Month: June 2015

Wiz Khalifa’s ‘See You Again’ Stays at No. 1 on Hot 100

Wiz Khalifa’s Furious 7 soundtrack hit “See You Again,” featuring Charlie Puth, spends an eighth week at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. It holds the top spot over Taylor Swift’s “Bad Blood” (featuring Kendrick Lamar), which interrupted the run of “Again” at the summit when it led the list two weeks ago….


Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard Thinks Apple Music Is Trying to ‘Build a Monopoly’

After Tidal’s star-studded coming-out party, the debutante of the streaming service world was lashed by numerous critics and artists — including Death Cab for Cutie’s Ben Gibbard, who succinctly stated, “They blew it.”…


Former UMG Head of Digital Rob Wells Joins LoveLive Advisory Board

Universal Music Group’s former president of global digital business Rob Wells has joined music video content company LoveLive in an advisory role….


BMG, GEMA Ink New Pan-European Digital Licensing Deal

BMG has struck a new deal with German collective society GEMA “to maximize income” for its U.S. and U.K. songwriters from digital services in Europe….


Florence + the Machine Scores First No. 1 Album on Billboard 200 Chart

Rock act Florence + The Machine claims its first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart, as their third album, How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful, debuts atop the list….


Spotify Raises Over Half a Billion — and New Subscriber Numbers Show Freemium May Be Working

Spotify has reached 20 million subscribers and 75 million monthly listeners globally, the company announced Wednesday….


Kobalt launches a collection society – and invites publishers to join

Kobalt has launched what it calls the world’s first ‘global, direct, digital mechanical and performing rights society’….


Test Driving Apple Music: Learning Your Taste, Expanding On It

Apple Music, which combines on-demand streaming, a 24-7 global radio station and a connect function for bonus content and direct-to-fan engagement, won’t launch until the end of the month, but Billboard got a sneak peek at the new service at the June 8 Worldwide Developers Conference in San Francisco….


Kesha Names Sony as a Defendant in Dr. Luke Lawsuit

Kesha Sebert has added Sony Music as a defendant in the lawsuit she filed against producer Dr. Luke for allegedly drugging and sexually and emotionally abusing her. According to papers obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, the pop star is claiming that the record label put her and other female artists in “physical danger” by continuing to support…


American Federation of Musicians Sues Paramount Over Upcoming Renee Zellweger Film

Attention, Hollywood: The American Federation of Musicians of the United States and Canada is on a legal rampage….