Music Industry Moves: Chris Isaak Partners With Primary Wave and Sun Records; Warner Chappell Inks Deal With Cab Calloway Estate

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorCanadian singer-songwriter Bryan Adams, one of the most successful recording artists of the ‘80s and ‘90s, has signed a global recordings agreement with BMG to release his upcoming studio album, the company announced on Wednesday. It is his first new label deal after more than 40 years with Universal-affiliated labels, beginning with A&M, which released his eponymous debut album in 1980.In his commercial prime, Adams was one of the biggest artists in the world,

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Weeknd will be honored with the Quincy Jones Humanitarian Award at the first annual Music in Action Awards, hosted by the Black Music Action Coalition and taking place September 23 at the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorGrammy-nominated rapper Jack Harlow and manager Chris Thomas, songwriter-producer Sean Douglas and manager Rachel Douglas, and Grammy-winning songwriting-production duo Nova Wav all have joined Range Media Partners; Thomas joins as managing partner and Rachel Douglas as partner in the company’s music division, respectively.Sean Douglas has written or co-written hits for Lizzo, Thomas Rhett and more, while Nova Wav have done the same for Beyonce, Jay-Z, DJ Khaled,

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSinead Harnett, Snail Mail, Ambar Lucid, Paris Texas and 23 other acts are members of YouTube Music’s Foundry Class of 2021, which focuses on independent artists.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBritish guitarist John “Hutch” Hutchinson, a key collaborator in David Bowie’s early career who performed on the original version of “Space Oddity,” died over the weekend after a long illness, according to a report on Bowie’s official website.Ours thoughts are with the family and friends of John Hutchinson who passed in hospital yesterday after a long illness.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNot surprisingly, there have been all kinds of reactions to Lil Nas X’s latest very unsubtle video, for “Industry Baby.” Like many of his other recent videos and TV appearances, the jail-themed clip includes multiple eye-popping homoerotic scenes, particularly one of Nas and his dancers gyrating naked in the shower.Guest rapper Jack Harlow gets in on the action too, albeit with a female dancer.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorWelp, Lil Nas X definitely is not backing down from stirring up controversy.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorTravis Barker has signed an exclusive worldwide administration deal with Warner Chappell Music, the publishing arm of Warner Music Group, the company announced Thursday (July 22).

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorA month after Sony Music Entertainment announced that it will waive unrecouped debts for artists who signed with the company before 2000, its publishing company has joined the program as well.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorColdplay have announced the release of their ninth studio album, “Music of the Spheres,” arriving on October 15.The band announced the Max Martin-produced album on Instagram via a handwritten note alongside an album trailer, which combines an animated cosmic journey through the album’s planetary artwork with short clips of the album’s 12 tracks.The band’s note also seemed to hint at further sci-fi themes with the phrase ‘Everyone is an alien somewhere’.In May, the

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFor today’s finale of “Mind Wide Open,” the IGTV series and podcast hosted by Chris Cornell’s daughter, Lily Cornell Silver, she welcomes her mother, longtime Alice in Chains and Soundgarden manager Susan Silver. According to the announcement, Susan — who rarely does interviews — and Lily will talk about “the relationship between a parent and child with respect to the relationship between mental health and addiction, anxiety, the benefits of therapy and their own

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJudging by a trailer released early Monday, Lil Nas X is unleashing another salvo in his campaign against haters with his Kanye West-co-produced new single “Industry Baby,” which drops on Friday.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBillionaire investor Bill Ackman announced early Monday that he has decided not to use his SPAC to acquire a 10% stake in Universal Music Group after the Securities and Exchange Commission voiced concerns about the the complicated agreement, which would have been the biggest SPAC transaction to date.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRepublic Records as promoted Kevin Lipson to executive vice president of global commerce and digital strategy, the company’s executive VP/general manager Jim Roppo announced. He is based in Republic’s New York headquarters.In this role, Lipson, a seven-year veteran of the Universal Music Group company, will oversee commerce and streaming for the label’s acts worldwide.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorAtlantic has struck a joint-venture with the new label Vnclm_, a label formed last year by artist managers Jorge Hernendez of IAT Artist Management (Will Jay), Mike Kosak of NBD Management (Royal & the Serpent), and Tim Jones of Pipe & Hat (Faouzia). The Los Angeles-based label’s first release through the arrangement is singer-songwriter Arden Jones; other artists on the roster include Flyana Boss, Efflo, Viisi, and Flawed Mangoes.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRichard Foster has been pro­moted to vice president, marketing at Epic Records, it was announced by Dave Bell, executive VP and head of marketing, to whom Foster reports.The New York-based Foster, who joined the Sony Music label in July 2019, is tasked with all digital marketing initiatives including podcasts, website design and data analysis, in addition to managing marketing budgets and liaising with the creative team.Said Bell: “Rich’s limitless creativity and

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorCreative Artists Agency announced that it has signed all six members of New Edition: Ronnie DeVoe, Bobby Brown, Ricky Bell, Michael Bivins, Ralph Tresvant and Johnny Gill. The company will represent the group in all areas worldwide, including touring, theatre, literature, TV/film, production, composing and others.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBrent Smith has left WME and joined Wasserman Music, the new company formed after Casey Wasserman acquired Paradigm’s North American music representation business, as executive vice present and managing executive, the company announced Tuesday (July 6).“As many of you know, the senior leadership team and I have been spending time with Brent Smith, and today I am pleased to share that he is joining Wasserman Music as EVP and Managing Executive,” Casey Wasserman wrote

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFast-rising Hipgnosis Songs spent nearly $1.1 billion on 84 song catalogs over the year ended March 31, and raised another $215 million in its recent stock offering on the London Stock Exchange, according to statements released by the company this week.Those catalogs include half of Neil Young’s song catalog, as well as Lindsey Buckingham, Deborah and Chris Stein of Blondie, Chrissie Hynde, Barry Manilow and many more.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMotown Records announced that Brian Nolan has been appointed executive vice president of the label and executive VP of marketing, effective immediately. According to the announcement, in this new role, Nolan joins the label’s executive leadership team and will help guide the company as well as oversee Motown’s marketing teams and initiatives.