? I feel horrible about this.’ phonic re-recording of eight Calling songs [said] ‘I’ll call you when I’m done.’ And I “It all felt very awkward and strange,” that have gone to No. 1 around the world, never heard back.” Kamin continues. “I don’t know that Joe including “Wherever You Will Go.” Though Band experienced his own label and legal Perry can grab another singer and just call he’s anticipating a 2022 release for the new struggles with his solo material, eventu- himself Aerosmith, you know? He could be album, Band is planning a live stream per- ally teaming up with EMI to release his Alex Band — I think he could even be ‘Alex formance of The Calling’s first album Cami- debut full-length album in 2010. But just Band formerly of The Calling. But if he no Palmero on July 10, the 20th anniversary as things were starting to look up, Band wants to be The Calling, I guess, [he could] of the album’s original release. was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in give me a ring and let’s see what we could Kamin — who has spent the majority of 2011. Regaining his strength enough to play do.” The two had another mediation but his post-Calling days working as a writer shows by August 2013, tragedy struck again never saw a judge. and producer for other artists, including the Page 14 of 27

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Backstreet Boys, Leann Rimes, and Katha- exact amount is widely disputed and dif- rine McPhee — didn’t say whether he will Doja Cat, John ficult to quantify, but Digiconomist estimates try to halt Band’s latest Calling revival, but that the Ethereum network has nearly the wasn’t shocked to hear about it. “Nothing Legend Join Eco- same annual carbon footprint as the country surprises me anymore, unfortunately,” he of Jordan. says. Friendly Music By contrast, OneOf is built on the Tezos Despite the drama, both Band and Kamin blockchain protocol, which uses a “proof- have fond memories of The Calling’s heyday. NFT Marketplace of-stake” model. Long hailed as a potential They experienced Beatlemania-like chaos solution to these environmental problems, in countries like Brazil and the U.K.; beat OneOf proof-of-stake means that miners lock up out Shakira, Avril Lavigne, and The Strokes some of their own cryptocurrency in the for best new artist at the 2002 MTV Europe BY TATIANA CIRISANO network to show their commitment to keep- Music Awards; and hung out with the likes ing the ledger accurate. As a result, OneOf of Bon Jovi, Christina Aguilera, and Michael s the music industry continues claims that the Tezos blockchain uses 2 mil- Jackson. “It’s crazy to think we were part of to ride the non-fungible token lion times less energy than other networks. that,” Kamin says. “Plenty of it sucked, but (NFT) wave, it has also become OneOf also promises to donate a percentage plenty of it was an absolute blessing.” well-acquainted with the new of the platform’s revenue from every sale Band acknowledges that Kamin was an artA form’s downsides — which include high either to a charity of the artist’s choice or to “absolutely vital” part of The Calling in the economic barriers to entry and a negative a charity focused on the environment. beginning (“there would be no ‘Wherever impact on the environment. But a new mar- Further, OneOf says that thanks to the low You Will Go’ without him,” he declares) ketplace built specifically for music NFTs transaction costs of the Tezos blockchain, and says he wishes there could be peace aims to help. OneOf is able to make “minting” an NFT — between them. In Kamin’s eyes, there’s one That would be OneOf, announced today essentially, listing the NFT on the market- simple way to make that happen: “Just go (May 25) in partnership with Quincy Jones place — completely free. (Usually, minting do what you’ve gotta do, and if you want and Quincy Jones Productions. The new requires paying for “gas,” the fluctuating The Calling, then you know who you have marketplace, which has raised $63 million price for writing data onto a blockchain that to call.” in seed funding and will launch to the public can cost anywhere from $40 to $150 per If Band did make that call, Kamin says he in June, claims to be friendly to both the NFT.) OneOf hopes this will allow artists to “couldn’t say no” to rejoining The Calling. “I environment and your wallet. Among the list their NFTs at more affordable prices for would love the opportunity to share it with first artists set to drop NFTs on the platform fans. either people in my life that never got to be are Doja Cat, Quincy Jones, the Whitney Even if minting NFTs is easy and environ- there with me on that trip, or people that Houston Estate, John Legend, TLC, Charlie mentally-friendly for artists, many fans new were there who didn’t think it would ever go Puth, Jacob Collier, G-Eazy and Alesso. to the crypto space may by confused by the away,” he says. “Blockchain has the ability to democratize process of purchasing cryptocurrency and “But I would say that the way things ownership and bring economic empower- set up a digital wallet. That’s why OneOf have gone in the past many years, it feels ment to both artists and fans,” said OneOf will allow fans to transact with debit and like there would be some healing required, co-founder and CEO Lin Dai, who previ- credit cards in more than 135 fiat currencies, or at least agree to disagree,” Kamin adds. ously co-founded blockchain technology in addition to cryptocurrencies. It will also “Let’s find a middle ground, because time is company TAP Network. “We are building launch an “Emerging Artist Spotlight Pro- ticking for everybody. If we did have a last a technology company with an artist-first gram” to highlight up-and-coming artists on hurrah, we probably should do it sooner ethos and eco-conscious mission to help in- the platform. rather than later.” troduce hundreds of millions of non-crypto OneOf was co-founded by Dai along- native users to blockchain through easy and side Joshua James, who co-founded ZIG exciting use cases such as NFTs.” Media and Basecamp Productions and is Most NFT marketplaces operate on now OneOf COO; and Quincy Jones Produc- the Ethereum blockchain, which runs on tions president Adam Fell, a OneOf board a “proof-of-work” model. In this model, member. The company’s seed funding round computer “miners” race to validate trans- investors include venture capitalist and actions to be added to the blockchain, and environmental activist Bill Tai, 88rising earn cryptocurrency as a reward. Although co-founder Jaeson Ma and Nima Capital the system is meant to discourage tampering founder/CEO Suna Said. with the blockchain, it sucks up an enor- Artists and fans can pre-register and learn mous amount of energy in the process. The more about OneOf at oneof.com. Page 15 of 27

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recontextualizing that. We weren’t trying to many of their collaborations have been Inside The do a Fast & Furious type thing, it was very pre-recorded given the pandemic, they much about synchronicity and elegance, also point out despite performing next to Weeknd’s and it was really interesting working with everything from fireworks to car engines, all the stunt drivers who were not used to he’s always delivered live vocals. “That’s a Billboard Music that.” Lill and Morse worked closely with testament to him,” says Morse. stunt coordinator Charles Grisham (Jack- Another reason the pair loves working Awards Car ass, Twighlight, The Dark Knight Rises), with the superstar? “He’ll bring people [in] who sourced a 21-person stunt team that who he trusts,” says Lill, “and once he trusts Choreography: rehearsed for two eight-hour days before you, he’ll let us go crazy with it.” The Weeknd’s performance. “There was a lot of trust with those cars ‘There Was a Lot But before rehearsals could even start, going by,” adds Morse. “He didn’t seem producer Brendan Garrett had an impor- nervous at all, which really weirded us out, of Trust’ tant — and difficult — task ahead: find 20 because these cars were just barreling by identical cars in red and white. “He went to him and he was calm, kept his composure, BY LYNDSEY HAVENS every major-picture car place and everyone walked slow and just didn’t look back. It was was like, ‘Good luck, that’s never going to kind of amazing.” he Billboard Music happen,’” says Lill. “So [he] had to go source Awards broadcast on Sunday every car individually online that was for night, for which there was an in- sale and find 20 of them in 4-5 days. And of ACM Eyes New person, masked audience gathered course they’re vintage cars that were used, Toutside at L.A. Live, was packed with high- so they’re breaking down like flies.” As a Nashville Hub energy and celebratory performances. But result, there was a Nascar mechanic team on one in particular left viewers tilting their site, which also had to make sure each car — And an End heads wondering, “How?” had the same breaks so the stunts would be The Weeknd’s off-site performances coordinated