1. Canadian Government Pledges $15M in Federal Music Funding

    March 21, 2019 8:25 PM EDT The Canadian government will allocate 20 million Canadian dollars ($14.96 million at current rates) to the Canadian Music Fund (CMF) over two years, it announced Tuesday with its 2019 federal budget.  "With the growing importance of digital m ...

  2. After 10 Years in Prison, Jamaican Star Buju Banton Reclaims Musical Destiny With Historic Long Walk to Freedom Concert

    March 21, 2019 6:54 PM EDT The March 16 event in Kingston was more than a homecoming for the dancehall and reggae star. Fans of Jamaican music have witnessed Buju Banton 's dramatic transformation from a precociously talented early 1990s teenage dancehall sensation to ...

  3. Michael Jackson Art Exhibit Opening in Germany Amid 'Leaving Neverland' Claims

    March 21, 2019 3:26 PM EDT An exhibition of art about Michael Jackson is opening in Germany amid fresh controversy over the singer’s alleged abuse of children. Curator Nicholas Cullinan said Thursday the show at Bonn’s Bundeskunsthalle was conceived long before the recent b ...

  4. UK Record Label Revenues Grow to 10 Year High

    March 21, 2019 3:23 PM EDT Strong growth in streaming and sync revenues has lifted U.K. record label income to its highest level in a decade, according to new figures published by labels trade body BPI. BPI's "All About The Music 2019" yearbook reports that i ...

  5. K-Pop Star Jung Joon-Young Arrested in Sex Video Scandal

    March 21, 2019 9:48 AM EDT South Korean police on Thursday (March 21) arrested K-pop singer Jung Joon-Young over allegations that he illegally shared sexually explicit videos of women taken without their knowledge or consent. The Seoul Central District Court issued an arres ...

  6. UK Live Music Report Finds Discrimination Against Hip-Hop, Warns Public Against Using Viagogo

    March 19, 2019 6:53 PM EDT The Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee's "Report Into Live Music" is a "wake-up call for everyone who wants to safeguard live music," says UK Music CEO Michael Dugher. Representatives of the British music industry ...

  7. British Lawmakers Vote to Delay Brexit, March 29 Departure Unlikely

    March 14, 2019 8:15 PM EDT Global Global bbbiz ...

  8. Seungri & Jung Joon-young's Record Contracts Terminated Amid Sex Crime Scandals

    March 13, 2019 3:42 PM EDT The fallout from the controversies surrounding Seungri and  Jung Joon-young continue as both of the embattled stars see their respective Korean record labels canceling their contracts.    After more than a decade together, YG Entertainment announc ...

  9. BIGBANG's Seungri Retires From Entertainment Industry

    March 11, 2019 10:54 AM EDT K-pop star Seungri (Lee Seunghyun) of quintet BIGBANG has announced his retirement from the entertainment industry after being booked by Seoul police as a suspect in relation to allegations of the singer supplying prostitution services. The 28-yea ...

  10. Shakira's Spanish Tax Evasion Charges Could Land Her in Jail, and She's Not Alone

    March 08, 2019 8:38 PM EST In Spain, celebrities are routinely the poster children in the government's no-tolerance campaign against tax delinquents. Shakira has been summoned to answer to charges of evading 14.5 million euros ($16.4 million) in taxes in a Spanish cour ...

  11. Germany's Music Market Flips for Digital as Streaming Overtakes CDs During Flat Year for Sales

    March 07, 2019 10:22 AM EST The world's No. 3 music market continues its transition into streaming, which now makes up 46.4 percent of the market -- compared to 36.4 percent for CDs. Vinyl has hit a wall, falling 5.2 percent. Streaming finally overtook CDs as the market ...

  12. Pilar Jurado Named New President of Spanish Rights Society SGAE

    March 07, 2019 9:17 AM EST The soprano and composer becomes the sixth president in seven years as controversy continues at the problematical organization. Pilar Jurado , a soprano and classical music composer, has been named the new president of the Spanish rights society S ...

  13. Irving Azoff & Tim Leiweke's Oak View Group Launches UK-Based International Arm

    March 06, 2019 11:58 AM EST Tim Leiweke and Irving Azoff 's Oak View Group is targeting growth in the U.K., Europe, Asia and the Middle East with the launch of its first international office, based in London. Jessica Koravos , president of Andrew Lloyd Webber 's Re ...

