1. Michael Jackson Wrongful Death Suit Against AEG: Experts Dominate Week 10

    July 07, 2013 10:33 AM EDT A look at key moments this past week in the wrongful death trial in Los Angeles between Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson, and concert giant AEG Live LLC, and what is expected at court in the week ahead: THE CASE Jackson's mo ...

  2. New Jim Morrison Doc Focuses on Doors Legend's Early Years

    July 05, 2013 9:57 PM EDT A new documentary about the early life of Doors frontman Jim Morrison is in the works. Filmmakers Jeff Finn and Jess Finn are looking to raise $50,000 via a Kickstarter campaign so they can complete and release the doc, "Before the End: Jim ...

  3. Comic-Con's Most Unexpected Guests: Metallica?

    July 05, 2013 7:49 PM EDT Throughout its 40-plus year history, San Diego Comic-Con has become known for being the convention that can get guests that you just wouldn't find at other conventions, whether its classic comic creators like Charles Schulz or massive movie ...

  4. Apple Co-Founder Steve Wozniak on Kanye West's 'Grandiose Business Ideas'

    July 05, 2013 5:33 PM EDT Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has opened up about what happened during his visit with Kanye West, Kim Kardashian and their baby, North, shortly after the reality star gave birth to her daughter. According to ABC News, Kardashian set up a meetin ...

  5. Joe and Relient K Heading for Top 10 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart

    July 05, 2013 5:04 PM EDT R&B singer Joe and rock band Relient K could both earn new top 10 albums next week on the Billboard 200 chart. Industry sources forecast Joe's new "Double Back: Evolution of R&B" may sell 25,000 or so by the end of the tra ...

  6. Chart Moves: 'Pitch Perfect' Soundtrack Climbs, Bob Marley's 'Legend: Remixed' Debuts, Lorde's 'Love' Leaps

    July 05, 2013 4:05 PM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Wale celebrated his first No. 1 , as "The Gifted" opened atop the list. The set sold 158,000 copies in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It was one of four debuts in the top 10 ...

  7. Pussy Riot Lawyers Seek to Reverse Conviction

    July 05, 2013 1:01 PM EDT The appeal will be based on the band's attorney's argument that the hooliganism verdict was "illegal." Lawyers representing the two imprisoned members of Pussy Riot are set to launch an appeal to Russia’s Supreme Court to rev ...

  8. Stones Top Weekly Hot Tours, Net $21.3 Million Over Five Shows – Streisand Close Behind with $18.3 Million

    July 05, 2013 11:14 AM EDT The Rolling Stones' 50 & Counting Tour tops the weekly Hot Tours recap with the final box office stats reported from the legendary group's two-month trek through North America. The latest batch of shows reported brought in $21.3 mi ...

  9. Chart Moves: AWOLNATION 'Sail's Onto Mainstream Top 40; Avicii Evolves; Lorde Keeps Leaping With 'Royals'

    July 05, 2013 10:00 AM EDT As previously reported, Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," featuring T.I. + Pharrell, spends a fourth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Same Love," featuring Mary Lambert, roar ...

  10. Justin Bieber Bumps One Direction From No. 1 on Social 50 Chart

    July 03, 2013 8:32 PM EDT Despite One Direction's full week full of activity, the act is unable to stay atop the Social 50 for a second week in a row. They slide in the rankings (1-6), allowing Justin Bieber to rise (2-1) to reclaim the Social 50 throne. The Social ...

  11. J. Cole Album Could Move to No. 1 on Billboard 200 Next Week

    July 03, 2013 8:23 PM EDT 32 0 0 It's not often that an album climbs to No. 1 on the Billboard 200 chart, but that's just what might happen next week. J. Cole's "Born Sinner," which debuted at No. 2 a week ago, looks like it should take the throne next ...

  12. Nielsen SoundScan Mid-Year Report: Digital Album and Single Sales Slow

    July 03, 2013 7:50 PM EDT 1 7 4 0 0 Digital tracks sales are on the decline and the trend is accelerating. For the year to date as of June 30, digital track sales have declined 2.3% to 682.2 million units from the 698 million units that tracks scanned in the first half of 2012, ac ...

  13. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' Gay Equality Anthem 'Same Love' Hits Top 20 on Billboard Hot 100

    July 03, 2013 6:04 PM EDT Song gains in sales, airplay and streams following U.S. Supreme Court rulings on gay marriage issues Following the United States Supreme Court rulings on two separate gay marriage issues (June 26), Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' gay equality ...

