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This Week In Music (April 15, 2022)

This Week In Music News April 15

From Spotify’s latest rebrand to Elon Musk’s multi-billion dollar offer to buy Twitter, we’ve gathered all the news you need to know in one easy-to-read place.

Wow! The second full week of April was one to remember. Every week in music is full of surprises, but this one took the cake. Whether you’re still blown away by the 521% rise in viewership for the CMT awards on Monday night or still fighting to get that new Harry Styles song out of your head, we won’t blame you for feeling a little tired today.

We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. Below you’ll find the biggest stories of the week, all covered by the best outlets in tech and entertainment. Click around, learn what’s happening, and use the weekend to prepare for the end of the month.

But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.

The Biggest Stories In Music This Week

Spotify Brings Live Audio to Main App, Rebrands Greenroom as Spotify Live

Spotify has announced it will integrate the live audio capabilities from its companion app, Spotify Greenroom, within the main Spotify streaming app. Greenroom will also rebrand as “Spotify Live” as part of these changes. At launch, Spotify’s main app will only feature live content from select original programming, while the standalone Spotify Live app will continue to allow independent creators to go live.

While both apps will now feature live content, there will be some differences, the company told TechCrunch.

Spotify Live will continue to work as Greenroom did, by allowing creators to interact with their audience in real time and serve as a creation mechanism for hosts. But live listening in the main Spotify app will not support the interactive features, like audience questions. Instead, it offers the ability for creators to reach a broader audience of Spotify’s 406 million global listeners.

For the time being, only Spotify’s own original programming will livestream in the main app, the company noted.

Virtual Avatar Company Genies Raises $150M at $1B Valuation 

Genies, a Los Angeles-based avatar startup with close ties to the music industry, raised $150 million in Series C funding led by Silver Lake and existing investors Bond, NEA and Tamarack Global, the company announced today. The deal values Genies at over $1 billion.

The six-year-old company has partnerships with Universal Music Group and Warner Music Group as their official avatar and digital goods NFT provider, and has partnered with artists including Cardi B, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Shawn Mendes, J Balvin and Migos. Genies creates virtual identities for artists to use across the metaverse and releases digital wearables – such as a J Balvin space suit and a Mendes digital hoodie — for fans to collect and wear in the metaverse. Last year, Genies widened its ambition by launching a marketplace, The Warehouse, to allow individual designers to buy, sell and trade avatar designs.

“We believe avatar ecosystems are going to shape Web3 the same way that mobile apps defined Web2,” said CEO Akash Nigam in a statement. “In Web3, Gen Z avatar ecosystem builders are going to be the leaders of innovation and, through our creator tools, we strive to empower their wildest imaginations, ideas, and experiences as avatar creations.”

Live Nation’s Veeps Brings Livestream Concerts to IOS, Android, Roku, Etc.

Veeps, the streaming platform founded by Benji and Joel Madden of Good Charlotte and acquired by Live Nation, has announced a new series of consumer apps and slate of concerts to go with them.

Forthcoming livestreamed concerts include Kings of Leon from London’s O2 Arena, dance act Galantis from the stunning Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado, the folk-rock duo Indigo Girls, Icelandic blues-rock band Kaleo), singer/songwriter LP, avant-metal singer Poppy and Guns N’ Roses’ Slash and his group with Conspirators.

The new products mean that viewers can receive the stream directly in their televisions without having to cast from a phone, screen-share or connect with cables; at the same time, the phone and tablet service has been upgraded to native app quality.

Veeps apps are available for free download on Apple TV, Roku, iOS, and Android.

Elon Music Makes $43 Billion Unsolicited Bid To Purchase Twitter

The richest person on Earth is looking to extend his stake in Twitter from 9% to 100%.

Elon Musk has made a controversial offer to buy Twitter Inc., saying the company has extraordinary potential and he is the person to unlock it.

The world’s richest person will offer $54.20 per share in cash, representing a 54% premium over the Jan. 28 closing price and a valuation of about $43 billion. The social media company’s shares soared 18% in pre-market trading.

Musk, 50, announced the offer in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, after turning down a potential board seat at the company. The billionaire, who also controls Tesla Inc., first disclosed a stake of about 9% on April 4. Tesla shares fell about 1.5% in pre-market trading on the news.