  14. BTS Win Big at 16th Korean Music Awards

    February 26, 2019 1:34 PM EST BTS were recognized as the artist of the year, and their song 'Fake Love' was declared the top song of 2018. The 2019 Korean Music Awards were held at the Guro Arts Valley Theater in Seoul today (Feb. 26), and Billboard 200 chart-toppers ...

  15. CMRRA Unveils New Service Helping Canadian Publishers & Songwriters Search for Unclaimed Works

    February 26, 2019 9:00 AM EST The Canadian Musical Reproduction Rights Agency, Ltd. (CMRRA), Canada's leading music reproduction rights collective, has announced a new service allowing publishers and songwriters to search for unmatched uses of their material and pursue pa ...

  16. Miguel Bosé Apologizes to Chilean President After Offensive Speech During Venezuela Aid Live

    February 25, 2019 10:52 AM EST Miguel Bosé has been a passionate advocate for the humanitarian crisis happening in Venezuela. Not only has he expressed his concerns and raised awareness on social media, but he’s also blasted Chilean president Michelle Bachelet -- the United Nat ...

  17. Canadian Distributor RPM's Bankruptcy Details $6.4M Debt to Major Labels

    February 13, 2019 9:26 PM EST The majority, $4.1 million, is owed to Universal Music Canada. Canadian distributor RPM, which filed for bankruptcy last month two weeks after ceasing operation, owes $8.9 million CAD ($6.7 million USD) in liabilities -- the majority of which to U ...

  18. European Union Agrees on Copyright Directive Text, Pushing Legislation Towards Final Vote

    February 13, 2019 3:41 PM EST The proposed text will now go before the European Parliament's legal affairs committee before a final vote on the directive can take place. The European Union's plan to reform copyright legislation -- and potentially transform how user g ...

  19. Avicii Receives Honorary Award at Sweden's Grammis

    February 09, 2019 5:31 PM EST Avicii was presented an honorary award at this year's Grammis ceremony in Stockholm, Sweden, the country's version of the Grammys in the United States. The late Swedish DJ's (born Tim Bergling) father, Klas Bergling, accepted the po ...

  20. Music Biz Goes to War With Itself Over European Copyright Directive

    February 08, 2019 6:17 PM EST Trade organizations are split over the legislation's current form. For the past two years, the music and tech industries have been warring over the European Union's plans to reform copyright law -- one party (music) strongly in favor of ...

  21. Spain's Ministry of Culture Blocks SGAE Authors' Advances, Announces 'Partial Intervention'

    February 08, 2019 7:21 AM EST The distribution of 2.5 million euros was stopped days after Spanish Minister of Culture announced he was seeking a partial government takeover of the embattled rights society. Spain’s Ministry of Culture has blocked the distribution of royalty ad ...

  22. European Rights Holders Call on EU to Scrap Copyright Directive in Current Form

    February 07, 2019 7:16 PM EST "The proposed approach would cause serious harm by not only failing to meet its objectives, but actually risking leaving European producers, distributors and creators worse off," warn music industry bodies. A group of rights holder organ ...

  23. Live Nation Acquires Majority Stake in Spain's Planet Events

    February 06, 2019 4:58 PM EST The deal with the Latin music promoter will allow Live Nation to reach new audiences in the region. Live Nation has acquired a majority stake in leading Spanish promoter Planet Events, the company announced on Wednesday (Feb. 6). Spanish media con ...

  24. Leo Messi Joins Residente On Stage at 'Messi10 by Cirque du Soleil' Event in Barcelona

    February 01, 2019 10:52 AM EST FC Barcelona players and Sony Music Latin artists mingled at the private party at Camp Nou stadium celebrating the upcoming Cirque du Soleil soccer spectacular. Residente beckoned a reluctant Leo Messi to the makeshift stage at a private party at ...

  25. Streaming Drives Success of Spain's Top 2018 Artists

    January 30, 2019 11:00 AM EST Streaming rises to 90% of digital activity in a year in Spain “marked by the success of new artists, young artists and women.” In 2018, a year in Spain "marked by the success of new artists, young artists and women," streaming drove the ...

