Bulletin YOUR DAILY ENTERTAINMENT NEWS UPDATE JULY 15, 2021 Page 1 of 32

INSIDE UK Parliament Inquiry

• New Concertgoers Recommends ‘Complete Reset’ Fueling Live Music Comeback, Data of Streaming Business Shows BY RICHARD SMIRKE • Spotify Stock Drops as Analysts Warn Company LONDON – A U.K. Parliament committee is calling Amazon Music, is unsustainable in its current form. Must Prove Podcast into question the major record labels’ dominance “Streaming has undoubtedly helped save the music Strategy of the music industry — and how they leverage that industry following two decades of digital piracy, but market power at the expense of artists, songwriters it is clear that what has been saved does not work • Britney Spears Can Hire Her Own Lawyer and independents — and is asking the government to for everyone,” the committee writes in its 200-page in Conservatorship refer the matter to the U.K. competition enforcer for report. “The issues ostensibly created by streaming Fight further investigation. simply reflect more fundamental, structural problems A report from The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport within the recorded music industry. Streaming needs • Dierks Bentley’s Seven Peaks Festival (DCMS) Committee published Thursday (July 15) a complete reset.” Clashes With Local says the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) In 2020, roughly two-thirds of Spotify’s global Officials Over should conduct a “full study of the economic impact streams came from music distributed by the major Cancellation of the majors’ dominance.” record labels, Spotify said in a March 19 written sub- The DCMS committee says its recommenda- mission to the DCMS committee, although that total tion, part of a much-anticipated final report from its includes content owned by independent labels that 10-month probe into the economics of music stream- distribute through major labels. Apple told the com- ing, is based upon “deep concerns” that competition in mittee that close to 75% of music its customers listen MARKET WATCH the recorded music market is “being distorted” by the to comes from major labels. PAGE 29 overall market share controlled by Universal Music, In the U.K., majors’ make up 75% of the recorded SONGWRITERS Sony Music and Warner Music. music market, with independents accounting for the & PRODUCERS But the committee’s report goes further, concluding remaining 25%, according to the Association of Inde- CHARTS in sweeping fashion that the global streaming model pi- pendent Music. PAGES 30 - 32 oneered and dominated by Spotify, Apple, YouTube and (continued)

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IN BRIEF

A referral to the competition enforcer is a Among its biggest recommendations, the royalties split between labels and artists, potentially serious escalation. In cases where committee report calls for the introduc- generated 85 million pounds ($110 million) the CMA finds businesses engaging in anti- tion of equitable remuneration on music in 2019, compared to 628 million pounds competitive practices or abuses of dominant streams — similar to what already exists in ($812 million) from streaming. positions it has the power to bring criminal the U.K. for TV and radio broadcasts — and Responding to the committee report, BPI proceedings, or force divestments. It did so in which would see streaming royalties split chief executive Geoff Taylor said it was “es- February, when the CMA ordered ticketing 50/50 between labels and performers and sential that any policy proposals avoid un- company Viagogo to offload its StubHub distributed via a collecting society. Equi- intended consequences for investment into business outside of North America follow- table remuneration also guarantees royalties new talent, and do not imperil this country’s ing an investigation into complaints of unfair to non-featured performers (such as session extraordinary global success in music.” competition. (Viagogo has yet to announce a musicians) on recordings. AIM CEO Paul Pacifico called equitable sale of the assets.) By contrast, under the current “making remuneration a “20th century solution not “This is a once in a lifetime moment to available right” only the copyright owner fit for the 21st century digital market.” He reset our business along fairer and more receives payment, which it then shares with warned its introduction “will leave the next equitable lines,” said a spokesperson for U.K. the artist according to the terms of their generation of artists worse off.” artist bodies the Featured Artists’ Coalition contract. Average royalty rates are typically The report also recommends that Uni- and Music Managers’ Forum, welcoming the set between 20% and 25% on new artist versal and Warner Music follow Sony’s DCMS committee’s report and its recom- deals and far less on legacy contracts. lead and no longer apply existing unre- mendations for a CMA investigation. The DCMS committee calls equitable re- couped balances to earnings for eligible The DCMS committee report comes amid muneration “a simple yet effective solution artists signed prior to the year 2000. increasing scrutiny of the major labels’ to the problems caused by poor remunera- The committee also calls for an end to the market power in the U.K. In April, more tion from music streaming.” That’s not a practice of distributing unattributed digital than 200 artists, including Paul McCart- view shared by labels, who stand to take a royalties — so-called black box collections ney, Chris Martin, Annie Lennox, Rob- large financial hit if the principle is applied. — based on market share and, instead, rec- ert Plant and The Who’s Roger Daltrey, The labels argue that the loss of earn- ommends that collecting societies reinvest signed a letter to British Prime Minister Bo- ings under equitable remuneration would them back into the industry. ris Johnson calling for an “immediate reduce their ability to invest in new acts and Other recommendations include a government referral” of the multinational could hamper the ability of rights holders to requirement for labels, publishers and corporations that wield “extraordinary negotiate licensee agreements with stream- collecting societies to provide greater power” over the music business to the CMA. ing services, by making it harder for them to transparency around royalty chains and In assessing factors in the majors’ hold walk away from negotiations. the commissioning of government research over the market, the committee cites the Labels trade body BPI says TV and radio into the impact of streaming services’ algo- acquisition of competing services and the broadcasting, which is already licensed un- rithms on music consumption. system of cross-ownership. der equitable remuneration in the U.K. with The report additionally calls for enhanced

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DIGITAL NEWSLETTERS 2021 ERIKA RECORDS INC. 40TH ANNIVERSARY

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Erika Records Inc. CONTACTS founded in 1981 by Erzsebet Liz Dunster, making the company the first ever woman owned vinyl record Joe Maimone 201.301.5933 | [email protected] pressing plant. Originally started as a heavy metal label Dunster scouted bands at legendary venues such as the Lee Ann Photoglo Troubadour and sold records out of the trunk of her Pinto. 615.376.7931 | [email protected] She had one goal in mind: save enough to open her own pressing plant for the sake of creative freedom. She Cynthia Mellow wanted to elevate vinyl records beyond the standard 615.352,0265 | [email protected] round record. Marcia Olival 786.586.4901 | [email protected] The company’s DIY approach and commitment to the evolution of vinyl has been key to the success of Erika Ryan O’Donnell Records over the past four decades. The company is a +447843437176 | [email protected] leader in both standard and custom vinyl manufacturing having made puzzle piece records, flower petal records, etch-picture disc combination records, and more. Today Erika Records operates out of a 36,000 square foot facility with over 40 running presses in Buena Park, California and is the only 100% lead free pressing plant. Over the years they have produced vinyl for independent and mainstream artists alike such as The Locust, Nirvana, Snoh Aalegra, MF Doom, Tame Impala, SZA, and Lady Gaga.

ISSUE DATE 8/7 | AD CLOSE 7/28 | MATERIALS DUE 7/29 BILLBOARD COUNTRY UPDATE APRIL 13, 2020 | PAGE Page 4 5 OF of 1932

ON THE CHARTS JIM ASKER [email protected] IN BRIEF SamHunt’s Southside Rules Top Country creatorA lbuprotections,ms; including Brett a right to Youngover another, ‘Catc but said ith was’-es concerned Fifth that canceled, Airplay according to Ticketmaster. And recapture the rights to works and a right for contractual agreements between labels and research shows that a significant percent- creators to Leaadjust contractsder; where Travis an artist’s streamingDenning services were Makes potentially stifling History age of fans who bought tickets to some royalties are disproportionately low. The innovation. It recommended the CMA look of the first shows amid lifted pandemic committee recommends that the right to into the matter as part of any investigation it restrictions — including tours by Bad Bunny Samrecapture Hunt ’smusic second works studio should full-length, occur and after first a in overcarries five out.years, Southside sales (up 21%) in the trackingand week. The On Weeknd, Country Airplay,as well itas hops Rolling 18-15 Loud (11.9 mil - (MCAperiod Nashville/Universal of 20 years. Music Group Nashville), debuts Followingat No. 1 on Billboard the report’s’s lion publication, audience impressions, festivalsup 16%). in Miami and New York — will be TopOne Country of the Albums recurring chart topics dated Aprilraised 18. during In its first governmentweek (ending Aprilministers 9), it have eight weeks to attending either their first concert ever or earned 46,000 equivalent album units, including 16,000 in album sales, ac- TRY TO ‘CATCH’ UP WITH YOUNG Brett Youngachieves his fifth consecutive cordingthe inquiry’s to Nielsen hearing Music/MRC sessions Data. was the issue respond and although theyand aren’ttotal Country obliged Airplay No.their 1 as first“Catch” show (Big in Machine two years. Label Group) ascends of SouthsideYouTube marks and how Hunt’s safe second harbor No. copyright 1 on the to enact its recommendations, they are 2-1,New increasing data compiled 13% to 36.6 by Billboard reveal million impressions. chartprotections and fourth enable top 10. it to It followspay out freshman only a frac LP- expected to engage with them. thatYoung’s new fans first are of enteringsix chart entries,or re-entering “Sleep Withthe- Montevallotion of what, which other arrived streaming at the servicessummit in pay No - marketout You,” for reached concert No. tickets, 2 in December because either 2016. He vemberrights holders. 2014 and reigned for nine weeks. To date, they’refollowed buying with the tickets multiweek for the No. first 1s “In time Case You Montevallo has earned 3.9 million units, with 1.4 Didn’t Know” (two weeks, June 2017), “Like I Loved millionThe inEuropean album sales. Union’s Copyright Di- New orYou” are (three,eager toJanuary participate 2018), “Mercy” in a communal (two, August rectiveMontevallo effectively has spent abolishes 267 weeks safe on the harbor list, tying experience2018) and “Here after Tonight” a year in (two, lockdown. April 2019). If they Lukeprotections Bryan’s Crashin much My Partyof Europe, as the sixth-longest- but not in Concertgoers continue“Catch” to completes buy tickets his after longest the journey initial to de No.- 1, runningthe United titles Kingdom, in the chart’s which 56-year formally history. left mandhaving wanes, taken they46 weeks represent to reach an the opportunity apex. It out - theOn EU the January all-genre 2020, Billboard so is 200, not subjectSouthside to ar - topaces expand the 30-weekthe live-music climb of business “Here Tonight.” for years rives at No. 5, awarding Hunt his second top 10 Fueling Live Music On Hot Country Songs, “Catch” pushes 7-5 for HUNT YOUNG afterits laws. the No. To 3-peakingensure that Montevallo the U.K.. doesn’t get toa come. new high. leftHunt behind, first releasedthe committee the EPX2C said, which it should debuted be Comeback, Data Historically, it has been difficult to predict anda government peaked at No. priority 5 on Top to introduce Country Albums “ro- in August 2014. Following COMBS ‘DOES’ IT AGAIN Luketrends Combs in touring’ “Does tobecause Me” (River most House/Columbia ticket sales Montevallobust and legally, Between enforceable” the Pines: Acoustic legislation Mixtape to startedShows at its No. 7 high in Nashville), featuring Eric Churchdata comes, ascends from 11-8 shows on Country that Airplay,have already up 10% to November“address the 2015. market distortions” between 24.7 million in audience. Thetaken song place. is Combs’ But forward-lookingeighth straight career-opening data 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:YouTube “Leave and otherthe Night digital On,” music “Take services.Your Time,” “HouseBY DAVE Party” andBROOKS “Make promoted No. 1 singles. suggests the concert business has a bright YouA Miss much-discussed Me.” “Break Up topic in a Small during Town” the hearpeaked- at No. 2. Church adds his 15th Countryfuture Airplay in the top short 10. term — and perhaps long ingHunt sessions co-penned was the all relative12 songs meritson Southside of the, including “Body LikeOVID-19 a Back has devastated the con- after that as well. Road,”pre-dominant which was pro-rata released model in 2017. of The royalty smash hit ruled Country certAirplay business for THATfor over TOOK a year, QUITE but ‘A FEW’ OneMONTHS encouraging Travis Denning sign is shatters a growing the record inter for- threepayment weeks based and the around airplay-, market streaming- share and and sales-based Hot Countryall signs Songs point the to mostenough weeks pent-up it has takenest to penetratein festival the tickets Country on Airplaythe secondary top 10 as mar“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 - Floridaalternative Georgia methodologies, Line’s “Meant such to Be” as (50 the weeks user- atop the latter list demandin 2017-18). that thelion touring in radio reach.industry ket. Before the pandemic, festivals weren’t a centric“Downtown’s model, whereDead,” revenuewhich is also generated on the new by set, Creachedcould soon Nos. see 14 and a post-pandemic 15 The song boom. surpasses two tracksmajor that category, took 50 aside weeks from each big-name to enter the events top 10: onindividual Hot Country subscribers Songs and are Country divided Airplay, among respectively, Consumers in June 2018. who “Kin attended- Easton shows Corbin regularly’s “A Girl Likelike You,” Coachella which reached and Lollapalooza No. 10 in January — mostly 2018 be- folks”the artists led Country he or she Airplay listens on Feb.to. 29, becoming Hunt’sbefore seventh the No.pandemic 1. It hit seemfore eager peaking to atreturn No. 6 thatto February,because and they Aaron don’t Watson typically’s “Outta sell out. Style,” That which No.In 3 onmaking Hot Country its conclusions, Songs. the committee concert venues: Less thanachieved 15% of its tickethold No. 10 high- in Decemberhas changed 2017. this year, as fans are eager to 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 report shied away from choosing one model ers requested refunds to events that weren’t get out but still mitigating any COVID-19 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 ON SALE: AUG. 28, 2021 40 UNDER 40

On August 28th, Billboard will publish its annual 40 CONTACTS : Under 40 Issue, celebrating the next generation of leaders in the music industry. This issue will profile Joe Maimone | 201.301.5933 40 power players who are making their mark in music, [email protected] touring and live entertainment. Lee Ann Photoglo | 615.376.7931 These progressive young leaders’ innovation and [email protected] creativity will continue to create excitement in the music business. Cynthia Mellow | 615.352,0265 Advertise in this issue to reach the music industry’s [email protected] most influential and affluent - from the young disrupters to the seasoned veterans - who paved Marcia Olival | 786.586.4901 the way. [email protected] ON SALE : 8/28 | +447843437176 Issue Close: 8/18 Ryan O’Donnell Materials Due: 8/19 [email protected] Page 7 of 32