Latin Music Revenue In The US Experiences Double-Digit Growth For Sixth Consecutive Year

RIAA’s just-out year-end U.S. Latin music revenue report for 2021 shows a sixth consecutive year of double-digit growth for the genre, with revenue up 35% from 2020 to $886 million, the highest recorded figure (before adjusting for inflation) in history. According to RIAA, Latin music’s level of growth outpaced that of the overall recorded music business, as recently reported. Latin’s share of total U.S. music revenue also continues to grow, from 5.4% in 2020 to 5.9% in 2021.

Streaming, accounting for 97% of Latin music revenue in 2021, saw a 36% gain from 2020 to a best-ever $857 million, driven by paid subscriptions’ 69% share of streaming revenue, itself up 35% to $593 million. Making up 9% of Latin music streaming revenue is radio’s share from digital and customized services such as SiriusXM and Pandora, which grew 22% to $77 million in 2021 following a slight decline in 2020.

“Latin music continues to rise, powering the overall music market and connecting with fans in a historic way,” RIAA Chief Operating Officer Michèle Ballantyne says. “In a year when Bad Bunny was the most streamed artist in the world, stars like Becky G and Anitta pumped out chart-topping hit after chart-topping hit, and audiences joyfully flocked to Latin-powered stadium and arena shows as live performance ramped back up, Latin label teams and artists continue soaring to new heights.”

BONUS: Ambient Music Isn’t A Backdrop. It’s an Invitation To Suspend Time.

This week, The New York Times ran a length essay from critic Isabelia Herrera on ambient music and the role it plays in our lives/culture. It’s a fascinating deep dive that benefits from Isabella’s willingness to share personal struggles she’s experienced as of late. Don’t miss it!

SONG OF THE WEEK: Zach Bryan – “Late July”

Have you ever heard a voice and knew immediately that your life was about to change? That’s how we felt the first time someone showed us the talents of Zach Bryan. A self-made man writing songs of love and loss set in middle America, Bryan is gearing up to lease an epic, 31-track debut album later this year. “Late July” is one of many songs off that record, and it has been tugging at our heartstrings for days. Enjoy:

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Industry News News

This Week In Music (January 28, 2022)

From Neil Young’s war against Spotify and Joe Rogan to the surprising second coming of Wig Wam, we have gathered the biggest stories in music this week.

The last week of January 2022 did not disappoint. Everywhere you look in music this week, big things were happening. From massive tour announcements to another impressive wave of big-budget catalog deals, it’s safe to say the entertainment business is fully operational once more.

We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. That is why we are thrilled to introduce This Week In Music, a brand new weekly column highlighting the best and most talked-about stories throughout the music industry. Each Friday, we will post links to various need-to-know articles and information. 

But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.

The Biggest Stories of The Week

Neil Young Versus Spotify and Joe Rogan

Music legend Neil Young made headlines after sharing a now-deleted post on his official website. He took issue with streaming giant Spotify over the company’s relationship with controversial podcast host and comedian Joe Rogan. In his post, Young asked his managers and record label to remove his music from Spotify because he said the music and podcast platform is “spreading fake information about vaccines — potentially causing death to those who believe this disinformation spread by them.” Spotify announced the following day that it would be removing Young’s music, which inspired the company’s competitors to begin promoting his presence on their platforms. SiriusXM gave Young his own channel.

The Unlikely Resurrection of Wig Wam, the band behind Peacemaker’s incredible opening theme

Have you seen the HBO MAX original series Peacemaker yet? Starring John Cena and written by James Gunn, the series includes an incredible opening sequence featuring the entire cast performing a choreographed dance to an 80s hair metal song by the oft-forgotten group Wig Wam. The credits have become so popular since the series launch in early January that the band has seen renewed interest in their otherwise quiet career. Billboard spoke to Wig Wam about everything, and the results did not disappoint.

Move over, emo festivals. The emo cruise is here!

Just when you thought it was safe to go in the water, the Emo’s Not Dead cruise has arrived to carry your residual teen angst on the high seas this November! Organizers have revealed that Dashboard Confessional and Underoath sit atop the bill, with New Found Glory, Thursday, Plain White T’s, Silverstein, Hawthorne Heights, William Ryan Key (formerly of Yellowcard), Cassadee Pope, and Emery helping to transport fans back to the genre’s early 2000s heyday. The cruise also promises the live debut of Your Broken Hero and live band karaoke group The Emo Band.

