Photo Credit: Beyoncé’s YouTube

Beyoncé gets snubbed at the MTV EMAs as Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Lisa, and Tyla clean up with massive wins.

Beyoncé may have a record-breaking amount of Grammy Award nominations, but the star was seemingly snubbed at the MTV European Music Awards over the weekend. Taylor Swift came out with the most wins—Best Artist, Best US Act, Best Live Act, and Best Video for “Fortnight” featuring Post Malone.

Ariana Grande, Billie Eilish, Charli XCX, and Sabrina Carpenter each had five nominations in categories such as Best Song, Best Video, and Best Artist. Other artists with four nominations included Ayra Starr, Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar, Lisa, Chappell Roan, and Tyla.

Shawn Mendes received the award for Best Canadian Act, while Sabrina Carpenter took the award for Best Song for her hit “Espresso.” Ariana Grande won Best Pop Act, while Eminem won Best Hip-Hop Act.

British singer Rita Ora hosted the show for a record third time, and paid tribute to former One Direction star Liam Payne, who died suddenly last month after falling from his hotel balcony in Buenos Aires. Ora recorded a song with Payne in 2018, “For You (Fifty Shades Freed).”

“Liam Payne was one of the kindest people I knew,” said Ora, whose voice broke as she addressed the crowd. “He had the biggest heart, and he left such a mark on this world.”

Hip-hop legend Busta Rhymes was honored with the EMA Global Icon Award from British rapper Little Simz. The 12-time Grammy Award nominee performed a medley of his greatest hits, and told the crowd that in 34 years of recording music, this was his first award from MTV.

Legendary New Wave duo Pet Shop Boys were honored with the inaugural Pop Pioneers Award for their contributions to pop music. They closed out the show with accompaniment by the Manchester Camerata orchestra, playing a cover of David Bowie’s “All the Young Dudes,” followed by their classic “West End Girls” for the song’s 40th anniversary.

Other performers included Shawn Mendes, Le Sserafim, Peso Pluma, Raye, Teddy Swims, and Mexican rock sisters The Warning.

Photo Credit: The Beatles – “Now and Then” (Official Music Video)

The Beatles’ ‘Now and Then’ is up for two Grammy awards this year, the first AI-assisted song to be nominated for an award.

Though the Beatles have been broken up for 50 years, you might feel like you’d fallen into a time vortex to learn the band is up for two Grammy awards this year. The Fab Four’s “Now and Then,” refined using AI and released last year, is up for Record of the Year and Best Rock Performance, pitting the band against artists like Chappell Roan and Beyoncé.

Last year, Paul McCartney used an AI assisted program to clean up the poor sound quality of some John Lennon demos from 1978 to create “the last Beatles record.” The resulting track resurrected old recordings of both Lennon and George Harrison, alongside current recordings from McCartney and Ringo Starr, to make the song a reality.

Paul took inspiration from filmmaker Peter Jackson’s “The Beatles: Get Back” documentary, the 2021 series based on archival footage of recording sessions for Let It Be. McCartney and his team used the same AI-based audio editing software producer Giles Martin used to make a new stereo mix of the Beatles’ Revolver.

The AI-based software is similar to how certain video or audio chat platforms like Zoom, FaceTime, or Discord might filter out background noise from a call. Machine learning helped isolate the sound of Lennon’s late ‘70s demo tapes to clean up existing audio for use in a modern song.

The end result is a track that’s astoundingly up for two Grammys — the first AI-assisted song to achieve such a feat. But that begs the question whether novelty will be enough to secure the Beatles a win against contemporary heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish. Or do these modern artists stand a chance against a legendary band like the Beatles?

Since “Now and Then” actually has the fewest Spotify streams of all Record of the Year noms for 2025 with 78 million, it seems the band might be given a run for their money in terms of securing a win. But it speaks to the depth of their reach that a long-lost Beatles track can carry that weight of two Grammy nominations half a century after their breakup.

Photo Credit: Jathan Campbell

Beyoncé racked up more Grammy noms for 2025 with 11, bringing her to a total of 99 in her career. But will she sweep the competition this year?

The nominees for the 2025 Grammy Awards were announced on Friday, November 8, and Beyoncé has added 11 more nominations to her career total. That brings her to 99 overall in her career, more than any other artist. But does that spell a sweep for Queen Bey at the Grammys this year?

Winners will be revealed at the awards ceremony in Los Angeles on February 2. Beyoncé leads the pack with 11 nominations this year, including the coveted Album of the Year, which she has still yet to win. Other noms include Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish with seven each.

The list of nominees in several top categories is below. A full list of nominations in all 94 categories can be found on the Grammys website.

Record of the Year

• • • “Now and Then” — The Beatles
    • “Texas Hold ‘Em” — Beyoncé
    • “Espresso” — Sabrina Carpenter
    • “360” – Charli XCX
    • “Birds of a Feather” — Billie Eilish
    • “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
    • “Good Luck, Babe!” — Chappell Roan
    • “Fortnight” — Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone

Album of the Year

• • • “New Blue Sun” — André 3000
    • “Cowboy Carter” — Beyoncé
    • “Hit Me Hard and Soft” — Billie Eilish
    • “The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess” — Chappell Roan
    • “Brat” — Charli XCX
    • “Djesse Vol. 4” — Jacob Collier
    • “Short n’ Sweet” — Sabrina Carpenter
    • “The Tortured Poets Department” — Taylor Swift

Song of the Year

• • • “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey
    • “Birds of a Feather” — Billie Eilish
    • “Die With a Smile” — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars
    • “Fortnight” — Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone
    • “Good Luck, Babe!” — Chappell Roan
    • “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar
    • “Please Please Please” — Sabrina Carpenter

Best New Artist

• • • Benson Boone
    • Sabrina Carpenter
    • Doechii
    • Khruangbin
    • RAYE
    • Chappell Roan
    • Shaboozey
    • Teddy Swims

Best Pop Solo Performance

• • • “Bodyguard” — Beyoncé
    • “Espresso” — Sabrina Carpenter
    • “Apple” — Charli XCX
    • “Birds of a Feather” — Billie Eilish
    • “Good Luck, Babe!” — Chappell Roan

Best Pop Duo/Group Performance

• • • “Us” — Gracie Abrams ft. Taylor
    • “Levii’s Jeans” — Beyoncé ft. Post Malone
    • “Guess” — Charli XCX & Billie Eilish
    • “The Boy is Mine” — Ariana Grande, Brandy & Monica
    • “Die With a Smile” — Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars

Best Rap Album

• • • “The Auditorium Vol. 1” — Common & Pete Rock
    • “Alligator Bites Never Heal” — Doechii
    • “The Death of Slim Shady (Coup de Grâce)” — Eminem
    • “We Don’t Trust You” — Future & Metro Boomin
    • “Might Delete Later” — J. Cole

Best Rap Performance

• • • “Enough (Miami)” — Cardi B
    • “When the Sun Shines Again” — Common & Pete Rock Featuring Posdnuos
    • “Nissan Altima” — Doechii
    • “Houdini” — Eminem
    • “Like That” — Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar
    • “Yeah Glo!” — Glorilla
    • “Not Like Us” — Kendrick Lamar

Best Country Album

• • • “Cowboy Carter” — Beyoncé
    • “F-1 Trillion” — Post Malone
    • “Deeper Well” — Kacey Musgraves
    • “Higher” — Chris Stapleton
    • “Whirlwind” — Lainey Wilson

Best Country Solo Performance

• • • “16 Carriages” — Beyoncé
    • “It Takes a Woman” — Chris Stapleton
    • “I Am Not Okay” — Jelly Roll
    • “The Architect” — Kacey Musgraves
    • “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” — Shaboozey

Best Rock Album

• • • “Happiness Bastards” — The Black Crowes
    • “Romance” — Fontaines D.C.
    • “Saviors” — Green Day
    • “TANGK” — Idles
    • “Dark Matter” — Pearl Jam
    • “Hackney Diamonds” — The Rolling Stones
    • “No Name” — Jack White

Best Rock Performance

• • • “Now and Then” — The Beatles
    • “Beautiful People (Stay High)” — The Black Keys
    • “The American Dream is Killing Me” — Green Day
    • “Gift Horse” — Idles
    • “Dark Matter” — Pearl Jam
    • “Broken Man” — St. Vincent

Best R&B Album

• • • “11:11 (Deluxe)” — Chris Brown
    • “Vantablack” — Lalah Hathaway
    • “Revenge” — Muni Long
    • “Algorithm” — Lucky Daye
    • “Coming Home” — Usher

Best R&B Performance

• • • “Residuals” — Chris Brown
    • “Here We Go (Uh Oh)” — Coco Jones
    • “Guidance” — Jhené Aiko
    • “Made for Me (Live on BET)” — Muni Long
    • “Saturn” — SZA

The following comes from Open On Sunday, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

Billboard Latin Music Week 2024 — artists and industry frontliners converged to attend round table discussions and panels on the rise of reggae, music and data management, monetization, and catalog financing.

Hosted at The Fillmore Miami Beach, Billboard Latin Music Week 2024 kicked off with performances from Latin music’s biggest stars. The event was abuzz with attendees, including established and up-and-coming artists and music industry leaders.

Colombian reggaeton superstar J Balvin was the headliner for the 35th Anniversary Special. Balvin also took part in a special Q&A session, joining other notable guests such as hip hop artists Fat Joe and N.O.R.E.

During a panel discussion, Fat Joe called the hip hop and reggaeton connection ‘crazy but dope.’

Joe added, “Hip hop and reggae go side by side — and hip hop is the influence. It’s like they’re rapping in Spanish, with hip hop beats.”

N.O.R.E. highlighted that the 2004 release of his classic single, Oye Mi Canto ‘set off a movement,’ and made him one of the pioneers of reggaeton. He added, “No one could ever take this away from me, the first reggaeton record on MTV is mine and the first reggaeton record on BET (Black Entertainment Television) is mine. First reggaeton record on Hot 97 is mine. The first reggaeton performing at the Source Awards is mine.”

“If you listen to that record — whether you’re Black or Chinese — you become Latino for three minutes,” N.O.R.E. said.

Billboard Latin Week panels also covered major topics like catalog financing and the carbon footprint of festivals and music events.

Anana Love, Director of Membership for catalog acquisition company Open on Sunday, spoke at a panel to dish out truths about essential catalog elements. “If you’re interested in selling your music catalog, you must have your data in order,” Love told the group.

Tanner Watt, Director of Partnerships at REVERB, also joined the panel. REVERB partners with venues, festivals, and artists to minimize the negative environmental impact of music endeavors.

Watt relayed that he was ‘very excited to connect with more artist teams in the Latin space to help them support non-profit causes they care about — and engage their fans in positive change in the world.’

Many of the Billboard Latin Music Week 2024 attendees were artists looking to promote their music and meet like-minded individuals. However, business professionals were also at hand to network and educate artists on alternative revenue streams.

Luxury real estate agent Wendy Sanchez spoke about the importance of sound financial advice for artists and entertainers. “I am a luxury real estate agent, I also do high-end luxury Airbnb management, and then I also work for one of the top hospitality groups doing their private membership club program.”

“I’m here to help artists or anybody in the entertainment industry with the business side of things — real estate,” Sanchez said.

Financial advisor Andrea Friedman touched upon the importance of balancing family and career — whether you’re an artist or businessperson. “It’s about being disciplined so you can spend time with loved ones and still be a highly successful career individual,” Friedman said.

Billboard Latin Music Week 2024 took place October 15-18.

Photo Credit: Mariah Carey by Raph PH / CC by 2.0

Mariah Carey has been eligible for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for nearly a decade, but laments her lawyer got inducted before her.

Mariah Carey says her lawyer made it into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before her. The singer, who has been eligible for the Hall of Fame herself for nearly a decade, has only just received a nomination this year.

But her lawyer, Allen Grubman, was inducted in 2022 in the Ahmet Ertegun Award category for his work representing stars like Carey, Bruce Springsteen, Madonna, Elton John, and — until recently — Sean “Diddy” Combs. Notably, Grubman is also one of the Rock Hall’s founders.

Mariah Carey recently spoke about the situation in an interview with The Los Angeles Times, in which she was asked about her thoughts on being nominated for the first time. “My thoughts are, I didn’t get in,” she said. “Everybody was calling me, going, ‘I think you’re getting in!’ and so I was excited about it. But then it didn’t happen. My lawyer got into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame before me.”

She first became eligible for nomination in 2015, on the 25th anniversary of her debut album. But Grubman has been involved in the Rock Hall since its inception back in 1983. That said, his induction was not without its share of controversy. Fellow co-founder Jann Wenner criticized the decision, calling it “about money and bending to the ego of a music-business power broker.” Wenner was removed from his position after a disastrous interview about his book ‘The Masters,’ which only highlighted male rock star points of view.

Mariah Carey is getting ready to unleash Christmas this month with her 2024 Christmas Tour, followed by dates next year with her residency in Las Vegas. The star is also reportedly working on “nine or 10” new songs, “enough to have an album.” She’s also forged a partnership with Amazon Music to sell Christmas merch this year—embracing her title as Queen of Christmas.

Photo Credit: Aiden Craver

After over 50 years at CBS, the Grammy Awards find a new home in Disney in a major 10-year deal.

The Grammy Awards have aired on CBS for over 50 years, but that’s about to change as Disney strikes up a significant 10-year deal with rights to the annual music awards show. The Grammys will air on ABC, Hulu, and Disney+ from 2027 through 2036.

CBS struck up a ten-year deal in 2016 to maintain the rights until 2026 — breaking the record for a broadcast partnership with an awards show. The network has hosted the show since 1973, when it took the rights from ABC. ABC had aired the show in 1971 and 1972, after NBC hosted it from 1959 to 1970.

The Recording Academy and CBS were not able to reach an agreement within their negotiating window, according to sources, but CBS remained interested in maintaining the rights. Talks continued after the end of the exclusive period when The Recording Academy opened negotiations with other interested parties. But it was Disney who secured the winning bid.

“As the Walt Disney Company combines forces with The Recording Academy to open this exciting new chapter in the history of The Grammys we do so with pride and gratitude,” said Disney Entertainment Co-Chairman Dana Walden. “Live events have never been more important to our culture and industry, and we just acquired one of the crown jewels, adding to our portfolio of world-class programming across all genres.”

“We are completely thrilled to be bringing The Grammys and other new music programming to the Disney ecosystem,” added Harvey Mason Jr., Recording Academy CEO. “We are grateful to our long-standing partners at CBS and now honored to be joining with Disney, an iconic company where creators have always been at the forefront. This partnership represents another important milestone in the Academy’s transformation and growth, and strengthens our ability to fulfill our mission of uplifting and serving music people around the world.”

Though this is a major loss for Paramount’s streaming service, CBS has been focused on reducing costs, prioritizing spending resources on live sports in addition to prime-time franchises. The network secured rights to the Golden Globes when it became available last year.

The deal means that in its first year, ABC will air The Grammys, the Oscars, as well as the Super Bowl, and even gets the CMA Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve to boot.

Photo Credit: U.S. State Department / Recording Academy (Dolly Parton)

The U.S. State Department and the Recording Academy announced Dolly Parton has received the 2024 Peace Through Music Award.

The award honors American music industry professionals, artists, or groups who play an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music work advances peace and mutual understanding globally.

Parton was celebrated at the Grammy Museum in Los Angeles where she gave her acceptance speech in an event hosted by the Recording Academy and the U.S. Department of State. The event also recognizes the first-ever cohort of the American Music Mentorship Program.

“Over the course of her career, Dolly Parton has been committed to enriching communities across the globe, and it’s a privilege to celebrate her dedication to service with the Peace Through Music Award Today,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. “We are grateful to partner with the Department of State on the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, which represents an important part of the Academy’s work to support music people across the globe.”

Dolly Parton is an icon and a force in the music industry, reaching audiences at home and abroad for generations. She was chosen because she embodies all that the Peace Through Music Award represents—understanding, peace, inclusion, and unity. Her selection this year is grounded in her music and public persona and her commitment to children’s education through her Imagination Library. She was also instrumental in funding research for the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Dolly Parton represents the best of America—her excellence in music, her servant’s heart in giving back to those in need, and her unique ability to always bring people together,” adds Lee Satterfield, Acting Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. “On behalf of the American people and Secretary of State Blinken, we are honored to celebrate all of her contributions to people around the world with the Peace Through Music Award.”

The Peace Through Music Award is determined through a nomination process, with U.S. embassies from around the globe submitting nominations to be considered by a selection committee created jointly by both the State Department and the Recording Academy. The selection committee is represented by Recording Academy members, U.S. Department of State leadership, music industry professionals, and academia. The recommended honorees are approved by the CEO of the Recording Academy, then presented to the Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs, who makes the final determination.

Photo Credit: Zach Bryan performing at Crypto.com Arena by Katrina Paisano

Zach Bryan is officially boycotting the 2025 Grammys and refusing to submit his music for consideration. Rather than responding to a snub, however, the singer apparently dislikes the concept of making music competitive.

Country sensation Zach Bryan is notably absent from the massive ballot that recently went out to Grammy voters — specifically available only to Recording Academy members and not the general public — after having declined to submit his work for consideration in any category for the 2025 awards ceremony.

A search of the online ballot by Recording Academy members revealed that Bryan’s name does not appear among the thousands of submissions. Similarly, his albums and songs are not entered for any of the rock, country, or Americana categories in which his work would be most likely to appear. Sources close to the situation confirmed Bryan opted not to submit this year, citing discomfort with awards shows “making music competitive.”

To be fair, that tracks with Bryan’s notably lukewarm attitude toward the music industry, but he has never declined to submit his work for consideration for awards in the past. But he joins the company of the select few elite musicians who have decided to sit it out, namely Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye and Drake (though Drake has since walked back his boycott).

Interestingly, while The Weeknd made the choice after having been shut out of nominations entirely during the year his monster hit “Blinding Lights” exploded on the scene, Zach Bryan made his choice hot on the heels of having won a Grammy earlier in the year.

Bryan’s duet with Kacey Musgraves, “I Remember Everything,” won him his 2024 Grammy, his first, for Best Country Duo/Group Performance. He has received four nominations altogether, with three of those having taken place last year, and one the year prior. Each of his noms was in the country genre, though Bryan does not consider himself strictly a country musician.

A boycott of the process does fit Bryan’s decision to further withdraw from the “music industry machine,” which he has done by asking his label Warner not to promote his music. But he has remained firmly in the zeitgeist in spite of it — and despite a brief controversy last month when he made a comment on social media that he preferred the music of disgraced rapper Kanye West to that of megastar Taylor Swift. He has since apologized and walked back the remark.

Photo Credit: Music Cities Awards

The Music Cities Awards nominations have been revealed. Hearby, Music Innovation Hub, and Opulous were nominated for the ‘Best Digital Innovation to Support Musicians or Music in Cities’ category.

The Music Cities Awards Ceremony will take place December 7-9 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The award is a global competition designed to acknowledge and reward outstanding applications of music for economic, social, environmental, and cultural development in cities across the world. Since its launch in 2020, the MCA’s have become a global showcase of projects using music to make cities better.

The competition covers 11 categories from rewarding the ‘Best Global Music City,’ to spotlighting initiatives working at the intersection of music and technology, diversity, youth engagement, sustainability, real estate, health tourism, night time economy, city planning, and more. With over 300 applications from 19 countries across six continents, the year’s competition highlights the vital role that music plays in shaping the cultural, economic, and social fabric of cities.

Best Digital Innovation to Support Musicians or Music in Cities

The aim of this award is to showcase a leading innovation that is positively impacting the lives of musicians or supporting music in cities. Eligible initiatives include but are not limited to digital innovations that have improved the ability to musicians to make money, improved access to key information, improved how live music is showcased in a city, or improved the lives of musicians when touring. This year’s nominees include:

• Music Innovation Hub (ITA) — Supports Innovative Music Startups
• Hearby, By Area4 Labs (USA) — Reveals the Abundance of Live Music
• Opulous (SGP) — Help Artists Get Funding

The selection process for each category was led by a global jury of 10 high-level professionals working at the front end of music cities topics. They include:

• Annika Park (HKG), Freelance Strategist, Brand/Culture/Innovation
• Christina Ballico (GBR), Lecturer, Music and Visual Culture, University of Aberdeen
• Enrique Avogadro (ARG), Cultural and Creative Promoter, Pulmón Creativo
• Helen Glengarry (AUS), Music Industry Lead, City of Gold Coast
• Khadija El Bennaoui (UAE), Head of Performing Arts, Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi
• Lawrence “Boo” Mitchell (USA), GRAMMY Award-winning engineer, producer, composer, Owner, Royal Studios
• Nada Alhelabi (KSA), General Manager, MDLBEAST Foundation
• Panos A. Panay (USA), President, The Recording Academy
• Raoul Rugamba (RWA), Founder at Hobe Agency & Africa in Colors

Photo Credit: American Music Awards

The AMAs announce the lineup ahead of the 50th anniversary event, featuring Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Mariah Carey, Brad Paisley, and more.

The American Music Awards is gearing up to celebrate its 50th anniversary, and CBS has announced the lineup alongside Dick Clark Productions for the star-studded event. Brad Paisley, Chaka Khan, Gladys Knight, Green Day, Jennifer Hudson, Kane Brown, Mariah Carey, RAYE, and Stray Kids will all perform for the AMAs 50th Anniversary Special.

The two-hour event will also feature appearances by Carrie Underwood, Gloria Estefan, and Jennifer Lopez, as well as a special appearance by Jimmy Kimmel. More performers and guest appearances will be announced in the coming days.

Airing on Sunday, October 6, at 8:00-10:00 PM ET and 5:00-7:00 PM PT on CBS and streaming on Paramount+, the AMAs 50th Anniversary Special celebrates half a century of “groundbreaking music, iconic moments, unforgettable performances, and rich pop culture history.”

Two-time AMA winner Brad Paisley will honor the late Charley Pride, the first AMA winner for Country Male and Country Album, as well as perform his new single. Chaka Khan will celebrate 50 years of achievements by female artists at the AMAs with a special performance of her classic hit, “I Am Every Woman.”

The incomparable Gladys Knight — a seven-time AMA winner who first performed at the event in 1974 — will return to the stage for a performance of “Midnight Train to Georgia.” Three-time AMA winners Green Day will perform their latest No. 1 hit, “Dilemma,” to celebrate the history of rock music at the AMAs.

Jennifer Hudson will honor 22-time AMA winner Whitney Houston — one of the top AMA winners of all time — with a tribute performance. Five-time AMA winner Kane Brown will celebrate the legacy of country music at the AMAs with a performance of classic and current hits.

Meanwhile, to celebrate the 20th anniversary of The Emancipation of Mimi, ten-time AMA winner Mariah Carey will perform a medley of hits from her album. Singer-songwriter RAYE will perform the James Brown classic, “It’s A Man’s Man’s Man’s World” for a retrospective on the American Music Award of Merit. Finally, K-pop sensations Stray Kids will deliver a special performance honoring the legacy of boy bands at the AMAs.

The program will feature themed highlights from the AMAs’ expansive show archives, with segments looking back at the evolution of specific artists and genres, as well as award and performance milestones.

The world’s largest fan-voted award show, the American Music Awards, will return in May 2025.

Photo Credit: MTV Video Music Awards

Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Tyla, Katy Perry, and more clean up with honors at the 2024 MTV VMAs.

The MTV Video Music Awards got pushed back a day due to the presidential debate, so we’ve had to wait until Wednesday night to see the results of this year’s VMAs. And it might come as no surprise to learn that Taylor Swift cleaned up handily with seven wins.

Hosted by Megan Thee Stallion, who also performed during the show, the 2024 VMAs aired live from New York’s UBS Arena. This year’s ceremony was executive produced by Bruce Gillmer and Den of Thieves co-founder Jesse Ignjatovic, and Barb Bialkowski. Alicia Portugal and Jackie Barba served as executives in charge of production, while Wendy Plaut was executive in charge of celebrity talent, and Lisa Lauricella was music talent executive.

Since it took place on September 11, MTV observed the 23rd anniversary of 9/11 by supporting the nonprofit 9/11 Day, organizer of the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, as well as Tuesday’s Children, which serves families who were affected by 9/11.

MTV VMA Winners 2024

• Video of the Year — Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
• Artist of the Year — Taylor Swift
• Song of the Year — Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
• Best New Artist — Chappell Roan
• MTV Push Performance of the Year — June 2024: Le Sserafim – “Easy”
• Best Collaboration — Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
• Best Pop — Taylor Swift
• Best Hip-Hop — Eminem – “Houdini”
• Best R&B — SZA – “Snooze”
• Best Alternative — Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
• Best Rock — Lenny Kravitz – “Human”
• Best Latin — Anitta – “Mil Veces”
• Best Afrobeats — Tyla – “Water”
• Best K-Pop — Lisa – “Rockstar”
• Video for Good — Billie Eilish – “What Was I Made For? (From The Motion Picture ‘Barbie’)”
• Best Direction — Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
• Best Cinematography — Ariana Grande – “we can’t be friends (wait for your love)”
• Best Editing — Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
• Best Choreography — Dua Lipa – “Houdini”
• Best Visual Effects — Eminem – “Houdini”
• Best Art Direction — Megan Thee Stallion – “BOA”
• Best Trending Video — Megan Thee Stallion ft. Yuki Chiba – “Mamushi”
• Best Group — Seventeen
• Song of the Summer — Taylor Swift ft. Post Malone – “Fortnight”
• VMAs Most Iconic Performance — Katy Perry – “Roar”
• Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award — Katy Perry

Photo Credit: AFI

AFI has announced that the world premiere of the ‘Music by John Williams’ documentary will open the 38th AFI Fest in October. Here’s the latest.

The documentary film from Lucasfilm Ltd, Amblin Documentaries and Imagine Documentaries offers a comprehensive look at the prolific life and career of the legendary composer John Williams. From his early days as a jazz pianist to his 54 Oscar nominations and five wins, the documentary celebrates Williams’ countless contributions to the moving image arts, music for the concert stage, and his impact on popular culture.

‘Music by John Williams’ features interviews with Steven Spielberg, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Kate Capshaw, Gustavo Dudamel, J.J. Abrams, Chris Martin, Ron Howard, Chris Columbus, George Lucas, Itzhak Perlman, Lawrence Kasdan, Yo-Yo Ma, Ke Huy Quan, James Mangold, Alan Silvestri, David Newman, Thomas Newman, Seth McFarlane, Annie-Sophie Mutter, and Branford Marsalis. It is directed by Laurent Bouzereau and produced by Steven Spielberg, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Darryl Frank, Justin Falvey, Sarah Bernstein, Justin Wilkes, Meredith Kaulfers, Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Laurent Bouzereau, with Markus Keith and Michael Rosenberg serving as executive producers.

In 2016, John Williams was honored with the AFI Life Achievement Award, becoming the first composer to receive this highest honor for a career in film. Following the premiere, ‘Music by John Williams’ will have a limited theatrical release and will premiere on Disney+ on November 1.

“John Williams is an American icon with a true and timeless global impact,” shares Bob Gazzale, AFI President & CEO. “One could say we are ‘over the moon’ to host the world premiere of the film, but that sentiment would hardly soar without the music of E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial.”

“Growing up in France, I discovered the soundtracks I bought on vinyl ahead of most American movies that would come out months after the U.S. release,” shares the film’s director Laurent Bouzereau. “John Williams was the composer I immediately identified with; his scores made me fall in love with music, and made me realize at a very young age, the power that a score had on cinematic storytelling.”

“This was an important story to tell, not only because it is about one of the greatest composers of all time, but because of the message it carries about the survival of orchestral music, and musicians.”

Photo Credit: MTV

After the first Trump/Harris debate was announced for September 11—the same date as the MTV VMAs—the music awards will now take place one day sooner.

The MTV VMAs were slated to go head-to-head in a ratings battle with the first Trump/Harris presidential debate. Now the awards show is moving to September 10, the day before, avoiding a ratings battle with the debate. The 2024 VMAs will be held at UBS Arena in Long Island, NY and will air live on MTV at 8 pm ET/PT.

Performers at this year’s awards show will include Sabrina Carpenter, Camila Cabello, Chappell Roan, GloRilla, and Rauw Alejandro. This will mark Camila Cabello’s third performance at the MTA VMAs, while her co-performers are all making their respective debuts for the devent.

Nominations were announced earlier this month, with Taylor Swift leading at 10 nominations, followed by Post Malone (9), Ariana Grande (6), Eminem (6), and Sabrina Carpenter (6). GloRilla and Ruaw Alejandro both have three nominations each, while Chappell Roan is up for Best New Artist and MTV Push Performance of the Year.

Interest in the presidential debate is likely to be at an all time high, which posed a problem for the MTV VMAs. The already ratings-challenged awards show would be going up against a juggernaut in ratings—the first Trump/Biden debate drew in more than 50 million viewers. The first Trump/Harris matchup is expected to draw more than that, which would leave the VMAs with an anemic viewership well before the awards get underway.

The 2023 MTV VMAs saw a Taylor Swift sweep, with Swift winning nine of the 11 nominations she received. Other nominees this year include Megan Thee Stallion, SZA, Teddy Swims, LISA, and Dua Lipa. Fans who want to participate in the voting process can head to MTV to see all of the nominees and vote for their favorites.

Photo Credit: Joshua Hoehne

Former president Donald Trump has agreed to an ABC-aired debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, pitting the MTV VMAs against the presidential offering.

ABC has announced that both the former president and the current Vice President have agreed to a September 10 presidential debate. Trump told reporters that he proposed three presidential debates with three different television networks in September. “I think it’s very important to have debates,” he told reporters. “I look forward to the debates because I think we have to set the record straight.”

Harris responded, “I hear that Donald Trump has finally committed to debating me on September 10. I look forward to it.” The debate will air on ABC and will be moderated by David Muir and Linsey Davis, both anchors for World News Tonight. The date is the same for the originally proposed debate between Trump and Biden, before the latter dropped out of the race entirely.

As pointed out by Billboard, the MTV VMAs will be pitted against the first presidential debate. MTV announced the September 10 date for the 2024 edition of the VMAs on April 24, well ahead of that date being chosen for the presidential debate. They will air live at 8 pm ET / PT. It’s expected that the presidential debate will be held without a live audience, much like the first debate.

The first presidential debate this year in June was one of the most consequential debates in television history. Biden’s diminishing performance set off alarm bells with Democrats, who quietly began urging the president to reconsider running. That eventually led to an op-ed from George Clooney and later, President Biden agreeing to cede his spot at the top of the Democratic ticket this year.

More than 51 million Americans watched the first Trump vs. Biden debate live on television, which means the second debate will likely attract an even large audience. It will be the first time the former president goes head-to-head with the new Democratic nominee, meeting face-to-face on the debate stage. How will the MTV VMAs stack up against that, especially for East Coast viewers who must choose which to watch live.

NBC News is also reportedly in discussion with both candidates about a potential debate for September 25, but Kamala Harris has not committed.

Photo Credit: Access Hollywood YouTube

Da da da da da—the D-O-double-G is pulling in the big bucks at the Olympics according to recent scuttlebutt. But just how much is Snoop Dogg making as an Olympic promoter? Here’s the latest.

On Sunday, venture capitalist Henry L. McNamara who is attending the Olympics in Paris tweeted a small tidbit overheard from an NBC executive. “Sat next to an NBC exec at dinner, he said Snoop gets paid $500k a day plus expenses to be here promoting the Olympics. From Gin and Juice to a few million to be a celebrity at the Olympics—what a world.”

While these numbers have not been confirmed, it wouldn’t be surprising given what NBC paid to be the exclusive Olympics broadcaster in the United States. NBC agreed to a $4.38 billion contract in 2011 with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to broadcast through the 2020 games—marking the most expensive television rights deal in Olympic history. NBC then topped that offer in 2014 with a $7.75 billion contract extension to air the Olympic games through 2032.

With Snoop on board this year, NBC has already set a record for advertising review and viewership. Through five days beginning with the opening ceremony, NBC averaged 34 million people a day watching the Olympic coverage, a gain of 19 million compared to the Tokyo Olympics. NBC reports more than $1.25 billion in advertising revenue (a record for Olympics broadcasting) and says it still has plenty of time to sell.

