The Warner Music Group today is holding a meeting for its bond holders to announce its plans to buy back $1.25 billion of the $2.209 million in debt the company carries. It is proposing to buy back two tranches of debt: $150 million in secured notes and  $1.1 billion in secured notes, both paying 9.5%…

Gerrit Meier has left Spotify after joining in October 2011 to become its General Manager, Distribution & Partnerships, a company spokesperson confirmed Wednesday. The news was first reported at All Things D. Spotify Planning Launches in Italy, Poland and (Reportedly) Japan: What Are the Challenges?Meier is leaving to start “a new venture idea” that will be…

As forecasted a week ago, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis debut at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 with “The Heist.” The hip-hop set sold 78,000 in its first week, according to Nielsen SoundScan, marking the best sales week yet for either artist. The album is Macklemore’s second full-length effort, and teams him with producer Lewis….

Akinah Rahmaan has been upped to VP Marketing for IDJ, SVP Marketing Chris Atlas announced. The New York-based Rahmaan will oversee and direct marketing campaigns on behalf of her roster of IDJ acts, which includes Frank Ocean, Big Sean, Pusha T, Jhene Aiko,Fabolous, Luke James and Teyana Taylor. Said Atlas: “Akinah has proven to be a great marketing mind since joining the IDJ team. The success…

Paul McCartney was presented with the 1,298,398 honor of his career when BMI gave him its Million-Air Award, representing more than 4 million U.S. broadcast performances of his James Bond film song, “Live and Let Die,” before the org’s 2012 London awards ceremony. Others who have received the accolade include Dolly Parton, Isaac Hayes and Roy Orbison. Sir Paul McCartney has received a…

Music biz vet Jim Weatherson has joined Core Media Group in the newly created post of SVP of 19 Entertainment Nashville. The former Disney Records GM and UMGD EVP will report to recently named EVP/Worldwide Head of Music Jason Morey, overseeing the company’s Country and Christian music businesses. Prior to joining 19 Entertainment, Weatherson acted as a senior member on Taylor Swift’s management team, based in Nashville….