without any margin of error. to Its COVID-19 throughout the past year and change have, And while every driver had a walkie-talk- in fact, become something of a spectacle. ie on hand to communicate while rehearsing Initiative He performed atop the Edge — the highest and filming, as Lill says, “everyone had to sky deck in the Western Hemisphere — for very much have it like the back of their hand BY TOM ROLAND his 2020 MTV VMAs set, and sauntered in terms of formations, how many seconds, through a frenzy of fireworks for his 2020 how much distance they have to travel... s signs increasingly point to the American Music Awards gig. But his BBMAs because, you know, it’s a big parking lot, but abatement of the pandemic, the performance was perhaps his riskiest yet, as we were also hitting the fence a lot of the West Coast-based Academy of he performed amidst a fleet of vintage cars time almost. That was definitely the most Country Music spent portions of and semi-trucks whizzing by. stressful part, being able to just nail a thing MayA solidifying its connection to its future Director Alex Lill and writer Charlie within a minute-and-a-half perfectly.” in Nashville. Morse recall coming up with the idea for He says after each rehearsal the cars The ACM announced the addition of “car choreography,” says Morse, before any- started to go faster and faster, and by the day three new Music City-based staff members thing else. Morse soon after storyboarded before they filmed, Lill even asked about — vp digital strategy and engagement Rory their ideas (seen below) to show the larger moving the cars and trucks — which were Levine, manager of awards and member- team their vision. “From those drawings then going 25 miles-per-hour — closer to ship Haley Montgomery and executive assis- came a lot of realizations about all the dif- The Weekend. “I had a conversation with tant to the CEO David Sassano — on May 13, ferent shapes you could do with cars, and I him afterwards like, ‘Could we make this a strengthening its workforce in Nashville as was doing a lot of them from the top down little more dangerous, so it will look cool- CEO Damon Whiteside prepares to open just to showcase the arrangements, and er?’’ The Weeknd didn’t hesitate. (Originally a Tennessee office on a to-be-determined that’s when we realized that a lot of these he was going to open the show walking in date. And the Academy’s charitable founda- play well from an aerial shot, which you see front of the cars, but Morse recalls thinking, tion, ACM Lifting Lives, spent the week in the final big pullout” that they filmed -us “this doesn’t feel exhilarating enough” once of May 17 parceling out $311,000 from its ing a drone. they got on the lot and decided to place him COVID-19 Response Fund to unemployed “One of the things we were always in- in one of the vehicles instead). professionals in the country music business. spired by was those old 1950s synchronized Lill and Morse have been working with The majority of those recipients are waiting swimmers,” says Lill. “So it was kind of The Weeknd for over a year now, and while for the touring sector to fully get back into Page 16 of 27

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gear so they can once again collect pay- crew is essentially their family. And Cruz in Nashville and we had never been in checks, many of which are funneled through noted that some bus drivers hop from tour Nashville before, and I can see how, on the corporate hubs in Music City. to tour so frequently that they don’t even surface, it can look like we’re trying to make “Some of these tours don’t start until keep an official residence, sleeping instead a play for Nashville, but that’s really not the August or September, so I think they’re at the homes of friends and relatives. For case. It’s really a strategic decision.” probably starting to notify people that them, the shutdown was even more difficult. An announcement could come as early as they’re going to bring them back,” says Lift- The top three issues unemployed tour this summer. Perhaps the ACM will learn ing Lives executive director Lyndsay Cruz. workers faced were the lack of income, around the same time just how long the “But I doubt anyone’s going on any sort of reduced access to healthcare and profound COVID-19 fund will be needed. payroll yet.” isolation. Even after they get back to work, This article first appeared in the weekly The COVID-19 benefits are an exten- COVID-19 has pulled back the curtain on Billboard Country Update newsletter. sion of an initiative that started last April. the fragility of their lives, and Cruz expects Click here to subscribe for free. The relief fund has thus far paid out nearly that many will need mental health assis- $4 million to about 2,200 individuals who tance to overcome some form of post-trau- needed assistance due to coronavirus-in- matic stress disorder. One Year In: duced economic hardship. Through the end “I think this is going to be an ongoing of 2020, nearly two-thirds of the recipients effort for a while,” she says. “Hopefully, our Beggars Group’s (see pie chart, page 2) were crew members, fund will become obsolete, but I still think musicians and concert executives who make there is going to be need from the whole Risa Matsuki their living directly from live shows, most year of not working or very little employ- of which were scuttled to avoid spreading ment. We’re still going to be willing to help ‘Can’t Shake’ a contagious disease that has thus far killed people.” over 585,000 Americans, according to the The ACM was established in the 1960s to COVID-Related Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. support West Coast artists who felt un- The ACM handed out $3.5 million in two derserved by the Nashville-based Country Brain Fog waves during 2020, depleting the fund at Music Association. The ACM Awards that time. Through corporate assistance and became the Academy’s primary purpose, BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN a first-ever fundraising effort during the though it has increased its charitable efforts CBS telecast of the ACM Awards on April 18, and its outreach to Nashville over the last s the coronavirus pandemic which raised $40,000, the Academy ac- two decades. That outreach has played out enters its final phase in the U.S., cumulated $311,000 for its recent redistribu- primarily through the annual ACM Honors Billboard is catching up with tion. at the Ryman Auditorium and through the individuals we interviewed at Cruz and Nashville-based Lifting Lives ACM’s partnership with Nashville-based theA beginning of the crisis to see how they’ve manager Taylor Wolf could have felt like Vanderbilt University Medical Center to weathered the past year. Santa Claus over the last year, delivering further the study of Williams Syndrome. This installment is with Beggars Group vp checks ranging from $1,000-$2,000. Instead, The ACM heightened the connection with of promotions Risa Matsuki, who contracted regularly examining the industry’s collective Music City by presenting two awards shows COVID-19 last March and has been strug- need devastated them, particularly in those from multiple Nashville venues during the gling with the lingering after-effects of the instances when people who have given pandemic and in conjunction with the CO- virus ever since. She is currently prepping 40-50 years of their life to the profession VID-19 fund. tours for artists including Julien Baker and suddenly found themselves unable to pay Whiteside expects that as the Nashville Lucy Dacus. basic bills. staff grows, the ACM will have more Ten- I definitely am about 85%, 90% [recov- “It was those applications that were mak- nessee employees than California-based ered], but the brain fog was something I ing me cry at my desk,” recalls Cruz. “We personnel, officially shifting its base to could not shake. I didn’t feel comfortable were reviewing applications on Dec. 12, Middle Tennessee. The ACM will still act as having very long conversations with people, Dec. 13. I mean, we had an online Christmas a bridge between the entertainment sectors because I couldn’t figure out what words to party, and I was like, ‘I can’t even get in the in Music City and Los Angeles, but will also say. For a promo person, being so unconfi- spirit.’ “ face a greater challenge in providing separa- dent of what I’m saying is the worst. Cruz hopes to raise additional capital (do- tion from the CMA, where Whiteside previ- I spent a lot of time not speaking to nations can be made here) to yield payouts ously served as chief marketing officer. people but emailing them, because I could for more people who are still on a waiting “I never want to give the perception that take longer emailing. And that way I could list and to help with post-pandemic trauma. we’re encroaching in any way,” he says. spend time looking up words. I feel like For many touring professionals, the road “Obviously, we did two years of our show that’s gotten so much better, probably in the Page 17 of 27

