Grammy Chief Awards Officer Bill Freimuth Exits Recording Academy in Executive Shakeup

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Angelique Jackson Former Netflix executive Brian Wright has joined Riot Games Entertainment as the new Chief Content Officer, developing the company’s global film, TV and animation strategies.The news comes as Riot Games, the developer and publisher known for global hit PC games including “League of Legends” and “VALORANT,” plus the upcoming animated series “Arcane,” continues to build its new entertainment studio.

EXCLUSIVE: League of Legends and Valorant publisher Riot Games continues to bolster its entertainment division as former Netflix executive Brian Wright joins the studio as Chief Content Officer.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIf you’d like to see what a challenge it was to stage an elaborate Super Bowl Halftime Show during a pandemic, look no further than the forthcoming Showtime documentary on the Weeknd’s dazzling performance during the 2021 game.The brief clip below shows just how much planning went into the performance, which was seen by an estimated 100 million viewers worldwide.Variety wrote in its review of the performance, “The Super Bowl Halftime show is the biggest stage on

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs next month’s Universal Music Group public listing moves closer, parent company Vivendi announced early Tuesday that billionaire Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Holdings is acquiring another 2.9% of the company for just under $1.5 billion, based on a valuation of €35 billion, or around $41.3 billion.This follows Pershing Square’s acquisition of 7.1% of UMG for $2.8 billion, fulfilling Ackman’s stated goal of racking up 10% of UMG’s share capital.Earlier this year,

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRCA Records has announced the appointment of Carolyn Williams to the newly created role of executive vice president. According to the announcement, she will work with RCA’s executive team to oversee the company’s artist and label brand-management and marketing operations.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRepublic Records has signed singer-songwriter Kim Petras, who will drop a new single tonight called “Future Starts Now.” The track is the first release from her upcoming debut album and the first release from her newly inked partnership with the label.Kim comments on the new single, “I felt so anxious at the start of lockdown, because for me the most anxiety-inducing thing is not being able to work and do what I love, “Future Starts Now” came from trying to stay

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAfter nearly six decades, a private recording of a rare, nightclub performance by John Coltrane of his magnum opus, “A Love Supreme,” is set for commercial release this fall.

Back in 2017, Lil Nas X had a job working in a Taco Bell restaurant in the Atlanta area. Truly passionate about the fast food brand, obviously, he temporarily took a step back from directly dishing out the tacos to pursue a music career, in the constant hope that doing so might one day allow him to rise up to the ultimate dream job: Chief Impact Officer of the entire Taco Bell empire.

Lil Nas X has rejoined the Taco Bell workforce in the newly established honorary role of chief impact officer.As Billboard reports, the arrangement will see a number of collaborations take place, as well as a company-wide push of the rapper’s forthcoming debut album, ‘Montero’.

release.Basically, it’s an elaborate marketing plan that will see Lil Nas in ads for Taco Bell’s new breakfast campaign, as well as collaborating with the brand on menu changes. Taco Bell will also create an “exclusive experience” to promote the release of Lil Nas’ debut studio album, “Montero,” which doesn’t have a set release date yet.

Lil Nas X is moving up from former Taco Bell employee.

Sonny Chiba, the Japanese actor and martial artist known internationally for appearing in the Kill Bill films and The Fast and the Furious, died of Covid complications, according to Japan’s Oricon News. He was 82.

Sonny Chiba, the Japanese actor and martial artist, has died at the age of 82 from Covid complications, according to Japan’s Oricon News.

Billboard.Freimuth has led the awards process for the Grammys since 2004, including handling the nominations process and the eligibility rules, both of which have come under criticism in recent years and led to new reforms. Also exiting are the Recording Academy’s VP of communications, Lourdes Lopez, and chief marketing and innovations officer, Lisa Farris.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorGrammy-winning singer-songwriter Nanci Griffith died Friday morning in Nashville, a rep for her management company has confirmed to Variety. No caused of death was announced; she was 68.“It was Nanci’s wish that no further formal statement or press release happen for a week following her passing,” Gold Mountain Entertainment said in a statement.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe non-profit Executive Leadership Council has launched of a new program called Levels, which endeavors to help junior and mid-level Black employees in the music industry better navigate their careers and climb the ladder in the music business.Sponsored by Spotify, Levels is a four-month comprehensive virtual cohort program designed to accelerate the progress of black music professionals to the executive level.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVeteran hitmakers Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, and U.S. Representatives Ted Deutch and Michael McCall will be honored on Sept.