NBC says the focus on celebrities at the event has helped boost those numbers—with Snoop Dogg included. “[NBC] is standing by its decision to make the Olympics more celebrity-focused, saying it creates a social media buzz that helps its telecasts. Cameras frequently catch movie and sports stars alike rooting on Olympic athletes from the stands,” reports the Associated Press.

“We’ve been pleasantly surprised by [Snoop Dogg’s] popularity, but you never underestimate Snoop Dogg,” adds Molly Solomon, Executive Producer of the Olympics. “He’s this wonderful mix of swagger and positivity.”

Snoop Dogg reunited with his ex-convict bestie Martha Stewart during the equestrian team dressage event—sparking lots of interest online. The duo sat in the front row dressed in full equestrian attire, donning matching riding helmets, show coats, jodhpurs, and high boots. Speaking with Today, Martha Stewart says Snoop asked her to attend the equestrian event with him.

“Snoop called me and he knows I love horses,” she says. “He’s a little fearful of horses.” During the broadcast, both Snoop and Martha fed carrots to the horses, with Snoop adding, “This is the first time I’ve ever been this close to a horse.”

Photo Credit: CBS

After a short hiatus and a network hop from NBC to CBS, the American Music Awards (AMAs) will celebrate its 50 year history in October.

CBS and Dick Clark Productions, the parent company of the AMAs, has announced the 50th anniversary AMAs for October 6, 2024. The two-hour broadcast of the AMAs 50th Anniversary Special will air at 8pm ET / 5 pm PT on both CBS and Paramount+.

The American Music Awards 50th Anniversary special will serve as a tribute to the past 50 years and feature dazzling new performances, heartfelt artist interviews, legendary special guests, and exclusive never-before-seen footage from DCP’s extensive archives, highlighting iconic moments that have defined the awards show over the last 50 years and shaping pop culture as we know it.

The program will feature themed highlights from AMAs expansive show archives, each culminating with an original performance or artist interview. Segments will look back on the evolution of specific artists and genres at the AMAs, as well as an award and performance milestones. The performances created just for the AMAs 50th Anniversary special will include collaborations, debuts from today’s hottest stars, and appearances from AMAs legends. Performers will be announced in the coming weeks.

The American Music Awards is the world’s largest fan-voted award show and will be returning fully in May 2025. The show was created by legendary producer and visionary Dick Clark and first awarded in 1974, celebrating the year’s top achievements in music as determined by the fans. The 50th Anniversary special is produced by Dick Clark Productions.

Ratings for the AMAs have been in precipitous decline in recent years, marking an all-time low in 2022 with a 0.6 rating among adults in the 18-49 demographic with just 3.53 million viewers. Shows from 2020 and 2021 fared marginally better, but low ratings on NBC explains the network hop and retooling focusing on the 50th anniversary this year. The height of the AMAs viewership occurred in the 80s, competing with the Grammys in terms of viewership.

Photo Credit: Kevin Kresse

A statue of singer Johnny Cash will be the first likeness of a musician to debut at a dedication ceremony at the US Capitol next month.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) have announced that a statue of singing legend Johnny Cash will be unveiled at a dedicated ceremony at the Capitol next month.

The ceremony will take place in the Emancipation Hall and will be an invitation-only event, according to Johnson and Jeffries in a letter also signed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). Members of the Cash family, as well as members of the Arkansas congressional delegation and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) will also attend the ceremony.

Each state is permitted two statues in the US Capitol, and Cash’s statue will be the second for his home state of Arkansas. In May, the state unveiled a statue of civil rights icon Daisy Bates. Notably, Johnny Cash’s statue will be the first of a musician to debut at the US Capitol.

The news comes five years after then-Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson (R) signed a bill into law that called for the replacement of two statues of figures with ties to the Confederacy. At the time, Hutchinson said the goal was to “update the statues with representatives of our more recent history.”

“We’re especially honored that a statue of my dad has been chosen to represent Arkansas in our nation’s Capitol,” Rosanne Cash, Johnny’s daughter with his first wife, Vivian, said in 2019.

Sculptor Kevin Kresse originally posted photos of the finished statue to his Instagram account in December, 2022, writing: “Although I finished this 8ft. tall sculpture of Johnny Cash 2-3 months ago, I couldn’t take it to the foundry until we received approval from Washington, D.C. for the entire packet — sculpture, pedestal, inscriptions, engineering, etc. Yesterday we received ‘official’ approval from D.C.”

“Although I don’t know when the unveiling will be, I do know that statues of Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash will be the new representatives of Arkansas in the US Capitol,” Kresse continued. “I couldn’t be happier with these choices for Arkansas. I’m also extremely proud to be a native son of Arkansas, getting this opportunity to sculpt an Arkansas icon for the nation’s Capitol.”

Photo Credit: Academy of Country Music

The first round of performers for the 17th ACM Honors has been announced, including Eric Church, Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris, and Keith Urban.

The Academy of Country Music has announced the first round of performers for the 17th Academy of Country Music Honors. These include seven-time ACM Award winner Eric Church, nine-time winner Vince Gill, two-time winner Emmylou Harris, 11-time winner Tyler Hubbard, three-time winner Jamey Johnson, three-time winner Ashley McBryde, two-time winner Darius Rucker, and 15-time winner and 2018 Entertainer of the Year Keith Urban. Performers will take the stage to tribute this year’s Honorees, Walt Aldridge, Tony Brown, Luke Bryan, Alan Jackson, Shannon Sanders, Lainey Wilson, and Trisha Yearwood.

Often cited as the “Country Music Industry’s favorite night,” the ACM Honors will take place on Wednesday, August 21, at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. The show will be hosted by four-time ACM Award winner Carly Pearce, who is returning for the fourth straight year, and ACM Song of the Year winner, Jordan Davis. Additional performers, presenters, and event details will be announced in the coming weeks.

Additionally, the previously announced Artist-Songwriter of the Year winner Chris Stapleton, Songwriter of the Year Jessie Jo Dillon, and Studio Recording Award and Industry Award winners, will be feted at the ACM Honors. Tyler Hubbard, in addition to performing on the show, will present the ACM Studio Recording and Industry Awards portion of the ACM Honors.

Examples of categories from the Studio Recording and Industry Awards include Audio Engineer of the Year, Bass Player of the Year, Casino of the Year, Drummer of the Year, Electric Guitar Player of the Year, Fair/Rodeo of the Year, Piano/Keyboards Player of the Year, Producer of the Year, Specialty Instrument(s) Player of the Year, and Theater of the Year.

Limited tickets for the ACM Honors are currently available through AXS. These also include VIP packages consisting of a ticket in the VIP Artist section (the first seven rows) of the Ryman, a ticket to the VIP pre-party reception with complimentary beverages and light hors d’oeuvres, a commemorative Hatch Show Print poster, parking, and drink tickets.

Photo Credit: Songwriters Hall of Fame

Prince was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame on the 40th anniversary of the release of his semi-autobiographical film, ‘Purple Rain.’

Minneapolis’ Target Center was an ocean of purple on July 27 as fans flocked to celebrate Minnesota’s icon, the late singer Prince, and the 40th anniversary of his semi-autobiographical film, “Purple Rain.” The arena was filled with historic memorabilia from Prince’s Purple Rain era, as fans watched the film before the legend was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Prince Rogers Nelson, known mononymously as Prince, was first elected in 2013 for induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. However, the policy is that a songwriter must personally attend the annual induction and awards gala to be officially inducted, and Prince’s schedule did not permit him to attend for several years. The organization had been working with him to coordinate his schedule, according to President and CEO Linda Moran.

“He reached out at the end of 2015 and said how important the award was to him and that the June 2016 ceremony could work,” said Moran. “We planned that it would be unannounced and a surprise; but unfortunately Prince passed away two months beforehand in April. It has been a long road, but we are thrilled that one of the world’s most prolific and phenomenal songwriters is finally a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.”

Prince’s sister, Sharon L. Nelson, accepted the award from Gilbert Davison, a longtime professional colleague of the artist. Nelson said she has fond memories of her brother walking around writing lyrics on a yellow notepad. “You will always remember his songs,” she said. “This is the award he wanted more than any other in life — to be known as a great songwriter.”

Prince crossed into all genres of music effortlessly, and wrote every song in his catalog. He had 19 songs in the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, and five that went to No. 1, with “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry,” “Kiss,” “Batdance,” and “Cream.” He has sold over 100 million records as an artist, and also wrote hits for other artists, including Sheena Easton, Kenny Rogers, Madonna, Stevie Nicks, Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Kate Bush, and The Bangles.

Some of his hits, which he wrote and recorded, were also covered by other artists and met with tremendous success, including Chaka Khan, Tom Jones, Sinead O’Connor, Alicia Keys, The Pointer Sisters, and Cyndi Lauper.

Photo Credit: Usher and Ashley Gorley for NMPA

The National Music Publishers’ Association announces the top gold and platinum songwriters and certifications for Q1 2024, with Usher racking up 20 certifications after his Super Bowl spot.

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) Gold & Platinum Program has announced the top songwriters for the first quarter of 2024, including the top artist-songwriter and top non-performing songwriter for the period. Across January, February, and March, 1,161 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certifications were awarded.

Usher, published by Sony Music Publishing, was the top artist-songwriter overall, with 20 certifications, including the 5X Platinum “U Got It Bad,” the 4X Platinum “I Don’t Mind,” and the 3X Platinum “Confessions Part II.”

Streams for Usher’s catalog saw a massive surge following his stellar Super Bowl Halftime Show performance back in February. The set made a lot of his existing fans nostalgic for his numerous hits, while new fans were discovering the jams that made Usher a household name during the late ‘90s and early aughts.

The top non-performing songwriter was Ashley Gorley, with eight certifications for songs including the 7X Platinum “Last Night,” the 5X Platinum “Crash My Party,” and the 2X Platinum “Aw Naw.” Gorley is also published by Sony Music Publishing.

“Q1 was huge for Sony Music Publishing,” said NMPA President & CEO David Israelite. “Usher’s hits have lasting power and this proves the enduring popularity of his music. Once again, Ashley Gorley reigns supreme due to his phenomenal country crossover success. We congratulate both of these exceptional songwriters.”

NMPA’s Gold & Platinum Program, in partnership with RIAA’s Gold & Platinum Program, identifies and honors the songwriters behind today’s biggest hits. NMPA confirms songwriters with their music publishers to ensure all appropriate songwriters are recognized for their contribution to an RIAA certified single. Certifications count both sales and on-demand streams towards Gold (500k), Platinum (1k), and Multi-Platinum (2m+) thresholds. Thousands of songwriters have been certified since NMPA’s program began in 2007.

Photo Credit: Loxy!! / CC by 2.0

Donald Glover calls out the BET Awards over his lack of wins, questioning why he has the same number of awards as white English artist Sam Smith: “It’s the Black Entertainment Television Awards — how much more entertaining do I have to do?”

Donald Glover, better known in the music world by his stage name Childish Gambino, is a formidable talent across singing, acting, and comedy. But despite the amount of Black-oriented entertainment content under his belt, he still shares the same number of BET Awards as white, English singer-songwriter Sam Smith.

Glover took the stage on Sunday to present rapper Killer Mike with the award for Album of the Year — but before that, he also seized the opportunity to call out the BET Awards for overlooking his own work for much of his career.

“This isn’t personal, but I just feel like I should have more BET Awards,” said Glover. “I’m serious. It’s the Black Entertainment Television Awards — how much more entertaining do I have to do? Because it’s just the math of the fact… It doesn’t really make sense.”

The former “Community” star went on to highlight the number of BET Awards he’s received, bringing attention to what he considers ironies and inconsistencies in the voting system as it pertains to Black versus white artists.

“I have more Grammys than Will Smith, which makes no sense, but I have the same amount of BET Awards as Sam Smith. Does that make sense to you guys?” Glover continued. “Me and Sam Smith are neck and neck at the Black Entertainment Television Awards.”

Glover concluded by half-jokingly stating that he would be willing to star in the network’s most telecasted film, “Baby Boy,” if it meant BET would show him more recognition. “If I have to do a ‘Baby Boy’ remake or something, just let me know; I’ll have Jonathan Majors put me in a headlock, shave my head — I’ll do it.”

Donald Glover won his only BET Award for Video of the Year in 2019, for “This Is America.” Sam Smith’s came in 2015 for Best New Artist, beating out Rae Sremmurd, DeJ Loaf, Tinashe, Bobby Shmurda, and Fetty Wap.

In addition to his remarks, Donald Glover also shared the trailer debut for his upcoming film, “Bando Stone & The New World,” which shares its title with his forthcoming sixth and final album under the name Childish Gambino. The project releases on July 19.

For A2IM IndieWeek 2024, the music industry convened at the InterContinental Hotel in Times Square. From panel discussions and sharing insights and knowledge to networking, A2IM IndieWeek offered something for everyone.

A2IM IndieWeek 2024 drew labels, distributors, DSPs, agencies, and other members of the music community — sparking in-depth discussions among music industry leaders. Panels navigated the dynamic nature of marketing trends, leveraging social media platforms, building diverse revenue streams for artists, the role of AI, data, neighboring rights, and more.

Anthony Brown from Influencer collaboration platform Breakr spoke on some early brand marketing successes in his panel, “Brand-tastic; How Can Labels Engage Brands for Their Emerging Artist?”

Brown said about Breakr’s partnership with KitKat, “They basically wanted to do a six-city tour exploring black music — wanted to find influencers, major artists, and emerging artists to tell unique stories in each city. In DC, we studied the history of Gogo, and in Detroit, we studied funk and house, and in Memphis, we went deep into R&B and how gospel music affected those stories. If they went in there on their own, they wouldn’t have known who to touch in authentic ways to tell those stories.”

Nikki Cox, Chief Marketing Officer at Red Bull Records, was asked to summarize music marketing in 2024 during her panel, “Unlocking Global Success: Navigating International DSPs and Marketing.”

Cox said, “It’s everything everywhere all at once.”

During his panel, “Maximizing Your Catalog: Label Strategies Unveiled,” Open On Sunday’s Don McGill explained catalog evaluations and how they source these lucrative deals.

“We have a network of what we call Market Development Partners, essentially catalog brokers,” McGill said, adding, “They find catalogs for us, but we also source a ton of deals through lawyers, managers, and sometimes friends in the industry — just people that you pick up along the way.”

The MMF-US Summit featured its own set of panels. Peter Leathem from PPL spoke about neighboring rights and said that for US performers, there are “some big opportunities.”

Shilpa Sadagopan from SoundOn discussed drafting targeted campaigns leveraging social platforms like TikTok. “We were able to tap into the global International market for SoundOn quickly and activate campaigns across ten different markets, including over 4,600 commissioned videos from our campaigns and over 100 million views. So, I think that also shows our capability to quickly react when you see something happening on the platform.”

New York still serves as one of the biggest music hubs in the world, making it the perfect forum for off-site networking and events.

Held at Kaufman Music Center, The Music Investor Conference was well attended.

Artist and songwriter Jessica Lattman (JeLa) was there to make connections and promote her music better. “I came here to find out how to do my distribution, promotion, and how to get my solo artist project going,” Lattman said.

Caribbean artist Sabi Pitt was looking to do the same. “I’m here networking, trying to get distribution, trying to get some more marketing, and taking it to another level because the world needs positive music right now.”

And we must remember the nightlife. After all, it’s the city that never sleeps.

The ADA party was packed with people networking at the bar and cutting loose on the dance floor. Not to be outdone, the Czech Showcase took it to the rooftops of New York as performers from Prague rocked the crowd well into the night.

From artists and songwriters to label executives and business owners, A2IM IndieWeek once again proved to be the place where the music industry connects.

A2IM IndieWeek 2024 took place June 10th to June 13th, 2024.

Photo Credit: Amazon Music

The Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. was recently accosted by TMZ’s paparazzo asking about Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us.”

Kendrick Lamar shot a music video for the track in Compton over the weekend, which will breathe new life into the Drake diss track. He also held a one-off concert at the Kia Forum in Inglewood, California on June 19—playing “Not Like Us” six times back to back as the audience sang along with him. Harvey Mason Jr. says he’s feeling the cultural avalanche of the track’s relevance much like everyone else.

“Obviously it’s a hot record,” Mason Jr. says. “Amazing artistry, great writing. The talent on that record is incredible, Kendrick obviously has been successful with the organization so I don’t see any reason why it couldn’t be [nominated for a Grammy.] It’s all about the quality of the record. It’s about the members. If the members like it, it’ll be nominated.”

Following the Grammy ask, Mason was asked if he thought the diss aspect of the track would be a problem in scoring a nomination.

“I think the voting members of the Academy appreciate greatness,” Mason continues. “They appreciate what’s hot, what’s going on. That’s a relevant record that’s impacting on so many levels. So much creativity and talent. I like to believe that the Academy members recognize that and vote appropriately.”

TMZ also asked Mason if a new category would be added to the Grammys in the future, perhaps “Best Diss Track.” Again, Mason says that’s up to the voting members of the Academy. “If the members want it, it will be nominated,” he reiterates before stepping away from being interviewed.

Kendrick Lamar recently shared photos of he and DJ Mustard dancing to the song in front of Tam’s Burgers as people in the background sing along. Another video posted shows fans bouncing along to the beat while Lamar raps near the Compton Courthouse. It’s currently unclear when the music video for “Not Like Us” will drop, but when it does you can bet it will soar back to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Photo Credit: Alan Jackson for the Nashville Songwriters Association International

The Nashville Songwriters Association International brings the 7th annual Nashville Songwriter Awards back to the Ryman Auditorium on September 24, where Alan Jackson will receive the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award.

Today, the Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI), alongside presenting partner City National Bank, announces the return of the Nashville Songwriter Awards at the Ryman Auditorium on September 24. The seventh edition of the celebration will honor the peer voted “10 Songs I Wish I’d Written” awards, Songwriter-Artist of the Year, and will recognize individuals who have had tremendous influence in the world of songwriting.

The organization’s highest honor of the evening, the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, will be presented to legendary songwriter and recording artist Alan Jackson, who has earned an impressive list of awards throughout his career. He has been recognized by the Grammys, the Academy of Country Music (ACM), the Country Music Association (CMA), and the American Music Awards (AMAs), as well as stars on both the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Music City Walk of Fame.

In 2012, Jackson was awarded CMA’s Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award, and in 2017, he was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. With 26 No. 1 songs under his belt during his 30-year career, Jackson’s impact on songwriting and the music industry is etched in history.

“When the NSAI Board of Directors chose Alan Jackson as this year’s recipient of the Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award, I knew they had made a fantastic choice,” said Jennifer Turnbow, NSAI Chief Operating Officer. “I was eager to craft a segment of our annual awards show around his work as a songwriter. But it wasn’t until I really studied his body of work and recalled decades of his songs that I realized just how deserving he was of this recognition.”

“Alan’s songs, many of which he wrote by himself, have marked significant moments in time and are etched into the memories of multiple generations. Choosing only a handful of his many hits to highlight in a celebration of his career will be incredibly challenging — that I’m looking forward to!”

“City National Bank has supported the music industry from the first day we opened our doors in 1954 and we are especially proud of our work in the beloved country music and local Nashville communities,” added Diane Pearson and Lori Badgett, Co-Manager of City National Entertainment in Nashville. “On behalf of City National, we congratulate the incomparable Alan Jackson for his Kris Kristofferson Lifetime Achievement Award. For decades, Alan, as both an artist and a songwriter, has delivered the most inspirational, motivational, and uplifting music, and we applaud the recognition of his eloquent songwriting artistry.”

Each year, NSAI’s Board President has the opportunity to present an individual with the President’s Keystone Award, and this year the incomparable producer and songwriter Buddy Cannon will be celebrated to honor his significant contributions to the industry and betterment of all songwriters.

Best known for his work producing Kenny Chesney and Willie Nelson, Cannon got his start playing bass for Bob Luman and Mel Tillis. As an A&R executive, he contributed to signing and developing Shania Twain and Billy Ray Cyrus, and in the studio, he shepherded projects by Alison Krauss, George Jones, Reba McEntire, Joe Nichols, John Michael Montgomery, and many more.

Beginning this year, NSAI will also commemorate one song chosen by NSAI’s professional songwriting members as the “Legendary Song” of its time, starting with songs from 1967 to 1983. The NSAI board of directors selected 10 impactful songs in the given range, and the pro membership anonymously voted to determine the winning song. The first Legendary Song Award recipient will be revealed and performed at the show.

A performer announcement and ticket information will be revealed in the coming weeks, with an on-sale set for July 26.

Photo Credit: L. Busacca/Getty Images for Songwriters Hall Of Fame

The 53rd induction ceremony for the Songwriters Hall of Fame saw R.E.M. reunite for the first time in 15 years. The even celebrated inductees including Timbaland, Steely Dan, and more.

R.E.M.’s Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe were on hand at the ceremony, stunning audiences with an acoustic performance of “Losing My Religion.” After the performance, Michael Stipe told the audience, “We are R.E.M., and this is what we did.”

Musical icons Hillary Lindsey, Timothy Mosley (Timbaland), Dean Pitchford, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, and Michael Stipe performing as R.E.M., and Walt Becker and Donald Fagan performing as Steely Dan were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. Diane Warren received the Johnny Mercer Award, while SZA received the Hal David Starlight Award.

The evening kicked off with a special performance of Irena Cara’s “Fame,” performed by Rodney Chrome, Molly Kate Kestner, Sierra “Spirit” Kihega, Ava Liv Mabry, and Matilda Marigolds. Aftward, Deniece Williams took the stage to begin the induction of Dean Pitchford with her 1984 hit, “Let’s Hear It For the Boy” of Footlose fame. Kevin Bacon and musician Michael Bacon then performed “Footloose” before inducting Dean, saying his writing has “inspired us all to reach for our dreams. Pitchford performed “Once Before I Go” after his induction.

Manager Irving Azoff began the honors for Steely Dan, naming them among the best bans ever and stating, “their records will be recognized as iconic for the rest of time.” Trey Anastasio took to the stage to perform several Steely Dan hits including “Kid Charlemagne” and “Reelin’ In The Years.” Trey inducted the duo, stating that they together “created a body of work that defied categorization—masterful, thought-provoking, elegantly melodic songs filled with beautifully flawed, deeply human, and believable characters.”

Nile Rodgers took the stage next to honor SZA with the Hal David Starlight Award, which is presented to young songwriters who make a significant impact on the music industry with their original songs. SZA then performed her hit, “Snooze” from her sophomore album SOS.

Carrie Underwood kicked off the induction for Hillary Lindsey with a powerful performance of “Jesus Take The Wheel” from her album Some Hearts. Underwood bestowed the title “queen of modern Nashville songwriting” to Hillary Lindsey while Keith Urban joined her on-stage for the induction. Hillary then performed a rendition of Lady Gaga’s “Million Reasons,” followed by a duet with Keith Urban for “Blue Ain’t Your Color.”

Missy Elliot took the stage to induct frequent collaborator and friend Timbaland, crediting the rapper and producer for “changing the cadence of hip-hop.” Timbaland claimed the induction is his best award to receive and performed a medley of music from “Big Pimpin’,” “Pony,” “SexyBack,” “Get Your Freak On,” “Drunk In Love,” “Promiscuous,” and “Suit & Tie.”

R.E.M. was the final induction of the evening, with Jason Isbell taking the stage to perform the song “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine).” The band played together for the first time in 15 years, performing “Losing My Religion.”

Diane Warren was awarded the Johnny Mercer Award at the end of the program—the highest honor bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame. “Songwriting isn’t something I do, it’s who I am and what I live and breathe for every day of my life,” Warren told the audience upon accepting her award.

Photo Credit: Country Music Hall of Fame

The Recording Academy has shared some rule changes and updates for the 67th Annual Grammy Awards in 2025. Here’s a peek at the changes.

Key updates include adjustments to eligibility criteria, category renaming, and the introduction of new guidelines for categories including Songwriter Of The Year, Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album, and Best Dance/Electronic Music Album among others. These amendments were voted on and passed at the Recording Academy’s semiannual Board of Trustees meeting in May—all changes will be effective immediately for the 2025 Grammy Awards.

2025 Grammy Awards Eligibility, Criteria & Submission Guidelines Amendments

All eligible-credited Featured Artists with under 50% playtime will be awarded a Winners’ Certificate for all genre album categories, with the exception of the Best Musical Theater Album, the General Field, or Craft categories.

For Songwriter Of The Year, Non-Classical, the following submission guidelines were amended to allow for winder representation of the songwriter community. The minimum submission threshold in which a songwriter is credited as songwriter or co-writer has been reduced from five to four songs. The additional number of songs a songwriter may enter in which they are credited as primary or featured artist or another supporting role has increased from four to five.

The Best Traditional R&B Performance Category criteria was amended to more accurately represent the recordings that embody the classical elements of R&B/Soul music, distinguishing them from contemporary interpretations.

The Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Category criteria was amended to expand the category by broadening its scope and welcoming more entries from the Musical Theater community. Additionally, album eligibility criteria was updated to require albums in this category must contain more than 75% of newly recorded (previously unreleased) performances.

The Best Children’s Music Album Category criteria was amended to include a requirement that lyrics and English language translations must be included with entry submissions. Audience age range for this category was further defined as infant to 12-years-old.

Grammy Award Category Adjustments for 2025

The Best Remixed Recording Category has moved from Production, Engineering, Composition & Arrangement Field into the Pop & Dance/Electronic Field.

The category formerly known as Best Pop Dance Recording has been renamed Best Dance Pop Recording.

The Best Dance/Electronic Music Album Category was renamed to Best Dance/Electronic Album and the category criteria was amended to establish that albums must be made up of at least 50% Dance/Electronic recordings to qualify.

Conjunto Music will now be recognized in the Best Regional Roots Music Album category, rather than the Best Música Mexicana Album category.

The Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media Category was amended to include a qualification for released material, specifically new downloaded content (DLC) and seasonal expansions. The updated qualification establishes that greater than 50% of the music on an eligible Video Game Soundtrack must be derived from new episodes or new programming released during the Grammy eligibility year for which it is entered.

Photo Credit: Akein O. Brown / CC by 3.0

BET announces the latest additions to the BET Awards 2024 lineup, including Ice Spice, Tyle, Ms. Lauryn Hill, and YG Marley. They join the previously announced performers GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét.

The list of performers for this year’s BET Awards just got bigger, as BET announced the addition of Ms. Lauryn Hill and her son YG Marley, as well as Ice Spice and Tyla. They’ll hit the stage along with previously announced performers GloRilla, Latto, Muni Long, Sexyy Red, Shaboozey, and Victoria Monét, with Tanner Adell performing on the BET Amplified stage. The show kicks off on Sunday, June 30, at 8 PM on BET.

Multi-hyphenate actor and philanthropist Taraji P. Henson returns to host the 2024 BET Awards, where Usher will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement BET Award. Drake leads this year’s nominations with seven nods, followed by Nicki Minaj, who has six. Victoria Monét, SZA, Sexyy Red, and J. Cole each have five nominations, while Beyonce, Doja Cat, Megan Thee Stallion, Tyla, and Usher each have four.

It’s a big year for female musicians, with GloRilla, Ice Spice, Latto, and Sexyy Red all nominated for Best Female Hip-Hop Artist. Tyla’s four noms include Best New Artist, Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, Best International Act, and a Viewer’s Choice Award nomination for her hit, “Water.”

Tanner Adell and Shaboozey, both of whom appeared on Beyonce’s Cowboy Carter, bring a country twang to this year’s awards show as they celebrate the success of their respective singles, “Whiskey Blues” and “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

Last year’s lineup included performances from Coco Jones, GloRilla, Doechii, Lil Uzi Vert, Latto, Ice Spice, Quavo, Offset, and more. The BET Awards have been the No. 1 cable award show among all adults 18-49 for the last three consecutive years. Further, it has been the No. 1 cable award show among Black adults aged 18-49 for 22 consecutive years.

The 2024 BET Awards will air live on June 30 in Los Angeles, on the BET network beginning at 8 PM ET/PT. Voting for this year’s Viewer’s Choice Award continues until June 30 at 6:30 PM PT / 9:30 PM ET.

Photo Credit: Amani Nation

The Recording Academy has announced it has reached agreements with the Ministries of Culture and key stakeholders in the Middle East and Africa to extend its efforts to support music creators on a global scale.

The Recording Academy is now working with the Ministries of Culture in Kenya, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and Nigeria; the Department of Culture and Tourism in Abu Dhabi for the United Arab Emirates, the Rwanda Development Board, and the Ministry of Sports, Arts, and Culture in South Africa. Additionally, the Recording Academy has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOUs) with Ghana and the Ivory Coast.

Through these newly announced agreements, the Academy will collaborate with its partners on a framework to bolster the Academy’s presence and services in these rapidly growing music regions—taking its mission international. The Recording Academy says it aims to champion music creators at all levels, empower creators through enhanced training with its GRAMMY GO online learning platform, produce original content, and enhance support for existing members in these regions.

As a cornerstone of this initiative, the Recording Academy will publish a series of reports highlighting the Academy’s research and insights into these music markets. It will also advocate for strong intellectual property legislation and protections for music creators in each of these regions.

“This is exciting because music is one of humanity’s greatest natural resources,” says CEO Harvey Mason Jr. “It is critical that the people who dedicate themselves to creating music have support, resources, and opportunities, no matter where they are from.”

“The Recording Academy is dedicated to supporting music creators around the world,” adds Panos A. Pany, Recording Academy President. “Our expansion efforts in to these fast-growing regions reflect our commitment to fostering a truly global music community, where creators at every stage of their careers and from every corner of the world have the resources and support they need to thrive.”

Photo Credit: Ben Childers / CC by 4.0

Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton claim top honors at the 59th annual ACM Awards. Wilson won Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Event of the Year, while Stapleton took home awards for Album of the Year, Male Entertainer of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year.

The 59th annual ACM Awards, held at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas and hosted by 16-time ACM Awards winner Reba McEntire, saw some powerful performances in addition to the awards ceremony. Luke Combs led with eight nominations, while Morgan Wallen and Megan Moroney — the most nominated woman this year — tied in second place with six nominations.

The star-studded performances included sets from Jelly Roll, Miranda Lambert, Kelsea Ballerini, a duet from Blake Shelton and wife Gwen Stefani, Nate Smith featuring Avril Lavigne, and Post Malone’s first performance at a country music awards show. Malone is dropping his first country album later this year.

Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton, who cleaned up the night by taking home the show’s most coveted awards, both gave stunner performances; Stapleton surprised music fans everywhere by bringing Dua Lipa onstage for a killer performance alongside his wife Morgane.

Wilson ultimately won Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, and Event of the Year, while Stapleton took home awards for Album of the Year, Male Entertainer of the Year, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year. Wilson’s win for Music Event of the Year was shared with first-time nom Jelly Roll for their collaboration on his “Save Me.”

Other big winners of the night included Megan Maroney and Nate Smith (Female/Male Best New Artists), Jessie Jo Dillon (Best Songwriter), and Old Dominion (Best Group). Unsurprisingly, Luke Combs took home Single of the Year for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” and Jordan Davis won Song of the Year for “Next Thing You Know.”

