Tom March Named President of Geffen Records

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe global recorded music market grew by 18.5% in 2021, driven by growth in paid subscription streaming, according to IFPI (International Federation of the Phonographic Industry), the organization that represents the recorded music industry worldwide. Figures released Tuesday in IFPI’s Global Music Report show total revenues for 2021 were $25.9 billion.While the free version of the report does not attach numbers to all of the rankings, they’re pretty fascinating anyway:The top 10 global artists, based on “consumption across all formats and all countries, weighted based on the value of each method of consumption,” are:The top 10 global digital singles were: The top 10 all-format albums were:And, for good measure, the top-selling vinyl titles across the world were:Digging into the data, the report notes that paid subscription streaming revenues increased by 21.9% to $12.3 billion, with 523 million users of paid subscription accounts at the end of 2021.

The cheapest supermarket in Britain for March has been named - and it's between Aldi, Lidl, ASDA and Morrisons, Tesco, Sainsbury's and M&S. With prices for basically everything soaring, shoppers are looking for the cheapest possible products, and one supermarket has beaten the rest when it comes to price.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRay Alba and Nathan Sheppard have been named senior vice presidents of marketing for Capitol Records, the flagship label of Capitol Music Group, it was announced today by CMG President Arjun Pulijal, to whom the pair reports.  In their new roles, Alba and Sheppard will co-lead the label’s marketing department, overseeing the design and execution of marketing campaigns for the full roster of artists on the label.  Both executives are based at the company’s headquarters within the Capitol Tower in Hollywood.Alba (pictured above, left) comes to Capitol from Epic Records, where he was senior VP of publicity and worked extensively with Future and 21 Savage, among many others. Prior to joining Epic in 2018, he was VP of publicity and head of urban publicity at Interscope Geffen A&M Records from 2015 through 2018.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSony Music Entertainment Latin-Iberia has struck a new partnership with WK Records, the record label founded by WK Entertainment CEO-founder Walter Kolm.WKR artists include reggaeton star Alex Rose, Grammy-nominated/ Latin Grammy-winning producer-artist Foreign Teck, singer-songwriter Emilia, Argentine trap artist Seven Kayne, and Colombian artist Cheo Gallego, with more signings to be announced in the coming weeks.WKR is led by CEO and WKE head of music Horacio Rodriguez (who joined last year after 15 years at Universal Music Latin), with a pop and urban division led by WKR GM/co-founder Oscar Guitián, and a regional Mexican division led by producer-composer-executive Alberto De León, who previously held roles at Universal, Capitol Latin, Machete Music and  Fonovisa/Disa. “We have an incredible relationship with the entire WK family,” said Sony Latin-Iberia chairman-CEO Afo Verde.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorSuperstar Puerto Rican songwriter-producer Tainy, who has helmed such hits as “I Like It” (by Cardi B featuring Bad Bunny and J Balvin), “Dakiti” (by Bad Bunny and Jhay Cortez), and “Telepatia” (by Kali Uchis), has sold his pre-2021 music catalog to fast-rising Influence Media (Influence Media Partners).Terms of the deal were not disclosed, although sources tell Variety it was in the $25 million range.The San Juan native (real name: Marco Masis) has appeared on Variety’s Hitmakers list several times and spoke with us about his hits last year. A four-time Grammy nominee and Latin Grammy winner, Tainy has helmed hits for Daddy Yankee, J Balvin, Rosalia, Lauren Jauregui, Zion & Lennox, Anuel, Ozuna, Don Omar, Wisin & Yandel, Rauw Alejandro, Jhay Cortez and more.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorThe U.S. recorded-music business continues its upward swing, posting a near-record $15 billion in revenue for 2021, driven by a surge in streaming, solid vinyl and even CD sales, and the inclusion of TikTok music revenue for the first time.In fact, all major formats of music posted growth over the prior year, except digital downloads.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorOn the heels of legendary punk progenitors the MC5’s nomination to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the group’s guitarist and co-founder Wayne Kramer has released two new songs and announced The Heavy Lifting Tour in May, all as a “reanimation” of the pioneering group, dubbed We Are All MC5.The tour begins with a special hometown show, celebrating the birthday of Detroit’s El Club, before moving on to the East Coast (Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Brooklyn) and West Coast (Sacramento, San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego). Joining Kramer in the touring band will be singer Brad Brooks, drummer Stephen Perkins (Jane’s Addiction), bassist Vicki Randle (Mavis Staples), and guitarist Stevie Salas (David Bowie). “Nonstop touring, especially the last decade, I’ve come to understand that the music of the MC5 is as necessary as ever,” Kramer said.

