Stu Bergen Stepping Down as Warner Music’s Head of International

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.

Stormzy in the latest Watch Dogs game, Watch Dogs: Legion, has pushed for Warner Music artists to be included in more big title video games.“We’ve seen it before in TV and movies. Out of nowhere you can have this moment where your streams have doubled, and you’ve got all these new fans,” Miles said in an interview with GamesIndustry.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe Weeknd literally lit up Los Angeles with his American Music Awards performance, setting a new standard for the how-to-get-creative-with-social-distancing-during-an-awards show.Playing a pyro-loaded medley of “Your Eyes” and “Save Your Tears,” the performance started off with a solo from superstar saxist Kenny G — who performs on the song’s remix — before cutting to The Weeknd, dressed as the red-suited, busted-nose character featured in the artwork, videos and

After teasing long blonde hair at the People's Choice Awards this past weekend, Demi Lovato fully committed to light hair—and completely changing her look. The singer teased her new half-shaved, short blonde hair on her Instagram.

Demi Lovato just underwent a major hair transformation, and I am very much into it! On Instagram Wednesday, she revealed her new look: a golden blonde pixie cut with the back and sides left dark and buzzed extra short. Again: very much into this look!Lovato teased her bold new look on Instagram, first sharing a shot of the back of her head which revealed just how much of her hair she buzzed off.

Demi Lovato shaved her head and debuted a bold new look…and we absolutely love it!

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSia has announced her eighth studio album “Music – Songs From And Inspired By The Motion Picture,” and dropped “Hey Boy,” the first song and video from the project, which is her feature film directorial debut. The film, about a young girl named Music who sees the world in a unique way, stars Kate Hudson (“Almost Famous”), Leslie Odom Jr.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorFormer Spotify head of music Nick Holmsten has unveiled a plan to create a “playground for artists” in New York’s Times Square, where musicians will be able to perform concerts, meet fans, sell merch and create other experiences. Plans call for the development, which will include a street-facing stage and a retail space, to open in 2022, pending pandemic-related restrictions.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVeteran music publishing executive Martin Bandier has made a substantial gift to establish a scholarship program at the music-industry program that bears his name at Syracuse University. The scholarship will provide financial support for students from underrepresented populations who are enrolled in the Bandier Program in Recording and Entertainment Industries in the S.I.

SFA 's performance director. Mackay took the role in 2016, and stepped in as interim Scotland manager following the departure of Gordon Strachan in 2017.

APPOINTMENTSWarner Music has hired Maria Weaver, whose background is in media and broadcasting, most recently with Comcast Advertising, to become the New York-based President of WEA.

Dave McNary Film ReporterThe International Documentary Association has announced that Executive Director Simon Kilmurry will step down in mid-2021.Kilmurry joined IDA in 2015 after serving as executive director of American Documentary and executive producer of the PBS series’ “POV” and “America ReFramed.”The IDA announced the move Monday and noted that during his tenure at IDA, the organization launched the Enterprise Documentary Fund with funding support from the John D.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorBleachers frontman and hit producer Jack Antonoff has always worn his New Jersey affiliation and Bruce Springsteen influence proudly, and today he brings it all home: Bleachers have dropped two new tracks, giving fans a sneak peek of new music a forthcoming album due next year — and one of them, “Chinatown,” features none other than Springsteen himself.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSenior executives at BMI, one of the two major U.S. performing rights organizations, have been accused of “casual racism” and a “toxic” work environment by more than 15 current and former employees and musicians in an extensive report published by Rolling Stone.At the center of the accusations is a Facebook post from last March by former VP of creative relations Doreen Ringer-Ross, who posted a picture of a crowded swimming pool in China on Facebook.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorVeteran rapper Jeezy — a.k.a. Jay Jenkins — has signed a multi-faceted contract with Def Jam Recordings that includes album releases as well as a consultancy with the label he has called home since 2005.

Rebecca Rubin Film and Media ReporterLisa Schwartz, co-president of IFC Films, announced she will be stepping down from her role at the end of the year.Schwartz, who led the independent film studio’s business strategy, distribution and strategic partnership, most recently spearheaded IFC’s streaming channel called IFC Films Unlimited.

Variety Staff Follow Us on TwitterProducer, mixer and multi-instrumentalist Mike Dean, who’s worked with many of the biggest names in hip-hop during an illustrious decades-long career, has entered into a creative joint venture with PULSE Music Group.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRound Hill’s new royalty fund has announced it expects to IPO on the London Stock Exchange on Friday and has raised $282 million ahead of the flotation, well short of the $375 million goal the company announced last month, according to a report in Music Business Worldwide.A rep for the company declined Variety’s request for comment as it is a U.K. listing and the U.S.