The full list of ACM Awards nominees and winners is below:

Entertainer of the Year

• Kane Brown
• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton
• Morgan Wallen
• Lainey Wilson — Winner

Female Artist of the Year

• Kelsea Ballerini
• Ashley McBryde
• Megan Moroney
• Kacey Musgraves
• Lainey Wilson — Winner

Male Artist of the Year

• Luke Combs
• Jelly Roll
• Cody Johnson
• Chris Stapleton — Winner
• Morgan Wallen

Duo of the Year

• Brooks & Dunn
• Brothers Osbourne
• Dan + Shay — Winner
• Maddie & Tae
• The War and Treaty

Group of the Year

• Flatland Cavalry
• Lady A
• Little Big Town
• Old Dominion — Winner
• Zac Brown Band

New Female Artist of the Year

• Kassi Ashton
• Ashley Cooke
• Hannah Ellis
• Kylie Morgan
• Megan Moroney — Winner

New Male Artist of the Year

• ERNEST
• Kameron Marlow
• Dylan Scott
• Conner Smith
• Nate Smith — Winner

New Duo or Group of the Year

• Neon Union
• Restless Road
• Tigirlily Gold — Winner

Album of the Year

• Gettin’ Old – Luke Combs
• Higher – Chris Stapleton — Winner
• Leather – Cody Johnson
• One Thing at a Time – Morgan Wallen
• Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (For Good) – Kelsea Ballerini

Single of the Year

• “Burn It Down” – Parker McCollum
• “Fast Car” – Luke Combs — Winner
• “Last Night” – Morgan Wallen
• “Need a Favor” – Jelly Roll
• “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis

Song of the Year

• “Fast Car” – Luke Combs
• “Heart Like a Truck” – Lainey Wilson
• “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis — Winner
• “The Painter” – Cody Johnson
• “Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney

Music Event of the Year

• “Can’t Break Up Now” – Old Dominion with Megan Moroney
• “Different ‘Round Here” – Riley Green with Luke Combs
• “I Remember Everything” – Zach Bryan with Kacey Musgraves
• “Man Made a Bar” – Morgan Wallen with Eric Church
• “Save Me” – Jelly Roll with Lainey Wilson — Winner

Visual Media of the Year

• “Burn It Down” – Parker McCollum — Winner
• “Human” – Cody Johnson
• “In Your Love” – Tyler Childers
• “Next Thing You Know” – Jordan Davis
• “Tennessee Orange” – Megan Moroney

Songwriter of the Year

• Jessie Jo Dillon — Winner
• Ashley Gorley
• Hillary Lindsey
• Chase McGill
• Josh Thompson

Artist-Songwriter of the Year

• Zach Bryan
• ERNEST
• HARDY
• Chris Stapleton — Winner
• Morgan Wallen

Is Music Biz 2024 attendee information for sale online? Seemingly unauthorized email sales offers are raising related questions. Photo Credit: Music Business Association

Music Biz 2024 kicked off on Monday, attracting thousands of industry professionals to Nashville. But is valuable attendee information being sold online?

That question is taking center stage after Digital Music News received multiple unsolicited emails advertising purported Music Biz attendee information. The relevant messages were sent from a Gmail address by an individual identified only as ‘Christina.’

As a result, the offer doesn’t appear to have come from a legitimate source or otherwise been endorsed by the Music Business Association. At the time of this writing, though, the organization hadn’t responded to a request for comment.

Update (5/14): Music Biz has now responded, noting that they do not sell their attendee lists: “Music Biz does not sell its lists. Period.” 

The email itself indicates that the all-encompassing list contains Music Biz attendees’ company names, contact details (email addresses and phone numbers), titles, websites, and additional information yet.

Also in the text, which has a decidedly straightforward subject reading “Music Biz 2024,” are multiple unnecessary capitalizations (the email doesn’t look to have been written with particular attentiveness) and a clear-cut call to reach out for further details such as pricing specifics.

Time could reveal the exact source of the attendee-info offer, the motivation behind which – cashing in on useful and relatively high-value data – is apparent enough. In the absence of concrete answers from organizers, possibilities that come to mind include a hack of some kind, which wouldn’t be without precedent in the contemporary industry.

To be sure, it was only in 2020 that credit-card hacks reportedly impacted a number of Warner Music customers – spurring several class-action complaints in the process. Admittedly, knowledge about conference attendees, while best left unsold to third parties without authorization, doesn’t seem as significant as stolen payment info.

Other potential explanations include a profit-minded operation spearheaded by someone with access to the appropriate database.

The scenario, far from being outside the realm of possibility, is central to a distributor-versus-distributor lawsuit involving a former employee’s alleged unauthorized access to a proprietary database.

In any event, before wrapping this Thursday, May 16th, Music Biz is expected to feature as speakers execs from Tunecore, SESAC, and Round Hill, to name just a few of the many higher-ups. As described by the event, Music Biz 2023 attracted north of 2,100 attendees from over 800 companies and 30 nations; the email offer, while unclear in this regard, appears to reference 3,200 attendees for the 2024 installment.

Photo Credit: Lester Cohen / Getty Images for ASCAP

The American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP) has announced the winners of its 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Awards.

Olivia Rodrigo and co-writer Daniel Nigro dominated the charts last year with “vampire” and “bad idea right?”, claiming the ASCAP Pop Music Songwriters of the Year distinction. This is the second win for Olivia Rodrigo, who first scored the honor in 2022.

British avant-pop and electric sensation Charli XCX receives the ASCAP Global Impact Award for the worldwide popularity of her music. Charli is gearing up for the release of her sixth studio album, BRAT on June 7 and a North American tour with Troye Sivan.

“Calm Down” performed by Rema and featuring Selena Gomez wins ASCAP Pop Song of the Year. Co-written by Rema, Gomez, Michael “LONDON” Hunter, Amanda “Kiddo AI” Ibanez and Andre Vibez, the song topped the Billboard Pop, Adult Pop and Rhythmic Airplay charts, hitting #3 on the Billboard Hot 100. “Calm Down” is published by Hook Like Behavior, Kobalt Music Publishing, Livelihood Music Company, SMG Tunes, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, and Warner Chappell Music.

Publisher of the Year goes to Universal Music Publishing Group for songs including “Calm Down,” “Cuff It” (Beyonce), “Dance the Night” (Dua Lipa), “Barbie World” (Nicki Minaj & Ice Spice with Aqua), “Lavender Haze” (Taylor Swift), “Paint the Town Red” (Doja Cat), “Star Walkin’” (Lil Nas X), and “Sure Thing” (Miguel).

Other 2024 ASCAP Pop Music Award-winning songwriters include Mariah Carey and Walter Afanasieff (“All I Want For Christmas Is You”), Dua Lipa (“Dance the Night”), Noah Kahan (“Dial Drunk”), St. Vincent (“Cruel Summer”), Meghan Trainor (“Made You Look”), and Leon Thomas (“Snooze”).

The ASCAP Pop Music Awards honor songwriters and publishers of the most-performed ASCAP pop songs of 2023. The winning songs are determined by data on terrestrial and satellite radio and for programmed and on-demand audio streams, all provided by Luminate Data LLC in accordance with ASCAP’s publicly available rules.

ASCAP 2024 Pop Music Awards

• Global Impact Award | Charlie XCX
• Songwriters of the Year | Olivia Rodrigo & Daniel Nigro
• Song of the Year | “Calm Down” (Writers: Selena Gomez, Michael “LONDON” Hunter, Amanda “Kiddo A.I.” Ibanez, Rema, Andrew Vibez | Publishers: Hook Like Behavior, Kobalt Music Publishing, Livelihood Music Company, SMG Tunes, Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publshing Group, Warner Chappell Music)
• Publisher of the Year | Universal Music Publishing Group

MOST PERFORMED SONGS:

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU

• Writers: Walter Afanasieff, Mariah Carey,
• Publishers: BEYONDIDOLIZATION, Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, Tamal Vista Music, Universal Music Publishing Group

ALL MY LIFE

• Writers: Lukasz “dr. luke” Gottwald, Theron Thomas
• Publishers: Kasz Money Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing, THOMASSTARTING5

BABY DON’T HURT ME

• Writers: Mike Hawkins, Toby Green, David Guetta, Karin Hartmann, Akil “worldwidefresh” King, Tony Hendrik, Steve Mac
• Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing, Reservoir Media, d/b/a Shapiro, Bernstein & Co, Inc., Sony Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music

BAD IDEA RIGHT?

• Writers: DANIEL NIGRO, OLIVIA RODRIGO
• Publishers: DANIEL LEONARD NIGRO MUSIC, LIV LAF LUV, Sony Music Publishing

BARBIE WORLD

• Writers: Rene Dif, Claus Norreen, Lene Nystrøm, Johnny Pedersen, Søren Rasted
• Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music

BLOODY MARY

• Writers: DJ White Shadow, DJ Snake
• Publishers: Maxwell & Carter Publishing, Primary Wave Music, Songs of Peer Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group

CHEMICAL

• Writers: Louis Bell, Billy Walsh
• Publishers: Bell Ear Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, WMMW Publishing

CREEPIN’

• Writers: Chauncey Hawkins, Erick Sermon, PND
• Publishers: Sony Music Publishing, Hot Heat Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Notting Dale Songs Inc., Spirit Music Group

CRUEL SUMMER

• Writer: ANNIE CLARK
• Publishers: Hipgnosis Songs Group, NAIL POLISH MANIFESTO MUSIC

CUFF IT

• Writers: Blu June, The-Dream, Morten “Rissi” Ristorp, Beyoncé, Allen McGrier, Raphael Saadiq
• Publishers: Eleven Eleven Studios, Sony Music Publishing, Halla!Halla! Publishing, MC NELLA MUSIC, Midnight Magnet Music Publishing, Oakland 13 Music, Roynet Music, Ugmoe Music, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music

DANCE THE NIGHT

• Writer: Dua Lipa
• Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner-Olive Music

DAYLIGHT

• Writer: Hayden Hubers
• Publisher: Haydmusic

DIAL DRUNK

• Writer: Noah Kahan
• Publishers: Secret Meadow Songs, Sony Music Publishing

EYES CLOSED

• Writers: MAX MARTIN, Shellback
• Publisher: Kobalt Music Publishing

FAST CAR

• Writer: Tracy Chapman
• Publisher: Purple Rabbit Music

FORGET ME

• Writers: Lewis Capaldi, Pete “Merf” Kelleher, Ben Kohn, Philip Plested
• Publishers: BMG, Sony Music Publishing

FUKUMEAN

• Writer: Florion Ongonga
• Publishers: Florion Ongonga, Warner Chappell Music

GOLDEN HOUR

• Writers: JVKE, Zac Lawson
• Publishers: JVKE SONGZ, Kobalt Music Publishing, Melodies of Seventy7 Music, ZVC SONGZ

GREEDY

• Writer: Amy Allen
• Publisher: Warner Chappell Music

HOLD ME CLOSER

• Writers: Bernie Taupin, Henry “Cirkut” Walter
• Publishers: Cirkut Breaker LLC, Critter Toons, Universal Music Publishing Group

HOW DO I SAY GOODBYE

• Writer:
• Jon Hume

JADED

• Writer: Greg Kurstin
• Publishers: Sony Music Publishing, Kurstin Music

JIMMY COOKS

• Writers: 21 Savage, Anderson “Vinylz” Hernandez
• Publishers: Slaughter Gang, Virgoat, Warner Chappell Music

JUST WANNA ROCK

• Writers: Mohamed Camara, Lil Uzi Vert
• Publishers: Anthems of Platinum Grammar, ASCAPUZI, McVertt LLC, Warner Chappell Music

LAST NIGHT

• Writers: Ashley Gorley, JACOB “JKASH” HINDLIN
• Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing, Domain Capital Group, Poppy’s Picks, Prescription Songs, RAP KINGPIN MUSIC, Sony Music Publishing

LAVENDER HAZE

• Writer: Zoe Kravitz
• Publishers: Universal Music Publishing Group, ZOE KRAVITZ PUBLISHING

LIFT ME UP

• Writer: Ryan Coogler
• Publishers: MARVEL COMICS MUSIC INC, Walt Disney Music Company

LIL BOO THANG

• Writers: Sean Cook, Al McKay, Paul Russell, Maurice White
• Publishers: Sony Music Publishing, Paul Jeffrey Russell Music, Steel Chest Music, Warner Chappell Music

MADE YOU LOOK

• Writer: Meghan Trainor
• Publishers: I Love Tommy Bruce Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

NEED A FAVOR

• Writers: Austin Nivarel, Joe Ragosta
• Publishers: Austin Nivarel Publishing, BMG, Sony Music Publishing

NONSENSE

• Writer: Steph Jones
• Publishers: Hipgnosis Songs Group, Steph Jones Who Music, Walt Disney Music Company

PAINT THE TOWN RED

• Writers: Burt Bacharach, Hal David, Jean Baptiste
• Publishers: BMG, Kobalt Music Publishing, LORD PHARAOH JB MUSIC, New Hidden Valley Music Co, Primary Wave Music, Fuji Music Group, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group

RICH FLEX

• Writers: Charles Bernstein, 21 Savage, Tip “T.I.” Harris, Anderson “Vinylz” Hernandez
• Publishers: Pimp Squad Publishing, Slaughter Gang, Turnstyle Music, Virgoat, Warner Chappell Music

SEARCH & RESCUE

• Writers: Jeremiah Raisen, Wesley Curtis, Noah “40” Shebib
• Publishers: Heavy Duty Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Roncesvalles Music Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

SHIRT

• Writer: Robert “Freaky Rob” Gueringer
• Publisher: ROB GUERINGER LLC

SINGLE SOON

• Writers: Selena Gomez, JACOB “JKASH” HINDLIN, Phil Phever
• Publishers: High Phever Music, Kobalt Music Publishing, Prescription Songs, RAP KINGPIN MUSIC, SMG Tunes, Universal Music Publishing Group

SNAP

• Writers: Jeremy “Kinetics” Dussolliet, Courtney Harrell
• Publishers: DYLANBOY MUSIC LLC, Kinetics and One Love, Kobalt Music Publishing, Lemondreams, Warner Chappell Music

SNOOZE

• Writer: Leon Thomas
• Publishers: Eclectic Collective Publishing, Sony Music Publishing

SPIN BOUT U

• Writers: 21 Savage, Tenaia Sanders, Noah “40” Shebib
• Publishers: Kobalt Music Publishing, OOB PRODUCTIONS, Roncesvalles Music Publishing, Slaughter Gang, Warner Chappell Music

STAR WALKIN’ (LEAGUE OF LEGENDS WORLDS ANTHEM)

• Writer: Henry “Cirkut” Walter
• Publishers: Cirkut Breaker LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group

SUNSHINE

• Writers: Alexander “A.E.” Edwards, Asher Saperstein, Armen Zabounian
• Publishers: BackBasement Productions, Kobalt Music Publishing, Peyote Beats Music, Prescription Songs, Slashmania, Sony Music Publishing

SURE THING

• Writer: Miguel
• Publishers: Amaya Sofia Publishing, Art Dealer Chic, Universal Music Publishing Group

SWEET HOME ALABAMA

• Writer: Ed King
• Publishers: EMI FULL KEEL MUSIC, Universal Music Publishing Group

THINKIN’ BOUT ME

• Writer: Ashley Gorley
• Publishers: Michael Scott Paper Company Publishing Company, Sony Music Publishing

TITI ME PREGUNTO

• Publishers:
• RSM Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group

TOMORROW 2

• Writers: Cardi B, Javaan “Big Toga” Anderson
• Publishers: Eeeooowww Music, Feels Like Summer Ent, Sony Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music

UNDER THE INFLUENCE

• Writer: Tiffany McKie
• Publishers: TIFFANY MCKIE JAYDE MUSIC, Vydia, Inc.

VAMPIRE

• Writers: DANIEL NIGRO, OLIVIA RODRIGO
• Publishers: DANIEL LEONARD NIGRO MUSIC, LIV LAF LUV, Sony Music Publishing

WHAT IT IS (BLOCK BOY)

• Writers: Kandi Burruss, Tameka “Tiny” Harris, Lawrence (La) Edwards ll aka Lil Atlanta Trill, Jamal Glaze, LaMarquis ‘Lokey’ Jefferson, Akil “worldwidefresh” King, Brian Kennedy
• Publishers: Air Control Music, BMG, Sony Music Publishing, Kandacy Music, Me And Marq Music, MONEY STACKS PUBLISHING LLC, MR FUNKADELIC PUBLISHING LLC, Tiny Tam Music, Warner Chappell Music

Photo Credit: BET Awards

Diddy’s name appears on the ballot designed to pick who will be nominated for this year’s BET Awards, despite being embroiled in multiple lawsuits stemming from sexual assault allegations.

The first round of voting to select the nominees for this year’s BET Awards kicked off this week, and Sean “Diddy” Combs — the music mogul currently involved in multiple controversies and sexual assault allegations — appears on the ballot multiple times.

His latest release, The Love Album: Off the Grid, is up for consideration for album of the year, while the track “Closer to God” with Teyana Taylor from the same album is up for best collaboration. His guest appearance on Metro Boomin’s “Creepin’,” also featuring 21 Savage and The Weeknd, is on the ballot for video of the year.

Though the album didn’t debut to major acclaim on the charts, its high-profile collaborations with artists like The Weeknd, Mary J. Blige, Burna Boy, John Legend, and Justin Bieber have provided some staying power since its release in September 2023. The album was even up for a Grammy, Diddy’s first nomination in 20 years, though he lost to SZA’s SOS.

But the week after his Grammy nom, Diddy was slapped with a sexual assault lawsuit from his former partner and employee, singer Cassie Ventura. Though the two settled the lawsuit just two days later, more lawsuits from others began to pop up with similar claims of sexual assault and harassment. Diddy and his legal team have systematically denied all allegations.

And the controversies haven’t stopped there. In March, Diddy’s Los Angeles and Miami homes were raided by Homeland Security per a federal investigation into allegations of human trafficking. That investigation is not confirmed to be tied to any specific lawsuit against Combs, but many of the allegations in the lawsuits are notably similar, including sexual assault and providing drugs to minors.

The first round of voting for the BET Awards 2024 will close on May 7, while the show itself will kick off on June 30 in Los Angeles. Before the ceremony, BET will host pre-weekend festivities, including the return of the BET Experience. That set will feature performances from artists like Cardi B, Gunna, Sexyy Red, Davido, Queen Latifah, The Roots, Common, and the Jungle Brothers.

Joel T. Jordan, the founder of Synchtank and co-founder of earthprogram has been chosen as a finalist for the ‘Leading Light Award’ at the Music Biz’s Bizzy Awards program.

The following was developed in collaboration with earthprogram, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

Speaking to Digital Music News about the nomination that highlights ‘executives working to make the music industry a better place to work,’ Jordan said, “This is an incredible honor to be nominated — let alone be a finalist with these other leaders in the industry who are focusing on real-life solutions to support artists, students, and executives alike.”

For this award specifically, Joel has donated his time and technology directly to University students to help them develop their knowledge of IP management and licensing processes. He is also committed to guiding them through the nuances of the various technologies they must master to succeed in the music business.

The Bizzy Awards is an industry-focused rework of Music Biz’s past awards. It celebrates companies and executives making great strides in advancing commerce within the entertainment sector.

The Leading Light award is presented to executives who demonstrate support for their employees through internal programs focused on enhancing mental health and wellness and maintaining a work-life balance. Jordan is among the top four contenders advancing to the final round of voting.

David Herlihy, Dean of Music at Northeastern University, nominated Joel for the Music Biz Leading Light Award because of his commitment to ‘making sure that creatives get paid, combined with his enthusiastic mentorship of the next generation of music industry professionals.’

Herlihy further applauded Synchtank, calling it a ‘best-of-its-breed digital asset and rights management system,’ adding, “Joel has graciously provided free access to Synchtank for Good Dog Licensing — Northeastern University’s student-run music sync service. Throughout this process, Joel has also selflessly given his time to guide students through integrating Synchtank into the Good Dog Service.”

Originally born out of the earthprogram office, Synchtank is a B2B provider of software tools for music rights holders and rights users (such as platforms, broadcasters, and production companies). The company aims to simplify complex rights, data, and licensing challenges for media companies.

earthprogram’s guiding mantra is to ‘give honest advice to everyone.’ The company provides private distribution, marketing, strategy, business development, and music publishing services to artists, labels, startups, and investors.

Photo Credit: Arindam Mahanta

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has announced several rule changes approved for the 97th Oscars. One of these changes impacts the ‘Best Original Score’ category.

Now in the Music (Original Score) category, three composers will be allowed to receive individual statuettes if they all contributed fully to the score. Previously, three composers were required to submit as a group. These rules now clarify the definition of a group as a recognized band. Also changing is the shortlist category increasing from 15 titles to 20 titles.

The change is a welcome one for composers who collaborate on a score. The previous rule stated, “a second statuette may be awarded when two credited composers function as equal collaborators, each contributing fully to the original dramatic underscore for the film.” With the new rule change, that will increase to three composers.

“The music branch executive committee has the right, in what it alone determines to be a very rare and extraordinary circumstance, to award a third statuette to three individuals who functioned as equal collaborators in the creation of the original score and do not work together as a recognized band or group.”

The new rules would have allowed Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross, and Jon Batiste to each have an individual Oscar statuette for their ‘Best Original Score’ win for the Soul score. Rules at the time meant that win was only awarded one statuette—which Reznor and Ross allowed Batiste to take home as his first Oscar win.

“In cases where three or more credited composers function as equal collaborators in a recognized band, a single statuette may be awarded to the group. Each credit composer in the band must agree to the single ‘group statuette’ option by signing and returning a ‘group award form’ prior to the submission deadline.”

Also changing is the shortlist for ‘Best Original Score’ will increase to 20 titles, though the shortlist for ‘Best Original Song’ will remain at 15 titles. The submission deadline for Original Score and Original Song categories is November 1, 2024.

Photo Credit: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame reveals the names of 16 artists who will be inducted in 2024, including Cher, Dionne Warwick, Ozzy Osbourne, Foreigner, A Tribe Called Quest, and more.

This year’s inductees into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame make up a diverse list spanning R&B and rock pioneers from the ‘70s through the ‘90s, with surprising names like Cher, Dionne Warwick, and Jimmy Buffett, who had never before received nominations.

Jimmy Buffett’s death less than a year ago put the Rock Hall committee in a presumably sentimental mood, fast-tracking the father of yacht rock into a non-voted category for musical excellence. Other artists in this category who had never received votes in the other categories include Dionne Warwick and MC5, the latter of whom had been nominated six times in the past.

The inductees in the “performer” category are those selected by the ballot sent out to voters following the announcement of the 15 nominees on February 10. The remaining seven nominees this year — Mariah Carey, Sade, Sinead O’Connor, Jane’s Addiction, Oasis, Lenny Kravitz, and the duo Eric B. and Rakim — will have to wait for another opportunity to be inducted.

Notably, Cher, who had never received a nomination, has expressed as recently as December her ire toward the Hall of Fame, leaving fans wondering how she will react to her upcoming induction. The star told Kelly Clarkson during an appearance on her talk show that “I wouldn’t be in it now if they gave me a million dollars — I’m never going to change my mind. They can just go you-know-what themselves.”

Aside from Cher, four of this year’s other inductees to be voted in were first-time nominees, including Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Frampton, Foreigner, and Kool & The Gang.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2024 Inductees

Performer Category

• Mary J. Blige
• Cher
• Dave Matthews Band
• Foreigner
• Peter Frampton
• Kool & The Gang
• Ozzy Osbourne
• A Tribe Called Quest

Musical Influence Award

• Alexis Korner
• John Mayall
• Big Mama Thornton

Musical Excellence Award

• Jimmy Buffett
• MC5
• Dionne Warwick
• Norman Whitfield

Ahmet Ertegun Award

• Suzanne de Passe

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2024 induction ceremony takes place on October 19 at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, OH, airing on ABC with a livestream on Disney+, and availability on Hulu the following day.

Leading North American music industry conference Canadian Music Week (CMW), now in its 42nd year, has lured engaging interviewer and former Dire Straits manager Ed Bicknell back to Toronto this June for two keynote interviews. He has not been to Canada since the 1990s.

The following was created in collaboration with Canadian Music Week, a company DMN is proud to be partnered with.

Bicknell will sit down with legendary concert promoter Bill Silva on the June 4 and entertainment lawyer and author Donald Passman on 5th.

“First of all, I have never considered them interviews. I always think of them as conversations. That’s because I don’t have an editorial button in my brain. I love it to be spontaneous,” Bicknell says.

Over the past three-plus decades, Bicknell has “interviewed” about 70 guests, many over the past 23 years for London’s International Live Music Conference (ILMC). He was enticed back to CMW by sheer flattery.

“As you may recall, your contributions to Canadian Music Week in the nineties were nothing short of remarkable,” CMW president Neill Dixon wrote to him in an email.

“Your annual industry celebrity interviews with luminaries such as entertainment lawyer Allen Grubman, Miles Copeland, Peter Grant, Jerry Wexler, Wolfman Jack left an indelible mark on our conference’s history. Your insightful discussions and your ability to delve into the minds of these music industry icons made those moments and laughs unforgettable for our attendees.”

Bicknell says he’s interviewed “everybody imaginable,” label presidents, artists, agents. His favourite was Sir George Martin, but this year he thought he was done.

“I had 23 years doing these interview conversation things with the ILMC and I’d got to the point where, to be quite honest, we were running out of characters. It’s very difficult to interview what I call corporate types because they don’t say anything because, ‘It’s going to be on YouTube in 10 minutes. I can’t do this.’ So, it’s quite difficult to find people.”

Dixon, who saw Bicknell’s interview last month at ILMC with AEG Presents chairman and CEO Jay Marciano, prompted the invitation.

“Your more recent involvement at the ILMC, where you have charmed audiences with your trademark humorous interview style alongside numerous top celebrity guests, further demonstrates your continued relevance and appeal within the live music industry,” Dixon wrote.

No more ego stroking was needed. Bicknell said yes.

“Don and Bill, I’ve known for many years,” he says. “They’re both great speakers and the ideal guests. My main objective is to make it entertaining, as well as informative.”

In the lead up to CMW, Bicknell will not do any preparation, just pack his bag and touch down in Toronto, as promised. “I know the first thing that I’m going to ask, and, after that, it either takes off or it doesn’t,” he says.

The Yorkshire native, who promoted shows in the late 60s by the likes of The Jimi Hendrix Experience, The Who, Pink Floyd and The Kinks, moved to London, where he played drums in several bands. He became an agent at NEMS, representing a range of acts from Jose Feliciano to Black Sabbath to the Ramones. In the late 70s, he started managing newly signed act Dire Straits, which went on to sell over 156 million albums worldwide.

When the band dissolved in 1993, he continued representing frontman Mark Knopfler, as well as Gerry Rafferty, Bryan Ferry, and others. In late 2000, he amicably stopped managing Knopfler and closed his office. A few years later, LA’s William Morris Agency hired him to set up and run a London office. He left in 2010.

CMW’s conference runs June 3-5 at The Westin Harbour Castle. The festival, Canada’s largest for new music, is June 1-8.

The panels and presentations at Pop Conference 2024 were an education in music history — topics ranged from how a Mexican military brass band helped shape Jazz in New Orleans, to a deep dive into the rave scene subculture.

The following comes from Open On Sunday, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

USC’s Thornton School of Music was a fitting backdrop for Pop Conference 2024 in Los Angeles. This year’s theme was ‘Legacy, Music Collections, and Archives.’

Speaking to DMN, presenter Lily Moayeri explained how she turned a career’s worth of band interviews into a successful podcast, Pictures of Lily. “We just did episode 80 last month which was Noel Gallagher — it was an interview I did with him from 1995. Next episode is going to be Daft Punk from 1997. And I have two or three more Daft Punk interviews as well, so they might be coming down the line. And I have a lot of interviews with Noel, so they might be coming down the line too,” Msayeri said.

Another awesome topic was peeling back the layers of country music, and how artists like Beyonce and others are starting to shed light on part of the genre’s rich history that was once suppressed from the public.

Jwly Hight, Journalist for Nashville Public Radio spoke about figures that have been traditionally held up as the founding parents of country music, such as Jimmy Rogers and The Carter Family, and so on. “Alice Randall, her own mission has been to bring black voices and brown voices into country music and to redefine how the history of country music and that narrative is told,” said Hight, adding, “[Randall’s] written a book [My Black Country] that not only centers her own legacy, but goes back to the very beginning of commercially recorded country music.”

“[It] shows that there have been black originators and pioneers all along, even though they have been erased from so many tellings of the story,” Hight explained.

The highlight of Pop Con 2024 was a trip down memory lane with keynote speakers Wendy Melvoin and Lisa Coleman.

The legendary musicians and songwriting duo recalled their days creating magic in the band, Prince and the Revolution, recording their own music, and collaborating on countless successful music and film projects.

Lisa told the story of how she first met and auditioned for Prince. After he picked her up from the airport in his hometown of Minneapolis, Lisa lit a cigarette in Prince’s Fiat. Later at his home, Prince was about to get her a ‘plane ticket back to LA’ until he heard her play the piano in his basement. “And the rest was history,” Lisa said.

Pop Conference 2024 took place March 7-9 in Los Angeles.

The following comes from Open On Sunday, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

We were on the ground in Austin, Texas, for South by Southwest (SXSW) 2024 — the place to be to share industry knowledge, ideas, and innovations.

Thousands from around the world converged on the city for SXSW 2024. The week-long music, film, and tech conference showcases the most prominent names and stars in the industry — and provides opportunities to learn and network.

Many of this year’s panels focused on celebrating women’s successes and highlighting their incredible achievements in music, business, and entertainment.

Joi Brown, founder and CEO of Culture Creators — which Brown reveals ‘positions itself as a vital link between global cultural leaders and the generation of diverse creators’ — spoke to DMN at SXSW about lending encouragement and support to those striving for success.

Brown said, “I always hold true to what I believe God purposed me to do on this planet — which is to inspire and to provide opportunities for others to achieve their goals.”

The Creative Industries Expo, held at the Convention Center, is always a hit at SXSW.

The expo showcases the latest technology, from electric vehicles and home assistant robotics to advances in audio speaker systems. The biggest takeaway from the expo in 2024: AI and VR continue to dominate the tech landscape.

Amy Web, CEO of Future Today Institute, told DMN, “Artificial Intelligence is the present, it’s here.”

Richard James Burgess, President and CEO of the American Association of Independent Music (A2IM), believes ‘it’s an interesting time for music,’ adding, “We’ve been in the streaming economy for a couple of decades now. We’ve been in the digital economy for a quarter of a century.”

“We’re at a sort of a turning point in the industry. There’s a lot of new interesting models being talked about — things that will ultimately make a big difference,” Burgess said.

Neeta Ragoowansi, President of the Music Managers Forum (MMF-US), spoke about the opportunities presented by SXSW 2024.

We have all these artists’ managers coming in to mix and network, as well as labels, publishers, and DSPs. I see performing arts rights societies and sponsors and partners of all sorts coming in, so we’re really happy to be here,” Ragoowansi said.

With a focus on networking, learning, and unlocking opportunities, several other off-site events and day parties took place all over Austin during SXSW 2024 — providing the platform for up-and-coming artists and songwriters to showcase their music and make key connections in the industry.

SXSW 2024 took place on March 6-18.

Photo Credit: Country Music Association

The CMA announces Country Music Hall of Fame 2024 inductees John Anderson, James Burton, and the late Toby Keith.

The Country Music Association (CMA) has announced the 2024 inductees into the Country Music Hall of Fame: John Anderson, James Burton, and Toby Keith. Country Music Hall of Famers Brooks & Dunn hosted the CMA press conference to reveal the news, streamed live on CMA’s official YouTube channel.

James Burton will be inducted into the Recording and/or Touring Musician category, an honor awarded every third year in rotation with Songwriter and Non-Performer categories. John Anderson will be inducted into the Veterans Era Artist category, while Toby Keith will be posthumously inducted into the Modern Era Artist category.

“This year’s nominees exemplify the excellence of our genre,” said Sarah Trahern, Chief Executive Officer of the CMA. “James, John, and Toby have each made an indelible impact and brought their distinctive contributions to Country Music, enriching our format. Their influence is evident throughout the longevity of their careers, ensuring each legacy will thrive indefinitely. It is with great pride that we welcome these three remarkable individuals into the esteemed ranks of the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

“After several days, I am still trying to grasp the reality of being inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame,” says Anderson. “It is one of the greatest honors I could ever receive. My love and heartfelt gratitude goes out to the fans who have supported me through the years, everyone at the Country Music Hall of Fame, and all of those who made this possible. I am proud and honored beyond words.”

“Toby’s passing left our hearts broken,” says the late singer’s family. “We miss him so much, but we take comfort that his music and legacy will live forever. Thank you, Country Music Hall of Fame, for helping keep it alive.”

Of finding out about his upcoming induction, James Burton said, “I was completely shocked and couldn’t think of anything to say. […] I am so humbled and excited to be recognized in this way. So much of my career was spent playing for incredible country artists and to now be going up on that wall with all those innovators and industry greats is just incredible.”