IN BRIEF

risk that indoor shows might present. to concert marketing and data aggregation “We’re seeing a 300% increase in invento- company Bandsintown, which has listings Spotify Stock ry and fan searches on our site for festivals,” on its website. says Jesse Lawrence, founder of FanIQ, a Between March and June, the number of Drops as Analysts ticket resale marketing and data firm. Much live-music events added to the site in- of this increase comes from a surge in first- creased an average of 31% every four weeks. Warn Company time ticket buyers, adds Lawrence. The interest in those shows, as measured by Two events that are attracting a consider- online traffic, has been quickly growing but Must Prove able number of buyers who haven’t been to a pre-pandemic comparisons suggest demand concert in a while are Atlanta’s hip-hop- and is still behind supply for now. By the end of Podcast Strategy R&B-focused ONE Musicfest and the wine/ June, the number of concert listings on the gourmet food-themed BottleRock Napa site was at 59% of its 2019 level, while the BY GLENN PEOPLES Valley in California. These are the kinds of number of clicks that indicate an interest in “higher end, aspirational events that [cus- purchasing tickets was at 46%. (The clicks, potify shares fell as much as 6% on tomers] planned to attend in the past and however, are dependent on the website’s ac- Wednesday (July 14) following a aren’t going to miss this year,” says Law- tive users — while event listings are posted report by analysts at Bernstein that rence. “They also have to feel safe — mean- directly to the site by artists.) questioned the companies’ podcast ing they’re outdoors and spread out.” For now, the number of shows that fans Sinvestments in a slowing podcast market. One trend that took off during the pan- can attend seems to be growing even faster “With all the intense focus on how demic was the virtual concerts that fans than the demand to see them, which — if it engagement will hold up for video stream- could watch online during lockdown — and continues — could mean more options for ing and video games as the pandemic rolls there has been considerable debate about concertgoers but a tough situation for some off, we have found few investors asking whether demand for livestreams will drop acts and promoters. It’s hard to know how that same question about podcasting,” the once touring returns. So far, according to this will affect fans, who tend to react in the reports says. “Which ought to matter a lot, a recent study by UTA, consumers plan to moment — they can weigh shows against given how much focus and capital Spotify is continue to livestream events and attend one another, or even change their plans to devoting to it.” concerts, in the same way that sports fans attend one in order to see another. But, over Spotify shares finished the day down 4% watch games on TV and also see them in time, demand could catch up to supply, and at $262.79. The Nasdaq, on which Spotify arenas and stadiums. concert promoters, who think long term trades, was down 0.2% while another music “The pandemic forced us to use new about when to put tickets on sale and how streaming company, Tencent Music Enter- technologies that facilitate livestreaming much to charge, will have to consider these tainment dropped 2.3%. Bernstein has a and video calls,” says Joseph Kessler, global variables when shaping their strategies. price target of $208 and an “underperform” head of UTA IQ. “Once we grew comfort- This is easier said than done: It’s tempting rating for Spotify, making it one of four out able with them, we incorporated them into to put tickets on sale soon, and for a rela- of 29 analysts tracked by Refinitiv to give our lives and will continue using them after tively high price, to capitalize on pent-up Spotify either an underperform or sell rat- the pandemic.” demand. But competition will be fierce — ing. The 29 analysts’ median price target is Music performances were the top catego- and it’s changing so quickly that anticipating $339.62, 28.7% above Wednesday’s closing ry of virtual events that consumers viewed market conditions several months from now price. during the pandemic, and 75% of those who is harder than it has ever been. The data is not encouraging, says Bern- watched them said they would continue to This article will appear in the July 17, 2021, stein. The problem is podcast year-over-year do so after the pandemic. But that didn’t issue of Billboard. growth has stalled and even declined. Global seem to diminish their desire to see more podcast listening for the top 10 publishers live concerts, with one in three saying they jumped from 26.7% year-over-year growth were more important now than before the in March 2020 to 51.5%, 52.2% 63.6% and pandemic, while one in four said that they 72.3% in the following four months, ac- would cut back on other spending to attend cording to Podtrac data. But annual growth more shows. decreased to 1.7% in February 2021 and fell Money and time limit how many concerts into negative territory in March and June, anyone can attend, of course, but fans are when year-over-year listening sank 16.5%. often willing to stretch their budgets when At the same time, streaming companies’ their favorite artists go on tour. As states lift acquisitions of podcast companies has made restrictions on live events, new concerts are the market increasingly crowded. Spotify, being announced at a steady pace, according Amazon, Apple, iHeartMedia and Pandora 2 0 2 1 PHOTO FINISH RECORDS 15TH ANNIVERSARY

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

Photo Finish Records is distributed through Virgin Music Artist & Label Services. The team along with Matt and Mike includes Drew Kaklamanos, Gerardo Cueva, Michael Collin, Taylor Flynn, and Shane Friedman.

ISSUE DATE 8/28 | AD CLOSE 8/18 | MATERIALS DUE 8/19 Page 9 of 32

IN BRIEF

have poured well over $1 billion into podcast pelling comments in the previous hearing companies in the last three years alone. Britney Spears showed she was more than capable of mak- Taken together, Bernstein argues, these ing the decision. Penny ultimately approved factors suggest a heightened risk-versus-re- Can Hire Her the appointment. Longtime court-appointed turn imbalance is not baked into the current attorney Samuel D. Ingham III and co-coun- share price. Own Lawyer in sel from Loeb & Loeb were also formally But the Guardian Fund, a Spotify investor, removed as Spears attorneys. praised the company in its mid-year report Conservatorship Ingham interrupted proceedings mul- for giving creators tool that will expand tiple times, saying Spears was texting him podcasting’s reach and advertising poten- Fight indicating that she wanted to speak. (She tial. “It has become a no-brainer for creators apparently didn’t have Rosengart’s number to use Spotify,” the report says. “Moreover, BY ASHLEY CULLINS AND saved in her phone.) by becoming an open platform Spotify CHRIS GARDNER In one of the hearing’s more powerful is moving away from the walled garden moments, newly installed Rosengart said, strategy that Facebook and Apple pursue. hree weeks ago, Britney “This is not working. We know that. The In fact, Spotify is doing things that are hard Spears publicly expressed for goal is to end the conservatorship. We have for Apple to copy as its business model is the first time that she wants her questions if this was even the proper forum invested in controlling the garden.” “abusive” conservatorship to end, back in 2008.” The main question is how podcast listen- Tand now she’s given another emotional testi- Rosengart continued to argue that Jamie ing will grow following the increases during mony as the court is considering a series of Spears, after hearing his daughter’s words in the pandemic. As pandemic restrictions fade petitions that could substantially change the both hearings, should voluntarily leave his and people commute more often, podcasting status quo. role as conservator of her estate. will compete with increases in in-car listen- A long list of items were on the docket for “We will be filing as quickly as possible to ing to radio and music. the Wednesday afternoon (July 14) hearing get Mr. Spears removed from the conser- The podcasting long tail could explain before L.A. County Superior Court Judge vatorship,” Rosengart said. “If he loves his some of the decline in Podtrac’s data for Brenda Penny — and the first to be decided daughter, it is time to step aside and move the top 10 publishers. The number of new was that Spears can hire Hollywood power on so she can have her life back.” podcasts per year grew roughly 650% from lawyer Mathew Rosengart of Greenberg Jamie’s attorney Vivian Thoreen bluntly 119,000 in 2016 to 885,000 in 2020, accord- Traurig in her pursuit of ending the ar- declined the request and said, “There is no ing to data from Chartable. That number rangement. basis for him stepping down … There is a is certain to grow more as Spotify’s 2019 Spears broke down in tears while address- path forward without all the hysteria.” purchase of the Anchor app gives people a ing the court via telephone, and demanded She added that one of the biggest issues is simple tool for podcast creation and pub- that her father be charged with conservator- Britney’s “belief that her father is respon- lishing on its platform. ship abuse. “I want to get my dad removed, sible … for a litany of horrible things that Spotify’s market capitalization has grown ma’am,” Spears said to Penny. “I’m angry have happened to her, but that could not be more than $20 billion since the company an- and I will go there.” Spears initially asked further from the truth.” nounced its exclusive licensing deal for The Penny to clear the courtroom before she Instead of taking a planned recess and Joe Rogan Experience in May 2020. That’s spoke, but the judge indicated it was an then coming back to address the remaining all the more reason to expect Spotify’s pod- open proceeding and she’d need to have spe- issues that had been on the docket — such cast efforts to generate enough cash flow or cifics about her intended testimony before as whether there should be an investigation become a valuable customer retention tool, doing that. into claims Spears raised during the June Bernstein argues. The artist also requested that Rosengart 23 hearing, if Jodi Montgomery should be be appointed as her personal attorney, and made the permanent conservator of Spears’ Penny moved the matter up the agenda to person, and what security costs are appro- address it early on. The judge asked about priate for those attached to the conservator- his firm’s trust and estate practice, which ship who are receiving death threats — a Rosengart described as “substantial.” His follow-up hearing was scheduled for Sept. team will include Eric Rowen, Scott Bertzyk 29. and Lisa McCurdy, whom he introduced to Penny emphasized “everyone should be the court. working collaboratively. It’s not about any- “Ms. Spears does absolutely have a right body else but [Britney].” to select her own attorney,” Rosengart This article was originally published argued, adding that her powerful and com- by The Hollywood Reporter. WE’RE BACK, LIVE IN MIAMI

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FOR SPONSORSHIP INQUIRIES: MARCIA OLIVAL, [email protected] | MIKE VAN, [email protected] Page 11 of 32

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a 5,000-person event capacity and you’ve Dierks Bentley’s already sold more tickets than that? What Sean ‘Diddy’ the hell, Jim?” Seven Peaks Helmke say the rural county kept the ca- Combs Signs pacity limit because the region has one 36- Festival Clashes bed hospital and “pretty limited resources in With The Weeknd terms of first responders and law enforce- With Local ment and infrastructure.” This year’s Seven Manager Wassim Peaks was supposed to be the festival’s third Officials Over installment, after stars such as Miranda ‘SAL’ Slaiby’s Lambert, Luke Bryan and Maren Morris Cancellation performed in 2018 and 2019. The festival re- SALXCO & Amir portedly drew 8,000 attendees in 2018, then BY STEVE KNOPPER 13,000 in 2019, before skipping 2020 due to ‘Cash’ Esmailian the pandemic. week after Live Nation and Di- Bentley’s rep tells Billboard they are look- BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN AND KATIE erks Bentley canceled the Seven ing for another location for future iterations BAIN Peaks Music Festival “due to of the festival. current capacity restrictions in Helmke says the county contacted Live ean “Diddy” Combs has hired placeA by local health officials,” the local Nation to “seek clarification” after promoters manager Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, officials in Chaffee County, Colo., are push- canceled the festival to ask whether they were best known for managing The ing back. They say Live Nation put tickets trying to withdraw their special-event permit Weeknd, Slaiby has confirmed on sale June 13 for the Labor Day week- application: “It is our understanding from Sto Billboard. The Weeknd co-manager Amir end (Sept. 3–5) festival in scenic mountain Live Nation that they do not intend to pursue “Cash” Esmailian has also been hired by hamlet Buena Vista, but had not obtained events in Chaffee County again.” Combs. permit approval in advance, and was selling A Seven Peaks spokesperson responded: Combs’ hiring of Slaiby and Esmailian fol- tickets beyond already established local “When the county’s Board of Health didn’t lows the mogul’s signing with WME in June, capacity limits. “We learned of [the cancel- raise the capacity limits, that meant the in a deal that also saw him partner with the ation] by social media,” says Beth Helmke, festival couldn’t go forward. At that point agency to launch The Excellence Program, the county’s public-affairs officer. “It’s un- we wanted to pass the news on to fans to a virtual development program and resume fortunate that’s how it had to have unfolded, know as soon as possible and get them their database for aspiring entertainment execu- and we wish it could’ve been a more positive money back.” tives from underrepresented communities. feeling all around — but here we are.” Buena Vista, surrounded by the Col- In May, Combs announced that he had Unlike other parts of Colorado — Red legiate Peaks mountain range, has roughly officially changed his middle name from Rocks Amphitheatre, near Denver, has been 2,800 residents and has been conflicted over “Diddy” to “Love” — a moniker switch first at full, 9,000-seat capacity since June 1, for country and rock festivals in recent years. In revealed in 2017 — though he is still com- example — Chaffee County public-health of- 2016, the Vertex Festival, featuring Odesza monly referred to as Diddy in the press. ficials announced June 22 they would raise and Alabama Shakes, drew noise com- Slaiby, the founder and CEO of SALX- the cap put in place due to COVID-19 con- plaints, and county officials later chose not CO and XO Records, also manages Doja cerns for outdoor events from 2,000 to to grant organizer Madison House’s request Cat, French Montana, Bebe Rexha, Ty 5,000 people. In an Instagram apology to for a three-year extension. Dolla $ign and Swedish House Mafia, who fans last Friday, Bentley said of the Labor “You have on one side a demographic signed with him in June. Slaiby was named Day-weekend festival: “We tried everything that didn’t move to the mountain to be in manager of the year by Variety in 2020 and, to make it happen, but Chaffee County has the middle of a large-scale traffic jam and along with Esmailian, was featured on the decided against lifting capacity restrictions.” doesn’t want to have noise at all hours; cover of Billboard’s Change Agents issue in But long before the cancellation, Chaffee there’s another component [that believes] January. County officials were irritated that festival a lot of revenue gets created that can really According to MRC Data, Combs has sold organizers were moving forward without have a huge impact on these towns,” says 8.8 million albums in the U.S., while his approval. According to 9News in Denver, Don Strasburg, co-president of AEG Rocky songs as a credited performer have drawn after grilling Live Nation promoter Jim Mountains, which helped put on Vertex. 818.6 million U.S. on-demand streams. Over Reid in June about selling 6,000 total tick- “There’s this pull and push within their an artist career spanning nearly 25 years, he ets, County Commissioner Greg Felt said: own community with what they want to be has released five top 10 albums on the Bill- “Are you sh—-ing me? You know we have in the future.” board 200, including two No. 1s: 1997’s No Page 12 of 32

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Way Out and 2006’s Press Play. He has also closed a $12 million Series A funding round. Club in San Francisco, The Casbah in San enjoyed 15 top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hits, five In December, festival ticketing technology Diego, The Crocodile in Seattle, Marathon of which went to No. 1: “Can’t Nobody Hold company Lyte announced it had raised $33 Music Works in Nashville, Vogue Theatre in Me Down” feat. Mase; “I’ll Be Missing You” million in Series B funding with Chamath Vancouver and Teragram Ballroom in Los with Faith Evans and feat. 112; “Bump Bump Palihapitiya’s Social Capital, music industry Angeles, among others. Bump,” with B2K; “Shake Ya Tailfeather” legend Quincy Jones and Rocketship VC with Nelly and Murphy Lee; and a featured buying into the company led by founder and turn on The Notorious B.I.G.’s 1997 smash chief executive Ant Taylor. Britney Spears’ “Mo Money Mo Problems.” The increase in financing comes as the Along with his work as an artist, Combs live entertainment industry prepares for a New Attorney has produced an additional 10 Hot 100 top widespread return later this year. Flyma- 10s that he does not feature on, includ- chine, which describes itself as a virtual Says Father Jamie ing four No. 1s: Mariah Carey’s “Fantasy,” venue for live entertainment, is banking “Honey” and “My All”; and The Notorious on fans continuing to spend on streaming Must Step Aside B.I.G.’s “Hypnotize.” and virtual experiences as part of a surge in Combs is also the owner of Combs hybrid events in the live sector. BY ASSOCIATED PRESS Enterprises, which houses a portfolio of “Virtual events have an opportunity to businesses and investments in various change the game for artists, promoters, and judge allowed Britney Spears to industries, including the record label Bad fans, but the technology that exists today is hire an attorney of her choosing Boy Entertainment, Ciroc Vodka and the pretty underwhelming — videobox, paywall, at a hearing Wednesday (July cable network REVOLT TV. Forbes pegged and a bunch of scrolling nonsense; not ex- 14) in which she broke down Combs’ net worth at $740 million in 2019. actly what one would call game-changing,” inA tears after describing the “cruelty” of Dreskin said in a recent press release. “At her conservatorship. Los Angeles Superior Flymachine, we’re creating something dif- Court Judge Brenda Penny approved Spears Flymachine Raises ferent: a digital venue of the future, an art hiring former federal prosecutor Mathew medium, and a social meeting place. It offers Rosengart, who called on Spears’ father to $21M as Investors a level of depth, agency and social interac- immediately resign as her conservator. tivity that hadn’t before existed. It’s a pretty “The question remains, why is he Flock to Live cool way to check out a show remotely.” involved,” Rosengart said outside the Flymachine’s latest funding round was courthouse. Britney Spears, taking part in Entertainment led by Greycroft Partners and SignalFire, the hearing by phone, told the judge she ap- with additional participation from Primary proved of Rosengart after several conversa- Tech Venture Partners, Contour Venture Partners, tions with him. She then asked to address Red Sea Ventures and Silicon Valley Bank, the court, but asked that the courtroom be BY DAVE BROOKS as well as WIRED magazine co-founding cleared. As Rosengart began to argue for a editor John Battelle and LionTree Part- private hearing, Spears interrupted him to ndrew Dreskin’s new technol- ners. Flymachine plans to use the funding say “I can talk with it open.” “My dad needs ogy company Flymachine has for hiring, expanding its network of venue to be removed today,” she said, adding that closed a new funding round, partners and building out its digital events she would like to see him charged with generating $21 million in funding platform. abusing his position. withA a diverse collection of investors that Dreskin is the co-founder of Ticketfly and She spoke so rapidly she was at times includes Red Light manager founder Coran TicketWeb. He co-founded Flymachine with difficult for the court reporter and the Capshaw, music mega manager Bill Silva, chief experience officer Rick Farman of dozens of media members in the courtroom Wasserman Music executive Marty Dia- Superfly (which co-founded Bonnaroo and to understand. She said she wanted the mond, agent Larry Webman, Bay Area Outside Lands), chief technology offi- conservatorship to end immediately but not promoter Another Planet Entertainment cer Matthew Davis from music technology if it required going through any more “stu- and Ben Lovett of Mumford & Sons. firm [namethemachine] and ATC Manage- pid” evaluations. She said she did not want The Flymachine fundraising effort is just ment. Since the public launch of the Flyma- another opportunity for “people to ques- the latest in a large uptick in investments chine platform in spring 2021, the company tion my intelligence for the millionth time.” for new technology companies in the live has hosted shows by Aaron Frazer, K. She described being denied things as basic entertainment space. On July 1, live-stream- Flay, The Black Angels and Lion Babe and as coffee, her driver’s license and her “hair ing startup Mandolin, led by chief execu- has exclusive venue agreements with Bow- vitamins” by the conservatorship. tive Mary Kay Huse, announced that it had ery Ballroom in New York City, Bimbo’s 365 “If this is not abuse, I don’t know what Page 13 of 32