  14. Backbeat Byte: Sponge Signs With The End Records With Help From Famed A&R Man Tom Zutaut

    July 03, 2013 3:00 PM EDT 5 0 0 The smiles above at the July 2 contract signing at the End Records ’ offices belonged to: The End Records’ Devin Toye , Raphael Pinkster and Shawn Quinn ; Tom Zutaut ; the End Records founder/CEO Andreas Katsambas , Sponge’s Vinnie Dombroski ; P ...

  15. Justin Timberlake, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Lead 2013 Mid-Year SoundScan Charts

    July 03, 2013 11:00 AM EDT 4 2 19 24 0 At the midway point in 2013, Justin Timberlake's "The 20/20 Experience" and Macklemore & Ryan Lewis' "Thrift Shop" (featuring Wanz), lead as the year's biggest-selling album and digital song in the United ...

  16. Wale Scores First No. 1 Album On Billboard 200; Kanye West Drops

    July 03, 2013 11:00 AM EDT 8 7 0 0 Rapper Wale claims his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 this week, as his new release The Gifted debuts in the top position. The set sold 158,000 copies in its first week of release, according to Nielsen SoundScan. It's Wale's se ...

  17. Ross On Radio: The Rivalry That Must Not Be Named

    July 03, 2013 6:00 AM EDT Three years ago, '80s rock icon Pat Benatar titled her autobiography "Between a Rock and a Heart Place." That alone invoked the presence of another prominent rock act of that era, but there was no actual mention of the band Heart. ...

  18. In Their Own Words: Frank Filipetti on Phil Ramone (Video)

    July 02, 2013 1:11 PM EDT 1 0 16 0 0 At last week’s R ecording Academy Honors New York Chapter event , between foot-stomping performances by Trey Songz and Ne-Yo, Melissa Etheridge with Joan Osbourne and Sugarland’s Kristian Bush and Valerie Simpson of Ashford & Simpson along ...

  19. Independent Study: Innovative Leisure

    July 02, 2013 11:24 AM EDT 1 320 67 1 0 Label: Innovative Leisure Founded: 2010 Location: Los Angeles Number of Employees: 5 fulltime, 1 part-time Next Release: Superhumanoids, Exhibitionists ( Aug. 6) Distributor: ADA Twitter: @ILRecords Website: InnovativeLeisure.net The second t ...

  20. RIAA Updates Rules Before Jay-Z's 'Magna Carta'

    July 01, 2013 8:35 PM EDT The RIAA has heard Jay-Z's #newrules loud and clear. The music industry's trade organization will update its policies to allow its digital album certifications to be handed out upon release date, rather than after the 30-day waiting pe ...

  21. Rolling Stones' Glastonbury Set Draws 2.5 Million Viewers to BBC

    July 01, 2013 3:49 PM EDT 1 0 32 0 0 The Rolling Stones' debut turn at the U.K.'s landmark Glastonbury music festival garnered a 2.5 million peak audience for the BBC on Saturday night. Overall, the coverage scored an average of 2.1 million TV viewers. The Stones' s ...

  22. From the Magazine: The New DIY -- Your Music Career in Your Hands

    July 01, 2013 2:00 PM EDT 5 54 45 2 0 The following excerpts are from the "The New DIY: Your Career In Your Hands" cover package featured in the new issue of Billboard (July 7)  and inlcude Ed Chrstman's look at the changing marketplace for independent distributors; ...

  23. Will.i.am Lawyer Sounds Off on Pharrell Trademark Dispute

    July 01, 2013 10:47 AM EDT Attorneys for Will.i.am Pharrell Williams are in a heated exchange over trademarks will.i.am owns and trademark applications by Williams. At issue is who has the right to use the words "I Am" and how they can use it.   The events leadi ...

  24. Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart Exits Epic A&R Helm

    June 28, 2013 9:14 PM EDT 4 17 47 1 0 In an unexpected move, Christopher “Tricky” Stewart has exited his post as Epic Records’ president of A&R to concentrate on producing. The Grammy Award-winning songwriter/producer joined the label in that role in October 2011. There was no ...

  25. One Direction Film Teaser Spurs No. 1 Return on Social 50 Chart

    June 28, 2013 7:40 PM EDT One Direction returns to No. 1 on the Social 50 for the first time since December, thanks to the release of a teaser for its upcoming documentary film "This Is Us." The Social 50 ranks the most popular artists on YouTube, Vevo, Faceboo ...

  26. U2 Manager Paul McGuinness on Mark Fisher: 'He Turned Everyone’s Wild Ideas Into Steel, Lumber and Canvas Reality'

    June 28, 2013 12:55 PM EDT 1 66 35 0 0 U2 manager Paul McGuinness had a long and fruitful relationship with late, great architect/set designer Mark Fisher, who passed away on Tuesday (June 25) and was invovled with every U2 tour since 1991. Here’s his thoughts on Fisher's &quo; ...