“Each of the three new inductees has left a deep and distinctive stamp on our genre,” says Kyle Young, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum Chief Executive Officer. “They have all profoundly shaped our music, and we are honored and delighted that their achievements will now forever be enshrined in the Country Music Hall of Fame.”

The formal induction ceremony for Anderson, Burton, and Keith will take place at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in the CMA Theater this October. A reunion of the Hall of Fame membership, the Museum’s Medallion Ceremony, is the official rite of induction for new members.

Hard Summer Music Festival is making its move to Hollywood Park, adjacent to SoFi Stadium, August 3-4, 2024, in Inglewood, CA.

HARD Events has announced the 2024 edition of HARD Summer Music Festival. The festival has grown to become the biggest electronic music event in Los Angeles.

The 2024 lineup features a mix of electronic music’s top tier, underground artists, crossover acts, live performers, and emerging talent. In past editions, the festival had featured more rap and hip-hop acts. This year is the year of crossover acts.

The organizers put together a sweet reveal of the crossover acts with child versions of the DJs and producers.

going HARD since day 1!💥 Come thru HSMF 2K24 on August 3 + 4 at Hollywood Park adjacent to SoFi Stadium! 🤯 2-Day & Single Day tickets go On Sale this Friday, 3/8 @ 10AM PT for a $9.95 deposit (limited time only)! 🔗 FULL LINEUP at https://t.co/s83XEy4OqM pic.twitter.com/zaVj2VtzUT

— HARD Events (@HARDFEST) March 5, 2024

Kicking off the stacked acts of this year’s lineup reveal with GRAMMY-nominated Disclosure, FISHER + Chris Lake: Under Construction, and REZZMAU5, a joint project of Rezz and deadmau5.

Last year at Coachella 2023, FISHER + Chris Lake: Under Construction brought over 50,000 people to the Outdoor Stage. In October 2023, the duo also took over the streets of Los Angeles, spanning from Cahuenga Boulevard to the top of Hollywood/Vine Street. 

Not only will there be heavy-hitting crossover acts, but there are some notable guest headliners – GRAMMY-winning singer/songwriter Nelly Furtado, Jamie xx of The XX group, and international trio Major Lazer.

Heavier sounds will be prominent, with Subtronics, Zeds Dead, Sub Focus, Dimension, and emerging producer Hamdi on the lineup.

Several HARD Summer alumni will be returning to the festival. This includes Tchami x Malaa: No Redemption, Dillon Francis, SIDEPIECE, and “Diamonds On My Mind” ‘s Eli Brown. 

Fans of the festival will also have two remaining acts revealed at a later date. 

Hollywood Park spans nearly 300 acres on the same grounds of SoFi Stadium and YouTube Theater.

There will be five stages in total:

• The HARD Stage: known as the mainstage for the festival’s marquee acts. 
• Pink Stage: hosting house and techno
• The HARDER stage: hosting multi-genre acts throughout the festival. 
• Green Stage: hosting heavy bass and dubstep acts. 
• Purple Stage: club-minded DJ sets and live performances.

Fans can purchase festival passes, including Two-day GA, GA+, and VIP options, starting March 8 at 10 AM PST. For a limited time, the festival organizers are offering a $9.95 deposit. 

Full lineup from (A-Z)

33 Below

Ahadadream

Alleycvt

ARMNHMR

AYYBO

Beltran b2b Classmatic

BEME

Bianca Oblivion

Boys Noize

BUNT.

Camden Cox

Carola

Channel Tres

Chase & Status

Chloe Caillet

Chris Stussy

Cole Knight

Curra

Dillon Francis

Dimension

Disclosure

DJ Heartstring

DJ Susan

Elderbrook

Eli Brown

FISHER + Chris Lake: Under Construction

Gudfella

Hamdi

Hayes Bradley

Hedex

HoneyLuv b2b Bontan

INFEKT

Interplanetary Criminal

INVT

Jamie xx

Juelz

Jyoty

Kanine

Kenny Bears

Kerri Chandler

KETBOI69 (KETTAMA B2B PARTIBOI69)

Lake Hills

Level Up

Levity

Lupa

Major Lazer

Mary Droppinz

Matroda

Mochakk

Nazaar

Nelly Furtado

Notion

Oppidan

Overmono

Panteros666

Pocket

Ranger Trucco

Reaper

REZZMAU5

Saka b2b Fly

San Pacho

Seth Troxler b2b DJ Tennis

SIDEPIECE

Sofi Tukker (DJ Set)

SOSA

Sub Focus

Subtronics

Tchami x Malaa: No Redemption

Teko

TroyBoi

Wax Motif

Zeds Dead

Photo Credit: The Grammy Museum

The Grammy Museum and Recording Academy have announced the Grammy Hall of Fame is returning on its 50th anniversary after a two-year hiatus.

The return will be celebrated with an inaugural gala and concert on May 21, 2024 at the NOVO Theater in Los Angeles. The Grammy Hall of Fame was established by the Recording Academy’s National Trustees in 1973 to honor recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance that are at least 25 years old.

Inductees are selected annually by a special member committee of professionals from all branches of the recording arts with final ratification by the Recording Academy’s National Board of Trustees.

This year the Hall will bring forth 10 new inducted recordings—four albums and six singles. There are currently 1,152 inducted recordings in the Grammy Hall of Fame. Inductees for 2024 will be announced at a later date.

The Grammy Hall of Fame Gala will be the first of what will become an annual event, including a red carpet and VIP reception on the Ray Charles Terrace at the Grammy Museum followed by a one-of-a-kind concert at the NOVO Theater in downtown Los Angeles.

Produced by longtime Executive Producer of the Grammy Awards, Ken Ehrlich, along with Chantel Sausedo and Ron Basile. Musical Direction by globally renowned producer and keyboardist Greg Phillinganes. Tickets and performers will be announced at a later date.

The Grammy Museum is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary as a non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating and exploring music from yesterday and today to inspire the music of tomorrow through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming.

Paying tribute to our collective musical heritage, the Museum values and celebrates the dynamic connection in people’s diverse backgrounds and music’s many genres, telling stories that inspire us, and creative expression that leads change in our industry.

The Recording Academy initially paused its honorary awards programs for a year in 2021, extending that hiatus another year. The pause came as the Recording Academy announced it was re-tooling the whole process of inducting recordings. The two-year hiatus is the first time the Recording Academy suspended the honors ceremony.

Last night, Insomniac hosted its Night Owl Radio show to unveil the EDC Las Vegas 2024 lineup uniquely with Music Through Music. Those tuned into the livestream got a first-hand taste of the headliners for this year’s festival. Here’s the official reveal.

Insomniac, recognized as a leading creator of world-class music festivals and live entertainment experiences, announced the return of Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas. Transforming the iconic Las Vegas Motor Speedway from May 17th to May 19th, 2024, with an expected attendance of 525,000, festival goers will join to immerse themselves in this year’s theme, kineticCIRCLE.

kineticCIRCLE will commemorate the circle of life, emphasizing community bonds and the shared memories of the past and present, all dancing under the Electric Sky.

Artists performing in this year’s edition range from Kaskade, Dom Dolla, Tiësto, David Guetta, John Summit, FISHER, Diplo, Deadmau5, Illenium, Allison Wonderland, Purple Disco Machine, Eric Prydz and many more.

The anthem for this year’s EDC will be provided by Tiësto, featuring an exclusive track set to drop in May both as a standalone single and as part of the 2024 EDC Las Vegas compilation album.

In addition to the single acts, there will be many back-to-back sets from John Summit b2b Green Velvet, Carl Cox b2b Nicole Moudaber, Peggy Gou b2b Marcel Dettman, Subtronics b2b Level Up, and more.

Carl Cox, one of Britain’s most iconic house and techno DJs, will grace the EDC stage for the first time since 2015, marking a significant return.

This year’s festival will feature debut performances from artists such as Peggy Gou, Four Tet, Mersiv, LAYZ, Tape B, Bou, Lilly Palmer, Sara Landry, Marcel Dettman, and many others.

During the radio show, Insomniac Founder and CEO Pasquale Rotella unveiled plans for a revamped festival layout, exclusive production upgrades and stage features, and made general announcements.

• Significant changes are being made to the entire festival layout. A volume of attendees noted some bottleneck issues and overflow at some stages last year. This was the first note they acknowledged on the stream and announced significant changes for crowd flow and comfortability in mind. In addition, Insomniac and the Las Vegas Motor Speedway are working together to repave most of the asphalt, making it more convenient for foot traffic to navigate.
• bassPOD, wasteLAND, neonGARDEN, and quantumVALLEy will move and have new locations on the grounds.
• Downtown EDC will also be a part of the move with its new placement center stage within the festival grounds.
• Country is making its way to the electronic music festival with the YeEDC Saloon newly being implemented. The announcement of the artists slated to perform in this new space will be made at a later date.
• New art cars & new art installations.
• A few special guests, not mentioned in this announcement, are slated to perform at EDC Las Vegas and have yet to be revealed.
• Electric Daisy Carnival will be making its way to Thailand for the first time.

What are the costs?

3-Day General Admission tickets had sold out previously during the Early Owl sale. There are still tickets available for other tiered access. 

• 3-Day GA+ Experience Passes are available at $599 plus taxes and fees. 
• 3-Day VIP Elevated Experience Passes are available at $1,199.99 plus taxes and fees.

Artists in alphabetical order:

Abana b2b D. Zeledon

Acraze b2b Kream

Adam Beyer

Adam X

Adrenalize b2b Wasted Penguinz

Adventure Club

Airwolf Paradise

Alchimyst

Alesso

Alison Wonderland

Aly & Fila

Andrew Bayer

Andrew Rayel

Andruss

Angerfist

Argy

Armin van Buuren

ATLiens

Atmozfears

Audiofreq

Azzecca

BEC

Before Dawn

Ben Hemsley

Ben Sterling

Benny Benassi

Bianca Oblivion

Blastoyz

Boogie T

Bou

Boyz Noize

Boyz Noize b2b VTSS

Brina Knauss

Bryan Kearney

Calussa

Camden Cox

Carl Cox Invites

Carl Cox b2b Nicole Moudaber

Caspa

Cassian

Chef Boyarbeatz

Chelina Manuhutu

Cristoph

Clawz b2b Domina

Crankdat

Creeds & Helen Ka

D-Sturb

Da Tweekaz

Dabin

David Guetta

Daxson

Dead X b2b Levenkhan

Deadly Guns

Deadmau5

Death Code

Deborah De Luca

Deeper Purpose

Denis Sulta

Deorro

Devault

Devin Wild

Devin Wild b2b Keltek

Dillon Francis

Dimension

Diplo

DJ Heartstring

DJ Snake

Dom Dolla

East End Dubs

Eli Brown

Eli Brown b2b HI-LO

Emorfik

Eric Prydz

Excision

Fallen with MC Dino

Ferry Corsten

Fisher

Fleur Shore

Four Tet

Frosttop b2b RemK

GEO

Ghastly Presents Ghengar

Giuseppe Ottaviani

GRAVEDGR

Grigoré

Gryffin

HAAi

Hamdi

Hannah Laing

Hedex

Heidi Lawden

Hint Of Lavender

Hivemind (Kayzo x Space Laces x Must Die!)

Hixxy

HOL!

HoneyLuv

HUGEL

ILLENIUM

Indira Paganotto

Infected Mushroom

Interplanetary Criminal

[IVY]

J. Worra

Jamie Jones

Jeanie

Jessica Audiffred

John 00 Fleming

John Summit

John Summit b2b Green Velvet

Joluca

Jon Casey

Joseph Capriati

Justin Jay

Jyoty

Kai Wachi

Kasablanca

Kaskade

Kayzo Unleashed XL

Keltek

Kevin de Vries

Kevin Saunderson b2b DJ Minx

Khiva

Khomha

Klangkuenstler

Koven

Kreation b2b Darksiderz

Kyle Walker

Lady Faith

LAYZ

LF System

Lil Texas

Lilly Palmer

Lost Frequencies

LSDream

Luttrell

Maddix

Majestic

Malóne

Mandy

Marauda

Marcel Dettman

Markus Schulz

Marlie

Marsh

Martin Garrix

Mary Droppinz

Matroda

Matroda b2b San Pacho

Matt Sassari

Mau P

Max Styler

Melé

Mersiv

Metta & Glyde

Mind Against

Miss Dre

Mitis

Miyuki

MK

Naz

NGHTMRE

Nicole Moudaber

Nifra

Nightstalker

Ninajirachi

Noizu

Noizui b3b Westend b3b Melé

Odd Mob

Odd Mob x OMNOM: Hyperbeam

Oden & Fatzo

Orjan Nilsen & Mark Sizma Pres Nilsix

Öwnboss

Panteros666

Paul Oakenfold (Full on Fluoro)

Paul van Dyk

Peggy Gou

Peggy Gou b2b Marcel Dettman

Pocket

Prunk

Pryda

Purple Disco Machine

Ranger Trucco

Rated R

Rayben

Richter

Riordan

Sally C b2b Matisa

Sara Landry

Seven Lions

Shiba San

Shlømo

Sicaria

Sidney Charles

Skin on Skin

SLANDER

Sofi Tukker (DJ Set)

Soren

Sosa

Sound Rush

Steve Aoki

Sub Focus

Sub Zero Project

Subtronics

Subtronics b2b Level Up

Svdden Death

Talla 2XLC

Tape B

Taylor Torrence

Tiësto

Timmy Trumpet

ToBeHonest

Troyboi

Trym

Valentino Khan

Vintage Culture

Virtual Riot

Vuiiigur

Wade

Warface

Wasted Penguinz

Water Spirit

Wilkinson

Will Clarke

Wooli

Worship (Sub Focus b2b Dimension b2b Culture Shock b2b 1991)

Wuki

X-Coast

Yosuf

Yotto

Zedd

Zen Freeman

Zingara

Zomboy

Zuezeu

At 6 P.M. Pacific Time on February 29th, Insomniac’s Night Owl Radio will embark on a live journey, transforming the 2024 EDC Las Vegas lineup reveal into an interactive experience through the Music Through Music lineup unveiling.

Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas is uniquely changing the way music festivals engage their community with a lineup announcement dubbed the “Music Through Music” lineup reveal. This innovative approach provides an interactive experience for Insomniac’s community of festival goers.

Scheduled to kick off at 6 P.M. Pacific Time on Insomniac’s official YouTube page, the “Music Through Music” lineup reveal will take the form of a special edition of Night Owl Radio.

Pasquale Rotella, Founder of Insomniac, will unveil the official lineup for EDC Las Vegas 2024 through a megamix. However, this won’t be the typical lineup announcement with an extensive list of names dropped. The Music Through Music lineup reveal will take the audience on an immersive journey through 255 tracks, each representing an artist on the festival’s lineup.

With 18 minutes in total, the mission for the EDC community and audience is to decode the lineup and piece together the puzzle of performers for this year’s event. 

Listeners may recognize familiar tracks off the bat, while others might rely on tools like Shazam to uncover the creators behind the music.

Behind-the-scenes footage from last night’s dress rehearsal for the “Music Through Music” lineup reveal has been shared with Digital Music News, showcasing the planning and excitement building up to the show. 

It’s important to note that the BTS footage serves as a teaser and no hints are included for tonight’s reveal from the rehearsal. As anticipation mounts and speculation runs wild, EDC Las Vegas continues to push the boundaries of creativity and community engagement in the festival landscape.

In an era where traditional lineup announcements have become the norm and feel like one dropping after the other, EDC Las Vegas 2024’s “Music Through Music” lineup reveal stands out as a bold and refreshing launch. 

By inviting fans to actively participate in decoding the lineup, the electronic music festival fosters excitement that will only garner more excitement for those who will be attending the festival in May. 

The audience for the livestream will be able to engage and interact with each other to assist in decoding the lineup before the official reveal.

The success of this reveal could encourage festival holders to reconsider the ways they engage their communities for lineup reveals. We might be embarking on a new journey of event organizers gamifying their headliner reveals.

Stay tuned for the full lineup reveal and list of all headliners performing at EDC Las Vegas 2024.

Photo Credit: OneOf

In 2021, the Recording Academy struck up a partnership with NFT platform OneOf to distribute three NFT collections to commemorate the 64th, 65th, and 66th Grammy Awards. So what happened?

Details for the NFT partnership with the Quincy Jones-backed NFT platform were revealed November 2021. Both the 64th and 65th Grammy Awards received their NFT tie-ins as part of that planned partnership, but the 66th Grammy Awards NFTs are nowhere to be found on the OneOf website. So what happened to that partnership?

“In considering an NFT partner, we were committed to working with a like-minded organization that had an artist-first approach and we undoubtedly found that in OneOf,” Recording Academy Co-President Panos A. Panay said in the initial announcement of the partnership.

“As an Academy, we are always looking for ways to help artists discover new forms of creative expression, while also creating new ways of income generation and ways for fans to interact with the artists that they love. OneOf shares that vision, and we are proud to work with a sustainable NFT company.”

But as funding for music web3 projects dried up in 2023, OneOf has seemingly disappeared from the conversation. Digital Music News covered the platforms’ first new drop in more than six months in January 2024—a Music Hall of Fame NFT collection featuring art prints and vintage slides of popular music figures including KISS, Jim Morrison, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie Elvis Presley, Notorious B.I.G., and more.

Those NFTs are available for sale on the OneOf website for $395, though a peek at the transaction records show the sales have been few and far between.

OneOf seems have run afoul of the hardcore NFT buyers who feel as though the platform is now a joke. “Most of us won’t spend another dime until they follow through with promises of past drops,” one investor told Digital Music News. “When I bring them up on NFT groups, it is as a joke or [people] have never heard of OneOf.”

The Recording Academy seems to have given up on the partnership as NFTs were not a part of the discussion for the 66th Grammy Awards at all—especially as funding in the space has dried up. Crunchbase reports total web3 funding fell 74% in 2023 compared to 2022’s funding figures—from $26.6 billion down to just $7 billion.

Super Bowl LVIII halftime show performers’ net Spotify monthly listener gains between February 10th and 18th (Source: Chartmetric)

The longest and most-viewed Super Bowl in history featured performances from a number of artists – chief among them Usher, who headlined a star-studded halftime show sponsored by Apple Music. But what kind of commercial results did the big game drive for the acts?

According to Nielsen, Super Bowl LVIII attracted a record 123.7 million average viewers, up markedly from LVII’s approximately 115 million watchers and over 20 percent higher than LVI’s viewership. Fueled by a competitive match-up that culminated in a nailbiter overtime ending – and, of course, the presence of Taylor Swift – LVIII, besides being the most-viewed Super Bowl to date, scored the “largest TV audience on record,” Nielsen noted.

With all that said, relatively little attention has been directed to the precise commercial impact of the Super Bowl – including streams and more – for the involved artists.

So how did the Super Bowl’s musical superstars fare?

Report Table of Contents

I. Super Bowl LVIII’s Halftime Show by the Numbers

Graph: Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show Performers’ Spotify Monthly Listener Growth

Graph: Selected Halftime Show Tracks’ Spotify Streams Growth

II. Did Super Bowl LVIII’s Ratings Magic Translate Into a Popularity Boost for Pregame Performers?

Graph: Super Bowl LVIII Non-Halftime Show Performers’ Spotify Monthly Listener Growth

III. Can Super Bowl Commercials Spur Career Growth for Artists?

IV. By the Dates: A Timeline of Super Bowl LVIII’s Music-Related Developments

Please note: Redistribution of this report is prohibited.

Backstage at the 66th Grammys, Atlanta rapper Killer Mike calmly took questions after he won three Grammys, including Best Rap Album for ‘Michael.’ Just moments later, Mike became the talk of the event as he was escorted out of Crypto.com Arena and arrested after a misdemeanor altercation with a security guard.

The following was developed in collaboration with Open On Sunday, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

Shortly before his surprise arrest, DMN asked Grammy-winner Killer Mike whether he consciously set out to make an album that people are calling ‘refreshing, and back to true, real hip-hop.’

In measured tones, Mike answered that he ‘consciously set out to make the best album in the world,’ adding, ‘I consciously set out to sell the story of a young black boy growing up in the west side of Atlanta, so that the world can see that our narrative isn’t just victimization and losing but we can win, we can thrive, and we’ll prosper, and I’m confident in saying that we’re gonna be right back at your ass and do it again next year.”

Moments later, Killer Mike got into an altercation with Grammys security guards. He was quickly escorted out of the event and arrested by LAPD officers on misdemeanor battery charges.

Outside of that unfortunate event, the multi-hour Grammys showcase went smoothly.

The event kicked off with a fantastic performance by Dua Lipa. Luke Combs and Tracy Chapman struck an emotional chord with ‘Fast Car.’ SZA performed her Grammy-winning hits, and Miley Cyrus rocked the house with her Grammy-winning Record Of The Year, ‘Flowers.’

Lainey Wilson, winning her first Grammy for Best Country Album, ‘Bellbottom Country,’ spoke humbly during her acceptance speech, highlighting the incredible journey of her success. “I am from a farming community in Northeast Louisiana, a little town of 200.”

Victoria Monet won Best New Artist, and Billie Eilish took home the Grammy for Song of the Year, writing ‘What Was I Made For,’ for the Barbie Soundtrack. Speaking about what appears to have been the year of the woman at the Grammys, Eilish said, “As a woman, it feels a lot of the time like you’re not being seen, and I feel that this makes me feel very seen.”

And no big surprise, Taylor Swift won the night, taking home her fourth Album of the Year Grammy — this time, for ‘Midnights.’

“I would love to tell you that this is the best moment of my life,” Swift said during her acceptance speech. “But I feel this happy when I finish a song, or when I crack the code to a bridge that I love, or when I’m shot listing a music video, or when I’m rehearsing with my dancers, or my band, or getting ready to go to Tokyo to play a show.

“For me, the award is the work, and all I want to do is keep being able to do this. I love it so much! It makes me so happy. It makes me unbelievably blown away that it makes some people happy who voted for this award, too. All I want to do is keep doing this. So, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to do what I love so much. Mind blown!” Swift said.

Photo Credit: Eva Rinaldi / CC by 2.0

The Grammy Awards recorded a surge in growth in 2024 as the post-pandemic recovery continues, a record high since 2020.

The 66th Grammy Awards raked in a record growth since before the COVID-19 pandemic began in 2020, with 16.9 million viewers on CBS, according to Nielsen data — a 34% increase over last year’s 12.4 million. The ceremony’s livestream on Paramount+ saw even higher viewership, up 173% from last year’s online audience, with estimates for delayed live-plus three-day viewing expected to bring the Grammys audience over 17 million.

Viewership for the 2024 Grammys peaked with 18.25 million from 9:45 to 10 PM ET during the In Memoriam segment featuring performances from Stevie Wonder, Annie Lennox, Jon Batiste, and Fantasia Barrino. This year’s viewership also substantially exceeded that of the 2021 show, which only saw 9.39 million total viewers, and the 2022 show’s 9.59 million.

But this year’s numbers are still pale compared to the ceremony’s pre-pandemic audience, with 18.8 million total viewers in 2020 and 19.9 million in 2019. That said, 2024’s viewership numbers show light at the end of the tunnel as live events continue their post-pandemic recovery.

The Grammys red carpet event saw similar viewership growth this year, with 1.5 million viewers, up from 1.1 million the previous year. That’s also the biggest audience for the event since a pre-pandemic 2020.

Comedian Trevor Noah hosted the ceremony for the fourth year in a row, broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Sunday night’s show featured performances from Billy Joel, Burna Boy, Joni Mitchell, SZA, U2, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Travis Scott, Olivia Rodrigo, and Luke Combs featuring Tracy Chapman.

In addition to the night’s performances, the 2024 Grammys featured several watercooler moments: Jay-Z called out the snubbing of wife Beyonce in the Album of the Year category, and Taylor Swift announced a new album dropping in April while claiming her award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Meanwhile, rapper and award winner Killer Mike was detained and questioned following an alleged physical altercation.

Photo Credit: The Recording Academy / YouTube

While accepting the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award last night at the Grammys, Jay-Z had some beef with The Recording Academy he needed to get off of his chest.

During his speech, Jay-Z made mention of DMX’s lack of nomination, and the lack of an Album of the Year win for Beyoncé, who has won 32 Grammys. “DMX dropped two albums [in 1998], they both went number one and he was not nominated at all. So I boycotted, and I watched the Grammys. I’m just saying, we want y’all to get it right,” the rapper said.

He then turned his attention to his wife Beyoncé. “I don’t want to embarrass this young lady, but she has won more Grammys than anyone and never won Album of the Year. So even by your own metrics, that doesn’t work,” Jay-Z continued. Renaissance lost the Album of the Year award this year to Harry Styles’ Harry’s House.

“Some of you are gonna go home tonight and feel like you’ve been robbed. Some of you may get robbed. Some of you don’t belong in the category. When I get nervous, I tell the truth. You’ve got to keep showing up. Until they give you all those accolades you think you deserve. Until they call you chairman. Until they call you a genius. Until they call you the greatest of all time,” he concluded his speech. “You feel me?”

Jay-Z is tied with Kanye West for the rapper with the most Grammy wins in history—both have a total of 24 to their name. They’re both outshined by Beyoncé, who has 32 wins to her name despite the lack of an album of the year win. While Jay-Z’s comments are a known criticism of The Recording Academy that has prompted several artists’ to boycott—its also remniscent of Kanye’s interruption of Taylor Swift during the 2009 MTV VMAs.

“Yo Taylor, I’m really happy for you, I’mma let you finish. But Beyoncé had one of the best videos of all time!” the rapper told Swift, who was 19 at the time. At the time, the camera cut to Beyoncé who mouthed the words, ‘Oh Kanye.’

Photo Credit: The Recording Academy / YouTube

During her acceptance speech for Best Pop Vocal Album, Taylor Swift made a surprise announcement—expect a new album in 2024.

“My brand-new album comes out on April 19,” Taylor Swift told her fans during acceptance speech for Midnights. “It’s called ‘The Tortured Poets Department.’ I’m going to go and post the cover right now backstage,” she told the audience. Just a few moments after walking off-stage, a new post appeared on Taylor’s Instagram.

Swifties across the globe were ecstatic with the news, though many of them were speculating online last night after the TaylorSwift.com website briefly went offline. Some wondered if it would be the announcement of another Taylor’s Version album re-release, but now we know it’s an entirely new album.

Once the site re-appeared, of course there were new pre-order and merchandise options. Slick marketing indeed, Tay-Tay. The Tortured Poets Department will be Swift’s 11th studio album release, not counting her re-recordings of previous albums to wipe her slate of Scooter Braun. The last original album to release was Midnights in 2022, with two Taylor’s Version albums (Speak Now, 1989) releasing since then.

Swift later picked up Album of the Year, setting a new record for the Grammys—she’s the most-awarded artist (Midnights, Fearless, 1989, Folklore) in that category.

“I would love to tell you this is the best moment of my life, but I feel this happy when I finish a song, or when I crack the code to a bridge that I love, or when I’m shortlisting a music video, or when I’m working with my dancers,” she told the audience while accepting the Album of the Year award from Celine Dion.

Now she’ll be jetting off to perform on her Eras Tour for four nights in Tokyo before heading to the Super Bowl. For the Swifties worried Taylor might not make it back to the States in time—don’t worry. There’s plenty of time. Even the Japanese Embassy chimed in on the issue.

Photo Credit: The Recording Academy

The 2024 Grammys took place on Sunday night, February 4th. So who won what? Taylor, Miley, SZA, Billie, boygenius, and more topped the list.

‘Music’s Biggest Night’ 2024 has come and gone, with the 66th Grammy Awards broadcasting live on Sunday, February 4 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles. Here’s a list of all the winners who took home a coveted gramophone statuette and a 2024 “Best” title.

1. Record of the Year — Flowers – Miley Cyrus

2. Album of the Year — Midnights – Taylor Swift

3. Song of the Year — What Was I Made For? [From the Motion Picture “Barbie”] – Billie Eilish

4. Best New Artist — Victoria Monét

5. Producer of the Year, Non-Classical — Jack Antonoff:

Being Funny in a Foreign Language (The 1975)

Did You Know That There’s a Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (Lana Del Rey)

Midnights (Taylor Swift)

6. Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical — Theron Thomas

“All My Life” (Lil Durk Featuring J. Cole)

“Been Thinking” (Tyla)

“Cheatback” (Chlöe & Future)

“How We Roll” (Ciara & Chris Brown)

“Make Up Your Mind” (Cordae)

“Pretty Girls Walk” (Big Boss Vette)

“Seven” (Jungkook & Latto)

“Told Ya” (Chlöe & Missy Elliot)

“You and I” (Sekou)

7. Best Pop Solo Performance — Flowers – Miley Cyrus

8. Best Pop Duo/Group Performance — Ghost in the Machine – SZA Featuring Phoebe Bridgers

9. Best Pop Vocal Album — Midnights – Taylor Swift

10. Best Dance/Electronic Recording — Rumble – Skrillex, Fred again.. & Flowdan

11. Best Pop Dance Recording — Padam Padam – Kylie Minogue

12. Best Dance/Electronic Music Album — Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 2022) – Fred again..

13. Best Rock Performance — Not Strong Enough – boygenius

14. Best Metal Performance — Metallica – 72 Seasons

15. Best Rock Song — Not Strong Enough – boygenius

16. Best Rock Album — This is Why – Paramore

17. Best Alternative Music Performance — This is Why – Paramore

18. Best Alternative Music Album — The Record – boygenius

19. Best R&B Performance — ICU – Coco Jones

20. Best Traditional R&B Performance — Good Morning – PJ Morton Featuring Susan Carol

21. Best R&B Song — Snooze – SZA

22. Best Progressive R&B Album — SOS – SZA

23. Best R&B Album — JAGUAR II – Victoria Monét

24. Best Rap Performance — SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS – Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane

25. Best Melodic Rap Performance — All My Life – Lil Durk Featuring J. Cole

26. Best Rap Song — SCIENTISTS & ENGINEERS – Killer Mike Featuring André 3000, Future & Eryn Allen Kane

27. Best Rap Album — MICHAEL – Killer Mike

28. Best Spoken Word Poetry Album — The Light Inside – J. Ivy

29. Best Jazz Performance — Tight – Samara Joy

30. Best Jazz Vocal Album — How Love Begins – Nicole Zuraitis

31. Best Jazz Instrumental Album — The Winds of Change – Billy Childs

32. Best Large Jazz Ensemble Album — Basie Swings the Blues – The Count Basie Orchestra Directed by Scotty Barnhart

33. Best Latin Jazz Album — El Arte Del Bolero Vol. 2 – Miguel Zenón & Luis Perdomo

34. Best Alternative Jazz Album — The Omnichord Real Book – Meshell Ndegeocello

35. Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album — Bewitched – Laufey

36. Best Contemporary Instrumental Album — As We Speak – Béla Fleck, Zakir Hussain, Edgar Meyer, Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia

37. Best Musical Theater Album — Some Like It Hot – Original Broadway Cast

38. Best Country Solo Performance — White Horse – Chris Stapleton

39. Best Country Duo/Group Performance — I Remember Everything – Zach Bryan Featuring Kacey Musgraves

40. Best Country Song — White Horse – Chris Stapleton

41. Best Country Album — Bell Bottom Country – Lainey Wilson

42. Best American Roots Performance — Eve Was Black – Allison Russell

43. Best Americana Performance — Dear Insecurity – Brandy Clark Featuring Brandi Carlile

44. Best American Roots Song — Cast Iron Skillet – Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

45. Best Americana Album — Weathervanes – Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

46. Best Bluegrass Album — City of Gold – Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway

47. Best Traditional Blues Album — All My Love For You – Bobby Rush

48. Best Contemporary Blues Album – Blood Harmony – Larkin Poe

49. Best Folk Album — Joni Mitchell at Newport [Live] – Joni Mitchell

50. Best Regional Roots Music Album — Live: Orpheum Theater Nola – Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra

51. Best Gospel Performance/Song — All Things – Kirk Franklin

52. Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song — Your Power – Lecrae & Tasha Cobbs Leonard

53. Best Gospel Album — All Things New: Live in Orlando – Tye Tribbett

54. Best Contemporary Christian Music Album — Church Clothes 4 – Lecrae

55. Best Roots Gospel Album — Echoes of the South – Blind Boys of Alabama

56. Best Latin Pop Album — X Mí (Vol. 1) – Gaby Moreno

57. Best Música Urbana Album — MAÑANA SERÁ BONITO – Karol G

58. Best Latin Rock or Alternative Album — Vida Cotidiana – Juanes

59. Best Música Mexicana Album (Including Tejano) — GÉNESIS – Peso Pluma

60. Best Tropical Latin Album — Siembra: 45º Aniversario (En Vivo en el Coliseo de Puerto Rico, 12 de Mayo 2022) – Rubén Blades Con Roberto Delgado & Orquesta

61. Best Global Music Performance — Pashto – Béla Fleck, Edgar Meyer& Zakir Hussain Featuring Rakesh Chaurasia

62. Best African Music Performance — Water – Tyla

63. Best Global Music Album — This Moment – Shakti

64. Best Reggae Album — Colors of Royal – Julian Marley & Antaeus

65. Best New Age, Ambient, or Chant Album — So She Howls – Carla Patullo Featuring Tonality and the Scorchio Quartet

66. Best Children’s Music Album — We Grow Together Preschool Songs – 123 Andrés

67. Best Comedy Album — What’s in a Name? – Dave Chappelle

68. Best Audio Book, Narration, and Storytelling Recording — The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times – Michelle Obama

69. Best Compilation Soundtrack for Visual Media — Barbie The Album – Various Artists

70. Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media (Includes Film and Television) — Oppenheimer – Ludwig Göransson, composer

71. Best Score Soundtrack for Video Games and Other Interactive Media — Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Stephen Barton & Gordy Haab, composers

72. Best Song Written for Visual Media — What Was I Made For? [From “Barbie The Album”] – Billie Eilish O’Connell & Finneas O’Connell, songwriters

73. Best Music Video — I’m Only Sleeping – The Beatles

74. Best Music Film — Moonage Daydream – David Bowie

75. Best Recording Package — Stumpwork – Dry Cleaning

76. Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package — For the Birds: The Birdsong Project – Various Artists

77. Best Album Notes — Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – Various Artists

78. Best Historical Album — Written in Their Soul: The Stax Songwriter Demos – Various Artists

79. Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical — JAGUAR II – Victoria Monét

80. Best Engineered Album, Classical — Contemporary American Composers – Riccardo Muti & Chicago Symphony Orchestra

81. Producer of the Year, Classical — Elaine Martone

82. Best Remixed Recording — Wagging Tongue (Wet Leg Remix) – Wet Leg (Depeche Mode)

83. Best Immersive Audio Album — The Diary of Alicia Keys – Alicia Keys

84. Best Instrumental Composition — Helena’s Theme – John Williams

85. Best Arrangement, Instrumental or A Cappella — Folsom Prison Blues – The String Revolution Featuring Tommy Emmanuel

86. Best Arrangement, Instruments and Vocals — In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning – säje Featuring Jacob Collier

87. Best Orchestral Performance — Adès: Dante – Los Angeles Philharmonic

88. Best Opera Recording — Blanchard: Champion – The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus

89. Best Choral Performance — Saariaho: Reconnaissance – Uusinta Ensemble; Helsinki Chamber Choir

90. Best Chamber Music/Small Ensemble Performance — Rough Magic – Roomful of Teeth

91. Best Classical Instrumental Solo — The American Project – Louisville Orchestra

92. Best Classical Solo Vocal Album — Walking in the Dark – Julia Bullock, Philharmonia Orchestra

93. Best Classical Compendium — Passion for Bach and Coltrane – Alex Brown, Harlem Quartet, Imani Winds, Edward Perez, Neal Smith & A.B. Spellman

94. Best Contemporary Classical Composition — Montgomery: Rounds – Awadagin Pratt, A Far Cry & Roomful of Teeth

Photo Credit: The Come Up Show // CC by 2.0

Rapper Killer Mike was cuffed and escorted away from Crypto.com Arena and the Grammy Awards after a physical altercation, according to sources.