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last couple months. But I don’t feel smart modating with things like that. With me, heard from a lot of other people that work at anymore, which really sucks. And I’m not in just knowing that I was sick, the care other places, kind of checking in, going like, as combative. It’s probably a little bit of just and concern and questions have come from “Hey, how you doing?” being so hesitant and unsure of myself. many people throughout the year. It’s been But it doesn’t feel as tangible as Black I had some psychotherapy. When you lose nothing but supportive. Lives Matter, which I get was a completely such a huge part of your personality like I don’t know that we will fully go back different type of movement. The music that, you get pretty depressed. I also have a to the way it was before [at work]. We just industry stepped up, and appointed differ- really amazing partner that is so support- had a meeting, and they were talking about ent executives of color and had specific HR ive. I would express these terrible feelings how business travel has a huge impact on resources within companies specifically and he was always open to having these sustainability. But with COVID, no one’s for black people. Those are real changes, conversations with me about it. It’s not that traveled, and actually we’ve learned that and they’re amazing. I wish that there was [my coworkers] didn’t take me seriously, but we don’t have to travel as intensely as we something like that, maybe not to that scale, when you really don’t know, it’s really hard did before. That helps the environment, but something similar that just made [Asian to be empathetic. I’m like, “Yeah, my brain but it also helps us. I mean, I was traveling people] in the music community feel like the doesn’t work.” And they’re like, “What?” anywhere between 10 to 15 to sometimes 20 support isn’t just vocal but tangible. I didn’t get my taste or smell back until days out of a month. And that’s not going to When I came to America, I purposely end of summer, almost September. I’m a ever happen ever again as far as I know. whitewashed myself. I know that’s a really first level sommelier, and I pride myself in They projected September 7 [to come terrible thing to say. But I did, one, because knowing wine and enjoying wine. I can’t back to the office], with it being a very open I wanted to fit in, but two, because I didn’t drink wine [now]. It tastes so bad to me: day…not necessarily 100% capacity. They want to stand out. I didn’t like standing out. Really acidic, really sour. It hurts, and I get understand that maybe some people will not I’m gonna turn 50 this year, and I regret that a ginormous headache. Also, I was a huge come in. Separately, I have a huge concern thought process. I wish I could tell myself spice queen, like I could eat anything spicy right now about what’s happening with the back then, “What do you mean you don’t and it wouldn’t affect me. And now even the Asian community. I feel really uncomfort- want to stand out? You’re a human being, mildest boneless [spicy] wings, I’m like, “Oh able. For me to get to work, I have to take you are who you are, why would you hide?” my god, it’s so spicy!” It’s crazy. the Long Island Railroad an hour, and then But that’s what’s happening right now, is [COVID-19] made me really, really self- I have to get on the subway, stand on the they’re making us feel like we have to hide aware of many things. Now I’m extremely subway platform for 25 minutes. And as of again. careful with my words, which I definitely right now, I just don’t feel comfortable doing As told to Chris Eggertsen. never was before. It’s not that I had some that. In September, who knows. crazy garbage mouth, but I would say If it was just me in this world and it was anything that’s in my brain. Now I really me that was getting hurt, fine. But I have a Lorde Is think about what I’m saying, how it affects two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. So if I get somebody. I feel like my sense of sensitivity hurt, or if I die, I leave her, and I cannot do Headlining the has been so heightened. I’m just not quick to that. My company’s definitely being super everything anymore. I think that makes me a sensitive and going like, “We understand. Primavera Sound better person, though. Maybe coming back to work for you looks The pandemic slowed everybody down, like two days a week.” It’s an ongoing con- Festival 2022 but I really slowed down. I see everything, I versation. take in everything, I experience everything. I know that everybody’s different in how BY GIL KAUFMAN That whole taking everything for granted they’re taking it. You ask my mom about thing doesn’t happen anymore. Especially this, she doesn’t even want to talk about it, fter canceling in 2020 and 2021 with my daughter. She was sick too. She she’s completely ignoring it. Now it’s in such due to the global COVID-19 wasn’t as sick as me, thankfully, but I would a heightened crisis place that we should talk pandemic, Barcelona’s Prima- never want to lose her like that. And so about it, instead of pretending like it doesn’t vera Sound Festival will make everything that we do together now is so exist. To come to this level of hate, it’s so itsA comeback in June 2022 with a roster that important. alarming and so upsetting for me. includes Lorde. The elusive singer, who Through the pandemic, my company has The music industry was part of the first has kept a low profile since the 2018 tour in been incredibly supportive of every single wave of true support and standing up and support of her 2017 sophomore album Melo- person that works at Beggars in whatever going, “This shouldn’t happen.” They were drama, will be among 400 acts slated to per- they need. If they need time, if they need also very much in the front of [Black Lives form across two weekends (June 2-4, June space, if they need a mental health day. You Matter] as well. It’s wonderful to feel sup- 9-11) at Parc del Fòrum in Barcelona. know, Zoom fatigue. They’re so accom- port from my colleagues. I definitely have The announcement Tuesday (May 25) led Page 18 of 27

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the “Royals” singer to become a top trending hearts are broken. We continue the fight. issue of Rolling Stone in 2012) to his signing topic on Twitter. The family request privacy at this time,” for Death Row records nine months before The first weekend will includes sets the post reads. No cause of death or further his death in 1996. from Massive Attack, a reunited Pavement, details were provided. “There were no barriers between us. He Tame Impala, Beck, The National, The Rising to prominence in the 1990s, Modu was prepared to let his guard down, so I Strokes, Black Lips, Charli XCX, Dinosaur became the director of photography at The could show the human behind the head- Jr., Bauhaus, Girl in Red, Kacey Musgraves, Source magazine which saw him shoot a lines,” Modu told The Guardian about his Bikini Kill, Brockhampton, Earl Sweatshirt, host of up-and-coming and soon-to-be- work with Tupac. Gorillaz, Jorja Smith, Nick Cave, Tyler, the legendary artists from hip hop’s golden age “It could have been awkward because Big- Creator, Beach House, Disclosure and many including the likes of Nas, Mary J. Blige, LL gie was my friend and I photographed him more. Cool J, Ice Cube, Dr Dre, Snoop Dogg, No- too. But they both liked me and I liked both A number of the acts will be back for torious B.I.G. and Wu-Tang amongst many of them,” he added. the second weekend, including Dua Lipa, others. His iconic black and white pictures This article originally appeared in THR. Megan Thee Stallion, Playboi Carti, Run of a shirtless Tupac Shakur, in particular, com. the Jewels, M.I.A. and Interpol, with Lorde have arguably become the enduring image taking the stage that go-round along with of the rapper in the public’s consciousness. Big Thief, Jessie Ware, Slowdive, Mogwai, Born in Nigeria in July 1966, Modu was Sony Music Burna Boy and Clairo. The 11 days of music raised in New Jersey. He attended Rutgers will include the main shows at the Fòrum, University, graduating in 1989 with a degree Promotes as well as the more than 150 shows in 10 dif- in economics. It was at Rutgers that he ferent Barcelona venues during the day from began to dabble in photography and upon International the likes of Beck, Jamie XX, a Disclosure DJ leaving college he studied the medium set, 100 Gecs and Jehnny Beth, among oth- at Manhattan’s International Center of Marketing Execs ers, as part of Primavera a la Ciutat. Photography. His first job as a photographer The whole thing will come to a crash was at Harlem-based New York Amsterdam Melissa Thomas home on June 12 with the Brunch on the News. Beach party on the beach of Sant Adrià de In the early 1990s, he joined The Source, and Monica Besòs with Nina Kraviz, Amelie Lens and one of the premier hip hop magazines, and Peggy Gou and DJ sets from many