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editortoday (March 9). He is based in the Republic Records Los Angeles office.Most recently, Beard  spent a decade at APG, where he rose from intern to senior VP of A&R and brought in Charlie Puth, Alex Benjamin and Pink Sweat$; he also has worked closely with David Guetta, Jason Derulo, Pitbull and Flo Rida, in addition to songwriters such as Amy Allen, Sean Douglas, Madison Love, Salem Ilese, and others. He also worked extensively as a DJ in nightclubs across the U.S., on-air for KIIS-FM and at private events.Goldstein said, “Miles has really set the pace for pop music with an unbelievable winning streak of incredible signings throughout the past decade.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorIt’s been a long time coming — two years, in fact — but the Songwriters Hall of Fame has confirmed that its twice-pandemic delayed 51 Annual Induction & Awards Gala will take place on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at its longtime location, the Marriott Marquis New York’s Times Square.The 2022 date, originally set for June 10, 2020, will induct previously announced songwriters, Mariah Carey, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart (Eurythmics), Ernie Isley / Marvin Isley / O’Kelly Isley / Ronald Isley / Rudolph Isley / Chris Jasper (the Isley Brothers), Steve Miller, Pharrell Williams / Chad Hugo (the Neptunes), Rick Nowels and William “Mickey” Stevenson. Master songwriter Paul Williams will be receiving the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award and Universal Music Publishing Chairman-CEO Jody Gerson will receive the Abe Olman Publisher Award.

previously announced alum Corbin Bleu, who plays himself; star Meg Donnelly; and 's Jason Earles; as well as new series regulars Adrian Lyles and Saylor Bell.Returning for season 3 as series regulars are Joshua Bassett, Matt Cornett, Sofia Wylie, Julia Lester, Dara Renee and Frankie Rodriguez. Kate Reinders, Olivia Rose Keegan and Olivia Rodrigo will have recurring status throughout the season.Following the sophomore finale last summer, creator Tim Federle spoke with ET about what's to come for season 3.«I've always wanted to do summer stuff because I think summer is a time of letting go and not having a curfew, and the rules kind of change,» Federle teased at the time. «But I definitely think there will be a summer element if we end up going forward. I think the format stays similar-ish, but I would really love to shake things up with the season 3 musical if we get one.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorMitski, the National and the Roots will headline the Pitchfork Music Festival when it returns to Chicago’s Union Park, running from Friday, July 15 through Sunday, July 17.The Festival kicks off on Friday with The National, who played Pitchfork Music Festival’s first year in 2006, Spiritualized, Parquet Courts, Tierra Whack, Amber Mark, Dawn Richard, Tkay Maidza, Indigo De Souza, Spirit of the Beehive, Spellling, Camp Cope, Wiki, Ethel Cain, and CupcakKe.The festivities continue on Saturday with Mitski, Japanese Breakfast, Lucy Dacus, Low, Magdalena Bay, Dry Cleaning, Karate, Iceage, yeule, Arooj Aftab, The Armed, Chubby & the Gang, Hyd, and Jeff Parker & the New Breed. Closing day features The Roots, Toro y Moi, Earl Sweatshirt, Noname, BadBadNotGood, Cate Le Bon, Tirzah, Xenia Rubinos, Erika de Casier, Injury Reserve, Kaina, L’Rain, Sofia Kourtesis, and Pink Siifu.“This year’s lineup is a celebration of the rising indie class, and those who continue to pave the way for innovation,” said Puja Patel, editor in chief of Pitchfork.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorRepublic Records has appointed David Wolter executive vice president of A&R,label  co-president Wendy Goldstein announced today (March 7). He is based in Republic Records’ New York headquarters.Throughout his career,  Wolter has signed or worked closely with artists ranging from Gorillaz to Jack Antonoff’s Bleachers. At Republic, he will oversee upcoming releases for Benee, Greta Van Fleet, Jimmy Fallon and others, in addition to signing new talent.Prior to joining Republic Records, Wolter had been an executive VP of Virgin Records at Capitol Music Group since 2017.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorNeneh Cherry’s 1989 hit “Buffalo Stance” casts a long shadow: A dance classic about inner-city life that combines a punk attitude with an irresistible beat and melody. The song, from her equally classic debut album “Raw Like Sushi,” reached No.