The Los Angeles Police Department to responded to the arena following an altercation. A police spokesperson has confirmed Killer Mike was detained for questioning, but did not immediately identify the rapper. Killer Mike won three Grammy awards during the pre-show Premiere Ceremony including Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album.

At this point in time, it’s unclear whether Killer Mike is under arrest, or what exactly occurred to have him detained in the first place. Representatives for Killer Mike and the Grammys have not responded to requests for comment. A video captured by The Hollywood Reporter Chris Gardner showcases the rapper being detained by police. An onlooker in the video can be heard saying, ‘Free Mike.’

The altercation came after a physical confrontation, according to TMZ. A police official told Gardner that Killer Mike may be released later from the arena, but did not make clear the status of his arrest. “At this time the individual is being questioned by the police and the investigation is ongoing,” the spokesperson told PEOPLE.

“The only thing that limits your age is not being truthful about your age or what you’re doing,” Killer Mike said while backstage. “At 20 years old, I thought it was cool to be a drug dealer. At 40, I started to live with the regrets and things I’ve done. At 45, I started to rap about it. At 48, I stand here as a man full of empathy and sympathy for the things I’ve done.”

Killer Mike was a member of Run the Jewels alongside producer El-P, pumping out four albums as the duo. Before his Sunday performance, Killer Mike’s last Grammy win came in 2003 when he won Best Rap performance By A Group or Duo for “The Whole World.” Killer Mike hosted Netflix’s Trigger Warning series in 2019, a documentary about issues that impact the Black community.

Photo Credit: The Recording Academy

The 66th Grammy Awards kick off this Sunday, hosted for the fourth consecutive year by Trevor Noah. Here’s how, when, and where to tune in and watch the 2024 Grammys, with or without cable.

Music’s Biggest Night, the 66th Grammy Awards, returns this Sunday, February 4, live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, with plenty of ways to watch. The show kicks off at 5 – 8:30 PM PT / 8 – 11:30 PM ET, airing live on the CBS Television Network, as well as live and on demand on streaming service Paramount+.

Paramount+ with Showtime subscribers will have access to stream the live feed on their local CBS affiliate on the service, as well as on demand in the US. Paramount+ Essential subscribers will not be able to stream live, but will have access to on-demand viewing the day after the special airs in the US.

Those with cable can also watch the Grammys on the CBS website by logging in with your cable TV provider credentials. Without a cable subscription, you can watch the Grammys through any live TV streaming service that carries CBS, such as Hulu+ Live TV, Fubo, and DirecTV Stream.

The 2024 Grammys Premiere Ceremony starts prior to the main event on Sunday, February 4, live from the Peacock Theater at 12:30 PM PT / 3:30 PM ET on the Grammys website and on the Recording Academy’s official YouTube channel.

Performances at the 2024 Grammys will include Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, Joni Mitchell, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, SZA, Travis Scott, and U2. Joni Mitchell will make her Grammy performance debut, while U2 will deliver the first broadcast performance from Las Vegas’ Sphere. Presenters include Christina Aguilera, Lenny Kravitz, Lionel Richie, Mark Ronson, Maluma, Meryl Streep, Samara Joy, Taylor Tomlinson, and Oprah Winfrey.

The Premiere kicks off with performances by J. Ivy, Larkin Poe, Pentatonix, Sheila E., and Jordin Sparks, as well as current nominees Adam Blackstone, Brandy Clark, Kirk Franklin, Robert Glasper, Bob James, Laufey, Terrance Martin, as well as Gaby Moreno, El David Aguilar, and Harvey Mason Sr.

Justin Tranter, currently nominated for Non-Classical Songwriter of the Year, will host the 2024 Grammys Premiere Ceremony. Presenters at the Premiere include Patti Austin, Natalia Lafourcade, Carly Pearce, Molly Tuttle, Rufus Wainwright, and former Recording Academy Board of Trustees Chair, Jimmy Jam. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. and Chair of the Board of Trustees Tammy Hurt will provide opening remarks.

Photo Credit: Juliana Bernstein

Take a peek at the Grammys 2024 stage design, paying homage to the award show’s iconic gold-plated gramophone statuette.

The 66th Grammy Awards returns to Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena on Sunday, February 4, featuring a stage designed by Yellow Studio — the studio’s third consecutive year working with The Recording Academy. Inspired by the iconic gold-plated gramophone statuette for which the award and its ceremony’s name are derived, the 2024 Grammy Awards stage design is about celebrating the “unique and diverse voices of the global music community.”

Since its inception in 1959, the gramophone statuette has become a globally recognizable symbol of outstanding achievement in music. Yellow Studio has aimed to create a contemporary and monumental interpretation of that symbol for this year’s stage design.

In their approach to designing the stage, Yellow Studio placed a 20-foot-tall mirrored gramophone at center stage, establishing a grand focal point. Upstage is a video screen over 100 feet across that flies to reveal a continuation of the gramophone as circular lightbox rings.

The circular shape of the gramophone continues as a dominant motif throughout the stage design. Curved stairs cascade from the main stage into a softly colored nominee area to create an immersive experience for both audience and artists.

“I am honored to unveil Yellow Studio’s modern and bold approach to this year’s Grammy Awards stage,” said Julio Himede, Founder of Yellow Studio. “Our design pays homage to the long legacy of the show and celebrates the making of music with a 20-foot-tall monumental gramophone at center stage. The grand circular shape will crown the winning artists and commemorate their achievements.”

“Knowing that the iconic gramophone would be the central focus of the stage, I wanted to create a visual that would harmonize with it and the rest of the set design,” said Australian artist David McLeod, with whom Yellow Studios collaborated to design the bespoke CG artwork for the ceremony.

With the gramophone as the focal point in mind, McLeod created a digital artwork comprising metallic ripples radiating outward from the gramophone, representing sound waves propagating through the air and anchoring the visual to the environment.

“Designing for such a large screen, I set out to create a piece that is organic and soothing, yet still dynamic and engaging. After exploring a few different directions, we ultimately landed on this particular treatment — a visual representation of sound waves and sonic energy,” McLeod explains.

The 66th Annual Grammy Awards broadcasts live on Sunday, February 4, from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on the CBS Television Network, streaming live and on demand on Paramount+ at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET. The Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will be held at Peacock Theater at 12:30 PM PT, streamed live on the Grammy website and the Recording Academy’s YouTube channel prior to the telecast.

Photo Credit: The Recording Academy

The Grammys performer list keeps growing, with Joni Mitchell and SZA joining a roster that includes Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, U2, and more.

The Recording Academy has announced the addition of SZA to the 2024 Grammys performer lineup, just after revealing Joni Mitchell to be among those taking the stage.

Mitchell has won nine and been nominated for a Grammy 18 times, but this will be the first time she performs at the ceremony. With nine nominations this year, SZA is the most nominated artist at the 66th Grammy Awards. They join previously announced performers Billie Eilish, Billy Joel, Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, Joni Mitchell, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, Travis Scott, and U2, the latter of whom will deliver the first broadcast performance from Sphere in Las Vegas.

SZA’s position as this year’s most nominated artist is due largely to her chart-topping 2022 album, SOS. Her nominations include Album of the Year, Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Progressive R&B Song, Best R&B Song, Best R&B Performance, Best Traditional R&B Performance, Best Melodic Rap Performance, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance. She has seen 24 Grammy nominations in total, with one win.

Joni Mitchell is nominated for Best Folk Album this year for Joni Mitchell at Newport (Live). This will be the celebrated folk singer’s first performance at the Grammys, though in 2022, she and Bonnie Raitt introduced Brandi Carlile’s performance. Mitchell would perform with Carlile and other artists at the Newport Folk Festival just a few months later.

Her appearance at the 2022 Grammys was her second major return to the public eye following a brain aneurism in 2015; she appeared at the Kennedy Center Honors in 2021.

The 2024 Grammy Awards will be hosted by Trevor Noah and broadcast live on CBS from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 4, at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET. The show will also be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. Prior to that, the premiere ceremony will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater at 12:30 PM PT / 3:30 PM ET and will be streamed live on the Grammys website.

Photo Credit: Remy / CC by 4.0

U2 is added to the 2024 Grammy Awards performance slate on February 4, where they’ll perform straight from Las Vegas’ Sphere before their residency wraps up in March.

The Recording Academy announced on Friday, January 26 that U2 has been added to the Grammys’ slated performances on February 4, with the band playing from the Sphere in Las Vegas, where their months-long residency will finally wrap up on March 2.

The group doesn’t have a show booked for the Sphere that night, so whether a live audience will be on hand for the remote Grammy performance remains to be seen. U2’s segment will also feature “a special awards presentation,” the nature of which has also yet to be revealed. U2 will join several other performers teased for this year’s Grammys show.

U2 is the latest performance announced for the 66th Grammy Awards, with Billy Joel, Dua Lipa, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, Burna Boy, Luke Combs, and Travis Scott previously announced. The show kicks off at Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena, with the CBS telecast beginning at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET on February 4.

The Dublin rockers have a long history with the Grammys, winning 22 awards from the ceremony to date. The last time they performed at the Grammys was six years ago, when they played twice during the event, including a collaboration with Kendrick Lamar. But their forthcoming performance at this year’s Grammys will mark the first televised appearance from the Sphere since its opening.

After U2’s 50-show Las Vegas residency, “U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at the Sphere,” wraps up in March, another music act is set to play the venue for a four-night stand. Phish will hit the Sphere from April 11 to 21, with what they promise to be a “completely different setlist each night.” Tickets for Phish sold out immediately, but U2’s considerably longer run was also an easy sell.

Photo Credit: David Shankbone / CC by 3.0

The Recording Academy adds Billy Joel to the performance lineup for the 2024 Grammy Awards.

On Wednesday, January 24, the Recording Academy revealed that the Piano Man himself, Billy Joel, will perform at the 66th Grammy Awards. The show kicks off at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on February 4, with performances from artists including Billie Eilish, Burna Boy, Dua Lipa, Luke Combs, Olivia Rodrigo, and Travis Scott. More performers are said to be announced soon.

The news comes on the heels of the 74-year-old Joel announcing the upcoming release of “Turn the Lights Back On,” his first new single in nearly two decades. The music legend revealed on Monday that new music was on the way, sharing a teaser on social media that unveiled the track’s title and its release date of February 1.

The song will be the first new music from the singer-songwriter since 2007’s “All My Life,” though he has released some classical piano covers and some collaborations with artists including Cass Dillon. Joel had all but retired from songwriting following the release of his 1993 album, River of Dreams.

Despite his songwriting hiatus, Joel has continually performed live over the last thirty years, with international tours and a decade-long residency at New York’s Madison Square Garden. Joel will play his final show in the series on July 25 — his 150th lifetime show at the venue and the 100th in his residency.

This year’s Grammy nominations are led by superstar SZA, with nine in total; she is followed by Phoebe Bridgers and Victoria Monét, who each have seven nods. Jack Antonoff, Jon Batiste, boygenius, Brandy Clark, Miley Cyrus, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo, and Taylor Swift have each received six.

The 2024 Grammy Awards will be hosted by Trevor Noah for the fourth consecutive year, and will broadcast live on the CBS television network, and live and on demand on Paramount+ on February 4 at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET.

Photo Credit: The Recording Academy

Burna Boy, Luke Combs, and Travis Scott are added to the Grammy 2024 performer lineup, joining previously announced performers Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo.

The 2024 Grammy Awards will see performances from Burna Boy, Luke Combs, and Travis Scott, alongside previously announced performers Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo. The show kicks off Sunday, February 4, on CBS and Paramount+ at 5 PM PT.

Officially known as the 66th Grammy Awards, the 2024 Grammys will broadcast live from the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles at 5 PM PT / 8 PM ET on the CBS television network. It will be available to stream live and on demand on Paramount+. The Grammy Awards Premiere Ceremony will broadcast live from the Peacock Theater at 12:30 PM PT / 3:30 PM ET, and will be streamed live on the Recording Academy’s Grammy website.

Comedian, actor, author, podcast host, and former The Daily Show host Trevor Noah will return to host the 2024 Grammys, his fourth consecutive year doing so. This year marks the first that Noah will be a Grammy nominee while also hosting, up for Best Comedy Album for his 2022 Netflix special “I Wish You Would,” his second nomination at the ceremony to date.

Burna Boy is nominated for four Grammy Awards this year, including Best Global Music Album (I Told Them…), the inaugural Best African Music Performance (“City Boys”), Best Global Music Performance (“Alone”), and Best Melodic Rap Performance (“Sittin’ On Top of the World”). Luke Combs is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance this year for his cover of Tracy Chapman’s iconic track, “Fast Car.” Travis Scott is nominated for Best Rap Album this year for his fourth studio album, Utopia.

Produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the Recording Academy for the fourth consecutive year, the 66th Grammy Awards are executive produced by Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, and Jesse Collins.

Photo Credit: Timbaland

The Songwriters Hall of Fame is celebrating its 2024 inductees that include Timbaland, Michael Stipe, and the duo Steely Dan.

Other musical icons that are included in this year’s inductees include Hillary Lindsey, Dean Pitchford, Bill Berry, Peter Buck, and Mike Mills. Some of these songwriters hits include “Jesus Take The Wheel,” “Big Pimpin’,” “Footloose,” “Losing My Religion,” and “Reelin’ in the Years.” The star-studded event ceremony will take place on June 13 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City.

“I’ve said it before, but the music industry does not exist without songwriters delivering great songs first,” adds SHOF Chairman Nile Rogers. “Without them there is no recorded music, no concert business, no merch, nothing. It all starts with the song and the songwriter. We are therefore very proud that we are continually recognizing some of the culturally most important songwriters of all time and that the 2024 slate represents not just iconic songs but diversity and unity across genres, ethnicity, and gender. These songwriters have enriched our lives and literally enriched music and the lives of billions of listeners all over the world.”

Some of the key works of Songwriters Hall of Fame 2024 inductees include:

Hillary Lindsey

• “Jesus Take the Wheel”
• ”Girl Crush”
• “Blue Ain’t Your Color”
• “Always Remember Us This Way”
• “Million Reasons”

Timbaland

• “SexyBack”
• “Get Ur Freak On”
• “Pony”
• “Big Pimpin’”
• “The Way I Are”

Dean Pitchford

• “Footloose”
• “Fame”
• “Holding Out For A Hero”
• “All The Man That I Need”
• “Let’s Hear It For The Boy”

Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills & Michael Stipe p/k/a R.E.M.

• “Losing My Religion”
• “Everybody Hurts”
• “It’s The End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)”
• “Radio Free Europe”
• “The One I Love”

Doland Fagen and Walter Becker p/k/a Steely Dan

• “Reelin’ in the Years”
• “My Old School”
• “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number”
• “Black Friday”
• “Kid Charlemagne”

Photo Credit: Mikayla Lobasso (Billie Eilish), Tyrone Lebon (Dua Lipa), Larissa Hofmann (Olivia Rodrigo)

The Recording Academy has announced the performers for the Grammys 2024 edition include Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa, and Olivia Rodrigo.

Trevor Noah is hosting the awards show for the fourth consecutive year, with the show broadcasting live from Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 4 at 5pm PT/8pm ET. The show will be available to stream live and to watch afterward on the Paramount+ streaming service. A premiere ceremony will be broadcast live from the Peacock Theater.

Seven-time Grammy winner Billie Eilish is up for six Grammy Awards this year including nominations for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Pop Solo Performance, Best Song Written for Visual Media, Best Music Video (“What Was I Made For?”) from the Barbie soundtrack, and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Never Felt So Alone” with Labrinth).

Three-time Grammy winner Dua Lipa is currently nominated for two Grammy Awards including Song of the Year and Best Song Written for Visual Media (“Dance The Night”) from the Barbie soundtrack.

Three-time Grammy winner Olivia Rodrigo is nominated for six Grammy Awards this year including Album of the Year (GUTS), Record of the Year (“vampire), Song of the Year (“vampire”), Best Pop Vocal Album (GUTS), Best Pop Solo Performance (“vampire”) and Best Rock Song (“ballad of a homeschooled girl”).

The 2024 Grammys will be the 66th edition of the awards, this year produced by Fulwell 73 Productions for the fourth consecutive year. Ben Winston, Raj Kapoor, and Jesse Collins are executive producers.

The Barbie soundtrack racked up 11 nominations in total, including one for Ryan Gosling and his rendition of “I’m Just Ken.” Other Barbie noms include Best Rap Song for “Barbie World” by Nicki Minaj and Ice Spice, featuring Aqua and Best Compilation Soundtrack and Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media.

Photo Credit: Reckless Dream Photography / CC by 2.0

Embroiled in sexual assault lawsuits, Diddy will not be attending the 2024 Grammy Awards — despite being nominated for the first time in 20 years.

Sean “Diddy” Combs will not be attending the 2024 Grammy Awards on February 4, his representative tells the press. His nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album — the artist’s first Grammy nom since 2004 — was announced before the string of sexual assault allegations against him began, beginning with singer Cassie in November.

The Recording Academy announced on December 11 that it was “taking (the allegations against Diddy) very seriously and we are in the process of evaluating it with the time and care that it deserves.” But given that Diddy’s chances of actually winning the award are fairly low (he’s up against SZA’s “SOS”), his decision not to attend means the Academy is free to more or less sweep it under the rug; the odds of them removing a nomination were next to nothing to begin with.

“We don’t control who the voters vote for. If voters feel like a creator deserves a nomination, they’re going to vote for them,” said Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. when asked about comedians Dave Chappelle and Louis CK’s controversial nominations last year. “If there’s someone that’s been nominated that we don’t necessarily agree with, we’re not going to remove a nomination.”

“We’re never going to be in the business of (evaluating) them on the scale of morality,” Mason continued. “Our job is to evaluate the art and the quality of the art. The thing that we can control is making sure that people that attend our events feel safe (…) and don’t feel threatened by anyone.”

All nominees for a Grammy are invited to the show, and uninviting even one artist could spell disaster for the Academy, with 91 categories across the event and 450 nominees to potentially be vetted should some new process be applied.

“The Love Album” dropped in September, and while it didn’t dominate streaming services or earn special acclaim, the fact it was recognized with a nomination might have been cause for celebration for Diddy. A collaborative project with Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, John Legend, Mary J. Blige, 21 Savage, Burna Boy, Busta Rhymes, Coco Jones, and many more, “The Love Album” may have in fact landed a nomination due to the sheer number of hands involved in it who then also cast a vote in its favor.

Sir Lucian Grainge speaking during the A&R Worldwide awards at MUSEXPO 2017, which honored Republic Records co-Founders, Monte Lipman and Avery Lipman.

The 24th global edition of MUSEXPO, the renowned conference and showcase event, is poised to illuminate Burbank, CA, from March 17 to 20, 2024. Aptly titled “United Nations of Music,” this gathering transcends the ordinary, carving its niche as an indispensable cornerstone of the global music business calendar.

The following comes from A&R Worldwide, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

MUSEXPO 2024 emerges as a beacon for anyone entrenched in the industry, promising a confluence of key insights, elevated discussions, and unparalleled networking opportunities. The event’s agenda reads like a musical odyssey, touching upon vital topics that shape the evolution of the worldwide music business.

MUSEXPO will weave together the diverse threads of A&R – the nucleus of the music business, and what it takes to develop and break artists worldwide with actual intelligence vs artificial intelligence. The A&R panels and keynotes beckon some of the sharpest minds in artist and repertoire to dissect the trends steering the course of artist discovery and development. These are not mere sessions – they are the crucibles where the future of the music industry is forged.

Other parallels include music publishing and copyright evolution and monetization, digital innovation, the live, and immersive experiences business, artist management.

MUSEXPO will also delve into the realms of artificial intelligence and its impact on the future of music, the evolution of global music distribution, and will navigate the ever-shifting landscapes of radio and streaming.

The spotlight also extends to the fast-growing music markets of India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East, illuminating the untapped potential within these burgeoning regions. MUSEXPO will also be the first music conference to introduce the founder of an alchemic music company that has crafted a brand new music genre which is created through unique earth instruments, sensory stimulations, planetary frequencies and experienced in Dolby Atmos!

Also, at the forefront of MUSEXPO dialogue is the Global Synch & Brands Summit, an intellectual melting pot exploring the intricate dance between music, visuals, and branding, which will bring together dozens of music supervisors and studio executives from film, TV, animation, gaming, trailers, advertising, and more.

What sets MUSEXPO apart from the plethora of industry events is its magnetic ability to draw in the who’s who of the music and related industries. The event transforms into a melting pot of ideas, where executives, professionals, and creatives converge in an atmosphere that is warm, intimate, and engaging. It is not just a conference; it is an immersive experience that fuels collaboration, inspiration, and collective growth.

A stellar lineup of speakers further underscores the gravity of MUSEXPO. Among them, Academy Award-nominated songwriter Savan Kotecha takes center stage, a maestro whose pen has crafted hits for One Direction, Katy Perry, Justin Bieber, The Weeknd, Ariana Grande, and Taylor Swift.

Joining the ranks are luminaries like Danny Rukasin, Partner & Co-Owner of Best Friends Music, the manager behind Billie Eilish and Finneas. Craig Logan, Founder & CEO of LME, whose firm represents Dido, Luke Evans, Forest Blakk, and more. The lineup continues to impress with Steve Schnur, the Worldwide Executive & President of Music at Electronic Arts (one of the largest music videogaming company’s on the planet), and Taylor Jones, Founder & CEO of The Hello Group, which is a fast-growing music, media, live events and brands firm that has scored almost fifty No.1 hits for K-Pop artists since is launched over five years ago.

The roster of influencers extends to Mike Knobloch, President of Music & Publishing, NBCUniversal; Mike Weiss, Vice President, Music & Head A&R, UnitedMasters. Hussain “Spek” Yoosuf, EVP, International & Emerging Markets, Reservoir; Jacqueline Saturn, President, Virgin Music Group North America & EVP, Global Artist Relations; Professor Jonathan Shalit OBE, Chairman InterTalent Rights Group/Chosen Music; Rachel Levy, Executive Vice President, Motion Picture Music, Universal Pictures; Shivam Malhotra, Founder & CEO, Malsons Media (India); John McGrew, Music Creative Production, Netflix Series Animation; Kenny “Tick” Salcido, Sr. VP/Head of A&R, Red Bull Records; Mark Sutherland, Contributing Editor, Music Business Worldwide; Markus Schwarzer, Co-Founder & CEO, Cyanite AI (Germany); Jesper Skibsby, Founder, WARM (Worldwide Airplay Radio Monitor); Jason C Miller, CEO, Eventim Live Asia; Jordan “DJ Swivel” Young, Founder & CEO, Hooky; Selena Arizanovic, Director Programming Music, FOX Entertainment Music, and many others – the list reads like a who’s who of industry influencers and leaders.

MUSEXPO and renowned global artist discovery and development firm A&R Worldwide will unveil the official Seymour Stein – “Global A&R Award.” This prestigious accolade honors the legacy of one of the greatest A&R executives in modern music, Seymour Stein, who played a pivotal role in signing iconic artists to his legendary Sire Records label (Madonna, Depeche Mode, Talking Heads, Ramones, The Smiths, The Cure, and more). The inaugural recipient of this distinguished award is Wendy Goldstein, Co-President of Republic Records, instrumental in delivering chart-topping hits through collaborations with artists like Ariana Grande and The Weeknd.

As the curtain rises on MUSEXPO 2024, it heralds not just a conference but a transformative experience. Emerging U.S. and global talent will grace the stage, continuing the tradition of past events that launched artists like Katy Perry, Jessie J, LMFAO, Frank Turner, Sheppard, Forest Blakk, Jeremy Loops, and many more onto the global stage.

For those yearning to decipher the future of the U.S. and global music business, MUSEXPO is not merely an event; it is a sonic tapestry where innovation, collaboration, and discovery harmonize, and resonate far beyond Burbank’s city limits. MUSEXPO has become one of the most respected and notable events for the music industry, and one that you don’t want to miss.

Here are the top pro tips to ensure you make the most out of your time at the NAMM Show — from DMN and NAMM organizers themselves.

The NAMM Show, organized by the National Association of Music Merchants, is one of the largest music industry events in the world. Aimed at uniting the global music, sound, and entertainment technology communities, the annual show serves an incredible experience — whether you’re an influencer, content creator, musician, producer, retailer, instrument manufacturer, or buyer. Here are some top tips for attending NAMM like a pro.

NAMM is right around the corner and will take place on January 21-25, 2025, at the Anaheim Convention Center in Southern California.

Every year, NAMM produces this epic trade show to strengthen and promote the music products industry — specifically instruments, gear, and the technology that backs them all. But the show offers more than just a showcase of these products.

If planned correctly, the event can unlock opportunities to kickstart lucrative deals and make lasting business connections. NAMM isn’t just a retail-focused show, it’s a broader industry gathering that surrounds you with tens of thousands of like-minded people. Just recently, NAMM partnered with DMN to showcase the extensive opportunities that sometimes get missed by attendees.

Pete Johnston, Director of Marketing at NAMM, explains how The NAMM Show kickstarts new avenues of music businesses. “The NAMM Show is a launchpad for a lot of careers,” Johnston told DMN, adding, “I always talk about the inspiration — I come home so fired up after some NAMM sessions.”

“Companies and ideas are born at NAMM,” says Johnston.

“I see people morphing and changing and playing different roles — with music being the core. The foundation underneath all of this is active music — the art of actively participating in music.”

Whether you’re an influencer, creator, musician, producer, or a tech developer, you can leverage the NAMM Show to grow your audience, brand, and business. If you’re planning to network, make valuable connections, score an endorsement deal, or nab a spot on an interview or podcast, the time to prep would be right now.

Here are the top pro tips to ensure you make the most out of your time at the event — from DMN and NAMM organizers themselves.

1. If you’re a content creator or influencer, “Leverage NAMM for collaborative opportunities and endorsements,” says Alex Solano from AlexProMix.

Solano says arranging meetings with software and hardware companies before the event will maximize opportunities — for channel growth, scoring a feature on a panel or podcast, or to nab a brand endorsement deal. “Initiate conversations through emails or direct messaging on social media to book slots,” Alex advises. “Engage in dialogues about potential video projects, and synchronize your content timeline with their product release dates. This proactive strategy secures exclusive content that aids in expanding your channel’s reach and enhancing the company’s market presence.”

Solano shares that companies are on the lookout for influencers who can attract the next generation of music creators. He emphasizes that NAMM can be a tool for artists and producers to evolve from regular users of music products to brand endorsers. “Compile a portfolio or EPK that shows your use of a brand’s equipment, highlighting its integration into your performances or productions. Visit the brand booths with confidence, present your portfolio, and propose a partnership for endorsements.”

2. Whether you’re an artist, producer, or a music tech mastermind, don’t shy away from connecting with media outlets in advance.

“Request interviews to discuss your innovative contributions to the music industry, whether it’s through recent works or new technologies like AI and Dolby Atmos,” Solano also advised.”Landing features on podcasts or video interviews can boost your brand’s narrative and solidify your footprint in the music industry.”

3. Prepare for a ‘NAMM Show Week.’

Johnston reveals that even though the four official exhibit days run Thursday to Saturday, ‘we also have events, meetings, and education sessions starting on Tuesday, January 21st’ adding, “We’re calling it a NAMM Week. It’s a gathering spot for the week for a lot of the industry.”

4. Attending the NAMM Show as a member and non-member.

A NAMM membership is specifically tailored to provide relevant benefits and support. It also entitles members for year-round benefits, including access to the NAMM Show. Register as an individual member, Service Provider, Manufacturer Representative, Commercial Affiliate, Retail Affiliate, or Retail Professional. Your NAMM Show badge will reflect membership type.

If you’re not a member and want to attend the show, NAMM requires every user to register directly with a unique email address.

5. Don’t look like a tourist with a map — download the NAMM Show+ App for effective floor and time management.

Head over to the NAMM schedule on the NAMM Show+ App — for attendees and exhibitors — well before the show. It has everything you need, including hotel reservations backed by NAMM and its official housing partners.

Plan your vendor appointments around the sessions that you want to attend. Strategizing from the get-go is the best approach to get the most out of NAMM.