more. rose to become the director of photography. Cornia While most of the acts have been an- Influenced by the likes of Roy Decarava and nounced, more will be added at a later date, André Kertész, he was known for capturing BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN according to organizers. Check out the an- candid, unguarded images of artists, many nounced lineup below. of whom had never been shot professionally ony Music has promoted Melissa before. In all, Modu shot 30 covers for The Thomas to executive vp, interna- Source during what many consider to be hip tional marketing, U.S. repertoire Chi Modu, hop’s golden age. His images documented and Monica Cornia to senior vp of both artists at the peak of their powers such Ssales, Commercial Music Group, the com- Legendary as Biggie Smalls and Tupac as well as cap- pany announced today. turing unknown up-and-coming acts who Thomas was most recently senior vp, in- Hip Hop would later go on to dominate the charts ternational marketing, U.S. repertoire, dur- and the culture in the 2000s and beyond. ing which she served as co-head of the de- Photographer, In addition to his work for The Source, partment. Notably, her teams have worked he shot photography on album covers for on such blockbuster campaigns as Lil Nas Dies at 54 a number of artists including Snoop Dogg X’s “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” and (Doggystyle), Method Man (Tical), Mobb the rollout of Camila Cabello’s sopho- BY ABID RAHMAN Deep (The Infamous) and Black Moon more album Romance in 2019 and Harry (Enta Da Stage). He also worked for Rolling Styles’ Fine Line last year. She has also led hi Modu, the acclaimed photog- Stone and The New York Times. global campaigns for U.S.-signed artists in- rapher who captured some of the In 2016, he published his celebrated pho- cluding DJ Khaled, Travis Scott, AC/DC, most iconic images in hip hop, has tobook Tupac Shakur: Uncategorized, which The Kid Laroi, Rosalía and Giveon. died. He was 54. featured pictures of the rapper from their Thomas will continue reporting to Sony CHis death was announced in a post on his first meeting in Atlanta in 1994 (images from Music Group chairman Rob Stringer. Along official Instagram account on Saturday. “Our which were later used as the cover for an with Cornia, she was named a Billboard In- Page 19 of 27

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ternational Power Player earlier this year. the fanbase of Sony Music’s amazing artists.” Just this past week, friends are com- “Melissa knows how to harness the global Darren Stupak, executive vp and general ing out of the woodwork and asking to go power of our Company to help break our manager, sales at Sony Music added, “From to lunch. Do you feel the same: Are things U.S. artists around the world,” said Stringer the very start of Monica’s career at Sony Mu- opening up again? And what are the impli- in a statement. “Her teams, in conjunction sic, she has always embodied our artist-first cations for the concert business? with our U.S. Record Labels, have created approach, showing fantastic insight, exper- Of course. After this CDC stuff, and then unique marketing campaigns that resonate tise and a strong track record in bringing our Austin released some guidance as well, I with audiences and push our artists to U.S. artists to new audiences. I am excited feel like, “Cat’s out of the bag.” There are success. I’m so happy that Melissa will be to see how Monica will lead our sales team so many people that believe we’re done. leading our U.S. Repertoire’s international through our Commercial Music Group.” Here in Austin, in Travis County, the mask marketing team for the future.” mandate’s gone. They’re essentially saying Thomas added, “Music has no borders if you’re fully vaccinated, you can resume anymore. Our audiences are global from the Event Designer normal activities without masks, except beginning and hits can break from any- when you’re required by a business. Domes- where. I love bringing our U.S. artists to as Bobby Garza tic travel’s fine. As a consequence, what you many audiences as we can around the globe saw last week was widespread announce- and I’m looking forward to the entire team In Austin, In a ments from festivals — Austin City Limits, continuing our unique marketing campaigns Lollapalooza in Chicago. “OK, cool, we’re to shine a light on the creative talent coming Pandemic: ‘We’re good.” from Sony Music.” Are those festival announcements being Thomas kicked off her longtime stint Turning the timed correctly? with Sony Music in 2005 after being hired It’s a race to get your stuff out there and at Sony Music UK, where she worked in in- Corner’ to make sure people understand you’re open ternational marketing for eight years. Prior for business. I notice Lollapalooza was say- to that, she served in roles at Universal Mo- BY STEVE KNOPPER ing you need to show proof of vaccination town Records and Universal Music Canada. or a negative COVID test each day. Which Cornia, who will oversee all U.S. sales hen the concert busi- is interesting, because you can’t do that in strategies for the Sony Music catalog, previ- ness shut down in March Texas. The governor has come out and said, ously served as co-head of the international 2020, Bobby Garza abrupt- “If you take any state or public money, then marketing department for U.S. repertoire ly shifted from putting you can’t ask those questions.” We had an for three years. In that role, she spear- onW live events to tearing them down — his event for a nonprofit called Black Fret at headed campaigns for Foo Fighters, Alicia company, Austin-based Forefront Networks, the Long Center this last weekend. Where Keys, Khalid, Tate McRae, P!NK and had to cancel the California food-and-music we drew the line was to say, “If you come more. She recently helped drive Doja Cat’s festival Yountville Live later that month. In into the building you’ve got to have a mask “Say So” to chart wins in a number of inter- early April, his life changed even more dra- on.” There were people calling our hourly national markets. matically: Forefront furloughed 30 percent waged staff “Mask Nazis.” I’m like, “Really? Cornia started her music industry career of its staff, including him. You went straight from ‘I have a little bit of at Sanctuary Group, where she worked for As part of Billboard’s efforts to best cover freedom’ to ‘I have so much entitlement, I two years before joining RCA Music Group’s the coronavirus pandemic and its impacts can be this much of a jerk’?” international department in 2005. She left on the music industry, we will be speaking Literally, they said “Mask Nazis?” the Sony fold to join Vector Management with Garza, a 44-year-old former Forefront Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Luckily, the house as Kesha’s day-to-day manager between creative team leader who used to be general manager was so good-natured: “They want 2011 and 2013, before returning to the com- manager of festival producer Transmission to say what they want to say to make them- pany to serve as vp of international market- Events, every other week to chronicle his selves feel better.” And I was like, “Absolute- ing for RCA Records from 2014 to 2018. experience throughout the crisis. As of early ly not, you can’t treat workers that way.” But “I’m extremely proud and fortunate to January, he is now vice president of pro- this is the perilous place where hospitability work for a company that supports its employ- grams and community outreach at the Long and service-industry workers have had to be ees exploring new areas of focus during their Center, a performing-arts facility in Austin, for the last year, where every time there’s a careers,” said Cornia in a statement. “I look which, among other things is working on new change in the environment or dynam- forward to stretching my expertise into our dispersing emergency SAVES grants worth ics, they have to enforce a new set of rules. sales and catalog businesses. I also can’t wait tens of thousands of dollars to struggling Is the Long Center back to normal? to develop new and innovative campaigns local concert venues. (Read the latest install- No. We’re still taking it more conserva- with our group, and help to further expand ment here and see the full series here. tively than maybe some other folks. We just Page 20 of 27