Adele’s latest album ’30’ and The Weeknd’s ‘After Hours‘ single ‘Save Your Tears’ were the world’s best-selling records of 2021.Music industry body the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) has revealed that Adele’s 2021 album sold more than five million copies in two months. It’s also the biggest-selling record on vinyl and CD.The Weeknd’s ‘Save Your Tears, which was released in 2020, topped the charts in 18 countries and was streamed 2.15billion times. In 2020, The Weekend also had the biggest record of the year with his other ‘After Hours’ single ‘Blinding Lights’.You can see the rankings below.Top 10 global singles 2021:01 The Weeknd – ‘Save Your Tears’ (2.15billion streams)02 The Kid LAROI, Justin Bieber – ‘ STAY’ (2.07billion streams)03 Dua Lipa – ‘Levitating’ (1.88billion streams)04 BTS – ‘Butter’ (1.76billion streams)05 Olivia Rodrigo – ‘drivers license’ (1.73billion streams)06 Justin Bieber (ft. Daniel Caesar, Giveon) – ‘Peaches’ (1.72billion streams)07 The Weeknd – ‘Blinding Lights’ (1.61billion streams)08 Olivia Rodrigo – ‘good 4 u’ (1.61billion streams)09 Lil Nas X – ‘MONTERO (Call Me By Your Name)’ (1.60billion streams)10 Ed Sheeran – ‘Bad Habits’ (1.57billion streams)Top 10 global albums 2021:01. Adele – ’30’02. Olivia Rodrigo – ‘Sour’03. Justin Bieber – ‘Justice’04. Ed Sheeran – ‘=’05. The Weeknd – ‘After Hours’06. Dua Lipa – ‘Future Nostalgia’07. The Kid LAROI – F Love (Mix Tape)08. ABBA – ‘Voyage’09. Morgan Wallen – ‘Dangerous: The Double Album’10. Doja Cat – ‘Planet Her’The three album charts compiled by the IFPI (overall sales, physical sales and vinyl) “reflect the truly global nature of the industry today,” chief executive Frances Moore told the BBC, “with albums by artists

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorJay-Z and Kanye West were the highest-earning hip-hop acts of 2021, according to a list compiled by former longtime Forbes editor Zack O’Malley Greenberg on Tuesday.Jay topped the list with $470 million, after selling portions of his Tidal streaming service and Armand de Brignac champagne, bringing his net worth to $1.5 billion. Fellow billionaire Ye was second with $250 million for the year, almost entirely from his Yeezy footwear empire.While the list is filled with other perennials like Diddy and Drake — who  there were some surprises. Rapper Tech N9ne is No.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorCity of Hope, one of the largest cancer research and treatment organizations in the U.S., will honor Republic Records founders Monte and Avery Lipman (pictured above, R-L) at its 2022 Spirit of Life Gala in the fall. The prestigious award will be presented to them at a gala dinner — the first Spirit of Life Gala since 2019.According to the announcement, the Spirit of Life Award is City of Hope’s most prestigious honor and is presented to an esteemed community of industry leaders around the world who have made a significant commitment to improving the lives of others through the advancement of research and clinical innovation and the delivery of personalized, compassionate care.

BTS have been named IFPI's Global Recording Artist of the Year Award, beating the likes of Taylor Swift, Adele and Drake to the top spot.

Jem Aswad Senior Music EditorCountry star Jason Aldean has sold 90% of his recorded-music catalog to the indie Spirit Music Group, the company announced Thursday, in a deal sources say was worth upwards of $100 million.The acquisition includes 90% of Aldean’s recorded music catalog and encompasses nine albums in total, six of which are certified platinum. The deal covers Aldean’s discography starting from his self-titled 2005 debut through his ninth album, 2019’s “9.” The acquisition also includes neighbouring rights and SoundExchange royalties. Aldean retains an income interest.“It’s cool that a company like Spirit, that’s been around so long, has taken on my music catalog.

Jennifer Lopez is full of love this week as her gorgeous twins turn 14.The actress and chart-topping singer, 52, took to Instagram on Tuesday to wish her children - Emme Maribel and Maximillian David - the happiest of birthdays. Sharing a heartwarming video of herself and the children throughout their lives, J-Lo wrote: “So this is 14! My babies, my sunshine, my loves. Happiest of birthdays to my two coconuts.