View the terrain to map out a plan that works for your goals and your company’s. The NAMM Show+ App gives you everything you need to access educational sessions and details, guiding you where you need to be – and when. Connect with attendees, get navigation tools to help plan your meetings (using the map of the show floor will help you avoid walking back and forth), and stay up to date with post-event stuff.

Head over to the NAMM schedule on the NAMM Show+ App.

6. Leverage the 200+ educational opportunities for NAMM member communities.

NAMM has also announced over 200 industry and educational opportunities for the show for NAMM member communities. These professional communities include retail, brands, professional audio, music tech, live event production, artists, music education, nonprofit and community leaders, college music business students, and more.

Johnston talks about a program called TEC Tracks where it’s all about music production, dissection, how people made albums, mastering, immersive audio, AI, and others. “There are so many people that started businesses because of somebody they met at The NAMM Show, or an idea they gathered from the opportunities there,” said Johnston, adding, “Get in with the developers, the engineers, and you never know what you’ll create or what you’ll start.”

John Mlynczak, president and CEO of NAMM explained how this years’s show is aiming to reconnect the global music industry and excel on every level, ‘from our music stages, to educational and industry programs, to incredible exhibitors on the show floor,’ adding, “The NAMM Show will provide critical platforms and industry innovations that will drive growth to create a better future for the next generation of music industry leaders.”

As a snapshot of 200+ educational sessions up for grabs, members can check out the following:

Music Business Track features 45+ sessions to educate business leaders in our industry, with a focus on artificial intelligence as a marketing and business-efficiency tool, along with key sessions on leadership, social media and online marketing, finance, music lessons and retail tech.

Audio Production and Music Technology Track with 65+ sessions covering the latest innovations and new ideas in recording, live sound, music technology and music business.

Entertainment Technology Track brings 25+ sessions and training opportunities for professionals in lighting and production design, rigging, touring — even event safety to navigate a post-pandemic world.

College Students and Faculty Track; K-12 Educator Track offers 46+ sessions, workshops, and events for music students and faculty in collaboration with the College Music Society (CMS) and others — with multiple opportunities to network with industry professionals.

Non-Profit Track will offer sessions that cover tools of community building via the creation of and support to non-profit music service organizations, alongside best practices, fundraising, and governance.

NAMM’s education sessions are free, and Johnston says, “If you have a NAMM badge, you get to come and get educated.”

7. Take advantage of the NAMM U Breakfast Sessions

Coffee, food, and music is on the menu with early morning sessions and panels. You’ll get to network before the venue gets packed and crowded.

8. Balance fun with goals — but don’t get distracted.

Even though it’s fun to watch every demo, concert, and artist signing (whether you’re a regular attendee or it’s your first time), don’t let all the fun distractions cannibalize your time. Decide exactly what’s worth seeing, pick up innovative ideas that apply to your business or brand, and remember to take notes.

9. Prepare to be overwhelmed — but remember you can ‘choose your adventure.’

The NAMM Show is big — many football fields big. Picture a small town that’s packed with the population of a small city. The NAMM Show is a broader music industry gathering rather than just a retail-focused show. The buzzing global marketplace is a massive celebration — it will be loud, chaotic, and a bit mad.

According to Johnston, people who feel the NAMM Show is too big are forgetting that they can pick portions that excite them and suit their goals. “You can choose your adventure. And whichever adventure you choose, it’s going to benefit you. It’s like a campus with all the different majors. you have your communities, and you can grow your knowledge and your skills.”

10. Avoid bottlenecks: travel, shuttles, dining tips, more.

If you’re flying to attend NAMM, your trip will be smoother if you pick a flight on lower-traffic days. Tuesday or Wednesday are generally the best to ensure you miss the crazy rush.

And here are a few last tips; wear comfortable shoes (you’ll be walking a lot), and grab a pair of earbuds (NAMM gets loud!). Plus, arriving early to avoid the pouring NAMM crowds can save time and energy. For meals, aim to eat outside of normal mealtimes — say, grab a bite at 11:00 am instead of 12:30 pm.

Enjoy!

Photo Credit: Hayden Schiff / CC by 2.0

Comedian and former Daily Show host Trevor Noah will emcee the Grammys for the fourth year in a row — but the first in which he’s also a nominee.

Trevor Noah, comedian and former host of “The Daily Show,” will host the 66th Grammy Awards on Sunday, February 4, 2024. The 40-year-old will not only be hosting the ceremony for the fourth year in a row, but he’s also a nominee, with his stand-up release, “I Wish You Would,” nominated for Best Comedy Album.

Should Noah take home the prize for which he is nominated, he will become only the second artist to win an award and host the ceremony on the same night. Kenny Rogers, who hosted the 1980 Grammy Awards, also took home the prize that night for Best Country Vocal Performance, Male, for “The Gambler.”

“I’m hosting the Grammys. I’m excited about that, yeah,” said Noah on his podcast on Thursday. “It’s a lot of fun. I enjoy the Grammys because I get to watch the show in person and then experience and comment on it in person while it’s happening.”

While this will be the first year that Noah is nominated for a Grammy while also hosting, it’s not his first Grammy nod overall. He was nominated for Best Comedy Album in 2020 for his release, “Son of Patricia.”

It’s proving to be a big year for Noah, and a big year-end to boot. The Grammy announcement comes just after the news of his latest comedy special on Netflix, “Where Was I,” debuting next week on December 19.

In November, the Recording Academy revealed the nominees for the 66th edition of the ceremony, with lead nominees including SZA with nine, Phoebe Bridgers with seven, Victoria Monét with six, and producer Serban Ghenea with six. Three new categories have also been announced for 2024: Best African Music Performance, Best Alternative Jazz Album, and Best Pop Dance Recording.

Photo Credit: Academy of Country Music

The Academy of Country Music announces multiple upcoming category changes for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2024.

The Academy of Country Music has announced the submissions and ballot timeline for membership voting for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards in May 2024. With that, the Academy also announced multiple upcoming changes within numerous award categories.

The ACM Board of Directors approved changes to the Academy’s New Female Artist of the Year, New Male Artist of the Year, and New Duo or Group of the Year, extending charting for those categories to open eligibility for more artists. The Board of Directors also adopted criteria to require a minimum of three eligible submissions to award a category.

“The 59th ACM Awards cycle brings changes to awards categories that will allow more artists, groups, and duos the chance to qualify and be recognized with an ACM Award, which will benefit emerging artists and help put a spotlight on the future of the genre,” said Daniel Miller, Chair of the ACM Awards, Voting, and Membership Committee.

“I’d like to thank the Awards committee members, Board members, and Board Officers for their thoughtful contributions in expanding eligibility to reflect our evolving industry and the realities for new artists on their path to success.”

“ACM New Duo or Group of the Year is an illustrious category that has seen the likes of Brooks & Dunn and The Chicks win early in their careers, as well as both reigning ACM Duo of the Year Brothers Osborne and reigning ACM Group of the Year Old Dominion,” added Tommy Moore, ACM Vice President of Artist and Industry Relations, Governance, and Board Administration.

“The category hasn’t been awarded in recent years, and we’re hopeful these changes in category rules and minimum qualifying entrant levels will allow us to bring back this award, a fan favorite, as well as celebrate additional deserving emerging artists in the critical early years of their career,” Moore explained.

Submissions for the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards will open at 9 AM PT / 11 AM CT on Monday, January 8, 2024. The Academy will accept entries through Friday, January 26, 2024 at 5 PM PT / 7 PM CT.

Produced by Dick Clark Productions, the 59th Academy of Country Music Awards will stream exclusively on Prime Video worldwide for a third consecutive year, as part of the ACM’s recently announced renewed partnership with Amazon. The awards ceremony will stream live from the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas, headquarters of the Dallas Cowboys.

The 58th ACM Awards, hosted by stars Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, saw over 7.7 million viewers on Prime Video, additional viewership across Amazon Music, the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, and Amazon Live, making it one of the most watched awards shows of the year.

Photo Credit: Songwriters Hall of Fame

The Songwriters Hall of Fame announces the nominees up for consideration to be inducted at its 2024 gala in New York City.

The Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF) has announced the list of nominees to be voted on for induction at its 2024 awards gala in New York City. Eligible voting members will have until midnight EST on December 27, 2023 to turn in ballots with their choices of three nominees of songwriters and three from performing songwriter categories.

Dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of songwriters around the world, SHOF qualifies a composer or lyricist with a notable catalog of songs 20 years after the first significant commercial release of a song. The complete list of SHOF’s 2024 nominees is below, with a selection of five songs from their extensive catalogs.

Performing Songwriters

• Bryan Adams – “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You,” “Heaven,” “All For Love,” “Have You Ever Really Loved a Woman?,” “Summer of ‘69”
• Randy Bachman & Burton Cummings – “These Eyes,” “American Woman,” “Laughing,” “No Time,” “No Sugar Tonight”
• Debbie Harry, Chris Stein, & Clem Burke (Blondie) – “Call Me,” “Heart of Glass,” “Rapture,” “One Way or Another,” “Sunday Girl”
• Tracy Chapman – “Fast Car,” “Talkin’ ‘Bout a Revolution,” “Give Me One Reason,” “Baby Can I Hold You,” “Sing For You”
• George Clinton – “Atomic Dog,” “Flashlight,” “(Not Just) Knee Deep,” “P-Funk,” “Give Up the Funk”
• Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, & Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers) – “Listen to the Music,” “Long Train Runnin’,” “What a Fool Believes,” “China Grove,” “Black Water”
• David Gates – “Everything I Own,” “Make It With You,” “Baby I’m-a Want You,” “The Guitar Man,” “If”
• Ann Wilson & Nancy Wilson (Heart) – “Barracuda,” “Crazy On You,” “Dog and Butterfly,” “Straight On,” “Even It Up”
• Kenny Loggins – “Danny’s Song,” “Footloose,” “Celebrate Me Home,” “Return to Pooh Corner,” “What a Fool Believes”
• Carlton Douglas Ridenhour (Chuck D) & William Jonathan Drayton (Flavor Flav) (Public Enemy) – “Fight the Power,” “Bring the Noise,” “Don’t Believe the Hype,” “Can’t Truss It,” “Black Steel in the Hour of Chaos”
• Bill Berry, Peter Buck, Mike Mills, & Michael Stipe (R.E.M.) – “Losing My Religion,” “Everybody Hurts,” “It’s the End of the World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine),” “Radio Free Europe,” “The One I Love”
• Donald Fagen & the late Walter Becker (Steely Dan) – “Reelin’ in the Years,” “My Old School,” “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number,” “Black Friday,” “Kid Charlemagne”

Non-Performing Songwriters

• L. Russell Brown – “Sock It To Me – Baby!,” “Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree,” “C’Mon Marianne,” “Knock Three Times,” “Use It Up and Wear It Out”
• Dean Dillon – “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Ocean Front Property,” “Here For a Good Time,” “The Chair,” “I’m Alive”
• Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter – “Aint No Woman (Like the One I’ve Got),” “Don’t Pull Your Love,” “Nightshift,” “One Tin Soldier (Theme from Billy Jack),” “We Built This City”
• Hillary Lindsey – “Jesus Take the Wheel,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” “Girl Crush,” “Always Remember Us This Way,” “Million Reasons”
• Tony Macaulay – “Baby Now That I’ve Found You,” “Build Me Up Buttercup,” “Don’t Give Up On Us,” “Last Night I Didn’t Get To Sleep At All,” “Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)”
• Timothy Mosley (Timbaland) – “SexyBack,” “Get Ur Freak On,” “Pony,” “Big Pimpin’,” “The Way I Are”
• Roger Nichols – “We’ve Only Just Begun,” “Rainy Days and Mondays,” “I Won’t Last a Day Without You,” “Out In the Country,” “Times of Your Life”
• Dean Pitchford – “Footloose,” “Fame,” “Holding Out For a Hero,” “All the Man That I Need,” “Let’s Hear It For the Boy”
• Maurice Starr – “Candy Girl,” “I’ll Be Loving You (Forever),” “Is This the End,” “Step By Step,” “Popcorn Love”
• Narada Michael Walden – “How Will I Know,” “Freeway of Love,” “Who’s Zoomin’ Who,” “I Don’t Wanna Cry,” “I Shoulda Loved Ya”

The Songwriters Hall of Fame celebrates and honors contributions from songwriters of all genres of music while educating the public regarding their achievements, and produces a wealth of programs devoted to the development of new songwriting talent.

Payout platform Trolley has been ranked No.23 on Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50 (Canada) and No.153 on their Technology Fast 500 (North America). Deloitte’s annual rankings honor the fastest-growing, most innovative technology companies, based on the percentage fiscal year revenue growth of the past three years. Trolley’s rate of growth during this period was over 936%. According to the Canadian fintech, its partners in the music space have been a huge part of their growth.

The following was created in collaboration with Trolley, a company DMN is proud to be partnered with.

With clients like CD Baby, United Masters, Ditto Music, Beatchain, and Future Classic, among many others, Trolley (since its launch in 2015) has seen the value in providing enhanced payouts for the music industry — as part of its mission to implement solutions for the broader internet economy.

Bringing advanced automation tools and processes to companies, alongside its ability to execute payments at scale, Trolley has taken innovative steps to tackle the music industry’s most significant challenge: providing smooth royalty disbursement experiences for music industry companies, and their artists.

In an exclusive reveal to DMN today, Trolley confirmed that it has secured the No.153 spot on the Deloitte Technology Fast 500 — a prestigious 29-year-old ranking of the 500 fastest-growing companies within North America.

Companies that secure a spot on the annual ranking provide offerings in spaces of tech, fintech, media, telecom, life sciences, and energy technology. Overall, the 2023 Technology Fast 500 companies achieved revenue growth ranging from 201% to an incredible 222,189% over the three-year time frame (2019 to 2022).

To add, Canada-headquartered Trolley has also been awarded the No.23 rank on Deloitte Canada’s Technology Fast 50, which celebrates its 26th anniversary this year. Canada’s preeminent technology awards program recognizes business growth, innovation, and entrepreneurship in four categories of the Technology Fast 50 ranking: Enterprise, Industry Leaders, Clean Technology, and Companies-to-Watch.

Vincent Guérin, VP Marketing at Trolley told DMN, “We are proud to be recognized as one of the fastest-growing companies in both Canada and North America at large. Our growth is not just a number — it’s a demonstration of our commitment to change the way people are compensated.”

Guérin emphasized that partnering with industry pace-setters in the music space has been a critical part of Trolley’s journey, adding, “Music partners have been instrumental — they’ve allowed us to refine our offerings and sharpen our competitive edge. Together, we are not just changing the system; we are writing a new future where every artist is paid their due. We are immensely grateful for these partnerships, their trust in us, and their role in our story.”

Abdul Refaat, Head of Royalties and Senior Enterprise Account Executive at Trolley, also highlighted that the company’s collaborations and partnerships within the music industry are about something much more significant than making payouts. “It’s about empowering artists and industry leaders alike,” Refaat said.

“Over the past 6 years, I’ve engaged in thousands of conversations that have deeply informed our approach in this sector. Today, we offer exceptional artist experiences, payouts, and tax filing tools crucial to a sustainable, artist-centric ecosystem — especially for those without the robust infrastructure of major labels,” relayed Refaat, adding, “Looking to the future, we will continue to fine-tune our feature set and focus on other major music pain points, such as data transparency or royalty calculations.”

Tim Nixon, CEO and founder of Trolley, addressed Deloitte’s recognition in a public post, saying, “With a staggering 936% growth over the last 3 years, this journey has been fuelled by our dedicated team and this growth is a testament to the hard work and determination of every single person on our team.”

Nixon added, “We are humbled to stand among the ranks of the trailblazers and game-changers of the tech world. Being part of this prestigious list is more than just an accolade; it’s a reminder of our commitment to our customers and the difference we’re making in the internet economy.”

Anders McKenzie, partner and national leader for the Technology Fast 50 program at Deloitte Canada applauded the winners for managing to secure remarkable revenue growth — despite the uncertainties that exist in the economy and marketplace today.

“Fueled by exemplary innovation, creativity, resilience, adaptability, along with superior business leadership, these companies are paving the way as catalysts in their respective sectors and delivering growth and value to the Canadian economy — both at home and beyond,” McKenzie said.

Photo Credit: Carolin von Petzholdt / CC by 3.0

No K-pop groups or soloists were nominated for 2024 Grammy Awards — in fact, BTS remains the only K-pop group to have ever received a nomination.

A list of nominees for the 2024 Grammy Awards was released on Friday, November 10, but no K-pop act appeared on the roster, despite several high-profile acts (including BTS, Stray Kids, and Tomorrow X Together) submitting their work for consideration.

All seven members of BTS submitted their solo releases in different categories, but none managed to secure a nomination. Jimin’s “Like Crazy” was submitted under the Song of the Year and Best Music Video categories, while Jungkook’s “Seven” was submitted for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance — the same category in which BTS was nominated in 2021. BTS remains the only K-pop act to receive a Grammy nom.

Beyond BTS, there have been numerous commercially successful K-pop releases in the eligibility period (October 2022 to September 15, 2023), including albums from NewJeans, Tomorrow X Together, Seventeen, Fifty Fifty, and Stray Kids. None have been considered for Grammy Awards — but it’s not just K-pop acts who have been noticeably snubbed from the 2024 nominees.

Musicians in other genres who somehow got the cold shoulder for a 2024 Grammy despite their obvious successes this year include Pink, Kim Petras, Jack Harlow, the Jonas Brothers, Shania Twain, Tanya Tucker, Sam Smith, and Morgan Wallen.

Luke Combs received a single Grammy nomination (Best Country Solo Performance) for his hit cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car,” despite the success of his Gettin’ Old album. The wider acclaim for his version of “Fast Car” saw both Combs and Chapman receive 2023 Country Music Awards for the track last week.

Following a history-making 2023, Taylor Swift is poised to make further history at the 66th annual Grammy Awards on February 4, 2024. Meanwhile, SZA is sweeping the competition in overall nominations with nine, and Miley Cyrus could secure her first win. Other names on the list include Billie Eilish, Doja Cat, Olivia Rodrigo, Phoebe Bridgers, Lana Del Rey, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, and Jon Batiste.

Photo Credit: Samsung Saudi Arabia / CC by 3.0

Astoundingly, the entire K-pop genre got the cold shoulder at the 2024 Grammy Awards — who else is getting snubbed?

The list of nominations for the 2024 Grammy Awards was strangely lacking in any K-pop act — despite another banner year for career highs for artists out of Seoul. Fans of the genre are far from surprised, but that doesn’t stop them from being disappointed, particularly with the diversity on display in the music submitted for consideration. Even the solo work of BTS — the only K-pop act to have ever secured a Grammy nom — has gone overlooked.

K-pop acts in over 40 categories were submitted for consideration, such as music from Seventeen, Stray Kids, Tomorrow X Together, Fifty Fifty, and each of the seven members of BTS — including Jungkook’s “Seven” and Jimin’s “Like Crazy.” But there were several other surprising snubs in the list of nominations outside of K-pop, and many of them in country music.

Morgan Wallen and Luke Combs are two of the biggest names in country music, but the genre remains largely unrepresented in the Grammy nominations. Outside of Wallen’s hit “Last Night,” which is up for Best Country Song — an award given to the songwriters, which Wallen is not — he received zero nods, despite a hit Billboard chart-topping album.

Combs’ cover of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car” is nominated for Best Country Solo Performance — the only nod for a song that just won Single of the Year at the CMAs on November 8. Even Lainey Wilson’s phenomenal CMA wins only saw her with a single nom at the 2024 Grammy Awards.

Pink, whose career spans over 20 years, received zero nominations for a Grammy this year, despite her hit track “Trustfall” from the album of the same name proving her continued staying power in pop music mainstream. Similarly, Sam Smith’s fourth studio album, the soulful dancehall-disco offering “Gloria,” was shut out of any 2024 nominations, despite Smith’s five prior Grammy wins.

DJ and producer Metro Boomin is up for Producer of the Year — a prestigious award, to be sure. But his work with artists like 21 Savage, Travis Scott, Drake, John Legend, Chris Brown, Gunna, and The Weeknd over the past year (and on his album “Heroes & Villains”) led many to believe he would have received more than just a single nomination.

Even Drake, an artist who normally dominates the Grammy scene, only wound up with four nominations. That seems odd, considering the success of his 21 Savage collaboration “Her Loss.” But having withdrawn his name from Grammy consideration in 2022, and opting not to submit his album “Honestly, Nevermind” in 2023, the Recording Academy might have been less inspired to nominate him for more categories.

That said, it’s hard to be too upset about four nominations, especially ones as impressive as Best Melodic Rap Performance, Best Rap Performance, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap Album. It’s just substantially fewer than we’re used to seeing for Drake, who’s used to boasting over five; his record for Grammy nominations in a single ceremony is eight.

DMN Pro’s inaugural mini-conference took place on October 25, 2023. The event set the stage for insightful discussions on the current dilemmas plaguing the music industry — in the face of AI. Hosted at the FYI venue in Hollywood, speakers included FYI.me founder will.i.am, CEO of TuneCore Andreea Gleeson, Grammy-Winning producer Jordan, ‘DJ Swivel’ Young, and other high strikers from the music industry.

The following comes from Open On Sunday, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

DMN Pro ‘Rules for AI’ stimulated a thorough and interesting examination of multi-faceted AI applications. Coordinated and moderated by DMN Chief Revenue Officer Noah Itman, the event started with opening remarks from DMN Publisher Paul Resnikoff.

will.i.am then took the stage — flanked by a group of panelists with highly unique perspectives on AI — and wasted no time getting to the heart of the AI debate.

Emphasizing the value and importance of human emotion, will.i.am spoke passionately about how the capability of emotional ‘expression’ will be an artist’s most significant competitive advantage moving forward.

“That true raw human emotion, AI will never take that away from an artist — digging deep inside themselves and unleashing their emotion at its purest,” Will relayed, adding, “I encourage every artist to go down that path. Eventually, they’re going to be competing in a very serious way, so you might as well skill up on your creative, expressive process. How do you express yourself?”

Speaking about his own experience of, and utilization of, AI tools, Will said, “I use AI as an entrepreneur to build new experiences, rather than using AI for my creative exercise. I have no problem with my current state of creative flow. Still, regarding allowing teams to be creative in one place, I use the foundation of AI — these large language models and foundation models to build new experiences for other creatives.”

Jordan ‘DJ Swivel’ Young, founder and CEO of Hooky AI Inc. (a music tech platform specializing in AI voice modeling) spoke at length about his area of expertise — comparing voice modeling to a social media filter.

“Essentially, when matching someone’s voice, think of it like a filter. I can take my voice and then apply Will’s filter to it, and now it sounds like Will,” explains Young.

The Grammy-winning producer also pointed out that the music industry’s history proves the remarkable role technology has played in its growth — whether it was the electric guitar, synthesizer, drum machines and samples, or even auto-tune. “These technologies shaped the way we hear music, and there were tools for artists to create something new that we haven’t heard before. That’s how I view these generative tools. With the advent of generative AI and the speed of technological advances, it’s maybe the most exciting time ever to make records,” Young relayed.

Jason Donnelly and Matthew Yost of Soundtrack Loops attended the event to ‘learn more about AI.’

Soundtrack Loops holds a vast catalog of royalty-free isolated instrument loops artists can use to ‘mix, match, chop, and mingle’ to make their music.

Donnelly said, “We’re here to learn how our loops might be useful within AI applications. We’re talking about possibly licensing our catalog to AI companies who might be able to use royalty-free loops, whether for creating new content or perhaps even learning from our content.”

The first panel concluded discussions right in time for lunch before the second panel took to the stage — the session focusing on copyright issues surrounding AI, current legislation, and navigating the unknown as the music world takes more substantial strides toward the technology.

Shannon Sorensen, SVP of Legal & Business Affairs at NMPA, weighed in on the discussion, elaborating on viewpoints that AI potentially puts human creators out of business. Talking about generative AI in the production space, Sorensen said, “[Say] you’re writing music for TV and someone comes along and says, ‘well, we trained on all of the hundreds of hours of music that you’ve written, and here’s an AI that can do your job for you.’ Obviously, that would put human creators out of business. We don’t want that, so that’s what we’re fighting against.”

Taking a pause, will.i.am again offered his thoughts on the intrinsic value of human emotion that AI cannot reproduce. “What we do at FYI is creating conversational collaboration enterprise messaging for folks to center as a team and have a better workflow — by having digital asset management tools, and strategy tools in the form of AI. Artificial intelligence can help you strategize on how to proliferate your expression.”

“I think it’s important to start empowering and supercharging individuals with their ideas and manifesting those ideas — whatever their ideas are.”

Enjoying the discussion? Get ready for lots more as part of Digital Music News’ premium DMN Pro offering.

A live performance from the Arctic Monkeys, who’ve been nominated for 2024 Grammys in categories including Best Alternative Music Album. Photo Credit: Raph_PH

The Recording Academy has officially revealed the full list of nominees for the 66th Grammys, which will take place on Sunday, February 4th.

Grammys organizers unveiled the 2024 nominations today, and the final round of voting, this time for the annual happening’s winners, is expected to begin on December 14th and wrap on January 4th.

Overall, the Grammy nominees feature seemingly few major surprises; commercially prominent acts like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and, of course, Taylor Swift are up for Album and/or Record of the Year. Additionally, Drake’s Her Loss was in fact submitted and is in the mix for Best Rap Album. Perhaps the most noteworthy takeaway is who isn’t on the list of nominations.

Ghostwriter, whose “Heart on My Sleeve” Drake and The Weeknd soundalike project has made a major listenership splash, didn’t manage to secure a nomination. Earlier in 2023, Recording Academy head Harvey Mason Jr. reportedly invited the anonymous creator to a Grammys virtual roundtable before publicly signaling that the professional, who penned “Heart on My Sleeve” without AI, would be eligible for an award.

Presumably after being greeted by ample behind-the-scenes criticism, Mason Jr. promptly walked back the position, emphasizing that “the vocals were not legally obtained.”

Here are the 2024 Grammy nominees in major categories including Record of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year.

Record of the Year

Nominees: “Worship” (Jon Batiste), “Not Strong Enough” (boygenius), “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus), “What Was I Made For?” (Billie Eilish), “On My Mama” (Victoria Monét), “Vampire” (Olivia Rodrigo), “Anti-Hero” (Taylor Swift), and “Kill Bill” (SZA)

Album of the Year

Nominees: World Music Radio (Jon Batiste), The Record (boygenius), Endless Summer Vacation (Miley Cyrus), Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (Lana Del Rey), The Age of Pleasure (Janelle Monáe), GUTS (Olivia Rodrigo), Midnights (Taylor Swift), and SOS (SZA)

Song of the Year

(For the listed tracks’ songwriters)

Nominees: “A&W” (Lana Del Rey), “Anti-Hero” (Taylor Swift), “Butterfly” (Jon Batiste), “Dance the Night” (Dua Lipa), “Flowers” (Miley Cyrus), “Kill Bill” (SZA), “Vampire” (Olivia Rodrigo), and “What Was I Made For?” (Billie Eilish)

Best New Artist

Nominees: Gracie Abrams, Fred Again, Ice Spice, Jelly Roll, Coco Jones, Noah Kahan, Victoria Monét, and The War and Treaty

Songwriter of the Year, Non-Classical

Nominees: Edgar Barrera, Jessie Jo Dillon, Shane McAnally, Theron Thomas, and Justin Tranter

Best Pop Solo Performance

Nominees: “Flowers” by Miley Cyrus, “Paint the Town Red” by Doja Cat, “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish, “Vampire” by Olivia Rodrigo, and “Anti-Hero” by Taylor Swift

Best Pop Vocal Album

Nominees: Chemistry by Kelly Clarkson, Endless Summer Vacation by Miley Cyrus, GUTS by Olivia Rodrigo, – by Ed Sheeran, and Midnights by Taylor Swift

Best Dance/Electronic Music Album

Nominees: James Blake’s Playing Robots Into Heaven, The Chemical Brothers’ For That Beautiful Feeling, Fred Again’s Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022), Kx5’s Kx5, and Skrillex’s Quest for Fire

Best Rock Performance

Nominees: “Sculptures of Anything Goes” (Arctic Monkeys), “More Than A Love Song” (Black Pumas), “Not Strong Enough” (boygenius), “Rescued” (Foo Fighters), and “Lux Æterna” (Metallica)

Best Rock Album

Nominees: Foo Fighters’ But Here We Are, Greta Van Fleet’s Starcatcher, Metallica’s 72 Seasons, Paramore’s This Is Why, and Queens of the Stone Age’s In Times New Roman…

Best Alternative Music Album

Nominees: The Car (Arctic Monkeys), The Record (boygenius), Did You Know That There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd (Lana Del Rey), Cracker Island (Gorillaz), and I Inside the Old Year Dying (PJ Harvey)

Best Rap Album

Nominees: Her Loss by Drake and 21 Savage, MICHAEL by Killer Mike, HEROES & VILLIANS by Metro Boomin, King’s Disease III by Nas, and UTOPIA by Travis Scott

Best Country Album

Nominees: Rolling Up the Welcome Mat (Kelsea Ballerini), eponymous projects from Brothers Osborne as well as Zach Bryan, Rustin’ in the Rain (Tyler Childers), and Bell Bottom Country (Lainey Wilson)

Photo Credit: Morgan Wallen’s Instagram

Despite a chart-topping year and his presence in several key categories, Morgan Wallen receives zero CMA Awards at this year’s event.

Morgan Wallen was among the top contenders in several key categories at the 2023 CMA Awards on Wednesday, November 8, and he even performed twice that night — but the chart-topping country star still walked away empty-handed. Wallen was up for categories including Entertainer of the Year, Album of the Year, and Male Vocalist of the Year, all of which he lost to Lainey Wilson and Chris Stapleton.

Still, the 30-year-old Wallen has had a winning year, with his album One Thing at a Time dominating the Billboard 200 all-genre chart for 16 weeks. His track “Last Night” spent the same amount of time atop the Billboard Hot 100, and his One Night at a Time Tour had plenty of sold-out shows across North America and Australia.

“Walked in tonight a winner, didn’t leave no different,” said Wallen on his Instagram Stories late Wednesday night. He performed twice during the show, including a tribute to the late Joe Diffie alongside HARDY and Post Malone.

Chris Stapleton took home the prize for Male Vocalist of the Year, while Lainey Wilson won Entertainer of the Year and Album of the Year for Bell Bottom Country.

Meanwhile, outraged Morgan Wallen fans have taken to social media to share their anger over the so-called snub.

“I’m convinced Morgan Wallen will never win a major award ‘cause it would be (too) ‘controversial’ and these organizations refuse to put themselves in that situation,” shared one fan, referencing the video of Wallen that surfaced in 2021 in which he drunkenly uses a racial slur, leading to Big Loud Records suspending his recording contract.

Morgan Wallen was a CMA Award winner in 2020 for New Artist of the Year — his only CMA win. But his luck may change in the awards department, as he’s up for 17 awards at the 2023 BIllboard Music Awards, tied with SZA and trailing behind only Taylor Swift, with 20 entries.

Photo Credit: Hans Hillewaert / CC by 4.0

Tracy Chapman wins accolades at the 2023 Country Music Awards for ‘Fast Car,’ 35 years after the folk song’s initial release, thanks to the phenomenal success of Luke Combs’ country cover.

Folk singer-songwriter Tracy Chapman is now a Country Music Award winner, thanks to Luke Combs’ smash hit cover of her 1988 track “Fast Car.” The sole writer of the song, she won the 2023 CMA for Song of the Year, which is given to the song’s writer, just after Combs won Single of the Year for his cover of “Fast Car.”

“I’m sorry I couldn’t join you all tonight. It’s truly an honor for my song to be newly recognized after 35 years of its debut,” writes the 59-year-old Chapman in her acceptance speech, read by presenter Sara Evans, announcing the win alongside country music legend Bill Anderson. “Thank you to the CMAs and a special thanks to Luke and all of the fans of ‘Fast Car.’”

“I want to thank Tracy Chapman for writing the best song of all time,” said Combs in his acceptance speech, prior to Chapman’s win. “I just recorded it because I love this song so much. It’s meant so much to me throughout my entire life. It’s the first favorite song that I ever had — since I was four years old.”