  26. Leo Messi-Inspired Cirque Du Soleil Show Gets October Premiere

    January 29, 2019 9:55 AM EST Presale starts Feb. 4 for The Cirque du Soleil show, which will premiere in Barcelona this fall. “Messi 10 by Cirque du Soleil,” a new show from FC Barcelona star Leo Messi, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, Sony Music and Argentina’s PopArt M ...

  27. Singer in Thai Girl Group BNK48 Apologizes For Wearing Swastika Shirt During Show

    January 28, 2019 7:45 AM EST A popular Thai music act has apologized after one of its members wore a shirt showing the swastika flag of Nazi Germany during a performance. The incident involving the girl group BNK48 occurred just two days ahead of International Holocaust Remem ...

  28. Psy Signs HyunA & E'Dawn to New Label

    January 27, 2019 9:49 PM EST After leaving their prior label last year amid turmoil surrounding their relationship, K-pop stars HyunA and E’Dawn have found a new home under Psy’s newly-founded P Nation.      On Sunday (Jan. 27), Psy shared the news through his Instagram accou ...

  29. Portugal's 2019 Eurovision Song Contest Finalists Announced: Listen

    January 23, 2019 9:57 AM EST Sixteen artists and songs are competing in Portuguese television’s Festival da Cancao, which will result in the country’s 2019 Eurovision candidate. Portuguese national broadcasting company RTP released the songs that are in the running to represe ...

  30. European Rights Holders Call for 'Urgent' Changes Over Watered Down Copyright Reforms

    January 17, 2019 4:24 PM EST With just days to go before the European Parliament meets to conduct its final negotiations on copyright reform, a consortium of trade bodies and rights holder organizations published an open letter on Thursday (Jan. 17) warning that the draft leg ...

  31. Solange, J Balvin, Erykah Badu, Interpol, Rosalía and Stereolab to Headline Porto's NOS Primavera Sound

    January 16, 2019 10:00 AM EST The Portugal edition of Primavera Sound features “the most eclectic line up in its history.” Solange , J Balvin, Erykah Badu , Interpol , Rosalía and Stereolab are slated to headline the NOS Primavera Sound festival’s “most eclectic lineup” in its ...

  32. Blue Note Club to Open in São Paulo in February

    January 16, 2019 8:10 AM EST The infinitely hip bossa-pop pioneer Marcos Valle is set to play the opening show on Feb. 15 at the new Blue Note São Paulo .   The new club is located in the Conjunto Nacional, a commercial complex designed by architect David Libeskind  and built ...

  33. Indian Authors-Composers Society Re-Admitted to CISAC

    January 14, 2019 3:27 PM EST The Indian Performing Right Society Limited has been allowed back into the international network of authors' societies after two of years of reform. The world's largest international network of authors' societies, the International ...

  34. Lin-Manuel Miranda Gets Hero's Reception as 'Hamilton' Opens in Puerto Rico

    January 14, 2019 3:42 AM EST Lin-Manuel Miranda reprised his lead role in the hit musical Hamilton  to start a two-week run in Puerto Rico expected to raise millions of dollars for artists and cultural groups struggling in the wake of Hurricane Maria. The audience giggled, ho ...

  35. How the Battle for the Indian Streaming Market Will Heat Up in 2019

    January 02, 2019 10:27 AM EST As two prominent Indian streaming services -- Saavn and JioMusic --  join forces and relaunch as one, Spotify faces an even bigger challenge as it readies to launch in the world's second-most populous country. "It is absolutely a game ch ...

  36. Japan Law Extending Copyright Protection Period for Rightsholders Goes Live

    December 31, 2018 8:19 AM EST A revision of the Japan copyright law went into effect Dec. 30 after the bill was passed through the country's National Diet (legislature) on June 29, 2018. It extended the copyright protection period from 50 years to 70 years after the autho ...

  37. 10 Best New K-Pop Acts of 2018

    December 29, 2018 7:40 PM EST Every year, K-pop sees more and more acts joining the industry, making their debuts with brand-new music and identities. Like in years past, 2018 -- a year that has seen unprecedented amounts of Korean music on the Billboard charts -- the debut sc ...