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is,” Spears said. She recalled that “I thought my life back.” Fans from the #FreeBritney they were trying to kill me” in the early movement outside the courthouse cheered Foo Fighters’ LA years of the conservatorship as she was the decision to appoint Rosengart, then being overworked and constantly exam- cheered Rosengart himself when he walked Forum Concert ined. She began to sob as she talked about out. taking comfort in a therapy dog when she In court, he called into question whether Postponed After felt abandoned by her family. James Spears the conservatorship should ever have been would not be stepping down as Rosengart put into place, and said he and a team of COVID-19 Case challenged, his attorney Vivan Thoreen said attorneys from his firm would be taking in court, adding that he has only ever had a close look at the details of the arrange- Within Band’s his daughter’s best interests in mind. ment. “This is not working,” Rosengart said. Thoreen said Britney Spears had many “We know that.” Florida congressman Matt Team inaccurate beliefs, among them that “her Gaetz made a brief appearance addressing father is responsible for all the bad things the Spears supporters outside the down- BY MELINDA NEWMAN that have happened to her.” “Whether it’s town Los Angels courthouse, at one point misinformation, lack of correction, or being shouting “Free Britney!” In Washington, oo Fighters, who have been usher- wrongly advised, I don’t know,” Thoreen D.C., a group of Spears supporters demon- ing in a way to tour safely as the said. Thoreen emphasized that for nearly strated on the National Mall in support of pandemic eased, announced late two years James Spears has had control only the singer. Wednesday (July 14) that they’re over his daughter’s money, ceding power The case had for several years operated Fpostponing Saturday’s planned show at the over her life choices to a court-appointed with little drama, though questions about Forum in Inglewood, Calif., after there was professional, Jodi Montgomery. Thoreen how its length and the singer’s feelings a “confirmed COVID-19 case within the Foo argued that an evidentiary hearing was about the proceedings, arose in recent years. Fighters organization,” according to the necessary to look into the allegations that That has culminated into intense public band’s Instagram. Britney Spears made at the June 23 hearing, scrutiny of the court proceedings, which “Out of an abundance of caution and including that she was being forced to take have been conducted largely in secret due concern for the safety of the band, crew and medications and use an intra-uterine device to medical and private information about most of all the fans, Saturday’s show at the for birth control. the singer and her condition. There has Los Angeles Forum is being postponed to a Thoreen said she found it odd Britney also been focus on the complex network of later date,” the band wrote. Spears would describe those circumstances, lawyers and others involved in the conser- They did not specify who had tested posi- which the pop star called “abusive,” then vatorship. tive. approve of Montgomery continuing in her Penny again gave little indication of what Foo Fighters returned to the road June 15 role as overseer. Montgomery’s lawyer, moves she’ll make next, scheduling another with a show at the Canyon Club in Agoura Lauriann Wright, responded that the last hearing for late September and express- Hills, Calif., to a vaccinated audience of thing Britney Spears needed was to be put ing hope that the warring factions will find 600, before becoming the first band to play on the stand and cross-examined over the common ground for Britney Spears’ sake. New York’s Madison Square Garden at full truth of what she said during her emotional “Everybody should be working collab- capacity on June 20. That show, attended by testimony. “I don’t think it’s a secret that oratively,” the judge said. “It’s not about more than 15,000 people, was also only open we’re dealing with someone with mental anybody else, it’s about her.” to those who were fully vaccinated or had illness,” Wright said. passed a recent COVID test. Wright added that it’s been “strongly The same rules applied for the Forum recommended by her medical team that show with the addition, per Los Angeles her father Mr. Spears needs to be off the County Health Department regulations, of conservatorship.” Britney Spears has been patrons having to wear masks for indoor under court supervision since February gatherings over 5,000. 2008. She was in the midst of a public melt- A new Forum date will be announced down at the time and her family sought the shortly, according to the band, with tickets conservatorship for her protection. She has for the July 17 show honored at the new had throughout the proceedings a court-ap- date. pointed attorney to represent her interests, A Foo Fighters representative did not Samuel Ingham III, but he resigned after immediately respond to a request for more the dramatic hearing three weeks ago in information. which the pop star told Penny: “I just want The news comes as COVID-19 rates are Page 14 of 32

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increasing in Los Angeles with Wednesday sober member, drinks a ginger ale, occasion- tion” than had been attempted before by being the sixth straight day that cases have ally pulling back his mane of graying hair to other DJs, says Pete Tong, the long-standing risen above 1,000. reveal the ink on his arms. Twice during a BBC Radio 1 host and dance scene legend. dinner of burrata, French fries, mushrooms, “The Swedes really aligned with the emer- fish tacos and garlic shrimp, Angello and In- gence and explosion of EDM in America. Swedish House grosso go off to smoke thin Vogue cigarettes. They were kind of the leading protagonists Axwell vapes at the table. of what became the next big global wave in Mafia Returns: In The Swedes, as they’re known in the terms of the impact of DJs and what they dance music industry, aren’t actually that could achieve.” Stockholm With unusual a sight here: Axwell and Ingrosso Incredibly, the group created all that on are both members of the country club and the strength of only a six-track, two-compi- the Dance Music live nearby with their wives and children; lation catalog — with its last release, 2012’s Angello and his family aren’t far away in “Don’t You Worry Child,” becoming its big- Legends central Stockholm. But their presence out gest hit by far when it spent three weeks at in the open as a trio, sharing a friendly meal No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. And then, BY KATIE BAIN AND with two journalists, is far more unex- at the height of its success in 2013, the trio ALEXEI BARRIONUEVO pected. It has been eight years since they broke up, devastating and shocking dance broke up with significant fanfare; about that fans worldwide. n a placid inlet of the Baltic Sea, long since they sat down for an interview Five years later, it seemed like the group where swans glide by the Euro- as a group; and 20 months since they shut might reunite when it closed out Ultra’s pean sports cars parked across down their group social media accounts 20th anniversary in Miami. But, as the mem- the road, the Djursholm Country and essentially disappeared. Now they’re bers now say, behind-the-scenes problems OClub looms behind a red brick wall with a finally ready to talk about where they’ve at that show underscored just how much of black iron gate. Built in 1907 with a fortune been, what they’ve been working on and a change a true reunion would have neces- tied to the Nobel Prize, this villa was origi- why, after one major false start, their real sitated. Over the next three years, they made nally a private residence, and later a convent comeback is imminent. attempts at new music but were derailed at where Pope John Paul II stayed. About five “When we came back together again, every turn — fighting their own well-known years ago, a group of locals transformed it it was like we had to rediscover what this perfectionism, changing managers twice into a private oasis for the wealthy and well- was,” says Angello, sweeping his hand and ultimately leaving the label, Columbia connected in and around Djursholm — a across the table. “We all have our different Records, that signed them when they had district in the most affluent municipality in likings, obviously. [But then] Seb shows me only bits and pieces of new music. Sweden, where Spotify founder Daniel Ek something, or Ax shows me something I Now they’re returning to an industry that and ABBA’s Björn Ulvaeus are neighbors. have never seen or heard, and it becomes has changed considerably since their days in On this humid evening just before Swe- this magic again that we had when we were the Hot 100’s top 10. House, techno and tech den’s Midsommar, the clean-cut members young.” house are the genres of choice within the and their guests socialize on the outdoor More than any other act in modern dance dance scene — not the bombastic, often an- patio, their small children sitting politely music, Swedish House Mafia set the tone for themic, larger-than-life “main stage” sound at a separate table. But amid this sanctuary the EDM boom of the early 2010s, taking the with which the Swedes made their name. of Nordic gentility, in a corner of the patio massive “big room” house sound cultivated Although initially all successful underground closest to the designated smoking section, in Europe to the United States. Here, they DJs in their own right, they “almost got ham- sits a trio of men instantly recognizable in set new standards for what success could pered by their own success” as a vastly more Sweden and, once upon a time, to any dance look like for dance acts, selling out Madison mainstream supergroup, says Tong. “They music fan around the world: the game- Square Garden twice (the first time, in De- defined a genre in such a specific way.” The changing threesome Swedish House Mafia. cember 2011, in nine minutes), gaining mass marquee acts of their era — Calvin Harris, Axwell (born Axel Hedfors), 43, is the popularity as the first generation of digital David Guetta, Skrillex and deadmau5 — sur- fine-featured one with the dry sense of hu- natives flocked to mega-festivals like Ultra vived by evolving their sounds and thus, well, mor; wearing a striped shirt and shorts and and Electric Daisy Carnival. never really going away. sipping a beer, he blends in easily enough. The scene was bright and loud, and Dance music, too, isn’t the U.S. market His tattooed cohorts look more like off-duty between the music, confetti, pyro (and the juggernaut it was in the early and mid- rock stars: Sebastian Ingrosso, 38, has a drugs) at the Swedes’ shows, often euphoric. 2010s. In 2016, the global dance music in- booming laugh and wears stylish athleisure Almost from day one, Swedish House Mafia dustry was valued at $7.1 billion — a historic (black sweatpants, black T-shirt, gold neck created a live experience “with even more high amid the U.S. scene’s heyday — and that chain), and Steve Angello, 38, the group’s swagger, more panache and more produc- same year, the genre accounted for a record Page 15 of 32

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4% market share of U.S. recorded music. the guys and be like, ‘Yo, numbers are cold tion years bring or collective revisionist his- That number dipped to 3.6% before the on the playlist.’ We don’t give a f—k.” tory, they won’t get into the specifics of their pandemic, according to the IMS Business “We have no idea if people are going to squabbles, other than to say they weren’t Report, and a 2021 IMS analysis of Spotify’s like [the new music],” adds Ingrosso. “But masking any salacious infighting. “There top 200 indicates that dance music is declin- we are just really proud of what we have were not really any issues,” insists Ingrosso. ing almost everywhere. done.” “There were just three guys that had been Still, while its popularity may have leveled Swedish House Mafia has never done touring together for 10-plus years and off in the United States, it’s surging in de- anything less than full throttle, and even needed to take a break. Now when I’m older veloping countries like India and China, as its last goodbye was outsized. In April and thinking back on it, it was just like, we well as in parts of Latin America, where the 2012, two months after becoming the first were all tired. It’s a huge machine to carry.” EDM boom arrived later and where stream- EDM act to get top Coachella billing, the Ego may have accounted for some ten- ing consumption is rising rapidly. And it’s trio announced it was breaking up — but sions. One summer night in 2011, Amy amid these changing consumption patterns first, it would embark upon a 52-date, five- Thomson, the group’s then-manager, got that Swedish House Mafia is starting fresh: a continent-spanning trek called One Last a call around 4 a.m. after a show in Ibiza, new team, a global tour backed by Live Na- Tour, which ended up grossing an average Spain, from an incensed Ingrosso. “Steve’s tion, new music and, more crucially, a new of $1.18 million per show, according to Bill- got black leather seats on the plane, and sound — one the group insists will frame it board Boxscore, and was chronicled in the mine’s brown — I knew this would happen,” as anything but a nostalgia act. 2014 documentary Leave the World Behind. he told her, according to Soraya Sobh, a for- “It was just like, ‘What the f—k do we For fans, the doc was a kind of EDM mer member of Thomson’s team who now do? How do we come back? Do we just give Rosetta stone, offering some insights into works in esports. (Ingrosso says he doesn’t them another [version of ] what we’ve done why a group at the peak of its powers would recall the incident, while Angello chuckles before?’ ” Ingrosso recalls the group think- just walk away. It positioned the Swedes at the story: “I never heard that, but if it’s ing as it mulled a comeback. “I was like, as best friends who, while thrilled by their true, it’s f—king rock star.”) ‘F—k that; it’s depressing to go back. It’s dis- jobs, were often discontented with life on Regardless of the reason, after its final gusting to go back.’ ” And its first new single, the road and, on occasion, with one another. show at Ultra in Miami in 2013, the group “It Gets Better,” certainly doesn’t sound In one scene, during a 2011 writing trip to certainly looked like it had divided into fac- retro: A sleek, imposing amalgamation of Australia (where they plan to hole up in the tions. Angello was living in Los Angeles and punchy beats, walls of synth and quick 180s studio and finish “Don’t You Worry Child”), forging a solo career managed by Scooter into drops composed of what appears to be Angello leaves a session to go get a neck tat- Braun, while the other two — again living cowbell, it is, the group promises, just the too — a move Axwell calls “retarded” once in Stockholm after brief moves to L.A. — start of more new music leading up to Swed- Angello has left the room. formed Axwell /\ Ingrosso. Intended, says ish House Mafia’s debut album, Paradise “That was three hours,” says Angello Axwell, as “a smaller thing,” the duo played Again, planned for a late-2021 release. today in his defense, the infamous angel tat most of the world’s major dance music It’s a make-or-break moment, one that peering out from the collar of his T-shirt. festivals and scored a global hit with 2017’s will decide if the most successful act of the “The song took two years to make.” “More Than You Know.” Still, when asked if dance music boom — and part of the genre’s Still, the moment underlined a recur- it felt the same as performing with Swed- “first generation to get old,” as Tong puts it ring idea in the film: The guys pulled the ish House Mafia, Ingrosso offers a succinct — can exist beyond that era. But the Swedes plug because none of them could totally reply: “No.” — who these days live quite comfortably commit. “The problem was that Swedish The wheels of a reunion started turning in in a country where their celebrity status is House Mafia grew really fast, and we had the fall of 2016. Angello, spooked by Donald cemented — say they aren’t seeking massive our individual careers as well,” says Axwell. Trump’s election, moved his family back to streaming numbers or a big album payday. “Swedish House Mafia took over, and so Stockholm. After a year without seeing one As they put it, they’re simply three restless, we were like, ‘What are we doing? Are we another — Angello chalks it up to touring, creative guys who want to finally get their focusing on this? But I have this other thing “finding a place to live, finding a school and music out, regardless of how it’s received, also.’ We were not good at balancing that, daycare for the kids, restructuring compa- and to prove they can chart a new course and we were also not ready to fully ditch our nies and life” — the trio reconnected in De- away from mainstream dance music, which, individual careers and commit to Swedish cember 2017, when Thomson, who managed laments Ingrosso, has of late all “sounded House Mafia, which it felt like it needed.” Axwell /\ Ingrosso, was in town. The group the same.” The film also hinted at deeper problems, — still so famous in Sweden that a public “I’m not trying to like, satisfy the digital with the Swedes dropping vague references appearance together would generate TMZ- market,” says Angello. “My big play here is to “the elephant in the room,” “conversa- level hysteria — didn’t want to fuel specula- making an album we love and putting it out. tions that might never be had” and “the tion, so they met in Thomson’s suite at the I’m not going to go into the studio and call issue” throughout. Whether it’s the matura- hip Lydmar Hotel. “I remember when I got Page 16 of 32