  27. Chart Moves: Florida Georgia Line Leads Hot Country Songs Again; Phillip Phillips Nets 'Idol' Honor; John Mayer Returns

    June 28, 2013 11:10 AM EDT As previously reported , Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," featuring T.I. + Pharrell, spends a third week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, while Miley Cyrus and Bruno Mars land in the top 10. Who else makes notable moves on the Ho ...

  28. Trey Songz, Melissa Etheridge, Valerie Simpson, 'Les Miserables' Honored at Recording Academy's New York Gala

    June 28, 2013 11:03 AM EDT The importance of music education was celebrated as Trey Songz, Melissa Etheridge, Joshua Bell, "Les Miserables"' composers Alain Boublil, Herbert Kretzmer, Claude-Michel Schönberg, and Ashford & Simpson were honored at the Ne ...

  29. Bubbling Under: Avila Shakes Up Elvis Presley Classic

    June 28, 2013 10:52 AM EDT Each Friday, Billboard presents "Bubbling Under," a weekly look at new and noteworthy acts making their way toward Billboard chart success. Up this week: Avila, Kopecky Family Band, Gwen Sebastian and Rittz. Avila A dreamy new renditio ...

  30. Chart Moves: Justin Timberlake's '20/20' First Album to Sell 2 Million in 2013

    June 28, 2013 9:00 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, it was a hip-hop affair in the top three . Kanye West, J. Cole and Mac Miller debuted new albums, respectively at Nos. 1-3 on the list. West's "Yeezus" led the rap parade, selling 327,0 ...

  31. Wale Heading for First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart

    June 26, 2013 7:21 PM EDT Rapper Wale should earn his first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart next week with his new release, "The Gifted." Industry sources forecast the album to sell perhaps 150,000 copies by the end of the tracking week on Sunday, June 3 ...

  32. Backbeat Byte: Theophilus London on His SpongeBob Apparel Line: 'It’s a Dream Come True Collaborating With Him'

    June 26, 2013 2:05 PM EDT 2 0 18 0 0 Hip-hop, cartoons and the Hamptons make for strange bedfellows, but they combined for a great day last Saturday (June 22), when Nickelodeon hosted a private party with rapper Theophilus London celebrating the launch of the SpongeBob x LVRS appa ...

  33. BMG CEO Hartwig Masuch on the Rolling Stones Deal (Q&A)

    June 26, 2013 11:12 AM EDT 1 1 12 0 0 BMG  today announced  that the Germany-based rights management company will represent the Rolling Stones' post-1983 catalog and and will also track payments from the duo’s previous copyrights owned by ABKCO (1963-1971) and EMI Music Publis ...

  34. Distro Briefs: INgrooves Distributing BMG’s Mute, Sanctuary Catalogs; Victory Signs I Scream Records

    June 25, 2013 11:20 AM EDT 1 1 14 0 0 INgrooves To distribute BMG's Recently-Acquired Mute and Sanctuary Catalogs INgrooves has signed a deal to distribute BMG's recently acquired catalogs, Mute and Sanctuary, which covers such artists as Nick Cave, Moby, Erasure, Iron Ma ...

  35. The Eagles Catalog Available at Subscription Services

    June 25, 2013 11:03 AM EDT One less band is unavailable to the millions of people who pay to access music. As of Tuesday, the Eagles catalog can be found at music subscription services such as Spotify, Rhapsody, Rdio and Deezer.   The nine titles available for streaming i ...

  36. The Late, Great Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland Talks His First Hit, His Legacy, Chauffeuring B.B. King In One of His Last Interviews

    June 24, 2013 1:31 PM EDT 2 11 14 1 0 The sad news of Bobby “Blue” Bland’s passing on Jun. 23 deprives us of a true sovereign, whose distinctive voice mixed honey and gravel, and who could spin a web of romantic passion and pain inside three minutes. In September 2010, I made a wo ...

  37. Bobby 'Blue' Bland Dead at 83

    June 24, 2013 12:06 AM EDT 2 194 59 1 0 Bobby "Blue" Bland, a distinguished singer who blended Southern blues and soul in songs such as "Turn on Your Love Light" and "Further On Up the Road," died Sunday. He was 83. Rodd Bland said his father died abou ...

  38. Billboard 200 Chart Preview: Kanye West's Lead Over J. Cole Shrinks

    June 21, 2013 8:10 PM EDT 3 29 54 1 0 After three full days on sale, Kanye West's "Yeezus" is still forecast to be No. 1 on next week's Billboard 200 chart. However, its lead over J. Cole's "Born Sinner" has shrunk to about 50,000 copies. Industr ...