  38. How 'Girl Crush' Hooked Female Fans and Grappled With Feminism as K-pop Went Global in 2018

    December 26, 2018 4:42 PM EST BLACKPINK has the bad girl image down to a tee. The K-pop girl group’s music video for “DDU-DU DDU-DU” has the kind of set pieces of an overwhelmingly anthemic fever dream. Each of the four members has their own instantly memorable scene. There’s ...

  39. Members of Indonesian Band Seventeen Killed After Tsunami Hits Concert

    December 23, 2018 11:53 AM EST Two members of Indonesian band Seventeen and two of its crew members are among the over 200 people killed after a tsunami hit their concert on the country's island of Java. Bassist Bani, guitarist Herman, road manager Oki Wijaya and another c ...

  40. MTV Russia Orders K-Pop Reality Series

    December 19, 2018 2:28 PM EST Viacom and Russian telecom giant MTS partner on "K-pop MTCamp," which will be the U.S. entertainment company's first TV co-production in the country. Viacom's MTV Russia has ordered reality series  K-pop MTCamp , which will cel ...

  41. Vladimir Putin Says Rap Should Be Controlled in Russia, Not Banned

    December 15, 2018 5:49 PM EST Alarmed by the growing popularity of rap among Russian youth, President Vladimir Putin wants cultural leaders to devise a means of controlling, rather than banning, the popular music. Putin says “if it is impossible to stop, then we must lead it a ...

  42. British Prime Minister Hangs Onto Power as Musicians Call for Alternative to Brexit

    December 12, 2018 6:25 PM EST As Theresa May survived a leadership challenge, members of the music industry are voicing their opposition to Brexit and the direction of the country's proposed exit from the European Union. British Prime Minister Theresa May survived a leade ...

  43. Beyonce, Hillary Rodham Clinton: India Revels in a Very Big Wedding

    December 12, 2018 7:29 AM EST In a season of big Indian weddings, the Wednesday (Dec. 12) marriage of the scions of two billionaire families might be the biggest of them all. The bride, Isha Ambani, is the Ivy League-educated daughter of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, thought to ...

  44. J. Lyman Potts, Pioneer in Canadian Broadcasting, Dies at 102

    December 11, 2018 6:33 PM EST His Canadian Talent Library Trust paved the way for the country's domestic recording industry. J. Lyman Potts , a pioneer in Canadian broadcasting whose Canadian Talent Library Trust paved the way for the domestic recording industry and later ...

  45. Rap Concert Stampede in Italy Leaves 6 Dead, Over 50 Hurt

    December 08, 2018 12:00 PM EST A stampede at a rap concert in an overcrowded Italian disco killed five teenagers early Saturday (Dec. 8) along with a woman who had brought her young daughter to the event, authorities said. Fifty-three people were reported injured, including 13 ...

  46. CISAC Launches Sanctions Procedure Against SGAE

    December 05, 2018 5:23 AM EST The international body of authors rights societies action could result in the expulsion of the Spanish society The International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers (CISAC) has launched a sanctions procedure against SGAE, the Spani ...

  47. Indie Label Earnings Climb To $6.9 Billion As Market Share Grows to Nearly 40 Percent

    December 04, 2018 8:40 AM EST Independent labels generated $6.9 billion in sales in 2017, up from $6.2 billion the previous year, according to a new report from Worldwide Independent Network (WIN).  The 11.3 percent rise in revenues means that indies now represent 39.9 percent ...

  48. Muggings Mar Global Citizen Festival in South Africa

    December 03, 2018 7:30 PM EST A spate of muggings early Monday marred a charity concert in South Africa at which Beyonce, Jay-Z and other stars performed in honor of Nelson Mandela. Tens of thousands flocked to the FNB Stadium in Johannesburg on Sunday for a music festival als ...

  49. Super Junior-M's Henry Lau Signs with AXIS

    November 26, 2018 9:33 PM EST Henry Lau, formerly of SM Entertainment and Super Junior-M, has signed with AXIS, a new company in South Korea dedicated to approaching the industry in a creative manner. Lau, who was raised in Canada and goes monomously by his first name, was int ...