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announced a concert series starting on the nar today can register here. Those who are 27th called the drop-in, a free show Thurs- Billboard and NYU unable to attend but are interested in par- days on the terrace. We’re telling people it’s ticipating in the Music Industry Essentials a socially distanced event, so we’re going to ‘Music Industry program can learn more information here. get them through some level of a check and Additionally, you can sign up for the mailing require masks as they’re walking in. This Essentials’ list to receive exclusive updates and a sneak is the weird gray area for us. We don’t have peek video. to, but should we? Yeah, probably, for right Educational now, to make sure everybody feels comfort- able when they get to the space. Program Hosts ‘Hadestown’ How will the rush of concerts reopening play out in a logistical sense for venues? Free Info Session Jumps Ahead of Some of it may be staffing. Also touring -in frastructure, like vans. That’s probably going BY JOSH GLICKSMAN Pack to Welcome to be equally as hard, trying to think about how you solidify and secure some mode of ondering if the Music Back Broadway transportation, if you don’t have one. And I Industry Essentials course think venues are going to fill up with their from NYU Clive Davis Patrons bookings and ticketing, and weekends are Institute of Recorded going to get crowded across cities. MusicW and Billboard, powered by Yellow- BY ASSOCIATED PRESS It’s such an unprecedented thing — a brick, is right for you? If so, you can join a multibillion-dollar industry shutting down live Zoom call this afternoon to hear from a adestown, the brooding musical and then starting up a year later. student currently enrolled in the course and about the underworld, has set Nobody’s ever said stop, and then go, all at see all that the course has to offer, as well its Broadway reopening date the same time. It’s incredible. as what her personal experience has been on Sept. 2, jumping ahead of Is the Long Center hearing from artists like. Listeners will have an opportunity to Hsuch megahits as Hamilton and Wicked to and agents saying, “We need a place to play, ask questions in real time and will be better position itself as the first show to welcome come on!” equipped with the information to decide if audiences on Broadway since the pandemic. Yeah, and we’re the home for Austin’s the program is something they’re interested Producers announced Monday (May 24) founding resident companies, the ballet, in pursuing. that tickets will go on sale June 11 for the the opera, the symphony. They sent us their The six-course, 20-hour plus program eight-time Tony Award winning musical and calendars three years in advance. Everybody strives to give prospective students the tools that the production will resume playing the assumes, in the fall, [the concert business] is to build the foundation of a successful ca- Walter Kerr Theatre weeks before its rivals. just going to be like it was, to some degree. reer in the industry. In addition to learning The first Broadway show to welcome a live We’re having to do some negotiations extensively about several different aspects audience is likely to get a lot of attention. between how we prioritize, what we decide inside the world of music — including the New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had said to book and where. Holy shit, isn’t that a evolution of recorded music, streaming Broadway theaters could reopen Sept. 14 but good problem to have, relative to your doors rights and fan engagement — participants of producers “may make their own economic being shut? the course are also privy to insider informa- decision as to when they reopen.” Or getting sick and dying. tion from well-established experts from They also will be allowed to decide their Well, I didn’t want to go that dark, Steve! across the industry. Such experts include own entry requirements, like whether Sorry. This is an optimistic conversation. Kerry Gordy, Stevie Mackey, Ryan Leslie and people must prove they’ve been vaccinated The dark stuff was last year. Kareem “Biggs” Burke, as well as staffers to attend a show. Soon thereafter, Hamil- Exactly. We’re turning the corner, Steve! at Billboard and professors at NYU. ton, Wicked and The Lion King announced I’m going to pull you with me. Music Industry Essentials has continued they would restart their shows Sept. 14, as to bolster the curriculum since its initial did the long-running revival of Chicago and launch in June 2019, too: it recently added the new Lackawanna Blues. an extensive, 360-degree look inside the Others have staked out spots further Beastie Boys’ Oscilloscope Laboratories into fall and winter, including Six and Studio into the fifth module of the program, David Byrne’s American Utopia for Sept. 17 which provides more than 30 minutes of and Dear Evan Hansen in December. Some new material for students. off-Broadway shows have already restarted People interested in attending the webi- with social distancing guidelines. Page 21 of 27

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The Broadway that reopens will look become abundantly clear. We are creating different. The big budget Disney musi- a legacy where we not only continue the Man Pleads Guilty cal Frozen decided not to reopen when work we have already built, but preserve Broadway theaters restart and producers of collections of creators with the urgency they in Shooting Death the musical Mean Girls also decided not to deserve. return. But there will be new shows, includ- She continued, “Together we want to of K.C. Rapper ing Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu’s Pass create an archive of stories, and works we Over that is slated to reopen the August Wil- deem valuable. We want to open up these Dominique son Theatre, the same venue Mean Girls has works publicly, and make them accessible to vacated. And the Golden Theatre has been students, and our communities for research, Stafford promised for playwright Keenan Scott II’s engagement, and consumption so that the play Thoughts of a Colored Man, which will works are integrated into our collective BY ASSOCIATED PRESS begin previews Oct. 1. story and belong and grow with us. We are All city theaters abruptly closed on March creating an embodiment of living testa- man was sentenced to 20 years in 12, 2020, knocking out all shows, includ- ments to the glory of expression and how prison Monday (May 24) after he ing 16 that were still scheduled to open. they recharge and reaffirm the reverence we admitted that he shot and killed Some scheduled spring 2020 shows — like a hold for our own cultural and artistic worth. a Kansas City rapper in 2015. musical about Michael Jackson and a revival We look forward to furthering the pursuit DeriusA Taylor, 32, of Kansas City, pleaded of Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite starring Mat- of authenticity that empowers the stories of guilty to second-degree murder and armed thew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker — our people.” criminal action in the death of 20-year-old pushed their productions to 2021. But others The expansion of Saint Heron will include Dominique Stafford, the Jackson County abandoned their plans, including Hang- literature and visual exhibits (each available Prosecutor’s Office said. men and a revival of Edward Albee’s Who’s for viewing for seven to 10 days), art, design, Stafford’s body was found inside a car in Afraid of Virginia Woolf? architecture and fashion collections with eastern Kansas City on April 23, 2015. Taylor a focus on highlighting the works of newly arranged to buy drugs from Stafford but emerging artists, sculptors, photographers, actually intended to rob him. Taylor got into Solange designers and artisans. Knowles is behind Stafford’s car, shot him and took a rifle and the first installation, which is currently a diamond-encrusted pendant the necklace, Knowles to available on the official website and tells the detectives said. Another person got in the story of Saint Heron, founded in 2013. car with Stafford’s body and drove away Expand Creative An upcoming new gallery by Knowles while Taylor followed in the second car, dubbed Small Matter will display large- and detectives said. Expression small-scale functional sculptures, architec- They later the car with Stafford’s body tural objects, furniture collection, light- where police found it. Detectives later Platform Saint ing design and garments. Saint Heron will learned Taylor pawned the pendant he took soon explore the legacy of award-winning from Stafford. The month before Stafford’s Heron: ‘We Are poet Barbara Chase-Riboud in a conversa- brother, Arthur Stafford Jr., 22, was found tion with award-winning author and educa- fatally shot a month before Dominique Staf- Creating a Legacy’ tor, Ilyasah Shabazz. Upcoming interviews ford was killed, The Kansas City Star re- hosted by Saint Heron will spotlight Shala ported. BY DARLENE ADEROJU Monroque and artist Cassi Namoda, a con- The Stafford brothers were rap artists versation between Helga Davis and Okwui with Duced Out Records, a Kansas City- aint Heron, founded by Solange Okpokwasili, and archives from Womack & based record company. Knowles, is officially expanding. Womack and Composer Charles Stepney. On Monday (May 24), it was an- nounced that the creative expres- Ssion hub will become a multidisciplinary platform, studio and creative agency. Speak- ing on her decision to broaden Saint Heron into a cultural institution, Knowles, 34, said in a statement, “Worldmaking has been a huge part of my practice. … As we transition to an institution, the answer and the vision Page 22 of 27

