Today wasn’t just a big day for Spotify – it was historic. As MBW covered earlier, the company issued its Q3 financial results this morning in New York, revealing that global paying subscribers in the three months to end of September had grown by 4m. Yet Spotify really didn’t make a very big deal out…

The Universal Music Group reported 1.495 billion euros ($1.732 billion) in revenue for the company’s third quarter ended Sept. 30, 2018, which represents a strong 13.3 percent increase from the prior year-earlier period when revenues totaled 1.319 billion euros ($1.542 billion). For the nine-month period, UMG’s revenues are reported at 4.123 billion euros ($4.939 billion),…

If there was one theme that came up more than any other during the Representation Matters: Agents At the Top of Their Game panel at Billboard’s Live Summit on Tuesday (Nov. 13), it was that agents put their artists first and foremost when making decisions. “It’s about the artist and building a career,” said Artist…

Songwriter Daniel Marino has received more than $44 million in damages from a lawsuit targeting his co-writers. The Philadelphia-based writer alleged that he was cut out of profits and credit from a song written and recorded by Usher. A jury decided on the sum with a split between a former co-writing partner and Destro Music…

Make no mistake: in terms of the global recorded music business, this is the sales story of the year so far. In a fast-declining albums market, French superstar Johnny Hallyday’s last album – Mon Pays C’est L’Amour (My Country Is Love) – has officially smashed records to hit No.1 in his home country’s chart. As…

When a rap video critical of Thailand’s military government became a huge sensation, the authorities first responded with threats to arrest its creators. Then they did what the establishment often does when under fire: try to co-opt the genre. So on Thursday (Nov. 1) a government “Thailand 4.0” rap video was played to introduce Prime Minister…

Believer, a documentary about Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds and his quest to encourage conversations between LGBTQ youth and the Mormon community, will receive the Hollywood Documentary Award at the 22nd annual Hollywood Film Awards, which will be held Nov. 4 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel. The film, which was produced by Live Nation…

After 45 years of full makeup, tall boots and elaborate costumes, Kiss is hitting the road for their final tour. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band will launch their End of the Road Tour on Jan. 31 in Vancouver, B.C., at Rogers Arena and play an additional 43 dates throughout North America for their farewell…

Before the 2018 Soul Train Awards pull back into Las Vegas next month, BET Networks announces that rising R&B star H.E.R. is this year’s top nominee with seven nods. Grammy Award-winning chart-topper Bruno Mars, last year’s top winner, and breakthrough star Cardi B are tied at six nominations each. Close behind with five nominations is SZA, while fellow newcomers Ella Mai and Daniel Caesar garner…

The late Florida rapper XXXTentacion has been ruled ineligible for the 2019 Grammy Award for Best New Artist, Complex reports and Pitchfork can confirm. One possible reason for XXXTentacion being ruled ineligible is because his breakthrough debut 17 was released in August 2017 and debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart on September…