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there, you guys were already there,” recalls meticulously planned. “We had s—t tons Thomson talked to Zach Katz, then BMG’s Angello, “and the girl I know that works in of issues,” says Angello. Lights didn’t come U.S. president, and Thomas Scherer, then Lydmar reception lost it. She was like, ‘What on at their designated cues, visual effects BMG’s executive vp U.S. publishing. Scherer the f—k is going on?’ ” timing was off, and at one point, a wall of describes a group trying to leverage its past Up in the room, the vibe was similarly fire torched some LED tiles, according to glory into a multimillion-dollar advance, charged. “I think maybe it was a little bit Angello’s recollection — though others pres- which he called “unrealistic,” given its lack emotional, you know?” says Axwell of seeing ent dispute that account. of new music. “They wanted to say, ‘We Angello again. “It’s weird when you hang Incensed, Angello fired the group’s entire were there [in terms of ] chart position and out with somebody every day, like we did in tour production team — despite its extensive are still there,’ ” says Scherer. “But the music those last months of the tour, and then just... experience successfully producing shows had moved on.” poof.” for acts like Radiohead and Massive Attack, That summer of 2018, Thomson resigned, “We just started to laugh,” continues and the fact that there were other issues and she and the Swedes amicably parted Ingrosso. “One memory after the other, and that contributed to hiccups, sources say. “If I ways. “Somehow the flow that we used to then wine, and then meat, and then ciga- spend two weeks and a s—t ton of money do- have wasn’t really there,” says Axwell. “We rettes, and then more wine. I think we came ing something, I’m expecting somebody to are all still friends.” “I’ll always remember home at two in the morning.” do their job,” he says. The Swedes insist they my time with them, but it’s time for the By the time the guys left that evening, spent every dollar of their fee on the pro- future for all of us and I wish the band all Swedish House Mafia was back together. duction — “I don’t know the exact amount, the very best,” says Thomson, now chief The reunion was only supposed to be but I paid from my pocket to play there,” catalog officer at Hipgnosis Songs. Later one show. says Ingrosso. “It was a f—king mess, but that year, the band signed on with Patriot Ultra executive producer Adam Russa- we’re like, ‘We’ll do it for our fans.’ ” (Ang- Management’s Ron Laffitte, who works with koff had approached the Swedes numerous ello says the Swedes also lost money on One the likes of Usher, Ryan Tedder and Pharrell times, and at 2017’s Ultra Singapore, he Last Tour: “We grossed, what, $200 million? Williams but had no experience managing a broached an idea to Angello: Why not get I think we spent $210 million.”) dance music act. together for the 20th-anniversary event in Still, in the waning moments of the Ultra Nonetheless, Laffitte — who Angello says Miami? A month later, Russakoff walked show, Axwell made an impromptu promise “brought peace” to the group — continued into the dressing room at Ultra Europe in to the crowd: “It’s Swedish House Mafia for the hunt for a label deal. That December, Croatia and made the same pitch to Axwell life, this time.” Backstage afterward, “There the Swedes met up with Universal Music and Ingrosso: “It’s time.” were a few DJs crying, literally crying,” Group executives for a lunch at Stockholm’s After more back-and-forth, say sources says Ingrosso. “Adam was crying. I cried a Ett Hem hotel. As one attendee recalls, one close to the festival, a deal was struck: Ultra little bit.” Fans worldwide began to wonder UMG executive there was shocked when would pay the Swedes about $1 million for whether Swedish House Mafia was reunit- (again) the Swedes asked for a multimillion- an hourlong appearance. “I guess that was ing for the long haul. The Swedes were dollar advance but had no music to play. the biggest curveball we could throw,” says trying to figure that out, too. (Astralwerks Records GM Toby Andrews, Angello. “ ‘Let’s come together and do a A loose plan emerged to get back in the who also attended the meeting, says he was show.’ ” They spent three months in early studio and tour, but the months after Ultra aware of “bits and pieces” of new music.) 2018 preparing, leading up to a final week of proved messy. Thomson, who had steered Still, UMG made an offer — ultimately rehearsals in a Miami warehouse space. the act since its inception, sensed that losing out later to Columbia Records. (Two “We were staying in different hotels Angello might want Braun to co-manage the sources familiar with the deal say Columbia because we truly thought we were being reunited group, according to a source famil- offered significantly more; Angello insists clever,” says Axwell. But by March 25, the iar with the matter. She spent about $25,000 the offers “were all pretty even.”) “I think final day of Ultra 2018, rumors of a reunion to fly herself and a team of four from the UMG dodged a bullet,” says the attendee. were flying, and tens of thousands of fans United Kingdom to Los Angeles and rented “The lack of new music and their [slow] gathered at the main stage. (Presciently, An- a home in Malibu for a meeting in Los Ange- release history made it rather risky.” gello had requested a police escort from the les that Braun’s team had requested, though In early 2019, Swedish House Mafia members’ hotels to the site. “I knew it was Braun himself turned out to be out of town signed with Columbia. At first, the group going to be so emotional,” he says. “We just when Thomson and her team arrived at his liked label boss Ron Perry’s way of think- need to get to the stage as fast as possible.”) offices for the scheduled meeting, and the ing: “One idea that was great was to put When the lights came up, a huge rotating proposed co-management deal soured. up a record [on digital service providers] mirror flipped open like a garage door to Later that spring, Thomson and the group and then take it down,” says Axwell. “We reveal the trio, kicking off a nearly hourlong began to pursue a label deal — and while love the untraditional ideas.” But soon, says spectacle of fire and glowing LED panels. the Swedes say many executives were eager Angello, they came to feel the label was too But it didn’t quite go as the Swedes had to meet them, some were skeptical. In May, interested in “flirting with the past. And Page 17 of 32

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we’re not there,” he continues. “I think we as well. “The relationships all got disrupted last summer, two well-connected friends scrapped like 12 ‘Don’t You Worry Childs’ by the inability to gather together,” says — Spotify’s Ek and Ash Pournouri, Avicii’s [while making the new album.]” Laffitte, adding that everything was positive former manager — made a timely recom- After a few months in the studio, the “until the world stopped.” mendation: Both told the Swedes to talk group produced a handful of rough tracks, Swedish House Mafia’s bonds, on the to Wassim “Sal” Slaiby, the larger-than-life some of which it tested on the road during a other hand, slowly strengthened. The mem- founder of management company SALXCO, 14-date spring/summer tour in 2019. Around bers gathered most days in either Axwell best known for guiding The Weeknd’s rise. May, says a source close to the trio, Laf- and Ingrosso’s studio in downtown Stock- “When Daniel Ek hit me up,” says Slaiby, fitte’s team delivered five to eight songs to holm or Angello’s in the wooded outskirts of “I was like, ‘Yeah, bro, but you know I don’t Columbia. “They were thrilled with them,” town. They made mood boards. (Quoth one: know much about dance music as a manag- says Angello. “They wanted to put them “If you want different results, try something er.’ ” Still, the group’s strong touring history, out.” (Columbia declined to comment for different.”) Angello tinkered with his collec- lucrative past sponsorship deals (the video this story.) tion of custom synthesizers. (“The creative for its 2012 single “Greyhound” was also an And the group was still hard at work on process is a little longer because we’re ad for Absolut Vodka, and it had teamed up more new music: In June 2019, the members not super keen on software and presets of with Volvo for a video of the single “Leave were in the studio with A$AP Rocky the sounds,” he explains.) And sometimes, they the World Behind”) and overall cachet, day before he turned himself in to Swedish just sat together, listening to music, includ- convinced him to take the call. The four police following an alleged street brawl (and ing their collection of white labels dating men spent three hours on Zoom getting to was subsequently held in detention for two back to when they started out. “We were know one another (“We didn’t talk about months). Still, the group dragged its feet on going back in time, like, ‘Where did we come business one time,” says Slaiby), and though releasing singles — it still felt the album was from? Who are we?’ ” says Ingrosso. “And Slaiby initially thought he might refer the unfinished. just started to dig deep.” Swedes to another manager, by the end of Then, everything stopped. The COVID-19 The process involved its fair share of the meeting, “I was like, ‘F—k no, these guys pandemic struck — and the Swedes, in a “anxiety, also,” continues Ingrosso. “It was are mine.’ ” way, got what they wanted: much more time tough — we’re getting older, obviously, and He then connected Swedish House Mafia to work on the music. “Now we laugh about the whole EDM bubble for me has come with a new label, Republic Records. “Swed- the early ideas,” says Angello. “We’re like, to a point where nobody is taking risks, ish House Mafia are one of the most creative ‘Holy s—t — we were supposed to put that to be honest, including me.” The group’s forces in electronic music history,” says Re- out?’ ” famed perfectionism, he admits, “kills us public founder/CEO Monte Lipman. “The The pandemic may have had some also sometimes. But for us, it needs to be a new body of work is nothing short of spec- silver linings for artists, but the Swedes certain way. And that’s why it takes time.” tacular and will only add to their legacy.” weren’t immune to its many downsides. He recalls spending a year trying to find At Republic, says SALXCO’s Dina Sahim Sweden never fully locked down and only the right drum sound for one song — then (who co-manages the group with Slaiby), recommended wearing masks in December deciding to mute the drums altogether. “And the trio has “their freedom. They are the — a controversial approach that has led to a now, listening back to it, I’m like, ‘Wow, I’m leaders of the music.” Adds Slaiby: “Republic death rate three times higher than its Nordic so happy we did that.’ Sometimes, it’s like is very chill. That’s what I like about them.” neighbors, though still lower than many killing your biggest darlings is what makes The label is also home to The Weeknd, and, other European countries — and in late the thing move forward.” continues Slaiby, “that partnership is so March 2020, Ingrosso caught the corona- After many 18-hour days in the studio great because they give [The Weeknd] that virus. He was sick for three months. “I had in early 2021, the Swedes came up with space. To me, Swedish House Mafia is like fever for 100 days,” he says, and wore a pulse “It Gets Better,” which to them sounded that. I feel like the more advice you give oximeter “like all the time.” like Swedish House Mafia 2.0. “When we them, the worse it is for them. Let them do In a world gone totally virtual, the trio’s did that record,” says Ingrosso, “I was just their thing. They’re going to figure it out.” nascent relationship with Columbia suf- jumping up and down in here. It was like, So far, SALXCO seems to offer the fered, too. “We want to be in the room,” says ‘F—k, yeah, it’s happening.’ ” (The song’s Swedes the attention they require. “With Angello. “We’re on these FaceTime calls simple lyric, “it gets better, baby” is a sample [Slaiby] always being available and his team once in a while, and for us that means zero, from the 1994 track “One More Time” by always chasing us, it works really well,” you know?” Swedish House Mafia returned vocal group Divas of Color and is a radically says Axwell. “Sal’s on the phone from when its advance — about $5 million, according to revised version of a song the Swedes played he wakes up until he goes to bed. It’s kind one person familiar with the deal — after the live during their 2019 run. Although online of attached to his face.” The company’s split, which a Columbia representative calls track IDs tagged Pharrell as the vocalist on experience with large-scale touring should “mutual and very amicable.” In November that song, the group confirms that Pharrell help, too, with a planned 2022 global outing 2020, the group parted ways with Laffitte was never involved with the track.) Then that will mostly hit Live Nation-affiliated or Page 18 of 32

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-aligned arenas and stadiums. “We’re together. We’re making music. back its Songs of the Summer chart, Slaiby is well-aware of the Swedes’ We’re having fun,” he says. “The only thing where BTS’ “Butter” is continuing its hot tendency to spend heftily on tour. “I don’t that matters is that we are going to look streak for a fourth consecutive week. The want them to change that,” he insists. “I love at each other in a couple of weeks’ time. 20-position summery summary tracks the their attitude of wanting to do the best show We’re going to have a barbecue and laugh, most popular titles based on cumulative and not losing anything from the creative.” and we’re going to say, ‘Look at this f—king performance on the weekly streaming-, So with his team, he’s figuring out ways to album.’ ” airplay- and sales-based Hot 100 chart from tighten the ship, raising funds through two Additional reporting by Dave Brooks, Sven Memorial Day through Labor Day (this year sponsorships, among other ways “to trim Grundberg, Henrik Huldschiner and Melinda encompassing charts dated June 12 through the fat.” As for Live Nation (which declined Newman. Sept. 11). At the end of the season, the top to comment for this story), any worries song of the summer will be revealed. regarding overspending are, says a source Also premiering Friday is Samsung familiar with the group’s touring plans, ‘Billboard Top and Billboard’s first-ever Songs of the Sum- likely offset by the promoter’s sense that mer concert, which includes performances “demand [for Swedish House Mafia] is very 500 Summer by headliners Saweetie and Justine Skye. high, so risk is very low.” Find all the details on how to watch here. Three years after Axwell declared it from Hits’ Limited Billboard Top 500 Summer Hits will pre- the Ultra stage, the Swedes seem to finally miere on a limited-run SiriusXM channel, be thinking about what “Swedish House Engagement which can be accessed here. Mafia, for life” really means. “Even if it’s not an album-driven genre, now I think we are Channel Coming an album act,” says Ingrosso. They each also Cinderella have sizable individual solo catalogs, as well to SiriusXM as their own labels: Angello’s SIZE Records Guitarist Jeff has about 250 releases between his own and BY BILLBOARD STAFF those of a few other artists; Axwell’s Axtone LaBar Dies at 58 has about 200; and Ingrosso’s Refune has iriusXM’s new limited engagement released the hit collaboration “Reload.” channel Billboard Top 500 Summer BY LARS BRANDLE Angello in particular says he has noted his Hits will highlight the biggest all- peers’ recent entry into the booming catalog time songs of the summer. eff LaBar, guitarist with U.S. glam market — Calvin Harris’ sale of his publish- SThe channel will celebrate the hottest metal outfit Cinderella, died Wednes- ing assets to Vine Investments for an esti- summer hits from 1958 through 2020 based day (July 14), at the age of 58. The mated $90 million to $110 million and David on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, featuring cause of death has yet been revealed. Guetta’s sale in June of his entire recording artists such as The Beatles, Mariah Carey, JA statement from LaBar’s surviving catalog to Warner Music Group for about Bee Gees, Drake, Elton John, Madonna, Cinderella bandmates confirms his pass- $100 million. “The idea has hit me, and I’ve Katy Perry, Elvis Presley, Rihanna, Rolling ing. “Heavy hearts cannot begin to describe thought about it since it seems to be a smart Stones, Usher and Donna Summer. the feeling of losing our brother Jeff,” reads thing to do,” he says. “There’s a win-win for From Friday through July 30, SiriusXM the message. “The bond between us over both parties. The buyer has an opportunity channel 104 and the SiriusXM app will decades of creating music and touring to work the catalog in new countries open- count down the songs that made the warm the world is something that we as a band ing up for streaming and synchs.” weather worth it over the past six decades uniquely shared.” As dinner draws to a close, Angello and and will eventually announce the most Formed in Philadelphia back in 1983, Ingrosso return from their second smok- popular song of the summer over the last Cinderella welcomed LaBar to the lineup ing break. Paradise Again, says Angello, is 62 years of the Hot 100 chart’s history. The two years later, following the departure of “just the beginning,” adding that they have countdown will be available on demand in Michael Schermick. enough music for a couple more albums the SiriusXM app from July 30 to Aug. 13, During their heyday, Cinderella toured yet. “You always want people to like your with the full charts being posted via Bill- with Bon Jovi, Poison and other heavy- music, otherwise you wouldn’t play it to board.com on Aug. 16. weights in the “hair metal” scene, and the them,” says Ingrosso. “But the vision of the Hosts from multiple SiriusXM decade band landed eight tracks on the Billboard album, for me, it’s not really important if it channels will moderate Billboard Top 500 Hot 100 chart in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, sells 400 million [copies] or 10.” As Angello Summer Hits, which will also highlight new starting off with 1986’s “Nobody’s Fool,” points out, they’ve already achieved some- songs from the summer of 2021. which enjoyed momentum on MTV and thing that, for so long, was more elusive. Billboard recently brought reached No. 13 on the singles survey. Their Page 19 of 32

