Sony Music Acquires Todd Moscowitz's Alamo Records
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Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE JUNE 22, 2021 Page 1 of 16 INSIDE Sony Music Acquires • Recording Todd Moscowitz’s Alamo Records Academy Restructures BY DAN RYS Leadership With New Co-Presidents Sony Music Group has acquired a majority Fly in April. Other artists on the label include Smoke- stake ’s Alamo Records, the com- purpp, Comethazine, wifisfuneral, Yung Mal, 03 • Live Shows Are Todd Moscowitz Back, But Delayed panies announced Tuesday (June 22). Alamo, which Greedo, Lil Gotit and more. Federal Grants Are had initially been distributed through Universal Mu- Alamo’s entire catalog and existing roster will also Draining Concert sic Group’s Interscope Records, will become a new be moving over to Sony as part of the deal, while Pipeline frontline label under the Sony umbrella, according to Moscowitz will maintain his title as CEO. UMG/In- • Vivendi Investors the announcement. terscope was a seed partner in Alamo — which, when Approve $40B “I decided to partner with Sony Music because Rob announced, was initially called Cold Heat Records Spinoff of Universal [Stringer] and the team showed their deep under- — and had an option to purchase the label, a source Music Group standing of entrepreneurship,” Moscowitz said in a tells Billboard. But after reaping more than $125 mil- • As Truckers Pump statement. “Being competitive in this marketplace lion from its investment in the venture, UMG passed the Brakes on requires being fluid, fast and innovative and I have on its option to buy it, in part out of concerns over Returning to Touring, tremendous confidence that Alamo and our artists longterm profitability. Is the Industry Facing will get the support from Sony Music to take our en- Moscowitz has a long and successful track record a Driver Shortage? tire company to the next level.” within the music business, having worked in the vBillboard’s Songs of Moscowitz founded Alamo in 2016 after leaving 300 leadership team at Def Jam in the 1990s and early the Summer Chart Entertainment, which he had co-founded along- 2000s before moving to Warner Music Group and Returns, Led by BTS’ side Lyor Cohen, Roger Gold and Kevin Liles three taking over as president of Asylum Records, then CEO ‘Butter’ years prior. Since then, the label has had several of Warner Bros. Records, before co-founding 300. He • SoundExchange breakthroughs with its artists, particularly Rod Wave, also has been the longtime manager of Gucci Mane, Paid Out $947 Million blackbear and Lil Durk, whose joint album with Lil and has helped steer the legendary Atlanta MC’s in 2020 Baby The Voice of the Heroes debuted at No. 1 on the career for over a decade. With the new Sony deal, Billboard 200 last week. That success followed Rod Moscowitz has now worked in some capacity with all Wave’s first-ever No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with Soul- (continued) TOTAL IMMERSION ESSENTIAL ANALYSIS of the latest business topics and trends formulated to give industry players the competitive advantage in a rapidly changing market. EXCLUSIVE QUARTERLY REPORTS that deliver in-depth, holistic reporting; case studies; and custom data designed to serve the industry. A DEEP DIVE LIBRARY stocked with intelligence on fan data, SUBSCRIBE TO BILLBOARD PRO FOR song catalog sales, TV synchs, Africa’s burgeoning music ACCESS TO NEW REPORTS business and the gaming industry’s embrace of artists. AND THE ARCHIVE NEW BONUS DISTRIBUTION 11,000 + Grammy™ Voters will be mailed a copy of this special issue On July 17th, Billboard will publish a GRAMMY® First Look special feature showcasing the artists, producers and other creative professionals whose music was released from September 2020- June 2021 and look at the early contenders for the 64th GRAMMY® Awards in the categories of Record Of The Year, Song Of The Year, Album Of The Year and Best New Artist. July 13 – July 29 Fi rst-Round Online Entry Process Access Period Aug 17 – Aug 31 Final-Round Online Entry Process Access Period Take advantage of this early opportunity during this eligibility period to showcase accomplished work to the music industry as they prepare to cast thier entries for Music’s Biggest Night® ISSUE DATE 7/17 / AD CLOSE 7/7 / MATERIALS DUE 7/8 CONTACTS Joe Maimone 201.301.5933 | [email protected] Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | [email protected] Cynthia Mellow 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] Page 3 of 16 IN BRIEF three major labels. nent-basis in May — will relinquish half of tiatives for incoming voting member classes “We are very excited to bring Todd and his title to co-presidents Valeisha Butterfield and, in April, led a board of trustees vote to his label, Alamo, to our company,” Stringer Jones and Panos A. Panay, restructuring