Before he crafted chart-topping hits for The Weeknd, Beyoncé, and Yo Gotti, Ben Diehl, better known as Ben Billion$, had already spent years in the studio. The Delaware-native moved to Miami in 2008 to pursue a degree in audio engineering, then worked for years behind the boards at the city’s legendary Circle House Studios. Unlike…
Kevin Liles Talks the Past, Present and Future of 300 Entertainment: Exclusive
Few things make a record executive happier than kicking off a new year by landing the No. 1 single in the country. Doubling up with a No. 1 album on the Billboard 200, as Migos did with their lead single “Bad and Boujee” and sophomore release Culture already in 2017, was welcome vindication for 300 Entertainment co-founder/CEO Kevin Liles. The one-two punch couldn’t have…
Spotify’s new deal with Universal Music Group means some albums will go behind a paywall
Some of the most popular music in the world is going behind a paywall on the world’s most popular streaming service. After months of negotiating, Spotify has signed a licensing deal with Universal Music Group. The big idea: Spotify has agreed to let Universal artists restrict new albums to Spotify’s 50 million paying subscribers…
Warner Music Central Europe to sell Zebralution distribution business
Warner Music Central Europe is to sell its Zebralution digital distribution operation to a consortium of industry executives, including its original founders. The consortium is comprised of experienced music industry executives including City Slang boss Christof Ellinghaus, owner of the Embassy of Music label Konrad von Loehneysen, as well as Zebralution founders Kurt Thielen…
How Dropping Out of College and Pursuing Music Saved My Life
Since I was five years old, I’ve spoken with a pretty profound stutter. As can be expected, it’s affected how I view myself. Throughout my recollectable past, if I reached a verbal block, a voice in my head would tell me the joke or story I was trying to tell, or the question I…
Facebook set to challenge YouTube and Spotify with ‘comprehensive music strategy’
The prospect of Facebook taking on the likes of Spotify and YouTube in the world of music streaming is no longer a matter of ‘if’ – it’s a matter of ‘when’. Last month, MBW revealed that the social media giant was hiring for a Legal Director of Music Licensing, based at its HQ in Menlo…
Top A&R execs heading to MUSEXPO 2017
This year’s A&R Worldwide MUSEXPO event in Los Angeles will see a raft of leading A&R executives turn out to discuss the key issues affecting the music industry, delivering keynote addresses and taking part in a variety of panel sessions. Among the many topics under discussion will be maximising revenue streams, the ever-evolving nature of…
INSPIRED BY CARPOOL KARAOKE, SPOTIFY INTRODUCES… TRAFFIC JAMS
Apple Music signed a massive deal in order to get the spin-off to the massive dealthat is Carpool Karaoke as a streaming exclusive. What a massive deal that was. Spotify couldn’t get the massive deal that is Carpool Karaoke. So it’s come up with… this. Traffic Jams is a new series launching on Spotify in…
Watch what happens when Spotify gives unknown music acts a big push
Spotify is the equivalent of a music store, stacked with more than 30 million singles. If you pay Spotify $10 a month, you can grab any of the singles you want, whenever you want. But that’s a lot of singles. Who’s going to help you pick through them? Spotify has more than than two…
KOBALT LAUNCHES AWAL APP TO ‘DEMYSTIFY’ STREAMING DATA FOR INDEPENDENT ARTISTS
Kobalt is giving independent musicians another reason to think twice about signing their copyrights away. The company has taken the wraps off its new mobile AWAL App, which offers independent acts a wealth of insights into their performance across Apple Music and Spotify. In addition to up-to-date streaming volume, the app provides information regarding…