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best, a No. 12 peak for 1988’s power ballad announce. of A&R, added, “We’re always looking to “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone).” vnclm_ will be led by Jorge Hernandez, expand our relationship with great partners. The band also impacted the Billboard 200 Mike Kosak, and Tim Jones, after their art- Getting to know Mike through Royal & The chart with all four titles, including a No. 3 ists have enjoyed successful runs as part of Serpent and Tim through Faouzia has given for 1987’s debut Night Songs and No. 10 for their Atlantic roster. The new label’s first us the opportunity to really appreciate how 1988’s Long Cold Winter. The band went on signee is Los Angeles-based pop singer- good they are at what they do. And Jorge’s hiatus following the 1994 studio album Still songwriter Arden Jones, who has unveiled work with his clients has been something Climbing. Though Cinderella would reunite his new song, “Rollercoaster”; under the we’ve been impressed by from afar. The op- for several live dates in the 2010s, Still terms of the new deal, all vnclm_ artists portunity to get to work with all three now Climbing would mark the band’s last release. will be distributed, promoted and marketed on vnclm_ is very exciting. And Arden is LaBar worked on a handful of side proj- through the Atlantic team. someone we’re all very eager to get to work ects, including Naked Beggars and Cheap “We have worked with Atlantic for years with.” Thrill, and dropped his own debut solo on various projects and were always blown vnclm_ will operate out of West Hol- EP, One for the Road, in 2014. It too would away by the label’s commitment, attention- lywood, with more music from Jones and crack the Billboard 200, topping out at No. to-detail, and passion,” Hernandez, Kosak more signees expected soon. 130. On Road For the Road, LaBar wrote all and Jones said in a shared statement. “We the songs and played all the instruments, just knew it was the right place for us with the exception of drums. because everyone shared our excitement Publishing Briefs: “Those memories with Jeff will be forever to make it happen and release this incred- alive in our hearts,” reads the band state- ible music. Craig Kallman, Julie Greenwald, Katja Krasavice ment, signed by Tom Keifer, Eric Britting- Pete Ganbarg, and Paul Sinclair have only ham and Fred Coury. “It’s unimaginable that fortified Atlantic’s legacy in this era. They Inks WCM one of our band brothers has left us.” really believe in what we’re doing. It wasn’t LaBar leaves behind his wife Debinique, just about one song or one artist for them; Deal; ‘Rise Up’ and son Sebastian. “Jeff’s memory and music it was about everything. There wasn’t a will be with us forever,” the Cinderella question about signing. We wanted partners Songwriter Pairs statement adds. “We all... band, family and who believe in us and what we do. They do management appreciate the overwhelming wholeheartedly.” With Kobalt outpouring of love. Rest In Peace Jeff.” While working with Kosak and NBD Management, Royal & the Serpent scored BY KRISTIN ROBINSON a top 10 alternative hit last year with their Atlantic Records single “Overwhelmed.” Meanwhile, Moroc- he first female rapper to pen back- can-Canadian singer-songwriter Faouzia to-back No. 1 albums in Germa- Announces Label has earned acclaim for her string of recent ny, Katja Krasavice, has signed a singles, including the John Legend col- global publishing deal with War- Partnership With laboration “Minefields,” wile working with Tner Chappell Music. Jones as part of Pipe & Hat management. The young rap star, who was signed to a Management And with IAT Artist Management, Hernan- recording deal under Warner Music Germa- dez has worked with rising artists like Will ny in 2019, is known as a versatile hitmaker Teams of Faouzia, Jay, who recently released the single “Please in the German market, writing everything Don’t Get Any Older.” from lighthearted bops to serious bars about Royal & The “By uniting three great talent-spotters un- social issues. She is perhaps best known for der one roof, vnclm_ promises to be a fantas- her remix of “Best Friend” by Doja Cat and Serpent: Exclusive tic incubator for emerging artists,” Atlantic Saweetie which secured the number one Records’ Chairman/CEO, Craig Kallman spot on the German singles chart earlier this BY JASON LIPSHUTZ and Chairman/COO, Julie Greenwald said year and for her debut album Boss Bitch, in a shared statement. “Jorge, Mike, and Tim which featured singles “Gucci Girl,” “Sugar tlantic Records has announced a have an uncompromising vision, incredible Daddy” and “Casino.” new label partnership with vn- energy, and a true commitment to finding, Krasavice says that her “songwriting is clm_ (pronounced vin•cu•lum), developing, and breaking original voices. the bedrock of [her] art,” adding that “it’s headed by the management We’re excited about all the amazing music great to be signing with Warner Chappell, teamsA of artists including Faouzia and Royal they’ll be bringing into the Atlantic family.” alongside some of the biggest names in Ger- & The Serpent, Billboard can exclusively Pete Ganbarg, Atlantic Records President man music. I want to collaborate more with Page 20 of 32

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other artists and writers, and this deal will works created by the rapper as well as his “was a no brainer.” help me do that.” back catalog. Warner Chappell Nashville has an- Multi-platinum songwriter-produc- The UK rap star first gained trac- nounced a new worldwide publishing deal er Jennifer Decilveo has announced a new tion following the release of his debut with Wade Bowen. A mainstay in Texas’s partnership between her publishing com- studio album Wretchrospective in 2008, country music scene, Bowen has seen three pany Manzanita Lane and Kobalt Music. which featured guest spots by Wi- of his albums land in the Top 10 on Bill- “I couldn’t be happier to be a part of Ko- ley, Chip and Ghetts, among others. The board’s Country Albums chart and four in balt,” she said in a statement. “I’ve watched album’s critical success led to Wretch 32’s the Billboard 200. A versatile writer, bridg- them nurture some fantastic creatives over nomination for BBC’s Sound of 2011, but ing the gap between country and rock audi- the years and look forward to working with he really hit his stride later that year with ences, Bowen is renowned for his prolific them on our entire Manzanita Lane roster.” the release of his breakout hit “Traktor.” By output with a dozen albums released over Along with the news of the partnership 2012, Wretch 32 had won Best International the span of his 20-year career. He is also itself, Decilveo has also announced the lat- Artist at the BET Awards and was featured known for a popular ongoing series with est signees to her roster, including WENS, in an Adidas ad campaign in honor of the fellow Texan Randy Rogers dubbed Hold My George Cosby, Appleby of Future Clas- London Olympics that year. Since then, he Beer. sic, Ryn Weaver and Jack Kleinick. has released more projects and been given The singer/songwriter is represented by The decorated hitmaker behind songs the role of Creative Director for Def Jam’s Red Light Management, WME and BMI. like “Rise Up” by Andra Day, “Play Date” UK imprint 0207 Def Jam. by Melanie Martinez and “I Love Me” In a statement, Wretch 32 said he is by Demi Lovato, Decilveo is both Grammy- “delighted to sign with Warner Chappell,” The Grammys nominated and Mercury Prize-nominated explaining that he “knew [his] songs would for her work. be in the right hands” with the company. Have Never Won “Jenn has an incredible gift not only as Shani Gonzales, managing director, a writer and producer but also the ability Warner Chappell Music UK and head of a Top Program to help an artist fully realize their creative international A&R, Warner Chappell Music, vision,” said Jesse Willoughby, general added that the company was “honoured” to Emmy: Could This manager of Kobalt Nashville. look after Wretch 32’s “incredible catalog” River House Artists and Sony Music as well as the new music the rapper has on Be the Year? Publishing have teamed up to sign the the way. “We couldn’t be happier,” she said. Grammy-winning bluegrass artist and Black Rock has teamed up with Elec- BY PAUL GREIN songwriter Billy Strings to a worldwide tric Ibiza to launch a new co-publishing publishing administrative deal. Included in partnership. The deal allows Electric Ibiza he 2021 Grammy Awards telecast the deal are both the administration rights — an event, label and management company was nominated for an Emmy on to Strings’ back catalog and his future cre- founded in Ibiza — to offer publishing ser- July 13 for outstanding variety ations. Considered one of the best flatpicker vices for its pre-existing list of clients, using special (live). It’s the seventh guitarists in music today, Strings is one of Black Rock’s already robust administration, Ttime the annual Grammy telecast has been string music’s most popular stars. sync licensing and creative teams. nominated in that category (or in equivalent Strings also veers outside of the tra- Black Rock is a concierge music publish- predecessor categories). The show has yet ditional bluegrass genre with his work. ing company and is a part of the electronic to win a top program award. Will this finally This year, for example, he teamed up with division of Sentric Music Group. be the year? country superstar Luke Combs for the The co-publishing partners begin their Here’s a recap of the seven Grammy tele- single “The Great Divide.” With a slew of ac- new operation with a few acts already casts that were nominated for a top program colades to his name, like topping Billboard’s signed, including Seb Zito, Ninetoes, Sidney award. Top Bluegrass Artists and Top Bluegrass Charles, Detlef, Latum, Christian Berkhardt, 1977 Albums charts last year, River House Artists LEON (IT), Malandra Jr. and Prok & Fitch. The 19th annual Grammy Awards was founder/CEO Lynn Oliver-Cline notes Electric Ibiza founder/director Neil Ev- nominated for outstanding achievement in that “watching what Billy and his incredible ans said that Black Rock and Electric Ibiza coverage of special events. The nod went team have built already has been such fun… have worked on “various artists and projects to the show’s producer, Marty Pasetta. This there are no limits for what he is doing as a over the years” and that the partnership was the first nomination (in any category) songwriter, recording artist and performer.” “made sense” for both parties, “given the for a Grammy telecast. Warner Chappell Music has inked a deal natural alignment of the two companies.” About the show: This was the seventh with popular UK rapper Wretch 32. The Sentric Music Group’s director of electronic and final show hosted by Andy Wil- agreement is two fold, covering both future music Mark Lawrence added that the deal liams, whose TV star power in the early Page 21 of 32

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’70s helped get the Grammys on the air About the show: Lady A’s “Need You 273-8255” (the phone number of the suicide in 1971. Stevie Wonder won album of Now” took record and song of the year. prevention hotline). The unlikely team-up the year for Songs in the Key of Life and Those wins were expected, but few correct- of Kendrick Lamar, U2 and Dave Chap- performed via satellite from Africa. (The ly predicted two other big winners. Arcade pelle opened the show. satellite transmission was glitchy, to say the Fire’s The Suburbs upset Eminem’s Recov- And the Emmy went to: Jesus Christ least.) George Benson took record of the ery for album of the year. And in a Grammy Superstar, Live in Concert year for “This Masquerade.” Barry Ma- shocker for the ages, jazz artist Esperanza 2019 nilow’s signature hit “I Write the Songs” Spalding beat Justin Bieber, Drake, Flor- The 61st annual Grammy Awards was nomi- won song of the year for songwriter Bruce ence + the Machine and Mumford & nated for outstanding variety special (live). Johnston. Starland Vocal Band won best Sons for best new artist. Performance The nomination was shared by Ehrlich and new artist on the back of their wimpy smash highlights included Lady Gaga’s “Born This Winston, executive producers; Cook, super- “Afternoon Delight.” Way” and Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream.” vising producer; Jesse Collins, Raj Kapoor, And the Emmy went to: This was a And the Emmy went to: The Tonys Chantel Saucedo and David Wild, produc- “juried award.” None of the five contenders 2012 ers; and first-time host Alicia Keys. received 50% of the vote, so no award was The 54th annual Grammy Awards was About the show: Childish Gambino’s presented – a good way to disappoint every- nominated for outstanding special class “This Is America” won record and song of body. The other nominees were the Oscars, programs. The nomination went to execu- the year. It was the first hip-hop hit to win Emmys, Tonys and a PBS program, The Good tive producer Ehrlich and first-time host LL in either category. (Better late than nev- Old Days of Radio. Cool J. The show received a total of six er.) Kacey Musgraves’ Golden Hour took 1988 Emmy nods, more than any other Grammy album of the year. (She performed “Rain- The 30th annual Grammy Awards was nom- telecast. bow” on the telecast.) Dua Lipa took best inated for outstanding variety-music events About the show: This show aired the new artist. (She performed “One Kiss.”) programming. The nod went to producers night after Houston’s shocking death, which And the Emmy went to: Live in Front of Pierre Cossette and Ken Ehrlich. boosted the ratings as viewers tuned in to a Studio Audience: Norman’s Lear’s All in the About the show: This was the second see how the Grammys would respond to Family and The Jeffersons of three Grammy telecasts hosted by Billy something they couldn’t possibly have an- 2021 Crystal, who was nominated for out- ticipated. From LL’s heartfelt prayer to Jen- The 63rd annual Grammy Awards are nomi- standing individual achievement – special nifer Hudson’s subdued version of “I Will nated for outstanding variety special (live). events. Whitney Houston opened the show Always Love You,” the treatment of Hous- The Emmys haven’t determined who the fi- with her zesty smash “I Wanna Dance With ton’s death hit all the right notes. Adele won nal nominees will be, but if they conform to Somebody (Who Loves Me).” Michael six awards, including album of the year recent practice, the nominees will probably Jackson stole the show with one of the for 21 and record and song of the year for be Winston, executive producer; Collins most riveting performances in Grammy “Rolling in the Deep.” Bon Iver took best and Kapoor, co-executive producers; Josie history – a double header of “The Way You new artist, beating Nicki Minaj and J. Cole, Cliff, Fatima Robinson and Wild, producers; Make Me Feel” and “Man in the Mirror.” among others. and Trevor Noah, first-time host. But he went home empty-handed that And the Emmy went to: The Tonys About the show: This was the first (and night. U2 took album of the year for the first 2018 let’s hope, last) Grammy telecast held during time for The Joshua Tree. Paul Simon won The 60th annual Grammy Awards was nom- a pandemic. Taylor Swift won album of the his third record of the year award (that’s still inated for outstanding variety special (live). year for folklore, becoming the first woman a record) for “Graceland.” The movie theme The nomination went to executive producer to win three times in that category. Be- “Somewhere Out There” won song of the Ehrlich, Eric Cook (supervising producer), yoncé surpassed Alison Krauss as the year. Jody Watley took best new artist, even Ben Winston (producer) and host James woman with the most Grammys in history though she had a previous Grammy nod as a Corden, who was fronting the show for the (28). Billie Eilish won record of the year for member of Shalamar. (That couldn’t happen second year. “Everything I Wanted,” making her just the today.) About the show: Bruno Mars swept third artist in Grammy history to win back- And the Emmy went to: The Oscars three of the Big Four awards. “24K Magic” to-back awards in this category. H.E.R. took 2011 took record of the year. His album of the song of the year for the Black Lives Matter The 53rd annual Grammy Awards was same name won album of the year. “That’s anthem “I Can’t Breathe.” Megan Thee nominated for outstanding special class What I Like” took song of the year. Mars Stallion took best new artist. Performance programs. The nomination went to execu- teamed with Cardi B to perform “Finesse” highlights included Harry Styles’ “Water- tive producers Ehrlich and John Cossette, on the telecast. Alessia Cara won best new melon Sugar” and BTS’s “Dynamite.” son of the telecast’s original producer, Pierre artist and teamed with Logic and Khalid to And the Emmy went to: We’ll find out Cossette. close the show with their smash, “1-800- in September. The other nominees are Cel- Page 22 of 32

