Music

Global audio streaming service Deezer has named Jeronimo Folgueira as the company’s new CEO. He takes over the position from Hans-Holger Albrecht, who has been responsible in the role since 2015. Hans-Holger will continue to support Deezer as a Member of the Board of Directors; the transition will take place at the end of June

In the ten years between 1999 and 2009, annual recorded music revenues in the U.S. (the world’s biggest market) collapsed from $14.6 billion to $6.3 billion. Piracy in the form of digital file sharing was to blame. By 2019, revenues had recovered to $11.1 billion. Streaming was cheered as the industry’s savior. This is a

Bob Mackie was first tasked with dressing Cher in 1967 when she appeared as a guest on “The Carol Burnett Show.” “We hit it off right off the bat,” Mackie tells Variety, and the rest is history. At the time, Cher called on Mackie to dress her for special occasions, and when “The Sonny and

Grammy-winning songwriter and producer James Steed, professionally known as DJ SwanQo, has signed with Giant Music Publishing, a division of the Azoff Company. Giant, in partnership with Pardison Fontaine’s St. Lukes Publishing, will represent the beatmaker’s hits, including Cardi B’s Billboard Hot 100-topping track “Up,” in which SwanQo’s is co-producer and a writer. The global deal signing

The mere release of credits rarely causes such a stir, but a minor level of hysteria erupted in two different fan camps Thursday when it was revealed that Olivia Rodrigo’s imminent album, “Sour,” includes a song co-credited to Taylor Swift and her writing partner Jack Antonoff. It turns out that Rodrigo and Swift did not

Morgan Wallen made a surprise appearance Wednesday night to at Kid Rock’s bar in Nashville, marking the first time he’s performed live in the three and a half months since the controversy over a racial slur caused him to be blackballed by media and drove him into seclusion. The embattled country star sang “Whiskey Glasses”

Columbia Records has promoted A&R executives Luis Mota and Maria Arangio to senior vice president and vice president, respectively. The Sony Music label is home to such up-and-coming acts as 24KGoldn, Polo G, and Lil Tjay, as well as perennial superstars like Beyonce, Harry Styles and Tyler, the Creator. Headed by chairman Ron Perry, Variety‘s

Billie Eilish, George Strait, Stevie Nicks, Miley Cyrus, Rüfüs Du Sol, DaBaby, Erykah Badu, Megan Thee Stallion, and Doja Cat are the top-billed performers for the 20 th anniversary Austin City Limits Music Festival, which returns at full capacity this fall. ACL Fest 2021 will take place across eight stages at Zilker Park, October 1-3 and October

Matt Siegel, a radio host at Boston’s KISS-108 who stormed off of his show on Wednesday after being told not to make jokes about Demi Lovato’s non-binary announcement earlier that morning, returned to his post on Thursday morning. “I’m here. Good morning,” the veteran host said before addressing the issue on the air, according to

Mary Rahmani, Triller’s global head of partnerships and TikTok’s first U.S. music executive, has launched Moon Projects, a new agency specializing in creator curation; content strategy for short-form, vertical platforms; and a label imprint in partnership with Republic Records. With a current staff of three, Moon Projects’ goal is “identifying and sourcing talent from established

Vance Joy’s first solo single in over three years, “Missing Piece,” is setting the tone for Dr. Jackson Avery’s farewell to “Grey’s Anatomy” during tonight’s episode. As was revealed on May 6, the third-to-last episode of the hit ABC show’s 17th season will see the exit of Dr. Avery, played by Jesse Williams, who has

Demi Lovato, Lil Nas X, Ricky Martin and Pink are among the artists who will perform or appear at “Can’t Cancel Pride,” a virtual relief benefit for the LGBTQ+ community from P&G and iHeartMedia. Also performing are Brothers Osborne, Busy Phillips, Gus Kenworthy, Hayley Kiyoko, Jennifer Hudson, JoJo Siwa, Marshmello, MJ Rodriguez, Nina West, Tate

Competition authorities in the United Kingdom have begun an investigation into Sony Music Entertainment’s purchase of the AWAL and Kobalt Neighboring Rights businesses, even after the deal has been completed. Sony announced on Wednesday that it had completed the purchase that was first announced in February this year. The U.K.’s Competition & Markets Authority, does

SPOILER ALERT: Do not read ahead if you have not watched Season 5, Episode 12 of “The Masked Singer,” which aired May 19 on Fox. In the end, perhaps it was Omarion’s previous career as a professional rollerblader that gave him away. Omarion was the latest celebrity to be revealed on “The Masked Singer,” during