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his highest charting Hot 100 hit, surpassing ing May 20. J. Cole Charts All the No. 4 peak of 2019’s “Middle Child.” Church last led Country Airplay as fea- The 10 debuts on the Hot 100 bring J. tured on Luke Combs’ “Does to Me,” for two 12 Songs From Cole’s career total to 58 entries, dating to weeks starting May 30, 2020. Church last his first, “Who Dat,” in June 2010. Of those, reigned as a lead act with “Some of It” on ‘The Off-Season’ 36 have placed in the top 40 and 10 have July 27, 2019. reached the top 10. The North Carolina native first ruled in Hot 100’s Top Country Airplay with his 10th of 30 career entries, “Drink in My Hand,” on the list dat- 40 Eric Church Has ed Jan. 28, 2012. He subsequently reigned with “Springsteen,” his only multi-week BY XANDER ZELLNER ‘Hell of a View’ leader as a lead act (two weeks, June 2012); “The Only Way I Know,” with Jason Aldean . Cole has a massive week on Bill- Atop Country and Luke Bryan (February 2013); “Give Me board’s charts (dated May 29), as all Back My Hometown” (May 2014); “Talla- 12 songs from his new LP The Off- Airplay Chart dega” (February 2015); as featured on Keith Season land on the latest Billboard Urban’s “Raise ‘Em Up” (May 2015); and JHot 100. BY JIM ASKER with his own “Record Year” (August 2016), As previously reported, the album bows ahead of his three most recent No. 1s. at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with 282,000 ric Church scores his 10th ‘GONE’ COUNTRY Alan Jackson’s first equivalent album units, according to MRC leader on Billboard’s Country set of new music since 2015, Where Have Data, marking the second-biggest week of Airplay chart as “Hell of a View” You Gone, enters Top Country Albums at No. 2021 so far, after the opening week of Taylor ascends 4-1 on the chart dated May 2, marking his 28th top 10. The LP, released Swift’s Fearless (Taylor’s Version) (291,000). E29. May 14, starts with 32,000 equivalent album The set starts as Cole’s sixth Billboard The single, which Church wrote with units, with 27,000 in album sales. On the 200 leader. Jeffrey Steele and Davis Naish, increased by all-genre Billboard 200, it bows at No. 9, All 12 tracks from The Off-Season flood 19% to 31 million audience impressions in awarding Jackson his 15th top 10, with all the Hot 100’s top 40, including a record- the week ending May 23, according to MRC having entered in the tier. tying four concurrent debuts in the top 10. Data. Jackson, who was inducted into the Here’s a recap (all are debuts except where The song is the second single from Country Music Hall of Fame in 2017, solo- noted): Church’s triple album, collectively wrote 15 of the 21 tracks on the new set, Rank, Title dubbed Heart & Soul. “This is my favorite which Keith Stegall produced. No. 2, “my.life,” with 21 Savage & Morray project of my career,” Church tells Billboard. The Georgia-born Jackson last released No. 5, “amari” “I really appreciate radio’s support to bring an album of all-new music in 2015, Angels No. 7, “pride.is.the.devil,” with Lil Baby attention to it. I can’t wait to see where we and Alcohol, which opened as his 14th and No. 8, “95.south” go next.” most recent No. 1 on Top Country Albums No. 13, “applying.pressure” The 24-song Heart & Soul was released that August. Jackson, who has notched 26 No. 14, “100.mil’,” with Bas in three parts. Heart arrived at No. 3 on Hot Country Songs No. 1s, made his first of No. 17, “interlude” (down from its No. 8 the Top Country Albums chart dated May 32 appearances on Top Country Albums in debut/peak) 1 with 49,000 units; Soul started at No. 2 March 1990 with Here in the Real World, No. 19, “let.go.my.hand,” with 6LACK on the May 8 list (53,000); and &, released which peaked at No. 4 in April 1991. He has No. 20, “punchin’.the.clock” exclusively to members of Church’s Church now scored at least one new Top Country No. 25, “the.climb.back” (re-entry; new Choir fan club, also arrived on the May 8 Albums top 10 in the 1990s, 2000s, ‘10s and peak) tally, at No. 12 (11,000). ‘20s. No. 28, “hunger.on.hillside,” with Bas The project’s lead single, “Stick That NEW TOP 10s Chris Young and Kane No. 33, “close” in Your Country Song,” reached No. 22 on Brown’s “Famous Friends” surges 11-5 on J. Cole is the first artist to chart as many Country Airplay and No. 23 on the airplay-, Hot Country Songs, marking Young’s 15th as 12 songs in the Hot 100’s top 40 simulta- sales- and streaming-based Hot Country top 10 and Brown’s eighth. On Country neously since Juice WRLD also landed 12 Songs chart in July 2020. Airplay, the duet bumps 8-7 (21.9 million, on July 25, 2020, all from his album Legends “View” bumps 3-2 on Hot Country Songs, up 7%). It also drew 6.7 (up 45%) million Never Die, which likewise debuted that returning to its high point first reached on streams and sold 3,000 in the tracking week. week atop the Billboard 200. May 8. It collected 8.6 million U.S. streams Young logs his first top 10 since “Raised Leading J. Cole’s haul, “my.life” becomes and sold 12,000 downloads in the week end- on Country,” which peaked at No. 10 in Au- Page 23 of 27

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gust 2019. Brown adds his first since “Cool August 2018, when she reached a No. 2 best. out a winery in Napa Valley, California, Again,” which hit No. 5 last September. Minaj returns as her re-released 2009 mix- which would later become the catalyst in a Plus, Jordan Davis’ “Almost Maybes” tape Beam Me Up Scotty debuts at No. 2 on lucrative move for the 53-year-old rap star. pushes 12-9 on Hot Country Songs, becom- the Billboard 200 (80,000 units). Things got serious in 2013 when the rapper ing his fourth top 10, with 7 million streams The Artist 100 measures artist activity launched Earl Stevens Selections, with the (up 31%) and sold 1,000 sold. On Country across key metrics of music consumption, Function Red Blend wine serving as the Airplay, it holds at its No. 11 high (18.8 mil- blending album and track sales, radio air- inaugural bottle for the collection. lion, up 5%). Davis last reached the Hot play, streaming and social media fan interac- The Earl Stevens Function Red Blend Country Songs top 10 with “Slow Dance in tion to provide a weekly multi-dimensional ignited the fire within E-40 to kickstart his a Parking Lot,” which waltzed to No. 6, and ranking of artist popularity. business. A successful social media cam- became his second Country Airplay No. 1, in For all chart news, you can follow @bill- paign for the inaugural bottle started it all by April 2020. board and @billboardcharts on both Twitter bringing customers in, and it was clear E-40 and Instagram. had to capitalize on the momentum. When it comes down to it, rappers are J. Cole Returns to constantly involved with liquor somehow, E-40 Toasts whether they’re signing a partnership deal No. 1 on Artist 100 or using their likeness for the product. to New Spirits That’s not the case with E-40, who owns Chart, Thanks to 100 percent of the company his wife and Empire on two sons help him run. ‘The Off-Season’ “I’m 33 years in, and no brands ever came National Wine to me asking if I wanted my own liquor as BY XANDER ZELLNER far as owning it,” E-40 explains. “I’m glad Day that hasn’t happened — and it’s OK because . Cole jumps from No. 12 to No. 1 on I’m used to it. I was used to it from having the Billboard Artist 100 chart (dated BY MARK ELIBERT to get it on my own in the independent rap May 29) to become the top musical act game, where I had to figure things out. I’ve in the U.S. for a third total week, and an Francisco Bay Area leg- always been used to that, because I’m the Jfor the first time since May 2018, thanks to end E-40 etched out a successful oldest of four — you have to go out and get his new LP The Off-Season. career for himself that spans over yours. I’m just doing the same thing with my The album launches at No. 1 on the Bill- 33 years, and there’s not much wine and spirits company.” board 200 with 282,000 equivalent album She hasn’t seen or done already during that So far, E-40 is flourishing on his own with units, according to MRC Data, marking the three-decade run. this business endeavor. According to him, second-biggest week of 2021 so far, after Most of E-40’s success came from his sales of the alcoholic products skyrocketed the opening frame of Taylor Swift’s Fearless time in the music industry, where he’s after his Verzuz match-up with Too $hort in (Taylor’s Version) (291,000). Cole’s new set released 26 studio albums, earned several December 2020. He also tells Billboard his is his sixth Billboard 200 No. 1. RIAA-certified records and dished out an Mangoscato wine can’t stay on shelves, but All 12 tracks from The Off-Season concur- array of guest features over the years. But that shouldn’t be a problem for too long. rently land in the top 40 of the latest Bill- with his business empire, Mr. Flamboyant is E-40 recently