‘American Idol’ Creator Simon Fuller Unveils First Group Formed on TikTok, The Future X

TikTok has given us dozens of modern music stars in its short lifetime. It seems that previously undiscovered talent is catapulted onto everyone’s For You page every few weeks and given a brief moment to shine, but can the platform produce an original group? American Idol creator and Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller says “yes,” and he’s out to prove his belief with a new group called The Future X. The collective comprises three singers and four dancers, each discovered on the social media platform. All seven members — Angie Green, Luke Brown, and Maci Wood, plus dancers Jayna Hughes, Sasha Marie, Tray Taylor, and Drew Venegas — auditioned last fall by posting a video on TikTok using the hashtag #NextInMusic. The Future X is currently living together in Malibu, creating content and developing original material.

Dylan, Fonsi, and Tritt sell their catalogs

The music industry’s gold rush to purchase every artist catalog available continues this week with another round of acquisitions from the biggest names in music. Sony acquired the rights to Bob Dylan’s catalog of hits and originals for a deal rumored to be worth more than $150 million. Country star Travis Tritt sold his catalog to Reservoir Media for an undisclosed amount in a sale covering his entire recorded music career. Elsewhere, Latin sensation Luis Fonsi made a deal with HarbourView Equity Partners rumored to be worth above $100 million.

The Weeknd is the number one artist on Earth (On Spotify)

Following the successful release of Dawn FM earlier this month, The Weeknd continues to add accolades to his already storied career. According to Spotify, the Canadian vocalist is currently the number one most listened to artist on the planet, with 86.1 million monthly listeners. Justin Bieber formerly held the record for the most monthly listeners on Spotify, and the “Peaches” artist currently has 81.24 million on-platform monthly listeners in second place. Ed Sheeran is ranked third (78.04 million), against fourth for Dua Lipa (69.21 million), and fifth for Adele (60.49 million).

Song of the Week: Vein.fm – “Fear in Non Fiction”

Trying to briefly describe the music Vein.fm makes is a lot trying to explain the beauty of a starry night without light pollution. You may convey a basic understanding to the average person, but some things have to be experienced before you can understand them. Vein.fm makes the kind of hard-hitting and unpredictable rock that keeps you glued to each thumping beat and throat-scorching scream. It’s the musical equivalent to a high-speed freight train barreling down a mountainside with sparks flying as brakes fail and the cars begin to wobble. There is a chance for disaster at every turn, yet the band makes it work. For Vein.fm, there is fun to be had in maintaining a constant sense of chaos, and it makes for one of the most exciting listening experiencing in recent memory. Preorder the band’s new album, This World Is Going To Ruin You, today!

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Editorials Industry News News Recommendations

This Week In Music (January 21, 2022)

From the Weird Al biopic to the most ambitious emo festival ever, we have gathered the biggest stories in music this week.

2022 is barely underway, and the music industry is moving at lightning speed. We have a hard time keeping track of everything happening throughout our business, and we have a good feeling you do as well. After all, who has the time? Between ambitious goal-setting and endless tasks, most professionals barely have time to clear out their inbox, let alone read the latest industry headlines.

We cannot ease your workload or give you more hours in the day, but we can help you stay informed. That is why we are thrilled to introduce This Week In Music, a brand new weekly column highlighting the best and most talked-about stories throughout the music industry. Each Friday, we will post links to various need-to-know articles and information. 

But let’s be honest. There is no way we can hope to cover everything that happens. If you see a headline we missed that people need to know, please do not hesitate to send james@haulix.com an email. We’ll include your links in the next update.

The Biggest Stories of the Week:

REST IN PEACE: Meat Loaf (1947-2022)

Friday morning started out rough with the news that rock vocalist Meat Loaf has died at the age of 74. The singer’s manager, Michael Greene, confirmed Meat Loaf died Thursday night. Sources with knowledge tell TMZ he was supposed to attend a business dinner earlier this week for a show he’s working on—”I’d Do Anything for Love”—but the dinner was canceled because he became seriously ill with COVID. Sources tell the outlet that condition quickly became critical.

Daniel Radcliffe to play ‘Weird Al’ ‘ankovic ‘n biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe has signed on to play ‘Weird Al’ ‘Yankovic in a biopic written by the famous parody master. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story will enter production later this year with plans for an exclusive Roku release soon. “When my last movie UHF came out in 1989, I made a solemn vow to my fans that I would release a major motion picture every 33 years, like clockwork. I’m very happy to say we’re on schedule,” Yankovic said in a statement. “And I am absolutely thrilled that Daniel Radcliffe will be portraying me in the film. I have no doubt whatsoever that this is the role future generations will remember him for.” 