On the day before her 75th birthday, Cher is gifting fans with the news that an official biopic of her life is in the works. The untitled film is set at Universal Pictures, with “Mamma Mia!” producers Judy Craymer and Gary Goetzman on board to produce and Eric Roth penning the script, Variety has confirmed. Cher

All products and services featured by Variety are independently selected by Variety editors. However, Variety may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Festival lovers are getting ready to switch out their sweatpants for rave gear as big-name festivals slowly announce

Hip-hop has grown from a party in a South Bronx basement to a global soundtrack over its 47-year run. And as it approaches the 50-year mark, some of the genre’s originators have made it their mission to ensure that the milestone is celebrated in a way befitting of its influence. Among those taking the reins

Better late than never? Spotify — more than a year after the COVID pandemic sent most of the world into lockdown mode — is launching a virtual concert series with a lineup of five groups and artists. Access to the live-streaming performances will cost $15 each. The Spotify concert series kicks off next week with

Mouse Rat, the fictional “Parks and Recreation” band led by Chris Pratt’s character Andy Dwyer, will release a real-life record, titled “The Awesome Album.” The band’s social media accounts made the announcement Wednesday, and the album will release August 27. The album, announced on the 10th anniversary of show’s memorial for the miniature horse Li’l

As iHeartRadio’s reach holds firm among a slew of streaming options, reaching nine out of 10 Americans every month across its radio, podcasts, digital and social platforms, according to the company, president of entertainment enterprises John Sykes is leading the charge when it comes to live events, television productions and new business development across a

All products and services featured by Variety are independently selected by Variety editors. However, Variety may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. To gear up for Disney’s “Cruella” release on May 28, Obé Fitness is hosting a series of Cruella

The first round of performers announced for the 2021 CMT Music Awards is heavy on duets, as the telecast will include numbers uniting Mickey Guyton with Gladys Knight, Maren Morris with JP Saxe and Brothers Osborne with Dierks Bentley. Also unveiled Wednesday as landing performance slots on the June 9 show were country superstars Luke

Foo Fighters, Post Malone, Tyler, The Creator, Miley Cyrus, DaBaby, Marshmello, Illenium, Megan Thee Stallion, Roddy Ricch and Journey — yes, Journey — are the top-billed headliners for the Lollapalooza 2021 festival, taking place July 29-Aug. 1 at its usual location of Grant Park in Chicago. Also on the lineup are Young Thug, Alison Wonderland,

The U.K.’s iconic Glastonbury music festival will return in September for a one-off event. The license for the festival, located in the county of Somerset, was approved by the Mendip district council after consultation with local residents and authorities. The event, which will take place over a maximum of two consecutive nights on Friday and

Nick Jonas will host this year’s Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), airing May 23 at 5 p.m. PT. “I’ve always been such a big fan of the show, both as a fan growing up watching it and then as a performer, presenter and nominee,” Jonas tells Variety. “The thing that I love most about the BBMAs

Juneteenth Unityfest, a livestreamed multi-city event celebrating Black culture and the Juneteenth holiday marking the end of slavery in the United States, will take place on June 19, kicking off at 5 p.m. eastern. Performers include Robert Randolph, whose Robert Randolph Foundation is presenting the event, Aloe Blacc, Bebe Winans, Black Pumas (pictured), Darius Rucker,

Singer Demi Lovato has announced that they are non-binary and will be using the pronouns they/them. Posting to social media on Wednesday, Lovato said: “Every day we wake up, we are given another opportunity & chance to be who we want & wish to be. I’ve spent the majority of my life growing in front

At the best of times, the massively popular Eurovision Song Contest, the world’s largest music event, is a logistical challenge to produce, with many moving parts. But amid a global pandemic, the undertaking is downright bold, with stringent safety measures including distancing, sanitization, COVID-19 PCR tests, and all the jargon that has now become commonplace

The late EDM star Avicii was not just an “arena act” — he’s now an arena namesake. A venue in his native Sweden formerly known as the the Ericsson Globe has been renamed the Avicii Arena, the Stockholm facility announced Wednesday. Said Klas Bergling, the father of Tim Bergling, aka Avicii, “It was a significant

Pink, to no surprise, is up for anything. Ahead of the premiere of the documentary “Pink: All I Know So Far” at the Hollywood Bowl, she caught up with Variety’s Marc Malkin and discussed the possibility for a “Lady Marmalade” reunion. “I want to see the reunion with all the young girls now,” Pink said.