agreed on a distribution deal board Hot 100, with four debuting in the looking to match the same success he found with Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits that top 10: “my.life,” with 21 Savage and Morray, in hip-hop — and he’s well on his way to do- puts his collection of wine and spirits in 41 at No. 2 (J. Cole’s new career-best rank); ing that, by establishing himself as a signifi- out of 50 states in the US. “Amari” at No. 5; “pride.is.the.devil,” with cant player in the wine and spirits market. “I’m doing it the hard way, but I’m doing Lil Baby, at No. 7; and “95.south” at No. 8. “Music, alcohol and food coincide togeth- it the best way — because I’m going to have He’s the eighth artist to chart at least four er,” E-40 tells Billboard. “So what entertain- the last laugh, if you’re laughing at me. songs in the top 10 simultaneously and just ers don’t love food and some cocktails? We I’m not in it to prove myself to people who the fourth artist to debut four songs in the love it all. It’s just natural like an afro, the doubt me, because people don’t know the top 10 concurrently. way all this came about.” process you have to go through. So I can’t be Plus, Olivia Rodrigo hits a new No. 2 E-40 has an affinity for cocktails, and that happier with what I’m doing.” Artist 100 high, up from No. 21, as “Good passion eventually led him to fully immerse In celebration of National Wine Day 4 U” soars in as her second Hot 100 No. 1, himself in the wine and spirits industry. As a (May 25), Billboard sat with E-40 to break and Nicki Minaj re-enters the Artist 100 at brand ambassador for Landy Cognac in the down each of the liquors available from his No. 5, marking her highest placement since early 2010’s, 40 Water was advised to check growing collection on the market right now. Page 24 of 27

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Check out what he had to say for each one a tycoon on my album, In A Major Way, in age back then, you could legally drink at 18 below. 1995. I would always see people in VIP be years old. I would go to this place in the vil- Earl Stevens Selections (Sparkling and a tycoon, so I had to call it Tycoon Cognac. lage that had different cocktails in a daiquiri Still Wines) People may seem like they don’t have the form. One of the daiquiris was a “hurricane,” With the Earl Stevens Selections, I have money, but when a motherf—ker wants to be and at that time I didn’t really trip over the my still and sparkling wines, which are the flamboyant, they’re going to have them a tall name — I just knew it was good as f—k, and Function Red Blend, Sweet Red, Chardon- bottle of tequila, probably. The most expen- that’s what I would always drink, because it nay, Mangoscato, Moscato and Tropiscato. I sive s—t, whether it be shoes, belt or jewelry, would have me toasted. The teachers didn’t recently put out four more sparkling wines, they’re going to make it happen, due to the know I was drinking it in class, but it actu- with Cotton Candy, Cali-Mocho Red Wine social media aspects of the game these days. ally helped me be in my mind. and Cola, Watermelon and Mango Peach. I I’m not saying tycoons do that, but I feel Years later, me and my family, The Click also have my Prosecco and Prosecco Rose like people are doing tycoon s—t. So we — which was my brother D-Shot, my sister sourced from Veneto, Italy. My fanbase is came out with the cognac to help you feel Suga-T and my cousin B-Legit — were out versatile. It’s a variety, and it’s all walks like one. I trademarked the Tycoon name in Arkansas doing a little tour. We go to of life — not just the urban community, many years ago, and we made it official like the bartender to get us something, because but the suburbs and everywhere else and a military missile. Tycoon Cognac lives up to we’ve been drinking nothing but gin and in-between. So there has to be a different its name, because the bottle and the packag- juice for three weeks straight. We wanted a selection for people to choose from. ing is beautiful, and the liquid is magnificent lift-off right away. The way I do it is: I think about what and remarkable. My VS should have been She made us these drinks, and we went on people would like. For example, I’m not a a VSOP, and my VSOP should have been with the show, which was perfect. After- Chardonnay guy, but there’s so many people an XO. Stayed tuned for the XO too. That’s wards, we asked the bartender what the that drink that. So I’m like, “I have to have coming soon. drink was, and if we could have the recipe an Earl Stevens Chardonnay.” I sourced the Kuiper Belt Bourbon and the name of it. She said “hurricane,” juice myself, and with all the stuff that I do I have the Kuiper Belt Bourbon and the and I was like “I remember drinking that in I make sure I’m involved. I have to taste it, Kuiper Belt Gin. The gin isn’t out yet, but it’s college but it wasn’t in liquid form like this.” along with my friends and family. We make coming. I’m just waiting for a schedule on She gave us the recipe, and everywhere I sure that it’s right — and I’m a liquor con- the production. I have everything ready to went I would make it. A few years later The noisseur, so I need to be involved. Every line go, from the bottles to the design to the label Click came with a song called “Hurricane,” of wine that I got can’t stay on the shelves. and formula approvals. We got everything and the album it was on, Game Related, goes Once people learn about it, they’re look- in motion like the ocean, ready to launch gold. ing for it, and when they do that it sells out very soon. Once I get Kuiper Belt Gin on the “Hurricane” pushed that album to gold, quickly. production schedule, we’re going to see it even when BET wouldn’t play it. That Cuarenta Tequila floating out there within the next... I would shows you how popular that song was — and Again, I sourced everything myself. It say five weeks. years later, here I am. I spoke it into exis- comes straight out of Tequila, Jalisco, Mex- The Kuiper Belt Bourbon is a small tence without even knowing it would come ico and it’s 100 percent agave and it’s top- batch, aged over eight years, that’s carefully into existence. I have E-40’s Slurricane drawer tequila. Right now, I have three dif- sourced and nicely picked — like, I’m talking Hurricane Premium Cocktail Drink, E-40’s ferent tequilas in the market, with Blanco, A-plus top-shelf quality. The Kuiper Belt Slurricane Blue Lagoon, E-40’s Slurricane Reposado and Anejo. Everyone that has is in the solar system, and when I thought Sweet Tea and E-40’s Slurricane Yellowbird, tasted them said my tequila is really good. of it, I thought about being sky-high — like, which is a tropical drink from the Bahamas. When it comes to a rapper, people think we what’s going to get the people feeling right, There’s so much more we’re coming with, don’t have our s—t together. I’m an intel- not wrong? What’s going to give them a just sit tight. ligent heathen, but I’m not big-headed, so buzz right away with no delay? I did my everything I do is always well-put together. research on the Kuiper Belt, and it’s in the I also have E. Cuarenta Cerveza Beer, that’s solar system surrounded by a whole bunch a Mexican-style lager that you can compare of dwarf planets — like, it’s up there. You see to other lagers. I haven’t told anyone about where I’m going with that, though. People that, but it’s on the way. think that I’m crazy, but I’m brilliant, and I Tycoon Cognac didn’t make it this far from being dumb. I was the first rapper to speak about being Category Five Sluricane (Hurricane, a tycoon in the mid-’90s. It was a regular Sweet Tea, Blue Lagoon, Yellowbird) word with the Sick Wid It camp, and I I went to Grambling State University in was the first rapper to speak about being the fall of ‘86, ‘87 — and going there, at that Page 25 of 27

