Music News

The new outposts, in Tel Aviv and Casablanca, continue the arms race among the labels of overseas resources sniffing for new talent.

After broadening its footprint in Asia in 2019, Universal Music is continuing its global expansion with new offices in Israel and Morocco, marking the label as the first major music company to open standalone operations in either country.

The new outposts in the Middle East and North Africa will add to UMG’s existing network of A&R and marketing in more than 60 countries. UMG Morocco will be based in Casablanca, while the Israel office will operate out of Tel Aviv.

The moves come one month after Universal officially opened a new hub for hip-hop label Def Jam Africa based in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Lagos, Nigeria.

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Recognize June 19 as a national holiday. Support black-owned businesses today and always. And brush up on your history.

Those are some of the salient points made by Usher in a timely essay published today (June 19) in the Washington Post to coincide with Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the U.S.

In it, the R&B artist and actor explores the origins of the Black Lives Matter movement, the horrors of slavery and “the resilience of our people.”

Writing under the headline "Why it’s so important that Juneteenth become a national holiday," Usher pulls back the layers with a history lesson and a retelling of the circumstances surrounding June 19, 1865, the date that honors the official end of slavery and the true “date of independence for our people, black people.”

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It took 15 years for soul artists and reggae artists to be included in the list of categories.

The most dramatic moments at the Juno Awards, which were presented virtually on June 29, had nothing to do with the night’s big winners, Shawn Mendes and Alessia Cara. These moments came at the top of the show, where the Junos were remarkably forthright about their need to diversify and how the show was late to acknowledge soul, reggae, rap and other forms of Black and indigenous music.

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One week after Pop Smoke released his first posthumous album Shoot For the Stars, Aim For the World, today (July 6), Juice WRLD enters the fray after Grade A/Interscope Records announced his forthcoming release Legends Never Die, slated for Friday (July 10). To kick things off, the first single, "Life Is a Mess," arrived featuring past collaborator Halsey.

After pairing up on the pop singer's 2019 remix to "Without Me," the emo-tandem reunited on the Rex Kudo and Charlie Handsome-produced track. The new love-laden record "Life Is a Mess" serves as Juice's third single, following "Righteous" and the Trippie Redd-assisted "Tell Me U Luv Me."

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Katy Perry offered her opinion about Kanye West running for president in a virtual interview with the U.K.'s Hits Radio on Friday (July 10).

The pop star, who called in for a 16-minute video chat about topics including her upcoming album, being in quarantine, her pregnancy and her dog's birthday, was prompted with the question: "We all know that 2020's one of the weirdest years so far ... How do you feel about Kanye West making it even weirder by becoming president?"
Perry didn't hesitate to share her thoughts.

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The Delsener/Slater Presents co-founder was a longtime associate of concert business consolidator Robert Sillerman.

Mitch Slater, an industry pioneer who helped shape the modern concert promotion business, died on Tuesday after an extended illness. He was 59.

“Our bond was as strong as it gets,” Slater’s older brother, former Capitol Records CEO Andrew Slater, tells Billboard. “When he started out in music, I said, ‘If you could be half as good in business as you are as a brother, you'll be a great success.’ And he far exceeded that mark.”

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Microsoft said Sunday (Aug. 2) that it would continue to explore an acquisition of TikTok.

The statement follows Trump's Friday evening comments to reporters that he would take action as soon as Saturday to ban the app over national security concerns.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella spoke to Trump over the weekend, the company disclosed. "Microsoft fully appreciates the importance of addressing the President's concerns," reads part of the company's statement. "It is committed to acquiring TikTok subject to a complete security review and providing proper economic benefits to the United States, including the United States Treasury."

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He had one last chance to make it real. Or at least that’s how the story goes. With 1975’s Born to Run, a 25-year-old Bruce Springsteen felt like his very life was on the line, which is probably why he drove himself — and the E Street Band — to the brink of breakdown over the tortured months of its creation. In November 2005, a couple of hours before going onstage for a show on his solo Devils and Dust tour, Springsteen called Rolling Stone to talk about making Born to Run, which was released August 25th, 1975.

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The Lockn’ Festival announced Saturday that its October 2020 event — like every other major music festival during the Covid-19 pandemic — is canceled.

In July, the Arrington, Virginia-based fest announced a series of health measures — including mask requirements, stages that allowed for audience social distancing, cashless transactions and temperature checks — with the hope of continuing as planned during the weekend of October 2nd, 2020. The festival also had lined up performers Phil Lesh, Brandi Carlile, David Crosby and more.

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David Guetta and Sia are back with their first collaboration in two years. “Let’s Love” follows their 2018 single “Flames.”

“So take my hand, don’t be afraid/This too shall pass/This too shall pass,” Sia sings over Guetta’s Eighties-tipped soundscape. “And we’ll get through it all together/We’ll get through it all together … Let’s love.”

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