The 33-year-old Combs’ cover of “Fast Car” has enjoyed phenomenal success and has earned Chapman around $500,000 in publishing royalties within just a few months of its release. Chapman’s win makes her the first Black artist to take home the prize for Song of the Year at the CMAs.

The 1988 release from Chapman peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Combs’ 2023 cover has reached No. 2; it has topped the Hot Country Songs chart for four weeks. The cover has also helped drive a legion of new fans to discover Tracy Chapman’s music, as Combs’ fans tend to explore other genres more than other country singers’ fans.

Photo Credit: Ted Eytan / CC by 2.0

Who’s getting Grammy nominations? The nominees for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards will be announced on Friday, November 10, in a Recording Academy livestream presentation flowing with contenders.

The Recording Academy is holding a livestream event to announce the nominees for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards on Friday, November 10. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. will be joined by a variety of Grammy winners, along with “CBS Mornings” co-hosts Gayle King, Nate Burleson, and Tony Dokoupil to announce the nominees.

Grammy winners Arooj Aftab, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Jimmy Jam, Jon Bon Jovi, Samara Joy, Muni Long, Cheryl Pawelski, Kim Petras, Judith Sherman, St. Vincent, Jeff Tweedy, and Weird Al Yankovic will join Mason, King, Burleson, and Dokoupil for the event, revealing the overflowing list of the 66h Annual Grammy Awards nominees.

The event kicks off with a special presentation on the Grammy website and YouTube, announcing the nominees in the General Field and select categories. Video announcements of the nominees in the remaining categories will also be published in both locations while the event is underway, with the full list of nominees published immediately following the presentation.

On Friday, November 10, the nominations pre-show begins at 10:45 AM ET and 7:45 AM PT, with the main event to follow at 11 AM ET and 8 AM PT. The wrap-up show will take place a half hour later, with the full nominations list posted on the Grammy website afterward. All times are notably approximate and subject to change.

Dedicated to ensuring the recording arts remain a thriving part of music culture, the Recording Academy represents the voices of performers, songwriters, producers, engineers, and other music professionals. The Grammy Awards are music’s only peer-recognized accolade and peak achievement, with the Academy’s membership body of music creators representing all genres and creative disciplines.

Photo Credit: MTV EMA

The MTV Europe Music Awards (EMAs) were slated to take place in November in Paris, but have been cancelled. Organizers cite the current volatility of world events amid the Israel/Gaza conflict.

The event was supposed to be held in Paris on November 5, featuring performers like Jung Kook, David Guetta, Anne-Marie, Manuel Turizo, Ozuna, Reneé Rapp, and Thirty Seconds to Mars. Instead, organizers say they look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November 2024. Here’s the full statement:

“Given the volatility of world events, we have decided not to move forward with the 2023 MTV EMAs out of an abudance of caution for the thousands of employees, crew members, artists, fans, and partners who travel from all corners of the world to bring the show to life,” the statement begins.

“The MTV EMAs are an annual celebration of global music. As we watch the devastating events in Israel and Gaza continue to unfold, this does not feel like a moment for a global celebration. With thousands of lives already lost, it is a moment of mourning.”

“Voting is continuing and the winning artists will receive their MTV EMA Awards. We look forward to hosting the MTV EMAs again in November 2024.”

Reuters reports that at least eight French airports faced security concerns, with some evacuated for checks. Airports affected included Toulouse, Biarritz, Pau, Nice, Lyon, Lille, Rennes, and Nannes, according to French aviation authorities. France is now on the highest state of alert after the murder of a schoolteacher on October 13.

Taylor Swift led the nominations this year including for Best Artist, Best Song, and Best Video for ‘Anti-Hero.’ The nominees this year included 26 first-timers including Jung Kook as a solo artist, Central Cee, FLO, Ice Spice, PinkPanthress, Asake, Coi Leray, Metro Boomin’, The Weeknd, NewJeans, Peso Pluma, and Reneé Rapp. The 2023 award presentation was the first year for the new Afrobeats category with Asake, Aya Nakamura, Arya Starr, Burna Boy, Davido, and Rema featuring this year.

Drake appears to have ended his Grammys boycott, according to submissions for the 2024 event. Photo Credit: musicisentropy

After boycotting the 2022 and 2023 Grammys (including by turning down multiple nominations), Drake has quietly ended his feud with the annual event and the Recording Academy, according to reports.

The seeming conclusion of the 36-year-old’s much-publicized Grammys snub just recently came to light in a brief report from Pitchfork as well as a regularly updated list of submissions for the 2024 happening. Per both resources, the Toronto native’s 16-song 21 Savage collaboration, Her Loss, has been submitted for consideration in the Best Rap Album and Album of the Year categories.

Additionally, two of the project’s tracks, “Rich Flex” and “Spin Bout U,” are said to have been submitted in five total categories between them: Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, Best Rap Performance, and Best Melodic Rap Performance.

Plus, Drake and Travis Scott’s “Meltdown” has been submitted in categories including Record of the Year and Song of the Year, with Drake and Young Thug’s “Oh U Went” in the mix for Song of the Year and Best Rap Song, the mentioned resources show.

Said resources also acknowledge the possibility that a party besides Drake and his team submitted Her Loss, which has been available to fans since November of 2022. As driven home during the 65th annual Grammys earlier this year, it’s possible for collaborative projects to secure awards even when one or more of the responsible artists are uninterested in receiving them.

Despite opting not to attend or submit Honestly, Never Mind to the Grammys this year, as initially noted, Drake was up for several awards related to his collaborations. Ultimately, the five-time winner and 51-time nominee took home a Best Melodic Rap Performance Grammy for his part in Future’s “Wait for U.”

At the time of this writing, neither Drake nor 21 Savage appeared to have addressed the topic on social media; the Recording Academy is poised to announce the nominees on November 10th. Meanwhile, the 2024 Grammys are scheduled to take place on the evening of February 4th, and in the approaching months, it’ll be worth keeping an eye out for other high-profile feuds.

Multiple artists have criticized and/or boycotted the Grammys in recent years, including in the wake of shocking allegations levied by former Recording Academy head Deborah Dugan.

The tenure of Harvey Mason Jr. (who was formally appointed president and CEO in May of 2021), though comparatively smooth, hasn’t been without obstacles. In September, the 55-year-old attempted once again to clarify Grammys rules when it comes to the submission of AI music.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, chairman of Revolt, hosted the first Revolt World event in Atlanta. Announced by Combs in August, the ‘reimagined Revolt Summit’ was launched to celebrate the global impact of hip-hop and elevate the connections of culture and community.

The following comes from Open On Sunday, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

From September 22-24th, Revolt World 2023 culminated in an immersive experience of urban music and hip-hop culture representation. Despite a few organizational snafus, the event at Pangaea Studios, Atlanta, drew over 30,000 attendees, including musicians, artists, entrepreneurs, and athletes.

The reimagined Revolt conference featured some of hip-hop’s most influential names for discussions, performances, networking, and potential partnerships.

Revolt is a leading black-owned and operated multimedia platform, and Revolt World 2023’s venue hosted multiple platforms for performers, panels, and entertainment.

The soundstage showcased headliners such as Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, MoneyBagg Yo and others, and DJs entertained event attendees throughout the three-day summit.

The venue also featured a dedicated podcast stage to facilitate in-depth discourse on music, entrepreneurship, sports, and culture. Speakers included N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN from Revolt TV’s weekly podcast Drink Champs, alongside G Herbo, Queen Naija, and others. Rapper Jeezy also took the stage to speak about his new book Adversity For Sale, in which he details his life.

Among the many unique immersive experiences designed to submerge event attendees in hip-hop culture, there was a definite standout: ‘The Love Lounge,’ a sensual, red-lit room entirely devoted to ‘Diddy’ Combs and the promotion of his new classic R&B album, The Love Album: Off The Grid.

Combs also made an appearance at Revolt World and was swamped by fans. Speaking at the event, Combs said he had big dreams for the ‘one-of-a-kind’ Revolt.

“Coming together is a sign that people want to unify under the name of love, under the name of hip hop turning 50, and where we’ve come from. This is a testament to where we’re going. We will be the number one platform for our people — unapologetically, in the world,” said Combs.

One attendee, Ray Mullen, told DMN that his favorite thing about the new album is that ‘it brings R&B,’ adding, “[Artists] got away from that, and I’m ready for it to come back.”

With upcoming artists, songwriters, and musicians, Revolt World 2023 culminated as the go-to destination for securing potentially lucrative networking opportunities.

Combs’ Revolt successfully pulled off an event that offered a rich culture-packed experience, and provided the platform that fostered connection building.

DMN spoke to second-year law student Jodi-Ann Salters, who said she was at Revolt World 2023 ‘to network, meet some people, and have a good time.’

Revolt World 2023 took place from Sept 22nd to the 24th.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. speaking at the ‘Global Music Diplomacy Initiative’ launch event, where he named Quincy Jones the inaugural recipient of the ‘Peace Through Music Award.’ Photo Credit: Recording Academy

About nine months after the namesake Peace Through Music Diplomacy Act became law, the Recording Academy and the State Department have launched a program called the “Global Music Diplomacy Initiative” and presented Quincy Jones with the first-ever “Peace Through Music Award.”

The Recording Academy reached out to Digital Music News with word of the new music-diplomacy program and award, both of which were unveiled during a State Department event yesterday evening. Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr., YouTube global head of music Lyor Cohen, and JFK Center for the Performing Arts chairman David Rubenstein were on hand for the event, as were, of course, a number of government officials and musicians.

“We’ve had a few dignitaries come through this building,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during the happening, “but it is a special treat to have so many members of music royalty here tonight. Dave Grohl. Herbie Hancock. Rakeem. Denyce Graves. And my dear friend Aimee Mann.

“We are also joined by so many other outstanding artists who are shaping the music industry today. Gayle is in the house. Armani White is in the house. Jamie Barton is in the house. Myles Frost. And Mickey Guyton is in the house tonight too.”

According to the State Department’s description, the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, in capitalizing upon public-private partnerships with non-profits and businesses, will look “to elevate music as a diplomatic tool to promote peace and democracy” on the world stage.

Components of the initiative include a State Department-Recording Academy tie-up, the American Music Mentorship Program, that will work to afford “international mid-career music industry professionals, which may include musical artists,” stateside “mentorship and networking opportunities.”

Meanwhile, the Department is poised to “incorporate music into its existing $40 million investment in English-language learning worldwide,” per the official release provided to media.

“The State Department is formally incorporating music into the English-language classes that we offer around the world. … We’re going to include American songs and lyrics in the curriculum. We’ll share our diverse culture. We’ll help students improve their English fluency,” elaborated the secretary of state, who also performed during the event.

Lastly, in terms of the specifics of the Global Music Diplomacy Initiative, the aforementioned Center for the Performing Arts is expected to collaborate with the Fullbright Program on “a new fellowship opportunity for foreign scholars.” An initial “award competition” is scheduled to be announced this autumn, with the Kennedy Center preparing to host the winner during the 2024-25 academic year.

Shifting past these details (as well as a number of planned international performances), Harvey Mason Jr. took the stage to give the first Peace Through Music Award to 90-year-old Quincy Jones.

“It’s my honor to announce the establishment of the Peace Through Music Award,” said the Recording Academy head Mason Jr. “Usually, we celebrate through our Grammy Awards. But this very special award recognizes and honors an American music industry professional, artist, or group that has played an invaluable role in cross-cultural exchanges and whose music and work advance peace and mutual understanding around the globe.

“While there are many deserving Americans of this award, one person stood out as the perfect inaugural recipient. This esteemed individual served as music director and trumpeter for jazz ambassador Dizzy Gillespie during his overseas tours in the 1960s,” Mason Jr. relayed before diving into Jones’ more recent career accomplishments.

“His work, his actions continue to advance peace through music, and I am sure they will for generations to come. It’s my true honor to recognize my friend and mentor, Mr. Quincy Jones, as the first-ever recipient of what will now and into the future be known as the ‘Quincy Jones Peace Through Music Award.’

“While Quincy could not join us tonight, it is my sincere honor to welcome his daughter, Rashida Jones, via video to accept this award on his behalf,” communicated Mason Jr., proceeding to play the prerecorded clip and, upon its conclusion, introduce David Rubenstein.

The Saudi panel at the 2023 All That Matters Conference: (r-l) Paul Pacifico, CEO of Saudi Music Commission, Haya Alhejailan, Musician from Saudi Arabia & Carlo Nohra, COO of Saudi Pro League (photo: Digital Music News)

CEO of the recently-formed Saudi Music Commission, Paul Pacifico, revealed that the organization ‘seeks to unleash the creative and commercial potential of music in Saudi Arabia.’

During a discussion panel at the 2023 All That Matters (ATM) conference in Singapore, Pacifico highlighted his opinions on how the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) aims to become a powerful player in the music industry. The discussion centered around music progress in the Kingdom after Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman officially established the Saudi Music Commission in February of 2020.

Controversy has shrouded similar non-oil expansions by the country. KSA has been criticized for using sports and culture to deflect from more critical events occurring in the Kingdom.

Pacifico admitted that the ongoing controversy and criticism was a serious concern when he was asked to run the commission. He added that he sees the initiative as an opportunity to redefine the Kingdom’s global music presence.

The presence of a Commission focused on expanding Saudi music represents a major shift by the country. Until five years ago, KSA prohibited music. Now, according to Pacifico, public performances are encouraged and promoted. “Things are changing in KSA, which is why the Kingdom wants to build an entire music segment,” Pacifico relayed.

Haya Alhejailan, a female Saudi musician, also shared her first-hand experience witnessing performance arts reform within the Kingdom. Alhejailan explained how, in the past, she could only play her guitar in the privacy and secrecy of her home. Now, she performs on festival stages alongside her band.

To provide avenues for the promotion of musicians in the region and build an ecosystem that helps them grow, the Kingdom has made hefty investments in music.

KSA is one of the key players in the dynamic MENA region, where recorded music revenue grew by 23.8% in 2022. Naturally, the music industry’s fastest-growing region has become a significant focal point for the global music industry. This progression is a beacon of light for artists who have struggled with the challenges and lack of opportunities presented by the KSA’s former policies.

After a desert site outside Riyadh hosted one of the world’s largest raves in November 2022, the city now sees more than $64 billion in entertainment investment. Much of that investment fund will go towards promotion of the live music industry.

Not long ago, musical opportunities were altogether inaccessible for young Saudi musicians. Surfing this wave of new investments, the Kingdom’s youth now foresee a future in establishing their musical careers. They may also be in a position to demand more performance venues and musical resources.

KSA’s surprising new inclination and the Saudi Music Commission’s apparent commitment to it spell possible opportunities for Saudi artists. But this burgeoning industry also represent opportunities for the global music industry.

If KSA continues its leap toward music growth, it requires experienced music professionals and technology — instructors, labels, and music instrument manufacturers — to help it succeed.

On that note, Pacifico revealed that the Kingdom’s plans to train and hire thousands of new music teachers and introduce music to children as early as kindergarten. Pacifico added that KSA’s sincere commitment is what compelled him to become part of the ‘massive change.’

Prince Salman’s aim to create a thriving music industry is part of the ruler’s larger ambition to diversify the Kingdom’s economy beyond oil — which currently accounts for more than half of the country’s revenue.

In 2016, Prince Salman unveiled the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 plan, which sought to transform the country from a nation heavily relying on oil exports to one nurturing an ecosystem where talent thrives. The Kingdom has since launched efforts to place creativity, youth, and women at the hub of all its initiatives.

In tandem with Vision 2030, KSA also established the General Entertainment Authority to highlight KSA’s goals for its economic future. One of its many objectives was to increase household spending on entertainment activities within the Kingdom. With a focus on that aspect, the ruler launched widespread policy changes, beginning with removing restrictions on public entertainment events. Since then, the country, with a population of 34.8 million, has reported substantial economic and social growth.

The 2023 ATM conference took place from September 11th to September 13th.

Since its inception in 2006, the ATM conference has taken place a week before the Formula One Singapore Grand Prix every year. Industry professionals gather on the island to discuss ‘matters’ of sports, gaming, marketing, Web3 — and among others — music.

This year, ATM conference attendees included CEO of Primary Wave Larry Mestel, cofounder and co-CEO of Beatdapp Andrew Batey, CEO of Chartmetric Sung Cho, and representatives of other major companies like TikTok, Venice Music, Bandwagon, WMG, UMG, SME, Believe, YouTube, Spotify, Meta, Google, Luminate, Netflix, and many others.

Photo Credit: Erin Cazes for The Come Up Show / CC by 2.0

After SZA’s name was strangely absent from the Artist of the Year category at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards, the singer abruptly cancelled her scheduled performance over the snub, her manager has revealed.

No one was surprised when Taylor Swift and SZA were the top contenders at this year’s MTV Video Music Awards when the nominations were revealed last month — but SZA’s absence from the Artist of the Year category raised some questions after the singer’s incredibly successful year. Her manager has now revealed that he made the call to pull her scheduled performance at the VMAs once she was snubbed from the category.

SZA’s success this year included ten weeks on the Billboard 200 albums chart with her sophomore release, “SOS,” making history as the longest-leading No. 1 of the century so far on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. Released in December, the album is already certified triple platinum, launching five Top 10 hits on the Hot 100 chart.

“She had one of the best years, if not the best year, of any artist at this point. I don’t see why she wouldn’t be nominated for Artist of the Year. It just really didn’t make any sense to me. It’s disrespectful,” says Terrence “Punch” Henderson, SZA’s longtime manager, in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.

The co-president of Top Dawg Entertainment — which features acts like ScHoolBoy Q, Jay Rock, Doechii, SiR, and formerly Kendrick Lamar — Punch says he contacted MTV about the snub during a call about SZA’s potential performance at the awards show. But he wasn’t given a “clear answer as to why” she wasn’t nominated for that particular category; instead, they focused on her nomination for several other awards.

“They ended up saying, ‘Okay, well, we could do another call,’ because there were people on (the call) about logistics for the show who didn’t have anything to do with (the nominations),” Punch explained. “When we tried to set up the second call, they didn’t want to discuss Artist of the Year, which, to me, was really a slap in the face.”

Artists nominated for the category included Beyonce, Doja Cat, Karol G, Nicki Minaj, Shakira, and Taylor Swift, who took home the prize on Tuesday night. SZA’s nominations this year included Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best R&B, which she won for her track “Shirt.”

Displeased with MTV’s lack of attention to the issue, Punch says, “I figured, why go perform and do this if she’s not going to be respected to the highest level? So, it was my call to actually pull out of the performance.”

SZA didn’t attend the VMAs, but Punch notes, “Our feelings might be a little different.”

“(SZA) is a very sweet person, and she’s not for all of the nonsense and the politics and the back and forth and all of that,” he says. “But ultimately, I felt it was disrespectful, and I was very stern on that and influencing that.”

Still, SZA is expected to be the leader at the 2024 Grammy Awards. She has 15 Grammy nominations under her belt, having won the Best Pop/Duo award for “Kiss Me More” with Doja Cat. The Grammy nominations will be announced on November 10.

Photo Credit: MTV YouTube

The 2023 MTV VMAs may not command the viewership of years past—but the impact on music streaming is still noticeable. Let’s take a peek at Spotify data to see it.

Viewership for this year’s show was on the rebound compared to the all-time low the VMAs achieved in 2021—which is partially attributed to many new artists on showcase. Here’s a quick peek at how artists fared on Spotify’s streaming service following their performances at the VMAs, with this data reflecting the percentage increase in individual hours following the live broadcast vs. the same hour in the previous week.

Anitta

Brazilian powerhouse Anitta saw a massive increase in streams on Spotify after her win for Best Latin Video with “Funk Rave.” The song itself saw streams increase 950% globally, with 450% increase in the United States alone. Streams of “Used to Be” also increased more than 105% in the United States.

Shakira

Shakira was honored with the MTV VMA Vanguard Award and the Colombian superstar’s “Te Aviso, Tu Anuncio (Tango)” saw a boost of 260% in streams in the United States on Spotify.

Olivia Rodrigo

Following Olivia Rodrigo’s “vampire” performance at the VMAs, the track saw a 100% increase in streams in the United States.

Reneé Rapp

Reneé Rapp made her MTV VMAs debut this year and saw a 90% increase in streams on Spotify for her single, “Too Well.”

Also of note—MTV closed out the show with a special finale dedicated to honoring the 50th Anniversary of Hip-Hop. This presentation featured an ensemble of hip-hop legends that helped shape the genre, including Doug E. Fresh and Slick Rick, whose 1999 hit “The Show” saw an increase of 115% in streams globally on Spotify following the segment.

Taylor Swift took home 9 VMAs this year, including Best Video, Visual Effects, Pop Video, Cinematography, Direction, Show of the Summer, Song, Artist, and Album.

It turns out “Heart on My Sleeve,” the AI track made to sound like a release from The Weeknd and Drake (pictured), won’t be eligible for Grammys after all. Photo Credit: musicisentropy

Recording Academy head Harvey Mason Jr. has officially reversed course after appearing to indicate that “Heart on My Sleeve,” the popular AI release made to sound like a project from Drake and The Weeknd, could be eligible for Grammys.

Mason Jr. just recently doubled back on his comments about artificial-intelligence music’s Grammys eligibility – and particularly whether the mentioned “Heart on My Sleeve” would in fact have an opportunity to take home one or more awards.

Previously, the professional behind the much-streamed effort, one Ghostwriter, had reached out to industry figures “about how to best harness the powers of A.I.,” the New York Times reported earlier this week.

Subsequently, the anonymous musician (and his or her team) – who wrote and recorded “Heart on My Sleeve” before complementing the track with the AI voices of Drake and The Weeknd – is said to have attended a Recording Academy-organized virtual roundtable about artificial intelligence.

Mason Jr. had messaged Ghostwriter on social media after being impressed with “Heart on My Sleeve,” per the Times. And at some point thereafter, the musician went ahead and submitted the work for Grammys consideration in the Best Rap Song and Song of the Year categories.

“As far as the creative side, it’s absolutely eligible because it was written by a human,” Mason Jr. said of the matter when speaking to the Times.

Predictably, the music industry powers that be were (and are) far from thrilled about the possibility of their acts’ missing out on a major promotional opportunity in the Grammys.

Bigger picture, the major labels, which promptly booted AI soundalike releases from streaming services such as Spotify, are undoubtedly aware of the broader commercial implications of allowing individuals to reap rewards and a share of the spotlight after using AI to mimic voices without permission.

(Incidentally, Toronto natives The Weeknd and Drake are boycotting the Grammys and haven’t hesitated to express their qualms with the happening and the Recording Academy itself. It’s unclear whether the point factored into Mason Jr.’s decision to contact Ghostwriter personally, invite the disruptive creator to a high-profile meeting with prominent industry figures, and then make the above-disclosed comments to the Times.)

In any event, Mason Jr. (who’s now attempted to clarify the Grammys’ AI rules multiple times on the year) walked back his remarks in a hastily recorded video that was uploaded to Instagram.

“Hey everyone,” Mason Jr. said in the grainy clip, “I’m sorry, but I have to clear up some of this bad and really inaccurate information that’s starting to float around. This version of ‘Heart on My Sleeve’ using the AI voice modeling that sounds like Drake and The Weekend, it’s not eligible for Grammy consideration.

“Let me be extra, extra clear. Even though it was written by a human creator, the vocals were not legally obtained. The vocals were not cleared by the label or the artists. And the song is not commercially available. And because of that, it’s not eligible.

“I take this stuff very seriously. It’s all complicated, and it’s moving really, really quickly. And I’m sure things are going to continue to have to evolve and change. But please, please do not be confused. The Academy is here to support and advocate and protect and represent human artists and human creators. Period. Thank you.”

Photo Credit: Rupert Burley

The fourth annual Drake YolanDa Awards have announced applications are open for emerging artists between ages 16-30.

Founded by YolanDa Brown OBE and James ‘JP’ Drake, the cash prizes are presented to emerging musicians to enable them to showcase their talent and assist them in taking their career to the next level. Ten promising artists will receive a cash award of £3,000 each to help support their artistic development in areas including touring, recording new music, music videos, marketing, branding, and purchasing new equipment.

The Drake YolanDa Award has supported the journey of over 60 emerging artists since 2019 all over the UK. With over £100,000 of investment, 80% of the grants were awarded to women, 97% had never received a grant before, and 65% of the applicants were from outside the London area.

The Drake YolanDa Award celebrates the rich and diverse nature of the UK music scenes, welcoming applicants from all genres. They are specifically looking for independent artists that need support and currently do not have backing from major record labels or publishers. The application deadline is September 4 at 12 pm. Once the application period closes, a team of leading music industry figures will narrow the selection to ten shortlisted artists.

Some of the previous recipients of this award include singer-songwriter Jerub, singer and guitarist Rosie Frater Taylor, songstress BEKA, and trumpet master Ife Ogunjobi of the Ezra Collective.

“Four years into this award with over 60 artists as alumni and we continue to be blown away by the impact it has on the careers of these unique, genre-bending artists,” adds YolanDa Brown.

“One of the biggest barriers to most creatives is access to finance and we are pleased to be able to answer that call for these artists and play a part of their evolving journeys at a critical stage—we only wish we had the capacity to support more artists.”

Photo Credit: RAYE courtesy of Callum Walker Hutchinson

The 2023 AIM Awards nominees have been revealed, including RAYE, Little Simz, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Shygirl, and more.

The AIM Independent Music Awards have revealed the first 2023 nominees to celebrate the vibrant and innovative breadth of talent across the UK’s independent sector, including Little Simz, RAYE, Shygirl, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and more. The ceremony takes place September 26 at Roundhouse in London.

The 2023 edition of the tastemaker awards show, which often highlights stars of the future before any other ceremony, boasts an exciting array of nominees: R&B-led pop singer RAYE and experimental dance act Shygirl lead the pack with three nominations each, while further multiple noms include British jazz quintet Ezra Collective, London-based Nigerian songwriter Obongjayar, futuristic genre-defier Kelela, and experimental up-and-comer Jessica Winter, who each land two.

The highly-coveted “Best Independent Album” category returns this year, with nominees including 2020’s Pioneer Award winner Little Simz who first earned an AIM Award in 2016. Subsequently winning a BRIT and the Mercury Music Prize in 2022, her album No Thank You joins previous AIM Awards winners Nova Twins and Rina Sawayama. The category is topped off with Kelela, Oliver Sim, Wu-Lu, Avelino, RAYE, and Shygirl.

In association with BBC Music Introducing, this year’s “One to Watch” category is filled with rising talent like Jessica Winter, Juice Menace, FLOWEROVLOVE, Laughta, and Master Peace. 2021’s One to Watch winner ENNY will return this year, with the South London rapper in the running for “Best Independent EP/Mixtape” alongside Saint Joshua, yunè pinku, Bellah, and Jessica Winter.

2023’s “UK Independent Breakthrough” category showcases contenders like electronic powerhouse duo Overmono, rapper Shygirl, alt-pop act Suki Waterhouse, producer I.Jordan, and London-based jazz quintet Ezra Collective. Shygirl, RAYE, and Overmono are also in the running for “Best Independent Track” in association with Meta, along with Sudan Archives’ “Selfish Soul,” Four Tet’s “Three Drums,” and Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Perfume Genius’ collaborative ballad “Spitting Off the Edge of the World.”

“This year’s AIM Independent Music Award nominees represent our diverse, dynamic, and inclusive community, truly showcasing the incredible range of talent across all genres of the UK music scene,” comments Silvia Montello, CEO at AIM. “As the indie sector continues to grow, we look forward to celebrating the dedication of labels, artists, and their teams on the 26 September.”

Recently, Canadian Music Week 2023 took place in Toronto. The events sparked conversations about the impact of AI on the music industry and efforts to tackle streaming fraud. The conference also hosted events to honour and celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop.

For its 41st year, the 5-day CMW conference was hosted at Toronto Westin Hotel. DMN TV, sponsored by Open On Sunday, covered panel discussions among performers, music industry professionals, and speakers.

The event arrived at a point of deceleration for the industry from its heady expansion of the past few years. “Now major labels are looking at far more moderate growth on streaming platforms,” DMN publisher Paul Resnikoff noted. “The AI specter ahead — we’ve got that issue to worry about. Music IP valuations are coming back to earth. So there’s a lot that’s settling down, which could lead to more focus back on the art, and on realistic deals and realistic planning.”

(Check out more from Resnikoff’s interview at CMW here.)

And reality is certainly setting in. At CMW, panel discussions ranged from AI threats to combating streaming manipulation and fraud.

Erin Reilly from Moody College of Communication shared her perspective on protecting human artistry in the face of quickly-developing AI tools. “I don’t think you can stop this movement or the development of it. [Let’s] rethink who is actually building out these data lakes that we’re pulling from.”

Speaking about streaming fraud, Morgan Hayduk, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Beatdapp, revealed his thoughts on how fraud is conducted across all platforms. Hayduk explained that a sophisticated apparatus on the web obtains account credentials of legitimate users to utilize them for fraudulent activities. “There’s an infrastructure that mirrors what you see in the legitimate industry. There are people who are experts in running bot farms. And then there are the folks that offer the front line services either to artists, or any organization that’s looking to make money from the music industry. So it’s not pointing the finger at one entity, or one country.”

Besides sparking thought-provoking insights on the repercussions of developing AI and combating fraudulent streaming numbers, CMW 2023 also brought with it another clear goal: honoring and celebrating 50 years of hip hop.

Rapper and activist Chuck D from legendary hip hop group Public Enemy took centre stage throughout the conference. Discussing the importance of the 50th anniversary of hip hop, Chuck D said, “Hip Hop 50 means that the people and the stories are just as important as the songs that people hear or that they hold close to their heart.”

Co-hosted by dot Hip Hop, Chuck D was joined on stage by B-Real from the classic hip hop group Cypress Hill. B-Real highlighted ‘a twist in American radio’ in the mid 90’s, saying, “They stopped playing conscientious hip hop music, stuff that would inspire you in a positive way. It shifted more towards gangster rap. Then it evolved into [what] you hear today.”

Chuck D presented the audience with a first screening of his new PBS documentary, “Fight The Power: How Hip Hop Changed the World.” Part one in a four-part docuseries, it featured historic names in hip hop like KRS-One and DJ Kool Herc, tracing its origins back to the streets of the South Bronx, New York in the early 1970’s.

The Canadian Music Week 2023 conference took place on June 5 – June 10.

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.

Weeks after the Grammys officially barred certain artificial intelligence works from securing awards, Recording Academy head Harvey Mason Jr. has attempted to clarify the AI rules at hand.

The Recording Academy unveiled a number of rule changes – chief among them the artificial intelligence guidelines – in mid-June. Needless to say, given the far-reaching creative implications of AI, which is being used to make original music, power unauthorized soundalike tracks, and more, there was much to consider when defining the corresponding eligibility requirements for the Grammys.

Consequently, though the main stipulation – “A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any Categories” – proved clear enough, some raised questions about the remainder of the Grammys’ AI policies, extending to efforts that incorporate AI, and the inherent subjectivity thereof.

“The human authorship component of the work submitted must be meaningful and more than de minimis,” reads one line from the relevant portion of the AI rules, with “de minimis” defined in this instance “as lacking significance or importance; so minor as to merit disregard.”

Harvey Mason Jr. promptly “chatted with GRAMMY.com” to elaborate upon the point (and the other rule changes), signaling that “we are going to allow AI music and content to be submitted” while issuing awards only “to human creators who have contributed creatively in the appropriate categories.”

“If there’s an AI voice singing the song or AI instrumentation,” explained Mason Jr., “we’ll consider it. But in a songwriting-based category, it has to have been written mostly by a human. Same goes for performance categories – only a human performer can be considered for a Grammy.”

Now, as initially mentioned, the Recording Academy CEO has expanded upon the rules and the latter remarks in a new AP interview, communicating that a track featuring AI vocals (and human authors, however) would be eligible for songwriting Grammys but not performance awards.