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ebrating America – An Inauguration Night ston, Jekalyn Carr and Kierra Sheard each Darryl “LiLMaN” Howell & Rogest “Rosco” Special, The Oscars, The Pepsi Super Bowl received two awards. Carstarphen, Jr.; People; eOne Music LV Halftime Show Starring The Weeknd Tye Tribbett and Carr hosted the event Contemporary duo/chorus group of the and Stephen Colbert’s Election Night 2020: and also performed on the show. Oth- year: Anthony Brown & group therA- Democracy’s Last Stand … er performers were Yolanda Adams, Py; 2econd Wind: Ready; Key of A / Tyscot / Avery*Sunshine, Tamela Mann, Jason Clay- Fair Trade born, Hezekiah Walker, CeCe Winans and Traditional duo/chorus group of the 2021 Stellar several of the night’s top winners. year: The Clark Sisters; Gospel According to Lady Tramaine Hawkins received the PJ; Morton Inspiration/Tyscot Gospel Music Aretha Franklin icon award for her contri- Contemporary male vocalist of the butions to gospel music. Hawkins hosted year: Jonathan McReynolds; People; eOne Awards: Full or co-hosted three of the first four Stellar Music Awards shows in the ’80s. Traditional male vocalist of the year: Don- Winners List This year’s show will air on BET on nie McClurkin; A Different Song; Camdon Sunday, Aug. 1, at 8 p.m. ET, 5 p.m. PT. The Music / RCA Inspiration BY PAUL GREIN show will also air on BET HER and BET Contemporary female vocalist of the Gospel that day and on BET International year: Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Royalty: Live at astor Mike Jr. was named artist on Aug. 2. the Ryman; Motown Gospel of the year at the 2021 Stellar The Stellar Gospel Music Awards show Traditional female vocalist of the year: Jeka- Gospel Music Awards, which was executive produced by Don Jackson, lyn Carr; Changing Your Story; Lunjeal were presented at the Schermer- with Jennifer J. Jackson serving as execu- Music Group Phorn Symphony Center in downtown Nash- tive in charge of production and producer. Contemporary album of the year: Kierra; ville on Saturday. The show, now in its 36th Michael A. Johnson produced and directed Kierra Sheard; Karew / RCA Inspiration year, will air Aug. 1 on BET. this year’s award show. Traditional album of the year: Changing Pastor Mike Jr. won the award on the Founded in 1970 by Don Jackson, Chica- Your Story; JeKalyn Carr; Lunjeal Music strength of his album Big: Freedom Sessions, go-based Central City Productions, Inc. is Group which also won rap hip hop gospel album of a distributor of original targeted program- Urban/inspirational single or performance the year. Pastor Mike Jr. won urban/inspira- ming to television and cable networks. of the year: I Got It; Pastor Mike Jr.; Black tional single or performance of the year for Here’s a complete list of winners: Smoke Music Worldwide “I Got It” as well. Artist of the year: Pastor Mike Jr.; Big: Music video of the year: Something Has to The Clark Sisters received four awards Freedom Sessions; Black Smoke Music Break (Live); James Hairston IV; Karew / during the show, counting one non-compet- Worldwide RCA Inspiration itive award: the James Cleveland lifetime Song of the year: “Something Has to Break” Traditional choir of the year: Ricky Dil- achievement award. They also won duo/ (Live) ft. Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Kierra Va- lard; Choirmaster; Motown Gospel chorus/group of the year for The Return, lencia Sheard, J. Drew Sheard II, Jonathan Contemporary choir of the year: JJ Hair- traditional duo/chorus group of the year Smith & Mia Fields; Karew / RCA Inspira- ston; Not Holding Back; JamesTown Music for Gospel According to P.J. and special event tion / eOne Music album of the year for The First Ladies of Male vocalist of the year: Jonathan McReyn- Instrumental album of the year: My Tribute; Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Soundtrack. olds; People; eOne Music Myron Butler; Major Mynor Productions / Tasha Cobbs Leonard and Jonathan Albertina Walker female vocalist of the Sherman James Productions McReynolds each won three awards each year: Tasha Cobbs Leonard; Royalty: Live at Special event album of the year: The First during the show. the Ryman; Motown Gospel Ladies of Gospel: The Clark Sisters Biopic Leonard took the Albertina Walker female Duo/chorus group of the year: The Clark Soundtrack; Various Artists; Releve Enter- vocalist of the year award, contemporary Sisters, The Return, Karew Entertainment/ tainment female vocalist of the year and praise and Motown Gospel Rap hip hop gospel album of the year: Big: worship album of the year, all for her al- New artist of the year: Maverick City Mu- Freedom Sessions; Pastor Mike Jr.; Black bum Royalty: Live at the Ryman. sic; Maverick City Music Vol 3 Part 1; Tribl Smoke Music Worldwide McReynolds, who co-hosted the 2020 Records Youth project of the year: Anthony White & Stellar Awards, won male vocalist of the Album of the year: Maverick City Music Vol Detroit Youth Choir; Glory; DYC Entertain- year, contemporary male vocalist of the year 3 Part 1; Maverick City Music; Tribl Records ment and shared the award for producer of the Choir of the year: JJ Hairston; Not Holding Quartet of the year: Young Men 4 Christ; El- year, all for his album People. Back; JamesTown Music / eOne Music evation; B.R.A.T.T. Music Studio Maverick City Music, J.J. Hair- Producer of the year: Jonathan McReynolds, Recorded music packaging of the year: Roy- Page 23 of 32

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alty: Live at the Ryman; Justin Foster & community for so many years.” “Pandora’s Billionaires stations are cool Drew Kellum; Motown Gospel “It’s an incredibly great honor to celebrate to be a part of because they’re the biggest Praise and worship album of the year: Roy- Charley Pride’s career from the perspective songs. So, to be the most streamed Country alty: Live at the Ryman; Tasha Cobbs Leon- of those who knew him best - his friends, artist is huge to me,” said Jason Aldean, ard; Motown Gospel family and peers,” added Margaret Co- who is currently the top country artist on James Cleveland lifetime achievement meaux, executive producer, CMT. “As a true Pandora with over 11 billion streams to date. award: The Clark Sisters giant in country music, Charley serves as Artists who reach the nine-figure mark Aretha Franklin icon award: Tramaine an inspiration for present and future artists, in the coming months will be added to the Hawkins and his legendary career transcends barriers appropriate genre stations, with their music Thomas A. Dorsey most notable achieve- with music that stands the test of time.” featured at the beginning of the station to ment award: Bishop Dr. Leonard Scott Pride became country music’s first Back mark the milestone. Ambassador Dr. Bobby Jones legends star in the 1960s and went on to earn 29 No. Pandora’s Billionaires program launched award: Pastor Shirley Caesar 1 hits on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart in 2018 when the service presented art- Stellar honors hall of fame: Kerry Douglas; in his pioneering career. He joined the ists who had reached the marker with a Dr. Teresa Hairston; Skip Barrett Grand Ole Opry in 1993 and was inducted commemorative plaque. Over the past into the Country Music Hall of Fame in three years, hundreds of artists have been 2000. honored for reaching the coveted figure, Garth Brooks, Pride, who received the 2020 Willie including Taylor Swift, Lil Wayne, Mariah Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award at the Carey, Bad Bunny, Ed Sheeran and The Luke Combs, 54th annual CMA Awards on Nov. 11, turned Weeknd. in his final live performance on the ABC-TV Listeners can find the new stations in Darius Rucker broadcast, a duet version of his biggest hit, the “Billionaires” module on the “For You” 1971’s “Kiss an Angel Good Mornin’,” with section of the Pandora app. The full list of & More Set for Allen. stations is below. Country Billionaires: Featuring music CMT’s Charley from Jason Aldean, Chris Stapleton, Miran- Pandora Expands da Lambert, Florida Georgia Line and more. Pride Salute Pop Billionaires: Featuring music from ‘Billionaires’ Rihanna, Justin Bieber, Ariana Grande, J BY MELINDA NEWMAN Balvin, Taylor Swift and more. Artist Milestone Hip Hop Billionaires: Featuring music arth Brooks, Darius Ruck- from Drake, DaBaby, Cardi B, Migos, DJ er, George Strait and Jimmie Al- Program with Khaled and more. len are among the artists paying Dance Billionaires: Featuring music from tribute to Charley Pride on CMT 8 New Genre Calvin Harris, Dua Lipa, Marshmello, The GGiants: Charley Pride, a special airing Aug. Chainsmokers, Avicii and Martin Garrix. 25 on CMT. Stations Alternative Billionaires: Featuring music Other performers on the 90-minute spe- from Coldplay, Billie Eilish, Imagine Drag- cial include Gladys Knight, Alan Jackson, BY CHRIS EGGERTSEN ons, Machine Gun Kelly, Lana Del Rey and Mickey Guyton, Lee Ann Womack, Luke more. Combs, Robert Randolph, Reyna Roberts andora is expanding its “Billion- Classic Rock Billionaires: Featuring music and Wynonna. Reba McEntire, Ronnie Mil- aires” artist milestone program from The Beatles, Eagles, Queen, Pink sap, Neal McCoy and Pride’s widow, Rozene, with the launch of eight new Floyd, Fleetwood Mac and more. are among those sharing memories of the stations highlighting the most- R&B Billionaires: Featuring music from racial-barrier-breaking legend, who died Pstreamed artists on the platform, it was Usher, H.E.R., Frank Ocean, The Weeknd, Dec. 12 from COVID-19 complications. announced today. Trey Songz and more. “I am delighted to have so many giants in Available now, the stations, which cover Hard Rock Billionaires: Featuring music the business celebrate the legacy of Pride. the pop, country, hip-hop, alternative, dance, from Linkin Park, Five Finger Death Punch, He would have been so happy to see the classic rock, R&B and hard rock genres, Foo Fighters, Metallica, TOOL and more. artists give so generously of their time and feature top tracks from artists who have hit talent honoring him,” Rozene Pride said in a at least one billion streams on the service. statement. “This truly is a testament to the Additional “Billionaire” genre stations will impact that he had on the country music be added in the coming months. Page 24 of 32

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Strokes’ album The New Abnormal. He’s Rick Rubin Inks repped by WME. Madonna’s This article was originally published Overall TV and by The Hollywood Reporter. ‘Madame Film Deal With X’ Concert The LOX & Dipset Endeavor Content Documentary Set for Next Is Coming to BY RICK PORTER ‘Verzuz’ Battle egendary music producer Rick Paramount+ Rubin is extending his reach to BY HERAN MAMO TV and film via an overall deal BY LARS BRANDLE with Endeavor Content. he LOX and Dipset will go head- LUnder the deal, Rubin will expand his to-head in the next Verzuz battle, f you purchase an independently Shangri La Recording Studios to movie and which is set for Aug. 3. reviewed product or service through a TV production. Endeavor Content’s Film 45 “NYC stand up this one is for link on our website, we may receive an will provide Rubin with resources, infra- Tthe history books!!! THE LOX vs DIPSET,” affiliate commission. structure, development funds and execu- read the caption of the Instagram flyer on IMadame X is ready for her close up. tives. Leila Mattimore will oversee develop- VerzuzTV’s account. “TUESDAY, AUGUST A concert documentary filmed last year ment on behalf of the partnership. 3RD LIVE from @hulutheatermsg!!” during the European leg of Madonna’s Ma- The deal comes a day before the debut New York-based fans in support of the dame X Tour is coming to Paramount+. of McCartney 3, 2, 1, a Hulu docuseries (pro- Yonkers troupe The LOX (comprised of Directed by Ricardo Gomes and duced by Film 45) in which Rubin and Paul members Sheek Louch, Styles P and Jada- SKNX, MADAME X will exclusively stream McCartney survey the latter’s 60-plus years kiss) and the Harlem squad Dipset (made on Paramount+ from Friday, Oct. 8 for sub- in the music business. up of Cam’ron, Freekey Zeekey, Jim scribers in North America, Latin America, “Rick is a beautiful storyteller who brings Jones and Juelz Santana) can watch the Australia, and the Nordics. Fans outside of a fan-first eye and an open heart. He is both showdown go down at Madison Square those territories can tune in on MTV. a driver and passenger of pop culture and Garden’s Hulu Theater. “Sharing my vision with global audiences together with Film 45 will break glass,” The LOX recently shared the stage with has been profoundly meaningful to me,” Endeavor Content co-presidents Graham Method Man, Griselda, Swizz Beatz, Busta the Queen of Pop said in a statement issued Taylor and Chris Rice said in a statement. Rhymes and more during the star-studded early Thursday (July 15). Added Film 45 president Matt Goldberg, tribute performance to DMX at the 2021 “The opportunity to bring its message “Iconic and legendary are two words that BET Awards. and the incandescent artistry of all involved define Rick Rubin’s career, and we’re excited Tickets for the upcoming Verzuz battle to an even wider audience comes at a time to collaborate with him in this partnership will be available starting Thursday at noon when music is so deeply needed to remind to share his exceptional point of view.” ET at MSG.com. us of the sacred bond of our shared human- The Verzuz battle between The LOX and ity.” McCartney 3, 2, 1 follows Rubin and Mc- Dipset will commence Aug. 3 at 9 p.m. ET. Created by MTV Entertainment Studios, Cartney as they take a deep dive into Mc- For those unable to watch live from MSG, the doc captures all the highlights from Cartney’s career with the Beatles, Wings they can catch the action on the Triller app, Madonna’s January 2020 stop in Lisbon, and as a solo artist, examining his music, on TV with the FITE app, or on the Verzuz part of a trans-Atlantic Madame X jaunt in influences and creative process. The series IG account. support of her Billboard 200 chart leader of also marks the first time a number of origi- See the official announcement below. the same time. nal master tapes of McCartney’s work have Madonna has a strong connection with left Abbey Road Studios. Endeavor Content the capital of Portugal. She moved there financed the series and handled worldwide for her son’s soccer aspirations, and was distribution. inspired by the music she was exposed to Rubin co-produces and hosts (with there: Fado, morna, salsa and more. Malcolm Gladwell) the podcast Broken Re- “Madonna is undoubtedly the world’s cord and hosts an interview series on GQ‘s biggest superstar, never ceasing to push digital platform. He recently produced the boundaries and shape the pop culture land- Page 25 of 32