Paramore, My Chemical Romance to headline massive When We Were Young Festival in October

The aptly titled When We Were Young festival released its official lineup on Tuesday (January 18), bringing every 2000s emo-pop band to Las Vegas, Nevada, on October 22, 2022. The single-day festival will feature more than 60 bands performing across multiple stages. Emo veterans My Chemical Romance and Paramore will headline. Other nostalgic bands set to take the stage are Bright Eyes, AFI, The Used, Bring Me The Horizon, Boys Like Girls, Avril Lavigne, Taking Back Sunday, Dashboard Confessional, We the Kings, Alkaline Trio, Manchester Orchestra, Dance Gavin Dance, the All-American Rejects, Anberlin, 3OH!3, Atreyu, the Ready Set, Jimmy Eat World, La Dispute, the Wonder Years, Hawthorne Heights, Car Seat Headrest, Wolf Alice and many more.

Bono says he doesn’t like the name of his band U2 and gets ’embarrassed’ listening to their music

During an interview on the Awards Chatter podcast, legendary rock icon and 61-year-old singer Bono said he finds many of U2’s songs cringeworthy, and he now struggles to listen to his vocals. “I’ve been in the car when one of our songs has come on the radio, and I’ve been the color of, as we say in Dublin, scarlet. I’m just so embarrassed,” Bono told the podcast. Later, in the same conversation, he mentioned the band’s early-2000s hit “Vertigo” as one of the few songs in U2’s catalog he enjoys.

GRAMMYS move to April 3, will now take place in Las Vegas

COVID is messing with awards season. The latest victim of Omicron’s continuing havoc is the GRAMMY awards, which were originally scheduled to take place on January 31 in Los Angeles. The awards celebration will now take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on April 3, the Recording Academy has confirmed. The CMT Awards, originally scheduled to air live that night on CBS, will be moved to later. Trevor Noah, host of The Daily Show, will host the event.

The Weeknd’s ‘Dawn FM’ Breaks Billboard Global 200 Record

Don’t let those “blinding lights” fool you. The Weeknd may not have the GRAMMY nominations he rightfully deserves, but he does have the biggest album of 2022. Dawn FM has been out less than a month, but the eclectic record is already outperforming its competition. The album continues to be at the top of the charts across the globe, including The Weeknd’s home country Canada, U.K. Australia, Ireland, Sweden, and Switzerland. The album debuted at No. 1 on Apple Music U.S. and in 125 countries and is also No. 1 on Spotify U.S. and Globally. The Dawn FM tracks positioned in the Global 200 list include “Sacrifice” which holds the No. 2 spot, “Take My Breath,” “Gasoline,” “Out of Time,” “Is There Someone Else?” and “How Do I Make You Love Me?.” The “Save Your Tears” remix assisted by Ariana Grande from his 2020 album After Hours is also on the list. According to Billboard, only one other artist has ever had more Global 200 entries in a single week, making The Weeknd just behind the country-pop artist, Taylor Swift. Kanye West trails The Weeknd with 23, followed by fellow Torontonian Drake at 22 and 21 songs on Global 200.

TikTok is falling in love with one of Celine Dion’s biggest hits

There is nothing TikTok users love more than a sound with endless possibilities. The insanely popular video-sharing platform has made a habit of resurrecting forgotten radio hits to amuse young audiences, and the latest trend is no different. As you can see below, people are using the bridge to “It’s All Coming Back To Me” to live out their wildest performance fantasies. While Celine gives the track her all, TikTok users return the energy with wildly creative lip-syncing efforts. Check it out:

Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, Mary J. Blige Featured In Blowout Super Bowl Halftime Trailer

The biggest game of the year is right around the corner, and it boasts one of the most exciting Halftime shows in recent memory. The program itself remains a mystery, but fans can expect to hear some of the biggest pop songs in history performed on the world’s largest stage. This year, taking the mic will be none other than Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, and Mary J. Blige. We doubt you need another reason to watch, but if you do, check this out:

Song of the week: Undeath – “Rise From The Grave”

Our friends at Prosthetic Records know how to find the best cutting-edge metal bands on the planet. Their decision to sign Undeath a few years back signaled the start of a death metal revolution in the U.S. We can think of no other heavy band that has undergone the growth or sonic evolution that Undeath has experienced in the last two years. “Rise From The Grave,” the lead single off the group’s upcoming second album, showcases how far they’ve come with brutal instrumentation and guttural vocals. If you like what you hear, please consider preordering the record.