“Conversely, if a song was sung by an actual human in the studio, and they did all the performing, but AI wrote the lyric or the track, the song would not be eligible in a composition or a songwriting category,” he indicated. “As long as the human is contributing in a more than de minimis amount, which to us means a meaningful way, they are and will always be considered for a nomination or a win.”

Interestingly – and in keeping with the above-highlighted potential for subjectivity regarding “de minimis” judgements – Mason Jr. gave a noncommittal answer when asked whether the forthcoming “last Beatles record” will be eligible for Grammys despite reportedly using AI to recreate John Lennon’s voice.

“We’ll see what it turns out to be,” relayed Mason Jr. “But I would imagine from the early descriptions that I’ve heard there would be components of the creation that would be absolutely eligible.”

The 66th Grammys nominations are scheduled to be announced on Friday, November 10th, with the ceremony set to take place in Los Angeles on Sunday, February 4th.

The American Association of Independent Music (A2IM) recently hosted IndieWeek 2023 in Manhattan. Apart from being one of the largest gathering of independent artists in the world, the three-day networking conference brings together distributors, labels, DSPs, investors, and others.

The following comes from Open On Sunday, a company DMN is proud to be partnering with.

To launch our new platform, DMN TV, sponsored by Open On Sunday, Digital Music News hit the road to cover panel discussions and industry awards. Artist and songwriter performances also took place during the three-day event A2IM IndieWeek, all hosted at Intercontinental Hotel in Times Square.

A2IM IndieWeek 2023 kicked off with a rooftop party presented by ADA. During the panel discussion, Adrienne Muhammad with Open On Sunday guided record labels on how to manage their catalogs, saying, “Before we even purchase a catalog, we need to get to know who the audience is. So we know how to market those catalogs once we acquire them.”

Multiple panels during the three-day conference cultivated discussions about how evolving technology and processes affect the independent music community. Attendees shared their knowledge about AI, sync, and music marketing alongside other insightful topics.

Speaking at a panel, Leslie Rosales from Rostrum Records narrated how an artist from Milwaukee pulled out all the stops to market his music. “Our artist stood on top of his friend’s car, put out a big speaker, and played songs from his album. His fans went crazy. It was controlled chaos. For one, something was happening in Milwaukee. Two, it’s their hometown hero doing something special for them,” Rosales said.

Discussing sync opportunities and the exposure it brings to the table, Rich Goldman from Riptide Music Group explained how one of their artists seized the ‘spark’ of sync. Goldman explained how an artist is “now approaching 100 million streams because the song got to YouTube,” adding, “It’s kind of nuts. [The song] got ported over to a bunch of different channels, created this streaming activity, and the song keeps going.”

Eden Shiferaw, VP of NVG, LLC, touched on the latest congressional developments surrounding AI and perceived national security threats with mainstream AI use. Shiferaw revealed, “[Members of Congress] are very concerned particularly with American adversaries, in terms of what they’re doing with AI, and how they’re regulating it.”

Other offsite events included a rooftop party hosted by dot HipHop, multiple investor conferences, and two bigger events centered around songwriters and their achievements.

The induction ceremony of the 2023 class of the Songwriters Hall of Fame was held at the Marriott Marquis, and the National Music Publishers Association annual meeting took place at Alice Tully Hall.

During the NMPA Gala, Taylor Swift’s songwriter Liz Rose was surprised with a live rendition of her Grammy-nominated, Swift-co-penned single, “All Too Well.” Alana Springsteen performed the song. The following evening, Rose was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame along with Glen Ballard, Calvin Broadus (Snoop Dogg), Gloria Estefan, Jeff Lynne, and Teddy Riley.

NMPA President and CEO David Israelite wrapped up the final event, remarking on the ‘stronger’ state of the industry, adding, “Last year, the total revenue for the songwriting and publishing industry was just over $5.6 billion. That represents a 19.25% increase year over year.”

A2IM IndieWeek 2023 events took place on June 12 – June 15.

Photo Credit: Nordoff Robbins (Adam Lambert & Brian May)

The O2 Silver Clef Awards honored artists across the music industry and raised over $700,000 for Nordoff and Robbins, the UK’s largest music therapy charity.

The fund raising boost will help Nordoff and Robbins’ trained music therapists to support vulnerable children and adults across the UK. The charity works with those with autism, dementia, learning difficulties, brain injuries, life-limiting illnesses, grief, and trauma to communicate through music. 

Presented by Edith Bowman for the fifth year running, with Peter Andrew returning to take his regular hosting spot on the blue carpet, the O2 Silver Clef Awards are held to recognize and celebrate the talent of artists and the powerful impact music has on society. Since 1976 through the power of music, the awards have raised over £12M ($13.1M) for Nordoff and Robbins while honoring some of the greatest names in music. 

Full List of O2 Silver Clef Award Winners 2023

• O2 Silver Clef | Stormzy
• American Express Icon | Mark King
• Tysers Outstanding Achievement | Neneh Cherry
• Live Nation Best Female | RAYE
• AEG Presents Best Male | Gregory Porter
• Amazon Music Innovation | Nova Twins
• PizzaExpress Live Best Live Act | Biffy Clyro
• ASM Global Best Group | N-Dubz
• PPL Classical | Ayanna Witter-Johnson
• Raymond Weil International | Adam Lambert
• Ticketmaster New Music | Wet Leg

Nordoff and Robbins is the UK’s largest music therapy charity, with a unique approach shaped by more than 60 years of practice. Through the power of music, it breaks through barriers caused by life-limiting illness, disability, and social isolation.

Music therapy is the act of supporting people to connect and communicate through music who are otherwise unable to. Nordoff and Robbins has specialist centers in Croydon, Dunfermline, Glasgow, London, Manchester, and Newcastle that provide one-to-one and group sessions for children and adults, alongside providing sessions in various settings, including schools, hospitals, care homes, and more. 

Photo Credit: Sudhith Xavier

The Recording Academy has issued new guidelines of eligibility for consideration that exclude solely AI works.

The new rule stipulates that “only human creators are eligible to be submitted for consideration for, nominated for, or win a Grammy Award.” The guidelines and rules have changed in response to the explosion of AI in the music industry in 2023. These new protocols are designed to help recognize human contributions to the arts.

“A work that contains no human authorship is not eligible in any category,” the guidelines state. The Recording Academy met last month to determine whether or not to recognize AI works. During that meeting, the board decided that works that feature elements of AI are eligible, but they must also contain “meaningful contributions” to add a human element to the music or lyrics.

“At this point, we are going to allow AI music and content to be submitted, but the Grammys will only be allowed to go to human creators who have contributed creatively in the appropriate categories,” adds Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.

“If there’s an AI voice singing the song or AI instrumentation, we’ll consider it. But in a songwriting-based category, it has to have been mostly written by a human. The same goes for performance categories—only a human performer can be considered for a Grammy.”

While AI-generated mashups like “Heart On My Sleeve” continue to take social media by storm, The Recording Academy is seeking to establish how it will deal with artists using artificial intelligence to create legitimate works. Famously, Grimes has offered to share royalties to anyone who creates an AI track that utilizes her specialized vocals. And Sir Paul McCartney has turned to AI to help release a final Beatles album using the technology to re-create John Lennon’s voice.

Other guideline changes include the eligibility requirements for Album of the Year. A music creator must account for 20% of all work on the album, including credit artists, featured artists, songwriters, producers, engineers, and more. Previously, anyone who worked on the album was eligible to receive a nomination.

Other changes include a reduction of nominees from 10 to 8 for the major categories like Best New Artist, Album, Song, and Record of the Year. New categories this year include Best Pop Dance Recording, Best African Music Performance, and Best Alternative Jazz Album.

Photo Credit: David Bergman

Country superstar Luke Combs’ smash hit “Beautiful Crazy” becomes the sixth country song in history to be certified Diamond by the RIAA.

Sony Music Nashville kicked off CMA Fest by presenting Luke Combs, the reigning CMA Entertainer of the Year, and songwriter Rob Williford with a plaque commemorating Combs’ single “Beautiful Crazy” being certified Diamond by the RIAA. The track is only the sixth country song in RIAA history to achieve over 10 million copies sold.

The plaque was presented on Thursday, June 8, at Combs’ CMA Fest Bootleggers Fan Club Party. Notable Sony Music Nashville personnel pictured along with Combs and Rob Williford include Caryl Atwood (SVP, Commercial Partnerships), Ken Robold (EVP & COO), Steve Hodges (EVP, Promotion & Artist Development), Taylor Lindsey (SVP, A&R), Randy Goodman (Chairman & CEO), and Liz Cost (VP, Marketing).

While the feat is no doubt impressive, it should come as no surprise that Luke Combs was capable of achieving it. The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) revealed the top songwriters for Q1 this year are overwhelmingly country-oriented, thanks mainly to the success of Luke Combs.

Luke Combs claimed the top artist-songwriter credit with 26 certifications, including “Beautiful Crazy” with 9x Multi-Platinum, “Hurricane” with 8x Multi-Platinum, and the 4x Multi-Platinum “Forever After All.” Big Machine published these hits, though Universal Music Publishing Group now serves as Combs’ publisher.

“Man, kind of speechless, to be honest,” says Combs of his top songwriter honor. “All of the credit goes to my fans. They buy and stream the songs and albums, so none of this happens without them. This is honestly an award that should have their names on it. Huge thank you to them and everyone else who made this happen.”

The top non-performing songwriter in Q1 was Ray Fulcher, who earned 12 certifications for songs like “Does to Me,” “Reasons,” and “When It Rains It Pours,” which are published by Sony Music Publishing. Ray Fulcher is published through UMPG and River House/Sony Music Publishing.

Photo Credit: Nicolas Völcker / CC by 4.0

Mac Miller’s final album, Swimming, released shortly before his death, has been certified double-platinum by the RIAA, commemorating two million units sold as a testament to the artist’s longevity.

Though Mac Miller passed in 2018, his legacy abounds, as evidenced by his final studio album becoming certified double-platinum by the RIAA last week, serving as a testament to the artist’s staying power. On Wednesday, June 7, the RIAA certified the album double-platinum, having been certified platinum for the first time two years prior in February 2021.

“Self Care” from that album has also been certified 5x platinum, another milestone for Mac Miller, whose highest-certified song prior was the 4x platinum Miguel collaboration “Weekend” from GO:OD AM. Blue Slide Park (2011), Watching Movies With the Sound Off (2013), 

GO:OD AM (2015) and his posthumous Circles (2020) are all certified gold.

Initially released in August 2018, only a month before Mac Miller passed away from an accidental drug overdose, Swimming is often considered his most significant work. It was nominated for Best Rap Album at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards the year after its release.

Jon Brion, who worked with Miller on Swimming, was asked by Mac’s estate to help finish the album he had been working on at the time of his passing. That album, 2020’s Circles, was released to critical acclaim.

New music from the late rapper is always possible, as Mac Miller left enough material in his vault for another lifetime. Rapper and producer Madlib featured Mac on his Liberation 2 album with Talib Kweli and revealed earlier this year that he’s adding the finishing touches to his long-long Maclib project.

“Right now, I’m finishing up the Mac Miller album,” Madlib said during a recent interview, confirming that it’s the same project reported years ago and that the late rapper’s estate has finally given him the green light to release it.

Photo Credit: Canadian Sync Awards 2023

The 2023 Canadian Sync Awards winners have been revealed, with Cody Partridge of Pear Tree Music Supervision taking home three awards.

The Guild of Music Supervisors, Canada (GMSC) and Canadian Music Week (CMW) have revealed the winners of the 2023 Canadian Sync Awards, which took place on Thursday, June 8, at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, with performances by Preston Pablo, Milk & Bone, and Adria Kain.

The Canadian Sync Awards celebrate the craft of music supervision in filmed media in Canada with an annual presentation of 15 awards, with eight categories voted on by the public.

THE 2023 CANADIAN SYNC AWARDS WINNERS

Best Sync – Sports Program or Sports Promo

• 2022/2023 IIHF World Juniors of Hockey (Canada v. Czechia Finals Promo)
• “Stereo” by The Watchmen
• Music Supervisor: Cody Partridge

Best Sync – Commercial

• Apple AirPods 2022
• “Voodoo” by Badshah, J Balvin, and Tainy
• Music Supervisor: Everton Lewis, Jr.

Best Sync – Scene, Episodic Series (Drama or Comedy)

• Shoresy
• “True Love” by Tobias Jesso Jr.
• Music Supervisor: Cody Partridge

Best Sync – Soundtrack, Episodic Series (Drama)

• Let the Right One In (Season 1)
• Music Supervisor: Natasha Duprey

Best Sync – Soundtrack, Episodic Series (Comedy)

• Kids in the Hall (Season 1)
• Music Supervisor: Natasha Duprey

Best Sync – Soundtrack, Feature or Documentary Film

• Bandit
• Music Supervisor: Cody Partridge

Best Sync – Scene, Feature or Documentary Film

• Fancy Dance
• “Honour Song” by Ottertrail
• Music Supervisor: Sean Mulligan, Victoria Beard

Best Sync – Soundtrack, TV Movie

• A Picture of Her
• Music Supervisors: Emma Lewicky, Hollie Sanders

Best Sync Team – Major Record Label

• Universal Music

Best Sync Team – Major Music Publisher

• Universal Music Publishing Group

Best Sync Team – Indie Record Label

• Six Shooter Records

Best Sync Team – Indie Music Publisher

• Third Side Music

Best Sync Team – Sync Agency

• The Greater Goods Co.

Best Sync Artist

• Tanya Tagaq

The Canadian Sync Awards also presented The Huey Award to Marlon Knight. The award, which honors legendary music supervisor David Hayman, who passed away in May 2020, includes a $1,500 honorarium and is presented to an aspiring music supervisor who has demonstrated passion for the craft.

Photo Credit: NMPA

The National Music Publishers’ Association (NMPA) revealed the top songwriters for Q1 2023. Country overwhelmingly dominates the chart, thanks to Luke Combs. 

The list includes the top artist-songwriter and the top non-performing songwriter for the period. During the period of Q1 2023 (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1,736 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum certifications were awarded. Luke Combs claims the top artist-songwriter credit with 26 certifications including the 9x Multi-Platinum “Beautiful Crazy,” the 8x Multi-Platinum “Hurricane,” and the 4x Multi-Platinum “Forever After All,” all published by Big Machine. Luke Combs is now published by UMPG.

The top non-performing songwriter for the period was Ray Fulcher, who scored 12 certifications for songs including “When It Rains It Pours,” “Does to Me,” and “Reasons,” which are published by Sony Music Publishing. Ray Fulcher is published by UMPG and River House/Sony Music Publishing.

“Man, kind of speechless to be honest,” Luke Combs says of the honor. “All of the credit goes to my fans. They buy and stream the songs and albums, so none of this happens without them. This is honestly an award that should have their names on it. Huge thank you to them and everyone else who made this happen.”

“Pretty unreal to be included in this group, much less to be at the top for any period of time,” adds Ray Fulcher. “Thanks to country music fans and supporters for listening to these songs and believing in the music. I’m going to keep writing songs from the heart, and hopefully, ya’ll keep listening. Thanks!”

“The first quarter of this year was a big moment for country music,” continues NMPA President & CEO David Israelite. “Fueled by the success of Luke and Ray, we saw the growth of country dominate the Gold & Platinum certifications. Huge congratulations to Luke Combs for consistently creating timeless music, and to Ray for working with him on such enduring, massive songs.”

Curious to see the full list of awarded songwriters? Check out the Q1 2023 NMPA Gold & Platinum songwriters here. 

Photo Credit: RIAA

The RIAA has presented its first-ever NFT accolades plaque. Willow is the first recipient of this honor.

The accolade recognizes the 3x Platinum “Whip My Hair,” 2x Platinum “Wait A Minute!,” 2x Platinum Meet Me At Our Spot” and Platinum “t r a n s p a r e n t s o u l ft. Travis Barker.” The plaque features artwork commissioned by the pop-punk provocateur, alongside Roc Nation and Infinite Objects.

“I am beyond grateful to have the opportunity to engage in the sacred process that is music,” Willow adds about the honor. “Big love to RIAA and Infinite Objects! I am so honored to be able to celebrate these milestones in such an innovative way.”

“RIAA has celebrated artists and their label teams through the Gold & Platinum program for the last 65 years as the industry has constantly evolved,” says RIAA VP of Media Relations | Gold & Platinum Rewards Erin D. D. Burr. “We are excited to announce this innovative new way to recognize official certifications as Willow accepts the first-ever NFT plaque. We’re grateful to Roc Nation and Infinite Objects for this creative collaboration.”

Minted on the Ethereum blockchain as an ERC-721 NFT, this one-of-one item celebrates Willow’s musical accomplishments and creative partnerships. The digital ledger system ensures transparency as each certified single is represented as a ‘trait’ of the NFT that can be updated on-chain when new thresholds are officially certified through the RIAA Gold & Platinum program. The authenticated Infinite OBjects Video Print display will also automatically reflect the change in artwork when the NFT is updated.

“We’re thrilled to partner with Willow, RIAA, and Roc Nation on this groundbreaking certification,” adds Infinite Objects. “Collaborating on minting Willow’s achievements on-chain and celebrating the artwork in an authenticated Infinite Objects physical display is a true honor.”

Infinite Objects is a tech company that specializes in transforming digital content into physical art objects. The company aims to create a bridge between the digital and physical worlds, offering a unique and innovative way to experience art through their patented Video Print product line.

Photo Credit: Charles Lee / CC by 4.0

ASCAP has named Dr. Luke Songwriter of the Year at the 40th annual Pop Awards despite his ongoing decade-long legal battle with Kesha.

Lukasz Gottwald, better known as Dr. Luke, has been named Songwriter of the Year for the third time in that category at the 40th annual ASCAP Pop Awards. The producer took home the award for his hit song contributions over the past year, including Doja Cat’s “Need to Know,” Latto’s “Big Energy,” and Nicki Minaj’s “Super Freaky Girl.”

According to a release from ASCAP, Dr. Luke’s win is based on a mathematical formula derived from the performance rights organization’s metric of “the total number of a writer’s shares in ASCAP’s Pop Music Award-winning songs multiplied by the winning songs’ impressions, which are calculated based on Luminate data from radio and streaming.”

However, Dr. Luke’s win is controversial due to sexual assault allegations and a nearly decade-long legal battle with singer Kesha. This year marks his first Songwriter of the Year win since that scandal began in 2014. The producer is currently countersuing Kesha for defamation, with their latest trial set for July 26 in New York.

Previously, Dr. Luke won the award in 2010 and 2011. He is tied with Lionel Richie for three wins, but Diane Warren and Max Martin have them beaten with five and eleven wins, respectively. Other wins at the 2023 ASCAP Pop Awards include The Kid LAROI and Justin Bieber’s “Stay,” which took home the Song of the Year Award, while Sony Music Publishing took home the Publisher of the Year Award.

Meanwhile, Kesha’s latest record, Gag Order, was released on Friday (May 19) — her latest endeavor to be released under Dr. Luke’s Kemosabe Records.

“I feel as if there has been an implied gag order for a very long time now,” the singer said. “With my ongoing litigation hanging over my head, I have not been able to speak freely because I know everything I say is scrutinized.”

Eurovision 2023 contestant Alessandra performing live. Photo Credit: MandyPettersen

Notwithstanding the well-documented non-fungible token (NFT) sales falloff and the adjacent “crypto winter,” Universal Music Group (UMG) is rolling out “exclusive digital collectibles” for Eurovision competitors ahead of the 67th annual event.

Hilversum, Netherlands-headquartered Universal Music outlined its latest NFT plans in a joint release with Tallinn, Estonia’s Centaurify. Late March of this year saw the major label and the “web3-based music marketplace” unveil a tie-up under which Centaurify would host UMG artists’ aforesaid digital collectibles.

Some of these virtual items are tied to contests, music releases, exclusive communities, and other benefits, the involved companies have disclosed, noting also that the collectibles’ appearance will change in tandem with the commercial showing of the songs to which they are connected.

A track with one million total streams (seemingly across all services) will coincide with an “orbit” collectible, for instance, shifting to “lunar” at 10 million streams, to “solar” at 50 million streams, and so forth until changing to “supernova” at 500 million streams.

UMG (which has partnered with a number of different NFT platforms) and Centaurify previously dropped 3,333 trophies, and the free items at hand were according to the businesses “completely minted out in a few hours.” Meanwhile, the Universal Music trophies in question are said to afford holders “presale rights to all future artist drops,” among other things.

Included within these future artist drops are paid NFT releases from Eurovision 2023 competitors (and UMG-signed acts) Loreen and Alessandra, the companies announced today.

Under the union, Stockholm, Sweden-born Loreen (who won Eurovision 2012 and is again representing her home country this year) and Lillehammer, Norway-based Alessandra are poised to debut Centaurify NFTs for their tracks “Tattoo” and “Queen of Kings,” respectively. The “exclusive” launches (encompassing 50 collectibles for each artist) are scheduled to go on sale one week from today, when Eurovision 2023 will initiate.

And unlike the above-highlighted 3,333 trophies that were made available for free, these digital items will set diehard fans back 0.02 ETH a pop, or $37.50 based upon the cryptocurrency’s present price. Sweetening the pot for prospective purchasers, Universal Music and Centaurify relayed: “If either Loreen or Alessandra wins this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, one lucky holder will be chosen at random to receive two tickets to Eurovision 2024.”

Finally, in terms of the project’s specifics, both tracks have generated north of 50 million streams apiece – meaning that the trophies will adopt the “solar” appearance from the get-go. On the horizon are NFT offerings from K-391, CLMD, and Victoria Nadine, according to UMG and Centaurify.

Despite a dramatic dip in the prevalence of NFTs with limited practical uses, tokens tied to communities, events, and products are still making waves in the music sphere. March saw Ticketmaster take steps to scale up its experimental NFT-gated ticketing concept, and Snoop Dogg that same month co-founded Web3 livestream platform Shiller, through which creators can utilize NFTs to monetize their streams.

Photo Credit: DJ Johnson

George Michael appears to be the fan favorite among 2023 nominees for induction to the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. 

The official Twitter account for the late British superstar singer tweeted the news. “Over one million votes! George wins the #RockHall2023 fan vote. Thank you to all of the amazing fans for voting every day for George. Thank you for your continued support,” the tweet reads.

According to the tally, George Michael received 1,040,072 votes from fans who voted online or in person at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. Those keeping close track of the 2023 nominations this year reveal George Michael has been the fan favorite in the lead since March. 

Other contenders include Cyndi Lauper (928,113 votes), Warren Zevon (634,130 votes), Iron Maiden (449, 682 votes), and Soundgarden (427,040). The fan vote doesn’t secure induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame—but it does help. The five highest on the list will be included together on a single fan ballot to be tallied with the ballots from official voting members. The official inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2023 will likely be announced in May. 

Nominees for this class were revealed earlier this year and include Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliot, Iron Maiden, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, Soundgarden, The Spinners, A Tribe Called Quest, The White Stripes, Warren Zevon. 

In order to be eligible for nomination, an individual artist or band must have released its first commercial recording at least 25 years before their first nomination. Eight out of these 14 nominees are on the ballot for the first time this year, including Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliot, Joy Division/New Order, Cyndi Lauper, George Michael, Willie Nelson, The White Stripes, and Warren Zevon. This is the first year of eligibility for Missy Elliott and The White Stripes. 

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr.

The Recording Academy has officially extended the eligibility period for the forthcoming Grammy Awards by two weeks “after listening to concerns from some members of the music community.”  

Recording Academy CEO Harvey Mason Jr. announced the change (which was made “in the spirit of partnership and collaboration”) in a recent letter to members. For reference, the Academy had around February’s end shortened the window during which music could release and still be considered for nominations and awards at the upcoming 66th Grammys.

(Organizers have yet to reveal when exactly the 2024 edition will take place, though the 65th Grammys returned to Los Angeles and marked the first time since 2019 that the happening had occurred in February.)

Specifically, the Recording Academy had shortened the 2024 Grammys’ eligibility period by a full month to August 31st of this year. Now, however, Mason Jr. (who’s coming up on his second anniversary as CEO) has pushed back the deadline by two weeks until September 15th.

“After listening to concerns from some members of the music community, we have decided to amend the end date of the previously-announced eligibility period,” 54-year-old Mason Jr. wrote in a letter to Academy members. “The eligibility deadline for the 66th Annual Grammy Awards will be extended by two weeks, to Friday, September 15, 2023.”

While logic suggests that the longest-possible Grammys eligibility window would be optimal – namely so projects released during the fourth quarter could be celebrated early the following year as opposed to the year after that – Boston-born Mason Jr. also touched upon the logistical considerations behind the present cutoff.

“Several weeks ago, we communicated some changes to the eligibility period for the 66th Grammy Awards,” Mason Jr. explained of the initial decision to shorten the deadline by a month. “This change benefits our Awards process and grants us some flexibility throughout Grammy season, specifically related to our nominations announcement timeline and the booking of the Grammys telecast, Premiere Ceremony, Recording Academy Honors Presented by the Black Music Collective, and other important celebrations throughout Grammy Week.”

Of course, planning the more than three-hour Grammys telecast (the actual event runs far longer than that), including by booking and preparing for the associated performances, is presumably a tall task in its own right. And an ever-evolving collection of boycotts, public criticism, and no-shows undoubtedly complicates the process for the Grammys, where higher-ups are currently auctioning off items signed by Mick Fleetwood, Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, and others in support of their happening’s namesake museum.

On the heels of a years-long viewership falloff that affected a number of award shows, the 2023 Grammys scored a roughly 30 percent larger television audience than the 2022 installment. But notwithstanding the relative rebound, the broadcast attracted fewer watchers than each prior Grammys edition except the 2021 and 2022 shows.

Photo Credit: Globovisión / CC by 2.0

The future of the American Music Awards is suddenly in limbo, with the network of the event currently to be determined.

The American Music Awards (AMAs) will likely air in May 2024 rather than in 2023, following news that the Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs) would take place on November 19, 2023 — a Sunday typically held for the AMAs. As a result, the AMAs’ parent company Dick Clark Productions seems left with no choice but to move the event to 2024, where it can take the May slot customarily held by Billboard.

The AMAs, an ABC network staple since the event’s debut in 1973, was created by Dick Clark to replace the Grammy Awards when ABC’s contract to air them expired. But sources familiar with the situation say that the AMAs are currently without a network as their contract with ABC ended in November, and no decision has yet been made about a renewal.

Dick Clark Productions is owned by Penske Media Corp. (PMC), the parent company to industry mainstays like Variety and Billboard. Multiple sources report that PMC opted to throw its weight behind the Billboard Music Awards over the AMAs, reasoning that it made sense to promote its own brand. 

However, ABC is said to have been unaware of plans to change the BBMAs’ date until it was announced publicly on March 15. Meanwhile, sources also confirm that NBC, BBMAs partner since 2018, did not pick it up this year. Instead, NBC has focused on its People’s Choice Awards, including the new People’s Choice Country Awards premiering in September.

The American Music Awards originally ran in either January or February from 1974 to 2003, at which point it began running in November — until this year. The Billboard Music Awards first launched on Fox in 1990, where it remained through 2006, airing in early December. In 2011, it switched to ABC and moved to a May slot, presumably to avoid conflict with the AMAs. There it remained until 2018, when it switched to NBC.

Ratings for awards shows have been on a steady decline in recent years. The AMAs reached a low in 2022 with a 0.6 rating among adults in the prime 18-49 demographic and just 3.53 million viewers. By comparison, the show garnered a 1.0 rating and 4 million viewers in 2020 and 2021. The BBMAs have retained their ratings slightly better over the past few years, earning a 0.7 rating in 2021 and 2022 and drawing an average viewership of 2.8 million in 2021 and 2.6 million in 2022.

Photo Credit: Raph_PH / CC by 2.0

Chrissie Hynde writes a dismissive Facebook post about the Rock Hall on the tail of Courtney Love’s scathing op-ed review of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame institution.

For some artists, recognition by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame is an honor symbolizing their achievement as a musician. But for Pretenders frontwoman Chrissie Hynde, the whole thing “is total bollocks.” On Friday, after Hole frontwoman Courtney Love posted a scathing op-ed review of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame — which followed her Instagram carousel about it earlier in the week — Chrissie Hynde took to Facebook to share her thoughts on the institution.

“It’s just more establishment backslapping,” wrote Hynde. “I got in a band so I didn’t have to be part of all that.”

The singer says that when she learned her band was being inducted into the class of 2005, her heart sank.

“I knew I’d have to go back for it as it would be too much of a kick in the teeth to my parents if I didn’t,” she explains. “I’d upset them enough by then, so it was one of those things that would bail me out from years of disappointing them.”

Aside from Neil Young’s generous induction speech, Hynde says the “whole thing was, and is, total bollocks. It’s absolutely nothing to do with rock n’ roll, and anyone who thinks it is is a fool.”

Courtney Love’s Guardian op-ed criticized the Rock Hall’s lack of female representation, stating that just 8.48% of inductees are women and that only nine women are seated on the organization’s nomination board. Love also noted the astounding length of time for some legendary women musicians to be nominated or inducted, in addition to some glaring omissions she points to in calling into question the “ol’ boys club.”

“If so few women are being inducted into the Rock Hall, then the nominating committee is broken. If so few Black artists, so few women of color, are being inducted, then the voting process needs to be overhauled,” writes Love. “Music is a life force that is constantly evolving — and they can’t keep up.”

Love notes that more women were nominated this year than at any other time in the organization’s 40-year history, including Kate Bush, Cyndi Lauper, Sheryl Crow, and Missy Elliott. However, Kate Bush is on her fourth nomination but didn’t make it onto a ballot until 2018, after the Hall of Fame’s co-founder and Rolling Stone magazine founder Jann Wenner was inducted in 2004.

“Never mind that she was the first woman in pop history to have written every track on a million-selling debut,” says Love of Bush’s The Kick Inside, released in 1978. “A pioneer of synthesizers and music videos, she was discovered last year by a new generation of fans when ‘Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)’ featured in the Netflix hit Stranger Things. She is still making albums.”

“The Rock Hall has covered itself in a sheen of gravitas and longevity that the Grammys do not have,” Love adds. “Particularly for veteran female artists, induction confers a status that directly affects the living they are able to make.”

“The Rock Hall’s canon-making doesn’t just reek of sexist gatekeeping, but also purposeful ignorance and hostility,” Love concludes. “If the Rock Hall is not willing to look at the ways it is replicating the violence of structural racism and sexism that artists face in the music industry, if it cannot properly honor what visionary women artists have created, innovated, revolutionized and contributed to popular music — well, then let it go to hell in a handbag.”

Photo Credit: Justin Higuchi / CC by 2.0

Lady Gaga has canceled her appearance at the 2023 Oscars, where she was slated to sing “Hold My Hand.” She’s filming and can’t get her performance up to par in time, says the Academy.

Lady Gaga was nominated for the Top Gun: Maverick song, “Hold My Hand” but will not perform this year. Oscars Executive Producer and Showrunner Glenn Weiss confirmed the cancellation to Variety.

“We invited all five nominees. We have a great relationship with Lady Gaga and her camp,” Weiss adds. “She is in the middle of shooting a movie right now. Here, we are honoring the movie industry and what it takes to make a movie after a bunch of back and forth. It didn’t feel like she can get a performance to the caliber that we’re used to with her and that she is used to. So she is not going to perform on the show.”

All of the Oscars 2023 nominees for Best Original Song will perform at the ceremony on March 12—without Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga is in the middle of filming Joker: Folie à Deux, portraying Harley Quinn. Director Todd Phillips shared the first image of her as Quinn on Valentine’s Day. That film releases on October 9, 2024.

“Thank you so much to the Academy for nominating my song ‘Hold My Hand’ for an Oscar this year!” Lady Gaga wrote on Twitter when the nominations were announced. “Writing this song for the film ‘Top Gun: Maverick‘ was a deep and powerful experience that I will never forget. So grateful for the magic of music and cinema.”

Other nominees in the category include “Applause” from Tell it Like a Woman, “Lift Me Up” from Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, and “This Is A Life” from Everything Everywhere All at Once. Lady Gaga claimed the win for Best Original Song at the 2019 Academy Awards for her song “Shallow” from A Star Is Born.”