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scape,” said Bruce Gillmer, chief content fifth-most No. 1s among female artists since in October, cracks the chart thanks to steady officer, Music, Paramount+ and President the chart launched in 1994. advances in radio airplay and streaming. of Music, Music Talent, Programming & Here’s a recap of female acts with the “Essence” gives the 30-year-old star, who Events, ViacomCBS. most Latin Airplay No. 1s: hails from Nigeria, his third Hot 100 ap- The pop veteran and MTV together “have 15, Shakira pearance. His breakthrough came as a guest an incredibly storied history and we are 11, Gloria Estefan artist on Drake’s “One Dance” (also featur- thrilled to continue to amplify our partner- 11, Karol G ing singer Kyla), which reigned at No. 1 for ship globally,” he continued. 10, Jennifer Lopez 10 weeks in 2016. He returned alongside Be- The seven-time Grammy Award-winner 8, Natti Natasha yoncé and Saint JHN on “Brown Skin Girl” sent her followers into a frenzy last week 5, Paulina Rubio (featuring Blue Ivy Carter), which peaked at when she teased the doc and revealed it 5, Thalia No. 76 in August 2019. would arrive this October on Paramount+. “Ram Pam Pam” becomes the second “I feel blessed to make music that touches Madame X debuted at No. 1 on the Bill- female pairing to lead Latin Airplay in people,” Wizkid tells Billboard in an emailed board 200 in June 2019, for her ninth leader 2021, after Karol G and Mariah Angelig’s statement. “Big shoutout to all the fans and in the U.S. “El Makinon” reigned for one week on the good music lovers everywhere.” The Madame X trek was an eventful one, June 5-dated list. The new collab is just the Featured vocalist Tems achieves her with Madonna scrapping several dates due to fourth joint effort by two women in a lead first Hot 100 hit with “Essence,” which the a recurring knee injury, and the itinerary was role to hit No. 1 since the chart’s inception. 26-year-old singer-songwriter calls “a huge cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Let’s take a look at the four winners: honor” in a statement, adding, “I’m blessed Artists, Title, Peak Date to have Wiz, and I’m extremely grateful to Becky G & Natti Natasha, “Sin Pijama”, God and all the supporters worldwide. This Natti Natasha & August 11, 2018 is a moment I don’t take for granted.” Karol G & Nicki Minaj, “Tusa,” Feb. 15, 2020 “Essence” clocked 5.5 million U.S. streams Becky G’s ‘Ram (five weeks) in the week ending July 8, according to Karol G & Mariah Angeliq, “El Makinon,” MRC Data, up 49% from the prior week and Pam Pam’ Tops June 5 easily its best one-week result yet. The gain Natti Natasha & Becky G, “Ram Pam Pam,” prompts the track’s No. 9 debut on the R&B Latin Airplay July 17 Streaming Songs chart. Beyond its Latin Airplay coronation, In tandem with the streaming surge, R&B Chart “Ram Pam Pam” also lands at No. 1 on Latin and hip-hop radio stations have latched Rhythm Airplay: a seventh win for Natti onto the song in recent weeks. “Essence” BY PAMELA BUSTIOS and a fourth lead for Becky. improves 34-29 on the Mainstream R&B/ Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which ranks the atti Natasha and Becky G return most-played songs on monitored R&B/hip- to Billboard’s Latin Airplay sum- Wizkid’s ‘Essence’ hop stations nationwide. In the latest track- mit as their collaborative single ing week, which ended July 11, the single “Ram Pam Pam” hits No. 1 on the Enters Hot 100: picked up a 43% increase in plays. NJuly 17 chart. The pair previously appeared If the track climbs to No. 23 or higher on atop the tally when “Sin Pijama,” their first ‘Shoutout to Good Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, it would team-up, ruled for one week in August 2018. give Wizkid his second-highest peak on the Mexican-American artist Becky G last Music Lovers chart, surpassing the No. 24 high of “Come appeared atop the tally with “Sin Pi- Closer,” featuring Drake, in 2017, and behind jama,” while Dominican singer Natti Na- Everywhere’ only his four-week reign via “One Dance” tasha was last at No. 1 in April with “Antes the previous year. Beyond its emergence at Que Salga El Sol,” with Prince Royce. It’s the BY TREVOR ANDERSON mainstream radio, “Essence” is attracting third No. 1 for Becky G on Latin Airplay, and attention at the rhythmic and adult R&B the eighth for Natti Natasha on the 50-deep izkid returns to the Bill- radio sectors. tally. board Hot 100 after a “Essence” appears on Wizkid’s Made in “Ram Pam Pam” takes the lead (6-1) with two-year absence, and for Lagos, which debuted at No. 2 on the World a 48% gain in audience impressions, to 9.6 the first time as the sole Albums chart last November. As the song million, earned in the week ending July 11, leadW artist, as “Essence,” featuring Tems, grows, the set rebounds 7-4 in its 35th week according to MRC Data. As Natti establishes debuts at No. 82 on the chart dated July 17. on the list, its highest placement since its her eighth win, she continues to have the The Afrobeats/R&B-styled single, released runner-up arrival. Page 26 of 32

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Notably, The Lightning Seeds scored lead the list dated July 17. The track gained ‘3 Lions’ Goes U.S. chart success in 1990, when breakout 21% in plays in the week ending July 11 – the single “Pure” hit No. 31 on the Billboard largest increase among the chart’s 30 songs From the Pubs & Hot 100. The song also rose to No. 8 on – to make it the week’s most played song on Alternative Airplay, where follow-up “All I U.S. monitored R&B/hip-hop radio stations. Streets of England Want” reached No. 9 that year. In 1992, the “Anniversary,” promoted to radio through act added a third Alternative Airplay top 10, Not So Fast / Epic Records, rises to No. 1 in to the Global and its best showing, with the No. 2-peaking its 14th week on the list and displaces Silk “The Life of Riley.” Sonic’s “Leave the Door Open” after the lat- Charts “3 Lions” concurrently blasts 22-4 on The ter’s one week on top. Official UK Singles chart, where it reigned The surge in “Anniversary” plays give BY ERIC FRANKENBERG via versions in 1996, 1998 and 2018. the tune a corresponding lift on the R&B/ Following England’s loss in the final Hip-Hop Airplay chart, which measures taly may have prevailed in the UEFA match, a second week on the Global charts the most heard songs at the radio format European Football Championship, but for “3 Lions” remains to be determined. through audience impression metrics. it’s the U.K. that again transforms its But whether the song lasts for one week or There, “Anniversary” improves 5-2 after it EuroCup history into chart success. two this month, it will likely behave closer registered 18.4 million in format audience I“3 Lions,” a 1996 anthem that has persisted to the timely chart runs of Earth Wind & in the week ending July 11, a 24% upgrade among British football fans since its release, Fire’s “September” (one week at No. 113 on from the prior week. As with its standing on debuts at Nos. 79 and 181 on the Billboard the Global 200 after the tracking week that the Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay list, Global Excl. U.S. chart and Billboard included the “21st night of September”) or the track also claims the biggest percentage Global 200, respectively. (The charts began Cyrus’ debut this week, as opposed to, say, increase among all the chart’s titles. last September.) Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” which trans- With its rise to No. 2, “Anniversary” A week after Bo Burnham broke formed an unlikely TikTok meme into a top mounts its campaign as the fifth challenger ground for comedians, “3 Lions” brings 10 resurgence and 41 weeks (and counting) to the incumbent chart champ, “Leave the U.K. comics David Baddiel and Frank on the Global 200. Door Open,” which has dominated for 13 Skinner (officially credited as Baddiel and Still, even if “3 Lions” departs the charts, consecutive weeks. In that time, the song Skinner) to the charts, alongside British it has a good chance to resurge around up- has forced four other tracks to stall in the alt/pop act The Lightning Seeds, fronted coming World Cups, just like “September” runner-up spot: Pop Smoke’s “What You by Ian Broudie. The fight song notched 8.2 each fall and “Party in the U.S.A.” and other Know Bout Love,” Jazmine Sullivan’s “Pick million streams (up 100%) and sold 5,800 patriotic anthems each July. Up Your Feelings,” Lil Tjay’s “Calling My downloads (up 111%) worldwide in the week Phone,” featuring 6lack and Moneybagg Yo’s ending July 8, according to MRC Data. The “Time Today.” tracking week encompassed England’s semi- Over a Year Since The rise caps a sleeper-hit-style rise for final victory on July 7, but did not include “Heartbreak Anniversary,” originally re- the championship game, in which the club Release, Giveon’s leased on Feb. 20, 2020. The track made ini- came up just short, July 11. tial waves on the Adult R&B Airplay chart, “3 Lions” culled nearly all its streams ‘Anniversary’ Tops where it ranked the anchor slot of No. 30 for and sales (99% and 97%, respectively) from two weeks in June-July 2020, but remained outside the U.S., hence the 112-position Mainstream R&B/ quiet until the song began to take off with gap between its ranks on the Global Excl. consumers on streaming platforms earlier U.S. chart and Global 200. This extreme Hip-Hop Airplay this year and prompting debuts on the Bill- lean toward international activity is rare board Hot 100 in February and the Stream- for an English-language song by British (or Chart ing Songs chart the following year. After American, Canadian or Australian) acts, but the streaming surge, the song received an the song’s hyper-specific context, driven BY TREVOR ANDERSON official music video and a renewed push to by its “football’s coming home!” refrain, radio stations. explains the lack of crossover. It’s also in adio rewards continue to ac- Beyond its R&B/hip-hop radio status, total opposition to the Independence Day- crue for Giveon’s “Heartbreak “Anniversary” dips 4-6 on Rhythmic Air- fueled debut of Miley Cyrus’ 2009 hit “Party Anniversary,” which becomes play after having peaked at No. 3 two weeks in the U.S.A.” (No. 179, Global 200), which the R&B singer’s first No. 1 ago. It makes inroads, however, on Pop Air- drew more than 90% of its streams and sales Ron Billboard’s Mainstream R&B/Hip-Hop play, with a 22-21 move amid an 11% boost domestically. Airplay chart as it advances from No. 3 to in plays in the week. High airplay from all Page 27 of 32

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three sectors – R&B/hip-hop, rhythmic and January 2013 inception. (Kygo is next with pop – combine and help the song reach a 52.) Banda Los new peak of No. 12 on the all-genre Radio “Really” is MistaJam’s first appearance Songs chart. There, it progresses 16-12 and and Newman’s fifth. The track incorpo- Sebastianes de nets a 1% gain in audience to 37.3 million. rates Whitney Houston’s smash “How Will I Know,” which topped the Billboard Hot Raúl Plata Lead 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, as well Farruko Flies as reaching No. 3 on Dance Club Songs, in Regional Mexican 1986. Onto Hot Dance/ (Something else to “Know”: George Mer- Airplay With ‘Sin rill, Shannon Rubicam and Narada Michael Electronic Songs Walden co-wrote the original. Merrill and Miedo Al Éxito’ Rubicam, then married, formed Boy Meets Chart With ‘Pepas’ Girl, whose “Waiting for a Star to Fall” hit BY PAMELA BUSTIOS No. 5 on the Hot 100 and No. 1 on Adult BY GORDON MURRAY Contemporary in 1988. All three receive anda Los Sebastianes takes writing credits on the new version.) over atop Billboard’s Regional arruko launches at No. 9 on Bill- TOP 10 WAIT ENDS: Shifting to the Mexican Airplay chart as “Sin board’s Hot Dance/Electronic Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart, Anabel Miedo Al Éxito” rises to No. 1 on Songs chart, dated July 17, with Englund and Yotto jump 11-7 with “Wait- Bthe July 17-dated list after three consecutive “Pepas.” ing for You.” Englund’s fourth top 10 and weeks in the runner-up slot. FThe track is his second top 10, after “On Yotto’s first, the collab is drawing the bulk of The group ascends with 6.6 million in My Way” with Alan Walker and Sabrina its core-dance airplay from Music Choice’s audience impressions, up 8%, earned in the Carpenter (No. 8, 2019). Farruko also Dance/EDM channel, KNHC (C89.5) Se- week ending July 8, according to MRC Data. teamed with Steve Aoki on “Aire,” which attle and KMVQ-HD2 San Francisco. (The “Sin Miedo” is the Mazatlán group’s floated to No. 36 earlier this month. Dance/Mix Show Airplay chart measures fourth No. 1, dating back to just two years “Pepas” picked up 1.8 million U.S. streams radio airplay on a select group of full-time ago when “Através del Vaso” led the (up 83%) and sold nearly 500 downloads (up dance stations, along with plays during 1994-launched tally (dated February 2019) 37%), according to MRC Data, also good for mix shows on nearly 80 top 40-formatted for six consecutive weeks. Since then, the a No. 21 debut on Dance/Electronic Digital reporters.) band has placed two other No. 1s: “Mi Meta Song Sales. Two other tracks achieve new top 10 Contigo” (six weeks, November-December “Pepas” impacts some of Billboard’s Latin slots on Dance/Mix Show Airplay. Cheat 2019) and “En Eso No Quedamos” (two charts as well, including Hot Latin Songs Codes collect their third top 10 and co-lead weeks, July 2020). (No. 28), Latin Rhythm Digital Song Sales Tinashe claims her first with “Lean On Me” Elsewhere on the Latin charts, “Sin (No. 11) and Latin Digital Song Sales (No. (16-8) and Lodato lands his fourth with Miedo” pushes up the all-genre Latin Air- 13). “Neon Lights” (12-9). play chart, jumping 7-6. It’s the closest to As previously reported, “Pepas” is the lead since “Mi Meta Contigo” notched a one of two titles new to the Hot Dance/ No. 2 high in 2019. Electronic Songs top 10 also scaling Latin Over on the all-metric Hot Latin surveys. J Balvin and Skrillex soar 25-2 with Songs chart, “Sin Miedo” lifts 47-46. “In Da Getto” on the former and open at No. 7 on Hot Latin Songs, where Skrillex scores his first entry. It’s his fourth Hot Dance/ Electronic Songs top 10 and highest rank since “Where Are Ü Now,” with Diplo and featuring Justin Bieber, led for two weeks in July 2015. SOMETHING TO ‘KNOW’: Elsewhere on Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, David Guetta, MistaJam and John Newman bow with “If You Really Love Me (How Will I Know)” at No. 19. It’s Guetta’s 58th chart en- try, the most of all acts dating to the chart’s Page 28 of 32