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News

64% Of Musicians Considering Quitting Music For Good, Survey Says [VIDEO]

A survey conducted by the online booking platform Encore Musicians has revealed that the UK music industry is in a state of crisis as a result of the pandemic.

COVID-19‘s impact on the music business is far-reaching, and it will be years before we fully understand the scope of damage caused by the latest global pandemic. Countless jobs are gone, thousands of gigs canceled, and no one can tell us when things will improve. People are clinging to hope that life will return to ‘normal’ sooner than later, but a new report from the UK reveals a scary fact that the business needs to confront.

Encore Musicians, a service that helps artists book gigs, recently surveyed almost 600 musicians about the ongoing pandemic. The results found that more than half of those who participated, 64%, are considering leaving the music business. That statistic may not hold true against all musicians around the world, but it does make clear a sobering truth: Even when things go back to the way they were, many musicians and professionals won’t be around.

It’s not hard to understand how we got here. Most musicians make their money from performing, but concerts no longer exist. Retailers are closed, which is hurting physical media. Streaming consumption is steady, but the royalty payments most artists receive cannot cover their bills.

On the professional side, thousands of jobs no longer exist, and countless venues are in danger of closing before the year ends. Of those still working, many are taking pay cuts that may be permanent.

When COVID finally subsides, who will be left to fill venues, and where will they play? Fans will be as demanding as ever, but will artists want to sacrifice their lives all over again? Many have found temporary jobs that offer better pay, more benefits, and time with family that touring can never allow. Others have discovered new passions and set to making them a career. Will the allure of performing be enough to pull them back to the open road? Only time will tell.

As for the business side of things, jobs will take a long time to return, if ever. Many companies are adapting to the new normal by shedding their costly office space and restructuring whatever roles are left to cover more needs. Growth moving forward will be entirely dependent on need rather than ‘the way its always been,’ and it will take time to gauge the need for more employees once the pandemic ends.

The best anyone can do is to practice empathy. Working in music is a calling for most, and virtually everyone is struggling right now. We cannot solve the problems of the world or ease the minds of consumers, but we can take care of one another. We deserve that much, and it’s on us to deliver.

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Artist Advice Business Advice Editorials Industry News News

Questions Artists Should Ask Before Coronavirus Ends

Thanks to coronavirus, the world is changing, and artists need to change as well. Where do you start? We have the answers in this week’s episode of Music Biz!

After weeks of covering COVID-19 and its impact on the music business, it seems safe to say that everyone is adjusting to the new normal. The world as we know it will never be the same, and while change is difficult, it’s also necessary. Some of the best things to ever happen arose from the sudden need to evolve, and we’re hoping that will be the case for many artists’ career as we move forward.

But where should artists start? After all, the information we are receiving every day is too much for anyone to consume, and most of it seems completely useless by the following morning. Today’s headlines are only as good as the value they retain after tomorrow’s revelations, so what can be done before the scientists of the world get a handle on this thing called coronavirus?

In today’s episode of Music Biz, host James Shotwell presents a series of questions that artists should be asking themselves while in quarantine. Now more than ever, the ability to adapt to the changing economy of music is essential for longterm survival. No one should leave quarantine the same way they entered, and anyone who does will be left behind as the industry moves forward. Artists need to be examining their branding, goals, relationships, and personal satisfaction, among other things, while they have the time to change behaviors.

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Haulix Industry News News

Ozzy Vs. Trump, Spotify Data, and more on the latest Music Biz News

The latest Music Biz News video update contains the biggest stories in music for the week ending June 29, 2019.

The final week of June finds the music business busier than ever. From Nielsen’s annual mid-year music report tracking more than half a billion streams in North America of the past six months to questions involving the data and power Spotify grants labels, the last few days have been wild.

Here at Haulix, we pride ourselves on keeping you informed about the need to know events in the music industry. If we wrote about everything that happened, we would never have time to do anything else, so we found an approach that we feel works better for everyone. Music Biz News is a weekly series where Director of Customer Engagement James Shotwell breaks down the latest headlines from across the industry in an entertaining way. You can catch up with the stories everyone is talking about in less than ten minutes, so what is holding you back?

This week, host James Shotwell reviews Nielsen’s Mid-Year Music Report, breaks down the latest Apple Music subscription numbers, explains why Ozzy Osbourne is upset with Trump and investigates how much access to your data Spotify’s pre-save tool guarantees artists and labels. Check it out:

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