  39. Backbeat: A2IM's Libera Awards Bring Out Indie Royalty With Seymour Stein, Martin Mills, Tom Silverman, More

    June 21, 2013 2:02 PM EDT 1 48 6 0 0 From the podium at the second annual Libera Awards Thursday night, Portia Sabin of Kill Rock Stars toasted a room full of DIY music entrepreneurs who unwound with free booze and finger foods after three days of power meetings, panels and presen ...

  40. Chart Moves: 'The Voice' Carries Weight on Hot 100, Hot Country Songs; Avril Lavigne Soars; Jack Johnson Returns

    June 21, 2013 12:36 PM EDT 1 0 7 0 0 As previously reported , Robin Thicke's "Blurred Lines," featuring T.I. + Pharrell, spends a second week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Who else makes head-"Lines" on the Hot 100 and other song charts this week? Nota ...

  41. Chart Moves: Hezekiah Walker's Best Week Ever, Harry Connick, Jr.'s 21st Top 10 Jazz Album

    June 21, 2013 11:00 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart , Black Sabbath scored its first No. 1 as 13 bowed in the top slot with 155,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Elsewhere in the top 10, Big Time Rush, Goo Goo Dolls, the "Man of Stee ...

  42. Backbeat: Sony, iTunes Execs Hit the Scene, the Stranglers Rock the Spoke Club, DJs Spin Atop a Crane at Toronto's NXNE, MuchMusic Events

    June 21, 2013 10:15 AM EDT 1 59 14 0 0 Toronto has been crazy busy the past two weeks with North By Northeast, Luminato (still going), the MuchMusic Video Awards and piggybacking parties and events. Billboard.biz squeezed in a few, starting with the NXNE kick-off at Toronto’s Drake ...

  43. Chart Moves: Hezekiah Walker's Best Week Ever, Harry Connick Jr.'s 21st Top 10 Jazz Album

    June 21, 2013 9:00 AM EDT This week on the Billboard 200 albums chart, Black Sabbath scored its first No. 1 as "13" bowed in the top slot with 155,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Elsewhere in the top 10, Big Time Rush, Goo Goo Dolls, the " ...

  44. Austin Mahone Makes Social 50 Chart Return

    June 20, 2013 8:41 PM EDT Rising pop star Austin Mahone re-enters the Social 50 chart at No. 34 following the June 10 debut of a new single, “What About Love” (Chase Records/Republic). The track’s official Vevo music video debuted shortly afterwards last week, which help ...

  45. Rolling Stones Update iTunes Store, Remaster Albums

    June 20, 2013 9:10 AM EDT Continuing the celebration of their 50th anniversary as a band, the Rolling Stones have announced a new section of the iTunes Store dedicated exclusively to their music. There, fans will be able to purchase all of the Stones' studio albums, ...

  46. Columbia to Release 'Way, Way Back' Soundtrack

    June 20, 2013 9:00 AM EDT Two new songs from Edie Brickell, “For The Time Being” and “Go Where The Love Is,” appear on the soundtrack to Fox Searchlight’s “The Way, Way Back” that opens July 5. Columbia Records will release the soundtrack on July 2. Brickell, currently o ...

  47. Hip-Hop Super Tuesday Update: Kanye West Leads, J. Cole Gets Bigger

    June 19, 2013 6:36 PM EDT 24 9 0 0 June 18 was a Super Tuesday for hip-hop, with new albums from Kanye West, J. Cole and Mac Miller all going on sale that day. At the present, West's new "Yeezus" album is selling strongly -- though not quite as strongly as anticip ...

  48. Black Sabbath Earns First-Ever No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart

    June 19, 2013 10:57 AM EDT 9 35 39 0 0 Almost 43 years after Black Sabbath debuted on the Billboard 200, the iconic rock band earns its first No. 1 album this week with the arrival of "13." The set starts at No. 1 with 155,000 copies sold, according to Nielsen SoundScan. ...

  49. Will.i.am Becomes Partner in Beverly Hills Brand Licensing Agency

    June 18, 2013 12:30 PM EDT Music star and entrepreneur will.i.am has been named a partner in Beverly Hills-based licensing and strategic marketing firm memBrain Licensing , the company said Tuesday. The firm said it will look to tap into the Grammy Award-wining musician’s ...

  50. Rihanna Surpasses Justin Bieber as Most Viewed Artist on YouTube

    June 18, 2013 12:26 PM EDT Some time early Tuesday morning (6/18), Rihanna passed Justin Bieber as the most viewed artist on YouTube. The 77 videos on Rihanna’s official VEVO channel now have a combined 3.784 billion views in total, surpassing the total view counts of the ...

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