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girl group’s second track to be featured in BTS’ ‘Butter’ at Coca Cola commercials following “Take a Picture” was powered by downloads (22,101 No. 1 & ‘Permission units, No. 3) and streaming (5,338,736 streams, No. 13). to Dance’ at No. 2 Japan’s YOASOBI still has three songs in the top 10, with “Sangenshoku” holding at on Japan Hot 100 No. 4 after debuting last week. The track rules radio while coming in at No. 2 for BY BILLBOARD JAPAN downloads and streaming. The Billboard Japan Hot 100 combines -pop dominates the top three on physical and digital sales, audio streams, the latest Japan Hot 100, dated radio airplay, Twitter mentions, YouTube July 5 to 11, with BTS’ “Butter” and GYAO! video views, Gracenote look-ups leading the pack. The global hit and karaoke data. Krules the tally for the fourth week as the For the full Billboard Japan Hot 100 chart, septet’s new single “Permission to Dance” dated July 5 to 11, see here. bows at No. 2. “Butter” — which scores its seventh week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — logs its eighth week at No. 1 for streaming and video views on the Japan charts, and while the song’s overall point total is on the decline after the same number of weeks on the Japan Hot 100, the figure for streaming has rebounded from last week’s 13,767,047 streams to 14,064,270 streams this week. The reason behind this increase is the global superstars’ latest single “Permission to Dance,” which dropped digitally on July 9. The brand-new track racked up 39,280 downloads (No. 1) and 8,125,370 streams (No. 6) with only three days during the chart week. Combined with the video metric that hit No. 2, the upbeat English-language track blasted in at No. 2 on the Japan Hot 100. ENHYPEN’s “Given-Taken,” the new K-pop boy band’s Japan debut single, bows at No. 3, fueled by sales. The single CD called “BORDER: Hakanai” that includes “Given-Taken” sold 236,229 copies in its first week to top the physical sales metric this week. ENHYPEN is a seven-member boy band formed through a survival competi- tion program by Belift Lab — a joint venture between South Korean entertainment com- pany CJ ENM and Hybe Corporation, home of BTS — that made its South Korean debut in November. Meanwhile, NiziU — another group formed through joint auditions in Japan and South Korea — returns to the top 10 with “Super Summer,” debuting at No. 8. The Page 29 of 32

A WEEKLY NATIONAL Market Watch MUSIC CONSUMPTION REPORT

Source: WEEKLY UNIT COUNT

Total Audio Video Album Digital Digital Albums Consumption Streams On-Demand On-Demand Sales Album Sales Tracks Units This 21,317,751,000 18,606,908,000 2,710,843,000 1,800,000 462,000 4,442,000 15,886,000 Week* Last 21,558,201,000 18,844,729,000 2,713,471,000 2,044,000 501,000 4,292,000 16,294,000 Week

Change -1.1% -1.3% -0.1% -11.9% -7.8% 3.5% -2.5%

This Week 19,818,244,000 16,979,982,000 2,838,261,000 1,639,000 726,000 4,543,000 14,374,000 Last Year

Change 7.6% 9.6% -4.5% 9.8% -36.4% -2.2% 10.5%

*All data measures U.S. activity as of the week ending July 8, 2021. All units counts are rounded to the nearest thousand.

YEAR TO DATE 2021 2020 Change YEAR TO DATE ALBUM SALES BY AGE 36m Total On-Demand 576,621,988,000 520,808,986,000 10.7% Streams 33m Audio On-Demand 501,453,280,000 436,798,688,000 14.8% Streams 30m Digital Track Sales 106,261,000 132,370,000 -19.7% 35,263,000 27m Album Sales 53,064,000 47,185,000 12.5% 24m Albums

429,137,000 375,582,000 14.3% 29,911,000 Consumption Units 21m

18m

ALBUM CONSUMPTION UNITS BY FORMAT 15m 2021 2020 Change

12m CD Sales 19,556,000 19,094,000 2.4% 17,801,000 17,274,000 9m Vinyl Sales 19,884,000 9,545,000 108.3%

6m Digital Sales 13,389,000 18,387,000 -27.2% Catalog Current 3 m Other Sales 235,000 159,000 48.1% 2021 2020 2021 2020 0 Track Equivalent 10,626,000 13,237,000 -19.7%

Audio On-Demand 365,447,000 315,159,000 16.0% Equivalent   Album consumption units ­— also known as albums plus TEA plus SEA — consists of album sales; track-equivalent album (TEA) 3.1% 17.9% sales whereby 10 tracks equal one consumption unit; and stream equivalent albums (SEA) whereby 1,250 paid and/or 3,750 ad-supported audio on-demand streams (OAD) equal one consumption unit. Page 30 of 32 DATA FOR WEEK OF 07.17.2021 HOT 100 SONGWRITERSTM HOT 100 PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 16 WKS OLIVIA RODRIGO  1 17 WKS DAN NIGRO  2 DAN NIGRO  2 DR. LUKE  3 DOJA CAT  3 OMER FEDI  4 LUKASZ GOTTWALD  4 TYRON HAPI  5 THE WEEKND  TIE 5 ROGET CHAHAYED  6 DAVE BAYLEY  TIE 5 YETI BEATS  7 DABABY  7 D.A. GOT THAT DOPE  8 OMER FEDI  8 ALEXANDER 23  9 COREY CROWDER  9 JAY JOYCE  TIE 10 MASKED WOLF  TIE 10 KOZ  TIE 10 TYRON HAPI  TIE 10 STUART PRICE  TIE 12 ED SHEERAN  12 TYLER, THE CREATOR  TIE 12 FRED AGAIN..  13 JORDAN SCHMIDT  TIE 12 JOHNNY MCDAID  TIE 14 MAX MARTIN  15 ASHLEY GORLEY  TIE 14 OSCAR HOLTER  16 LIL BABY  TIE 14 THE WEEKND  17 TAYLOR SWIFT  17 MICHAEL CARTER  18 MEGAN THEE STALLION  18 DAVE BAYLEY  TIE 19 BELLY  TIE 19 ROB GRIMALDI  TIE 19 DAHEALA  TIE 19 RON PERRY  TIE 19 MAX MARTIN  TIE 19 STEPHEN KIRK  TIE 19 OSCAR HOLTER  TIE 22 BRUNO MARS  23 DRAKE  TIE 22 D’MILE  TIE 24 CLARENCE COFFEE JR.  TIE 24 HARV  TIE 24 DUA LIPA  TIE 24 SHNDO  TIE 24 KOZ  TIE 24 SARAH HUDSON 

COUNTRY SONGWRITERSTM COUNTRY PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 12 WKS ASHLEY GORLEY  1 14 WKS JAY JOYCE  2 COREY CROWDER  2 JORDAN SCHMIDT  3 NICOLLE GALYON  3 MICHAEL CARTER  4 HARDY  4 MICHAEL KNOX  5 HUNTER PHELPS  5 DANN HUFF  TIE 6 AARON LEWIS  6 DAN SMYERS  TIE 6 IRA DEAN  7 SHANE MCANALLY  TIE 6 JEFFREY STEELE  8 COREY CROWDER  TIE 9 DREW PARKER  9 DAVID GARCIA  TIE 9 LUKE COMBS  TIE 10 AARON LEWIS  TIE 9 ROB WILLIFORD  TIE 10 IRA DEAN 

R&B/HIP-HOP SONGWRITERSTM R&B/HIP-HOP PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 14 WKS LIL BABY  1 1 WK DR. LUKE  SONGWRITERS & PRODUCERS & SONGWRITERS 2 DOJA CAT  2 TYLER, THE CREATOR  TIE 3 MASKED WOLF  3 TYRON HAPI  TIE 3 TYRON HAPI  4 D.A. GOT THAT DOPE  5 DABABY  TIE 5 BRUNO MARS  6 LIL DURK  TIE 5 D’MILE  7 LUKASZ GOTTWALD  TIE 7 HARV  8 DRAKE  TIE 7 SHNDO  9 G HERBO  9 THE NEPTUNES  10 POLO G  TIE 10 EINER BANKZ  TIE 10 SYNCO 

JULY R&B SONGWRITERSTM R&B PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 17 1 3 WKS DOJA CAT  1 2 WKS DR. LUKE  2 GIVEON  TIE 2 BRUNO MARS  2021 TIE 3 ANDERSON .PAAK  TIE 2 D’MILE  TIE 3 BRODY BROWN  TIE 4 HARV  TIE 3 BRUNO MARS  TIE 4 SHNDO  TIE 3 D’MILE  6 THE NEPTUNES  TIE 7 LUKASZ GOTTWALD  7 SEVN THOMAS  TIE 7 THE WEEKND  8 MANEESH BIDAYE  9 DRAKE  9 NATE RHOADS  AIRPLAY/STREAMING & AIRPLAY/STREAMING COMPILED BY DATA SALES 10 SEVN THOMAS  10 WOODPECKER  The top songwriters and producers on the Billboard Hot 100 and selective genre songs chart that utilize the Hot 100 formula (blending streaming, airplay and download sales data) for the charts dated July 17, 2021. Rankings are based on accumulated weekly points for all charted songs — on the specified chart for the week — on which a songwriter or producer is credited. If a song is written or produced by more than one person, points are divided equally among all credited parties. Page 31 of 32 DATA FOR WEEK OF 07.17.2021 RAP SONGWRITERSTM RAP PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 TIE 1 3 WKS MASKED WOLF  1 7 WKS TYRON HAPI  #1 TIE 1 3 WKS TYRON HAPI  2 D.A. GOT THAT DOPE  3 DABABY  3 TYLER, THE CREATOR  4 LIL BABY  TIE 4 EINER BANKZ  TIE 5 D.A. GOT THAT DOPE  TIE 4 SYNCO  TIE 5 DANIEL LEVIN  TIE 6 REALRED  7 LIL DURK  TIE 6 YC  TIE 8 LIL JU  8 DAMN E  TIE 8 MEGAN THEE STALLION  TIE 9 LIL JU  TIE 8 OG PARKER  TIE 9 OG PARKER 

DANCE/ELECTRONIC SONGWRITERSTM DANCE/ELECTRONIC PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 TIE 1 55 WKS F A L L E N  1 4 WKS REGARD  #1 TIE 1 55 WKS SAINT JHN  2 HVME  3 KODA  3 F A L L E N  TIE 4 FREDERIK EICHEN  4 SKRILLEX  TIE 4 ISAAC QUINN  5 TAINY  TIE 4 REGARD  6 HIGHTOWER  TIE 4 TATE MCRAE  7 TIESTO  TIE 4 TOM MANN  8 CALVIN HARRIS  TIE 4 TROYE SIVAN  TIE 9 RITON  TIE 10 HIGHTOWER  TIE 9 THE INVISIBLE MEN  TIE 10 JULIA KARLSSON 

LATIN SONGWRITERSTM LATIN PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 10 WKS TAINY  1 88 WKS TAINY  2 BAD BUNNY  2 MR. NAISGAI  TIE 3 ERIC DUARS  3 EL ZORRO  TIE 3 RAUW ALEJANDRO  4 ALBERT HYPE  5 J BALVIN  5 SKY ROMPIENDO  6 MR. NAISGAI  6 MORA  7 MORA  7 SUBELO NEO  8 KEITYN  8 MANUEL LARA  SONGWRITERS & PRODUCERS & SONGWRITERS 9 EDGAR BARRERA  9 EDGAR BARRERA  10 COLLA  10 KEITYN 

ROCK & ALTERNATIVE SONGWRITERSTM ROCK & ALTERNATIVE PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 11 WKS DAVE BAYLEY  1 10 WKS TRAVIS BARKER  TIE 2 BLAKE SLATKIN  2 DAVE BAYLEY  JULY TIE 2 OMER FEDI  TIE 3 BLAKE SLATKIN  17 4 TRAVIS BARKER  TIE 3 OMER FEDI  2021 TIE 5 BOB GAUDIO  5 LUCIO FABBRI  TIE 5 PEGGY FARINA  6 RYAN METZGER  7 TYLER JOSEPH  7 FINNEAS  TIE 8 BILLY WALSH  8 DAN NIGRO  TIE 8 THE KID LAROI  9 JOEL LITTLE  10 FINNEAS  10 AARON DESSNER  AIRPLAY/STREAMING & AIRPLAY/STREAMING COMPILED BY DATA SALES Page 32 of 32 DATA FOR WEEK OF 07.17.2021 ALTERNATIVE SONGWRITERSTM ALTERNATIVE PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 14 WKS DAVE BAYLEY  1 9 WKS TRAVIS BARKER  TIE 2 BLAKE SLATKIN  2 DAVE BAYLEY  TIE 2 OMER FEDI  TIE 3 BLAKE SLATKIN  4 TRAVIS BARKER  TIE 3 OMER FEDI  5 TYLER JOSEPH  5 RYAN METZGER  TIE 6 BILLY WALSH  6 FINNEAS  TIE 6 THE KID LAROI  7 DAN NIGRO  TIE 8 DAN NIGRO  8 AARON DESSNER  TIE 8 OLIVIA RODRIGO  9 JOEL LITTLE  TIE 10 BILLIE EILISH  10 ADAM FRIEDMAN  TIE 10 FINNEAS 

HARD ROCK SONGWRITERSTM HARD ROCK PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 TIE 1 1 WK DAMIANO DAVID  TIE 1 1 WK FABRIZIO FERRAGUZZO  #1 #1 TIE 1 1 WK ETHAN TORCHIO  TIE 1 1 WK MANESKIN  #1 TIE 1 1 WK THOMAS RAGGI  3 GREG KURSTIN  #1 TIE 1 1 WK VICTORIA DE ANGELIS  4 THE WIZARDZ OF OZ  5 MICHAEL POULSEN  5 FOO FIGHTERS  6 WOLFGANG VAN HALEN  6 ANDREW WATT  7 SHAUN MORGAN  TIE 7 FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH  8 CALEB SHOMO  TIE 7 KEVIN CHURKO  TIE 9 JAMES HETFIELD  9 JOSH SCHROEDER  TIE 9 LARS ULRICH  10 MICHAEL BASKETTE 

CHRISTIAN SONGWRITERSTM CHRISTIAN PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 8 WKS MICAH KUIPER  1 37 WKS JONATHAN SMITH  2 JEFF PARDO  2 PAUL MABURY  TIE 3 LAUREN ASHLEY DAIGLE  3 MICAH KUIPER  TIE 3 PAUL MABURY  4 JEFF PARDO  5 PHIL WICKHAM  5 CHRIS BROWN  6 MATTHEW WEST  6 WE THE KINGDOM  7 CHRIS BROWN  7 JASON INGRAM  8 STEVEN FURTICK  8 KYLE LEE  SONGWRITERS & PRODUCERS & SONGWRITERS 9 TOBYMAC  9 SEAN COOK  10 BRANDON LAKE  TIE 10 BEN GLOVER  TIE 10 JEFF SOJKA 

GOSPEL SONGWRITERSTM GOSPEL PRODUCERSTM #1 #1 1 2 WKS CHRIS BROWN  1 18 WKS KYLE LEE  2 DANTE BOWE  2 TONY BROWN  JULY 3 STEVEN FURTICK  3 JONATHAN JAY  17 4 VASHAWN MITCHELL  4 BEN SCHOFIELD  2021 5 CHANDLER MOORE  5 STEVEN FURTICK  6 JEKALYN CARR  TIE 6 CHRIS BROWN  7 BRANDON LAKE  TIE 6 JASON INGRAM  8 BEN SCHOFIELD  TIE 8 JUST BLAZE  9 DWAN DEBERNIS HILL  TIE 8 KIRK FRANKLIN  TIE 10 CYNTHIA NUNN  10 ALLEN CARR  TIE 10 JUST BLAZE 

AIRPLAY/STREAMING & AIRPLAY/STREAMING COMPILED BY DATA SALES TIE 10 LIL BABY