the disband nomination-review committees. said in a statement. “He has always been organization’s executive suite. After a lengthy search process to hire a new a visionary in an area of music that is now Butterfield Jones — who was hired as president/CEO, Mason was named to the front and center of pop culture globally so the academy’s first chief diversity, equity role permanently on May 13 and recently we are delighted to add his experience and and inclusion officer in May 2020 after four told Billboard that a hiring search is under- expertise to our creative strategy. We wel- years as Google’s global head of inclusion — way for in-house counsel. come him, his artists and his team to Sony will retain her existing responsibilities and “We had come to a place where we Music and will provide all the partnership now oversee membership, awards, advocacy needed to do things differently,” says Mason, he needs to take the label to even greater and related initiatives. Panay, who founded adding the move represents “an opportunity heights.” and ran Sonicbids and will join the academy to build a dynamic new leadership team,” to from Berklee College of Music, where he focus on growth and innovation. was senior vp of global strategy and innova- On June 2, the academy’s board of trust- Recording tion, will also become chief revenue officer. ees also announced its new slate of elected “The three of us will be operating as a officers: Tammy Hurt as chair, Rico Love as Academy unit as we strengthen every system in every vice chair and Om’Mas Keith as secretary/ part of our organization from the inside treasurer. Christina Albert returned as chair Restructures out,” says Butterfield Jones. emeritus. “Developing the academy for the The new co-presidents assume their roles 21st century as part of this amazing group,” Leadership at a period of dramatic change for the acad- adds Panay, “I’m energized and inspired by emy. The previous CEO, Deborah Dugan, the opportunity to do good and do well.” With New Co- was ousted after five months, in January In their first interview together, Mason, 2020, just 10 days before that year’s Grammy Butterfield Jones and Panay talk about the Presidents Award ceremony. (The organization accused next steps in the academy’s continuing trans- her of workplace bullying. She filed an formation: BY GAIL MITCHELL Equal Employment Opportunity Commis- sion discrimination complaint alleging she How do you envision what your new roles or the first time, the Recording was terminated because she had threatened will encompass? Academy will have a separate CEO to expose misconduct. Arbitration hearings Butterfield Jones: It’s been a difficult and president — or make that pres- are scheduled to begin July 12.) Since then, year for music creators because of CO- idents. Starting Aug. 16, Recording as board chair and interim president/CEO, VID-19. So with the return to everyday busi- FAcademy president/CEO Harvey Mason Mason has instituted a major structural ness, we’re thinking about our membership jr. — who accepted that role on a perma- reorganization, overseen new diversity ini- — which will be part of my remit — and how AUTHORITATIVE INTELLIGENCE. DELIVERED DIGITALLY. CLICK HERE FOR FREE DELIVERY DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS 2021 R&B/HIP HOP POWER ISSUE R&B/Hip-Hop dominates every other genre claiming a quarter of all music consumption. On August 7th, Billboard will publish its 5th annual R&B/Hip-Hop Power Players list showcasing the producers, creatives, executives and publishers who have made R&B/Hip-Hop the hottest genre on earth. Advertise and congratulate the people who are driving this industry and reach an influential audience of decision-makers in music and pop culture. ON SALE : 8/7 | AD CLOSE: 7/28 | MATER IAL S DUE: 7/29 CONTACT Sp ue Joe Maimone 201.301.5933 | [email protected] LE Lee Ann Photoglo 615.376.7931 | [email protected] 21 Cynthia Mellow 615.352,0265 | [email protected] Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected] Ryan O’Donnell +447843437176 | [email protected] Editorial content subject to change BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5OF of 1916 ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country we trulyAlbu deepenms; our partnership Brett with them Young tion as well ‘Catc as innovation.h’-es Ultimately Fifth for me, doing Airplay it in a silo. We want to make sure that and across the industry. That will remain a the attraction of this job is having the honor we’re working from the inside out of the key part of Leawhat we doder; and won’t Travis change. toDenning serve an institution I Makesgrew up admiring, History academy and collaboratively with our music It’s also important to say that the three of us developing the academy for the 21st century partners to better serve music creators and will be operating as a unit.