Jeezy Re-Ups With Def Jam, Signs on as Consultant

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMusic streaming platform SoundCloud has announced that the company’s president, Michael Weissman, will succeed Kerry Trainor as chief executive officer, effective January 1, 2021. Weissman succeeds longtime colleague and partner, Trainor, who will remain a member of the Board of Directors.“I’m honored to lead SoundCloud’s next chapter,” said Weissman.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAtlantic Records VP of marketing Ryan Brady was killed Thursday morning in a car accident in Los Angeles. He was 34.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs part of Spotify’s annual Wrapped campaign , which launched late last night, the streaming giant has launched a partnership with the National Independent Venue Association (NIVA).As NIVA’s 3,000 members await the passage of the Save Our Stages Act in Congress to preserve independent music venues across the country, Spotify is continuing to shine a light on their plight by taking over space on the marquees of more than 30 COVID-shuttered music venues and donating a

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorLarry Mattera has been appointed general manager of Capitol Records, the flagship label of Capitol Music Group (CMG), and executive VP of CMG. The announcement was made by CMG Chairman & CEO Jeff Vaughn, to whom Mattera will report.In his newly-created GM position, Mattera will helm the day-to-day operations of the label, and in his broader EVP role, will help strategize and navigate CMG’s future course as a key member of Vaughn’s executive management team.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThis World AIDS Day, Africa’s influential record label, Mavin Records, and (RED) are joining forces to fight two pandemics: AIDS and COVID-19, and are starting with a remix competition.The remix of the hit single “Jaiye” by Mavin artist Ladiphoe, featuring Aluna and Sigag Lauren, will be available to stream and download worldwide, with  proceeds going to support (RED)’s efforts to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on life-saving HIV/AIDS programs in sub-Saharan

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAs they do at this time every year, Spotify has unveiled the top artists, albums, tracks, playlists and podcasts that its 320 million users streamed the most in its survey 2020.MUSIC (GLOBAL)PODCASTS (GLOBAL) Spotify 2020 Wrapped Global Top Lists:Most Streamed Artists GloballyMost Streamed Female ArtistsMost Streamed Albums GloballyMost Streamed Songs GloballyMost Popular Podcasts GloballyMost Popular Podcast Genres GloballySpotify 2020 Wrapped U.S. Top Lists U.S.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVeteran PR exec Allison Elbl has joined top music PR and marketing agency Shore Fire Media, the company announced Monday. Elbl, who starts her new role on Tuesday (Dec.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorDua Lipa’s “Studio 2054” livestream concert event drew a whopping 5 million-plus global views, according to an announcement from her reps — this tally is said to be a record for a paid livestream.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorHaim, Dave Matthews, Jack Johnson and Feist are among the more than 40 artists who will perform songs by Yusuf/ Cat Stevens for the CatSong Festival, a special live YouTube broadcast in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his classic 1970 albums “Tea for the Tillerman” and “Mona Bone Jakon.” According to the announcement, fans can expect new interpretations of “Wild World,” “Peace Train,” “Father And Son” and more of Yusuf’s hits and classic songs.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBritish rapper Stormzy, one of the most successful British musical artists to emerge in the past decade, is the first signing to Universal Music Group’s newly launched 0207 Def Jam record label.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMiley Cyrus and Lil Nas X will star in the first episode of “Holiday Plays,” Amazon Music’s first holiday special, taking place on Tuesday (Dec. 1) at 8 p.m.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Thanksgiving break has done little to calm the anger over the Grammy Awards’ baffling shutout of The Weeknd and several other artists from the 2021 nominations, and on Saturday Halsey — who was herself shut out from nominations — took to Instagram to air her feelings on the issue, as have Drake, Elton John, Kid Cudi, Charlie Puth and others.In a social media post last week, The Weeknd accused the Recording Academy of being “still corrupt,” which prompted a

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Weeknd, who began sounding off on social media on Tuesday night over his being shockingly shut out of Grammy nominations in a year he dominated, kept up his criticism on Wednesday afternoon, posting a statement on Instagram that reads:“Collaboratively planning a performance for weeks to not being invited? In my opinion zero nominations = you’re not invited!”What that refers to, sources tell Variety, is the following:Along with most of the rest of the world, The

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorToward the end of a dramatic day that saw The Weeknd, whose music has dominated 2020, shut out of all Grammy nominations, leading him to accuse the Recording Academy of corruption and a lack of transparency, Recording Academy chief Harvey Mason, jr.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Weeknd’s absence from all Grammy nominations in a year that he dominated the music scene and the charts has astonished nearly all observers, and the artist himself has leveled an accusation of corruption against the Recording Academy.“The Grammys remain corrupt,” he wrote on social media. “You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…”The Grammys remain corrupt.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn the day of the Grammy nominations, many observers were surprised at the big look Justin Bieber and his “Changes” album and its singles received — four nominations, including Best Pop Solo Performance (for “Yummy”), Best Pop Duo/Group Performance (“Intentions,” featuring Quavo), Best Pop Vocal Album, and Best Country Duo/Group Performance (for his feature on Dan + Shay’s “10,000 Hours”).But on a day when such major R&B artists as The Weeknd, Alicia Keys, Summer

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Grammy Awards nominations are always a cascade of joy and tears, but this year is exceptional for a number of reasons.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe annual nominations for the Grammy Awards are always full of surprises.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorPuerto Rican singer-rapper Bad Bunny cancelled his scheduled performance on the American Music Awards Sunday night after testing positive for coronavirus.