Apple Music TV Chief Rachel Newman Talks New Channel and Thursday’s Bruce Springsteen Takeover

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBrazilian superstar singer Anitta is the latest performer to join the lineup for the 21st Annual Latin Grammy Awards, taking place on Nov. 6.She will be performing a medley including her latest hit “Me Gusta” from the Lapa Arches in Rio de Janeiro.“I am so happy to once again join the Latin Grammys,” Anitta said.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIn the Q&A session at the end of the Live Nation third quarter earnings report on Thursday, the company’s CEO Michael Rapino had some strong words for former WME music chief Marc Geiger’s recently announced “SaveLive” plan to bail out struggling independent concert venues via a joint-venture that would see Geiger and investors taking 51% equity in the venues.Rapino called the plan, for which Geiger has amassed $75 million from investors, a “fire sale” for venues and

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorKen Hensley, keyboardist, guitarist and chief songwriter for long-running British hard rock band Uriah Heep, died Wednesday, according to a post by guitarist Mick Box on the band’s official Twitter account. He was 75.5th November 2020: I received devastating news this morning from Ken’s manager Steve Weltman that Ken Hensley has passed away.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorArcade Fire debuted a topical new song called “Generation A” on “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s” live election-night special Tuesday.The song, with its chorus of “I can’t wait,” is oddly appropriate for the situation the world found itself in on Wednesday morning, as the election’s outcome remains unclear.Colbert introduced the song as “inspired by the current climate of the country, with a hopeful message to the youths,” and the show cut to the group in a

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVivendi, parent company of Universal Music Group, confirmed that it plans to take UMG public in 2022.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs the music-rights acquisition spree led by Hipgnosis, Primary Wave, Round Hill and others continues to heat up, Warner Music has thrown its hat into the ring, notifying Wall Street Monday that its acquisition group has raised $250 million via a private offering, noting that it “intends to use the net proceeds of the offering to fund a portion of aggregate cash considerations of certain acquisitions.” The news was first reported by Music Business Worldwide.While

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorApple has launched Apple Music TV, a free 24-hour curated livestream of popular music videos that will also include “exclusive new music videos and premiers, special curated music video blocks, and live shows and events as well as chart countdowns and guests,” according to the announcement.Apple Music TV will be available to U.S. residents only on the Apple Music app and the Apple TV app.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe pandemic has crushed the live-entertainment business, and concert venues in particular, all over the world — but New York’s may have been hit the hardest in the U.S. Due largely to the density of the city and its mass-gathering-based culture, the virus struck New York first and fastest, and has claimed nearly 33,000 lives.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor“It’s a strange time to release music,” James Blake says in the Cadillac Escalade ad below that includes a preview of his new EP, “Before,” which drops Wednesday. “I still want to give people music — I still want to have that release myself,” he continues.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn the day that rapper Tory Lanez is scheduled to appear in court on charges of shooting Megan Thee Stallion, Megan has written a powerful op-ed and posted a companion video called “Why I Speak Up for Black Women” in the New York Times.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLava Records founder Jason Flom (pictured above, right) has long been known as one of the most successful label heads and A&R reps of the past 30-odd years.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNew York-based publisher Round Hill Music is aiming to raise $375 million for its new royalty fund when it on the London Stock Exchange next month, according to reports in the U.K.’s Times and Music Business Worldwide.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAn unusual trend in recent years has seen New York City’s subway stations transformed into memorials for late, great musicians, both officially and unofficially.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRepublic Records has promoted Amaiya Davis to vice president of media/cultural impact & engagement, it was announced today by the company’s executive vice president of media & artist relations, Joseph Carozza. She is based at the label’s New York headquarters.Davis will continue to spearhead publicity campaigns for a diverse roster of artists, including City Morgue, Duckwrth, Kash Doll, Kiana Ledé, Lil Tecca and more, according to the announcenemt.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn World Mental Health Day, Saturday, October 10, MusiCares is launching a new Wellness in Music survey. According to the announcement, this new annual survey will help the organization to assess the music community’s mental health and wellness to better inform MusiCares of the needs facing their clients.“As we settle into month seven of the global pandemic, MusiCares is asking music professionals with 5+ years of experience to share their honest realities,

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor“It feels like New York is starting to come back,” says veteran live-music promoter and venue owner Peter Shapiro, speaking from his Manhattan office on a mid-September afternoon. “There’s a lot of activity on the street right now,” he says, glancing out his window.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBritish soul singer Celeste has dropped the video for her new single “Hear My Voice,” via Interscope Records.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJay-Z and Meek Mill’s Reform Alliance announced today that it has bolstered its executive leadership team with the hiring of Janet Choi as Chief Content and Communications Officer.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJason Isbell, Kiiara, Jade Bird and many other artists will perform at Sound Mind Live, a virtual music festival in celebration of World Mental Health Day taking place on Thursday beginning at 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorCamille Hearst has been named head of Spotify for Artists, the resource the streaming giant provides for artists and their teams to better understand and build their audiences via statistics, insights and other educational resources.In this new role, she will be responsible for managing a cross-functional team including product, tech, design, user research and more. Hearst is based in New York and reports to Charlie Hellman, the company’s VP and head of