Sony Music launches virtual backgrounds for Zoom calls

Simon Cowell and Sony Music Entertainment have agreed to end an 11-year joint venture that produced hit TV franchises including Got Talent and The X Factor, and acted as a pipeline of new talent signed to the major label group.The pending uncoupling is part of buyback option initiated by Cowell, who will retain Sony Music’s share of the TV assets which he’ll then manage as part of a privately held company called Syco Entertainment.

Dino-Ray Ramos Associate Editor/ReporterEXCLUSIVE: Sony Music Latin has partnered with Tiger Turn Productions for the feature music documentary Fandango at the Wall.

Peter White Television EditorSimon Cowell is to take full control of Got Talent and The X Factor producer Syco Entertainment after agreeing to buy out Sony Music Entertainment’s stake in the joint venture.Cowell is personally buying out the stake and the move will give him sole ownership of the entertainment company.

Gabby Barrett, R&B singer Kiana Ledé, grime MC Jay1, alt-R&B singer and poet Arlo Parks, folk-pop group Provinz and German pop artist Malik Harris.The program is designed to provide global marketing support for emerging artists across genres and territories, with artists from the U.S., U.K. and Germany in the inaugural class.

Music executive Andrew Jackson has partnered with Sony Music Entertainment Australia to launch Avoca Drive, a joint venture label with A&R executives in both Los Angeles and Sydney, Australia. Avoca Drive's first signing is Tanisha Tishawiana Sadewo and Osvaldo Rio Nugroho Aritonang's new project Galdive, whose first single ‘Nescience’ drops Friday (July 17).

Sony Music Group has created a new position in its highest ranks, naming Towalame Austin as its first executive vp philanthropy and social impact.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterSony Music Group, which includes of Sony Music Entertainment and Sony/ATV Music Publishing, announced it has named non-profit leader Towalame Austin executive vice president, philanthropy and social impact.

TK Maxx is bursting with online bargains in a massive summer clearance event. There are savings of up to 88 per cent on some items including a pair of UNAROSE Dark Blue Denim Jeans, down from £12.99 to just £4.

Snow tha Product's latest freestyle "On My Sh--" that she released yesterday (July 7) is the product of her latest experiment.She teased the video on her Instagram on Monday (July 6), writing, "process of making a song from scratch n shooting this myself in my livingroom (5,000 comments n ill drop this and the vlog about it)." More than 6,000 comments flooded the post about the untitled project at the time, prompting the Mexican American rapper to drop it.Sitting on a cube chair and occasionally

#BlueprintForTheFuture report highlights inequalities in the music industry. Find out how your organisation can drive change alongside 18-25s: https://t.co/Sml3mVFsVg pic.twitter.com/G3QAZ3TqcO— Youth Music (@youthmusic) July 8, 2020“For more than two decades, Youth Music has invested in music education projects nationwide supporting the next generation of young musicians.

Steve Aoki has collaborated with a slew of Latin artists -- most notably Daddy Yankee, Maluma and Maná -- but he wants greater involvement in the Latin market that goes beyond his star-studded collabs. After launching his own record label, Dim Mak, 24 years ago, on Wedne

Ringo Starr couldn't celebrate his birthday with his usual party at the Capitol Records building in Hollywood, the former Beatle brought the fun online on Tuesday (July 7) to celebrate the big 8-0 safely and socially distanced.Proceeds raised during the show benefited four organizations, including Black Lives Matter Global Network, the David Lynch Foundation, MusiCares and WaterAid.On the Black Lives Matter movement, Starr took some time to note how influential black music was to creating the

Billboard Pride is here to help with First Out, our weekly roundup of some of the best new weekly music releases from LGBTQ artists.From Madame Gandhi's stunning new music video, to an R&B slow jam courtesy of Abisha, check out some of our favorite new releases this week:Madame Gandhi, "Waiting For Me"After officially signing with Sony Music Masterworks, artist and activist Madame Gandhi put her creative vision to good use with her gorgeous new music video for "Waiting For Me." Throughout the

Get Layd has been the No. 1 album on Apple Music Nigeria since its release in May.“I have always used Apple Music, seeing my favorite artists on playlist covers and features but here I am looking pretty as Apple Music’s first Africa Rising artist,” said Lay in a statement.

Amanda N'Duka pmc-editorial-managerMarc Smerling and Sony Music Entertainment have entered into a strategic partnership to develop a slate of original podcast programming through Smerling’s Truth Media, a podcast and television production company.

With COVID-19 continuing to spread throughout the U.S., in-person internships won’t be happening on a wide scale his summer, robbing students and post-grads of valuable on-the-job training and networking opportunities. To fill the gap, companies in various industries are now offering virtual continuing education programs for the next generation of business leaders.

Television trade group NATPE on Monday unveiled a new online marketplace, NAPTE Virtual, that will launch alongside its industry events this year. The virtual market is pitched as a one-stop shop for television producers, sellers and platforms, online and off.

A primary school has issued a conduct warning to parents and pupils over Zoom calls.Sacred Heart RC Primary School has ruled that parents must stay quiet when in the room with children - 'not be talking on the phone or using any inappropriate language'.It comes after a parent from the Westhoughton school was heard swearing in the background of an online lesson.Rules have now been issued to families, including the need for children to dress appropriately - in uniform or a polo shirt - after some

Anna Marie de la Fuente Mexico’s Mauricio Ochmann is re-teaming with director Pitipol Ybarra for the Mexican remake of the 2018 German hit “25 KM/H” from Sony Pictures Intl. Prods.