Taylor Swift Signs Global Agreement With Universal Music Publishing Group

Some music companies’ stock prices took a hit Monday (Feb. 24) as markets around the world fell sharply on fears the coronavirus is not contained and will leave a large impact on economies around the world.

Kobalt Music Group founder and chairman Willard Ahdritz has been tapped to receive the Music Business Association’s Innovator Award at the upcoming Music Biz Awards Dinner.

Country music icon Reba McEntire is returning to the label she called home at the beginning of her career.

David Stouck has been named regional director, A&R at Warner Music Asia, the company was announced Friday (Feb. 21). In his new role, he will oversee A&R operations in 10 markets: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan and Thailand.  

Reba McEntire announced the return to her original label home, Universal Music Group Nashville, on Thursday afternoon (Feb. 20) during a surprise performance at the 11th annual Team UMG at the Ryman event at Country Radio Seminar 2020.After nearly two hours of performances from the UMG roster, Executive VP of Radio Promotion Royce Risser shared the official news of the label’s latest signing.

Country singer-songwriters Doug Stone and Terry McBride have signed with APA Nashville, the agency’s partner and co-head of worldwide concerts Steve Lassiter announced Feb. 6.

Miranda Lambert took a break from her Wildcard Tour to serve as a speaker during Country Radio Seminar 2020, a three-day conference in Nashville where thousands of country radio professionals meet each year to discuss the trends within the genre and celebrate new and veteran country artists.

In one her final performances, Madea was moved with a little country music.

Nashville veterans Chuck Rhodes, Mike Meade, Amy Aylward and Wayne Halper, along with Bob Frank, Ted Ellis, Tom Cross and Chuck McDowell III, have launched Fusion Entertainment Company, it was announced Wednesday (Feb. 12).

In the early 2000s when Molly Hawkins was 20, she moved to New York to pursue a career as a DJ — but ended up working in fashion and “hated it,” she says. She became a waitress instead.That spring, she and her friend, Terrible Records co-founder Ethan Silverman, drove to South by Southwest, and when she returned, a friend from Nashville who happened to be in the band Chairlift hit her up, saying, “ ‘I heard you’re in the music industry now!’ ” she recalls.

Heidi Montag and Audrina Patridge have traded in Hollywood for Music City.

Red Bull Presents is announcing its return with another full year of music programming in 2020. The program will include a series of live music events in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Nashville, Oakland and Philadelphia across the year.

Tim McGraw has parted ways with Sony Music Nashville, sources confirm to Billboard. McGraw and wife Faith Hill inked a highly touted deal with SMN’s parent Sony Music Entertainment three years ago in February 2017.

Justin Anderson may've relocated to Nashville, but that doesn't mean his A-list clients are without his hair coloring expertise.

By Denise Petski

Taylor Swift has signed an exclusive global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, after being with Sony/ATV since she first came to Nashville as a young teenager.

The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will honor independent distributor CD Baby with the 2020 Independent Spirit Award during its forthcoming Music Biz 2020 Annual Conference, the organization announced Thursday (Feb. 6). The award will be presented during the annual Music Biz awards dinner at the conference, which is slated to take place May 11-14 at the JW Marriott hotel in Nashville.