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No. 8 and 2013’s MBV is at No. 10. popped up in the trailer for the upcoming Olivia Rodrigo My Bloody Valentine’s catalog was re- Steve Martin/Martin Short Hulu series Only cently made available on streaming plat- Murders in the Building, as well as launch- Chases Chart forms for the first time. ing the new Mental Health 101 educa- Another ‘90s favorite from the British tional campaign with her beauty brand Rare Double In U.K. Isles set for an overdue return to the Official Beauty last month. U.K. Albums Chart is Gruff Rhys, of Welsh Meanwhile, Khalid has been riding high BY LARS BRANDLE psychedelic rock act Super Furry Animals. on the Hot Latin Songs chart with his first Rhys’ solo LP Seeking New Gods (Rough collaboration with J Balvin, “Otra Noche Sin livia Rodrigo’s Sour (Geffen) Trade) is at No. 7 on the chart blast. Ti,” and Marshmello has another potential could produce a sweet chart The Official U.K. Singles and Albums hit in the making with his summery “Leave double in the U.K. Charts are published late Friday, local time. Before You Love Me” collaboration with the The teenage Californian artist Jonas Brothers, which they performed at Oand actor has the U.K.’s best-selling single Sunday night’s 2021 BBMA. and album at the midweek point, the OCC Selena Gomez, Check out the reveal video below. reports. Following its release last Friday (May 21), Khalid, Rodrigo’s debut Sour flies to No. 1 on the Of- Brandi Carlile ficial Albums Chart Update, opening-up a Marshmello to lead of 7,500 chart sales ahead of its closest & Melissa rival. Perform at UEFA Sour is the most-streamed album of the Etheridge Are week so far as its third single, “Good 4 U,” Champions rises to No. 1 on the Official Singles Chart Part of Grammy Update. League Final Some way behind at No. 2 at the midweek Museum’s albums survey is Gary Numan’s 22nd studio Opening effort Intruder (BMG), which is on track to Pride Month give the veteran synth-pop artist his seventh Ceremony Top 5. Programming Intruder, so far, is the biggest physical re- BY GIL KAUFMAN lease of the cycle. BY PAUL GREIN Meanwhile, Twenty One Pilots are elena Gomez, Khalid and Marsh- coming in to land their third U.K. Top 10 mello will perform at Saturday’s essions with Grammy-winning with Scaled And Icy (Atlantic/Fueled By Ra- (May 29) UEFA Champions League singer-songwriters Brandi Car- men), new at No. 3, following the American final opening ceremony. Marshm- lile and Melissa Etheridge are alternative rock artists’ performance Sunday Sello announced the news on Monday (May among the virtual Pride-related (May 23) at the Billboard Music Awards. 24) in a video in which he borrowed the Sprogramming the Grammy Museum in Los Another act who’s enjoying a post-BBMAs method for selecting matches in the early Angeles has planned for June. Both pro- boost is Pink, whose All I Know So far: rounds of the elite club competition that grams are set to be released on June 3. Setlist (RCA), the companion set to her crowns the European soccer champ by pull- On June 24, the museum will release a streaming concert film, bows at No. 4. It’s ing random miniature soccer balls out of a panel discussion, “Personal Identity and the the most downloaded album of the week. bowl and revealing his co-star’s names writ- Art of Songwriting,” moderated by Alexis Pink, the Icon Award winner and a per- ten on slips of paper hidden inside. Fish, former vice president of pride at Bill- former at the BBMAs, also sees a spike for “Hey @selenagomez and @thegreatkha- board. Panelists are Kat Cunning, Shea Dia- her 2010 career retrospective Greatest Hits… lid, see you at the #UCLFinal opening cer- mond, Carlie Hanson and Tangina Stone. So Far!!! (LaFace), currently vaulting 68-39. emony,” wrote the 29 year-old DJ in a tweet. There is also a Pride Month connection Completing the Top 5 is shoegaze leg- The Pepsi-sponsored league final is slated to in the Spotlight Saturdays Series Takeover ends My Bloody Valentine and their classic take place on Saturday at Estadio do Dragao franchise, which will salute artists on PEG 1991 album Loveless. The LP drops in at No. Stadium in Porto, Portugal where Manches- Records. The independent record label sup- 5 thanks to a catalog reissue on CD and vinyl ter City will face off against Chelsea in the ports LGBTQ artists through distribution via Domino Recordings, while the Irish 66th European Cup final. (in partnership with ADA/Warner Music outfit’s 1988 debut Isn’t Anything impacts at It’s a busy summer for Gomez, who just Group), marketing, promotion and more. Page 26 of 27

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The artists being spotlighted this month er, Alice Cooper, Arrow De Wilde, Pamela the 2021 iHeartRadio Music Awards, which are Alaska, Brandon Stansell, Jujubee and Des Barres, moderated by Lina Lecaro will air live from The Dolby Theatre in Los Peppermint. June 17 Angeles on Thursday (May 27). In other June programming, on June Crowder Chris Martin and Lil Nas X will pres- 3 the museum will release a session with Dispatch ent John with the iHeartRadio Icon Award, songwriting legend Barry Mann. Mann and Marina which honors John’s global impact on pop his wife, Cynthia Weil, won two Grammys, Moby culture, longevity and continued relevance including song of the year, for co-writing Rise Against as a touring and radio force. “Somewhere Out There” with the late James John Splithoff The three singers chosen to perform Horner. Mann & Weil received a trustees Spotlight Saturdays Series Takeover By during the tribute each reflect an aspect of award from the Recording Academy in PEG Records John’s varied musical personality. John is 2015. Their many other honors include the Moderated by Monét X Change the second recipient of this award, follow- Towering Song Award (for “You’ve Lost that June 5 – Alaska ing Bon Jovi three years ago. John and Lovin’ Feelin’”) from the Songwriters Hall June 12 – Brandon Stansell H.E.R. are co-writers of the two most recent of Fame and induction into both the Rock June 19 – Jujubee Oscar-winners for best original song. John and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters June 26 – Peppermint won his second Oscar in 2020 for co-writing Hall of Fame. Grammy Museum’s Summer Session: “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from Rock- The museum also has a session focused The Grammy Museum’s Summer Session etman. H.E.R. won her first this year for on the book Permanent Damage: Memoirs program is a five-day songwriting workshop co-writing “Fight For You” from Judas and of an Outrageous Girl about the late Mercy for students who are currently enrolled in the Black Messiah. Fontenot, aka Miss Mercy. The panel fea- high school. The program will be virtual Usher will host this year’s iHeartRadio tures the book’s author Lyndsey Parker, plus again this summer due to COVID-19. Music Awards, and will also perform. The Alice Cooper, Arrow De Wilde and Pamela Session One: Tuesday, June 15 - Saturday, show will also feature previously announced Des Barres. It will be moderated by Lina June 19 performances from The Weeknd with spe- Lecaro. Parker is the music editor at Yahoo Session Two: Tuesday, June 22 - Saturday, cial guest Ariana Grande, Silk Sonic (Bruno Entertainment and co-host of the daily Siri- June 26 Mars & Anderson .Paak), Dan + Shay and usXM Volume show, Volume West. COLLECTION:live is the Grammy Mu- Doja Cat. Here is the June schedule on seum’s online streaming service available In addition, the event will feature special COLLECTION:live. for $2.99/month or $29.99/year. Proceeds appearances from LL Cool J, Nelly, Machine New programs to be released this benefit the Museum’s music education Gun Kelly, French Montana, Lil Jon, Robin month in celebration of Pride Month: initiatives. Thicke, Joel McHale, Oliver Stark, Ryan June 3 – MK xyz Guzman, Gabby Barrett, Ava Max, Raphael June 3 – Brandi Carlile Saadiq and AJR, plus previously announced June 3 – Melissa Etheridge in partnership Demi Lovato, appearances from Taylor Swift, Dua Lipa, with Iron Mountain Entertainment Services Roddy Ricch, Twenty One Pilots and Megan June 15 – Grammy Museum x Ally Coalition H.E.R. & Brandi Thee Stallion. present “Red, Hot + Free” program with The event will air live on FOX on Thurs- additional education programs taking place Carlile to Pay day, May 27, from 8-10 p.m. (live ET, tape- throughout the day for middle and high delayed PT). The event also will air live on school students Tribute to Elton iHeartMedia radio stations nationwide and June 24 – Jake Wesley Rogers on the iHeartRadio app. June 24 – Personal Identity and the Art of John on 2021 In a unique twist, winners in four catego- Songwriting panel with Kat Cunning, Shea ries will be revealed (and give an acceptance Diamond, Carlie Hanson, Tangina Stone, iHeartRadio Music speech) on FOX shows on Thursday in the 9 moderated by Alexis Fish a.m. hour across the four time zones. Those Other new programs to be released Awards four categories are country album of the this month: year, country song of the year, dance album June 3 BY PAUL GREIN of the year and the social star award. Win- The Happy Fits ners will also be revealed on iHeartMedia’s Barry Mann hree varied singers — Brandi Car- radio stations and socials following FOX. NoMBe lile, Demi Lovato and H.E.R. — The iHeartRadio Music Awards celebrate Permanent Damage: Memoirs of an Outra- will perform during a special the most-played artists and songs on iHeart- geous Girl – Featuring Author Lyndsey Park- T tribute honoring Elton John at Radio stations and the iHeartRadio app Page 27 of 27

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throughout 2020. Nominations are based on consumption data, including streaming, album sales, song sales and radio airplay. Fan voting will determine this year’s best fan army, best lyrics, best cover song, best music video, the social star award, favorite music video choreography award and the first-ever TikTok bop of the year award. Executive producers for the iHeartRadio Music Awards are Joel Gallen for Tenth Planet and John Sykes, Tom Poleman and Bart Peters for iHeartMedia.